Yeah, I know, I know.... Don't shoot the messenger.
The point of this post is not to criticize Arutz 7 (Israel National News) for reporting the news. It IS to criticize Arutz 7 for omitting parts of the full story.
Here's the gist of what they wrote:
Arutz 7: 3,000 Christians Support IsraelThe rest of the report is just additional details,...as in "The Devil is in the details...." You read and see for yourself, by clicking the link above.
The International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem [ICEJ] hosts 3,000 Christians from around the world who come to express their support for Israel.
Elad Benari & Yedidya Ben Or, October 4, 2012
About 3,000 Christians from around the world attended on Tuesday a huge event in support of Israel. The participants included members of pro-Israel lobbies from the U.S. Congress and from parliaments around the world.
The event is an annual conference held every year during the holiday of Sukkot and hosted by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem. The event was planned by the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation, headed by former MK Rabbi Benny Elon, as well as the World Jewish Congress and the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs. Participants included members of the U.S. Congress and parliamentarians from Canada, Brazil, Finland, Macedonia, the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Estonia, Hungary, Spain, Uruguay, Portugal and the UK.
The event was also attended by Minister of Information and Diaspora Yuli Edelstein and World Jewish Congress Secretary-General Dan Dicker. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sent a video greeting...
What Arutz 7 did NOT report about ICEJ was reported by Jewish Israel. The below information is nothing new. Fortunately, Jewish Israel knows that, unfortunately, we Jews can have very short memories.
ICEJ declares that their core mission is to tell the world that jesus is coming back and to spread that word from JerusalemI don't know about you, but the title was pretty clear to me.
This September 2012 video from the international director of the International Christian Embassy, Jerusalem (ICEJ) makes it clear that ICEJ's "core" mission is to let the world know of "the return of the lord jesus", and to spread that news from Jerusalem to the nations. Is this the "Christian Zionist" message that the Jewish State should be supporting?
It also leaves me with a few questions:
1. Is Arutz 7 knowingly or unknowingly "aiding and abetting" the ICEJ in fulfilling its core mission?
2. Is the Israeli Government knowingly or unknowingly "aiding and abetting" the ICEJ in fulfilling its core mission?
3. Do Arutz 7 and the Israeli Government really think that the following pasuq from the Torah doesn't apply to them?
דברים טז,יט לֹא-תַטֶּה מִשְׁפָּט, לֹא תַכִּיר פָּנִים; וְלֹא-תִקַּח שֹׁחַד--כִּי הַשֹּׁחַד יְעַוֵּר עֵינֵי חֲכָמִים, וִיסַלֵּף דִּבְרֵי צַדִּיקִם
Deuteronomy 16:19 Do not twist judgment; do not show deference; and do not take a bribe; for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and distorts the words of the righteous.Inquiring minds want to know....
OK. So, I guess that was silly to expect that most members of the Israeli Government would actually be concerned in the least about what is written in the Torah, save for the occasional opportunity to pervert the Torah by using it to support government policies.
But, Religious Zionist Arutz 7? What's their excuse?
Jewish Israel was even interviewed on one of Arutz 7's own radio talk shows, Derech Eretz, as recently as a month and half ago, albeit I do not know if the ICEJ's agenda was covered.
On a final note, I guess I wrong about the title of this post. It should have been...
Arutz 7 And The Israeli Government Still Don't Get It About Christians
Update!
W
To Arutz 7's Credit, one staff member posted the following:
Activists: Beware Concerned Christians
At least two prominent Jerusalemites believe that Israel is “selling its soul” to Christian missionaries for their political support
David Lev, October 4, 2012
While many Israelis welcome the support shown by evangelical Christians for the State of Israel, at least two prominent Jerusalemites – [former] city council member Mina Fenton and real estate activist develop Aryeh King – believe that Israel is “selling its soul” to Christian missionaries. And, they say, they represent many other Israelis who are uncomfortable with the idea of Christian missionaries taking such a prominent role in support for Israel. The organizers of the Christian “Feast of Tabernacles” celebration, who have brought more than 3,000 tourists to Israel for the week of Sukkot, “have their own interests, namely the spreading of the vision of their messiah and the arrival of his kingdom,” said Fenton. While all people are free to believe and worship as they wish, Fenton said, Jews must proclaim that their Messianic vision is at odds with the Christian one. The Christians' profession of “love for the Jewish people,” she said, is a “mask” for their true desire, which is to convert the Jews to their religion. “When they talk about the rebuilding of the Temple, they mean it to be a Christian temple,” Fenton said. As far as they are concerned, the establishment of the State of Israel, as far as evangelicals are concerned, is a Christian event in and of itself, Fenton said, because it advances the Christian messianic agenda.
