Category Archives: anti-missionaries

US Department of State International Religious Freedom Report for 2012 – Israel Improves Record on Messianic Jews

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usdos-logo-sealThe US Department of State International Religious Freedom Report for 2012 has an overview of religious freedom issues in all countries where religious minority groups have experienced problems. Israel has been featured in the report again this year with its record showing signs of improvement for, what the US DoS estimates is, 20,000 Israeli Messianic Jews.

Improvements and Positive Developments in Respect for Religious Freedom

There were no violent attacks against Messianic Jews

However there were violent attacks on other minority religious group members, and a stigma against Messianic Jews deeply embedded in society.

Societal attitudes toward missionary activities and conversion were generally negative. Most Jews opposed missionary activity directed at Jews, and some were hostile to Jewish converts to Christianity. Messianic Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses were harassed regularly by Yad L’Achim and Lev L’Achim, Jewish religious organizations opposed to missionary activity. During the year, Jehovah’s Witnesses reported assaults, threats of violence, and other crimes to the police. On July 22, a Beersheva resident assaulted a 62-year-old woman, breaking her nose by butting his head against hers when she and another woman shared their faith with him outside his front door. The police arrested the perpetrator at his house on August 28, the same day the victim identified him to the police.

US Embassy officials sought to raise the profile of religious hate crimes and see them investigated properly. Also the previous practice of the Ministry of Interior using Yad L’Achim’s missionary blacklist to refuse people entry into Israel has, it seems, been ended.

Section IV. U.S. Government PolicyShare

Embassy officials engaged in detailed discussions on religious freedom with the government, as well as with religious and civil society organizations. The ambassador hosted and attended many events with Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze, and Bahai religious leaders, including on many of their holidays. The U.S. embassy consistently raised concerns about religious freedom with the MFA, the MOJ, the police, the Chief Rabbinate, and other government agencies. Issues included expanding the list of officially recognized religious groups; investigating religiously motivated acts of violence against minority religious groups, including Messianic Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses; investigating vandalism of mosques and churches; upholding women’s rights against religious or social coercion in public spaces and on buses; and ensuring that the practice of preventing entry into the country based on the MOI’s lists of suspected “missionaries” was indeed ended.

Under the the section Improvements and Positive Developments in Respect for Religious Freedom, it is noted.

The MOI did not arrest, detain, require bail for entry or a written pledge to abstain from missionary activity, or refuse entry to anyone due to their religious beliefs. There was no indication that the MOI collected data on alleged missionaries from antimissionary groups and used it to deny entry to the country to foreign individuals. There was no official statement that the policy had changed, but no incidents were reported since the July 2011 action of a Jerusalem district court judge who reprimanded the MOI for the illegal procedure.

It is a welcomed sign of healthy Israeli democratic institutions seeking to give all citizens of Israel their full rights and protections under the law, irrespective of their religious faith commitments.

Yad L’Achim Promote Missionary Book!

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bneibrakYad L’Achim are inadvertently advertising a missionary book titled Forbidden: What the rabbis don’t want you to know. They falsely claim the book is an incitement against the rabbis and Gedolei Yisrael where in fact the premise of the book is that the rabbis are scholarly and wise enough to have understood what the book is presenting.

The book was distributed by the Grace and Truth Congregation in the northern Israeli town of Kiriat Shemonah according to one Israeli news source.

Yad L’Achim have increased the book’s profile and appeal by giving an even racier profile and are proving the truth of the title as they are “warning the public not to peruse the destructive material, but to destroy it immediately”.

Yad L’Achim repeatedly use other people’s freedom of speech, religious expression and preaching, a freedom which the also exercise, as an excuse to call for Israel to impose restrictions upon religious freedom in the State of Israel. Time and time again Israel’s politicians have rightly rejected the calls for legislation that would draw towards the Talibanization of the state religion.

Yad L’Achim is being inundated with complaints from outraged Bnei Brak residents over missionary brochures that are appearing in their mailboxes. The brochures, titled “Forbidden – What the Rabbis Don’t Want You to Know,” incite against Rabbis and Gedolei Yisrael.
One caller to Yad L’Achim’s hotline expressed his anguish at the fact that his young son had brought such material into their home after picking it out of their mailbox. “I felt it was a violation of the sanctity of our home,” he said. “How could the postal system deliver such poison?”
Callers were told to immediately destroy the brochure. At the same time, Yad L’Achim distributed a brochure of its own throughout Bnei Brak warning the public not to peruse the destructive material, but to destroy it immediately.
Yad L’Achim’s brochure, titled “Shemad in Bnei Brak,” warns: “In many neighborhoods in our city, missionary material has been distributed in mail boxes by the ‘Messianic Jews’ group. Their brochure is a trap! Their real goal is to convert Jews to Christianity. If this missionary material reaches your hands, destroy it immediately!”
Yad L’Achim officials said this week that the missionaries have once again shown that their gall knows no limits, when they can dare to target Bnei Brak for their aggressive campaign of missionary shemad.
“The goal is clear: To infiltrate the homes of residents of the city of Torah and Chassidus.”
Yad L’Achim emphasized that it will continue to stand guard, using all legitimate means to prevent the missionaries from gaining a foothold, not just in Bnei Brak but anywhere in Israel.
“This is another example of the urgent need for meaningful legislation against the activities of missionaries in Israel,” officials said.

