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Evangelicals disturbed by rabbis' call to Jews to shun joint Sukkot event
By The Associated Press
Tags: Sukkot, rabbis, Israel 

The Chief Rabbinate has abruptly called on Jews to shun a major Christian tourism event, baffling and upsetting evangelical groups that traditionally have been big supporters of Israel,

More than 6,000 Christians from more than 90 nations are expected to arrive in Jerusalem this week to take part in the 28th annual Christian celebration of the weeklong Jewish holiday of Sukkot, or Feast of Tabernacles, according to the event's organizers, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.

Thousands of Christians take part in the celebration annually, as do Israeli lawmakers, government representatives and ordinary Israelis. Rabbi Shlomo Goren, a former chief rabbi, personally welcomed participants one year.
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But this year the Chief Rabbinate urged Jews to stay away from the event, saying some of the groups want to convert them to Christianity. Proselytizing is illegal in Israel.

"According to information that has reached the Chief Rabbinate, there are participants in this conference who convert Jews to Christianity and perform missionary activity throughout the year," said Rabbi Simcha Hacohen Kook, the chief rabbi of Rehovot, who took part in committee discussions of the matter. "This is against the law, so the Chief Rabbinate is calling upon Jews not to take part in the conference."

The group's organizers denied breaking the law.

"It is disappointing to learn that some rabbinic authorities are trying to discourage the Jewish public from participating in this traditional march," said the Rev. Malcolm Hedding, the ICEJ's executive director. "The ICEJ has never conducted any missionary programs in Israel and we clearly instruct our Feast pilgrims against such activity during their stay here."

National Religious Party MK Benny Elon, who heads the Knesset's Christian Allies Caucus, questioned why the rabbinate's ruling was handed down now, after the event has taken place for 27 years with the understanding on both sides that missionary activity was off limits.

"At a time when Israel is under threat of attack from Iran and other sources of radical Islam, it should not alienate Christians who are the most important ally against this danger," said Elon, adding that he's received telephone calls from dozens of Christian friends of Israel disturbed by the ruling.

"We have to be wary of missionary activity, he said. But after we know it and they [Christians] know it and it's on the table, it is embarrassing to suddenly have a campaign against Christians. I don't know who is spearheading this. I hope the chief rabbis will explain this."

The ICEJ estimated the Sukkot event would infuse as much as $18 million into the local economy. That point wasn't lost on event organizers, who said the evangelical event - which they described as a huge boost to Israel's tourism industry - would take place despite the rabbinate's call.

According to the Old Testament Book of Zechariah, all nations will make pilgrimages to Jerusalem in the messianic era to celebrate Sukkot. Christians have interpreted this to mean that Sukkot is a holiday where Jews welcome non-Jews to join them in celebration in Jerusalem.

There has been a growing alliance in recent years between right-wing Israeli groups and some evangelical Christians who believe Jews must return to the biblical Land of Israel to facilitate a Second Coming of Christ.

The government has forged close ties with conservative American Christians in recent years, and evangelical groups have contributed millions of dollars to Israel.

These Christian groups also oppose territorial concessions to the Palestinians.

The ICEJ says its supporters do not accept teachings accepted by some other Christian groups that masses of Jews will die in the final climactic battle between God and Satan if they do not accept Jesus.

