Looking after their own interests

I thought their big deal was how much THEY wanted to support Israel. Now we see what a smoke screen THAT was.

'Evangelicals deserve our support'

The Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry differed in opinions this week regarding the status of and benefits given to Evangelicals in Israel, Army Radio reported Wednesday.

The Foreign Ministry "wanted to recognize the Evangelicals as a sovereign group or an independent church, like other churches recognized by Israel,"....

..."The goal was to help them receive benefits like other churches that we recognize, among them tens of clergy churches, tax and customs breaks on cars - and that also has an effect on religious people who come here from outside the country," Matzur explained.

An Interior Ministry representative was quoted by Army Radio as saying, "If the Evangelicals are added to the list, dozens of additional streams of Christians will demand to receive similar recognition and be eligible for benefits, and the state is not able to withstand such a surge."

...Deputy Foreign Minster Danny Ayalon held a discussion on the subject this week and stressed that Israel needs to assist its friends in the world.

According to Ayalon, the Evangelicals, who donate funds and support Israeli public relations within the United States, deserve help.

...Evangelicals are among Christian groups working closely with the Knesset to promote the status of women around the world, host foreign scholars training in pro-Israel activism and building cooperation with politicians and leaders throughout the world.

Much of the cooperation results from initiatives of the Knesset Christians Allies Caucus. The caucus has included a spectrum of Israeli and Christian leaders and has been cooperating with Christian allies of Israel since its incorporation in 2004.

The War with Eisav

We're all very cognizant of the war with Yishmael (Islam), but there is also a war on with Eisav (Xianity). While the Left-wing goes about giving Eretz Yisrael away to the Yishmaelim, the Right-wing, unnoticed by all but a few, is just as busy giving it all away to Eisav's children.

Don Esposito writes to his students and supporters on Dec. 9, 2009:

"...I wanted to update you on the latest happenings here in the land and let you know that we have officially sealed the deal with the Jewish agency to be able to bring believers (i.e. Xians) over to Israel for anywhere from 9 months up to 2 years.

...(participants) will learn what it means to prepare to be a King and a Priest in Yahweh’s soon coming Kingdom,.... Those that are involved in professional or medical fields will have the greatest opportunity to stay on for a longer time."

You see, the so-called Xian "Zionists" who have hoodwinked so many religious Jews into believing that they are our strongest and most supportive "friends" are in actuality competitors for our heritage. While the traditional mainline Xians are back home making anti-Israel statements, the Evangelical Xian "Zionists" have come to stake their claim on the Land itself!

Excerpted from Don Esposito's "Return to the Land Program":

"Come and experience the fullness of learning about the land of our inheritance through the most unique program in all of Israel that will change your life forever.

Return To the Land is a program designed by Hayahad Bible Seminars in conjunction with the Jewish Agency...."

A separate section of the booklet is entitled "Become an Ambassador for Israel." Of course, the gullible people at the Jewish Agency and the ministry of Tourism think this means these good Xian "Zionists" will go back to their countries of origin after completing this lengthy program and become spokespeople on behalf of Israel to the nations; defending our cause. But those familiar with Xian double-speak understand. They quote the New Testament...

"2 Cor 5:20 - Then on behalf of Messiah, we are ambassadors, as Yahweh is exhorting through us. Rev 5: 20 and made us kings and priests to our Elohim; and we shall reign on the earth. Scripture clearly tells us that to be true believers we will be Kings and Priests of the Most High Elohim in His Kingdom and that we are now Ambassadors for Yahweh’s soon coming Kingdom (i.e., Yeshu rule). To this end, we will teach and train our students how to prepare for this most important job. Ambassadors are not just sent, but they must be trained for the position and country that they are going to. "

Translation: (According to their belief system) when Yeshu returns, he will be ruling the world from Jerusalem. As believers in him (good xians all) they are promised to rule alongside him as kings. Until then, they represent him and his message to the world, especially in Israel, which will soon belong to them.

They just can't wait for him to get here. They want to set up shop right now! And damned if they haven't!!

Israel / Vatican Relations

B'kitzur, they tried to blackmail us and when we wouldn't pay their asking price, they punished us for our presumption.


Israel's talks with Vatican fail

Spitting is the least of it

Larry Derfner wrote a piece in the JPost this week entitled "Mouths Filled with Hatred." In it, he reports on instances where Xian clergy have witnessed religious Jews spitting in their vicinity. As far as I recall, he didn't accuse anyone of actually spitting on these cross-bearing individuals, and if he had it would no doubt be a lie, because it's not something that Jews do, even when provoked.

He obviously disapproves and sympathizes with the poor, long-suffering Xians, but surely this is only because he does not understand that spitting is the least of what could happen. Western-acculturated people can not imagine in their wildest dreams just how repugnant the Xian religion is to G-d and by extension to His children, the Jews. Parading these symbols (crucifixes) around the city most holy to Jews who denounce idolatry at least twice every day with the recitation of the Shema, is particularly provocative.

When the Temple is rebuilt and the Sanhedrin is properly seated and the Torah is the law of the land, all of these people will be deported and their idolatry destroyed from the Holy Land.

Like every other normal, Torah-true Jew, I pray for that day to come.

Today's Dose of Propaganda from the JPost

To the airport officials: GREAT JOB! KOL HAKAVOD!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

Thai tourist visiting boyfriend expelled

Why do I call it propaganda rather than straight reporting? Why from the JPost "reporting" can't you just see poor Sirirat struggling against her bonds while tied to the tracks with a locomotive bearing down upon her with the evil BG officials twisting their moustaches as they laugh with glee?

RAV ELIASHIV: NO XIAN MONEY

Rabbi Eliashiv Forbids Taking Money from Christian Fund


(IsraelNN.com) Head of the Lituanian Haredi religious community, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, has issued a ruling prohibiting the taking of monies from the Christian-associated Friendship Fund, headed by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.

In his ruling, he writes that organizations receiving money from the fund are guilty of ignoring the prohibition of idolatry, and are assisting missionary activities in the future, "Sadly, we have heard that some institutions and relief organizations have already failed in this regard," he wrote.

MYTHS ABOUT JOHN HAGEE

MYTH 1. John Hagee is not a missionary.

"The mission of John Hagee Ministries is to aggressively fulfill the commission that Jesus Christ gave to his followers to go into the world and make disciples of all people . Our purpose is to bring the lost to Jesus Christ and to build up and encourage those who are already believers. We pledge to our viewers & supporters to take The Gospel to all the World and to all Generations."

“We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God. We believe in His substitutionary death for all men, His resurrection, and His eventual return to judge the world.”

“We believe that evangelism is the obligation of every follower of Jesus Christ. The Lord commands us to go out and make disciples of all the earth. We believe that each person is first responsible to evangelism in their own family as the Holy Spirit leads them and gives them the ability.”

MYTH 2. John Hagee is dual covenant.

Hagee, Falwell deny endorsing 'dual covenant'
Mar. 2, 2006
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST
Pastors John Hagee and Jerry Falwell have both denied a report in The Jerusalem Post earlier this week that they embrace the "dual covenant" theology, which holds that Jews are saved through a special relationship with God and so need not become Christians to get to heaven.

In a statement to the Post, the Texas-based televangelist Hagee said that neither he nor Southern Baptist pastor Falwell "believe or teach Dual Covenant."

Hagee added that he had "made it a practice for 25 years not to target Jews for conversion" at any "Night to Honor Israel" events. If Jews "inquire about our faith at a later time, we give them a full scriptural presentation of redemption."

