May 31 – 1998

JUBILEE AD BY THE MAC

Ha’Aretz (English and Hebrew editions), Yedi’ot Aharonot, Ma’ariv, April 29 1998

 

NO!

– We will not desist from our struggle against those who threaten Israel’s democracy by proposing a law for religious censorship.

– We will not accept the efforts of any political or religious power to control our faith.

– We will not be frightened by libels and harassment from anyone.

– We will not permit those who refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Messianic Jewish movement to break us by spreading half-truths.

– We will not cease to believe according to our consciences and to proclaim our faith.

– We will not allow anyone to split the nation by disenfranchising us from our nation or from our national tradition.

 

YES!

– The members of the over 50 Messianic Jewish congregations in Israel and over 300 in the Diaspora love the State of Israel and are faithful to it.

– We believe that love for our fellow Jews and for our fellow man issues out of an awareness that God created all men in his image, and that he graced our people with a special calling.

– Our faith is the product of a free choice.

– Israel is a democracy, and should therefore recognize Messianic Jews to be citizens, with equal rights and duties.

– We believe that forgiveness is sins is a gift of God’s grace, not the reward for good deeds.

– We believe that Yeshua is the promised Messiah.

– We believe in the unity of the nation, not in its division.

– We aspire to live at peace with all mankind and to preserve our tradition as Jews and as Israelis in a Jewish State.

 

WE WISH THE WHOLE NATION A VERY HAPPY JUBILEE.

 

NISSIM ZVILLI AWAITING EVIDENCE

Hadashot Mishpaha, April 9 1998

 

The orthodox Lev L’Achim organization has agreed to bring MK Nissim Zvilli evidence that various missionary groups are continuing their efforts to convert Jews. In return, he told them that if this proof is forthcoming, he will re-submit his anti-missionary bill, as well as passing laws specifically targeting these groups. This development is in response to the fact that the Messianic Jews, many Evangelical groups and the Jehovah’s Witnesses did not sign the agreement with Zvilli, which was interpreted by most Israelis as a commitment to cease all “missionizing.”

 

POLICE QUESTION ANTI-MISSIONARY LEADER

Hadashot Mishpaha, HaModia, April 9; Ma’ariv, April 12 1998

 

The chairman of the Yad L’Achim anti-missionary organization, Rabbi Lifshitz, was called in for questioning by the police after a complaint was filed against his work. The campaign in question is the posting of photographs of 60 missionaries, accompanied by warnings, in public places in the Tel-Aviv area. Apparently the Jehovah’s Witnesses filed the complaint, saying that the posters “hurt their religious sensitivities.” Rabbi Lifshitz stated that before launching this campaign, lawyers were consulted to make sure that everything he planned was in the bounds of law; the police investigator, however, told him that if he continued using these tactics he would be charged with violating the law. Deeply upset, Rabbi Lifshitz turned to the Attorney General demanding that he find out who instructed the police to investigate Yad L’Achim. He also attacked the police for arresting anti-missionary activists, who were acting in accordance with the law, while failing to stop the missionaries themselves.

 

HEBREW UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF MISSION

Yom L’Yom, April 28 1998

 

It has come to light that the Hebrew University in Jerusalem has become the arena for open missionary activity. A group of missionaries has been at work for over a year, and is trapping souls for Christianity from amongst the students. The administration is apparently ignoring the phenomenon, treating it as part of the curriculum. Recently, however, a new student group has been registered, whose purpose is to oppose the missionary activity on campus.

University officials stated that according to their legal advisor, the missionary group’s activities are completely legal, and will not be interfered with. When asked why the Jewish “repentance” (return to orthodoxy) groups were not allowed on campus, the administration said that “they are fanatics who use scare tactics, unlike the missionaries who are direct, polite, honest and fair.”

 

NEWPAPERS USED:

Ha’Aretz: National daily, published in Tel-Aviv, mostly objective towards believers.

Yedi’ot Aharonot: National daily published in Tel-Aviv. Attitude to believers depends on the reporter.

Ma’ariv: National daily, published in Tel-Aviv. Politically tends to the right, mostly objective towards believers (depends on the reporter).

Mishpaha/Hadashot Mishpaha: Jerusalem religious weekly.

Ha’Modia: Jerusalem religious daily. Very hostile to believers.

Yom L’Yom: Jerusalem religious/political weekly. Hostile to believers.