During the week covered by this review, we received 18 articles on the following subjects:
Arab Believing Community
Missionary Activity
Jewish-Christian Relations
Conversion to Judaism
The Pope and the Vatican
Political Issues
Christian Zionism
Biography
Archeology
Biblical Scholarship
Science and Technology
Arab Believing Community
Ma’ariv, June 23, 2013 [X2]
The ongoing saga in the Greek Orthodox Church in Nazareth climaxed dramatically this week, when the head of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem finally gave in to pressure from Arab MKs and Palestinian factions and dismissed Father Nadaf on account of Nadaf’s ongoing work to encourage young Christian Arabs to join the Israeli army. Nadaf told Ma’ariv that “if the Patriarch gives in to pressure it will greatly harm young Christian Arabs who wish to be part of Israeli society. … There is an attempt here to frighten our youth, to reign them in, and prevent them from assimilating into society. The State of Israel must stand up against this wave of incitement and stand by those thousands who wish to be part of Israeli society.”
Some of those critical of Father Nadaf claim that he is trying to “bring the Christian community down to the same status as the Druze community and remove it from its national heritage.” Christian Arabs currently serving in the IDF report that there has been an increase in antagonistic and violent acts toward Christians living in Nazareth.
In another article, Adi Hashmonai interviews some of those Christian Arabs who have chosen to serve in the IDF and who came together at a conference last weekend in what is being called a daring and dangerous act. One of the organizers of the event says: “We chose to hold the conference [in our village] to demonstrate that nothing will deter us. We don’t live in Syria, where Christians are not allowed to speak because they are under the jurisdiction of a Muslim regime, or in Iraq, where churches are bombed. We live in a Jewish state, which is democratic and free. As Israeli Christians we see ourselves as part of this state and not as part of those who oppose it. We want to belong. Up until now, people in our community have been afraid to speak but we have decided to take control of our destiny.”
This group of young Christians, writes Hashmonai, is in the process of redefining their identity, currently calling themselves “Israeli Christians who speak Arabic.” In spite of the intimidation, the number of Christian Arabs choosing to join the army is on the increase. Conversely, the number of Christian Arabs in Israel has dropped by nearly half in recent years, and currently stands at around 130,000. Says one Christian Arab: “We get what’s happening to Christians in the Arab countries around us. We’re not blind. … That’s why more and more of us are realizing that there is no other country here that is worth fighting for.”
Father Nadaf has received many death threats as a result of his support of the effort to recruit Christian Arabs into the IDF. It was after attending the conference last weekend that he was dismissed from his position. One youth told Hashmonai that “the patriarchy is trying to silence Father Nadaf, as if we don’t live in a democratic country. If the state doesn’t do anything, we might miss a historic opportunity to be assimilated into Israeli society.”
Missionary Activity
Yediot Holon, June 21, 2013
A huge billboard sign in Holon has been causing outrage among local residents. The sign, which is in Russian, says: “Success and victory are not found in money and influence but in repentance and love. Call to receive a free book.” Residents claim that the ad “smells of missionary activity.” Representatives from the paper called the number on the billboard and were offered a free book titled “Choose Life.” In answer to the question of whether or not this is a missionary organization, the person on the phone said: “That’s beside the point. We want people to understand that the real meaning of life is support and love. Today people are used to doing things to one another without forgiveness. As a non-profit, we want as many people to know the way of love, that God loves us, but doesn’t love the sin of the first man, which we inherited and for which we must atone. This book teaches that God is alive, that he is big and holy. … We are not a religious organization, but we are Jews who believe that you can have faith without religion.”