Hagee has spent 50 years of his life convincing people to follow a false religion and a false god. He has made millions from selling a lie. Missionizing is a Hagee family legacy. His grandfather went to America from Germany to evangelize the Indians. Hagee has trained his son to follow in his footsteps.

The Hagee HeritageLike Father, Like Son

by Linda Owen

A century before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the first John Hagee came to the New World from Germany with Moravians who sought to evangelize the Indians. In time Hagee's second son continued his work. Neither of them could have foreseen the heritage they were beginning; but over three centuries later, a chain of 47 Hagees have passed the mantle to their second son and sometimes his bothers as well.

The 48th Hagee to work for the Lord's harvest is Matthew Hagee, 27-year-old son of John Hagee, pastor at Cornerstone Church. "I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't want to be a preacher," he says. "People passed it off as me wanting to be like my father, but it's more than that. I associate my calling with Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you—' There was no one moment when I said, "Yes, Lord, I'll follow.' But my calling is very real. It's always been in my blood."

Bribes? For what?

MK Molla: I returned all of donation money to Christian organization

Knesset Member Shlomo Molla (Kadima) says that he has retuned the full sum of donation he received from the Jewish Voice organization.


This week it was revealed that the Christian messianic group donated $17,000 to Molla's election campaign and to needy Ethiopians, but that the funds had not reached their destination. MK Molla said Wednesday, "I made a personal decision this morning to return the full amount of the donations so that my integrity will not be questioned." (Amnon Meranda)

Xian America : Xian Military

See my post at Tomer Devorah.

FYI - Be Careful

Christian Booth Removed from 4 Species Fair

(IsraelNN.com) The Binyamin Rabbis' Council issued Tuesday a letter of clarification stating that a Christian booth has been removed from the four species (Arba'at HaMinim) fair at the Sha'ar Binyamin Industrial Zone.

On Friday, the rabbis had published a letter of warning to fair-goers regarding the presence of the Christian booth.

The New Crusaders

Beware! They were also deployed to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

VIDEO #1

VIDEO #2

There's much to be said for a good strong wall

(Cross-posted from Tomer Devorah)

In the language of the Hebrew prophets, when He was angry with us due to our sins, Hashem broke down our walls of protection, but when He wanted to protect us as His special heritage, He sought to build the walls of protection around us.

Yechezkel 13:14. "And I shall demolish the wall that you plastered with daub, and I shall make it reach the ground, and its foundation will be bared, and it will fall, and you will perish in its midst, and you will know that I am the Lord."

Yechezkel 22:30. "And I sought of them a man who puts up a wall and stands in the breach before Me, for the sake of the land that it not be destroyed, but I did not find."

Zekharyah 2:9. "I will be for it [Jerusalem]-says the Lord-a wall of fire around, and for glory I will be in its midst."

Very simple. WALLS PROTECT US!

Then comes The "New" Testament and says:

...But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, the law of commandments in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity....

THIS is what the Waller Family is referring to in the following excerpt from an interview they gave to the Williamson Herald:

...there is a wall that divides people of the Christian faith and people of the Jewish faith.... That wall is tall and thick---built from years of misunderstanding, misconceptions and misgivings between two faiths that share the same roots, as evidenced in Israel where 'Messianic Jews' are often shunned by Orthodox Jews and in the US where Christian churches and Jewish synagogues rarely interact.

During the past five years, the family---all 13 members---have been working alongside Israeli farmers in Samaria, building relationships, breaking barriers...chipping away at that wall.

...Working side by side with Israeli farmers in the vineyards and olive groves, the family is learning, understanding, reaching out and developing relationships.

[As should be obvious by now, this is Xian 'code' for creating an opportunity to "share Jesus", G-d forbid!!]

...This fall, the Waller family was joined by several other families who wanted to help bring down the wall of division. "For us, it's a spiritual deal---a faith deal," said Sherri Waller. "The battle is over the land because God gave it to the descendants of Abraham---that includes us."

No, Sherri, it does NOT include you and your family. This is not your home. You are idolaters of the worst sort, attempting through subterfuge to entice the Children of Israel to follow you into idolatry and thereby bring the wrath of G-d down upon us to our destruction.

It is the DUTY of EVERY TORAH JEW to strengthen the wall that they are so determined to bring down. It is holding back a flood of assimilation and annihilation.

How much trouble can be made by "unfaithful men?"

In this week's parsha, Re'eh, we read the following which bears repeating today:

DEVARIM 13 ---

7. If your brother, the son of your mother, tempts you in secret or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your embrace, or your friend, who is as your own soul saying, "Let us go and worship other gods, which neither you, nor your forefathers have known."

8. Of the gods of the peoples around you, [whether] near to you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth;

9. You shall not desire him, and you shall not hearken to him; neither shall you pity him, have mercy upon him, nor shield him.

10. But you shall surely kill him, your hand shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

11. And you shall stone him with stones so that he dies, because he sought to lead you astray from the Lord, your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

12. And all Israel shall listen and fear, and they shall no longer do any evil such as this in your midst.

13. If you hear in one of your cities which the Lord, your God, is giving you to dwell therein, saying,

14. "Unfaithful men have gone forth from among you and have led the inhabitants of their city astray, saying, 'Let us go and worship other gods, which you have not known.' "

15. Then you shall inquire, investigate, and ask thoroughly, and, behold, it is true, the matter is certain, that such abomination has been committed in your midst:

16. You shall surely strike down the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroy it with all that is in it and its livestock, with the edge of the sword.

17. And you shall collect all its spoil into the midst of its open square, and burn with fire the city and all its spoil, completely, for the Lord, your God; and it shall be a heap of destruction forever, never to be rebuilt.

18. And nothing that is doomed to destruction shall cling to your hand, so that the Lord may return from His fierce wrath, and grant you compassion, and be compassionate with you, and multiply you, as He swore to your forefathers.

19. For you shall hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep all His commandments which I command you this day, to do that which is proper in the eyes of the Lord, your God.

********************************

How often do we examine our actions in light of "that which is proper in the eyes of the Lord, your G-d?" While using our friends or neighbors or the rabbi's latest shiur as a measuring stick, we might find justification for many things that Heaven detests. There is no substitute for letting the Torah be your searchlight and using it as the ultimate measure of your deeds.

I read "Unfaithful men have gone forth from among you and have led the inhabitants of their city astray, ..." along with the description of that city's ultimate destruction and I shake to the core of my being. Now, of all times, while the threat of destruction hovers over every Jewish town and village in Judea and Samaria, this issue must be confronted.

"Unfaithful men"---men who place their trust in idol-worshippers rather than in the God of Israel are bringing sure and swift destruction upon their families, neighbors, friends and upon the whole House of Israel.

They are the men who have made non-kosher alliances with non-Jews who have sworn their allegiance to a dead Jew and who worship this dead man as the Creator of All, God forbid!!

The "New" Testament on the nature of Yeshu: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."

There is no question today, and neither was there in the past, that those who espouse this religion are idolaters. This was a "god" which was far from us, but which has now been brought close, even into the most religious of Jewish homes. As much as he is given life by those who worship and revere him, he does indeed "live in their hearts," as his followers claim. Inasmuch as they have been welcomed into Jewish homes, this much has the false god entered in as well!

Recently, a good Jew saw an advertisement on the City of Ariel's internet list requesting Jewish homes to host visiting agricultural workers arriving at the end of the summer growing season. Something about it did not sit right with this good Jew, so he contacted a person he knew with expertise in this area and this is what came of the inquiry...

