Messianic Jews singled out for ridicule in Israel

JERUSALEM — Messianic Jews in a suburb west of Jerusalem continue to be harassed for following their faith, this time by someone anonymously placing fliers in public areas singling out members of Messianic congregations. The fliers began appearing in early September in the town of Mevasseret Zion.

Asher Intrater, leader of the Ahavat Yeshua Congregation, said he thinks the fliers are “an effort to drive us out of the neighborhood.” The fliers posted the addresses and phone numbers of the Messianic Jews and, in some cases, included their photographs. This is the second time in three months that a group has singled out Messianic Jews in Mevasseret Zion for ridicule.

On June 26, members of Yad L’Achim, an ultra-Orthodox, anti-Christian group, protested outside the home of Serge and Naama Kogen, a Messianic couple. It is unclear who actually posted the fliers and Intrater declined to speculate.

But according to a classified communiqué issued by the U.S. State Department in May 2008 and leaked Aug. 30 by Internet activist group WikiLeaks, “‘Outing’ Messianic Jews and evangelical Christians through the publication of names, photos and addresses alongside fliers with hysterical allegations about ‘soul stealing’ and ‘brainwashing’ is a favorite tactic of Yad L’Achim branches throughout the country.”