Conversions and the Religious Gestapo

Although Israel is a democratic nation, groups which refer to themselves as "anti-missionaries" are freely allowed to advance an agenda of religious-ethnic cleansing in the Jewish homeland. Propelled by a so-called religious duty, these radical groups function like a secret police unit, overstepping legal boundaries and impeding individual rights. Their goal? To stalk, harass, and persecute any group perceived to be a threat to their world view. On their list of targets are Reform Jews, Conservative Jews, Kabbalists, and Messianic Jews.

Israel National News recently reported that Rabbi Shalom Dov Lifshitz, chairman and founder of the anti-missionary organization, Yad L’Achim, submitted to the Chief Rabbinate a list of more than 60 recent converts to Judaism who continue to believe that Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah. Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar was reportedly “shocked” that the Chief Rabbinate had authorized the conversions. Much more shocking, however, is the fact that Yad L’Achim has again publicly admitted to its involvement in unethical, and questionably illegal, monitoring and surveillance activities. 

Yad L’Achim regularly monitors such individuals through undercover informers. These acts are eerily similar to methods employed by the KGB and the Gestapo. Most alarming, however, is the fact that Lifshitz provides these and other lists also to contacts in the Ministry of Interior, which inevitably results in acts of systematic discrimination. Woe to the tourist who mentions the name of any known Messianic Jew upon their entrance into or out of the country. They are likely to be kicked out of Israel on the first available flight.

These deeds are a clear violation of individual rights granted in the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty, which guarantees freedom of conscience and protection of privacy for all citizens. In hopes of identifying and weeding out believers in Yeshua from the conversion process, Rabbi Lifshitz presented Rabbi Amar with a list of 17 questions that should be asked of all prospective converts. In this instance, the State is attempting to control its citizens’ minds and restrict freedom of thought—a clear aberration of individual rights typically granted within a democratic system.

Nothing Un-kosher about Messianic Jews

Pnina Conforti, a self-described Messianic Jew, was shocked and hurt when the kosher license of her bakery in Bat Yam was revoked by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel about two years ago. She was shocked because her bakery, "Pnina Pie" strictly abides by the kosher laws in Judaism. Since this decision of the Chief Rabbinate caused her business to lose about 90% of its clientele, she had no choice but to turn to the Israeli courts for relief. The only reason given for the denial of a kosher license? Pnina's faith that Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah.

In a detailed 12-page opinion, on June 29, 2009, the High Court of Justice presented the parties with a benchmark decision forcing the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to grant "Pnina Pie" a kosher license. The judges emphatically rejected the claims of the Chief Rabbinate's counsel, which received the support of the Attorney General of Israel, that it is impossible to trust Messianic Jews to uphold their commitments before the Rabbinate, since they are "apostate Jews". According to Justice Danziger, the Rabbinate's decision was "unreasonable, disproportionate" and "impossible to support".

The Jerusalem Institute of Justice wants to applaud the Israeli High Court of Justice for upholding equality, democracy and justice in this case. We rejoice with Pnina in this victory, and achievement which will undoubtedly positively affect the restaurants, bakeries, catering services and other food businesses owned by members of minority religious streams in Israel.

We at the Jerusalem Institute of Justice invite you to partner with us in our effort to strengthen our nation’s democratic values and institutions. We are your hands and feet on the ground in Israel working tirelessly to forge a new reality of inter-faith respect, freedom of conscience, and equality for all
streams of faith within our society.

With your help and support we can make a difference. Ongoing monthly donations, even of relatively small amounts, are especially appreciated.

Thank you.
 

Groups which refer to themselves as "anti-missionaries" are freely allowed to advance an agenda of religious-ethnic cleansing in the Jewish homeland

Yad L'Achim leader Binyamin Kluger is a former Christian, who converted to Islam, and then to Judaism

"Pnina Pie" strictly abides by the kosher laws of Judaism