A known Xian missionary has found a new way to infiltrate Jewish homes with his "Master's" message. He is organizing like-minded "believers" to travel at their own expense to Eretz Yisrael and to offer their services to farmers free of charge for the duration of the harvest season. In exchange for this pottage of free labor, otherwise good Jews have sold out the birthright of our covenant with Hashem. The infiltrating missionaries believe that this willingness to receive them is equal to a willingness to receive their message as well.

"Tommy Waller runs HaYovel which brings in Xians to work harvesting, particularly in Har Bracha on a vineyard belonging to Nir Lavi. HaYovel is supported by an organization founded by Eliezer Braun called Shuva Israel. According to the website's Mission page:

'Starting 2,000 years ago, a large divide developed between Christianity and Judaism. Today, you and I have the opportunity to make amends and bring Jew and Christian together under the umbrella of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is an opportunity for a grand reconciliation after two thousand years of brothers straying away from each other.

We are living in a very unique time in history-we are part of God's timing. We can make a difference and partner with the miracles that God is manifesting through the children of Abraham-today in our life time in the State of Israel. We have a unique opportunity to link Bible believing Christians and an Israeli Jewish organization for the purpose of fulfilling over 1,000 scriptures that relate to the prophetic ingathering of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel.

Shuva Israel Director, Eliezer Braun, who moved to Israel in 1983 and lives in the Hills of Samaria (Ezekiel 36) with his family, travels worldwide to establish relationships with Evangelical Christians. Today there is a growing awareness in Israel that her best and perhaps only true friend in the world is the Evangelical Christian. Eliezer travels and speaks in Churches in the USA, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Hong Kong and Singapore.'"

The board of Shuva Israel is a who's who of Dominionist Xian leaders whose primary goal is [to establish a worldwide Xian theocracy on the planet]. There is one Jew on the board.....

Listed among their "projects:"

---Promotion of Christian volunteer work program in communities in Samaria with "HaYovel" Ministry

---Planting vineyards for farmers in the Hills of Samaria

HaYovel touts itself as "serving Israel's farmers---an organization that is uniting Zionist Jews and Christians to work together towards one common goal – restoration of Israel through the tending of the Land." You see, they don't believe we can do it without their help and many Jews seem to believe that, too.

"One of the really good things God has allowed us to do as we work in Israel is to develop significant relationships...." They depend upon this and the Jew's natural hakarat hatov to eventually open the doors for their "witness."

Tommy Waller makes it very clear in an April 2009 interview with Bible Voice Broadcasting that his efforts are geared to hasten the arrival of their dead messiah: "...God is moving, there's something happening in the heavenlies that's gonna usher in the coming of our messiah."

In response to his comment that "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few," the interviewer says, "So the more people that you have coming, the more communities you can impact---and help---and they can see the love of the Lord in you as you're working and you're helping them build the communities." (Tommy: "Right, right.")

This "love" is their "light to the nations" with which they attract other followers to their "Lord and Master."

Radio interviewer: "So, I can see that you're really wanted, they like what you're doing, the Jewish people, as you're out there working with them."

Tommy Waller: "Yes. Amazingly, the Jewish people here have embraced us. The religious people have embraced us. I think that because we love them and they feel that genuine love that we have for them as people, we are mending relationships and building relationships."

In other words, the warm reception the Jews have given to the Xians causes them to have high hopes of eventually converting them to their false religion on some future day, despite all denials to the contrary.

In a video, also from April 2009, Tommy Waller can be heard to say: "We are a humanitarian organization." But he belies that when he goes on to say: "We can bring people over to meet the labor needs; not having the farmers go out and get Buddhist Thai workers to come in, but people of faith, Jewish and Xian people to come to Israel to do and put their hands in the soil that they have a connection to."

Tommy Waller, his family and all the Xians that he can bring to Israel and install in Jewish homes and Jewish backyards and Jewish farmlands, all believe that this Land belongs as much to them as it does to us. In this, they are no different than the Arabs that live among us. Do we really want to set ourselves up for another war over the land with the Xians before we've even resolved the conflict with the Arabs?

I have issues with foreign workers, but at least the Buddhist Thai worker has no illlusions that he has any claim on our heritage! Furthermore, they and their families are not being hosted in Jewish homes and forming deep reciprocal relationships with Jews who dare not be sucked into their idolatrous way of life!!!

They sing and dance in worship and adoration of Yeshu and pray to him as their god while living in our very midst. What tragedies and catastrophes, G-d forbid, are the "unfaithful men" bringing upon us!?

*********************************

The foregoing is thanks to the research done by GeulaGirl, the owner of Esav Exposed. She would like to add the following, so that no doubts should remain about the true intentions of these "nice" people:

The Waller Family sees Israel as their home. They belong to the “congregation” led by missionary David Ortiz in Ariel. Brayden and Zac Waller run the youth group there. They travel all over America speaking in churches and messianic congregations to recruit people to volunteer in Israel. They spend time at many of the messianic “churches” and organizations in Jerusalem including Succat Hallel in Ir David, King of Kings, and Shemen Sasson.


From the Waller’s Blog:

October 2006 (Zac Waller)

“For the next 2 weeks we picked grapes until they came out our ears! The grand total came out to 11 1/2 tons I think. The harvest is so incredible! Just seeing the fruit of your labor is rewarding but to think about the greater harvest, when all of Israel is saved! Such an awesome picture!

We had several volunteers this harvest. Rachel Claerbout, a friend from Florida who has had a heart for the Jewish people since she was 11 years old is volunteering with us for three months. Melody, Matt and Mark Norris, friends of ours from Virginia came and helped for the duration of the harvest. Also several believers from the area came for a day or two to help out and enjoy the vineyard.”

“Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, Lev 23:27) starts tonight. We will be fasting, praying for and thanking YHWH for His forgiveness as well as asking Him to reveal the areas in our lives that we need to repent for and make right. This is a very solemn time for all Israel. Even a lot of secular Jews fast on Yom Kippur. May Yeshua reveal His grace and forgiveness to them.”


Sukkot 2007 (Zak Waller)

“The Mount of Temptation is the alleged 'high mountain' where Yeshua was tempted by satan in Matt 4:8. We had an awesome time of worship as we looked out towards Jericho and proclaimed Yeshua’s Name over the city.”

“Friday we slept, ate then slept and ate some more. We had a friend over for lunch, then went to Mrs. Margaret’s for Shabbat dinner.

On Shabbat Mr. David came, picked us up and hauled us back to Ariel in time for our regular fellowship gathering. Some people came who had done some mission work in Russia came and shared. They had some interesting tales to tell!”


February 2009 (Olivia Waller)

“Dad, Zac, Josh, Caleb, about 20 other people and I are going home (Israel)!!!! Oh and my grandparents are coming too! I am so excited! We will be there for a month clipp’in on vines making them look pitiful. But it really is good for the vines, without us doing that the vineyard would be a mess of vines and we would not want that to happen.”


February 2008 (Zac Waller)

“Yesterday morning one of my friends in Israel found a gift basket sitting outside his front door. When he opened up the package it blew up in his face. Shrapnel went everywhere. All the windows were busted out, the furniture was shredded, huge chunks of metal were stuck in their refrigerator but Ami (my friend) IS ALIVE, PRAISE GOD!!! He is in critical condition with serious wounds/burns all over his body.

Brayden, Dad and I are on our way to go be with them – so pray that God will use us to comfort them and that Yeshua’s name will be lifted high in that Israeli hospital!

Brayden and I lead a youth group there in Ariel that Ami was a part of. Our family is very close to theirs. So……..This hits really close to home….”


From an article in the Williamson Herald (Jan. 8, 2009):

“During the past five years, the family – all 13 members – have been working alongside Israeli farmers in Samaria, building relationships, breaking barriers and as in the Bible, “planting the grapes in Samaria,” with the people of Israel and at the same time, chipping away at that wall.

