'Jewish bones in Rabat are ours'

Charles Grixti

Feb 26th 2009, 23:29

I appeal to the Maltese Authorities to come to a sensible solution.

As Mr. Mule Stagno said, this is an important historical site and by all means, goes ahead and restore it. It is after all part of Malta’s heritage.

But this is no reason to leave those bones unburied. It is both and macabre and a great disrespect to the dead. Leaving the bones on site does not add anything to the historical value of the site.

Joe Xuereb

Feb 26th 2009, 10:02

@ Yvonne DeManuel. So this is how they stretch them at History reading uni. Or maybe you are in your first week of 'reading'.
@ All. I cannot believe that in 2009, people (mostly young, intelligent ones I imagine) are getting heating either way over these matters. Go and see Stitching instead and get a life.

Joe Xuereb

Feb 26th 2009, 09:35

Rabbi, claiming ancient bones as yours and your sole right to handle them, IN A LAND THAT IS NOT YOURS, is indeed a travesty. If people must practice a religion, particularly an orthodox interpretation of one, then they must do so in private. And certainly not by resurrection old skeletons. They are only human bones. They are only bones of humans who happened to be Jewish (bones, were you once part of a walking, talking Jewish person? Tell me, there is someone here who would like to meet you). He is from America and wants you to be part of his American Dream. Otherwise, you could tell me, and him to get lost and let you rest in peace.

Emma Xerri

Feb 25th 2009, 23:35

@ James De Giorgio.

You seem to forget sir that Luther was a Catholic monk first, before he nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. So he was well-steeped in Church doctrine.

His anti-Jewish statements were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis during 1933–45.

As for you stating that the Catholic Church never took part in anti-Jewish pogroms, how about the ‘Auto de fetes” in which Conversos (Jews converted to the Catholic faith) where burnt at the stake by the hundreds in Europe, after the Inquisition accused them of practicing Judaism in secret.

While you might not like to hear the truth, but this is historical fact. The previous Pope even personally made an apology to the Jewish people, for the Church’s role in spreading anti-Semitism.. So was Pope John Paul ll a liar?

Sir, you might be uncomfortable with the truth, but that is no reason to resort to revisionist history.

Guze Xerri

Feb 25th 2009, 15:10

@ James De Giorgio,


Luther initially preached tolerance towards the Jewish people, convinced that the reason they had never converted to Christianity was that they were discriminated against, or had never heard the Gospel of Christ. However, after his overtures to Jews failed to convince Jewish people to adopt Christianity, he began preaching that the Jews were set in evil, anti-Christian ways, and needed to be expelled from German politics. In his On the Jews and Their Lies, he repeatedly quotes the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:34, where Jesus called them "a brood of vipers and children of the devil"

Luther was zealous toward the Gospel, and he wanted to protect the people of his homeland from the Jews who he believed would be harmful influences since they did not recognize Jesus as their Saviour. In Luther's time, parents had a right and a duty to dire When Luther called for the deaths of certain Jews, he was merely asking that the laws that were applied to all other Germans also be applied to the Jews. The Jews were exempt from the church laws that Christians were bound by, most notably the law against charging interest.

L.Attard Bezzina

Feb 25th 2009, 08:53

@E. Saguna - The Jewish Community of Malta is made up of Maltese citizens of the Jewish faith (Judaism) we are not "guests" in Malta but are full Maltese citizens.None of the Maltese scholars are versed in Jewish ritual tradition. The Jews buried in these Catacombs are Jews and not Christians and they lived side by side with pagan and Christians inhibitants of Malta.Christian tradition always thought that St. Paul (a Jew) came to Malta circa 60 CE (AD) are you now claiming he appeared in Malta over 300 years before Jesus and he were born? Whenever we Maltese Jewish Citizens enter a Maltese Church we always take off our head skull out of respect to Christian belief we are law abiding citizens and not "guests". How can you judge how we handled the issue if u were never part of the discussions? Why do you and others want to eridicate our Maltese Jewish heritage? Are u xenophobic, do you want to exclude us from the wider Maltese community because of our faith? If Jews converted to Christianity scientific (DNA) methodology would only establish their Jewishness! Cannot we bury our dead? Or are they afraid of a larger community's claims

nardu muscat

Feb 25th 2009, 08:48

Why is everyone making a fuss about these ( with all due rispect to the dead ) " Jewish bones in Rabat ".
Why not make a BIG FUSS about our own people who in our own time where buried in the so called " MIZBLA " in the 1960`s by our own Maltese Catholic Church, because these people belonged to a certain political party.