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  1.   STICK WITH THE ICEJ 18:27  |  Brant 23/09/07
  2.   Why US backs a country where Christian proselytizing is a crime? 18:37  |  Michael 23/09/07
  3.   rabbinate ban 18:55  |  lhk 23/09/07
  4.   $$$ and Political Support No Excuse for Jewish-Christian Activism 19:02  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 23/09/07
  5.   DUH Michael! We do not prostelitize in the US, southern babtists 19:05  |  Jack 23/09/07
  6.   To #2 -- Israeli law 19:06  |  Josh 23/09/07
  7.   Michael of the UK 19:08  |  akiva 23/09/07
  8.   about time the Rabbis took a stand! 19:10  |  Sally Forth 23/09/07
  9.   The Rabbinut is right, Jews have no business being there. 19:14  |  Avraham 23/09/07
  10.   Speaking as an Evangelical 19:31  |  Gina 23/09/07
  11.   Article is incorrect 19:42  |  eliyahu 23/09/07
  12.   To #6 Josh 19:45  |  JewishHeart 23/09/07
  13.   rabbis call to shun 20:00  |  emanuel 23/09/07
  14.   diplomatic call 20:00  |  ellen 23/09/07
  15.   Interfaith matters 20:09  |  English Resident 23/09/07
  16.   "Light of the world" 20:25  |  David R 23/09/07
  17.   Speaking as a non-Evangelical..... 20:29  |  Palestinian Brit 23/09/07
  18.   christian embassy in Jerusalem & thanks #12 20:30  |  topanga 23/09/07
  19.   Michael - Why 20:36  |  Gerald Gibson 23/09/07
  20.   The first DUMB Rabbinate 20:45  |  ottomatik 23/09/07
  21.   Even Jews have their rotten eggs 20:46  |  Nathaniel 23/09/07
  22.   Orthodox Rabbinate abuses Reform Jews as well as Christians 20:55  |  David 23/09/07
  23.   Is Israel`s Rabbinate becoming Anti-Zionist? 20:59  |  David 23/09/07
  24.   Insane Ruling by New "Mullahs" 21:02  |  guy 23/09/07
  25.   Palestinian Brit ----- Only those who support terrorist groups 21:04  |  Gina 23/09/07
  26.   David 21:24  |  Gina 23/09/07
  27.   Jews Go Celebrate With Christians Anyway! 21:24  |  Yosemite 23/09/07
  28.   much more in common with evangelicals 21:29  |  chaim schonbrun 23/09/07
  29.   What`s the fuss? 21:37  |  De 23/09/07
  30.   David R. -Loving the Jews 21:39  |  Michael Jacobs 23/09/07
  31.   DISBAND THE RABBINATE 21:54  |  B`Galil 23/09/07
  32.   Best Rabbi We Ever Had... 22:02  |  Yosemite 23/09/07
  33.   The rabbis are right 22:10  |  Martha Hoelzermann 23/09/07
  34.   A Rabbinate Ruling I support full-heartedly! 22:22  |  Appreciative 23/09/07
  35.   ban 22:52  |  melchizedek 23/09/07
  36.   #34 appreciative 22:54  |  melchizedek 23/09/07
  37.   evangelicals= evil people 22:57  |  Steven 23/09/07
  38.   Insane Rabbi 22:59  |  Joseph T. 23/09/07
  39.   religious correctness 23:10  |  simplemind 23/09/07
  40.   These senile old farts don`t represent most Jews or Israelis 23:11  |  Dr. L. Brnd 23/09/07
  41.   Proselytizing 23:13  |  GEO 23/09/07
  42.   Appreciative 23:15  |  Martha Hoelzermann 23/09/07
  43.   re #34 & #37 23:37  |  wow 23/09/07
  44.   maria where are you and what say you. 23:43  |  Wesley 23/09/07
  45.   #10 Gina yes but what about the 144,000?? 23:46  |  Wesley 23/09/07
  46.   "...campaign against Christians"? 00:14  |  Blogowitz 24/09/07
  47.   Wesley -- that`s seventh day adventist 00:27  |  Gina 24/09/07
  48.   Jews for Judaism 00:29  |  Rabbi Bentzion Kravi 24/09/07
  49.   #Hi Wesely. About the 144 000. 01:14  |  Maureen Ann 24/09/07
  50.   Jesus Saves 01:20  |  Christian Jew 24/09/07
  51.   Battle of Armageddon 01:28  |  Twan Rodgers 24/09/07
  52.   so devine 02:15  |  Billy Jack 24/09/07
  53.   If your right hand offends you... 02:43  |  mi cha El 24/09/07
  54.   Speaking As An Ex-EVANGELICAL, I Say REMEMBER Ehud Barak & Bush. 03:21  |  Proud Pal Defender 24/09/07
  55.   43 Wow 06:37  |  Martha Hoelzermann 24/09/07
  56.   Proud Pal Defender 06:50  |  Yosemite 24/09/07
  57.   #50 Christian Jew - Bank Leumi 07:32  |  Michael Jacobs 24/09/07
  58.   oh! poor cossacks yelling: thief! 11:38  |  Jewboy and proud 24/09/07
  59.   Gina so you are an exception 11:40  |  Joanna 24/09/07
  60.   Eliyahu stop being naive 11:43  |  Alex. 24/09/07
  61.   See a sample of hate =post#16 11:47  |  Jewboy 24/09/07
  62.   David ,22, all jews who know, hate forgery 11:49  |  Jewboy and proud 24/09/07
  63.   Evangelicals disturbed by rabbis` call to Jews to shun joint Sukk 15:59  |  Bruce Atchison 24/09/07
  64.   Evangelicals don`t scare me 17:39  |  Beatrice 24/09/07
  65.   Agree Wholly To #40, Dr. L. Brnd 17:51  |  A Nus baum 24/09/07
  66.   de#29 the fuss is that we know of cases 17:51  |  burning jew 24/09/07
  67.   #32 mind your language hill billy 17:56  |  Alex. 24/09/07
  68.   Joseph T. you might well be a friend 17:59  |  Joe Jew 24/09/07
  69.   round the Brnd #40 18:03  |  Jewboy 24/09/07
  70.   Wow= We Ought to Win? 18:07  |  Josephine 24/09/07
  71.   #50 so do many investors 18:24  |  Joe Jew 24/09/07
  72.   5#52 atheists killed more people than all religions 18:42  |  Jewboy 24/09/07
  73.   #54 another sample of the jewhatred of some . 18:51  |  Another Jew 24/09/07
  74.   Nusbaum = nut tree. growing nut? 18:59  |  Miriam 24/09/07
  75.   Brant to or with? 19:07  |  Alex. 24/09/07
  76.   bruce and false analogy 19:13  |  Jewboy 24/09/07
  77.   Bruce the ichy. 19:16  |  Me 24/09/07
  78.   Circus, not Sukkot 19:19  |  Joanna 24/09/07
  79.   Just as evangelicals "teach english" in China.. 00:49  |  Stan 25/09/07
  80.   Beware of the US evangelical fundies ! 07:06  |  Sylvie 26/09/07
  81.   #71