 

New Yad L’Achim Hate-Poster

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Here is the latest hysterical hate-poster from Yad L’Achim.

Note the violent image of someone either falling off a cliff or being pushed off a cliff. Are they encouraging some one to do this to Meno Kalisher, pastor of Beit Geula Congregation in Jerusalem, or claiming this is what Kalisher does to others!

meno k yad L

Here is a translation of the hate-poster:

Meno Kalisher!

Is he a Messianic Jew?

A search of the internet proves that Meno Kalisher, who leads the Assembly and introduces himself as a Messianic Jew is:

-      An ordained Baptist priest and a known Missionary!

-      The main economic source that finances his activity is the Christian body that ordained him to priesthood!

-      Meno Kalisher himself defines his church as “Evangelical Baptist”. If you do not know the full meaning of this title, just ask any Christian. He surely knows.

-      The teaching of the group under the leadership of Meno Kalisher, justifies the persecution of the Jews in all times:

“The main reason for every tribulation (upon the Jews), whatever it may be, is a result of the rejection of Jesus as a king and Savior of Israel”

“As long as the nation of Israel does not accept Jesus, it remains under the threat of punishment in any moment” [Meno Kalisher]

SO Than, Who is Meno Kalisher?

A Jew?

Kalisher is a Baptist priest under the disguise of a Jew who is working for the church and is searching for you, that you may be the next victim…

Meno Kalisher….Not for us!

Note that he words: Church, Missionary, Baptist-priest, are all derogatory terms in Israel.

Kalisher himself notes that “The aim of this group [Yad L'Achim] is to raise a protest among the people and hopefully a physical attack against us.” 

I doubt very much if Kalisher “ justifies the persecution of the Jews in all times”  and I would like to see where his quote is from. If it is from him, I totally disagree with it.

Yad L’Achim often get it wrong as it does here, a Baptist minister is not כומר- priest, a non-conformist Baptist pastor would be better translated into Hebrew as רועה הקהילה.

British Fascists Adopt Anti-Missionary Tactics

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British fascists seem to be adopting tried and tested tactics, (favoured by the anti-missionaries in Israel), as they seek to chase left-wing campaigners from their neighbourhood. They tell them they are not welcome, they do not live in the area, shout false accusations and use the shout-scare tactic.They are bullied out of the area because a group of people have taken it upon themselves to be the self-declared guardians of their area and the political-thought-police for all their neighbours.

For years Israeli Messianic Jews and foreign Christian missionary visitors to Israel have faced this kind of tactic. They are told they are not welcome, they do not live there (though for many Israeli Messianic Jews they are being stalked near their homes).

Here are the clips from London, be warned there is a fair bit of bad language.

Compare with the tactics of anti-missionary, anti-messianic peyilim here and here.

If we are to rightly condemn the shameful bullying by BNP activists against left-wing campaigners, why should we be silent when we see the same kind of bullying intimidation in Israel by religious-thought-police seeking to silence others on behalf of a population that didn’t appoint them either!

New Yad L’Achim Leader Warns A Free Concert Could Convert You!

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Yad L'Achim main office in Jerusalem

Yad L’Achim main office in Jerusalem

Yad L’Achim have had their radio adverts banned before, see the racist one here and the Galei Zahal Radio Station ban which has now been over-turned after new wording for the advert has been court approved. One of the new leaders of Yad L’Achim, Rabbi Shmuel Lifschitz, claims that a free concert would be enough to get someone to change their religion. What a load of old hysterical nonsense. However we do agree that offering material inducements to change a religion is wrong and invalidates any genuine religious-faith discovery. However, that said, groups like Chabad are not shy in offering their own inducements to join their group, such as free Shabbat meals in their Chabad Houses all over the world. That said, the Yad L’Achim radio ad is fair enough now, but the hysteria, lies and exaggeration will come once someone calls Yad L’Achim’s trained scaremongers.

Anti-Missionary Campaign Due to Start on IDF Radio

Rabbi Shmuel Lifschitz, one of the leaders of the Yad L’achim anti-missionary organization, said, Friday, that a public-awareness campaign against missionaries is about to start on Israel Defense Forces Radio, following a recent Supreme Court decision determining wording that was acceptable to the station. Two years ago, the station rejected wording that said, “Neshama [play on words between a term of endearment and the Hebrew word for soul -ed.], don’t let them trick your soul.” The wording approved by Supreme Court President Asher Grunis is, “If they try to get you to change your religion by granting you a bonus, it’s a criminal violation. For details, contact Yad L’achim.”

