When in the past I have criticised the CMJ for targeting Jews, the point has been made that it nevertheless does good work in combatting antisemitism within the Church and elsewhere. Whatever the truth of this claim, however, is the CMJ a reliable source of information on such topics as Judaism, Israel and Jewish identity? Might not its principle purpose of converting Jews to Christianity lead it to bend the truth a little? Might it even deliberately mislead its own flock?
The CMJ's "Shalom Magazine" Issue 1, 1998 is a special anniversary edition marking the 50th year since the establishment of the State of Israel. One article written by Gershon Nerel discusses, "Messianic Jews in the Land". I was particularly drawn to this article because although it does not actually lie it certainly bends the truth sufficiently to serious mislead.
Mr. Nerel is the Israel Secretary of the "International Messianic Jewish Alliance" (1). There can be no doubt that the IMJA is a solidly Christian association (even though it does practice racial discrimination against is own fellow "non-Jewish" Christian associate members - see link above for details). In 1993 the Israel branch of the IMJA was refused charitable status by Israel's Interior Ministry on the grounds that its name might mislead the public into thinking that it is a Jewish association (Stern, D., "Messianic Jewish Aliyah ('immigration' - my comment) - Update since the Beresfords Decision of 1989", "Bulletin of the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism", Issue No. 33, Aug., 1993).
I will now deal with one paragraph in Mr. Nerel's article that I feel is particularly misleading, namely, "Legal and civilian status".
"According to the judgements of the Israeli Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, Jews who believe in Yeshua ("Jesus" as in "Jesus Christ" - my comment) and follow the commandments of the New Testament are no longer regarded as Jews."
In other words, Christian converts from Judaism are no longer regarded as Jews for the purpose of immigration to Israel. Why is it so outrageous to regard a "Jew" who has willingly converted to Christianity as a Christian and not a Jew? Why can't people like Mr. Nerel say what they mean rather than beat about the bush? They sound so reluctant to even let the word "Christian" cross their lips. Why? Converts to other religions are usually only to ready to acknowledge their new faith. What is wrong with Christianity that many of its converts from Judaism are so very reluctant to even mention its name?
"Theoretically, and sometimes also practically, Messianic Jews are deprived of various rights which result from the Law of Return, particularly the right to become automatically registered as Jewish citizens."
Section 4B of the "Law of Return" reads: "For the purpose of this law a "Jew" - anyone born to a Jewish mother or who has converted, and is not a member of another religion" (Dr. Susan Hattis Rolef, "The Political Dictionary of Israel" 1987, Appendix II) (1).
"Messianic Jews" are "members of another religion" i.e. they are Christians and not Jews, therefore they are not entitled to automatic registration as Jewish citizens. Why should they be? Every country in the world has its own standards by which it decides who is and who is not entitled to citizenship. Why should Israel be any different?
However, the story does not end here. If Christian converts from Judaism (or anyone else for that matter) wishes to immigrate to Israel they can do so via the normal channels, as they can to most other countries. This is, however, not good enough for Mr. Nerel and his missionary colleagues because they would be immigrating as non-Jews. This will not do because it is the ambition of certain rightwing Christians to force their converts on the Jewish State as "Jews". Call it Christian chauvinism if you wish.
"Under rabbinical law (halachah), however, a 'converted Jew' still remains a Jew for almost all purposes; yet the State Law of Return and the Registration of Inhabitants Ordinance was not constructed according to the traditional Jewish religious law."
This is a particularly disingenuous argument even by Mr. Nerel's standards. He is a devout Christian yet he is appealing to Jewish religious law to rescue his "Jewish identity"? Since when has Halachah had authority for Christians? Not only would most Christians deny it such authority, but some even despise it. I remember once at a public meeting in Jerusalem when a Christian convert from Judaism referred to Halachah as the "rabbis' lies". Well one cannot have it all ways.
In any case, it can be argued that Halchah supports the current position of Israeli immigration law regarding former Jews who now belong to another religion.
"A Jew voluntarily converted - even according to the rules of Halacha and the view of Judaism is deprived of rights of a juridical-social nature designed to express membership in the Hebrew family, community and nation, ..." Deputy President Judge Menahem Elon quoting Uzi Fogelman (Representative for the Ministry of the Interior) in, "The 'First Beresford Case' Judgement" (HCJ 265/87), p.29 (46 of Hebrew original). Unofficial translation, copyright (C) 1990 David H. Stern. Used by permission.
Denying someone the rights designed to express membership of the "Hebrew family, community and nation" signals the Jewish community's exclusion of that person from its midst. Although the door is always left open, that person effectively ceases to be an ethnic Jew. The right to exclude apostates and heretics is a minimal condition of Jewish ethnic self-determination. The latter, as expressed in the legislation of State of Israel, should not be denied or frustrated by certain Christians in the furtherance of their own missionary agenda.
Some idea of the position of a Christian convert from Judaism in Halachah can be gained from "How Jewish is a Jew for Jesus?". Use your back button to return to this page.
"Obviouly the consequences of such a ruling are not limited only to the Law of Return. It affects Jewish issues like performance of marriages, and burial ceremonies as well as control over burial grounds, which are fully monopolised by the Rabbinate."
The foregoing is another piece of misleading nonsense. Israel inherited the Millet system from the Ottoman Turks via the British Mandate. Essentially, this system places responsibility in matters of religion in the hands of the appropriate religious authorities. Therefore each religious community takes care of its own members and provides weddings and funerals, etc. according to its own requirements.
No Christian convert from Judaism living in Israel would be denied a wedding or a funeral by the appropriate Christian authority. Mr. Nerel is a Christian so why does he apparently want to be buried in a Jewish cemetery? Mr. Nerel is not only tilting at windmills again, but also expressing the desire of certain Christians to force their converts on the Jewish State. Christian chauvinism must be catching.
"In Israel we may find a believer in Buddha (sic) who is still regarded as a Jew, but a Jewish believer in Yeshua is 'legally excommunicated'."
The position of a Buddhist convert from Judaism in Israeli immigration law has never been decided for the simple reason that, unlike in the case of Christian converts, the issue has never arisen. Presumably this is because Buddhism does not have a theological axe to grind with Judaism such that it might wish to force its converts on the Jewish State.
Israeli law is not as some mischief-making Christian propagandists have suggested anti-Christian. The reason why Christians feature solely in legal decisions concerning Israeli immigration law is because every case thus far has concerned a Christian convert from Judaism.
Another mistake that Mr. Nerel makes concerns the difference between an Israeli and a Jew. Israel is a modern secular nation state and not all Israelis are Jews (e.g. Mr. Nerel and his Christian colleagues; Muslims, etc). If an Israeli citizen converts to Buddhism or Christianity s/he remains an Israeli citizen. Whether they remain an ethnic Jew is however an entirely different matter.
What a shame that the old enmities of the past cannot be left to die.
Why cannot associations like the CMJ just respect the right of the Jewish
State to self-determination? Jews do not try to interfere in the internal
workings of Christianity, so why should some Christians wish to interfere
in matters that only concern the Jewish community and which in many cases
few Christians understand anyway?