From what Gerry and Jerry are saying, there appears to be a genuine cultural difference here. They appear to be saying that Jewish people do not believe that Jews were complicit in the execution of Jesus. The Christian tradition (whether it's history or myth is besides the point) clearly says that they were complicit.

What Gerry and Jerry also appear to be saying is that, for Jews, the obvious conclusion is that the original words blame Jews for the death of Christ. For others, that is not an obvious interpretation. It seems to hang on the Jewish use of the words "the holy people" to mean the Jewish people, although it appears that this usage is unknown to most gentiles. Whilst a Jew might assume that meaning, therefore, it seems unlikely that others would, and the risk of taking an anti-semitic meaning therefore appears small.

I'm not a historian, and I don't know if there is alternative documentary evidence to support the first point of view. As for the second, the gospels were written some time after the event and were not independent or unbiased, nor were they intended to be. So who knows the real historical truth?

Jerry, I'm sorry you and others were made to feel uncomfortable by the original lyrics. But whilst the Revels are not explicitly Christian, by celebrating the Christmas season it is probable that there will be some Christian content, and it seems to me that anyone of other faiths, whether Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or whatever, should respond accordingly, just as I would if I were to attend an event with a Jewish theme, and which might contain elements which would make me uncomfortable. It is about respect for other cultures. You say the words make you uncomfortable - it makes me uncomfortable that these words, which I genuinely believe do not carry the message you think they do, should have to be altered to something which loses the true meaning of the original.

If you were attending a Christmas service, rather than a music event with Christian overtones, would you expect the Bible readings to be altered to remove those references to Jews in the trial of Jesus? I'm sure you would not. So why feel the need to change this song?

If you are saying that the Christian story is inherently anti-semitic then the difference may be irreconcilable. However I believe that most people of goodwill, whether with faith or not, should be able to overcome such institutional differences and focus on the things which unite us, and concentrate on fighting hatred where it genuinely manifests itself. I don't think it does in LOTD.