Caspari Center Media Review
July 2004 #2, August 2004 #1 Caspari Center Media Review
During the period of time covered by this review, we received 202 articles as
follows;
31 dealt with Messianic Jews and anti-missionary organizations
15 dealt with Christian solidarity with Israel
22 dealt with Christians and the status of non-Jews in Israel
38 dealt with anti-Semitism and Jewish-Christian relations
31 covered Christian tourism and tourist sites
18 covered archaeology
14 covered film, books, and music
The remaining articles dealt with domestic Israeli and Christian or Jewish affairs
on their own merit.
“Missionaries” and Anti-Missionaries
Yated Ne’eman, Aug. 3; Yated Ne‘eman English, June 18, July 16, Aug. 6, 20;
Channel 3, July 6; HaTzofeh, July 16; HaModia, July 15, Aug, 12, 17; BaKehila,
June 18, July 29, Aug 5, 12; HaShavua B’Yerushalayim, July 15, Aug 12; Yediot
Haifa, Aug. 6; lton Yerushalayim, Aug. 6; Zman HaDarom, Aug. 6; Sha’‘a Tova,
Aug. 6; In Jerusalem, July 30, Aug. 6, 20; Zman Haifa, Aug. 13; Zman Krayot,
Aug. 13; 7 Yamim, Aug. 13; Yediot Ahronot, Aug. 20; Mishpaha, Aug. 5, 2004
The English edition of Yated Ne’eman (Aug. 6, 20) carried a two-part feature
titled “The Children Who Were Rescued from the Convent,” the “saga of two
Holocaust children, whose rescue from the clutches of the Church triggered a
story of terrifying abuse…” The two brothers, whose parents were deported and
then killed in concentration camps, were sent first to an orphanage and then
ended up in the home of a Catholic teacher, and “were raised on the ‘faith’ in a
certain person … and imbibed the anti-Semitic interpretation of his being killed
by the wicked Jews.” At the end of the war, when the children’s aunt tried to
gain custody of them, the teacher fought back by assuming legal guardianship
and baptizing them in the church. When in 1952 the courts ruled that their aunt
should have guardianship, the church moved the boys to Spain, and only “let
them go” when the Pope intervened. They now live in Israel and have returned
to Judaism.
There are numerous follow-ups to the story about the “Jamm” youth club in
Jerusalem (see and Media Reviews). Bakehila and
HaModia (both Aug. 12) report that the police have closed the investigation into
the missionary activity among youth and have transferred the information to the
attorney general’s office. in Jerusalem (July 30, Aug. 6, 20) printed a cover story
titled “Jamming for Jesus,” which repeats much of the disinformation originally
printed in the orthodox papers, accusing the club of preying on innocent Jewish
youth. In response, the magazine received many letters from readers
expressing either anger at the “mission” or support of Messianic Jews.
Also on this topic is a story, reported by television Channel 3 about those who
reach out to street-youth: both Hasidic and Messianic Jews. A homeless 19-yr-
old says that the Jamm has been renting him a room for 3 months, and he’ll
take what he’s given. He says that the “mission” and Habad (the Hasidic stream
of Judaism affiliated with the late Rabbi Schneerson) are basically “at war” with
each other trying to reach Israeli youth. Also in the news again are the Ben-Haim family (y), who are featured in an article titled
“You Shall Have No Other Gods” (7 Yamim, Aug. 13). According to this article, there are 15,000 Messianic believers
in Israel who live in fear. They are used to being persecuted by orthodox anti-
missionary organizations, but cannot understand why the Interior Ministry –
currently headed by Avraham Poraz, a secular-left wing minister – is trying to
revoke their citizenship. For his part, Minister Poraz says that the ministry
bureaucrats and workers, who for most of Israel’s history have been under the
authority of an orthodox minister, are still influenced by the Orthodox worldview.
