Orthodox British Mayoral Candidate Sorry For Burning New Testament
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
(JTA) — A far right-wing Orthodox candidate for mayor of the British city of Manchester apologized after burning what he called a “missionary bible” and posting images of it on social media.
Shneur Odze, who is a candidate for the right-wing populist UK Independence Party, or UKIP, on the eve of Passover found the Hebrew-language New Testament produced by a proselytizing Christian group in his synagogue.
He took it out into the street and set it alight, according to reports. He then posted photos of the book burning and wrote on Twitter: “Was wondering what I’d burn my Chametz with.”
Ukip candidate is a bible-burning Orthodox Jewish rabbi #ShneurOdze #HealthSecretary… https://t.co/Jiq4F9aJKE pic.twitter.com/wmUCTGXnTj
— UKIP Trending News (@UKIPolizer) April 16, 2017
Odze told reporters that he felt he had no choice but to burn the book because he did not want to pass on what he believes is false religion to someone else and said that throwing a religious text in the garbage was distasteful, especially because it also contains the Five Books of Moses.
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