Skip to main content

Why Israel’s culture minister defended Haifa’s Christians

Christians in Haifa demanded that the McJesus sculpture be removed from the Haifa Museum of Art, but they certainly did not ask for provocative Culture Minister Miri Regev to intervene.
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - DECEMBER 26:  (ISRAEL OUT) Miri Regev, Israel's Minister of Culture and Sport waves during a discussion to vote on the dissolution of the Israeli Parliament in the Knesset  on December 26, 2018 in Jerusalem, Israel. Party leaders in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, which has a thin majority, decided to dissolve the government and call for elections in April, eight months earlier than required by law.  (Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images)
Read in 

Once again, Minister of Culture and Sports Miri Regev made a big threat. Once again, she was blocked. On Jan. 10, Regev demanded that the general manager of the Haifa Museum of Art remove the McJesus sculpture, featured in an exhibition titled “Sacred Commodities.” According to Regev, “The cheapening of symbols sacred to the different religions and their many believers around the world by using them in an act of artistic protest has no legitimacy and cannot serve as a work of art in a cultural institution supported with state funds.” What Regev was actually insinuating was that if the piece was not removed, the budgetary sword wielded by her office could very well be raised. But then Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber informed her that she may not deny the museum support from her ministry, solely because of the work’s content.

The artwork in question was created by Finnish artist Jani Leinonen. It depicts Ronald McDonald, the iconic clown of the McDonald restaurant chain, in the position of a crucified Jesus. The artist was attempting to challenge consumer culture and the infatuation with predatory capitalism, which he believes has reached a level of genuine religious adulation. The Haifa Museum of Art borrowed the piece from a gallery in Finland, and it has been on display since August 2018. But it is only now, one month before the end of the exhibition, that it actually caused an uproar. It happened after a photo of the sculpture was shared tens of thousands of times on social media. Apparently, when it was exhibited at the Finnish gallery, no one considered Leinonen’s work to be particularly controversial or groundbreaking. In Israel, however, any attempt to use religious symbols in art could be interpreted as sacrilege. And, in fact, it was by Haifa’s Christian community.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.