Aside from the Ben-Haim’s citizenship battle, the article tells the stories of a
number of believers who have had run-ins with the anti-missionaries, and some
who have lost their jobs. One employer refused to bow to the pressure to fire a
“dangerous missionary,” sarcastically telling Yad L’Achim that if he did so, the
man would only have more time in which to spread his faith. Alex Artovsky of
Yad L’Achim is also interviewed in the article, and claims that Messianic Jews
are both a spiritual and physical danger to Israel – he’s even heard that one of
them helps Palestinian children in Gaza! The article winds down with a
description of a Messianic worship service in Jerusalem, highlighting the music,
relaxed atmosphere, fellowship and enthusiasm of those present. The sermon
touches on both Biblical themes and current events, and concludes with a call
to prayer: “We have a big responsibility to pray for our nation’s leaders … When
is the last time you prayed for … God to give them wisdom to get Israel out of
tough situations? And what about the Interior Ministry? Many of us have
problems with this ministry, but | ask you, when did you last pray for the Interior
Minister, that God will give him grace and wisdom?” (7 Yamim, Aug. 13)
Christians in Israel / Status of non-Jews
Makor Rishon, July 23; Kol Ha’lr, Aug. 20; Ha’Aretz, July 22, 23, 27, Aug. 3, 25;
Jerusalem Post, July 9, 16; Yediot Haifa, July 9; Ma’ariv, July 16; Iton
Yerushalayim, July 16; Kol HaZman, July 16; Kolbo, July 9; HaTzofeh, Aug. 11;
Yediot Ahronot, Aug. 5, 13; in Jerusalem, Aug. 6; Jerusalem Report, Aug. 9; Kav
Kav L’Moshav, July 19; Israel Today, Aug. 2004
Ha’Aretz (July 21, 22) reports on Israeli bills that have the potential to divide
families. These bills concern non-Jewish relatives of Israeli citizens, who up till
now have been able to immigrate to Israel – for instance, the parents and
children (from a previous marriage) of a non-Jew married to a Jew. The
proposed change to the law of return would take away the Interior Minister’s
right to grant citizenship to these non-Jewish family members. Thus, a family
could be citizens, but have a child who is not, and the latter could be expelled
from the country. In particular, this will impact immigrants from the former
Soviet Union.
On Aug. 3 Ha’Aretz carries another article on citizenship and the character of
the state of Israel., but from the Arab minority’s point of view. The writer asks,
“Who benefits from the poverty of Arab children? Why is it good to separate a
man from his wife and a mother from her children in the name of the citizenship
law? … Why isn’t the voice of Israel’s majority, who want to live and let live,
heard?” The writer doesn’t believe that those who promote the new citizenship
law represent true Judaism, but only a small and vocal minority. On Aug. 25,
Ha’Aretz again addresses this issue, reviewing the legal status of Arab spouses
of Israeli citizens. According to the Interior Ministry, the citizenship law doesn’t
prevent citizens of Arab countries from joining their Israeli spouses, but in reality
it’s the security service which controls – and prevents – family unification in this
sector of the populace. Unable to have their marriages recognized or settle in
either Israel or her neighbors, these couples often must seek political refuge in
a third country.
Makor Rishon (July 23) reports on the “Black Hebrews” who have been living in
the southern city of Dimona for over 30 years. These African-Americans believe
that they are the true children of Israel, and their status has always been
somewhat in dispute, with the orthodox of course opposing them. The current
article states that the community has ties with both criminal and anti-Semitic
elements outside Israel, and is being monitored by the FBI. Also, they are said
to have designs on Israel itself, a leader being quoted as saying that “God
commanded me to take control of Israel.”
On the positive end of the spectrum are 3 flattering articles about Christians and
Messianic Jews. The first, in Kolbo (July 9), describes the Italian hospital in
Haifa, run by the Franciscans, as a pleasant place. A few of the nuns are
interviewed, and talk about prayer, their lives, and relationships with Jewish and
Moslem patients (many are uncomfortable talking with nuns). Kav L’Moshav
(July 19) writes about Yad HaShmonah, the Christian/Messianic moshav
outside Jerusalem. It is described as “the center of the movement of Messianic
Jews in Israel,” where the vision of being a bridge between Jews and Christians
has been fulfilled. Ha‘’Aretz (July 23) carried a profile of one of Yad
HaShmonah’s families, the Ronens. They aré asked about the moshav, their
home, worship, work, families, and so on, and are presented as a very likeable
Israeli family. And on a final note, a profile of Israel’s Olympic delegation in
Yediot Ahronot (Aug. 13) mentions that 2 of them are Christians – and asks,
“Does it really matter who?”
