The Jewish Community of Naples has called for the immediate removal of one of the installations created for the Feast of the Four Altars in Torre del Greco, a historic city event that combines religious celebrations, art, and cultural initiatives.At the center of the protest is a work inspired by the Last Supper, displayed in the Largo Costantinopoli area, which features the figure of "an elderly bearded man with a black hat handling money," an image the Community believes evokes "a classic anti-Judaism stereotype."In a letter addressed to Mayor Luigi Mennella and also forwarded to the relevant authorities, the Council of the Jewish Community of Naples called the display of an image deemed "offensive and defamatory towards Jews" in a public space "unacceptable." The document calls for the installation's removal and announces the possibility of legal action against those responsible.The contested work was created by artist Salvatore Seme. In the explanation accompanying the installation, the artist states that he was inspired by an episode from the Gospel of Luke in which Jesus sits at the table of sinners and tax collectors. The work, titled Frantio Panis, offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the Gospel scene; the figure in question, he claims, represents the tax collector Levi counting money.
Because that's what modern tax collectors look like, right?
The artist responded, and it didn't help matters:
“I am saddened and surprised,” said Seme, “by this reaction from the Jewish community, especially by being accused of Nazi-Fascism when I am the complete opposite, like most artists. To create the Altar, I was inspired by the theme and interpreted in a modern way two passages from the Gospel of Luke. It tells of the episode where Jesus sits at the table with sinners, including Levi, the tax collector, and Christ tells parables of mercy. To make the work, I studied the Gospel, and it was never my intention to offend anyone.”Why was Levi depicted with those features?“How do you represent a tax collector of the time—in a modern way?” Seme replied. “It seems absurd to accuse artists of antisemitism. I regret that someone felt offended by my work; the message was entirely different and not the banal one of antisemitism. Everyone is free to interpret art as they wish. What scares me is that just talking about Jews brings accusations of racial hatred and Nazi-Fascism.”
Let's think. He wanted to portray a modern tax collector as a sinner. When I asked various AIs to draw one, none of them drew stereotypical Jews. Isn't that strange?
.jpg)
|
Reclaiming the Covenant on America's 250th (May 2026) "He's an Anti-Zionist Too!" cartoon book (December 2024) PROTOCOLS: Exposing Modern Antisemitism (February 2022) |
 |
Buy