Jewish Israel takes a critical look at Israel’s alliances with Fundamentalist Christian groups, and provides a platform for ongoing monitoring and pro-active responses to evangelical missionary campaigns targeting Jews for conversion, Read more

COMING SOON: Jewish Israel Reviews Rabbi Riskin’s Lecture
Last week Rabbi Shlomo Riskin of Efrat gave lectures in Jerusalem and Efrat respectively on the topic of "Jewish-Christian Dialogue, is it permissible? If so, is it desirable?". Representatives from Jewish Israel attended the lecture held in Jerusalem and took notes. We received an unedited audio tape and have forwarded that along with our initial impressions to our rabbinic director and academic advisors for their review. We should be posting our full commentary in the coming days...more

Knesset Christian Caucus MKs attend missionary-sponsored conference in Rome:
MKs representing the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus recently attended a Judeo-Christian conference in Rome which was co-sponsored by missionaries Christine and Peter Darg of Exploits Ministries. Jewish Israel has posted multiple examples of the Darg’s evangelizing activities and deceptive agenda via blog postings, video excerpts, and reference materials.
As a written policy,the Caucus “condemns and refuses alliances with any groups that pursue the conversion of Jews to Christianity.” Those MKs and activists affiliated with the Caucus have not only crossed red lines, but ironically and regrettably they have breached the very fences they established for themselves. ...more

“messianic Jew” convicted of murdering doctor:
Jailed for Jesus. From the first degree murder of an abortionist to draft evasion, fundamentalist Christians - identifying themselves as “messianic Jews”- seem to be making headlines these days. Our friend Yeze from the Messianic Rosh Pina Project celebrated his “coming out” party via the blogosphere after British Police abruptly knocked on his door recently. After ceaseless accusations and finger-pointing at the Orthodox Jewish community by evangelicals, it seems a confession is in order - “messianic Jews” (evangelical Christians) do crime too. ...more

New Testament Codes Stricken From “Jesus Guns”
What would have made for brilliant satire turned out to be a real news story. Last week ABC News covered, or rather uncovered secret (or not so secret), new testament “bible codes “ which are embedded in U.S. army rifle scopes produced by the Trijicon company. These scopes are used by the U.S military in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it seems to pose a problem for America which has been trying to downplay any suggestions of a Christian crusade against Islam. The manufacturer has agreed to eliminate the new testament codes. The IDF reportedly also uses the scopes. ...more

Bed, Breakfast, and Jesus for Israeli Backpackers UPDATED
According to a recent study conducted by the University of Haifa's Center for Tourism, Pilgrimage and Recreation, some 2000 Israeli backpackers are being hosted annually by missionaries in New Zealand. The Messianic Christian organization HIT (Hosting Israeli Travelers) offers accommodations at a token fee and sometimes free of charge. But there are strings attached…more...

The ugly side of interfaith beautification politics:
In 2008 the executive director of Rabbi Riskin’s Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation actively participated in efforts to rehabilitate Pope Pius XII and set him on the road to canonization by playing an active role in public relations efforts towards those ends, and by assisting in providing evidence that was used by the Vatican. Under the circumstances, Jewish Israel was particularly taken aback to read a recent CJCUC press release which calls efforts to canonize Pope Pius XII "another blow to Catholic-Jewish relations..." The press release makes no mention of CJCUC’s participation in this fiasco.
It appears Rabbi Riskin's organization fumbled miserably in their attempts to play both sides of the field with the Vatican. Jewish Israel explores the terrible truth and sickening hypocrisy...more

Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Woolf joins the Jewish Israel Team
Jewish Israel is pleased to announce that Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Woolf has joined the Jewish Israel board as an academic and religious advisor. Dr. Woolf is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Talmud at Bar Ilan University, where he specializes in Jewish Intellectual History and the History of Jewish Law, and he is a member of the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America. We look forward to Dr. Woolf's insights, contributions and advice....more

Pat Robertson’s “satanic verses” cause media tremors
When it comes to commenting on both man-made and natural disasters, televangelist Pat Robertson takes the golden globe for impropriety. Following last week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, Robertson remarked that the Haitians had made a "pact with the devil" and have been "cursed" ever since.
Israel is certainly no stranger to Robertson’s gaffes...more

