A CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES

[gelatik]

Since the creation of Israel a continuous campaign of hate and incitement has
been carried

out by Jewish secular and religious authorities against Christians, Christian
clergy,

Christians churches, and Christian missionaries. This campaign fanned hatred
and

fanaticism and encouraged Rabbis, Zealots and Jewish mobs to commit acts of
violence

against Christians, Christian missions, churches and institutions.

The Jewish paper BADI-OT KHADESHOT of december 21, 1952 published a declaration

by the supreme council of rabbis in Israel, released on december 20, 1952,
attacking the

activities of Christian missionaries. The declaration was signed by two leading
rabbis,

dr Hertzog and dr Oziel, and the secretary- general of the council. It was
directed to all

rabbis and those concerned with religious affairs, calling upon them to combat
the activities

of christian missionaries. The declaration stated: " More than four hundred of
the apostoles

of satan- the missionaries, among whom are some baptized Jews, who are traitors
to their

people- have fallen on the country like the swarm of locusts".

The Tel Aviv newspaper Ha'aretz published on july 20, 1954 an article written
by Rabbi J.L.

Maimon, member of the executive Board of the Jewisg agency, first minister of
the

Religious Affairs, and chief of the Mizrahi Party. He wrote :



I want to admit that I signed against my people. when I accepted the post of
minister of

religions I can say that I tried to defend and to guard the holy places of
christians and

muslims, even though I know that these places were sacred only by virtue of
certain

traditions devoid of any historical foundation. I was hoping that heads of
these religions

would appreciate and would defend our holy places, as if I did not know that
one cannot

have confidence in the uprightness and sense of justice of christian and muslim
religious

authorities. I knew that robbery and murder are their methods, but I hoped
that in our time ,

a period of civilization and progress, the followers of these two religions,
would overcome

their cruelty and would adopt towards our sacred places some sentiments of
respect.

However, I am obliged to say, to my regret, that I have been completely
fooled, and that I

did not take advantage of an advice of a great Zionest who told me 25 years
ago" the best

of Goyium has in the bottom of his heart the germ of hate against the Jewish
people."



The NATIONAL JEWISH POST AND OPINION published in its issue of February 8, 1963

that the israel minister of religious affairs had come out strongly in favor
of anti-missionary

( Christian missionary) activity, following widespread reports of over-zealous
missionary

work. Dr . Zarah Wahrhaftig said that Israel's Jewish population had to
overcome its

Indiference to missionary work if there was to be any hope of its being
stopped. Speaking

at the following meeting of the council to combat the christian missions, he
said that while

he did not advocate violence of the sort that resulted in the stoning of the
Finnish mission,

more voluntary activity in the anti-missionary field was vitally necessary.
Resolutions

adopted at this meeting expressing " Abhorrence at the despicable methods of the

Christian missions and regret at the forgiving attitudes of the authorities,
particularly in the

lack of any legislation which prohibit missions."