Nathanael Kapner
| Nathanael Kapner | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Milton L. Kapner 5 September 1950 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Other names | Milton Kapner |
| Ethnicity | Jews |
| Known for | Protesting the "War on Christmas" |
| Board member of | Brother Nathanael Foundation |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Denomination | Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia |
| Parent(s) | Solomon & Rebecca Kapner |
| Website | http://realjewnews.com |
Milton Kapner, more commonly known as Brother Nathanael Kapner, is an Orthodox Christian street protester, activist, and former monk who became famous for vocally opposing the so-called War on Christmas.
Background
Kapner was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Jewish parents on 5 September 1950. Although his parents were religious, they were also accepting of other ideas including Christianity, and he credits his parents listening to Ed Ames' recording of the Christmas carol "O Holy Night" with later inspiring his conversion to Christianity.
In the late 1960s, he joined a psychedelic rock band called Rebecca and the Sunnybrook Farmers , but left the band after the violinist who he fell in love with refused to marry him. After leaving the band, Kapner started working as a salesman and became active in Jews for Jesus. In the late 1980s, he was baptized into the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. He joined the Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline, Massachusetts as a novice, an experience he likened to a 1960s commune. He subsequently left to join another monastery.[1]
Activism
In 2005, after learning about Walmart's decision to replace "Merry Christmas" on its signs with "Happy Holidays", Kapner became enraged and asked the bishop to let him start a protest movement. The bishop refused and he ended up leaving the monastery and disrupting public settings with Christmas-themed protests, which in several cases led him into trouble with the law. Despite no longer being a monk, he still dresses like one.[1] Kapner's protesting style is colorful, and he was once barred from a ski resort for dancing to James Brown's "I Feel Good" in the middle of a ski run. In response to his legal issues, Kapner has said "Now, as a salesman for Jesus Christ, I operate on a whole new corporate policy....I will go to jail for Christ. I'll take them all on, little old me with my cross."[2]
The Chancery of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops has condemned Kapner's activism, saying that they are "saddened by the state of his soul" and have called on him to refrain from posting on the Internet and to lead a life of repentance.[3]
In addition to protesting in favor of public Christmas celebrations, Kapner also protests against what he sees as Jewish control of the media and the government. However, he denies being an anti-Semite and says his criticism is limited to Zionism and the religion of Judaism only. He believes that the Mossad was behind 9/11, and says "The Jewish House Of Rothschild has been in control of the world for a very long time, their tentacles reaching into many aspects of our daily lives beginning with their global financial power."[4][5]
Kapner has also advanced conspiracy theories regarding the closure of Dillon Dam Road.[4]
References
External links
- Real Jew News, Kapner's website