Edward Saguna

Feb 24th 2009, 22:47

Logically, before the above questions are answered, it is impolite for anyone to impose on the Maltese community beliefs and instructions on how this matter should be handled. There exist world-accepted procedures that need to be followed here and I am sure that our Maltese scholars perform their work in respect of these procedures. And for doing so they should be respected and allowed to do their job without any interference. Unfortunately, it is a pity that the Jewish community have handled this matter in such a way. Their doings have touched the pride of the Maltese people and it is for this that the Maltese have felt disrespected and are hurt. It is the arrogant attitude of the Jewish community that has blown this story into what it has come to be. On my two visits to the Temple Wall in Jerusalem I was expected to wear a Jewish kippa as per Jewish tradition. I did so since I understood to be a guest in a foreign country. The Jewish community should likewise appreciate that when in Malta they are the guests of the Maltese and should under no circumstance expect to impose themselves or their beliefs,

Edward Saguna

Feb 24th 2009, 22:46

Reading through the below comments brought me to the conclusion that a number of issues are being missed. Importance is being given to other issues that have no relation to what has happened here. It is necessary to start off by understanding why is it that we call these catacombs the Jewish Catacombs. Most of the early Christian communities were converted Jews, and, being influenced by the traditions of this faith, they continued to bring their previous influences into their 'new' faith. This explains why early Christian tombs have been found to share the same location as Jewish tombs (e.g.: Jerusalem). Also, symbols have been shared. It is the finding of one of these symbols in a mostly-Christian complex that gave this title to the catacombs. Without further scientific examination it is not possible to determine whether these bones are of Jewish or of Christian descent. If the latter is the case, and this dates to pre-300BC, Heritage Malta can confirm whether St.Paul has indeed come to Malta or not. To date, we still have no historical confirmation of this.

James De Giorgio

Feb 24th 2009, 21:11

Dear Guze Xerri, had my comment not been edited before being posted on the site, you would have seen that Martin Luther himself urged his followers to burn down jewish synagogues and cover them with mud. I had included the text to base my argument on it, however this was removed, making my comment sound superflous. Luther wrote it in 1543, the year before his death, in a book called "About the Jews and their lies", expressing insulting and offensive comments which would spark great outrage and uproar were it published today.

And this from the founder of Protestantism. On the other hand, the Roman Catholic Church never officially urged any anti-Jewish pogroms. Whatever happened in Catholic countries was ordered by kings and princes. I hope this comment gets through.

Rabbi Ch. Kalamonovvitz

Feb 24th 2009, 20:38

The Jewish community of Malta held a number of very long discussions with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and Heritage Malta's top officials during the past week.
Yesterday the community entered into a commitment with these agencies with the tactic understanding that the methods how to re-intern the Jewish human skeletal bones would be that agreed already in minute details between the two parties during these meetings.
This afternoon after waiting since 0930 for the work to start we were informed by the representatives of the agencies one hour after the work started that is at 15:20 that the methodology being employed would be that decided by the agencies, which go against the agreements and the Jewish traditions and law
The Community hereby and immediately annul the commitment entered into yesterday.
Jews around the world are highly disappointed at the insensitivity shown towards our religious beliefs by these agencies and the way they are treating these Jewish human skeletal remains.

We appeal to the Political authorities and Maltese of all faiths to intervene immediately to end this travesty.

Frans Sammut

Feb 24th 2009, 19:43

@ V. Pulis

Well, first let me tell you I like your wit and style. Secondly, I agree that much more research needs to be carried out where Jewish cemetries are concerned. I would not be surprised if such work, carried out with the rigorous methods required by serious scholarship would produce evidence that the cemetery under review does not date back prior to the late Muslim or early Aragonese periods. A look at the early 15th century Dejma List unearthed by Prof Wettinger shows that besides the converted Jews (the Debonos, the Bonannos and the other surnames I mentioned earlier) there were confirmed Jews in the Mdina Giudecca. Now when Jews die, whether they are Jews or "New Christians", they do not go to the other world body and soul. Their bodies usually remain here on earth. So, why be surprised their remains lie precisely in those "catacombs" in the outer side of the Medina, namely the Rabat? Less lightly in tone: the Jews are right if they want custody of those remains. According to their religion (and not differently from Christianity), people will go to meet the Lord both in BODY and soul in the end of days.

Guze Xerri

Feb 24th 2009, 15:30

It was Roman Catholic England that kick out the jews in 1290, and Roman Catholic Spain kicked the jews out of Spain in 1492 around the same time that the Maltese jews all decided, on there own (LOL), to covert to Roman Catholic faith, all at the same time ,after living in Malta for hundreds of years as jews.

Tom Borg

Feb 24th 2009, 14:36

I can't believe such comments as "Tell the Jews to get out of Malta" and the like. How biggoted can some of the people writing on this site be? If it's not kick the illegals, it's kick the Jews, if not the Jews, the Muslims. If someone was born and bred in Malta, they have as much right to be there as you do! Why don't we all decide to kick narrow minded people like yoruselves out of the island, we would have a much more pleasant state then. I'd much rather have a Jewish neighbour to my right, a Muslim neighbour to my left and a coloured neighbour in front than a racist, holier-than-though white catholic idiot anywhere around.

Thankfully most Maltese are quite tolerant of other people, this is the image we need to portray to the world!

Ramon Casha

Feb 24th 2009, 14:04

@Joe Vassallo and others: You need to learn the difference between "Jew" and "Israeli". Not all Jews are Israeli, and there is a small community of Jews living in Malta who have been around for many generations. Secondly, not all Jews nor all Israelis agree with the policies of the Israeli government of the day.

Personally, I find no objection that these remains should be buried according to their religious rules - and the same applies to followers of any religion. In this case, due to the archaeological importance of the site, special care must be taken but I can't image any insurmountable problems.