Rabbi Lifschitz said the bonuses include free concerts and that there are hundreds of missionaries in Israel who try to disuade youth from Judaism while telling them they can retain it. He noted that missionaries recently set up a large missionary center at the Kanut Junction, southeast of Tel Aviv, near the city of Gedera, and said anti-missionary laws are full of holes.

Read article here.

Arad Anti-Messianics Alter Approach

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Gur hasidm pick home of Messianic Jew in Arad (Photo: E. Beckford)

Gur hasidm pick home of Messianic Jew in Arad (Photo: E. Beckford)

We have received reports that the situation for the Messianic Jewish community in Arad, southern Israel, has changed. The Yad L’Achim sponsored anti-Messianic activists from the Gur dynasty have stopped demonstrating in front of the homes of Messianic Jews. However, the harassment has moved to a different setting. Bogus complaints have been made to the city council about illegal building work, when no such work is taking place.

Nevertheless old habits die-hard and we are told that “the occasional physical harassment of believers still occurs now and then, especially as we walk around the city.”

We will keep an eye on this situation and keep on reporting any infringement of the civil rights of Israeli citizens who are targeted for their religious conviction that Yeshua is the Messiah.

New Testament Ripping Israeli Politician Reprimanded by Knesset Ethics Committee

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The Caspari Centre Media Review have a translation of an article from HaModia, January 15, 2013 which reports that Memeber of Knesset  Michael Ben Ari of the National Religious Party was reprimanded by the Israeli Knesset’s Ethics Committee for breaking it’s rules by ripping up a New Testament for the camera’s, which we reported here and the background story here. Ben Ari is unrepentant and sought to blame historic persecutions for his action. Even worse he claimed he did not rip the New Testament but rather missionary material, a spurious line of argument that was rejected by the Ethics Committee.

 

The Knesset’s Ethics Committee has reprimanded MK Michael Ben Ari for his conduct last July when he tore a New Testament in public. The Committee accepted allegations that Ben Ari’s act “severely offended the religious feelings of Christians and believers of other faiths in Israel and around the world, and incited to hatred and loathing … casting a black mark on the Knesset as a whole.” Ben Ari said in response that “he did not tear the Christian New Testament but acted to destroy missionary material [bound together with the NT] that was sent by a Protestant missionary body for the purpose of converting the Jews and obliterating them.”

The Ethics Committee examined the allegations and Ben Ari’s response to them and decided to reprimand him, explaining that in tearing the New Testament, he violated the Knesset’s ethical code of conduct.

Arutz7 carried this story here 

Battle of the Chess Clubs in Arad

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Gur hasidim invade chess tournament held at Messianic club in Arad. (Photo: E. Beckford)

Yad L’Achim’s partners in Arad, the Gur Hasidim, invade chess tournament held at Messianic club in Arad. (Photo: E. Beckford)

Yad L’Achim claim a victory in the battle of the chess clubs in the southern Israeli town of Arad. Since 2004 Yad L’Achim have harassed the Messianic Jews of Arad with tactics such as mass protests outside private homes of Messianic Jews in the town, blockaded the King’s Men chess club and sent in bully boys to intimidate elderly Russian Jews who played at the club. There have been arson attacks, vandalized cars, people attacked, stalked, intimidated and death threats. A full and detailed record of Yad L’Achim’s war against Messianic Jews in Arad can been see here.

Yad L'Achim heavies sent in to intimidate the missionaries in Arad

Yad L’Achim heavies sent in to intimidate the missionaries in Arad

Yad L’Achim claim the King’s Men was not an authentic chess club:

A missionary center in Arad that masqueraded as a chess club

The club, they claim, had an ulterior motive, however Yad L’Achim also set up a chess club with an ulterior motive, however that is ok because they believe they have soul-rights on all Jews whether they are religious like them or not. The impression given is once they opened their centre, (which masqueraded as a chess club but exists to give a taste of authentic Judaism), the intimidation teams ended, they did not. In fact they continue to this day outside the private homes and meeting places of Arad’s Messianic Jews.

Initially, Yad L’Achim positioned its teams in front of the “chess club” to warn people away. Then, deciding to fight fire with fire, it opened its own modern, state-of-the-art chess club which offered members a taste of authentic Judaism.

Yad L’Achim do not tell the truth when they claim this amazing victory for their more Kosher Chess club:

Recently they were forced to throw in the towel and close down their club.

The King’s Men Chess Club has told RPP that it has not closed and still exists, meeting in an alternative venue, and is planning for a tournament for this next weekend. Yad L’Achim researchers are the ones that should throw in the towel because they managed to get most of their facts wrong!

