Israel (MNN) — Are Messianic Jews and traditional Christian communities persecuted in Israel? Pavel Shifman, Trans World Radio‘s director for Israel, says the answer to that question is no.
“Israel really supports like a multinational, multi-faith community in its country, and we are all witnesses to that,” he says.
In late April, two incidents brought a surge of attention to Israel. One was an Israeli soldier destroying a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon. Another was a Jewish man attacking a French nun in Jerusalem.
Shifman points out that the Israeli government took swift action and condemned both events.
“That Jewish man [was] in prison for a month,” he says of the IDF soldier in Lebanon. “You can’t use the word ‘persecution’ in that case. That was kind of a one-time thing.”
In the Jerusalem incident, the man who committed the attack was “charged with assault causing tangible bodily harm motivated by hostility toward a religious group,” The Times of Israel reports.
“When you see the whole video of this attack on that nun — basically, there were Jewish people actually protecting her, helping her, and restraining that man actually from harming her further,” says Shifman.
Where pressure does come from
Although Israel’s government and broader society do not systematically persecute believers in Christ, Shifman clarifies that pressure does come from some religious Jewish communities.
Groups like Yad L’Achim openly oppose what they call “missionaries and cults.” From their perspective, their actions protect Jews. But Shifman says that, from the victims’ perspective, their actions are questionable. Some instances can even turn into a court case over individual rights and freedoms.
Because of the influence of groups like Yad L’Achim, Messianic Jews may lose jobs or business contracts, or face other forms of social bullying.
“The religious groups basically control all the spheres of life of the Israeli society, I would say this way. Like the birth, the death, the wedding, you need to get a blessing from the rabbi,” says Shifman.
“They can make a phone call to your boss or to your company, and say, ‘This gentleman or this lady is a believer in Jesus, and we don’t think that she should work at your company, because you are a faithful Jew.’ They can print out your picture and post it on the streets of your neighborhood and tell everybody that you believe in Jesus, and you betrayed your country.”
This kind of persecution happens in many different places, Shifman says. Even so, believers have direct channels to report serious concerns to Israeli authorities. “Praise the Lord for that, and thank them really,” he says.
Prayer for the bigger picture of Israel
“We’re just a month-and-a-half after one of the most devastating wars in the history of Israel with Iran. It’s pretty heavy on people, you know. It’s still hard for them to get back to their life,” Shifman says.
Rising crime rates among youth are also deeply concerning.
“Some young guys have been killed by other young people, and it’s just within Israeli society. That’s another terrible thing that is taking place,” says Shifman.
“Please pray for healing. We know that the healing comes from Lord Jesus, who can heal your body, heart, spirit, and your soul. They need that restoration and recovery after this post-war period. People are anxious.”
Pray for the gospel of Christ to spread even to those who oppose it. Shifman says his team at TWR Israel is going through the same physical, spiritual, and emotional challenges as others in Israel. They need God’s healing, but at the same time, they remain on mission.
“They are eager. They still want to share the good news of Jesus with their neighbors and with other Jews in the country, including the religious ones,” says Shifman.
Learn more about TWR Israel here.
