Losing Judaism in the Pursuit of Commonality

Jewish Israel takes an in-depth look at very recent developments in Israel's relationship with evangelicals and how the pursuit of "a common future and destiny" with Christianity is eroding Jewish foundations and blurring the distinction between faiths.  Is Jewish leadership inadvertently leading us down the road to spiritual assimilation, and is it time for a lesson in basic Judaism?  ...more

Pastor Hagee on the Roof - Update
Just days before Pesach, Jewish Israel posted a video of Pastor John Hagee hailing Jesus from the rooftop of Aish HaTorah’s World Center, overlooking the Kotel and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. The incident sparked discussion on Facebook, and in the blogosphere. The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles carried two extensive articles on the episode. Jewish Israel reports on the reactions.  …more 

Moadim l'Simcha from Jewish Israel

Hagee Preaches the Gospel from the Aish HaTorah Rooftop

Last week, Pastor John Hagee used the rooftop of the Aish HaTorah World Center, which overlooks the Western Wall and Temple Mount, to declare that jesus is lord and king and to assert that "every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess"that belief.

Jewish Israel contacted the administration of the Aish Center at the Kotel to ask some questions.  In this report we also ask, how is it that Pastor Hagee felt so emboldened to take such liberties at the site of a renowned Torah institution in Eretz Yisrael?…more

Israel, Look What They’ve Done to Your Torah: the Ralph Messer Story

Last month a video of popular Christian messianic missionary and Hebraic roots teacher "Rabbi" Ralph Messer, wrapping mega-church leader Eddie Long in a Torah scroll, became a viral punch in the gut for Jews of all persuasions, and caused members of various evangelical sects to shift into damage-control mode. Jewish Israel promised our readership a full investigation. We have just released that report.

Messer is not marginal.  Some of Israel's best friends and Christian Zionist leaders have joined him and actively participated in the desecration of Torah scrolls and the warping of Jewish symbolism.  Jewish Israel lifts the mask on this charade and covers all of the angles in an in-depth report which exposes the Jewish and Christian parties directly and indirectly responsible for this growing trend and travesty…more

Jewish Israel wishes our readership a meaningful Fast and Purim Sameach!

Israeli Postal Service workers refusing to distribute missionary new testaments

It appears missionaries in Israel are stepping up campaigns to deliver the new testament and other Christian evangelizing materials into Jewish homes. The Israeli Postal Service is apparently caught in a legal bind and, until it is resolved, Jewish postal workers find themselves in the uncomfortable and impossible position of inadvertently serving as proxy proselytizers, unless, of course, they refuse to deliver the "good news" as in the case of the workers in Ramat Gan…more 

Passion Play to be Performed at the Footsteps of the Temple Mount

UPDATE (March 20): Mention of the Davidson Center and the Old City as the venue for the play has now been removed from the passionjerusalem.com website 

Jewish Israel has just learned that a Passion Play produced by JBS Theatricals, a production company under the auspices of Stivale Ministries, is scheduled to be performed at the Kotel’s Davidson Center in the spring of 2012. Titled "The Kingdom", and billed as "the Passion in the Heart of Jerusalem", this production puts the nature and dignity of Jewish Jerusalem to shame. Jewish Israel has interviewed one of the producers and posted the promotional video clip as it appeared at the time of the interview...more

The Ultimate Desecration of the Torah (Warning: Obscene)

Jewish Israel has just posted a video of popular Christian messianic missionary and hebraic roots teacher "Rabbi"Ralph Messer wrapping mega-church leader Eddie Long in a Torah scroll and crowning him as a king. 

This is obscene material and illustrates why Jewish leaders need to temper those evangelical and prophetic flames with strict halachic borders, and to consider who they are teaching our Torah to.  UPDATE: new videos posted ....more

Kosher Jesus: judging a book by its cover

UPDATE: Rabbi Boteach has taken an interest in Jewish Israel's report and graphic presentation (see correspondence)

Last August Jewish Israel reported on Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's plans to launch his book "Kosher Jesus". In this newest report we ask, "how far and low will a Jewish man go in order to ensure and secure that loving embrace from evangelical Christians?" It seems we're about to find out as "Rabbi Shmuley" attempts to theologically reconcile Judaism with Christianity.

In this extensive report Jewish Israel explores Boteach's high risk venture from a number of angles and takes a look at the reactions coming in from rabbis, counter-missionaries, and Christians…more

Journalist Giulio Meotti calls for rejection of Judeo-Christian blend

Giulio Meotti, a fiercely pro-Israel and very articulate Italian journalist, recently conjured up memories of Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik's stance on interfaith relations.  Meotti called for a rejection of the "Judeo Christian blend". However he also continued to call for Israel to ally herself with evangelical Christians while neglecting to note that the pro-Israelevangelical enterprise largely aspires towards a "Judeo-Christian" fusion.

