"The Jews are Coming" is a Monty Python-esque sketch comedy show about the history of the Jewish people. Produced by Israel's public broadcaster, Kan, the irreverent program skewers characters and events in Jewish history, from Abraham to Hitler and the burning bush to the West Bank.

Responses to the show, which is filled with Israeli chutzpah and very little subtlety, have been equally outspoken. Religious leaders and politicians have protested, calling for its creator and the Kan broadcasting company to be investigated for violating Articles 170 and 173 of the penal code, which prohibits public offense to faith or religious sentiments.

The storm has reached such heights that Kan has filed a police complaint over death threats against those involved in the program. Kan spokesperson Ilanit Zvilli told Al-Monitor, "'The Jews are Coming’ is a successful, quality satirical program. Freedom of expression and freedom of creation are supreme values in public broadcasting, as is self-directed humor. We will continue in our public mission without fear."

More than 1,000 people demonstrated in Jerusalem on Aug. 17 against the show. One of them was Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, head of the Elon Moreh Yeshiva. "Is there no limit to the disdain and humiliation of the Torah?" he thundered. "We live in a Jewish state and in a Jewish state we must honor [our forefathers], our tradition, our beliefs."