“Jews are deeply disturbed by this ghastly revival of medieval antisemitism that led to unimaginable violence and suffering,” WJC CEO Robert Singer said.

NEW YORK—The World Jewish Congress has condemned as anti-Semitic the revival of a folk tradition of burning an effigy of Judas in the town of Pruchnik, in southern east Poland.

The WJC reacted to reports that on April 19th, an image of Judas Iscariot made to look like a stereotypical Jew had been hanged and burned in effigy in the town of Pruchnik in south-eastern Poland as a part of an Easter ritual with hundreds of people including children taking part.

The tradition, first reported in the 18th century, was revived on the Christian holiday of Good Friday. In the past the Catholic church has banned the practice over the aggression involved.

“Jews are deeply disturbed by this ghastly revival of medieval antisemitism that led to unimaginable violence and suffering,” WJC CEO Robert Singer said.

He added : “One can only wonder how John Paul II who taught Catholics in his native Poland and all over the world that antisemitism is a sin against God and man wpuld have reacted to this flagrant rejection of his teachings. We can only hope that the Church and other institutions will do their best to overcome these frighful prejudices which are a blot on Poland’s good name.”