Is this newspaper ad anti-Semitic?

http://www.sunjournal.com/story/199368-3/LewistonAuburn/Ad_in_Portland_newspaper_seen_as_offensive_to_Jews/

Ad in Portland newspaper seen as offensive to Jews (via Romenesko)

For the second time in less than two weeks, an advertisement in the Portland Press Herald has Jewish community leaders concerned there is an anti-Semitic tone being allowed on the daily newspaper's pages.

The Washington, D.C.-based director of Reform Judaism's Religious Action Center, meanwhile, said he is greatly alarmed that another ad with "overt anti-Semitic content" was published.

The advertisement for PeoplesChoice Credit Union of Biddeford ran on Page B9 of Wednesday's Press Herald. It was designed to look like an Old West "wanted" poster, including a photo of a man with what critics called stereotypical features, evoking the image of Jews as usurers and unethical money lenders. The ad calls the man "The Fee Bandit," and describes him as "charming and polite," and one who "smiles as he takes your money in ways big and small ..."



The newspaper's own article: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/070216ad.html

 

Re: Is this newspaper ad anti-Semetic?


Yes. Why not make him look like a banker rather than a rabbi?

 

Re: Is this newspaper ad anti-Semetic?

If he wore a Yarmulke and a Tallit, I could see it.

But it looks like he's dressed as a businessman from the west in the late 1800s with hat and a wide-string tie... which would tie in with the wanted poster theme.

I think it's another case of the PC police needing to bitch

 

Re: Is this newspaper ad anti-Semetic?

Word for word what I was thinking. But then again, I'm not Jewish.

 

Re: Is this newspaper ad anti-Semetic?

If I had seen the photo BEFORE knowing what the controversy was, it's doubtful I would have thought "jewish" while looking at it.

 

Re: Is this newspaper ad anti-Semetic?


Have you ever seen a Western with a banker who looked like that? C'mon. They went out of their way to find a guy who looks Jewish.

 

Re: Is this newspaper ad anti-Semetic?

Since we Jews run the world, via the media, the financial institutions and the Porn industry, we ought to have a little sense of humor about ourselves. I'm not offended.

 

Re: Is this newspaper ad anti-Semetic?

Oy gevalt.

<img src="http://www.n16mag.com/issue16/images/rabbi.jpg">

 

Re: Is this newspaper ad anti-Semetic?

That's my old Torts Professor

 

Re: Is this newspaper ad anti-Semetic?

I assume they got the picture from stock art and didn't take an original photo. I'd be curious to see how it was labeled in the stock art... I doubt it was "Old West banker" or "Jewish financier."

 

Re: Is this newspaper ad anti-Semetic?

Word for word what I was thinking. And I AM Jewish.

 

Re: Is this newspaper ad anti-Semetic?

As someone who is Jewish I can see both sides of the argument.
Had I seen the ad without knowing the controversey, I probably wouldn't have thought anything of it.
But viewing it in the context of "is it anti-semetic or not", I can see why some people would be offended.
However, without a yamulke or talit, I can't say that it was intentionally meant to be anti-semetic.
Overall I would have to say no it's not because I can't see a company using an anti-semetic and driving away customers.