It does not suit Yad L’Achim’s self-promotion purposes to tell the truth that they are not as effective or as brilliant as they believe themselves to be. Yad L’Achim bullied the local council to pass certain by-laws aimed at the King’s Men and got them to ban the King’s Men Chess Club from setting their tables and chairs outside their rented unit, as all the other vendors freely did. The King’s Men did not have enough room to function so they found a bigger venue and left the smaller one. Yad L’Achim gets it wrong… again!

Missionary Product Shocks Yad L’Achim

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 L’Achim have introduced me to the world of ‘Missionary products’, which I hadn’t realised even existed, till this story of the Yeshua tallit. Now if there be some Messianic Jews or others who wish to have a tallit with Yeshua written on it, well fair enough, it is free choice if they know what they are getting. However to sell or give away a tallit with the name of Yeshua on it, in Jerusalem to the public,without notification of what is on it, is a different story.

Yad L’Achim report:

But when one of the tourists opened the tallis bag, he was shocked to discover a startling message on its collar. What began as the standard blessing one recites when putting on the tallis concluded with words paying homage to G-d “who filled the entire Torah with Yeshu[a] the messiah and covered us all in his righteousness.”

The tourist quickly contacted the Jerusalem branch of Yad L’Achim and handed in the tallis. “We are turning to you in the hope that you will alert the broader public,” he said. “We witnessed innocent Jews getting pulled over to this booth and being given the tallis to take home, with absolutely no awareness that a quintessentially Jewish item had been turned into a missionary product.”

Yad L’Achim get all hissy as they report “innocent Jews getting pulled over to this booth” and being given a tallit which had been turned into a missionary product. What is a missionary product, would a tallit like this achieve a missionary goal and what are these people innocent of!? I doubt very much it would achieve a missionary goal, all it serves to do is annoy more people and alienate more to the message they are seeking to promote. I do however get the main gist of Yad L’Achim’s irritation, however I’d laugh if I saw someone selling a crucifix with Buddha on it,  but then that is just my sense of humour.yehi kippah

Would Yad L’Achim get upset with people having a kippah with the Chabad Meshichistim’s Yechi prayer declaring their Messiah written on it, or even a football team logo on it? Maybe not since Yad L’Achim activist Klugger chanted it here.

Binyamin Regional Rabbis Fear Christian Money!

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christian-network-marketers-money-crossAnti-Messianic and Anti-Christian group Jewish Israel announce, to their obvious glee, a Halachic ruling about accepting Gentile (Christian) support, either monetary or volunteer here. This document starts by declaring its desire to be of global application:

פעילותם של נוצרים אדוקים בדתם בארץ ובחו”ל

The religious activities of devote Christians in Israel and abroad.

A document of principles regarding the acceptance of monetary and manpower assistance from Christian organizations or individuals has been formulated by the Committee of Binyamin Region Rabbis. Members of the committee include Rabbis Yechezkiel Kupfeld, Jonathan Blass, Elchanan Bin Nun, Ben Zion Amar, and Yair Frank.

The halachic document which can be read in full in Hebrew is addressed to the residents, rabbis, and community activists and leaders of Judea and Samaria.  In addition, it has been disseminated to rabbis throughout Israel.

It goes on to claim that accepting most kinds of support from Christians or even any appreciation of the Christian faith, would be to empower idolatry. As I read this I just imagined the storm caused if this were written by a Christian pastor about Judaism!

… Very sensitive prohibitions with regards to avodah zarah, empowering Christianity, participation in Jewish-Christian gatherings, expressing admiration for Christian belief, and expressing gratitude are addressed in an unequivocal manner by the committee.  The rabbis involved express great concern about the blurring of the line between Christianity and the Jewish faith, the dangers of strengthening Christianity in Eretz Yisrael, and problems inherent in becoming dependent on Christian sources.

There is a sense in which we at RPP agree that any money offered to support any cause, must be offered with no strings attached. Religious conviction, worship and service of the Almighty must not be coerced or induced by material gain, or else it is not a genuine religious conviction and defeats the object of true faith. However, that said, the Binyamin Regional Rabbis demonstrate just a tad of hysterical intolerance to Christians and not a little fear that such love and support will be enough to sway many Israelis into being convinced that Jesus might very well be for them if his followers are not the rampant anti-Semites many of their forefathers were!

Sadly such intolerance of other faith convictions demonstrated by this overbearing decree only plays into the hands of those who hate Israel and rub their hands with glee at the prospect of such rabbinic decisions nullifying Christian support of Israel. Such rulings will achieve what anti-Zionist vicar Stephen Sizer and the Christ at the Checkpoint conference has thus far failed to obtain, the alienation of Evangelical Christian supporters of Israel from Israel.