Ole Irish
2007-10-26 06:29:44 UTC
What happened to Israel's *democratic* processes?
How to Pray for the Persecuted Believers of Israel
This article sent to us by Lura Maiman Beckford, a believer in Arad, Israel
conveys the hard position of those believers under the constant strain of
persecution and harassment. Lura, and others in the believing community in
the southern Negev Desert region, have been the targets of daily religious
persecution for over two years without significant intervention of the
authorities. While it may be difficult to understand how this could happen
in Israel, please know that the community of our faith in Israel needs under
girding and uplifting prayer support.� Let us not be remiss, forgetting when
we pray for Israel, to pray for these who are called by the name of the
Lord.�
The Foreign Ministry says what!?�
by Lura Maiman Beckford
The Israeli Foreign Ministry is sending out response letters stating that
the Christians in Arad are bringing persecution upon themselves because they
are �perceived� as proselytizing.
Just suppose for a moment that this is true � think about it.
Is there freedom of religion in Israel or not? Are Christians free to give
out books and/or put them in a store where others can get them? Are
Christians free to worship in their houses? Are they free to own businesses
and operate them without fear of retribution? Are they free to live in peace
in their houses without intimidation?
Compare those questions with the reality of life in Arad and other cities in
Israel. Look at some actual events (there are many more):
• A Christian taxi driver is harassed at his taxi stand. The Haredim
(ultra-Orthodox) scream at would-be passengers, �This man is a Christian �
don�t ride in his taxi!� They also scream some very blasphemous things about
Jesus.
• The Congregation meets on Saturdays and the parishioners need to go
through a gauntlet of curses from 40 or more Haredim (ultra-Orthodox)
standing in front of the entrance. All through the service, screams, chants
and curses can be heard from outside.
• A mother and her 5-year old child are stalked by Haredim (ultra-Orthodox)
men as she takes her child to kindergarten. At times she must duck into an
entrance way to get away from the abuse. Her child prays at night asking God
to make the bad men go away.
• Another mother of four has to look for her little child at night because
the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) scared him away from his own front door and he
was afraid to go home.
• At the local chess club, (operated by two Christians) the retired men at
the club are harassed and hassled by young Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) thugs
and told not to go there � it is a Christian place. The place is regularly
picketed and the Haredim harass the poor people who come there to pick up
used clothing.
• Christian�s pictures and addresses are hung up around the neighborhood and
in the local Yeshiva (boy�s religious school) warning people that we are
dangerous and to stay away from us.
• A new immigrant (Jewish believer) was expelled from Hebrew class because
the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) warned the teacher that he is a Christian.
• A Jewish believer was thrown out of his home because the Haredim put
pressure on the landlord.
• A widow with 3 boys and several foster children (from Christian families)
is regularly picketed by hundreds of Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) and accused of
stealing the children from Jewish families.
• The Haredim have made false charge (LIES) against the believers, which
have been accepted as facts by the police, and as a result, the believers
must hire lawyers to defend themselves.
• We have been accused of kidnapping children, being worse than the
Palestinians and Nazis, converting Jews, (No one can do that except God),
stealing souls (How do you do that?)
• We have been told that we are animals without souls (Talmud teaches that)
and threatened with being carried out of Arad in coffins, or shot, or dozens
of other threats.
• When we go on a trip (secular Jews and Christians) the Haredim
(ultra-Orthodox) riot and try to prevent buses from leaving. People have
gotten hurt.
• When we feed the hungry, the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) surround us, curse
us and push against the tables, and generally act like criminals.
• When we sit at outdoor cafes, the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) surround us and
tell lies to passers-by about us.
• They vandalize our property � they attack our people � they burned our
chess club (the only visible reminder that there are Christians in Arad and
the only place to get a Bible in Arad.)
• They stormed into a congregation in Beersheva during the service and
wrecked the place and threw the pastor into the baptismal and they did about
$2000. worth of damage.
• Some believers have lost their jobs because of the pressure exerted by the
Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) on the employers.
• They play dirty � there are a lot of other things they are involved in but
I think you get the picture.
