Israel: Jewish Ultra-Orthodox group launch campaign against Christian missionaries and Messianic Jews
I hold to what some would term as Zionist Theology, whatever the heck this actually means, seems to vary according to folks preconceived prejudices.
For me, it includes not running with the anti-Israel propaganda pack, but equally does not equate to a blank-cheque approach towards Israel, as all nations err. Even given this, I’ve still been accused of being an extremist.
Anyway, within Israel, the Ultra-Orthodox Jews – especially Yad L’Achim – continue to persecute and harass Christian Missionaries and especially Messianic Jews. The most recent justification given for their action, is that Christians and Messianics constitute a security risk.
A hard-line Jewish ultra-Orthodox group in Israel has launched a campaign against Christian missionaries and Jewish Christians, known as Messianic Jews, who they view as a security threat.
The group Yad L’Achim confirmed Wednesday, June 29, that one of its latest activities wasa noisy demonstration near the home of Serge and Naama Kogen, a native Israeli couple,who allegedly “converted” a Jewish teenager to Christianity.
Sunday’s protest in Mevasseret Zion, a suburb west of Jerusalem, came despite public denials by the couple that they forced 16-year-old Donna Lubofsky to have faith in Yeshua (Jesus).
The couple said Donna expressed interest in attending their congregational worship and they had “obtained permission from her mother.” The Kogens also claimed they helped the girl to overcome alcohol abuse and other potentially self-destructive behaviors amid tensions with her parents.
Donna said in published remarks that the Kogens “never tried to get me to believe. They are just good people.”
Yet, Yad L’Achim argued that “shocked parents quickly contacted” its “countermissionary department, which investigated the case and found that it was serious.”
Yad L’Achim added that its lawyers visited the family “to help them file a police complaint against the missionary for harassment.”
The group also said it would pressure Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, to introduce tough legislation banning missionary activities in the Jewish state.
It already published an advertisement in Haaretz newspaper warning that “Messianic Jews are pulling the wool over our eyes”. “The time has come to legislate a law that will put the brakes on the missionaries’ destructive activities!”, the June add concluded.
The group has also organized a mass protest against missionaries.
I wish these ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups would simply leave Christians and Messianics alone, to get on with their lives in peace. What is it exactly that groups such as Yad L’Achim are so terrified of?
Tags: Christian Persecution, Israel