E.Vella

Feb 24th 2009, 11:55

Giving the death a proper burial is also a Catholic Moral Belief...therefore I ask Heritage Malta not to make such noise on remains of persons, for even the human body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit, created in the likeness of God. Maybe entering without permission was illegal but understand the reasons they did not profane the cemetry but entered in respect to the cemetry

James De Giorgio

Feb 24th 2009, 11:40

I would like to point out to Guze Xerri that his comment is misguided. Protestantism is even more harshly anti Jewish than Catholicism ever was, but it has never been let out.
Heritage Malta desists from this kind of anti-semitism which is not confined to Catholic countries as Guze Xerri erroneously stated. Personally, I am greatly interested in the Jews and Judaism. As a Catholic, I believe that they are my elder brothers in the faith.

The point here is, just because they are Jews, they cannot claim every site worldwide. End of.

Vince DeBono

Feb 24th 2009, 11:04

The Addolorata Cemetery is Government Property. Does it mean that Government can dig up the common graves etc? (not necessarily Private Graves)

Inviting a foreign Rabbi IS EQUIVALENT to Catholic parishes inviting f o r e i g n Cardinals etc. Is this abominable?

So many Maltese are of Jewish origin but profess Christian faith. Where should they be buried - by lineage in Israel or italy or in the Vatican or another Chrisrtian country?

OUR TENDENCY TO MIX'N MATCH IS AIDED BY OUR ABILITY TO VIEW ONE SIDE OF AN ARGUMENT. Please think through arguments before you commit them to print.

shaun camilleri

Feb 23rd 2009, 22:55

I read some comments like what has Israel done for us and other such chat. The Jews buried there are obviously Maltese Jews. Why is it that when Jew is mentioned people think foreign?

You have Maltese Jehovah witnesses, Muslim, Catholic, secular and Jew. What is the problem?
Making them the bones of Maltese Jews does not mean that the government can do as it pleases with the bones.

If Jew is a separate race from everyone why is it a nation of all colours. There are black Jews, white, yellow and so on. Israel is not only a country but a people. In the phrase 'Hear Israel The Lord is our G-d The Lord is One' Israel is the people.

Shema Ya Israel Adonia elehainu Adonia E Ahad.

Fred.Muscat

Feb 23rd 2009, 22:51

Turn it up Joseph, you got me at now sing that song.
Freddy Muscat

L.Attard Bezzina

Feb 23rd 2009, 22:18

After very long and tiring discussions, an agreement has now reached on this issue.

j n ebejer

Feb 23rd 2009, 21:46

Mr Xerri
Do not think you need to teach me such history. Just stop trying to label people because of their appartenance to a faith. Have you been going around living with all to know what values do they live? Protestant/Catholic countries! more generic than that!
You risk repeating the mistakes you consider abhorrant. Come up with a positive and suitable suggestion for such a situation which will result in better relation with the Jewish community instead. I dare you join those Maltese who are next to none in respecting the Jewish or other communities in Malta. Just be one of them and drop prejudices.

l ATTARD bezzina

Feb 23rd 2009, 21:22

an agreement has been reached over the way forward to bury these human remains between heritage Malta. The superintendence of cultural heritage and the jewish community of Malta

Joseph Portelli - apprentice

Feb 23rd 2009, 20:07

All these people talking about graves and bones, you know what * the whole day that old song kept hammering into my head, even my colleages kept telling me to shut up as the whole day i kept on singing that very old song in a loud voice: Them Bones them - dry Bones Them bones them- dry bones Praise the word of the lord... Now can we just drop it, next time i was told that my boss will be sending me home. Mr. Wishbone

John DeVries

Feb 23rd 2009, 19:08

What happened of the graves that were at Fort Chambray in Gozo,did Heritage Malta or somebody else take care of the remains of those WW1 soldiers buried there? Because once I heard when I went to see Ta` Sopu`s tower in Nadur,Gozo,that the remains were dumped in the landfill near by the mentioned tower a while back.

Ian Ellul

Feb 23rd 2009, 19:02

carmel debono

Feb 23rd 2009, 18:32

I know that you have every right not to publish anything without assigning a reason but I ask is there a reason why you have not published my writing of yesterday please? Could it have been the mention of WW11 that you may have found offensive? I would appreciate if you can enlighten PS this is not the only time I was ignored Thanks

Christopher Grech

Feb 23rd 2009, 16:06

The Jewish are usually erroneausly defined. In order to know more please visit:
http://www.anglo-saxonisrael.com/definitionofjew.php

If the catacombs are called Jewish, this is because of the political view, of the way how most of us "know Jewish" knowledge as it is mainly proposed today.

Just because the catacombs are Hebrew, does not equate it being Jewish right? Well the Isrealites were 12 tribes, and of which ONLY one was called JUDAH. So it could be only 1/12th chance right?

So if we do not know if the bones are those of the Isreali tribe of Gad, SImeon, Reuben, etc..., how dare foreigners decide a ritual that probably would be alien to them, in spirit and in deed!

Did you know that most so called Jews today, are NOT even semites? UTube and search for Khazar Jews, and you will start to know what I mean.

It is a complex story no doubt, but I must make a stand for those souls, who are buried there in Rabat, and cannot make a stand!

