The Union of Jewish Students of France (UEJF) has dropped Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary as spokesfolk against anti-Semitism in France (Hat tip: Valierie at E-Nough!):

Jesus and Mary have been taken off ads against anti-Semitism in France.

The change followed pressure from major Jewish and anti-racist organizations in France that claimed the campaign would end up doing more harm than good.

"I understand they wanted to shock, and there's a need to shock," said Sammy Ghozlan, president of the National Bureau For Vigilance Against anti-Semitism. "But the problem is that it's not committed Christians who commit these anti-Semitic acts. Far from it."

What is most disappointing about this misconceived project is the trite thinking behind it:

The campaign was not intended to be provocative*, Olivier Bensimon, Colorado's creative director, told Le Monde.

"The insult 'dirty Jew' is the most banal and the most stereotypical. But insulting Jesus insults everybody," he said.

[Yonathan Arfi, president of UEJF] also thought the campaign broke new ground.

"We want to say, like the model for campaigns about road safety, that anti-Semitism is everyone's business," he said.

Observe the speed limits and don't cut off a Jew just because he's a Jew.

* Mr. Bensimon is being disingenuously coy:

"These visuals, even if they are not going to be published, question and continue to ask questions of all of us, and that is the principal aim of our action," [Arfi] said in a statement Sunday.

Sounds intentionally provocative to us.