The Media Review is an English-language synopsis of articles that were originally published in the Israeli press. The articles, most of which were written in Hebrew, focus on Messianic Jews and Christianity. This synoptic translation is a Caspari Center exclusive. The Media Review reports what was said in the press irrespective of its accuracy, and the information does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Caspari Center. On occasion the editor includes explanatory matter in brackets, preceeded by the words [Editor’s note:].

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During the week covered by this review, we received 8 articles on the subjects of attitudes towards Christianity, anti-missionary activities, and Christian sites. Of these:

1 dealt with attitudes toward Christianity

5 dealt with anti-missionary activities

2 dealt with Christian sites

This week's Review is largely taken up with the religious press's report of a "missionary campaign" against Yad L'Achim.

Yediot Ahronot, February 19, 2010

In an article about Rabbi Mordechai Elon, in the news recently for alleged sexual misconduct, Meir Shalev looked at aspects of Migdal (which means "tower"), the rabbi's place of residence, naming it "Migdal of forgiveness, Migdal of admiration, Migdal of Miriam [Mary] of Magdalene," correctly understanding that the name "Magdalene" alludes to the town of her birth. Shalev notes that once Gregory the Great made the determination that the woman who anoints Jesus' feet in Luke 7 was a repentant adulteress and thus to be identified with Mary Magdalene, "the foundations of forgiveness, admiration, sex, and sin were laid."

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Makor Rishon, February 18; BeKehila, February 19; HaMachaneh HeCharedi, February 18; HaModia, February 19; HaShavua BiYerushalayim, February 18, 2010

Yad L'Achim are irate over a comparison of their methods to those employed by the Gestapo and KGB in an article in Calev Myers' e-newsletter (HaModia, February 19; HaShavua BiYerushalayim, February 19; BeKehila, February 18; HaMachaneh HeCharedi, February 18). Yad L'Achim attorney Yoram Sheftal immediately sent Myers a letter protesting the "anti-Semitic notice" and demanding an apology and payment of damages to the tune of NIS 1,000,000 to the anti-missionary organization. Although the article was immediately removed from the site, Myers complained to the Ethics Committee of the Israeli Bar Association about Sheftal's action, claiming that he had ignored the customary professional courtesy of addressing him as a fellow lawyer. Sheftal responded by charging that Myers is an "apostate" [meshumad] and he was addressing him as such rather than as a lawyer, the clear implication being that an apostate cannot in fact be regarded as a lawyer. If the apology and damages are not forthcoming, Sheftal warned, his client will take all the "legal means at his disposal" to compel Myers to comply.

Yom L'Yom (February 18) carried last week's story of the "missionary soup kitchen" in Tel Aviv.

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BiDlatayim, February 16; Makor Rishon, February 18, 2010

Advising those who "haven't gone skiing this year" that they can find different views and sounds in the Galilee, Nurit Grinberg in BiDlatayim (February 16) suggested a visit to Capernaum, the place where "Yeshu found a home and anchor in the last years of his life" and where archaeologists have discovered the house of "Peter, the prince of the Apostles."

According to a report in Makor Rishon (February 18), some sectors of Israeli society are up in arms over the fact that a list of 60 locations proposed by Prime Minister Netanyahu as worthy of receiving national heritage site status favors such Christian sites as churches (three each in Nazareth, Bethlehem, and the Old City of Jerusalem, two in Capernaum, and that on top of the Mount of Beatitudes), and the baptismal location on the Jordan, over both biblical and Jewish sites. "The Cave of the Machpelah is not included, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is included. [These are] the sites about which our youth are supposed to be educated."

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