Daniel Ayalon: Israel’s Ambassador for Christendom
Israel’s Foreign Ministry is sponsoring a bid to upgrade the status of evangelicals in Israel and recognize them as "a sovereign group or an independent church". The Interior Ministry is opposing the move. Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon, who as the outgoing Israeli ambassador to Washington, told Christians that he intended to be “their ambassador to Israel”, seems to be doing everything he can to make good on that pledge. Jewish Israel covers the Deputy Foreign Minister’s ongoing efforts to bolster Christianity in Israel and we’ve posted video excerpts of Ayalon’s recent appearance on Benny Hinn’s television show, where Danny speaks a polished “Evangelese”, and gives Nefesh B’Nefesh a plug. The highly controversial televangelist provides us Jews with a quintessential view of “avoda zara” and a good reason as to why the Jewish state should avoid granting special status to the evangelical church…more

Joel Bell opens new WBZ missionary center in Sha’ar Binyamin
Joel Bell has completed construction on a 5000 square ft. facility 15 minutes north of Jerusalem. The World Biblical Zionist Strategic Center is designed to enhance the development of the “ Biblical inheritance” which evangelical Christians now claim to share with the Jewish people (and you thought there were no strings attached). Bell makes it clear in his latest video that Samaria is his “birthright” - but not only his. He has established a strategic “covenant relationship” with Kenyan evangelical Christians who have opened up offices in Joel’s new facilities. Meanwhile, Bell’s partner, Don Esposito, has announced that he has “sealed the deal with the Jewish Agency to be able to bring believers [in Jesus] over to Israel for anywhere from 9 months up to 2 years.”…more

Messianics use “American Idol” to promote missionary activity in Ethiopia:
In mid-October we reported on a scandal involving Kadima Knesset member Shlomo Molla and the messianic missionary organization the Jewish Voice. That organization is working harder than ever to bring their message of Jesus to the many thousands of Falashmura in Addis Ababa and Gondar who are hoping for immigrant permits to Israel, and they’ve recruited former American Idol contestant, Sharon Wilbur to promote their campaign. Meanwhile the Tel Aviv messianic ministry MaozIsrael has released a new video attesting to the missionary targeting of Ethiopians once they arrive in Israel… more

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Jewish Israel gives presentation to AFSI
Jewish Israel gave a presentation to participants the November 2009 AFSI/Manhigut Yehudit Chizuk Trip. The address entitled, “Crossing Lines: a Jewish look at the Israel-evangelical Relationship”, was well received with the audience expressing great interest and concern over growing Christian missionary influence in Israel...more

Performance by missionary cancelled
Recently joint efforts on the part of Rabbi Mottle Wolf of Isralight, Ari Abramowitz of A7 radio, Yehuda HaKohen of the Zionist Freedom Alliance, and Jewish Israel, were able to prevent a known messianic missionary musician from performing in a popular pub café in central Jerusalem.

Jewish Israel provides Knesset MKs with significant information on missionaries
Jewish Israel regularly meets with members of the Knesset, rabbinic and community leaders to keep them abreast of the severity of the missionary situation in Israel. Recently we provided MKs with evidence about the messianic ministry involved in the Molla affair...Read More

Christian worship service plans for Orthodox synagogue stopped
A planned prayer event sponsored by Missionary Christine Darg of Exploits Minstries was billed as a prelude to the International Christian Embassy’s Feast of the Tabernacles, and was supposed to take place in an Orthodox synagogue located in the Heichal Shlomo facility in Jerusalem. Jewish Israel informed a number of rabbis who were able to prevent the service from taking place...Read More

OU withdraws Evangelical resolution
Thanks to a flurry of activity by Jewish Israel - including several private meetings with key figures from the Orthodox Union, as well as intense lobbying efforts, the OU has withdrawn its rather parve resolution which is now under reassessment due to the new information being brought to light.
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Moshe Feiglin and Manhigut Yehidut break ties with Joel Bell
Represetatives from Jewish Israel presented evidence of Joel Bell's evangelical/messianic Christian agenda to Moshe Feiglin and the Manhigut Yehudit staff. This report reinforced Manhigut's earlier decision to sever ties with Bell and reject funding from Christian sources.