Anti-Semitism and Jewish-Christian Relations
Jerusalem Post, July 2, 15; Yediot Ahronot, July 26, Aug. 16; HaTzofeh, July 72,
12, 20, Aug. 15; Ha’Aretz, July 12, 13, 23, Aug. 5, 11, 15, 18 20; Yated
Ne‘eman, July 23, 30, Aug. 20; Ma’ariv, Aug. 15; Makor Rishon, Aug. 13;
HaShavua B’Yerushalayim, July 29; HaModia, July 7, 16, 21; Yediot Haifa, July
9, Aug. 20; Zafon-1, Aug. 6; Lu’’ach 34+, Aug. 5; Emtza Hadera, July 30; Arei
HaMifratz, July 30; Hed HaKrayot, July 30; Hadashot Haifa V’haZafon, July 28;
israel Today, Aug. 2004; Tchelet, Summer 2004; Otot, Aug. 2004
Mavariv, Ha’Aretz, and HaTzofeh (all Aug. 15) report on anti-Semitic vandalism
in Paris, where swastikas and “Death to the Jews” were spray-painted on a wall
in the Notre Dame cathedral compound. This and other anti-Semitic incidents
are being investigated by French police. In Poland, a Catholic priest accused of
abusing a young boy claimed in a sermon that the charges against him are part
of a Jewish-Communist plot against the church. His hearers cheered him, and
as of the writing of the article his words hadn’t been censured by the leaders of
the Polish church. (Ha’Aretz, Aug. 11) The Jerusalem Post (July 2) reports on a
collection of essays published by the Vatican titled “The Inquisition.” Only one
essay mentioned the persecution of converted Jews, but all include
“Judeophobia” as a basic reason for the inquisition. In the Church of England,
new liturgy to be used before Easter includes a prayer acknowledging Christian
complicity in anti-Semitism (Jerusalem Post, July 15, Yated Ne’eman, July 23).
One bishop, however, has criticized the prayer, saying it is “biblically and
theologically unjustifiable. … We should not confess to sins we have not
committed.” (Jerusalem Post)
HaTzofeh (July 20) and Yediot Ahronot (July 26) both tie European anti-
Semitism to Christianity. HaTzofeh explains that the Catholic Church – as well
as the rest of Christendom, in various ways – believes that God has rejected
Israel, and the Church is now the “chosen people.” Therefore Jews have no
right to the holy land – or at least the holy sites – and the Palestinians are
championed in order to weaken the Jews’ grip on Israel. Yediot Ahronot
publishes the thoughts of an Israeli traveling in Europe who encountered
entrenched anti-Semitism. Speaking to fellow travelers on a train, he was told
that Israel shouldn’t kill Palestinian [terrorist] leaders, because “once you killed a
leader, and look what happened: the Christians are stronger.” Another person
he met called the establishment of Israel “the original sin.” The writer concludes
that it is not Israel’s actions that cause anti-Semitism in Europe, but that anti-
Semitism leads to criticism of Israel.
Ofot (Aug. 2004) includes a long article on the “New Jew-boy,” looking at the
conflict between how Israelis see themselves and how the rest of the world
sees them. The author writes that following the Sept. 11 and other Muslim terror
attacks, Israel should have been seen as one of the “good guys” – but for some
reason Israelis are still asked, “How can you act like that [towards the
Palestinians]?” David Ben Gurion said it didn’t matter what the gentiles thought
of Israel, but it does – world opinion has a greater effect on Israel’s well-being
than another squadron of fighter jets. Unfortunately, according to this article,
though Israelis see themselves as “western,” in the eyes of much of the world
they are still seen – unconsciously in many cases – as greedy, power-hungry
occupiers, in other words, as being different from those who hold those
stereotypes and who consequently distance themselves from Israel. Israel’s
leaders will have to broaden their outlook and come to terms with this gap in
perception before they can hope to improve the country’s image abroad.
Christian Solidarity with Israel
Kol Ha’lr, July 16, 23; Ha’Areiz, Aug. 6, 9; Jerusalem Post, July 2, 14, Aug. 8:
HaMahane HaHaredi, July 6; Makor Rishon, July 23; Yated Ne’eman, July 23,
30; Israel Today, Aug. 2004
Ha’Aretz (Aug. 6, 9) reports on a new mutual fund that invests in Israeli
companies, and that is marketing its services to American Jews and evangelical
Christians who support Israel. In order to get publicity, the fund is giving free
shares to Jewish teens celebrating their Bar/Bat Mitzvah and to Christian youth
being confirmed in their churches, Other Christian supporters of Israel took part
in the human chain in support of Israeli settlements in Gaza.
Kol Ha’lr (July 16) reports that Yad VaShem (the Holocaust Memorial Museum)
does not want to recognize Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor and
theologian killed by the Nazis, as “Righteous Among the Nations” – a
designation honoring those who helped Jews during WWII. The reason given is
that earlier in his life he held contemporary negative views of the Jewish people.
In response, the Center for Jewish Pluralism has appealed to the high court,
requesting that it order Yad VaShem to bestow the title on Bonhoeffer based on
his anti-Nazi and anti-racist teaching and activism in later years. In the July 23
issue, Kol Ha’ir printed 2 letters in response to the article, one in defense of
Bonhoeffer and one reiterating Yad VaShem’s position that he does not qualify
for the honor since he did not actively rescue Jews.