Shlomo Moran holds the Bernard Elkin Chair in Computer Science. He has been speaking out for Messianic Jews, following Yuval Azulai’s devastating article in Haaretz about persecution and bigotry faced by Israel’s Messianic Jews by Yad L’Achim.

The Caspari Center notes:

Prof. Shlomo Moran wrote to Haaretz (October 16), saying that prior to reading the original article, he had visited the Stasi Museum in Berlin which documents the activities of the East German secret police. “Despite the difference in the scope of activity, a close resemblance exists between the methods of the Stasi and Yad L’Achim. The former’s goal was to ensure the continuation of the rule of the Communist Party; the latter’s aim is to ensure the continuation of Orthodox Jewish hegemony over the right to determine who belongs to the Jewish people and who does not. Similar to the Stasi in its day, all methods are kosher in the eyes of Yad L’Achim – including following up on people, informing on them, harrassment, incitement, and the denial of the ability to earn an income from citizens whose beliefs the organization does not like. Today, we are ‘only’ talking of Messianic Jews. But the past teaches us that other streams of Judaism are also not immune. It appears as though we are approaching the time when every decent Jew – especially Israeli citizens – will need to carry a sign on his body signifying, ‘I too am a Messianic Jew.’”

It is worth bearing in mind and repeating that most Israelis already do feel the pain of Messianic Jews under attack.

In 2008, 15-year old Israeli teenager Ami Ortiz was nearly blown to pieces by a bomb disguised as a Purim package.

Following this week’s news that a man has been arrested under suspicion of carrying out this heinous crime, Leah Ortiz writes:

We can testify that the nation as a whole condemns this man’s actions. We have received telephone calls and communications from Israelis throughout this past year and a half, from every town, city, and village in Israel. They have been secular, orthodox and ultra orthodox Jews, and the message has been the same – shock, grief and anger over the incident, and the need to let us know that they condemn this vicious act. They all blessed Ami with wishes for a full recovery, and hopes that he would succeed in life and fulfil his dreams.

Posted by Yeze.