“There are people, especially on the right, who are prepared to pay a price [of getting close to Christians] that great rabbis of the Jewish people rejected for generations,” said King. The Chief Rabbinate has gone on record as opposing the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem [ICEJ] – but, said King, many in the religious community are hesitant to speak up because of the massive support that evangelicals provide Israel, in a world where such support is in short supply.
Fenton and King suggest that Israelis and American Jews get to know the “real” feelings and beliefs of the evangelicals organizing events like the Feast of Tabernacles via Youtube videos, where viewer can see what their beliefs are on the role of the Jewish people and the State of Israel in Christian “end of times” theology. Particularly interesting, they said, is the Christian viewpoint on Jerusalem. “Jerusalem will not be a Jewish city, they say this openly,” said Fenton adding that she finds it difficult to understand how people with such views are part of the political discussion on the future of the city.Still, David, you left the part out about how they're not just trying to steal souls. They want our Land, too!
*Note: When clicking on the link to the video, it now comes up as "Private." How convenient...Which family from Azza or Beth-El is homeless and couch-surfing because a Christian couple has taken away its heritage?
Why are residents of K'far Tapu'ah, Har Berakhah, and Itamar violating a negative commandment, by helping them to settle here?
Now, go read Zekhariah Ch. 12-14. The pen truly is mightier than the sword,...so far.
Yeah, this post is definitely more agreeable - kicking X-tian missionaries out of Israel would be much more up to my taste than grinching poor little girls that can't even afford a long enough skirt and don't know the difference between obligatory and voluntary mitzvot out of the Chabad-Sukkah;-) Why do so many in this country, including A7 and half the government, rabbis and many other public figures slime up to "well-meaning" X-tians? "For a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and distorts the words of the righteous" says it all. But it's not only the money. In my opinion, a big part of it is the emotional "bribe". It's the sheer relief and happiness to finally have found goyim who after milennia of relentless hatred and bloodshed say that they love Jews. It's the feeling to have found at least a few friends in a cold, hostile world. It's also the false hope for imminent redemption, as "proven" by the fact that there are suddenly goyim who "tend our vineyards" (unfortunately literally so in Har Brachah) and come to Jerusalem to hold their version of "Sukkot". The X-tians know very well how to play these emotional and religious cards. And their Jewish helpers and promoters don't realize that undercover or open missionaries and idolators are not exactly what was meant in the prophecies and that these "friends" have a sinister agenda of their own (that they of course deny). I think for the most part, people really don't get it - that's why it's so important to shake them up and explain the problem, over and over again. By the way, in Kfar Tapuach were some people who wanted to bring in X-tian "volunteers" and house them in the Yishuv. Other people (including Daniel and me, but also many others) alerted the Rav of the Yishuv and provided him with some background information - he then gave a clear public psak that housing X-tians in the Yishuv is not permitted, and that stopped the plan. So, to me that seems to be the way to go: educating people about the problem and trying to open their eyes.
ReplyDeleteTziporh, Thanks again for writing.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I believe I already knew that we saw eye to eye on this issue...
Now, back to that other issue...
My criticism is against Chabba"d (in so many ways!), not against women who do not know better, taking an interest in Torah, and/or simply taking on misswoth gradually.
These women (and men) deserve our support and encouragement, NOT mean and nasty criticism. :-)
Thank you for this posting. All we can do is cry out to the Almighty that He should put sechel into these rabbi's that encourage xtian "love" by helping them to settle in OUR land.
ReplyDeleteTzipora I urgently, but urgently need to email you. I have been reading the parashas of Rabbi Kahana, obm and need your input before rosh hashana! 613geula@gmail.com Please send me an email so I can send what I wish to ask. Thanks much
Esser... regarding Chabad
ReplyDeleteJudaism encourages non-Jews to adhere to the Noahide Laws.[6]
Some groups, notably Chabad Lubavitch, have set up classes and networks for Gentiles who commit themselves to this legal system (see Noahide Campaign). The Lubavitcher Rebbe himself encouraged his followers on many occasions to teach the Seven Laws of Noah, devoting some of his addresses to the subtleties of this code.[7][8][9]
^ Likutei Sichot vol. 26, p. 133
^ Likutei Sichot vol. 35, p. 97
^ Likutei Sichot vol. 4, 1094
Please consider the words of the saintly Rebbe Lubavitcher
found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ger_toshav