James De Giorgio

Feb 23rd 2009, 14:15

I'm sorry but Heritage Malta shouldn't back down on this one. Irrispective of whether the bones are Jewish, Christian or Phoenician, they belong to the State of Malta.

Guze Xerri

Feb 23rd 2009, 13:36

@ j n ebajer,

I have lived in Protestant countries and Roman Catholic ones,
the Roman Catholic countries DO have a pronounced ingrained bias against jews in my estimation .

Remember, it was not too long age when we prayed for the conversion of jews at Mass.
The text is based on the Tridentine Mass promulgated by the Council of Trent in the 16th century. Originally this Mass contained a Good Friday prayer for the conversion of "the perfidious Jews."
This was removed from the Mass in the early 1960s.

Don't you think that this sanctioned expressed bias did not have an affect throughout the centuries on how Roman Catholics perceived Jews?
I have no doubt that it did.

Frans Sammut

Feb 23rd 2009, 13:28

@Martin Portelli

Hear! Hear!

martin portelli

Feb 23rd 2009, 12:01

It is interesting that we should feel so threatened by such a request, specifically in this part of Malta where traces of the Jewish presence can still found in the language and certain customs, particularily in certain parts of Rabat and Zebbug. Why we Maltese are so focused on obscuring anything that happened prior to the arrival of the Knights of St.John is intriguing. Why we keep perpetuating the Knights' habit of obscuring anything that does not fit within the Christian European mold requires some reflection. One does feel that more appreciation be due to the works of Professor Wettinger, at least he has attempted to set the record straight.
When are we going to acknowledge that part of our history properly ?

THis matter should be resolved in a respectful and dignified manner befitting Maltese civil society whatever the denomination. The Judeo Christian tradition respects the dead so where exactly lies the problem in allowing proper burial following Jewish rites? THis should be the case for the remains of any other denominations found in archeological sites neglected or otherwise. Screaming matches are hardly dignified.

v.pulis

Feb 23rd 2009, 09:21

What did I tell you way down below?! it IS turning into a nationwide controversy!
We maltese invent polemics as if we don't have enough problems already.
At least some good came out of it. We got a lesson on maltese surname origins, another one on New Zealand and the Maoris and yet another on the ethnic maltese population in the middle ages. What no one wrote about is the origin of the jewish cemetery at the centre of the whole argument!!

Frans Sammut

Feb 23rd 2009, 09:20

@Mr Attard Bezzina: You are right, Sir. The "cantilena" was written by a Jew of Malta, Pietro Caxaro There are still several Caxaros living in Sicily. This family belongs to the conversos, the Jews who were converted during the rechristianization of Sicily and (that offshore island) Malta. Those bones of confirmed Jews should be given the decent Jewish burial they were never given. There are a great number of Siclian-Maltese surnames that are Jewish. Wettinger (a German-Jewish name), gave us also a list of "translated" surnames like Amato, D'Amico, Aquilina and so forth. To my mind those bones do not go back only to the times of Muslim Malta. This diaspora was the happiest Jewish diaspora apart from the Polish experience (prior to the mad Nazi adventure). By the way, the "cantilena" was a zajal, Arabic for a song which the Jews of Spain (and Sicily) adopted and promoted. May I add that the Jews have not, as yet, repaid the Arabs for the good life these gave them when they were the super-power in the Med. They should start doing that by behaving in a civilized fashion towards the Palestinian Arabs. I had to add this for fairness' sake.

Joseph A Borg

Feb 23rd 2009, 09:20

@ F. Camilleri: because it's an archaeological site. I bet you the Israeli archaeologists working in Palestine have these problems all the time. Science comes first. Are you telling me that we should forfeit our responsibility to research and document this important historical site for a bunch of looney religionists?

These things happen all the time. What should the British Museum do with Egyptian mummies? what about proto-Amerindian burial sites? Should humanity's quest to accurately document its past be laid hostage to some superstitions? If we're ready to loose our right to knowledge for the sake of this, then we're really sick indeed.

Religions should stick to the should stick to their remit of dealing strictly with the 'souls' of people.

Raymond Sammut

Feb 23rd 2009, 08:57

@ Kurt Sansone

"The site, which is across the road from the entrance to St Paul's catacombs..."

Cannot be.

The St Paul's catacombs are located right underneath St Paul's church, Rabat, next to St Paul's grotto. Part of these catacombs were converted to an underground shelter during WWII out of desperation.

You mean to say the Roman catacombs which are highly distinct from the St Paul's catacombs, and located on the edge of Hal Bajjada, not far from St Agatha's.

@ Attard Bezzina and Mulè Stagno

Now that Heritage Malta procured some funds, they should go ahead and restore ic-cimiterju tal-Lhud ir-Rabat. Thank you. Before handling human remains, however, the Jewish community in Malta should be consulted for obvious reasons.

j n ebejer

Feb 23rd 2009, 08:28

@Mr Guze Xerri
Many anti-semitic views are expressed by non catholics as much by catholics. A decleration of appartenence to a faith does not mean one is faithful. Many Catholics are the bearers of the tolerance manifesto and are persecuted for it.(Many were in fact perseuted with the Jews and had the same treatment ) So, no need to express yourself in a prejudiced generic manner against the RC's , Mr.Xerri.
You risk loosing your point in any argument you wish to express. In this case you had no point relevant to the case.
A possible solution could be that the bones be studied for any historical nformation which could be got from these- there could be an arrangement with the Jewish Antiquities Authority to carry out the studies themselves by their means -thus solving the handling of the bones by non jews and our problems of not having the financial and technical menas to do the studies and afterwards the bones be given the burial in the rite they deem fit allowing for possble future studies of the remains as deemed necessary by the Maltese Authorties.
Both communities are intelligent ones and am shure the solution will be found.

