Editor says, what if Judas Iscariot really was the brother of Jesus? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s). This story was published in the August 2011 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.

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Editor says, in this post we examine some ideas proposed by the British Jewish Scholar Hyam Maccoby (1924-2004) in his excellent book "Judas Iscariot and the Myth of Jewish Evil" (1992).
Wikipedia reports ~ Maccoby also wrote extensively on the phenomenon of ancient and modern Anti-Semitism. He considered the Gospel traditions blaming the Jews for the death of Jesus and especially the legend of Judas Iscariot (which he believed to be a product of the Gentile Pauline Church) as the roots of Christian antisemitism.
The photo is of Luca Lionello playing Judas in the Passion of the Christ (2004).

Robbie Taylor commented on 2011-08-21 13:37:54 ~ What's especially strange about the whole "Christ-murderers" myth about the Jews is that the whole POINT of Jesus's life is to be sacrificed! Judas is simply ensuring that the plan moves forward

Matthew Dattilo commented on 2011-08-21 15:47:48 ~ I think it's a stretch to place the roots of Christian anti-Semitism at the feet of Judas' betrayal. Yes, "Christ killer" was the term used for centuries, but it was always a reason arrived at in reverse, much the same way that some fundamentalists begin at a conclusion (the Earth is 6,000 years old) and work backwards. European history from the fall of Rome to the 20th century is replete with stories of persecution of minorities or groups who were just "different"; that is, not white and Christian. I believe the persecution of Jews in Europe and elsewhere has its roots in their non-Christian identity more than the actions of one Jewish traitor in a Bible story.

Eric Oppen commented on 2011-08-21 15:49:12 ~ I always thought that the Nazis' objection to Jews was that they were an indigestible lump---that they couldn't ever become Germans and were always, only loyal to their own. That said, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to hear them bringing Judas' betrayal up.

Jeff Provine commented on 2011-08-21 19:54:23 ~ Nazis ought to do well enough breaking apart direct challenges to their false assertions, no matter how accurate.

Jared Myers commented on 2011-08-21 23:46:11 ~ What ultimately betrays NAZI beliefs/ignorance about Jews and Christianity (and the RCC as well, perhaps) is that Christian doctrine teaches that it was the wickedness of mankind in general that condemned Christ to death, NOT just the Jews or the Romans or any one particular ethnic group. In orthodox Christian doctrine, the term "Christ-killer" applies to all those for whom Christ died. Interesting Hitler never picked that up...