Meotti's call for a separation of faiths can be seen as a brilliant strategic move by advocates of the interfaith partnership or as somewhat disingenuous and suspect by those who oppose the faith-driven coalition.  Jewish Israel welcomes the call for red lines, but sees things a little differently. Does Giulio Meotti perhaps have something else up his sleeve?...more

David Ha'ivri responds to reports, and so does Jewish Israel

In an apparent reaction to criticism of his activities coming from a number of sources, including Jewish Israel reports, David Ha'ivri of the Shomron Liaison Office penned an article which appeared in the Jewish Press, Are Christian Zionists a Threat to Israel? After reading our Letter to the Editor in response, the Jewish Press invited Jewish Israel to write a Counterpoint oped piece, which has now been published...more

The "Other Side" of Torah

Pastor Mark Biltz, leader of the messianic El Shaddai Ministries of Tacoma Washington, has the kind of christ-driven "pro-Israel" approach, which should cause responsible Jewish community leaders to abruptly about-face and pave a clear detour to ensure the spiritual integrity of the Jewish collective. Biltz inter-changes religious identities and definitions in order to deliberately wreak confusion and blur the definitive lines between faiths. And yet, one can find a hefty sampling of Israel's best "Land-of-Israel" spokespersons and rabbis on the guest speaker line-up of that thriving messianic Christian congregation...more

Messianic Calev Myers and Likud MK Danny Danon form new Knesset Caucus

Likud MK Danny Danon and messianic/evangelical attorney Calev Myers have just founded a Knesset caucus to battle international anti-Semitism. Putting Myers at the helm of such a venture would be something  akin to appointing  fallen White House Press Correspondent Helen Thomas as director of the Anti-Defamation League. Myers frequently derides – in the strongest of language - the Torah observant community and those who resist messianic overtures and moves towards assimilation in Israel....more

Jewish Israel Receives Overwhelming Endorsement from Rabbi Dov Lior

Jewish Israel has received a full endorsement from Rav Dov Lior, the Chief Rabbi of Hebron and Kiryat Arba. Rav Lior expressed his complete confidence in Jewish Israel as a trusted source of information and responsible reporting, and urged Jewish leaders and his rabbinic colleagues to utilize Jewish Israel's services before considering activities or involvement with Christian groups and leaders...more

The Sons of the Foreigners will Plant Strange Worship in Your Land

In the wake of the Waller family's and Hayovel Ministry's continued involvement with a number of communities in Yehuda and Shomron, Jewish Israel has been asked to issue an updated report.  Some of the information presented herein was included in the presentation given to Rav Dov Lior and the Hebron community council on September 14, 2011.  In this report, Jewish Israel exposes the very recent activities of the Wallers and those of their close missionary affiliates, such as Reverend Dean Bye of Return Ministries, who are active throughout Israel and have facilitated in bringing Christian missionaries on aliyah…more

Messianic Attorney Calev Myers' speech nixed at Durban 3 Protest

The Durban 3 protest of September 21st was supposed to be a mass rally involving dozens of major Jewish and Christian organizations, but things began to crumble as word got out that Calev Myers, the main organizer of the ISRAEL NOW Durban3NYC protest, is a "messianic Jew" and his organization, the Jerusalem Institute for Justice (JIJ), champions messianic Christian’s rights in Israel. Jewish Israelexplores the truth about Myers and examines the evangelical messianic web which  almost managed to dupe American Jewish leaders and which did cause some embarrassment to the Israeli government

Israeli and Diaspora leaders need to ask themselves whether articulate evangelical advocates, such as Myers, are great defenders or destroyers (in a spiritual sense) of the Jewish state...more

Jewish Israel wishes Klal Yisrael a sweet, productive and peaceful year.

The "Restoring Courage" wrap-up: the company Beck keeps

Now that Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Courage" extravaganza is behind us, Jewish activists and journalists in the national camp are busy assessing the success or failure of what was supposed to be a history-making mega-event.

While the jury is still out as to whether or not Glenn Beck and this happening was good for the Jews, what is clear is that the national religious camp did not flock in their masses to the multi-million dollar faith based extravaganza. 