It all started after an invitation to visit to Israel. It was then Tommy and his family knew their life was in for another change. “When we went there, God spoke to me,” Tommy said. “I understood where we were supposed to be.”

“Now twice a year they are in another land. They are up at dawn to catch a bus to Har Bracha or the Mountain of Blessings where they work the land until 4 or 5 p.m. using the agricultural lessons they learned along Russell Creek in Lobelville in the land where Christianity was born and sharing with people who have similar religious beliefs. They are interacting and learning about a different culture, how to shop and get around in a different world, and feeling more and more at home in a foreign land.

“If we can help them, they don’t have to bring in foreign workers,” Tommy said. “They can prosper and they don’t have to go into debt.”

Working side by side with Israeli farmers in the vineyards and olive groves the family is learning, understanding, reaching out and developing relationships.

“In Israel we’re working in a vineyard with about 8,000 vines, and on the Mountain of Blessings with 30,000 vines,” said Tommy. “We still work as a family, but this is a community effort. It’s an amazing thing, the people we work with look a lot like people we lived with in (the Amish community) Lobelville (Tennessee).”

Since they started their work in Israel the family helped build a winery, harvested tons of grapes and olives, trimmed acres of vines and olive trees, moved rocks and boulders for roads and most importantly, built relationships with both Israelis and Palestinians.

This fall the Waller family was joined by several other families who wanted to help bring down the wall of division. “For us it’s a spiritual deal – a faith deal,” said Sherri Waller. “The battle is over the land because God gave it to the descendents of Abraham – that includes us.”

Hear it all in their own words in this Google video. Some key excerpts...

Tommy Waller: "The Wallers are preparing to do a [spiritual] work in Israel."

Sherri Waller: "There is a much more weighty harvest that He's ready to make."

[Note: The "New" Testament is replete with this imagery of souls ripe for the harvest: "Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ...Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.' " Sherri Waller's allusion to this concept is followed in the video by various images of Israelis from every social group beginning with the chareidim at the Western Wall.]

Tommy Waller: "For us, sharing the gospel is not only verbal, it has an action to it. It's based on relationships. As we're working with these people, we'll be able to share with them this Jesus that we know."

Brayden Waller: "Our family has begun a ministry called HaYovel. The vision of HaYovel is to develop a network of individuals, families and congregations [churches and messianic 'synagogues'] ready to labor side by side with the people of Israel, to bless them, to stand with them, to share with them a passion for the soon coming of the Jubilee in Yeshua, the messiah."

BE ADVISED! ACCORDING TO THEIR LATEST UPDATE, TOMMY WALLER IS BRINGING 75-100 LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE WITH HIM TO ISRAEL NEXT WEEK!!

AND THEY HAVE BEEN INVITED TO "HELP OUT" IN ITAMAR!!!

WHAT ARE WE TO DO ABOUT THE "UNFAITHFUL MEN?"

Pray for the downfall of the Erev Rav regime

They are destroying Israel!

Christian Russian TV Station to Broadcast in Israel

MESSIANIC PRE-ARMY PROGRAM

Every time I think the xian problem in this country can't get any worse, it does. The following article was posted on the ICEJ (International Christian Embassy Jerusalem) website

Messianic Jews in Israel launch special pre-army program
Friday, July 24, 2009
By: ICEJ News
Israeli believers see civil duty as an religious obligationThe IDF is drafting thousands of new recruits into its ranks this summer, including about 150 highly motivated Messianic Jewish believers, some 28 of whom recently participated in a pre-army prep program started by Messianic veterans called Netsor (Hebrew for "to guard").

For Messianic Jews, military service in the IDF is not only a mandatory civil duty, it is a religious obligation right out of the New Testament. The program teaches the young people about to enter the IDF what the Bible says about military service, including the admonition of Romans (13:1-7) not to resist political authority, because it is "the ordinance of God."

Colossians (3:22-23) also teaches that a believer in Jesus must strive to be a faithful servant of one's superiors, not for personal aggrandizement but to serve God.

"I am a soldier of God," Boris, a young Israeli believer headed for an elite combat unit, told The Jerusalem Post. "I will do my best during my service in the IDF to serve God spiritually and physically.

The more things change, the more they stay the same

I found this in an archive. It's from 2003, but still relevant.

ON PRAISE OF CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS


A reply to Jews who praise the Christian Zionists:

As a Jew, I am frustrated and appalled when I hear fellow Jews extolling the virtues of so-called “Christian Zionists”, George Bush or the American democratic model. As a former American and a former Christian, I am well acquainted with all aspects of this modern-day Rome and in my opinion it can best be characterized by three words: arrogance, ignorance, and hypocrisy. Hardly something for Jews to aspire to or stand in awe of.

While I’m sure all level-headed, realistic, and pragmatic peoples will strongly disagree with me, I have to say that in my opinion, America represents the single greatest existential threat to Israel and the Jewish people today. The holocaust of "love" rolls on as the assimilation rate of Jewish adults between the ages of 26-30 in Denver, Colorado is reported at 90%. And America is losing no opportunity, with the help of the Zoinist enterprise, to remake Israel in her image while turning her into a vassal state.

It is no accident of language when the media constantly relates to Pax Americana. Israel has the ability to defend herself against her enemies in the immediate vicinity of her borders, but who is it that stands in her way, defending the access routes to Arab oil? Who sends daily reminders of the arm-twisting and outright blackmail that awaits any Israeli intransigency to toe the American line?

No one can accuse the liberal, Christian-slanted Jerusalem Post of being right-wing, but two articles in the Friday, Sept. 20th edition are quite telling:

Rumsfeld to Israel: Don't retaliate to Iraqi attack
By JANINE ZACHARIA AND MELISSA RADLER

“US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has urged Israel not to respond militarily to an Iraqi strike, saying in rare public statement on the issue, it would be in Israel's "best interests" not to get involved. “

Averting strategic disaster in Iraq
Caroline B. Glick's COLUMN ONE

“In stark contrast, today the US is clearly publicly linking the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the toppling of Saddam Hussein's regime. In his address to the UN General Assembly last Thursday, President George W. Bush twice mentioned "Palestine" and stated "America stands committed to an independent and democratic Palestine."

For Torah Jews, the Zionist entity is a disaster. Thanks to Zionism, the return to Zion has become a nightmare as Russian gangs of rapists prey on Jewish women in the streets of Ashqelon and Ashdod and missionaries prey on Jewish children in the streets of Jerusalem. A “Zionist” government arms the enemies of the Jews and pays them to have ever more children to replace those martyred for the Muslim jihad. The great Hasbara Campaign appeals to the democratic sensibilities of the present-day Greeks and Romans and justifies Israel’s existence on the basis of its being the “only democracy in the Middle-East.” And this is precisely why those of the West admire us and those of the East hate us. The Christian Zionists love us because we are a reflection of them and they are narcissistic to the core.

Democracy=Israeli suicide as the Arab citizens of the State of Israel use their rights of citizenship to destroy the Jewish State. If Israel is to continue to exist, this situation will not be able to continue. What will be the backlash on the day after Israel ceases to be a democracy in the tolerant, pluralistic American mold?

While Ishmael playfully fires arrows in our direction, Esav falls on us with hugs and kisses. Both are jealous and treacherous and challenge our rightful position in the world. Most thinking Jews today have their heads on straight as regards the Arab threat, but remain woefully naive in regard to that posed by Christianity.

