New Tactic Against the Gospel in Israel

The group known as Yad L'Achim is at it again. 

The anti-Messianic Jewish organization now has a new tactic.  They are now contacting mayors of cities in Israel, trying to convince them to crack-down on Messianic Jews and others who are sharing the Gospel. 

What's their new tactic?...saying that the pamphlets handed out by some groups are an environmental hazard!

Below is an article printed by a group called 'The Yeshiva World News'.  Maoz does not in any way agree with their take on this situation.  But we share their article to give you an insight into the persecution we are fighting against, every day, and to encourage you to pray that this newest tactic will not be successful:

Mayors Heed Yad L’Achim Call to Use Cleanliness Laws Against Missionaries 

(Friday, December 10th, 2010)

With the exception of Tel Aviv, cities around Israel have agreed to cooperate with a Yad L’Achim initiative that aims to use little-enforced municipal bylaws to battle missionaries.

In a letter to Israel’s mayors, Yad L’Achim chairman Harav Shalom Dov Lifschitz noted that one of the strategies of the missionaries is to flood an area with their pamphlets, littering sidewalks, public squares and streets in violation of city cleanliness bylaws.

“It is incumbent upon every Jew to do what he can to stymie missionaries, to prevent them from succeeding in their ultimate goal, the destruction of the Jewish people,” he wrote.

Toward this end, Rav Lifschitz asked local leaders to enforce municipal bylaws that forbid “dispersing or distributing announcements in a public place” due to the litter and harm to the ecology they cause.

“In the event that missionaries scatter their pamphlets, we ask that you insist on enforcement of the law,” Yad L’Achim’s chairman wrote. “This includes bringing up violators on charges and imposing fines.”

The letter concludes: “It is your merit, and duty, to save Jews from shemad.”

Rav Lifschitz enclosed with his letter shocking figures on the extent of missionary activity in Israel in recent years, as well as pictures showing missionaries in action, distributing massive amounts of material that not only aimed to destroy Jewish souls, but also the appearance of major cities around the country.

By and large, the Yad L’Achim appeal was well-received. The mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat pledged not only to pass it on to the appropriate department head, but to follow up and ensure that it was carried out with maximum efficiency.

“I am hopeful that the response meets with your satisfaction,” he wrote.

The deputy mayor of Ramat Gan, Avihu Ben Moshe, said “the law will be enforced against anyone who violates it.” He asked Yad L’Achim to update his office on any illegal activity and promised that “I will deal with it personally.”

The mayor or Rechovot, Rachamim Malul, wrote: “I have passed on your letter, together with my recommendation, to ensure that this phenomenon is dealt with according to the law.”

The office of Haifa’s mayor acknowledged the importance of Yad L’Achim’s letter and said it would be passed on to the relevant parties in City Hall.

The deputy mayor of Ashdod, Rabbi Mordechai Leiberman, emphasized that “we see eye to eye on the severity of the phenomenon of distributing missionary pamphlets” and promised to be vigilant in enforcing city by-laws.

The one dissenting voice came from the Tel Aviv-Jaffa City Hall which refused to accede to the request. Responding on behalf of the municipality, attorney Boaz Bahrav wrote: “We recognize the Chassidim of Breslov who distribute religious material on the streets of the city and enjoy freedom of expression.” Therefore, he added, “it is doubtful that we would enforce Clause 11 of the law because of the principle of freedom of expression.”

Rav Lifschitz expressed satisfaction at the positive responses of the majority of mayors, but found it astonishing that Tel Aviv would compare legitimate Jewish activity in a Jewish country to destructive missionary activity. He turned the attention of the city’s legal department to a Supreme Court ruling (467/75) that Messianic Jews are, contrary to the misleading name, not Jews.

(YWN Israel Desk)


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Update: This new effort is also on Yad L'Achim's website, but only in Hebrew.  Below is a translation done by Maoz Israel:

"One of the most popular tactics of 'mission' organizations is mass propaganda by distribution of brochures in bulk on city streets. The 'missionaries' scatter thousands of brochures in public places, on sidewalks, roads, public squares, playgrounds, etc. In this way many souls are hunted from among the Israeli nation.”  These words started a letter by the chairman of Yad L'Achim, Rabbi Shalom Dov Lifschitz, to a list of city mayors in Israel.

Rabbi Lifschitz wrote to each of the city mayors that “It’s incumbent upon us, all the Jews, to prevent the 'missioners' from every possible type of propaganda, and thus bring to a halt their ultimate purpose, forced conversion and destruction of the people of Israel” and at the same time to turn their attention to the greatest public and ecologic obstacle, derived from this worthless habit.

In this framework the chairman of Yad L'Achim proposed that the city mayors take advantage of the municipal law of “keeping order and cleanliness” which forbids “scattering or distribution of advertisements in a public place”. Should the missionaries scatter brochures, etc., make sure that the municipal authorities will take the suitable steps against the missionaries, including imposing of fines and prosecution. 

The letter ends in the words: “It is your privilege and your obligation to save souls from destruction” to which is attached a list of shocking figures regarding the missionary activity in Israel during the recent years, and also pictures taken by the people of the unit that struggles against the mission within Yad L'Achim, who demonstrate the method of action of the missionaries which strikes in the souls of the public and simultaneously destroys the character of the city centers.

The letters fell on listening ears; “I will continue to follow up after your request and will take care that it will be taken care of with efficiency and faithfully. I’m full of hope that the response that you’ll get will comply with your request”, writes the mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barakat. 

“This enforcement will be done against anyone who will violate the law”, promises a letter from the deputy mayor of Ramat Gan, Avihu Ben Moshe, and adds, : “You are welcome to keep my office updated regarding this illegal activity and I will personally take care of it.”

“Your letter, together with my recommendation, will be transferred to the supervision department of the municipality, in order to take care of this phenomenon according to the law”, writes the city mayor of Rehovot, Rachamim Malul. 

The office of the mayor of Haifa gives thanks for this important appeal and informs that the administration of the issue has been forwarded for an examination by those in charge. 

Ashdod deputy mayor, Rabbi Mordechai Liberman clarifies that “we see eye to eye on the severity of this phenomenon of distribution of missionary brochures” and promises: “we’ll stand on guard by enforcing the municipality’s by-laws.”

The only discordant voice was that of the municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo, which refused to comply with the request. In the five paragraph long answer which pretended to be innocent, written by Adv. Boaz Baharav, answering the appeal on behalf of the municipality, was written, among other things, “we are familiar with the followers of Rabbi Braslav who distribute religious items throughout the city and who enjoy freedom of action and speech.” The letter goes on and determines that “even if we would face a phenomenon of distribution of advertisements (distinguished from pamphlets), it is greatly in doubt that we’d enforce section no. 11 as mentioned above because of the principle of freedom of speech.” 

Chairman of Yad L'Achim, Rabbi Shalom Dov Lifschitz, expressed his satisfaction regarding the positive response from most of the city mayors, but together with that criticized strongly the surprising response of the Tel Aviv municipality which chose to compare legitimate Jewish activity in a Jewish State, to destructive and dangerous missionary activity. 

Rabbi Lifschitz asked the staff of Tel Aviv’s legal department to notice a verdict by Supreme Court Judge, Tzvi Berenzon (High Court of Justice 467/75) which determines that the missioners – the “Messianic Jews” – are not Jews, and that “Judaism has vomited them out and that they’ll not be accepted in the Israeli public.”

TAKE A STAND AGAINST HATRED AND SUPPORT THE PERSECUTED MESSIANIC JEWS IN ISRAEL