• The police are refusing to take our calls � they are also afraid of the
Haredim.
Let it be known far and wide that the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) object to the
fact that we are alive! That is our crime. Most of us were minding our own
business but the Haredim are seeking out Christians and harassing them. Why?
Because their own manmade religion is so corrupt and bereft of any spiritual
value, the only way for the Rabbi to hold on to his people is to give them a
purpose for existence and a scapegoat to persecute. The sad thing is that
the government and most of the people here have a love-hate relationship
with the Haredim. They believe that the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) are the
guardians of the �Jewish state�. Therefore, even though they don�t want to
be like them, they think they have to protect them and allow them to do
whatever they want.
If there were religious freedom in Israel, people would be allowed to
practice their own religion freely. Ideas would be allowed to proliferate
and be discussed openly. In a democracy, people are allowed to have freedom
of speech. However, the Haredim are afraid of ideas and freedom. They are no
different than the terrorists � they use violence to force their will on
others. IT IS WRONG! The Israeli Foreign Minister should know better than to
excuse the criminal behavior of the Haredim, but he is caught up in the trap
as well.
This will not end here � the Haredim have a list of people they want to get
rid of � the Christians are only the first on the list. Next are the
Bedouins, and then the Ethiopian Jews and the secular Jews.
This small, but powerful, group of Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) is funded by
donations from the West. Much of the money coming to fund the persecution is
given by well-meaning Christians in the USA and other western nations, and
is intended to help the poor. The donors think they are giving to charitable
organizations, but the money is used to build the power base of the Haredim
and pay to persecute believers. Be careful to whom you send your donations!
Be on the safe side � send them to believers!
In short, to blame the persecution of Christians on themselves is like
telling a victim that she was asking to be mugged. The mugger is at fault �
not the victim.
Of course, through all this negative publicity, the Lord has been drawing
people to Himself. Several people have become believers BECAUSE of the
persecution and the Christlike response of the Christians. History has shown
that persecution only makes a movement grow.� It is no different in Arad.
The Lord�s Will be done.
How to Pray for the Persecuted Believers of Israel
This article sent to us by Lura Maiman Beckford, a believer in Arad, Israel
conveys the hard position of those believers under the constant strain of
persecution and harassment. Lura, and others in the believing community in
the southern Negev Desert region, have been the targets of daily religious
persecution for over two years without significant intervention of the
authorities. While it may be difficult to understand how this could happen
in Israel, please know that the community of our faith in Israel needs under
girding and uplifting prayer support.� Let us not be remiss, forgetting when
we pray for Israel, to pray for these who are called by the name of the
Lord.�
The Foreign Ministry says what!?�
by Lura Maiman Beckford
The Israeli Foreign Ministry is sending out response letters stating that
the Christians in Arad are bringing persecution upon themselves because they
are �perceived� as proselytizing.
Just suppose for a moment that this is true � think about it.
Is there freedom of religion in Israel or not? Are Christians free to give
out books and/or put them in a store where others can get them? Are
Christians free to worship in their houses? Are they free to own businesses
and operate them without fear of retribution? Are they free to live in peace
in their houses without intimidation?
Compare those questions with the reality of life in Arad and other cities in
Israel. Look at some actual events (there are many more):
• A Christian taxi driver is harassed at his taxi stand. The Haredim
(ultra-Orthodox) scream at would-be passengers, �This man is a Christian �
don�t ride in his taxi!� They also scream some very blasphemous things about
Jesus.
• The Congregation meets on Saturdays and the parishioners need to go
through a gauntlet of curses from 40 or more Haredim (ultra-Orthodox)
standing in front of the entrance. All through the service, screams, chants
and curses can be heard from outside.
• A mother and her 5-year old child are stalked by Haredim (ultra-Orthodox)
men as she takes her child to kindergarten. At times she must duck into an
entrance way to get away from the abuse. Her child prays at night asking God
to make the bad men go away.
• Another mother of four has to look for her little child at night because
the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) scared him away from his own front door and he
was afraid to go home.