The only Gentiles who are true and trustworthy friends of Israel are those who have given up their false religions to become Bnei Noach---true righteous Gentiles. There is no practicing Christian who is not influenced by his false interpretation of the Hebrew scriptures. Speaking as one who has literally been there, the “love” expressed by the Christian Zionists is a spillover from their ecstatic and gleeful anticipation of the fulfillment of the Hebrew prophets as they understand them. By backing and funding the return of the Jews to Israel, they believe they are hastening the return of their own messiah, now long dead and turned to dust. I am sickened by the admission of fellow Jews who claim to understand this, but see no reason why they should not accept the money anyway. When these loving Christians discover the truth, do the Jews care what will come of it? As one young recent olah chadasha told me, “That’s not my concern.” Does the term “money-grubbing” offend? For shame!

The new testament describes a future leader of the Jews who will be the Christians’ “anti-christ.” Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson have already identified him as “a male Jew who is alive at this very moment.” If you are still around when a deliverer arises in Zion as Moses did in Egypt, you will witness how quickly “love” can turn to hate. The Christians who are hugging and kissing the Jews today truly believe they will all be caught up into heaven with their dead messiah when that day arrives, but when they realize the awful truth, pity any Jews who still remain in America.

I find it quite ironic that the Christian Zionists love to come up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, as they call it. They see themselves as the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy and it is further proof to them that they are bringing about the end of days and the return of the dead messiah.

These clueless Christians have so little understanding of the Hebrew prophets that they have unwittingly identified themselves as part of the ultimate enemy of the Jewish people. According to the prophet:

“It shall be that all who are left over from all the nations who had invaded Jerusalem will come up every year to worship the King Hashem, Master of Legions, and to celebrate the festival of Succot.”

They do not understand that this is a matter of humiliation for them. As members of those people who tried to bring about the ultimate final solution, they will be required to make a public spectacle of themselves as they bow before the True King and submit themselves to His sovereignty.

Today, they boisterously parade around the streets of Jerusalem, grinning from ear to ear in joyful conviction of the rightness of their path and groveling Jews are aiding and abetting their smug and arrogant self-deception rather than tactfully and diplomatically performing their role as priests to the nations and setting them straight. To the Christian Zionists and the Jews who love them, I would like to repeat the words of my forefathers:

“The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a Sanctuary for Hashem, G-d of Israel. They approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families and said to them, “Let us build with you, for, like you, we will seek your G-d; it is to Him that we have been sacrificing since the days of Esar-haddon…but Zerubbabel, along with Jeshua and the rest of the family heads of Israel said to them, ‘It is not for you together with us to build a Temple for our G-d: rather we, by ourselves, will build [it]…’ ” (Ezra 4:1-3)

16 Tishrei 5763

Liars and Deceivers

Rabbinate Confronted With 60 Missionary Converts

They Never Take a Rest

It won't hurt, in their minds, if the children playing on these playgrounds will grow up with kind feelings towards xians because of their "generosity." Their long-term goal is that these chlidren will one day be open to hearing about their "gospel" as a result.


Christian-Jewish Fellowship to Build Israel Playgrounds
Reported: 19:19 PM - Jul/01/09

(IsraelNN.com) The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) is joining forces with Na'amat, Emunah and WIZO to contribute to the construction of 51 playgrounds at 22 day care centers in Israel, JPost reported. The IFCJ committed NIS 1.4 million toward the project.

"[We] are happy to have the opportunity to contribute to the children of Israel. The Fellowship will continue to initiate partnerships which will strengthen Israeli society," said IFCJ founder and President Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. He said the IFCJ chose to sponsor playgrounds because they promote healthy development. The IFCJ annually donates close to $60 million to Israeli causes, particularly to poor neighborhoods that lack adequate infrastructure. It is funded by donations from pro-Israel Evangelical Christians.

MESSIANIC (XIAN) ALIYAH

Xians want to make aliyah. If you don't believe me think about these two words "xian zionism". There are many different groups, but they all want to take our land. The only difference between them and the Arabs is the method, deception. They pretend to love and care for us by doing humanitarian work, but the ultimate goals are aliyah and evangelizing. It is important to note that "Messianic Jews" are xians whether they are born Jewish or not. They believe that yeshu is not only the Mashiach but also G-d. They worship and pray to him. That makes them xians.

Joel Chernoff is the general secretary of the MJAA, Messianic Jewish Allianice of America.

Joel is best known for his lifelong commitment and ministry work within the Messianic Jewish movement, a worldwide revival of Jewish people returning to the knowledge and belief in Yeshua, Jesus, as their Messiah. The Messianic movement is the fastest growing form of Judaism in the world today.

Since 1915, the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America is the single largest association of Messianic Jewish and Gentile believers in Yeshua in the world. In his role as General Secretary of the MJAA Joel is responsible for providing over $80 million worth of humanitarian aid to Israel; creating means for needy Russian Jews to make aliyah or immigrate to Israel; as well as dig fresh water wells and coordinate humanitarian aid efforts to reach more than 50 third world villages of Messianic Jewish people in Ethiopia.

His latest blog is about the recent article in the JPost on "messianic" aliyah by Maurice Singer a former Senior Aliyah consultant for the Jewish Agency.

In Mr. Singer's column a reader asks

Q: We are Messianic Jews and would like to make Aliyah. How difficult would this be?

And his answer is

A: From the inquiries that I have received, I have come to the conclusion that there seems to be 2 different interpretations of the meaning of "Messianic Jews." One seems to be people born Jewish who have embraced Jesus as the Messiah and follow the New and Old testament. The other appears to be people, not of Jewish birth who support the Jewish religion and who believe in both testaments. If the questioner is the former then it would appear that s/he is entitled to make Aliyah in accordance with the Law of Return. If the latter is the case then the questioner does not qualify for Aliyah.

Joel Chernoff has this to say

What? Are you kidding!

In other words this non-Messianic Jewish expert is saying it doesn’t matter what a person of Jewish lineage believes, he/she is qualified to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return.

MY OH MY! How Things Have Changed!

Until recently there is no way we would have seen such a response in print from the mainstream Jewish world in a paper like the Jerusalem Post. I could hardly believe my eyes that this would be his response despite the current reading and interpretation of the Law of Return especially by the Orthodox Jewish community that would say that Messianic Jews have left the fold of Jewish faith and therefore do NOT qualify to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return.

Is this issue less controversial than it was 40 years ago when the revival first broke out in the late 1960’s?

Has the Messianic communities hard work inside and outside of Israel through the Joseph Project etc slowly cultivated an appreciation for our community and a lessening of tensions and greater acceptance?
Whatever it is, the response of this aliyah expert is quite remarkable!

Notice that last paragraph? He is asking if their humanitarian work in Israel has led to acceptance of "Messianic Judaism" as a legitimate form of Judaism making aliyah easier for messianics.

The Joseph Project : In 1996, the Joseph Project was inspired by a prophetic wordthat NOW is the time to prepare for massive immigration to Israel of at least a million Jewish people from Eastern Europe and Russia in the near future. In 2006 alone we have shipped over $70 million of goods that were distributed via our 30 humanitarian aid centers, as well as over 100 Israeli government centers.

This is why so many xian organizations are involved in aliyah. Most xians know by now that with enough money they will eventually get what they want from the Israeli government.

The blog comments are very telling

"Joel, all I can think of is this: The Joseph Project is affecting the entire dough!"

"Who in Israel cannot be affected in this Great Mitzvah? Israel is knowing the Messianic Jews by their fruit! HOW EXCITING for what this could mean for the Messianic Jews desiring to make aliyah!"

"It is joyous to see the turn around for the Jews who follow Yeshua! I know it has been harder for those then for others to move to The Land. Baruch HaShem!!"