Jewish-Christian Relations
The Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, June 28, 2013
Several papers reported on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit to Israel this week. The Jerusalem Post quoted the archbishop, Justin Welby, saying that “Israel had a right to exist – like every other country – ‘in security and peace, within internationally agreed boundaries.’” Welby added that “all the people in the region, without exception, from whatever background they come from – whether Israeli or Palestinian or any other – also have the right to exist in peace and security within properly agreed frontiers.” Welby also addressed the sectarian violence against Christians in Israel, saying that he has “no illusions about this.” He called on the Christian community to adhere to Jesus’ teaching to turn the other cheek and love one’s enemies.
Haaretz reported on how the archbishop was snubbed by both chief rabbis during his visit this week. Welby’s meeting with Jona Metzger was cancelled after the latter was embroiled in a criminal investigation and put under house arrest. The meeting with Chief Rabbi Amar, on the other hand, was cancelled because of Amar’s extended stay in Spain. “Although the archbishop had to make do with a meeting with the director of the Chief Rabbinate and secondary officials, he may have learned an important lesson about the faith with which he wants to dialogue: The Jews in Israel have two spiritual leaders – one is under house arrest, and the other, in voluntary exile.”
Conversion to Judaism
Hapeles, June 21, 2013
This four-page article tells the story of Rabbi Moshe Hatori, a former Japanese priest who converted to Judaism. His parents had intended him for the priesthood, and at the age of 17, he was already studying to become a priest. After his ordination, Hatori began to form a deep relationship with Judaism. He explains that this connection was born of his strong desire to grow in his Christian faith: “I used to browse through Jewish sources and ‘borrow’ bits and pieces from them” for the writing of sermons. He continued in this practice for five years, before becoming increasingly uncomfortable with it: “’You are lying to yourself,’ I said, ‘when you present parts of the Jewish faith as belonging to the teachings of that man while such is not the case.’” After a while, Hatori decided to resign from his position in the church and take a five year hiatus, which included coming to Israel to complete his doctoral studies.
Once in Israel, Hatori and his wife decided they would no longer attend any church services. They did not have this kind of freedom in Japan – “it would have been a scandal.” But far from their Christian community, they felt free to explore Judaism without judgment. “You have to understand,” explains Hatori, “that training and ordaining a priest costs the church a lot of money … leaving the priesthood and the faith is the cause of both financial loss and loss of face for all of Christianity.” Hatori and his wife decided to convert to Judaism just two months after arriving in Israel. Hatori’s conversion was not very well accepted by his church back in Tokyo. He has since cut off all ties with his family in Japan, burning every last memento from his former life (including the clothes he and his wife wore at their wedding).
Hatori tells Hapeles that the sight of Jews who fall into the Messianic trap grates on his nerves: “Even though [that man] died, they continued to claim that he is ‘alive and well’ … this is very similar to Christianity. But we got over our wonder and drew strength from the fact that this is a very marginal sect, and that this delusional group does not represent Judaism at all.”
The Pope and the Vatican
The Jerusalem Post, June 24, 2013
An article appearing in the Vatican newspaper criticized the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum for removing Giovanni Palatucci from its list of Righteous Among the Gentiles. Palatucci is credited with saving around 5,000 Jews during the Holocaust before being sent to the Dachau concentration camp where he died. The removal of his name from the list came after new information surfaced that suggests Palatucci was a Nazi collaborator. The article in the Vatican newspaper, written by historian Anna Foa, claims that “in targeting Palatucci the desire was essentially to hit a Catholic involved in rescuing Jews” in order to target the Church of Pope Pius XII.” Pope Pius XII has been severely criticized for his passive behavior during World War II, although his supporters claim that “he worked behind the scenes to encourage the Church to save Jews because speaking out more forcefully would have worsened the situation for all.”
The Jerusalem Post, June 25, 2013
Pope Francis met with representatives of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations on Monday. The meeting took place at the Vatican. A representative from the American Jewish Delegation later said that “Pope Francis is a very good friend of the Jewish people and we rejoice in the fact that he will continue to advance the path of his predecessors in deepening the Catholic-Jewish relationship.”
