February 25 – 2008

Caspari Center Media Review………….February 25, 2008

 

During the week covered by this review, we received 12 articles on the subjects of anti-missionary activity, Christian Zionism, the Pope and the Vatican, and anti-Semitism. Of these:

 

3 dealt with anti-missionary activity

1 dealt with Christian Zionism

4 dealt with the Pope and the Vatican

4 dealt with anti-Semitism

 

 

 

Caspari Center Media Review………….February #2, 2008

 

During the week covered by this review, we received 12 articles on the subjects of anti-missionary activity, Christian Zionism, the Pope and the Vatican, and anti-Semitism. Of these:

 

3 dealt with anti-missionary activity

1 dealt with Christian Zionism

4 dealt with the Pope and the Vatican

4 dealt with anti-Semitism

 

 

 

The focus of this week’s Review continued to lie with the Pope’s alteration of the “anti-Jewish” Good Friday prayer, together with various aspects of anti-Semitism.

 

 

Anti-missionary Activity

BeKehila, February, 7; Yediot Bika’at Ono, February 8; Gal-Gefen, January 31, 2008 

Opening with the question, “A legitimate right or mere provocation? Decide for yourselves,” Gal-Gefen (January 31) ran the story of the “missionary” campaign in Or Yehuda as reported by the religious papers (see previous Review). In line with its initial open-mindedness, it also appended a “response from the Yeshua movement”: “The team about which you are talking does not belong to our congregation and therefore I cannot express an opinion with respect to this case.” A picture of “one of the missionaries who arrive in Or Yehuda” was included, but is unfortunately too indistinct to enable clear identification. A second local paper, Yediot Bika’at Ono (February 8), reported the same story, adding that “flyers on the subjects of Christianity and the New Testament” were distributed by “six members of the organization ‘Jews for Jesus [Yehudim l’ma’an Yeshua].’” This piece was accompanied by a picture of a close-up of Jesus’ face on the cross.

 

 

In response to the recent expansion of “missionary” activity, Yad L’Achim has begun its own campaign “amongst the general population, which is insufficiently aware of the danger of the mission and its characteristics” (BeKehila, February 7). The campaign is taking the form of “a poster hung on a pole in the street which proclaims in large letters: ‘Lost – Jew’ and in smaller letters: ‘The honest person who finds him is requested to contact the emergency service of Yad L’Achim.’” This announcement, accompanied by an explanation, is being printed in the secular media. Yad L’Achim elaborated on the need for such a campaign in light not only of the “120 missionary branches” working in the country but also the “ignorance prevalent in schools and the complete lack of education in the Jewish religion amongst the alienated youth who are drawn by the mission’s enticements.”

 

Christian Zionism

Haaretz, February 8, 2008

According to this report, 32 public bomb shelters funded by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jew were dedicated in a ceremony in Sederot this week. The cost of the renovation of the shelters amounted to 6.3 million shekels. Although the shelters will not protect the residents against the Kassam rockets, whose arrival is only preceded by a fifteen- second warning – insufficient time for people to reach the shelters – they will serve the city’s residents “in situations of protracted firing.” During the daytime, the shelters will be used as synagogues, youth clubs, etc.

 

The Pope and the Vatican

Jerusalem Post, February 14; Haaretz, February 11; Yediot Ahronot, February 11; Globes, February 12, 2008

Amongst the Jewish groups expressing their objections to the Latin prayer reintroduced by Benedict XVI are Rabbis from the Conservative Movement worldwide. According to a report in Haaretz (February 11), the Rabbinical Assembly issued a resolution which states in part: “‘We fear that the new Latin text … may cast a harsh shadow over the spirit of mutual respect and collaboration that has marked these past four decades, making it more difficult for Jews to engage constructively in dialogue with Catholics.’” The Jerusalem Post (February 14) similarly reported that, “The Rabbinical Assembly, which represents 1,600 Conservative rabbis across the globe, said it was ‘dismayed and deeply disturbed to learn of reports that Pope Benedict XVI has revised the 1962 text of the Latin Mass, retaining the rubric, ‘For the conversion of the Jews.’”

 

 

The rift between the Vatican and the Jewish community deepened further this week with Benedict’s declaration on Shabbat that, “‘There are cultures in which women are discriminated against merely because they are women. This inequality finds its expression in religion and in family and social pressure’” (Yediot Ahronot, February 11). This claim accompanied an official announcement stating that, “The Sidur [the Jewish Prayer Book] contains a prayer which denounces the woman [‘Blessed be God, who has not made me a woman’]” (Globes, February 12). According to the latter report, “The Jew hurried to be shocked and sent his retort in return: “‘Priests cannot marry’” – to which we can expect the Catholic response: ‘They may not be able to marry, but at least they don’t have these ugly beards.’ The Jewish reaction won’t be long in coming: ‘Maybe they have beards, but at least they don’t wear dresses like homosexuals!’ The Church: ‘They may wear dresses, but at least they don’t have long noses.’”

