No Shame: Missionaries Using Security Situation to Proselytize

The missionaries are taking cynical advantage of the terror wave in Israel to prey on innocent Jews.

Yad L’Achim has received dozens of calls from residents reporting missionaries circulating in city centers and using the security situation to draw passersby into discussions about their fears. These quickly led to conversations on matters of faith and the distribution of missionary material, with assurances following in its ways will lead to quiet on the country’s streets.

In one call, M., a resident of Bat Yam, reported that he’d seen two missionaries sitting next to a religious Jewish woman on a bench in the city’s promenade. After inquiring into her welfare, and hearing her concern about the security situation, that told her that everything the country is undergoing is hinted at in the Bible. When she showed an interest in what they had to say, they pulled out a copy of the “new testament” and asked her to learn relevant passages with them.

“The woman didn’t understand that this was the ‘new testament’ and was agreeing to learn with them,” M. said. “I immediately got involved and told her that these people were Christian missionaries who were lying to her and that this wasn’t the Tenach but the ‘new testament.’ I asked them politely but firmly to stop lying to Jews and taking advantage of the situation to preach their missionary messages. They understood that their ruse had been discovered and left shamefacedly.”

Yad L’Achim has been receiving many such calls of late. In response, it has launched a preventive PR campaign in which its activists are taking to the streets to warn the public of what the missionaries are up to.

Yad L’Achim is asking the public to be on the alert and report similar such incidents to the organization via its hotline.

At the same time, Yad L’Achim leaders have renewed their call to the religious representatives in the Knesset to do everything in their power to pass a law banning missionary activity in the country.