Jewish-Israel Expands its Guidelines to Interfaith Relations with the Christian World

Posted by JewishIsrael.com

Already back in 2008, JewishIsrael foresaw a number of problems with Israel’s burgeoning theological alliance with evangelicals. 

Under the guidance of our Rabbinic Director, Rabbi Dr. Sholom Gold, JewishIsrael formulated a suggested approach to relations with the evangelical world.

This month JewishIsrael has expanded these guidelines to include such matters as the growing messianic missionary inroads in the Jewish state, religious freedoms issues, the Temple Mount, and the current climate of persecution of Christians in a number of Arab countries in the region. 

JewishIsrael’s expanded guidelines can be read here.

Israel as Jewish State, What's The Problem?

Almost sixty-seven years ago, Israel was established as the Jewish State, not a Jewish State, simply because there is no other in the world. Lots of countries have official religions. Growing up in the United States of America, it was always clear that it is/was a Christian country.

All of the Christian Holidays are national American holidays. Schools are closed on those days. It used to be that stores were closed and bars even for most of their day of rest on Sunday so that all people, other than the police, firemen and hospital staff could be with their families.

Public schools had budgets for large religious Christmas displays when I was growing up. In my very Jewish neighborhood, Bayside, NY, the displays were either inclusive with Chanuka, too, or just snow-oriented.

When I moved to Great Neck, as a teenager, I was suddenly in a more Christian community. A teacher in Great Neck North complained that "it was much nicer before the Jews came." When we asked how she could say such a thing and why, she replied."

"The Jews stopped the beautiful Christmas pageants we used to have in the school."

No doubt, in schools without non-Christians, these were and may still be routine. There are many European countries that are officially Catholic, Christian etc. And there are many, many other countries officially Moslem, including all of Israel's neighbors, if I'm not mistaken. So why do we here in Israel feel it necessary to change our basic national status, to water down the Jewish element?

The Knesset is voting on various bills to give non-Jews more official status.

PM Netanyahu says the bill would enshrine full equality under law to all Israeli citizens regardless of race, religion or gender, while ensuring Israel's Jewish identity.

Let us continue as a Jewish State, and if anyone doesn't want that, they can leave!

The Day Jimmy Carter Saved the Jews from Mike Evans

Posted by Jewishisrael.com

Jewishisrael is no friend of Jimmy Carter. Yet in the aftermath of this month's brouhaha over the incongruous decision by the editors of Cardoza Law School’s Journal of Conflict Resolution to honor the former president, JewishIsrael felt it timely to recount an episode also plagued with absurdity which still has serious repercussions for both Israeli and Diaspora Jewry.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter, under pressure from the American Jewish community, intervened to save countless numbers of Jewish youth from Christian missionary Mike Evans, who was effectively working to "save" [sic] as many young Jewish souls as possible.

This report is no parody, but it is a terrible paradox, as both Evans and Carter have caused irreparable damage to Am Yisrael, but now find themselves being acclaimed by leading American Jewish and Israeli institutions. How the Jewish community got to this absurd juncture is worth exploration…more

Bibi Shouldn't Blame the Rain if His Favorites Don't Do Well in Primaries

I'd hate to think that Likud members are stupid.  My regular readers know that I mumble/criticize democracy as the rule of idiots.  It's  a risk for sure when just anyone can vote regardless of his/her knowledge or comprehension of the issues.  Call me what you want for saying this "out loud;" I don't care.

Apparently, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is hoping for good weather, because all political pundits know that difficult weather holds people back from voting.  The more ideologically dedicated people are, the more they're willing to "suffer" to vote.  That's another meaning of "fair-weather friends."

Likud Primaries: Rain could Wash Away Meridor

Forecast for rain has Netanyahu supporters worried, because Feiglin supporters are more dedicated.

Bibi is loyal to Dan Meridor, but Dan Meridor isn't loyal to the ideology that most Likud voters and party members subscribe to.  He has been out of step for a very long time and shouldn't be returned as a Likud MK.

To be perfectly honest, I don't think that Bibi is quite in step with most potential  Likud voters.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called on the Likud’s 125,351 members to vote in Sunday’s tight primary race, while activists released lists of recommended candidates in light of Operation Pillar of Defense and the security situation in the South.
“I call on you to come vote for the Likud candidates in the next Knesset,” Netanyahu said in a prerecorded call to party members. “In this primary, you will choose the country’s leadership in the coming years. Come influence, decide and vote.” (complete article)

That's Bibi's biggest problem.