 

 

Anti-Semitism

Haaretz, February 12; Yediot Ahronot, February 10; Ma’ariv, February 11, 12, 2008

The apprehension of latent Christian anti-Semitism was justified by recent events in Warsaw (Haaretz, February 12). At a special day of prayer organized by a right-wing Polish movement against slander against the Church and in protection of Polish, attended by around a thousand people, was characterized by anti-Semitic pronouncements: “‘The Jews are attacking us. We must defend ourselves.’” The Polish nationalist sentiments included outright denunciations of Jews in general, Jews from Brooklyn in particular, Poles who “are willing to sell them [the Jews] everything in exchange for money,” a Polish “righteous among the nations” who now serves as Minister for Jewish Affairs; and a paper which, in the nationalists’ eyes represents the Polish left-wing, and its editor, Adam Mikhnik.

 

 

Similar sentiments were also expressed in Italy recently, with the anonymous publication of a “black list” of university professors throughout the country “accused” of friendship with the “Zionist lobby” (Yediot Ahronot, February 10). Although the majority of the 162 names on the list are Jewish, it also includes people who in the past have “expressed identification with Israel.” In Italy, the list has been given the nickname H5NI – the code for bird flue. The black list, which apparently points the finger at those academics who protested the proposed academic boycott of Israel in Britain, was posted on an anti-Semitic website – a site which the authorities quickly acted to remove over the weekend. It was also denounced by figures across the political spectrum, and the Minister of the Interior has requested that the police open an immediate investigation into the matter. The list has further increased the Italian Jewish community’s apprehensions, already heightened by the call by radical left-wing organizations for a ban on the book fair in Torino because “Israel was invited as a guest of honor” and the pope’s “conversion prayer.”

 

 

Anti-Semitism is also on the rise in Venezuela. According to a report in Ma’ariv (February 11), the phenomenon is “part of [President] Chavez’s oppressive regime. Since his rise to power the police have twice invaded complexes which contain a school and sports and cultural center belonging to the Jewish community. When a community is marked in such a way and harassed, especially by the authorities, a danger exists that there will be those who will interpret such action as a justification for violence towards Jews.” Chavez himself has repeatedly likened Israel to Hitler and the Nazi movement.

 

 

Nor is Israel free from the disease (Ma’ariv, February 12). Naphtali Friedman was planning to turn a two-story house in Peki’in, a predominantly Druze village in the north of the country, into a hostel for IDF soldiers who, during their stay, could learn about the place and its surroundings. While it was undergoing renovations, the house was arsoned – the police believe by a gang of youths responsible for a series of similar acts against the property of both Jews and Christians involved in financial dealings with Jews in the region. The police have proved incapable of finding anyone responsible for the long list of crimes committed.

 

 

 

Anti-missionary Activity

BeKehila, February, 7; Yediot Bika’at Ono, February 8; Gal-Gefen, January 31, 2008 

Opening with the question, “A legitimate right or mere provocation? Decide for yourselves,” Gal-Gefen (January 31) ran the story of the “missionary” campaign in Or Yehuda as reported by the religious papers (see previous Review). In line with its initial open-mindedness, it also appended a “response from the Yeshua movement”: “The team about which you are talking does not belong to our congregation and therefore I cannot express an opinion with respect to this case.” A picture of “one of the missionaries who arrive in Or Yehuda” was included, but is unfortunately too indistinct to enable clear identification. A second local paper, Yediot Bika’at Ono (February 8), reported the same story, adding that “flyers on the subjects of Christianity and the New Testament” were distributed by “six members of the organization ‘Jews for Jesus [Yehudim l’ma’an Yeshua].’” This piece was accompanied by a picture of a close-up of Jesus’ face on the cross.

 

 

In response to the recent expansion of “missionary” activity, Yad L’Achim has begun its own campaign “amongst the general population, which is insufficiently aware of the danger of the mission and its characteristics” (BeKehila, February 7). The campaign is taking the form of “a poster hung on a pole in the street which proclaims in large letters: ‘Lost – Jew’ and in smaller letters: ‘The honest person who finds him is requested to contact the emergency service of Yad L’Achim.’” This announcement, accompanied by an explanation, is being printed in the secular media. Yad L’Achim elaborated on the need for such a campaign in light not only of the “120 missionary branches” working in the country but also the “ignorance prevalent in schools and the complete lack of education in the Jewish religion amongst the alienated youth who are drawn by the mission’s enticements.”