"I’m thrilled that Jews (by lineage) who consider themselves Messianic now apparently are no longer considered as non Jews, and allowed to return home.
Hopefully this would soon include us non Jewish Believers who hold the messianic view, to be able to make aliyah as well. I’m looking forward to that day."

Yes, They "Demand"

Messianic Jews demand Israeli citizenship
Three UK residents petition High Court, say state is denying their right of return due to bias against their faith
Aviad Glickman

Three Messianic Jews residing in Britain filed a petition with the High Court of Justice Wednesday in an effort to convince Interior Minister Eli Yishai to grant them citizenship.

John Christopher and Nina and Kevin Aires are members of a faith that believes Jesus Christ is the messiah but see themselves as Jews.

The petition states that Christopher's grandfather and Nina Aires' grandmother were Jewish, which grants them the right of return by law.

They claim they have appealed to the Interior Ministry a number of times but were rejected because they are Messianic Jews. They say the ministry sees members of their faith as missionaries and has denied their appeals for this reason.

The three say they have done nothing to warrant a denial of citizenship that is theirs by law and that they are Zionists who want to make Israel their home.

The petitioners claim the Interior Ministry is behaving in a discriminatory manner and persecuting them for their beliefs. The State's response has not yet been filed.

WANNA-BE JEWS DEDICATE TORAH SCROLL

Many Jewish news outlets reported on a Torah dedication at Congregation Temple Bethel in Philadelphia. From the headlines you would think this was a normal Torah dedication at a Jewish synagogue.

Headline on ynetnews

African-American Jews gain acceptance
Congregation of African-American Jews in Philadelphia reaches out to broader Jewish community in bid to persuade Jews to break through racial division.

but here are some interesting excerpts from the article

The founder of Temple Beth'El, Louise Dailey, studied with a rabbi, but was not ordained by a recognized branch of Judaism. The synagogue has a kosher kitchen and a mikvah, or ritual bath, but Dailey also adopted some traditions that are alien to the ancient faith. Congregants called her "Mother Dailey," and she ordained Bowen, her daughter, before she died.

and

The ceremony was a mix of Hebrew readings and shouts of "Hallelujah!" — a worship style typical of African-American churches. The booming music came from what Christians would call a "praise band" — with electric guitars, drums and keyboard. There was a dress code — another unusual tradition for Jews — of blue, silver or white clothing. Bowen's garb was far from typical for a rabbi. She wore an elaborate, flowing white gown — like a wedding dress — with matching white shawl and a yarmulke.

The Jewish Exponent reported

At the start of the ceremony dedicating the congregation's new Sefer Torah, Rabbi Debra Bowen of Congregation Temple Beth'El in Philadelphia summed up the situation: "I'm beside myself, as are most of Congregation Temple Beth'El," she said. "We've been unable to sleep, unable to eat -- and our medical personnel have told us that we have 'Torah fever.' " Congregants of all ages came in droves for the big event at the largely African-American "Conservadox" shul in West Oak Lane.

But here are some telling excerpts from their article

When the congregation's response wasn't lively enough, Bowen reached into her soulful rabbinic arsenal for a guaranteed reaction: "I need to get some hallelujahs!" "This is how we daven!" exclaimed Bowen. The predominantly African-American synagogue occupies an unusual place in the Jewish communal landscape: a vibrant, lively Jewish congregation comprised of a population not traditionally thought of as Jewish.

The article claims the founder, Louise Elizabeth Dailey, converted to Judaism but the "shul's" website doesn't say anything about a conversion in the bio on Dailey. It does however say that Rabbi Debra A Bowen, who is Daily's daughter, received her ordination from her mother. According to the website, Dailey was a baptist (xian) non-Jew. She decided to call herself a Jew and teach others "Judaism". When she got a following she decided to buy a building and call it a "synagogue".
Congregation Temple Bethel runs a Hebrew Academy that teaches the New Testament along with Mishna and Talmud. The following is an excerpt from the website

The year 1995 was a milestone for Congregation Temple Beth `El. We were blessed with Rabbi Dahton Nasi as our Temple Rabbi who is an erudite scholar and a wonderfully warm and approachable person. Prior to his membership with Congregation Temple Beth`El, Rabbi Nasi served as Temple Rabbi and spiritual leader at Adath Emet Yisrael from 1962 to 1972. He received his rabbinical ordination documentation in 1962 after completing the required courses at a private university and at Rutgers College. Among his credentials beyond his Teudah at S'meechut is a Doctor of Divinity degree from the American Bible Institute. He also concentrated on such elective disciplines beyond his Rabbinic and Hebraic studies as counseling and applied psychology. Additional accomplishment of Rabbi Nasi is that he was founder and administrator of the Jehu S. Zebulun Hebrew School of Hebrew and Cognate Studies.

These people are not Jews. They are just observing another form of xianity mixed with Judaism. As if there weren't enough fake Jews around with the messianic Jews, Ephraimites, Hebrew roots xians, Netzarim, Black Hebrews/Israelites.

How does it happen?

These days you can never know for sure who it really is that is davening next to you in shul.

For Jerusalem's Hebrew-speaking Catholics, Jewish identity is cardinal

"...Neuhaus, the community's vicar, is a 46-year-old Jesuit priest raised as a Jew in South Africa. His path to Catholicism began when his parents sent him to study in a yeshiva in Jerusalem as a teenager. Neuhaus told of how in Jerusalem, he met a Russian-Orthodox nun related to the family of the last tsar of Russia, Nicholas II. "I was 15, and she was 89," Neuhaus carefully explained. "She had an incredible influence over me from a spiritual standpoint. She radiated the presence of God. Her influence raised many spiritual questions about my faith." Neuhaus promised his parents that he would discuss his religious direction with them and wait 10 years before making a final decision. He did as he promised, converting and becoming ordained at the age of 26.... "Many of our members attend synagogue as an act of solidarity."

An Enlightening Article

One insight into why our people are at risk from missionaries:

The Dead-End of Jewish Culture

Xian "love" will destroy your soul

EXCERPTS FROM CASPARI MEDIA REVIEW MARCH 31

Anti-missionary Activities

HaModia, March 25 (pp. 1, 5), 26, 2009

Under the headline "Arad: Increase in missionary violence against city residents," HaModia (March 25, p. 5) reported the alleged incident in the following manner: "A shocking incident of assault took place last Thursday, near the meeting place of the mission on Gil'ad St. Two innocent residents stood there, exercising their legitimate right to inform passersby of the deceptive activity designed to convert being conducted in the building by the missionaries, and the need to keep a distance from the place and their crowds. The missionaries, whose anger is greatly aroused by protest activities of this kind, decided to attack the two men. All along, the missionaries have been attempting to present themselves as Jews and thus capture innocent Jews in their snare. The moment they understood that the two were endeavoring to expose their true purpose, they began to use physical violence. As already stated, last Thursday, another grave case of assault took place on the part of the missionaries, who pursued the men and tried to attack them in a very serious and extraordinary manner. By the grace of heaven, the two men managed to escape without harm. Yad L'Achim has reported that a complaint has been lodged with the police in Arad over the incident and that it is hoped that those responsible for the assault will be brought to trial. Orthodox elements in Arad told HaModia that the violence perpetrated by the mission in the city is one of the most well known cases and that the missionaries are a thorn in their side because they try to disguise themselves as 'compassionate and good people' in order to attract people and snare them in their net. It was further reported that the person responsible for the mission in the city's market, a man infamous in the past for having hit and injured residents and damaged their property, has been under house arrest recently, until his trial, scheduled for the coming months, is held. The man has been revealed as a danger to the public because of his serial violence and grave attempts to harm residents. People who see him wandering around outside their houses are requested to report the incident to the police on the grounds that he is violating the terms of his house arrest. Among the incidents of missionary violence was the wounding of a disabled IDF soldier whom they beat severely. Arad residents are waiting to see how the law enforcement authorities will act to restore peace and security to the city."

