During the week covered by this review, we received 9 articles on the following subjects:
Literature
Archaeology
Anti-Missionary Activity
Israeli / Jewish attitudes concerning Christians
History
Literature
Haaretz, August 8, 2021
This article described Elie Wiesel’s liberation from Buchenwald and what happened to him in the following years, as well as his writing of the classic book “Night”. It covered letters written to friends, in which he discussed his writing activities.
Archaeology
Jerusalem Post, August 5, 2021; Maariv HaShavua, August 5, 2021; Haaretz, August 5, 2021
All three articles reported on the discovery of evidence of an earthquake found in the City of David National Park. The quake is mentioned in the first verse of the Book of Amos, and dated as having occurred some 2,800 years ago. Fragments of vessels were found amidst a layer of destruction. Evidence of the earthquake was found under the remains of buildings adjacent to the Jerusalem city wall, dating back to the First Temple period (1200-586 BCE).
Anti-Missionary Activity
Numerous articles
An email was sent out by a Christian organization to donors in order to raise funds for proselytizing Jewish children to convert them to Christianity during school holidays. The email was reported to anti-missionary group Yad L’achim, who claimed it was an incriminating document and an admission of deliberate preaching to children. Yad L’Achim is preparing a lawsuit through attorney Guy Ophir. Yad L’achim warned parents to keep an eye on their children and, if necessary, contact the organization’s emergency center. Yad L’Achim warned that “Missionaries know how to deceive young children while sharing lies.”
This was an interview with Rabbi Dani Lavi, rabbi of the yeshiva in Elon Moreh and one of the founders of the Yediyah institute which was formed four years ago to provide information to Orthodox Jews who are questioning their faith. Rabbi Lavi said that those who question their faith today are not like those of previous generations who didn’t have these questions. For this reason, they formed the institute. He claimed that they have been successful at catching young people who were seriously considering becoming Christians. Rabbi Lavi said that nowadays, people are most concerned with living life to the fullest. He said some people found logic to be at odds with faith, while others were conflicted over issues like the status of women. The institute maintains a website for providing information with regard to issues of faith and is publishing a booklet with information regarding the contribution of Judaism to the world throughout history.
Israeli / Jewish attitudes concerning Christians
Haaretz, July 30, 2021
This editorial questioned the need for Orthodox Jewish conversion and examined the complexity of Jewish identity in the Jewish state. The issue of Palestinians marrying Israelis and being denied citizenship was also discussed.
History
Sha’ar HaShomron, August 5, 2021
The city of Syracuse, Sicily, has a Jewish community that goes back to Roman times. There is a Jewish ghetto that survived until the expulsion of the Jews from the city, in 1493. The ancient synagogues and other Jewish buildings were later turned into churches, monasteries and palaces. In the basement of the Church of John the Baptist, formerly the Great Synagogue, is a mikveh – proof of the Jewish roots of the ancient building, which testifies to the existence of a Jewish community in Sicily.