Many are fingering the press for negative publicity, but as can be expected,  Jewish Israel is taking a different, more introspective route.  We've chosen to examine the nature of the "Restoring Courage" events and some of the problematic personalities involved...more 

Jesus gets Smicha and a Hechsher from Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and others came back utterly intoxicated by the recent CUFI  Summit. While recapping what it was like to be "surrounded" by "five thousand Christian lovers of Israel", Rabbi Boteach took the opportunity to introduce his upcoming book, "Kosher Jesus".  Jewish Israel takes a look at Rabbi Boteach's interfaith theological exploits and some reactions to his ordination (christening?) of "Rabbi Jesus".  Is this where unchecked Jewish-Christian relations are leading us?...more

David Wilder retracts on CUFI article

As soon as David Wilder's CUFI report hit the net we received requests from the Hebron community and from others for information on the missionary personalities appearing in the photos as well as on the general content in David's report.  The information was taken to Rav Lior , who took the matter very seriously. We refrained from publishing a public report in order to give David an opportunity to reflect and retract.  He has! Kol HaKavod to David Wilder for a courageous and very difficult move.  Jewish Israel is pleased that Akiva Powers of Magen was able to facilitate in this matter...more

Wishing Klal Yisrael a meaningful Fast.

Rabbi Riskin OK’s Jews to Enter Churches and Learn (UPDATED)

The currently featured question addressed to Rabbi Riskin on the Ohr Torah Stone homepage is, "Are Jews allowed to enter churches?" Rabbi Riskin's answer, especially the absolute sanction of evangelical churches, left Jewish Israel with a lot of questions. We explore a number of angles in our search for clarification… more

Hebraic Roots and Rabbis Gone Wild

In this third, concluding part of our investigation on "Christian aliyah", Jewish Israel examines the "spiritual" dynamic of the Hebraic Roots movement, especially taking a look at some of the rabbinic personalities involved in this precarious venture...more

Israeli MKs sanction missionary ties and Christian settlement in Israel

In our previous report Jewish Israeldisclosed that Baruch Abrahamovich (Avramovich), the leader of a group of 1000 evangelicals attempting to make aliyah, purportedly convert to Judaism, and purchase land for a settlement in Samaria, is an active and committed messianic Christian.

In this new segment of our report we reveal the politics behind the scenes of this radical venture and take a look at some of the Israeli politicians who are encouraging influential evangelical parties which actively target Jews in Israel for conversion…more

Tourism Ministry promotes Israel at the NRB missionary convention
The Israeli Ministry of Tourism was front and center on the floor of the 2011 National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention in Nashville, In this very extensive and troubling report Jewish Israel covers the dealings Israeli and Jewish leaders have with those personalities who are evangelizing the Jews, and strengthening the messianic Christian presence in Israel. We also look at the length and depth Israel goes to in order to generate Christian tourism. But "business is business", right?...more

More Reports

Rav Lior and Rav Gold address evangelical missionary crisis at Jewish Israel event in Hebron

On September 14^th, Jewish Israel gave a presentation, "Crossing Lines: Profiles in Deception", to the Hebron community in the presence of Rabbi Dov Lior, the Chief Rabbi of Hebron and Kiryat Arba.  Jewish Israel was asked to give this presentation following the July 2011 CUFI Summitin Washington where certain activists from Judea and Shomron met and were photographed with known missionary personalities. Updated  information on Tommy Waller, Mike Isley and their missionary partners and affiliations was included in the presentation.

Jewish Israel’s rabbinic director, Rav Sholom Gold gave opening remarks where he directly challenged Rav Eliezer Melamed's recent psak on Jewish-Evangelical relations. Following the presentation, the Va’ad of Hebron met and initiated a process to establish guidelines to govern their relationship with Christian leaders and organizations.  It was made clear that the Va'ad will be following Rav Lior's position on not accepting evangelical funding and expanding upon it…more

Jewish Israel gives presentation at the Israel Center
Rabbi Dr. Sholom Gold and Jewish Israel presented:
"Israel and the Evangelicals: a match NOT made in heaven" on Monday April 26th at the Israel Center in Jerusalem. Introductory remarks were made by Rabbi Sholom Gold, Rabbinic Director of Jewish Israel; followed by a presentation by Jewish Israel...more

Jewish Israel gives presentation at Jerusalem Rabbinic Conference
On February 11th,2010 Jewish Israel gave featured presentations in a rabbinic conference held in Jerusalem on the topic of “Activities of Christian organizations and Evangelicals in Israel”. A wide range of rabbinic leaders from across Israel attended the conference, and a number of representatives from the Council of Young Israel and the Rabbinical Council of America were also present...more

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.
Read More

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.