State-backed persecution
The government must call its employees to order immediately, to explain to Interior Minister Eli Yishai that he is not responsible for maintaining the purity of the Jewish race.
Haaretz Editorial Tags: Israel newsThe methods of harassment and persecution used by the ultra-Orthodox organization Yad L'Achim against innocent, law-abiding Israeli citizens goes beyond the limits of legitimate activity by a civilian body and borders on unlawful. The organization, which has deployed a dense net of activists across the country and the world, is proud of "rescuing" Jewish men, women and children from the "claws" of other faiths and belief systems using coercive and dubious tactics.
Particularly serious is the fact - revealed by Yuval Azoulay in the October 2 edition of the Hebrew-language Haaretz Magazine - that behind the threats, the spreading of harmful rumors and harassment are not only the thugs of Yad L'Achim, but top Interior Ministry officials.
The officials, including Amos Arbel, head of the Population Administration in Tel Aviv, received information on the private lives of individuals described as "members of a messianic cult." On the pretext of counteracting "missionaries" who had "acted against the Jewish people," these officials trampled on people's basic rights.
It's hard to believe - a government agency tasked with delivering public services to citizens (mainly granting permits) is persecuting people for their opinions and beliefs while leaning on an extremist, violent organization. The infuriating interrogation of the university student Barbara Ludwig for alleged missionary work and the fact that her personal file (which was supposed to be classified) was transferred to Yad L'Achim is a blatant violation of Israel's Basic Law on Human Dignity and Liberty.
The organization's shady links with the establishment are not new - for years, its activists have provided information to rabbinical courts seeking to stick their hands into sensitive cases at the Social Affairs Ministry. More than once the group has enjoyed the assistance of ultra-Orthodox politicians such as Menachem Porush, who as deputy social affairs minister in 1991 wrote to a court pleading for mercy toward the group's activists who had kidnapped an orphan from relatives who were "not religious enough." But the Interior Ministry employees' collaboration with the group outdoes even that abhorrent precedent.
The government must call its employees to order immediately, to explain to Interior Minister Eli Yishai that he is not responsible for maintaining the purity of the Jewish race according to the formula of ultra-Orthodox zealots, and that any collaboration with Yad L'Achim is, in effect, a grave instance of persecution.
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I'm glad to see some sanity in Israel toward groups that are harmless and may be the best friends of a country that is badly in need of friends. One day orthodox groups will see that they should keep their eyes on their real enemy and those enemies are what jews and christians have in common.
So, what would be best, to please haredim and maintain orthodox purity, while risking the nation under an Arab majority, or allowing in Israel a group that supports Zionist beliefs, that could grant the majority during a political election, plus a larger number of IDF soldiers and that could actually increase the number of new converts into mainstream Judaism. I?m probably too pragmatic, but it?s a possibility that this point might be crossing the minds of some secular israeli leaders.
This is a joke! Most of these so-called Jews have made their way into Israel illegally. Nothing like a phony conservative conversion to get citizenship then start handing out yashka videos. These people are stealing the souls of Jews--and they will use any cheap twisted method they can! Yad L'Achim is trying to prevent that. But this is Haaretz--Pro-Arab, Pro-Xtian and totally against anything Jewish. Just change your name to Al Jazeera and move to Gaza.
Finally someone has the guts to call spade the spade! How long can such discrimination continue in a democratic country... Shame on Ministry of Interior
B"H If it weren't for Yad LeAchim, Israel's infiltration by Christians would be much worse. Jerusalem was overrun this Sukkoth, and it gets worse every year. Anti-Missionary laws are gradually being chipped away, and in some instances, canceled. Missionaries are successfully playing on secular AND datti leumi fears of "Haredization." Meanwhile, the so called "right" is aligning itself with Christians, and looking the other way {turning the other cheek} when evidence surfaces of their "friends'" covert missionary activity. I was hoping that the Leftist [rightful] suspicion of the "Christian Right" would hold up against pressures from Europe to water down the Jewish nature of Israel. I guess I was wrong. EsserAgaroth.blogspot.com
No, HaAretz is pro freedom of religion. It's amazing how when the Inquisition is persecuting Maranos and Spanish Jews, that's bad, but when we do it to others, that's good. It's called hypocrisy and is not pretty.
May I push your excellent editorial further: Can we, the citizens of Israel, not tackle proselytising on their own? Yes, we can! Why this paternalistic and condescending attitude of the State's self-anointed Truth commando?
because I am a Jewish Shaman and in a Secular State I would be lots more interesting than these Yahoos.
AS the saying goes: "There are none so blind as those who refuse to see." Israel is one of those nations. Of course Israelis complain and get offeneded when they get compared to the Nazis. But what else can you call a group of people, or an entire country, for that matter, when it behaves like Nazis. The article says it all: "The government must call its employees to order immediately, to explain to Interior Minister Eli Yishai that he is not responsible for maintaining the purity of the Jewish race according to the formula of ultra-Orthodox zealots, and that any collaboration with Yad L'Achim is, in effect, a grave instance of persecution."
The government must call its employees to order immediately, to explain to Interior Minister Eli Yishai that he is not responsible for maintaining the purity of the Jewish race according to the formula of ultra-Orthodox zealots, and that any collaboration with Yad L'Achim is, in effect, a grave instance of persecution
if they are breaking the law, arrest them all. if they are not, then they should be protected by the law. even IF they are breaking the law, that does not give yad l'achim the right to do anything to them other than protest peacefully. if yad l'achim does things other than peacefully protest, they are breaking the law and should be arrested. you don't like the law? change it via legislation. otherwise, respect and live under the law on the books.
until there is complete separation of state and religion in Israel. In the meantime Israel begins to remember its Muslim neighbors more and more in all concerns matters of religion.
Thank you Haaretz for this article. Please do have a look at the Rosh Pina Project: roshpinaproject.wordpress.com Our blog contains details of Yad L'Achim's intimidation of Messianic Jews in Israel, and their links with Chinese authorities who persecute the Falun Gong and other religious minorities. We also look at the inflammatory language employed against Messianic Jews by their opponents.
Look, they are misleading missionaries who go after Jews in order to convert them to a belief in Jesus. It is allowed to stop them. Haaretz - amazing how you find every anti-Jewish agenda to back.