PA TV story depicts Jew in a positive light
Official PA TV program Ramadan in the City hosts Prof. Ramzi Suleiman of the University of Haifa’s Psychology Department
Official PA TV storyteller Lutf Nweiser: “Once there was a man with endless possessions, and he obtained his possessions honestly, gave charity, did many acts of kindness everywhere, and did not differentiate between people, not according to their race, not according to their religion, and not according to their ethnicity. He had two children, and he educated them to love their fellow man, and to honor the other. This man was a Jew, and when we say that he was a Jew there is a reason why we note that. One day, after he had accumulated many possessions, he felt sick. He called his two sons and said to them: ‘My sons, I feel that I am sick and may leave this world. Before I die, I have a small request of you. I am leaving two wills. Open the first will before you put me in the grave. Open the second after the burial.’ His feeling was indeed correct, and he passed away. Before they buried him, his children opened the [first] will and read it. There it was written: ‘My children, one day before my death I bought new underwear. Before you bury me I want you to dress me in them.’ It is known that according to the religion, Jews cannot bury a person unless he is naked. It is forbidden that he wear anything (sic., this is not a Jewish burial custom.) Because he was rich and had much money, they [the children] thought that they would be able to receive special treatment, but Ramzi (i.e., name of guest on TV program he was addressing), this time it didn’t work. They went to the rabbis and the leaders and tried to convince them, but they failed. They put him in the grave. After they sat for seven days (i.e., the ritual period of intense mourning), and the people came to comfort them and told his praise, about the acts of kindness that he did and how he did not differentiate between people, not according to race, and not according to religion, and not according to ethnicity, the seven [days] ended. They opened the [second] will and read it. There it was written: ‘My sons, I accumulated endless possessions, did kindness, and planted love in the hearts of every person. Before I tell about the will, you must know that equality between people is an important thing, and all the ministers and rulers must understand this if they have a conscience. Every person needs to live on his land with a calm heart.’ At the end of the will it was stated: ‘After I accumulated so many possessions, I could not take with me even a pair of underwear.’ His children cried and understood the message, and from then on planted love and equality and kindness in the heart of every person.”
Note: The program is from the Musawa Channel, a channel of the Palestinian Authority intended for Arab Israelis, but it was also broadcast on official PA TV.
Official PA TV storyteller Lutf Nweiser: “Once there was a man with endless possessions, and he obtained his possessions honestly, gave charity, did many acts of kindness everywhere, and did not differentiate between people, not according to their race, not according to their religion, and not according to their ethnicity. He had two children, and he educated them to love their fellow man, and to honor the other. This man was a Jew, and when we say that he was a Jew there is a reason why we note that. One day, after he had accumulated many possessions, he felt sick. He called his two sons and said to them: ‘My sons, I feel that I am sick and may leave this world. Before I die, I have a small request of you. I am leaving two wills. Open the first will before you put me in the grave. Open the second after the burial.’ His feeling was indeed correct, and he passed away. Before they buried him, his children opened the [first] will and read it. There it was written: ‘My children, one day before my death I bought new underwear. Before you bury me I want you to dress me in them.’ It is known that according to the religion, Jews cannot bury a person unless he is naked. It is forbidden that he wear anything (sic., this is not a Jewish burial custom.) Because he was rich and had much money, they [the children] thought that they would be able to receive special treatment, but Ramzi (i.e., name of guest on TV program he was addressing), this time it didn’t work. They went to the rabbis and the leaders and tried to convince them, but they failed. They put him in the grave. After they sat for seven days (i.e., the ritual period of intense mourning), and the people came to comfort them and told his praise, about the acts of kindness that he did and how he did not differentiate between people, not according to race, and not according to religion, and not according to ethnicity, the seven [days] ended. They opened the [second] will and read it. There it was written: ‘My sons, I accumulated endless possessions, did kindness, and planted love in the hearts of every person. Before I tell about the will, you must know that equality between people is an important thing, and all the ministers and rulers must understand this if they have a conscience. Every person needs to live on his land with a calm heart.’ At the end of the will it was stated: ‘After I accumulated so many possessions, I could not take with me even a pair of underwear.’ His children cried and understood the message, and from then on planted love and equality and kindness in the heart of every person.”
Note: The program is from the Musawa Channel, a channel of the Palestinian Authority intended for Arab Israelis, but it was also broadcast on official PA TV.