Saturday, July 21, 2007

Jews for Judaism!

Here's some interesting Jewish news from Arutz-7:

In Kiryat Yam, the Yad L'Achim anti-missionary organization has succeeded, after a long struggle, in closing down a Jehova's Witnesses missionary center. Yad L'Achim had marked the Kiryat Yam office building as one of four main Jehova's Witnesses centers in the country, learning that the cult held twice-weekly lectures there for dozens of people. Pressure by Yad L'Achim and other tenants in the building finally became unbearable, and the missionary center closed down.
Yad L'Achim is an anti-missionary group that seeks to protect and save vulnerable Jews from those who want to 'save' them. There are over 100 missionary groups operating in Israel, all trying to deceive young Jews, mostly new immigrants, the poor and the elderly, into accepting foreign religions. They often try to disguise their Christianity in Jewish terms to confuse Jews who know little about their own faith. 'Jews for J' missionaries often try to avoid terms like 'Christ' and 'saved', wear 'stars of David' and 'chai' necklaces, drop Yiddish phrases, refer to their god by his Hebrew name and call the 'cross' a 'tree'.
My objection is not necessarily with Christian evangelism. If you have a strong Christian faith then by all means share it. Don't pretend however, that you can be both Jewish and Christians at the same time. That's as contradictory as Kosher pork. Missionaries always prey on weak and unafilliated Jews, the elderly, new immigrants, the poor... They know that they will never be able to convert a Jew who has any idea about Judaism and often resort to lies and bribery. They often promise new immigrants, many of whom are disenfranchised, a feeling of community and finanical support. This is how low missionaries will stoop to ensnare Jewish souls! 'Hebrew Christian' missionaries wear talleisim, go to 'synagogue' and hide their Christian faith in Jewish symbols.
"Whether it's Christians coming from abroad or Jewish converts working in Israel, they all have the same agenda – to destroy every trace and memory of the people of Israel, and they plan to do this by converting Jews. These bodies are operating mainly among the Jewish population which is in physical, social and spiritual distress", reads a proposal for a Knesset bill with intended to impose a 1-year imprisonement sentence for missionizing.
This problem is not restricted to Israel. This week, a conference on converting Jews, will take place in Virginia, "Bringing Peace & Reconciliation to Jews and Gentiles in Messiah", featuring Christian 'Rabbis' and other treif. The name of the conference sounds rather benign until we realize that 'messiah' refers to the Christian concept- Jewish Jews stay away! Remember, a Christians claim to love the Jewish People is incomplete unless it is followed by a declaration of respect for our Jewish faith.
And now some good news from Arutz-7:
Earlier this month, in the northern Jerusalem neighborhood of N'vei Yaakov, the capitals' first Ethiopian synagogue was dedicated, in the presence of Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky. The New Jerusalem Foundation and members of the Ohel Nechama synagogue helped pay for the synagogue.

The synagogue, which will serve more than 170 families of Ethiopian extraction in N'vei Yaakov, is located in a previously unused section of the Bernadette public-religious school. The dedication ceremony included an emotional afternoon prayer service, replete with the customs of the Ethiopian liturgy.

The new synagogue will "improve the image of the Ethiopian immigrants," it was said at the ceremony, "and will alleviate the sense of frustration, neglect and estrangement, replacing it with feelings of pride and unity of a vital community integrating with the city and its many groups."


Ethiopian Jews are an extremely ancient Jewish community, either descendants of the lost tribe of Dan or descendants of the coupling of King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and the Jewish soldiers that accompanied her back to Ethiopia. The majority of their community has been returned to Israel and are slowly integrating into Israeli society.

"The Lord will bring back a remnant of his people...returning them to the land of Israel from Assyria, Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, Ethiopia, Elam, Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands" (Isaiah 11:11)

If your dispersed will be at the ends of the heavens, from there, Hashem, your G-d, Will Gather you in and from there He Will Take you. Hashem, your G-d, Will Bring you to the Land that your forefathers possessed and you shall possess. it (Deut. 30:4)

15 comments:

WomanHonorThyself said...

wow bout time they became more active in combatting these missionaries...Chazak V'Ametz!!

Brooklyn Habiru said...

Seems like now they want to build the largest 'tree' in the world in Eretz Yisrael...

Yankee Doodle said...

An interesting post.

I can't imagine that Christ ever intended people to be tricked into following Him.

Glad to hear about the Ethiopian synogogue. That's interesting history, too, about the Jewish soldiers that accompanied Sheba back to her kingdom.

Rita Loca said...

Well, you know I am a Christian missionary. I would see no need to disguise my faith in Christ to share it. It makes no sense to "trick' someone. It would not be an honest belief then would it?
I am glad to see you referred to the Jehovah Witness' as a cult for they are.
I do hope you realize that a true Christian will love the Jew and support Israel for no ulterior reason.
Just on a logical basis alone I would support Israel as the only island of democracy in a sea of evil in the middle east!

Lionheart said...

Hey Bar Kochba, wanted to drop by to say hello and i was suprised when i read your age, you are an inspiration to your generation G-d is doing a good job with you...

i like the fighting spirit that i feel comes from you..

God bless

Lionheart

Michael said...

Interesting post, BK.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I agree the deception is wrong. But what about the Christians who agree with Judaism about Torah? Christians who believe in Jesus and also believe in his Jewishness and Torah observance. I learn so much from studying Judaism yet I also believe in Jesus. I am not out proselytizing Jews but agreeing w/them concerning the walk of faith while agreeing to disagree about Jesus. I have much in common w/ both faiths. Sadly, this causes folks from both faiths to reject me.
thanks,
KW

Goat said...

As a Christian , I donot like the JW's abd the Watchtower. To be Christian in many ways I must be Jewish first. I will stand with my Jewish brethren intent on preserving Israel as I must, Scripture demands it. I have JW door knockers, they usually leave in a frustrated huff when I bring the Torah into the discussion.

nanc said...

i am a christian and wish that all come to the saving grace of Yeshua. but, i don't go out proselytizing.

that said, we would not have christianity without judaism, but the opposite cannot be said.

i study the o.t. more than i do the n.t.

nanc said...

jehova witlesses ARE a cult who have twisted every word of G-d and claim themselves to be the chosen one - this i know first hand - my in-laws are up to their necks in this religion and try to confuse our children whenever the moment arises.

Michael said...

nanc, I think you have worse in-laws than me....

Goat said...

Have y'all seen this yet besides as an aspect of life in the Middle East.
http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/index.php
My Christian faith is more closely related to that of my Jewish brethren than Western Christian philosophy. While you will never pry me away from my bbq pork, I look to the Torah for guidance.

Anonymous said...

Good stuff, shalom.

Brooklyn Habiru said...

So sad to see how many people attempt to reconcile belief in an idolatrous man-god with authentic Torah Judaism...

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