 

Christian Zionism

Haaretz, February 8, 2008

According to this report, 32 public bomb shelters funded by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jew were dedicated in a ceremony in Sederot this week. The cost of the renovation of the shelters amounted to 6.3 million shekels. Although the shelters will not protect the residents against the Kassam rockets, whose arrival is only preceded by a fifteen- second warning – insufficient time for people to reach the shelters – they will serve the city’s residents “in situations of protracted firing.” During the daytime, the shelters will be used as synagogues, youth clubs, etc.

 

The Pope and the Vatican

Jerusalem Post, February 14; Haaretz, February 11; Yediot Ahronot, February 11; Globes, February 12, 2008

Amongst the Jewish groups expressing their objections to the Latin prayer reintroduced by Benedict XVI are Rabbis from the Conservative Movement worldwide. According to a report in Haaretz (February 11), the Rabbinical Assembly issued a resolution which states in part: “‘We fear that the new Latin text … may cast a harsh shadow over the spirit of mutual respect and collaboration that has marked these past four decades, making it more difficult for Jews to engage constructively in dialogue with Catholics.’” The Jerusalem Post (February 14) similarly reported that, “The Rabbinical Assembly, which represents 1,600 Conservative rabbis across the globe, said it was ‘dismayed and deeply disturbed to learn of reports that Pope Benedict XVI has revised the 1962 text of the Latin Mass, retaining the rubric, ‘For the conversion of the Jews.’”

 

 

The rift between the Vatican and the Jewish community deepened further this week with Benedict’s declaration on Shabbat that, “‘There are cultures in which women are discriminated against merely because they are women. This inequality finds its expression in religion and in family and social pressure’” (Yediot Ahronot, February 11). This claim accompanied an official announcement stating that, “The Sidur [the Jewish Prayer Book] contains a prayer which denounces the woman [‘Blessed be God, who has not made me a woman’]” (Globes, February 12). According to the latter report, “The Jew hurried to be shocked and sent his retort in return: “‘Priests cannot marry’” – to which we can expect the Catholic response: ‘They may not be able to marry, but at least they don’t have these ugly beards.’ The Jewish reaction won’t be long in coming: ‘Maybe they have beards, but at least they don’t wear dresses like homosexuals!’ The Church: ‘They may wear dresses, but at least they don’t have long noses.’”

 

 

Anti-Semitism

Haaretz, February 12; Yediot Ahronot, February 10; Ma’ariv, February 11, 12, 2008

The apprehension of latent Christian anti-Semitism was justified by recent events in Warsaw (Haaretz, February 12). At a special day of prayer organized by a right-wing Polish movement against slander against the Church and in protection of Polish, attended by around a thousand people, was characterized by anti-Semitic pronouncements: “‘The Jews are attacking us. We must defend ourselves.’” The Polish nationalist sentiments included outright denunciations of Jews in general, Jews from Brooklyn in particular, Poles who “are willing to sell them [the Jews] everything in exchange for money,” a Polish “righteous among the nations” who now serves as Minister for Jewish Affairs; and a paper which, in the nationalists’ eyes represents the Polish left-wing, and its editor, Adam Mikhnik.

 

 

Similar sentiments were also expressed in Italy recently, with the anonymous publication of a “black list” of university professors throughout the country “accused” of friendship with the “Zionist lobby” (Yediot Ahronot, February 10). Although the majority of the 162 names on the list are Jewish, it also includes people who in the past have “expressed identification with Israel.” In Italy, the list has been given the nickname H5NI – the code for bird flue. The black list, which apparently points the finger at those academics who protested the proposed academic boycott of Israel in Britain, was posted on an anti-Semitic website – a site which the authorities quickly acted to remove over the weekend. It was also denounced by figures across the political spectrum, and the Minister of the Interior has requested that the police open an immediate investigation into the matter. The list has further increased the Italian Jewish community’s apprehensions, already heightened by the call by radical left-wing organizations for a ban on the book fair in Torino because “Israel was invited as a guest of honor” and the pope’s “conversion prayer.”

 

 

Anti-Semitism is also on the rise in Venezuela. According to a report in Ma’ariv (February 11), the phenomenon is “part of [President] Chavez’s oppressive regime. Since his rise to power the police have twice invaded complexes which contain a school and sports and cultural center belonging to the Jewish community. When a community is marked in such a way and harassed, especially by the authorities, a danger exists that there will be those who will interpret such action as a justification for violence towards Jews.” Chavez himself has repeatedly likened Israel to Hitler and the Nazi movement.

 

 

Nor is Israel free from the disease (Ma’ariv, February 12). Naphtali Friedman was planning to turn a two-story house in Peki’in, a predominantly Druze village in the north of the country, into a hostel for IDF soldiers who, during their stay, could learn about the place and its surroundings. While it was undergoing renovations, the house was arsoned – the police believe by a gang of youths responsible for a series of similar acts against the property of both Jews and Christians involved in financial dealings with Jews in the region. The police have proved incapable of finding anyone responsible for the long list of crimes committed.