During the week covered by this review, we received 2 articles on the following subjects:
Anti-Missionary Attitudes
Jewish/Christian Relations
Anti-Missionary Attitudes
Iton Shacharit, August 9, 2018
Missionaries have reportedly attempted to “seduce young men” by way of short videos inviting them to convert and get baptized. This was done without parental knowledge. When police were informed about the “tricks” of the missionaries, they did nothing to stop the illegal activity of the “criminals.” Some of the young men were baptized; however, one 11-year-old was saved by “the grace of God” when his teacher, in the nick of time, found out that he was about to be “ensnared by the missionary net.”
Jewish/Christian Relations
Yedioth Ahronoth, August 3, 2018
This article featured the story of Iraqi Christian refugees currently living in dire poverty in Amman, Jordan. There are some 12,000 Christians who have fled ISIS living in Amman, and while Jordan was one of the only countries to take them in, they are not allowed to work and live in harsh conditions. Many of the Christians lost family members, and were themselves tortured when they refused to renounce their faith. One Catholic Church in Amman, St. Mary’s, under the guidance of Father Khalil Jaar, has taken it upon itself to help the refugees. Father Jaar is a Palestinian from Bethlehem who once served as a priest in Eilat. Jaar said: “You Jews have suffered; you know what persecution is like.” Before the influx of refugees, St. Mary’s had few parishioners. But today hundreds of families attend, and as a result the Church has been blossoming. On Sundays, families share a meal together and then take extra helpings home with them. During mass, the Iraqi refugees “kneel and pray to the God who cost them their land.”
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, together with Andrew Canon White, former president of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, have recently started helping the 12,000 refugees. The Fellowship has donated, by way of White, $125,000 in food vouchers, as well as money for rent and for the operation of a medical clinic. During one of the services at St. Mary’s, Father Jaar calls each one of the attendants by name and hands them an envelope with $150 inside, a gift from the Foundation. Rabbi Eckstein said: “This is my vision and the vision of the Foundation: To build bridges of peace between Jews, Christians, and Muslims. I believe peace will come from small acts.” The Fellowship is largely funded by evangelical Christians, who donate nearly 140 million Dollars annually. Canon White, who runs the medical clinic for Christian refugees in Jordan, says that without Rabbi Eckstein, there would not be enough money to support its operation. “I prayed to God to send me help,” says White; “he sent me Rabbi Eckstein.” Eckstein said he believes Israel should consider taking in Christian refugees who have fled from ISIS. He also said that the refugees ultimately know that the money donated comes from Israel.