According to the same paper (March 25, p. 1), "dozens of Sha'arei Chesed [a Jerusalem neighborhood] residents will participate in the discussion to be held today in the district court regarding a petition to build a Christian prayer house in the neighborhood ... The petition, made by the Messianic congregation 'Netivyah,' was recently presented to the district court following the success of the residents' struggle in their appeal against the construction of the five-storey building ... According to the plans, the building will contain a large prayer hall and a conference hall, lecture- and class-rooms, and a kitchen and dining hall apparently intended to serve hundreds of outside visitors." One of the neighborhood residents was quoted as saying that the protesters include "'religious, traditional, and secular residents alike, with no distinction. This is an attempt to construct a huge public structure which will serve as a meeting place in the heart of a religious neighborhood. It's a serious disturbance and threat from all angles.'" The piece further reported that R. Shmuel Auerbach had given his support to the protest, stating that to do so was "'a biblical commandment [mitzvah d'oraita] to uproot idolatry from the land,'" it also being a mitzvah to participate in the court hearing.

HaModia (March 26) reported that that the "missionary" bulletin "Prayer for Israel" stated recently that "'[Binyamin] Netanyahu has promised us that he won't support any attempt on the part of the religious parties to pass a law stopping the activities of Israeli missionaries which is liable to prevent them from sharing their faith.'" Citing the "typical commentary" given by the bulletin, the article further cited it as saying, "'A radical right-wing government is a double-edged sword: while it safeguards Israel's national security, it doesn't protect the missionary organizations within the country. Our priority is naturally the protection of our fellow believers.'"

The Pope and the Vatican

Yediot Ahronot, March 25; HaModia, March 27; Haaretz, March 30; Jerusalem Post, March 30, 2009 Israel expects to spend six million shekels on the pope's visit to Nazareth alone, according to a report in Haaretz (March 30). Nazareth City Council has elected to "entrust organizing the mass to an external production company due to its complex logistical demands and the tight time frame. Organizers will still need to recruit funds for a satellite communication infrastructure to transmit the mass to a worldwide audience. They must also arrange security measures and organize transportation. The Vatican is expected to send Israel its guidelines and requests for the ceremony over the coming days. As of yet, Israel has received only the plan for the ceremony's set, part of which will comprise ancient artifacts."Yediot Ahronot (March 25) provided details concerning all 25 events scheduled during Benedict XVI's visit. Participants at these will be pre-invited guests only, whose background will be investigated before they are allowed to take part. Much of the preparation is linked to security issues, Israel being ready to field an assassination attempt on the pope's life or a terrorist attack designed to cloud the visit. The Vatican is also feeling the pressure of a German pope who grew up in Germany during the Holocaust visiting the Western Wall and Yad Vashem. It will thus take pains to ensure that none of his speeches contain controversial statements but attempt to appease everyone concerned - "Israelis, Palestinians, and members of all the religions." One logistical problem has already revealed itself: no building license has been issued for the construction of an amphitheater at the Mount Precipice in Nazareth, leading to fears that the Interior Ministry will forbid any such work and frustrate the planned mass.In light of the pope's upcoming visit, HaModia (March 27) joined the chorus of people perusing the history of Pius XII, stating that the answer lies hidden in the secret Vatican archives, which resemble a nuclear shelter.David Rosen, head of the American Jewish Committee's Department of Interreligious Affairs and chairman of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, contributed an opinion piece entitled "Pope Benedict XVI and the Jews" to the Jerusalem Post this week (March 30). Rosen suggested that the pope's efforts to restore relations with the Jewish community should come as no surprise to those familiar with his record: "He was the first pope to invite Jewish leaders both to the funeral of Pope John Paul II and, above all, to the celebration of his own ascension to the throne of St. Peter in 2005. Little more than a month later he received a delegation of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations. This roof body, embracing the principle [sic] Jewish advocacy organizations as well as the major streams of contemporary Judaism, is the official partner of the Holy See's Commission for Religious Relations with Jewry. Notably he received this Jewish delegation almost immediately into his pontificate, before he had even received delegations from other branches of Christianity, let alone other religions." Citing several of Cardinal Ratzinger's writings and speeches, Rosen stated: "It is significant to condemn anti-Semitism as evil and it is remarkable to condemn it as 'a sin against God and man' as did Pope John Paul II (words that have been reiterated by Pope Benedict XIV himself). However to describe anti-Semitism as an assault against the very roots of Christianity means that for a Christian to harbor such sentiment is to attack and betray his own faith - a message of enormous pedagogical importance in the struggle against hatred directed towards Jews and Judaism." Finally, in relation to the State of Israel, Rosen wrote: "Not everyone in the Church has appreciated the central role that Israel plays in contemporary as well as historic Jewish identity. Pope Benedict XVI does, and he fully realizes that the relationship between the Vatican and the State of Israel is inextricably bound up with the relationship between the Jewish people and the Catholic Church."

Copyright 2009, Caspari Center.

EXCERPTS FROM THE CASPARI MEDIA REVIEW MARCH 26, 2009

Anti-missionary Activities

HaMachaneh HeCharedi, March 19; Yom L'Yom, March 19; HaModia, March 18, 20; HaMevaser, March 18, 2009

In the wake of the recent story about Netzarim settlers who refused to accept a donation from Christians, it was reported this week that a wealthy Venezuelan Jew has offered to make up the sum they "lost" by contributing the funds to Yad L'Achim and give them the money himself

(HaMevaser , March 18; HaModia , March 20; HaMachaneh HeCharedi , March 19; Yom L'Yom , March 19).

According to HaModia (March 18), "The residents of Arad hold legal protests every day of the year against the missionary organizations in the city in order to reveal their true face and their devious intentions. The missionaries in Arad present themselves as Jews to all purposes by wearing Jewish dress and authentic Jewish symbols and the Orthodox Jewish community in Arad has been hurt by this. Over Purim, therefore, when we are commanded to destroy Amalek, the residents put greater stress than usual on their fight against the mission, which pursues innocent Jews and snares them in its net. On Shabbat Zekhor, residents returning from synagogue and passing the mission building on Gil'ad St. stopped and protested the campaign of apostasy being carried on there. Some of the worshipers recited the usual Purim prayers which refer to wiping out the memory of Amalek. The principal demonstration was held on the actual day of Purim: a special horse parade - 'Mordechai's procession' - was held with posters saying, 'The mission - the spiritual Haman of our generation' and 'We want an Arad free of missionaries' ... The group wore special T-shirts from the Yad L'Achim organization with the inscription, 'Lost - a Jew. Last seen going around with the missionaries.' The procession wound its way all through the town, expressing its identification with the local protest. Those involved stated that the protest went very smoothly, the public being exposed time and again to the mission's true face and taking pains to keep its distance from it and its deceitful workers - in close cooperation with Yad L'Achim, which participates in the daily protests in the city throughout the year."

Christians in Israel

Dakot 24, March 17; Haaretz, March 17; Mishpacha, March 19; HaModia, March 17; HaMevaser, March 17, 23; Makor Rishon, March 17; Yated Ne'eman, March 17; Globes, March 23, 2009

A guard and Orthodox Scout leader at a Yaffo church was arrested this week on suspicion of molesting several youths in the church where he works and on scout outings (Dakot 24 , March 17). According to Haaretz (March 17), the 25-year-old man's detention was extended for three days.

