Hachrazah 5770 Tishrei 14
Informal translation from Hebrew of the 14 Tishrei, 5770 (2 October 2009) statement:
Special Court for Matters Concerning the Nation and the State
Secretary: Rabbi Amnon Hever Tel: 054-9400909 b.d.hartzion@gmail.com
Statement to the Press
Dozens of rabbis from all orthodox branches express their vigorous objection to the takeover by Christian elements of public areas, especially in Jerusalem during the festival of Succot (Tabernacles), when the purpose is missionary propoganda in order to convert Jews.
Already many years the Succot festival has served as a focal point attracting Christian evangelical groups to perform pilgrimage to Jerusalem. During the intermediary days of the Succot festival, there will be a yearly convention under the auspices of the Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, with the participation of missionary organizations. Among them is “King of Kings”, which is in the Klal building in Jerusalem, Jews for Jesus, and messianic communities, Maoz, Dugit Mishkan, and others. Participants are pilgrams. In the march in Jerusalem, missionaries will also participate. The purpose of them all is to demonstrate the power and Jewish resonance for the purpose of their presence – coronation of Jesus on Jerusalem, as the lion they hold in their hand represents to Christians.
A substantial portion of the processions and fancy assemblies at Binyanei haUma are used in order to strengthen the missionary propaganda and to strengthen the Christian theology for its divisions which see the Succot festival mainly as a chance to strengthen the Christian influence on the Jewish public while infiltrating Jewish practice: The appropriation of the festivals of Israel, holy Jewish values, while emphasizing their Messiah, seduction of Jewish families with economic and political support, creation of a friendly environment whose entire purpose is to nullify the Jewish identity and to turn it in to a state of all its religions, that is to say, Christian.
These activities are conversion attempts, which have taken form in recent years as a Judeo-Christian religion with Jews for Jesus, or God’s Witnesses, messianic communities (believing in their messiah), Christian sects in every way which have founded some hundred fifty branches throughout the country, and it is estimated that some 20,000 have left their religion.
Per the decisions of the Rabbinate of Israel, the organizations of evangelical Christian sects and the messianic communities to which they are partners are all apostates in every way, and undercut the faith of Israel and corrupt the national identity. It is forbidden to participate in their gatherings and to march with them.
Today in a context where states, nations, and religions attempt to undercut the legitimacy of the State of Israel as a Jewish state, it is proper to doubly stand for the uniqueness of the State of Israel and the national uniqueness of the nation of Israel and the religion of Israel, and to develop the unique Jewish identity and to remain faithful Jews to our forefathers tradition.
Freedom of religion in Israel does not mean freedom to make propaganda to convert to other religions.
Therefore, the Rabbis of Israel from all orthodox streams express, in the attached announcement, their vigorous objection against the spreading affliction in the Jewish public realm: to benefit from Christian money, and joining their solidarity missions and parades, and ignoring missionary television stations and encouraging the founding and mainly welcoming those whose intentions are not pure.
We request from you as a journalist to inform the public of the content of this message.
Mina Panton With a blessing of Gmar Chatima Tova
Click here to see the Hebrew version
References
This ruling in the news
- Rabbonim Shlita Question Jerusalem’s Policy to Promote Evangelistic Tourism The Yeshiva World (February 2, 2010)