Muscat.Pat

Feb 23rd 2009, 07:38

Probably more than half the Maltese surnames denote Jewish connections, mine, on my mother's side included. This connection is the result of Holy Roman Emperor, asking the Jews under his reign, to either convert to Christianity or leave his Empire. Many converted to Christianity, including my mother's ancestors; others left the Island. Having said this, the trivial religious matter of Jewsh bones should have been tackled discreetly, at local level and without foreign interference. We welcome, and will continue to welcome and defend our Jewish compatriots, but please, rabbi's from New York, when across the sea in Tunisia, at Djerba, there is still the oldest Jewish comunity outside Jerusalem? I think the rabbi's at Djerba, God bless them, would have settled the matter without the dramatics of New York Rabbi's.Of course, if it hurts to have bones scattered, these should be confined to a blesssed place, though the blessing, I presume was already done with the original catacombs comunity.

R. Caruana

Feb 23rd 2009, 07:07

"Why drag the police and the OPM in this?"

Why indeed? Typical Heritage Malta arrogance, thinking that everything in Malta belongs to it alone, rather than to the nation and its people.

Alfred Farrugia

Feb 23rd 2009, 00:29

If these Jewish catacombs date back to around 1,500 years ago, and are found within a Christian complex, do we really know if they are called Jewish because the identity of the people who were buried there were Jewish by ethnicity, or by religion, or both? Could any of them have converted to Christianity? The ethnic and cultural rules as to who may call himself or herself a Jew are not so simple, and some readers may read more about this through other sources.

In addition to ethnicity and culture, one needs to consider the religious affiliations of the people who live in Israel. If one takes a look at the current population by religion in Israel, one finds that there are Moslems (16%), Christians (2%), and Druze (1.5%), in addition to the absolute majority of Jews who adhere to Judaism as the Jewish faith. Some may be surprised to note that the majority of the Christian population in Israel is Arab, the others consider themselves as Jews, ethnically.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/805277.html

Independently of the ethnic, cultural or religious differences and affiliations, the remains of those who were buried there need to be treated with respect.

Emma Xerri

Feb 22nd 2009, 21:51

I cannot see what the fuss is about. Let them bury the bones according to the Jewish rite.

So they were Maltese of Jewish faith and believe you me, their descendants are still here with us - just look at the Jewish last names, although they became Conversos - Azzopardi, Abela, Muscat, Zerafa, Delicata, Catania, (and most surnames bearing place names such as Genovese, Montreal etc), Zammit is found in Israel, so is Gat(t). I could go on and name you half of the Malta telephone directory.

After hundreds of years of intermarriage, you will be hard-pressed to find one Maltese who does not have some Jewish blood.

So it is laughable when I hear Maltese people uttering Anti-Semitic sentiments.

F. Camilleri

Feb 22nd 2009, 20:51

Why make a tragedy of a situation where common sense and a minmum sense of good will will turn the situation into an opportunity of strenghtening our friendship with another nation?

Why drag the police and the OPM in this?

What's wrong with giving the green light for the burial of the Jewish human remains using the Jewish rite?

Why create a problem when there is no cause for a problem?
Let a sense of goodwill and common sense reign among us.

Noel Cutajar

Feb 22nd 2009, 20:48

@Nathan Young - thanks for the information...

As for the Star of David - we in Maltese are so accustomed to wear badges that we do not know what is their significance...being red or blue is already a badge of discontent and hatred...I suffered injustices because of my political belief but each day makes me stronger...so yes even though I am an atheist I would wear the star of David whether it symbolizes my religious affiliation or political beliefs...respecting the dead means to respect your present and future existence...we have enough issues to concentrate upon,

M.Ives

Feb 22nd 2009, 20:37

Just as a matter of interest why a history lesson on cooks islands and the Maoires? we are talking about Jewish remains in Malta here and not Jewsih come Maoires and the long White clowd next time we propbably a history lesson on the weather! lol, it don't make sence unless there are some Jewish maories in New Zealand- Are there? would be interesting to know. Malcolm Ives - UK

Nathan Young

Feb 22nd 2009, 20:03

@Noel Cutajar
Neither the White man nor the Maories are the original inhabitants of New Zealand.
These were the Moriories who were nearly all killed and eaten by the warlike Maories who invaded N.Z.in their war canoes. When the Maories first saw the land on the horizon they thought it was a long white cloud. The Maori name for N.Z. is 'Aotearoa' (long white cloud)
There a few Moriories left, I think they live on Cook Island.

