CASPARI CENTER MEDIA REVIEW…………654 AUGUST, 2000 #2
The number of articles found in the Israeli media’s coverage of matters relating to
Messianic Jews, the Mission and other Christian matters, came to a total of 26. Of
these, nine articles dealt with missionary and anti-missionary activity, five articles
were on Catholic and Protestant opinion regarding the future of Jerusalem in a peace
agreement, two articles were on what seems to be a land scandal involving the Greek
Patriarch, two articles related to the American presidential campaign, and two articles
were on Jewish attitudes concerning Messianic Jews. The remaining five articles were
on miscellaneous topics dealing with Christian, Arab or Jewish matters on their own
merit.
The Cradle of Christianity Exhibit (Muza, July-August 2000)
The article describes an exhibition currently showing at the Israel Museum which
includes writings and archaelogical finds from the 4″ -— 7″ centuries AD, the period in
which the Byzantines ruled over the Holy Land and Christianity was slowly becoming
the religion of the Byzantine empire.
The exhibit consists of three parts. The first deals with Jesus’ life and times. The other
two relate to the church’s structure and liturgy, to pilgrimage to the Holy Land and to
the monastic movement of the time. Also on display is Christian art from this time
period. Most of the items in the exhibit were found in Israel, and many are being
shown for the first time.
“Missionary activity is on the rise in the Jezreel Valley region” (Hadash BaEmek,
04/08/00)
According to this article in a regional weekly, three young people distributing
material of a missionizing nature in the Migdal HaEmek Mall were attacked by
passers-by, and ultra-orthodox activists were severely beaten in the process. The
police intervened and reportedly kept the three from being “lynched”, later collecting
testimonies from them.
Orthodox and ultra-orthodox sources claim they will put their utmost effort into
keeping these missionary movements from strengthening, and they will spare no
means in getting them out of the region.
Symposium dealing with the Jewish tendency to seek spiritual fulfillment in other
religions (The Jerusalem Post, 16/08/00)
In a symposium on the topics of conversion, “borrowing” from religions other than
Judaism, and multiple religious perspectives, which took place at the Elijah School for
the Study of Wisdom in World Religions, professors from various universities
discussed the Jewish tendency to seek spiritual fulfillment in other religions whilst
trying to hold on to their Jewish identity. It was suggested that many Jews turn to
other religions, cults and sects, among which Buddhism, Hare Krishna and Messianic
Judaism were mentioned, because they are unable to find a spiritual home in Judaism.
Possible reasons for this tendency were discussed, one of which was the defensive
reaction of traditional Judaism to the influences of other religions. Dr. Alon Goshen-
Gottstein, director of the Elijah School, stated that as far as Jewish religious leaders
are concerned, it is better for a Jew to be completely secular than to seek spiritual
fulfillment in another religion. It was the opinion of Goshen-Gottstein that should a
Jew find someone who appears to be on a higher spiritual plane, there is value in
benefiting from the wisdom of this person, learning from other religious traditions
without engaging in them, and being inspired by beliefs without accepting them. He
emphasized the importance of Jews maintaining their main allegiance to Judaism.
An Opinion on the Vatican and Missionary work (HaZofeh, 20/08/00)
In this article in a religious daily, Dr. Zvi Fenton expressed his opinions on the
Vatican, while sending out a warning about missionary work in the land. He stated
that the foundation for the Christian faith was still alive and well (!): if the Jews don’t
start believing in the Christian Messiah soon, He will not return.
Dr. Fenton warned that any activity initiated by any Christian organization purposing
to reconcile Jews and Christians by supplying basic necessities to the poor, should be
completely rejected. He accused such organizations of contributing millions of dollars
to government offices and officials and even yeshiva institutions, and of “meddling”
with the Ethiopian community. He claimed that the money is coming from believing
Christians headed up by famous missionaries in the USA. He said that, to his dismay,
“most of these work through non-profit organizations (amutot) and are supported by
Jewish orthodox rabbis who believe in ‘reconciliation and dialog’, especially if it is
backed up with a substantial contribution of dollars.” Dr. Fenton claims to have
records of these things.
Yad L’achim Chairman Taken for Questioning, Three Activists (Hamodia, 20/08/00
and 23/08/00)
According to these articles in a religious daily, Rabbi Shalom Dov Lifshitz, chairman
of Yad L’achim, was taken in for questioning after the “missionary organization”
Jehovah’s Witnesses filed “false complaints” against a number of key Yad L’achim
activists for harrassment in a public place (the incident is mentioned in a previous
media review).
The three activists accused are facing a possible year’s imprisonment should they be
found guilty. Their trial is scheduled to start September 4″”. According to the articles,
orthodox lawyers who were called for an emergency consultation were shocked at the
speed with which the Israeli police reacted to the complaint, and were trying to come
up with legal ways to fight the police prosecutor for what they claim was a democratic
protest. The activists say that this is the first time the State of Israel has recognized the
Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious organization.
Yad L’achim posted the following protest flyer: “Who is being accused? Not only
Yad L’achim activists are being accused, but also the [Jewish] martyrs of ages past.
The saints of the [Spanish] Inquisition and of the crusades, who were burnt at the
stake crying the ‘Shma’; the saints of the Holocaust whose souls rose up to heaven
singing the ‘Ani Maamin’. Every Jew who believes in the Creator of the world and
His Torah — is being called to trial. Who is not being accused? The soul hunters, the
missionaries who spend days and nights trying to cause Jewish souls to change their
religion. Therefore, every Jew, whom our Torah demands to act against conversion,
must demand that there be legislation to forbid the activity of the Mission in the land,
and must join the struggle in person and in finance.”
My Sister, My Spouse (The Jerusalem Post, 22/08/00)
In this article, penned by David Parsons, public relations officer at the International
Christian Embassy, the issue being discussed is sovereignty over the Old City of
Jerusalem. Yasser Arafat, chariman of the PLO, is quoted stating that in his quest for
Jerusalem he represents the interests, not only of Palestinians, but of Moslems and
Christians everywhere. The writer expresses his disappointment over the fact that
Israeli leaders did not object to this claim, and remarks that “there are plenty of
Christians who would beg to differ with the wily PLO chief.” He goes on to say that
the thought of Arafat ‘liberating’ the holy sites, is “alien if not repulsive” to most
Christians. He claims that most of the Arab Christians living in East Jerusalem
privately prefer living under Israeli rule rather than Moslem-dominated Palestinian
Authority.
Parsons goes on to delineate the reasons why tourists and pilgrims, not to mention the
majority Jewish population of the Old City, would probably benefit from Israeli
control of the holy sites. He also backs up Israel’s claim to the city on grounds of
historical, biblical, religious and cultural grounds. Drawing on the Genesis story of
Abraham’s introduction of Sarah to pagan rulers as his sister in order to protect
himself, Parsons goes on to explain: “In one sense, Jerusalem is a sister that can be
shared according to its biblical calling as a ‘house of prayer for all peoples,’ whether
Jewish, Christian, or Moslem. Israel knows and has respected this faithfully.”
“But on another, higher level,” Parsons goes on to say, “Jerusalem is the wife of the
Jews only. They are vested with a unique relationship with this city common to no
other faith or people. They are the proper guardians of its sacred treasures, and the
rightful heirs to its divine destiny. Christians know and respect this — or at least they
would if they simply opened their Bible. And woe to Arafat or anyone else who
would desecrate or sever that holy bond.”