Yediot Haifa, June 21, 2013
The head of the Greek Catholic Church in Israel reports that Pope Francis reiterated his promise to visit Israel in the coming year. The message was passed on to him by Bahij Mansour from the Ministry of Religious Affairs who met with the pope two weeks ago at the Vatican.
Political Issues
The Jerusalem Post, June 23, 2013
The Knesset Christian Allies Caucus met with representatives of the Australian government in an effort to establish pro-Israel connections in the Australian parliament. The director of KCAC said that “the creation of an Australian Parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus will not only strengthen Australian-Israel relations but will also provide a powerful boost to the work of the over 20 governmental caucuses under the auspices of the Israel Allies Foundation.”
The Jerusalem Post, June 25, 2013
Seventeen Christian college students visited the Knesset on Monday as part of the annual Israel Experience Scholarship Program. The program trains young people to become advocates for Israel, and is like “a Christian version of Taglit-Birthright, in which top students with diplomatic capabilities get a free trip to learn about Israel and get the tools to combat anti-Israel rhetoric on their campuses.”
Christian Zionism
Hadashot Haifa VeHazafon, June 19, 2013
A Dallas-based evangelical church is supporting Holocaust survivors at the Bnei Zion hospital by filming a documentary about the hospital which will air on the church’s TV channel. The executive director of the hospital said that the evangelical Christians have been “real friends of the hospital for many years and this visit is just another manifestation of the strong ties between us.” The hospital treats about 300 Holocaust survivors every month.
Zman Ma’ale, June 13, 2013
A group of Israel-loving Christian harpists performed in the Jerusalem Conservatory in an effort to show their love and support for the city. The concert is just one aspect of a broader project, organized by Tom and Kate Hess, which also includes the donation of a variety of harps and the formation of a children’s ensemble. The article describes how the Hesses have given generously to the city’s underprivileged children for many years.
Biography
Haaretz, June 28, 2013
Ofer Aderet examines the life and times of the first American consul to Israel, Woodward Carson, a Quaker Christian who converted to Mormonism and later to Judaism, changing his name to Michael Boaz Yisrael. Though he arrived in the Holy Land on a political errand, his real motive for moving here in 1844 was a messianic one: the ingathering of all the nations and the restoration of Jerusalem. Carson’s conversion to Judaism cost him dearly upon his return to the U.S. (on business matters): his wife took him to court, claiming that he had left Christianity on account of insanity. The court case was a landmark in the American juridical system, since Carson claimed the only charge being brought against him was that he was Jewish. He won the case, divorced his wife, and returned to the Holy Land, where he married a Sephardic Jew.
Archeology
Makor Rishon, The Jerusalem Post, June 28, 2013
Rare artifacts have been discovered in Jerusalem that testify to the hardships of the Roman siege of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. Three pots and an oil lamp were discovered in a cistern, indicating that during the famine people would eat their food in hiding. This accords with the writings of Josephus.
Biblical Scholarship
Shabaton, June 21, 2013
This religious Jewish weekend paper discusses the Torah portion for the week, which is the story of Balaam and Balak. The writer, Rabbi Amir Mashiach, focuses on an interpretation of the passage given in the Midrash where the sages associate the events with Judaism’s struggle against Christianity. The story of Balaam, according to this strand of thinking, is a warning against bowing down to “that man.” Says Rabbi Mashiach: “It is interesting that evil Balaam, who is one of the most hated figures in the traditions of Israel, becomes the one who warns against the Christian Jesus.” This, explains Mashiach, is an interpretation of the text that imposes the present on the past, since those sages who wrote it were at that time in a monumental struggle against Christianity. But, he adds, it is no less valid for its use of present circumstances to draw out the text’s timeless truths.
Science and Technology
The Jerusalem Post, June 23, 2013
This article reports on the latest television project by controversial Canadian filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici, which documents the reconstruction of biblical faces using the same technology that forensic police artists use to reconstruct faces (see April 9, 2013, Media Review).