70 - Friday, December - 20, 1985 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
7 t, t •
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NEWS
The
Focusing on Israel's
'Christian Problem'
BL
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Haifa—On a recent visit to
Jerusalem we attended two
events of some significance.
They were completely different
from each other in tone and at-
mosphere, yet there was a con-
necting link. Both dealt, direct-
ly or indirectly, with the same
vital issues, yet neither was
given much attention in the
local press.
The issues are the degree of
involvement of non-Jews in the
life, growth and development
of Israel, and the threat of mis-
sionary activity.
One event was the colorful
Christian celebration of the
Feast of Tabernacles, under
the auspices of the Christian
Embassy in Jerusalem. Some
5,000 Christians, from more
than 40 countries, assembled
in the capital for a week of
religious festivities, the high-
light of which was an outdoor
program at the Sultan's Pool,
an amphitheater just outside
the walls of the Old City, and
below the Tower of David.
The spirit was one of com-
plete and utter identification
with Israel in all its problems,
intertwined with an evangel-
ical Christian fervor. Hebrew
songs, patriotic Zionist ban-
ners and slogans, speeches en-
dorsing national policies of
Israel—all left no doubt that
these people are loyal true
friends of the country. The pro-
cession of the flags of 40 na-
tions was an exciting spectacle.
Yet, as the words of welcome
to the Israeli guests pointed
out, this was essentially a pro-
gram for Christians, and there-
fore it had a Christian content.
It is this content in all the
organization's activities which
has invited the charge that it
is a front for missionary activ-
ity. Hymns to Jesus and an
evangelistic atmosphere made
it quite clear that this was not
a Jewish organization, albeit
Zionist to the core.
Instructions issued to the
5,000 visitors from abroad
were quite explicit with regard
to their contacts with Israelis:
"Please do not leave tracts or
attempt to proselytize. This
can cause great offense."
The official attitude of the
government was perhaps indi-
cated by the fact that Prime
Minister Shimon Peres ap-
peared and addressed the
gathering. He was given a
warm welcome, far more en-
thusiastic than he receives at
any gathering of Israelis.
But, we were left with mixed
feelings, of gratification for
this international support and
strangeness in the exaltation
of the evangelical atmosphere.
Our second event in Jeru-
salem was billed as one of the
"Great Debate" series. It dealt
with the question: "Is the Mor-
mon Center good or bad for the
Jews?" Brigham Young Uni-
versity of the Mormon Church
is now building a branch on
Mount Scopus alongside the
Hebrew University. There
have been excited charges that
it will become a center of Mor-
mon proselytizing activity.
In the debate, Yosef Goell, of
The Jerusalem Post, gave a
low-key, reasoned exposition
of the case that Jerusalem
must be an open city—open to
all faiths. Any attempt to deny
a presence there to any re-
ligious group would adversely
affect Israel's reputation. So
long as the Mormons obeyed
the laws, he said, they should
be welcomed here. Jews should
have sufficient confidence in
themselves to be able to reject
all missionary efforts. He was
supported by the director of
the Mormon Center, speaking
from the floor, who noted that
his Church had given its
pledge, both oral and written,
that the school would be only
a center for education to its
own youth brought here from
abroad, and would not engage
in missionary work.
The assult on the Mormons
came from the other member
of the panel, Yehuda Schwartz,
editor of The Jewish Press, in
New York, a religious-oriented
publication which has long had
an association with Meir
Kahane. The case against mis-
sionary activity can be pre-
sented effectively and logical-
ly, but Schwartz's frenzied and
hysterical onslaught departed
from all norms of public de-
bate. Some members of the au-
dience who opposed the Mor-
mon Center nevertheless took
pains to disassociate them-
selves from the ill-tempered
ranting of the speaker. What-
ever evidence he may have had
with regard to the true inten-
tions of the Mormons was lost
in the turbulent outpouring of
insult and invective.
What we found most dis-
turbing, however, was the
relatively large number of im-
passioned and intolerant
young people who noisily iden-
tifed with Schwartz. The at-
mosphere took on the "lynch"
aspects of what has come to be
know as "Kahanism."
Two meetings in Jerusalem:
the shadow of the threat of
missionary activity hung over
each, as well as questions
about Israel's ability to accom-
modate to the presence of non-
Jews in the Holy City. The
gathering of thousands at the
Sultan's Pool was a demon-
stration of good will and sup-
port for Israel. The debate, on
the other hand, was turned in-
to an exhibition of intolerance
in the worst of taste. For this,
of course, the sponsors of the
debate cannot be held respon-
sible.
The basic problems remain.