FOLLOW-UP REPORT: Israeli
Supreme Court Hearing on ultra-Orthodox Demonstrations
Against Messianic Believers in Israel
Keep pressing in for impending Judges'
Decision!
The Israeli Supreme Court held a hearing Monday on a petition brought by
Hassidic ultra-Orthodox petitioning the court to be allowed to demonstrate with
700 protesters directly in front of the private home of a Messianic
believer, a widow woman with several foster children. This petition is part of
a two-year campaign of harassment and persecution by the ultra-Orthodox against
various members of a Messianic Jewish congregation in the small desert town of
Disposition: Failing to bring the
parties to a compromise, the 3-judge Supreme Court has yet to hand down a
ruling on the matter. Israeli pastors are asking for the continued
prayers of Christians on their behalf and for the protection of religious
freedoms in
A
request from a Negev Desert pastor: "Please use your own connections
with Israeli officials and government ministers to let them know that you
-- believers in the Bible and in the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob,
and in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ -- are concerned about the poor attitude
being shown by the authorities here against your brothers and
sisters.
"We also request that Christians would ask the Lord
for the necessary grace to maintain His patient love and to not to let the
enemy of our souls cause any of us to simply write off the Jews, who are
'enemies of the gospel for your sake but beloved by God for the sake of
the fathers' to whom He gave such great and precious promises."
Lift up your
voice mightily, O Zion!
Sixty-four protesters 'crash' the Messianic believers' fellowship dinner
earlier this year--
one of many intrusions in a seemingly never-ending campaign of harassment..
B A C K G R O U N D
The ultra-Orthodox were petitioning the Supreme court because Israeli law does not allow demonstrations in
front of the personal residences of public figures. The ultra-Orthodox
are seeking a legal sanction to assemble 700 demonstrators in front of the home
of a believing widow who is a foster parent to children with Messianic
Jewish or Christian backgrounds. The ultra-Orthodox have singled out
this woman to protest for precisely the reason that she is a foster parent,
accusing her of attempting to 'steal the souls' of Jewish children. It is
illegal in
Another elderly couple in the congregation have been
targeted for operating a chess club and book store for the elderly residents of
the small town of
Police are mainly non-responsive to the almost daily vandalism, violence, threats
and demonstrations many in this small congregation of believers in Yeshua have
been enduring for the past two years. The mayor, like many politicians in
Christian prayers and
attention to this failure to protect believing Israeli citizens
can
make a difference for the situation of our brothers and sisters in
Please
make your voice heard!
Protesters in April 2004 assembled in front of the home of Polly, a
widow/foster parent
Yakim
Figueras, pastor of the
worldwide to please pray for:
The judges decision - they can still change their mind.
The believers in Arad
to discern and to do what is right in the Lord’s eyes.
Help to
come from the Lord, that He may receive glory, for the benefit of the gospel.
Protection for our children.
Here is Yakim's first hand report of the Supreme Court hearing on
It is our joy and
encouragement to know you are standing behind us with prayers. The Lord is
sovereign As you have been praying, I would like
to share what actually happened there. There was no decision made. The judges
tried to bring the sides to a compromise. As there was no agreement to reach
such compromise, the judges declared they would have to rule over the matter.
That is still due to take place.
I assume you know the
happenings in
The judges in this case are
– the president of the Supreme Court, Mr. Aaron Barak, Mr. Jubran (an Arab from Christian background) and
Mrs. Dalya Dorner (if we remember correctly).
The police were represented
by a lawyer from the Ministry of Justice Ms. Michal Tzuk, who understands the
severity of the situation in Arad.
The court started with the
appellant's lawyer, bringing his case, stating by the way, that the last big
demonstration was “peaceful and quiet”, and mentioning all the best reasons why
they should have it there.
The police’s lawyer – Michal,
tried to show a different picture and convince the judges to decide about a
location for the demonstration which is 800 meters away from the house – where
it would not be close to private homes. She tried to show the judges the larger
picture of the situation in
Also Polly spoke, and then I was given as well an opportunity to say something
(even though I wasn’t one of the official repliers). Polly spoke very well (in
Hebrew!), “apologized” for having a different belief and confessed her faith in
the New Testament, as a Jewess. She shared with them who she was and told about
her children and foster children. Two of her own boys
were sitting in the front row in military uniform. Amongst other things she
told the judges the fact that all the children under her foster care, actually
come from messianic or Christian backgrounds, and, yes that in the past they did
hold small worship meetings at her house.
I tried to show a complete different picture of the last big demonstration near
Polly's house. I also tried to describe all the events that are still taking
place of continued intimidation and harassment in
To our surprise, the judges (actually Barak was leading the whole session and
did almost all of the talking on their side) would not connect the overall
situation (of persecution) in
Michal, who was actually pushed to the corner by the judges suggested to allow a limited demonstration of 100 participants once a
year, with no loudspeakers. Then judge Barak came with the suggestion of having
it once a year only with a “limited” number of 250 (just like the last big
demonstration). The appealers said they could never agree to such an offer and
that they return to their first demand – a demonstration of 700 participants.
It was then that the judge
dismissed the court, saying the court will have to decide on a verdict.
Personally I am disappointed
by Barak’s stand. I didn’t imagine he would allow such an event to happen near
a private house. On the other hand, it is just another example that shows us
the need to trust the Lord.
Only He is really sovereign.
He is trustworthy. He may lead us in the future to use the legal system in
other ways. The end of the matter is: only He is trustworthy, only He is our
rock and He is sovereign.
The judges still have time to
consider the case. Who knows, perhaps they will read the material and rethink
the whole issue.
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Useful Contact Information Put feet on your faith!
Israeli
government:
Ministry
of Foreign Affairs feedback@mofa.gov.il
The
Israeli government addresses: http://www.gov.il/FirstGov/BottomNavEng/Contact
General
Government website: http://gov.il
Israeli
Police Force: http://www.police.gov.il/english/default.asp
Current Knesset Members email links http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mkindex_current_eng.asp
Israeli newspapers:
Jerusalem Post editors@jpost.com
HaAretz letters@haaretz.co.il
Yediot Aharonot news@ynetnews.com