Don. Huskins

Feb 22nd 2009, 20:02

Please Mr.Bezzina don't sart bring in the yellow star of David, this is 2009 and not 1930's those days are history best to be forgiven BUT not forgotton., stick to the subject of Jewish cemetry, like this you are asking for more nasty comments from some individuals, and they could be any nationality not just from maltese.

victor vella

Feb 22nd 2009, 19:56

They left them there since the begining of the 19 century so why now? Secndly the so called experts came to Malta and expected that they do what they liked, I say one thing, The bones should be buried yes as these are remains of humans but they should be buried under our terms .Besides when did Israel do anything for us Maltese ?

Guze Xerri

Feb 22nd 2009, 19:15

Mainly Roman Catholic countries seem to be big adherents to anti-semitism.

Centuries of RC church indoctrination is hard to wash away, even in so called enlightened modern multicultural societies.

John Borg

Feb 22nd 2009, 19:14

Some people think that speaking out against intolerance is a luxury we cannot afford because we are allegedly facing direct threats to our identity and to our existence. As some of the comments below show, hatred breeds hatred and intolerance breeds intolerance. In a few years certain people will try to impose other aspects of their "values" on the rest of society. Because after immigrants what's next? Jews? Gays and lesbians?

Will Hooton

Feb 22nd 2009, 19:06

I am somewhat taken aback by the anti-semitic garbage in reply to a relativley innocuous report about a disagreement between the Jewish Community and Heriatge Malta.

For instance Joe Vassallo has to compare this situation to Gaza! I cannot remotley derive any relevance whatsoever between the two issues, other than a bout of mud slinging.
Although one can forgive armchair historians such as joseph cachia zeitun for being in blatant factual error, the same cannot be said of Miss.Yvonne Demanuel(Maltese.NZ), allegedly reading history. St. Paul would have most definetly NOT been amused! I am sure Catholic Malta knows something about the Ethic of reciprocity!

Stephen Florian

Feb 22nd 2009, 18:55

All please note: The Jewish Cemetery in Marsa next to the Cimiterju tat-Torok is in a sorry state with its marble sign barely legible with the soot from the Marsa Power Station. The Jewish Cemetery in Kalkara is not acessible to visitors although it was cleaned up in recent years. Not so long ago in the back yard of the Domus Romana there were piles of unburried HUMAN remains (belonging to the Arab cemetery) basking in the Maltese sun ever since the excavations of 1881. The Maltese Jewish Society should come out more in the open and enlighten Maltese society in general. The Azzopardi's, Mule's and Stagno's and many other surnames in the Maltese telephone directory should be made more aware of their roots.
Professor Wettinger has done great research in this field and all of you should read his book.As for the Rabat Catacomb Jewish site, stop treating it as a tourist landmark but treat it as the sacred ground it was intended for in the first place and give those bones a decent burial as should be done in many other instances.May they all rest in peace.

L. Attard Bezzina

Feb 22nd 2009, 18:42

@lgalea your negative comments against Israel and the jews are well known. Why are you and ur ilk harping trying to make an issue? We free Maltese citizens of the Jewish faith invited the experts.Do we need ur permission? Will you deny us this right too? are you versed in Catholic cannonical law, ie if you are a catholic, wouldn't you leave this to experts?Who said we wanted anything anything like Gold etc. All we want and will keep insisting as is our right and obligation is to have these bones buried. I never said "the bones in Rabat are ours" They belong to G-D only who created mankind in His Own Image. If you don't like it you can lump it. We do not intend claiming anywhere nor make settlements or such silly notions. and since these experts will be doing everything voluntary, they do not need any permits. We pay our taxes to the full and abide by every Maltese law. Do you? I shall start wearing a yellow Star of David so if I ever have the misfortune to meet people like you they will give me a wide birth. Since I too like Jesus am Jew

Doreen Magro

Feb 22nd 2009, 18:41

My question is if the bones were of a Roman Catholic community would the Jewish dligation treat us the same way.. i wonder? just a question nothing less and nothing more.
D.Magro (student) religious knowledge

John Borg

Feb 22nd 2009, 18:17

Apparently, given some of the comments below, the sky is the limit when it comes to intolerance in Malta today.

jacob ahar

Feb 22nd 2009, 18:14

@joseph cachia zeitun
According to medieval census there were more jewish and muslim families living in malta than christians.
@Miss.Yvonne Demanuel(Maltese.NZ).
I see from your comments that you need to study a lot more maltese history and I mean A LOT. besides contradicting yourself when you say
"If that was up to me I would gather these SO CALLED Jewish remains and have them reburied in Israel WHERE THEY BELONG!".
if you are doubting whether the bones are truly jewish why do you say that they belong in Israel?! and lastly St. Paul was not a catholic, he was a christian.

Margaret Richards

Feb 22nd 2009, 18:03

I got to say that reading some of these comments, took me right back to the days when Jews had to wear a badge on their sleeve to be derided upon. Why this hatred, this xenophobia??? Do we ever hear any negative things about the Jewish Community in Malta??? The Jewish Community is a very peaceful community, respectful of the law, and this was clearly shown by Mr. Attard Bezzina's statement that as soon as they were asked to leave the premises, they did just that. I would like to ask one thing - is this pure xenophobia (hatred or fear of foreigners) or pure anti-jewish sentiment??? I do hope that the Jewish Community in Malta will succeed in their endeavour.

