Was 'Lord of the Dance' anti-semitic?

Subject: RE: Was 'Lord of the Dance' anti-semitic?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 12:17 AM

Sol is on the right track. The part referring to the Scribes and the Pharisees not following Jesus is a direct reference to political conflicts between the mainstream and various sects, such as the Essenes.

There is argument over whether he and his followers were a splinter group from the Essenic tradition. As such, they would have been seen as a threat to the estabilished political order, as operated by the more liberal groups which got along to some extent with the Romans.

Subject: RE: Was 'Lord of the Dance' anti-semitic?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 11:57 PM

I have heard Tommy Makem sing this song for over 30 years and have never thought of it in this light. It is describing an incident that is related in the New Testament. Although as a Jew I do not believe in the New Testament I can not expect the Christians to rewrite their Bible to meet the standards of political correctness that exist in the 21st century. In my opinion It is not at all anti-semitic.
                                                 SOL

Subject: Was 'Lord of the Dance' anti-semitic?
From: GUEST,Len Wallace
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 11:35 PM

Dear Friends,

An interesting discussion I overheard today with two friends discussing the lyrics to "Lord of the Dance".

One recalled that she heard an Anglican choir singing a set of lyrics which were openly anti-semitic naming Jews. The only lyrics I know of make mention of "pharisees". Were there other lyrics? An older version which was anti-semitic?

Len Wallace