Anti-Semitism sermon title rankles Maine Jews

PORTLAND, Maine -- A Baptist minister's provocative choice for the title of his sermon about anti-Semitism and the nation of Israel for yesterday's service has outraged members of the Jewish community in Portland .

The title of the sermon, "The Only Way to Destroy the Jewish Race," appeared in an advertisement for the First Baptist in the church announcements section of Saturday's Portland Press Herald.

The advertisement included references to two books of the Bible but offered no explanation about the content of the sermon other than the title.

"It's offensive, it was done in poor taste," said Rose Wohl , president of Congregation Bet Ha'am, a reform synagogue in South Portland.

However, the sermon by the Rev. Philip C. Andrukaitis, pastor of the First Baptist Church, carried a pro-Jewish and pro-Israel theme, according to a copy of the sermon provided by the pastor.

Andrukaitis said he had hoped the title of the sermon would prompt people who oppose Jews and Israel to call him or stop by the service so he could offer them another viewpoint.

"I hoped to generate dialogue, but not dialogue of this nature," Andrukaitis said.

He apologized for upsetting the Jewish community and said he would write letters conveying his regrets to local papers and area synagogues.

Andrew Tarsy, regional director for the Anti-Defamation League, called the pastor a friend of the Jewish community.

"The ad was alarming and insensitive," Tarsy said, "but his intentions were to educate people about anti-Semitism."