BURNING NEW TESTAMENTS IN 'DEMOCRATIC' ISRAEL
By Rev. Ted Pike
22 May 08
Millions of Christians have been incensed in the last several days
over public
burning of New Testaments in Israel. Hundreds of New
Testaments were distributed by Messianic (Christian) Jews in the
predominantly Jewish Orthodox town of Or Yehuda. But the town's mayor,
Uzi Aharon, had Jewish religious students gather the New Testaments
and burn most of them next to a synagogue.
Is this an act of isolated bigotry?
No. Burning of the New Testament is a religious duty according to Judaism’s
highest religious authority, the Babylonian Talmud. It says “the writings
of the minim [Christians] deserve to be burned, even though the holy name of
God occurs therein, for paganism is less dangerous than minuth [Christianity].” (Shabbethai
116) (See, "U.S.
Government, Talmud Mock New Testament")
The Chief Rabbinate in Jerusalem, the official religious representative of the
state of Israel, upholds the Talmudic view. What about the Israeli government?
Will it prosecute Jewish fanatics who increasingly violate the rights of Christian
Jews in Israel? Not likely. The government of Israel doesn't defend persecuted
Messianic Jews, even though persecution violates their rights as Israeli citizens.
The official attitude is that, as such missionaries have no business proselytizing,
the consequences are left to the discretion of local magistrates and police.
(See, "Christians
in Israel: An Endangered Species")
Medieval Israel?
This raises the question of whether Israel is really the much-touted “democracy” it
claims to be. In Israel open witnessing by Gentile Christians is
prohibited. Witnessing by Jewish Christians to Jewish adults is tolerated.
It is illegal for any Christian to witness to an Israeli minor. (Criminal
Code Sec. 170, 172) In a democracy, free exchange of opinions is
encouraged; citizens believe that if all viewpoints are available,
rational people can find the truth. In a medieval, religiously closed
society, the ruling elite believe the people cannot be so entrusted.
Attempts to religiously persuade are called “imposing
your beliefs on other people” and “killing people’s
souls.” Such “proselytization” is
considered a coercive reprehensible act, worthy of punishment.
Especially since the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, the western
world has agreed that free exchange of ideas (religious, political, scientific,
artistic, etc.) is the barest requirement of finding truth. In the feudal age
before the Reformation, the Bible was primarily confined to Latin. Laity were
forbidden to privately interpret and teach it. The gift of the Reformation
was that it helped end restriction of ideas and resultant book-burning. This
led directly to the US Constitution, with its First Amendment and the Bill
of Rights.
The shame of the “modern” state of Israel is that it is returning
to religious medievalism. It's taking the world backwards.
Rev. Ted Pike is director of the National Prayer Network, a Christian/conservative
watchdog organization.
Let the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith teach you how they
have saddled 45 states with hate laws capable of persecuting Christians: http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/intro.asp.
Learn how ADL took away free speech in Canada and wants to steal
it now in the U.S. Congress. Watch Rev. Ted Pike's Hate
Laws: Making Criminals of Christians at video.google.com. Purchase
this gripping documentary to show at church. Order online at www.truthtellers.org for
$24.90, DVD or VHS, by calling 503-853-3688, or at the address below.
TALK SHOW HOSTS: Interview Rev. Ted Pike on this
topic. Call (503) 631-3808.
National Prayer Network, P.O. Box 828, Clackamas,
OR 97015