• At the local chess club, (operated by two Christians) the retired men at
the club are harassed and hassled by young Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) thugs
and told not to go there � it is a Christian place. The place is regularly
picketed and the Haredim harass the poor people who come there to pick up
used clothing.
• Christian�s pictures and addresses are hung up around the neighborhood and
in the local Yeshiva (boy�s religious school) warning people that we are
dangerous and to stay away from us.
• A new immigrant (Jewish believer) was expelled from Hebrew class because
the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) warned the teacher that he is a Christian.
• A Jewish believer was thrown out of his home because the Haredim put
pressure on the landlord.
• A widow with 3 boys and several foster children (from Christian families)
is regularly picketed by hundreds of Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) and accused of
stealing the children from Jewish families.
• The Haredim have made false charge (LIES) against the believers, which
have been accepted as facts by the police, and as a result, the believers
must hire lawyers to defend themselves.
• We have been accused of kidnapping children, being worse than the
Palestinians and Nazis, converting Jews, (No one can do that except God),
stealing souls (How do you do that?)
• We have been told that we are animals without souls (Talmud teaches that)
and threatened with being carried out of Arad in coffins, or shot, or dozens
of other threats.
• When we go on a trip (secular Jews and Christians) the Haredim
(ultra-Orthodox) riot and try to prevent buses from leaving. People have
gotten hurt.
• When we feed the hungry, the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) surround us, curse
us and push against the tables, and generally act like criminals.
• When we sit at outdoor cafes, the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) surround us and
tell lies to passers-by about us.
• They vandalize our property � they attack our people � they burned our
chess club (the only visible reminder that there are Christians in Arad and
the only place to get a Bible in Arad.)
• They stormed into a congregation in Beersheva during the service and
wrecked the place and threw the pastor into the baptismal and they did about
$2000. worth of damage.
• Some believers have lost their jobs because of the pressure exerted by the
Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) on the employers.
• They play dirty � there are a lot of other things they are involved in but
I think you get the picture.
• The police are refusing to take our calls � they are also afraid of the
Haredim.
Let it be known far and wide that the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) object to the
fact that we are alive! That is our crime. Most of us were minding our own
business but the Haredim are seeking out Christians and harassing them. Why?
Because their own manmade religion is so corrupt and bereft of any spiritual
value, the only way for the Rabbi to hold on to his people is to give them a
purpose for existence and a scapegoat to persecute. The sad thing is that
the government and most of the people here have a love-hate relationship
with the Haredim. They believe that the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) are the
guardians of the �Jewish state�. Therefore, even though they don�t want to
be like them, they think they have to protect them and allow them to do
whatever they want.
If there were religious freedom in Israel, people would be allowed to
practice their own religion freely. Ideas would be allowed to proliferate
and be discussed openly. In a democracy, people are allowed to have freedom
of speech. However, the Haredim are afraid of ideas and freedom. They are no
different than the terrorists � they use violence to force their will on
others. IT IS WRONG! The Israeli Foreign Minister should know better than to
excuse the criminal behavior of the Haredim, but he is caught up in the trap
as well.
This will not end here � the Haredim have a list of people they want to get
rid of � the Christians are only the first on the list. Next are the
Bedouins, and then the Ethiopian Jews and the secular Jews.
This small, but powerful, group of Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) is funded by
donations from the West. Much of the money coming to fund the persecution is
given by well-meaning Christians in the USA and other western nations, and
is intended to help the poor. The donors think they are giving to charitable
organizations, but the money is used to build the power base of the Haredim
and pay to persecute believers. Be careful to whom you send your donations!
Be on the safe side � send them to believers!
In short, to blame the persecution of Christians on themselves is like
telling a victim that she was asking to be mugged. The mugger is at fault �
not the victim.
Of course, through all this negative publicity, the Lord has been drawing
people to Himself. Several people have become believers BECAUSE of the
persecution and the Christlike response of the Christians. History has shown
that persecution only makes a movement grow.� It is no different in Arad.
The Lord�s Will be done.
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com