Disney, not known for historical accuracy, deleted Jerusalem from a common Jewish greeting on Passover.
Disney Channel aired the public service announcement for the most sacred Jewish holy day and replaced a traditional phrase that Jews recite at the Passover Seder: “Next year in Jerusalem” with “Next year in the Holy Land.”
In a clip of the video that was previewed by the media watchdog group The Algemeiner, the PSA showed young teenagers discussing the Passover holiday before saying in unison: “Next year in the Holy Land!”
Extended Jewish family celebrates Passover
Many people around the world took offense to the editing of a phrase that’s been said for over 2,000 years around the world. The festival commemorates the biblical story of the Exodus, when Hebrew slaves were released out of bondage in Egypt. For Jews today, Passover is a celebration of freedom and acknowledgment of God’s promises kept.
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The largest and oldest Jewish service organization in the world, B’nai B’rith International, responded to the entertainment giant in a tweet that included a screenshot of the video. “This is a deliberate negation of Jerusalem as the eternal Jewish capital. We call for the #disneychannel PSA to accurately depict this sacred Jewish custom related to our holiest city.”
Here is a shot of the @DisneyChannel #Passover PSA that replaces the traditional refrain “Next year in Jerusalem” with “Next year in the Holy Land" – a deliberate negation of #Jerusalem as the eternal Jewish capital. @DisneyChannelPR pic.twitter.com/kES0Uvbs4d
— B'nai B'rith Intl. (@BnaiBrith) April 5, 2021
Other groups labeled Disney’s editing as gross and “utterly outrageous.”
Democratic Majority for Israel co-chair Todd Richman also responded tweeting, “@DisneyChannel for 2,000 years Jews at the Passover Seder have said ‘next year in Jerusalem!’ And now you decide to change it after a couple of thousand years? You sure about that?”
@DisneyChannel for 2,000 years Jews at the Passover Seder have said “next year in Jerusalem!” And now you decide to change it after a couple of thousand years? You sure about that? #disneychannel #Passover #Passover2021 @BnaiBrith @Israel https://t.co/hxsc40clhF
— Todd Richman (@toddrichman) March 30, 2021
Disney has been on a tear recently editing out content it considers not suitable for today’s cultural standards. Gone is Mickey Mouse grabbing a shotgun when he thinks a mobster is about to attack. Songs from classics in the 30s and 40s are gone as well.
More recently Disney almost entirely edited out the deep faith of J.R.R. Tolkien which is the basis for and inspired his classics the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. The movie does not once mention the great ex-atheist and Christian author C.S. Lewis, a close friend of Tolkien and whom Tolkien helped lead to the Lord.
–Wire services