It's davka the timing of the cease fire that will effect the Likud Primaries more than anything else.  We all know how short the public's memory is, but considering that the IDF reserve soldiers have barely unpacked their bags and their laundry may not yet be dry from their week's wait for action... I have a feeling that more Likud members than ever will be checking recommended lists, like I did, to get guidance re:whom to vote for.

My neighbors, Mateh Le'umi Likud activists, Shevach Stern and Natan Engelsman have been working day and night to contact all possible Likud member voters.  I hope to hear form them soon about a name to substitute for Yuli Edelstein, because I don't want to vote for Edelstein.  Esser Agaroth has revealed that Edelstein is one of the pro-Christian  politicians. Another problem in the Christian support group is Danon....

As you probably know by now, I support Jewish-Israel, which is a group that outs Jewish and Israeli leaders whose support for Christian groups crosses the line.

We at JewishIsrael understand that this is a time of existential danger and - for many - spiritual confusion. We acknowledge that there are certain rabbinic and community leaders in Israel and America who attribute the current outpouring of fundamentalist Christian support for Israel to a prophetic era of apocalyptic change. We must remind them that regardless of one’s worldview, we Jews are obligated to hold our spiritual and physical ground and there is no rationale for breaking halachic fences, blurring lines, and jeopardizing or compromising the Jewish faith by openly embracing and encouraging evangelical designs for Israel. (About Jewish Israel)

That's why you will find posts and messages from Jewish Israel on this blog.  As I write this, I'm trying to find out what other names to vote for.  Since Edelstein isn't the only pro-Jewish Life in the Land of Israel with very strong Christian ties.  I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place, as the saying goes.

For purists like myself, this won't be an easy decision.

Frequent commenter "shy guy" just reminded me that the Mattot Arim and Feiglin lists aren't the same.  This is confusing.  I'll have to get a new, cleaned up list from my Shiloh people who run המטה הלאומי.

Have I Been Mistaken for a Head of Insect-free Lettuce?

Have I Been Mistaken for a Head of Insect-free Lettuce?
By Sara L. Shomron

Nowadays, 5 years after the Israeli government’s forceful removal of its citizens from their homes in Gush Katif and the destruction of their communities, we seldom read/hear of it referred to as an expulsion but as an "uprooting."

Why has a recent historical event documented by the mass media in all its ugliness, pain, and tears been sanitized and rewritten? I think the word uprooting serves to numb its distraught and tired population and their supporters. It suggests a state of denial of what happened in the summer of 2005. It confuses, bewilders, and reduces the expulsion to a botanical misfortune - and I am aghast.

I don’t consider the word choice to be a matter of semantics or euphemisms. It reflects a world outlook. The use of uprooting seems to desensitize the mind, soften the reprehensible event, and merely serve to pave the way for future expulsions in disputed parts of the Land of Israel. It exonerates the Israeli government of its crime against the Gush Katif residents in particular, and the Jewish nation in general.

The motivation for the change may be that the use of uprooting is considered poetic or without the political baggage rather than the tell-it-like-it-was expulsion. Yet replacing the word and concept of expulsion with uprooting into our collective lexicon misrepresents what happened the summer of 2005. Plants are uprooted and replanted, if not, they die. And plants, when uprooted, if they are to survive, are immediately replanted in soil, watered, and treated with tender loving care. Such was not the case with the Gush Katif population. For example, some communities were repeatedly moved by the government; some went to live in tents while many went to hotels for an indefinite period of time; some went directly to caravillas - all temporary and untenable living conditions. The Israeli government’s motto for the expulsion, “Determination and sensitivity,” was not seen. No, the Gush Katif residents were not uprooted.

In five years from now, will the term uprooting be downgraded to moved?

Jewish Israel Presentation at the Israel Center

Posted by Jewish Israel


Rabbi Dr. Sholom Gold and Jewish Israel present:

"Israel and the Evangelicals: a match NOT made in heaven"

Monday April 26th at 7:30pm at the Israel Center in Jerusalem, 22 Keren Hayesod St.

Introductory remarks by Rabbi Sholom Gold, Dean of the Avrom Silver Jerusalem College for Adults, and Rabbinic Director of Jewish Israel; followed by a presentation by Jewish Israel

Please join us!