Colette Farrugia Bennett

Feb 22nd 2009, 16:40

Let's show some respect towards ethnic diversity and gives these people the right for their burial according to their beliefs. Malta is not a Roman Catholic country only, please be realistic and realise that there are different ethnic backgrounds, and this is not recent.

Corinne Vella

Feb 22nd 2009, 16:34

"But the Jewish community from Israel and the U.S should stay out of it."
Apparently, the Maltese community in the USA should not.

lgalea

Feb 22nd 2009, 16:29

Evelyn Demanuele
While agreeing that bones should be respectfully buried, how do we know that they belong to jews?
Could not the cemetery have been used by other faiths?
Who authorized the delegation to come to Malta to carry out their "official business"?
Did they ask for permits?
Who are they to enter our archeological sites and demand what we should do?
Can anyone bear such arrogance?
No wonder the jews were expelled from a lot of cities and countries around the world throughout the centuries.

Mary Fisher

Feb 22nd 2009, 16:12

Am I right in thinking that there is a Jewish settlement in Mdina? There used to be one at the side of the Carmelite Church convent.

Noel Cutajar

Feb 22nd 2009, 16:07

Maltese diaspora? - @ joseph cachia zeitun - see your history books and see that the census done after the Norman invasion, there was a large jewish community living in Malta, which community was expelled from Malta similar to other nations under Spanish dominion in the 15th Century...apart from these facts, many names still resound of this bygone era. As for those who suggested that they should not bother about this issue...how about scattering the bones from the cemeteries where 'Christians' have been buried?

As to Ms Yvonne Demanuel (e), I would suggest that you try to bury the Maori in their homeland and do away with all the white invaders of their homeland...afterall, NZ is a Maori land and not white...as for religion, I prefer to be an atheist that this show of hypocricy and religious veil...censored again?

Guze Xerri

Feb 22nd 2009, 15:52

Some would be very surprised to know that a large percentage of the Maltese people are of jewish descent.

Converted, some through the use of force and coercion, to the Roman Catholic faith.

J Martinelli

Feb 22nd 2009, 15:39

Reading some of the comments below makes me blush with embarrassment.

Even the heading of the article leaves much to be desired even if taken from someone's quote.

Remains in a designated cemetery belong there and may only be re-interred according to the faith's rites. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Jewish community's request of letting scattered bones be properly buried.

Whether the remains are Jewish or not is not an issue. A Jewish burial rite is certainly preferable and more appropriate than letting the bones remain exposed and at the mercy of the elements.

Imagine if such a situation existed at the Addolorata Cemetery!

L.Attard Bezzina

Feb 22nd 2009, 15:28

I pity those readers who's remarks and xenophobic and anti-Semitic. Pathetic !Those who don't even know Maltese history and the ones who would take Malta back into the dark ages who want to throw the Jews and probably other ethnic groups out of Malta. Or are we to live in Ghettos? Shall I start to wear a Jewish badge now? What's wrong with giving these bones a decent burial? Wouldn't You do the same to other persons whatever their religon? @Ms Demanuele, I am surprised by your religous fervour, these bones belong to Maltese Jews, what does Israel have to do with it? Don't you know that Jesus and St. Paul were both Jews? There has always been a Jewish presence in Malta since time immemorial. The famous kantalina was written by a Jew (Kaxaru) and I can tell you facts about the Jews of Malta you who is reading (sic) history would be very proud of. Do you a Maltese living in NZ have any more rights than I living in Malta or the bones of these human beings? Wouldn't you want to give a decent burial to your brethren or family members if the same happened to them?

L. Attard Bezzina

Feb 22nd 2009, 15:10

Without steering a controversy here are some of my comments. We tried to keep the issue on as low a profile as possible. Others wanted to leak the information to the meida. Thousands of Jewish tourists came in vain to visit our Jewish Cultural heritage and go away empty handed as these Catacombs are closed for viewing. Why because they are in a terrible state! No rehibilitation at the Jewish Catacombs have so far been done by EU or other funds. The bones are around 2000 years old. That is Second (Jewish) Temple period. The place was already "discovered" in the 16th century and mentioned in Abela's desciption of Malta. I am quite aware that Mule & Stagno are Jewish family names. Jewish experts from "other countries" were brought over to assist since this is a delicate situation and they have worked on several similar sites elsewhere. to J.Vassallo thallatx il Hass mall Bass. At no stage whatsoever have we asked to remove the bones from the catacombs.The Jewish community have so far wasted over US $ 40,000 of it;s own funds waiting for the go-ahead for the work to start.

Miss.Yvonne Demanuel(Maltese.NZ).

Feb 22nd 2009, 14:24

If that was up to me i would gather these so called Jewish remains and have them reburied in Israel where they belong. Malta is a Roman Catholic country and i'm sure St.Paul would have agreed. Yvonne Demanuel (reading history)Jr.

joseph cachia zeitun

Feb 22nd 2009, 14:13

No jewish community ever lived or existed in MALTA, except for the couple of families that came in 1939 to MALTA .
The GOVERNMENT should and must apppoint neutral experts (not EU proposed) to do a DNA test and whatever the result will officially inform all , that whether are bones or gold found on site belong to the STATE and the STATE of MALTA will decide further actions without any interferance.