Several of the religious papers reported the decision taken by the Tel Aviv municipality to discuss Simon Duka's request that he be permitted to open his used-clothing shop on Shabbat. Duka is a Christian refugee from Sudan and wishes his day of rest to be Sunday rather than Saturday. A magistrate has already ordered the municipality to cancel the fines it imposed on Duka for opening on Shabbat (Mishpacha , March 17; Makor Rishon , March 17; Yom L'Yom , March 17). HaModia (March 17) was of the opinion that Duka is "seeking to alter the order of Tel Aviv." The present law allows the granting of licenses to open on Shabbat only to shops in non-Jewish areas. The municipality's committee has been ordered to convene within 60 days to discuss the matter (HaMevaser , March 17).

According to a report in HaMevaser (March 23), "While police in Jerusalem were preventing the celebrations of 'Jerusalem as the capital of Arab culture' planned by the PA in the Jewish capital, it transpires that no consensus exists in the matter within the Palestinian community itself. The head of the Latin church in Gaza stated that the Hamas government prevented a Christian school from holding an event within the same framework. The Hamas movement denied the claims."

Globes (March 23), featured an article on the history of the "American Colony" in Tel Aviv-Yaffo: The "American Colony" was established in 1866 by "156 Protestants from the state of Maine, U.S. The purpose of the settlement was the restoration of the Jews to the Land of Israel, which would bring Yeshu's return and the redemption. It contained only two roads: Be'er Hoffman and Auerbach. The settlers only managed to hold on for two years, being torn apart by plagues and economic difficulties. In 1868, the settlement was barren. Within a few years, however, the houses had been purchased by the German Templars, who developed the settlement and created public institutions. In 1881, it already contained 26 residences - eight of wood and the rest of stone, being surrounded by stone walls. The German Kaiser Wilhelm II stayed in the Park Hotel in the colony in 1898, his entourage staying at the nearby Jerusalem Hotel. In 1904, Emmanuel Church was completed, one of the colony's most prominent features. The German Colony flourished until it was destroyed by the British during the Second World War and its residents expelled; the buildings were confiscated by the government. Most of the houses have been restored and preserved as a tourist attraction. Recently, well-known architects have also bought apartments and sites there."

Jewish-Christian Relations

Haaretz, March 20; Yediot Yerushalayim, March 20; HaMevaser, March 18; BeKehilah, March 19; HaModia, March 23; HaShavua BiYerushalayim, March 19; Kol Ha'Ir, March 18; BeSheva,
March 19, 2009

HaModia (March 23) reported Pope Benedict's apology for his handling of the Williamson affair (see previous Reviews).

Benedict's scheduled visit to the Western Wall is creating additional severe strains on Jewish-Catholic relations. According to several reports (HaShavua BiYerushalayim , March 19; Kol Ha'Ir , March 18; BeSheva , March 19; Yediot Yerushalayim , March 20; HaMevaser , March 18), the Security Service's decision to close the plaza 15 hours before the pope's arrival, thus preventing worshippers from praying there, has aroused the ire of the Wall's Chief Rabbi, Shmuel Rabinovitz. "'In my opinion, we cannot close the Wall and limit prayer there ... the principle guiding me is to find security solutions which will simultaneously permit continuous entrance during the pope's visit ... There cannot be a situation in which prayer at the Western Wall stops even for one second. I intend to demand that entrance is permitted before the visit and during it in order to enable proper prayer services to continue as normal.'" Rabinovitz expressed similar views regarding the fact that the pope arrives on the eve of Lag B'Omer, a fact which may affect the celebrations on Mount Meron when he arrives in Nazareth, objecting that closing the roads would interfere with thousands of people making their way north for the celebrations. According to BeSheva (March 19), the original security plans called for the Wall to be closed from midnight. "In his statement he [Rabinovitz] said that the pope couldn't be given priority over other worshipers, and in particular should not be allowed to infringe on those who prayed at the Wall regularly all during the year." The same report also noted that Rabinovitz has requested that the pope refrain from wearing a cross at the Wall, having already succeeded in gaining the compliance of two other high-ranking Catholic figures from entering the site "wearing the symbol of their worship." An organization called "Independence" is also protesting the pope's visit to the Wall on the grounds that the "religious public must fiercely oppose the intention of the head of Catholic Christianity which hates Judaism to visit this sanctified place." According to HaMevaser (March 18), several other rabbis and Torah scholars have appealed to Rabinovitz against the closure of the Wall "from which the Shekhina [God's presence] has never moved." BeKehilah (March 19) further noted that the pope's scheduled visit to Mount Zion is arousing fears that "as a gesture, the government might grant the Vatican authority over part of King David's tomb, thereby impinging on the tomb and its worshipers." It likewise reported that Benedict's visit to Nazareth has been postponed in light of the Lag B'Omer celebrations.

Michael Schudrich, Chief Rabbi of Poland since 2004, contributed an opinion piece to Haaretz (March 20) entitled "What I learned from John Paul II": "I recently returned from giving a lecture honoring the memory of Pope John Paul II, at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) in Rome ... What a humbling, and particularly relevant experience ... John Paul II profoundly explained: 'The Jewish religion is not "extrinsic" to us, but in a certain way is "intrinsic" to our own religion. With Judaism, therefore, we have a relationship we do not have with any other religion.' Christianity's unique relationship with Judaism creates special responsibilities - an essential lesson for Christians. But it's a lesson for us Jews, too, who have learned from bitter historical experience to close our doors to the outside world. Pope John Paul II understood the Jewish concept of 'the other.' When one is well rooted in one's own tradition, one only benefits by studying and experiencing other religious traditions ... My synagogue in Warsaw announced a memorial prayer for him at the start of Shabbat [following his death]. As I approached the synagogue, I was shocked. The line of those waiting to get inside was huge. Over 1,000 people attended - a few hundred were local Polish Jews, but the rest were Polish Catholics. Just think about it - hundreds of Catholics accepting that it was normal to share a prayer for the Pope in a synagogue in Poland! At that moment, I saw before my very eyes how Pope John Paul II had changed the world. How so much of what he practiced during his own life had truly inspired others to act similarly. For me, this is the ultimate tribute to the teachings and life of Pope John Paul II."

The Pope and the Vatican

Calcalist, March 23; Haaretz, March 23 (Hebrew and English editions); Jerusalem Post, March 17, 2009

A report printed in Haaretz (March 23, Hebrew and English editions) and Calcalist (March 23) noted that "A special crew comprised of both Jews and Christians will serve Pope Benedict XVI and his entourage on their El Al flight home from Israel on May 15. According to El Al, the entourage will include 30 church officials and 70 journalists. The airline also plans to paint the Pope's plane with the Vatican logo. Tens of thousands of pilgrims are expected to accompany the Pope on his visit here, and El Al is hoping for a piece of that action as well: It will inaugurate direct flights between Tel Aviv and Sao Paolo, Brazil on May 2, and is planning an aggressive advertising campaign in other South American countries too."

According the Jerusalem Post (March 17), "After more than a decade of negotiations, Israel and the Vatican are nearing an agreement on a longstanding tax dispute over Church properties in the Holy Land ... At the core of the tax dispute is hundreds of millions of shekels owed to the city by the Vatican ... The total amount of unpaid property tax amounts to roughly NIS 300 million, with the Latin Patriarchate the biggest offender ... Any agreement reached between the Prime Minister's Office and the Vatican will be precedent-setting, since it will apply to all church properties in Jerusalem." Despite the progress in talks, however, it is doubtful whether the issue will be resolved prior to the pope's upcoming visit.

Copyright 2009, Caspari Center.