Evelyn Demanuele

Feb 22nd 2009, 13:50

I support the Jewish community and agree to let the Rabbis and the Jewish community in Malta give a proper burial to the deceased! That is the proper and repectful thing, that any decent human being should do to others!! It doesn't matter, that it is a Heritage site!! The cemetery should be given back to the Jewish community and let them take care of it! Remember what the bible teaches: Those who bless the Jews will be blessed and those who curse the Jews, will be cursed!! They have my 100% support in this and any other matter on these islands!!

Joe Fenech

Feb 22nd 2009, 13:49

Tell the Jewish community to go to Israel if they're not happy?

What? Are they going to be claiming things in Malta too?

Why do Jews always want a special treatment?

James Dimech

Feb 22nd 2009, 13:38

What delegation ? In some time I'll bet they will be building settlements in Rabat, saying that Rabat is some Jewish promised land by right. Send these guys off the island.

Denis Catania

Feb 22nd 2009, 13:29

Do we have any direct family members of the dead?? If not. The Maltese authority have the final say. Stop using religion to bully people around. Bones should not be scattered around no matter who they are. But the Jewish community from Israel and the U.S should stay out of it. unless Jewish people are being physically hurt or killed in Malta. Which I have faith that will never happen in Malta.

Albert Muscat

Feb 22nd 2009, 13:26

Like many other confessions Jews have all right to bury their death according Jews rites. ‘Jews scattered bones unless buried properly that may constitutes a threat for Israel’ national security’ I don’t actually know how, but that’s it. By the way you will not find the word Jew in the first eleven books of the Bible. The first time Jews are mentioned in the Bible, is in II Kings 16:6 (and then only in translations revised in the eighteenth century)
Does tracing dead Jews bones require USA ASSitance?

Carmel Taliana

Feb 22nd 2009, 12:14

This delegation shuold depart Malta immediatley and also made 'personae non grata'. this is our nation and our heritage from the time of our deliverance by the great of greats of saints St Paul(Magnus). Whether they are scattered or not let Malta Heritage to decide their fate and not some unknown foreign individual who presumably has no knowledge of the history of our nation.

Joe Grima

Feb 22nd 2009, 11:37

There should be no reason for any controversy on this issue. Heritage Malta does a great job. However, leaving bones scattered all over an ancient cemetery, for which it is responsible, is not on and the feelings of the Jewish community in Malta should be respected. Heritage Malta is rehabilitating the cemetery with EU funds. To begin with, during the rehabilitation process Heritage Malta should have Jewish experts from Malta or from Israel assisting it, in order to make sure that Jewish tradition is followed, Next, after the rehabtitation process is completed, Government should hand over the Jewish cemetery to whoever the Jewish community in Malta selects, in order to look after it and to keep the cemetery in good condition.

Michael Neville Cassar

Feb 22nd 2009, 11:32

Who so ever bones they are, put them to a proper state and let God decide for them. As for cheeky comments that hurts people feelings be careful J Borg because nobody got anything that he is going to keep in this world.

J.Briffa

Feb 22nd 2009, 11:19

@J>Vassello well said, there are other beliefs apart from hebrew or Jewish or whatever you want to call it. these people seem to think only of their own. We live in a catholic country and to me thats more important then Jewish bones! Julian Briffa (student)

Frans Sammut

Feb 22nd 2009, 11:08

The irony of it all is that both "Mule`" and "Stagno" are Jewish Sicilians names. I am sure the rabbis who visited Malta knew that and must have been struck by the irony of it all, and Mr Attard Bezzina too... on second thoughts, it is not an irony but a dramatic irony. If you don't know the difference just look it up in a dictionary of literary terms. It denotes the irony of a situation wherein the audience are aware of what is going on much more than the characters on stage. Incidentally these are the "shocking" subjects that theatre should be examining at St James Cavalier, not the "lyrical" aspect of paedophelia or whatever is the reason that is supposedly behind the need to stage 'Sadistic' plays like "Stitching." As a nation we still prefer to wallow in myths rather than investigate our real history.

v.pulis

Feb 22nd 2009, 11:02

As usual a trivial matter which should have been settled in a few days if not hours is about to explode into a nationwide controversy. human remains irrespective of religion, culture or race should be properly buried and done with. I think we have had ample time to examine the remains since they have been around for 1,500 years! so let's get it over with and get on with our lives and problems.

t. borg

Feb 22nd 2009, 11:01

@i. borg. first know the facts then comment.

Joe Vassallo

Feb 22nd 2009, 10:54

So the Jewish community is very concerned that human remains, hundreds of years old, have not been buried.

I wish they showed a fraction of this concern for the living “dead” – the population in Gaza, who their Jewish brothers have been bombing and starving to death.

Vincent Galea

Feb 22nd 2009, 10:33

Jewish remains to be left uncovered and scattered around is a " mocking of the dead " and a slight to others who have passed on and are now reposing in the same catacombs.
Once the glory of creation, and now in that ugly state scattered all around is manifesting disrespect to the image of God.

l borg

Feb 22nd 2009, 10:24

how do they know that the bones are of a jewish person?
also what right do people from other countries have to tell us what to do with the remains of our people
the local jewish community should have dealt with it without getting in other from overseas