By COLlive reporter
Yad L’Achim activists thought they’d seen it all: Missionaries preaching to the poor under the guise of handing out food packages, to minors over the internet and to the religious public disguised as chareidim. But what they came across last week shocked even the most veteran activists.
Colorful, innocent-looking flyers were hung up in parks in Kiryat Malachi and Kiryat Gat in an attempt to interest young children in Christianity – a clear violation of the law. On learning of the flyers, Yad L’Achim understood that the “Messianic Jews” cult was trying additional ways to lure Jews to convert to Christianity.
These activities are barred by Clause 368A. of the penal code, which states that “one who conducts a conversion ceremony for a minor, or engages in any other activity aimed at getting a minor to convert out of his religion, faces punishment of up to six months in prison.”
Yad L’Achim was inundated with calls from parents who saw these notices in more and more playgrounds in these two cities, and understood that the flyers were part of a long-term campaign that wouldn’t end without its intervention.
It dispatched activists to these cities to stake out the playgrounds where the flyers had not yet appeared in the hope of catching the culprit red-handed.
One activist who was lying in wait in a playground in Kiryat Malachi was surprised to discover four children of the missionary Scott Lewis, who lives in Moshav Otzem in the south. They had arrived with bicycles and balls and, from time to time, when they thought no one was looking, they pulled flyers out from under their shirts and hung them in central places in the playground, destroying public property in the process.
When the children missionaries realized that someone was photographing them, they called out to their father who emerged from his hiding place and angrily sought to distance the Yad L’Achim activist. Miraculously, the attempt – which was documented – didn’t turn violent.
Yad L’Achim passed on the evidence of the missionary’s harassment to a chareidi member of the City Council, Deputy Mayor Betzalel Mizrachi, demanding that Lewis be fined for destroying public property. Mizrachi arrived at the playground and was shocked to discover signs of missionary activity. He quickly turned to law enforcement officials at the municipality and arranged for notice to be send to Lewis’ home ordering him to pay a NIS 5,000 fine.
If that weren’t enough, a security officer from the municipality filed a police complaint against the missionary for wanton destruction of public property.
Yad L’Achim announced that it would appeal to the new public security minister, Amir Ohana, asking him to order the police to enforce clause 368A. of the penal code, which includes a steep fine and prison time for those who engage in activity that is likely to bring a minor to convert out of his religion.
“In this case, the missionary Lewis sent his children as his representatives in preaching Christianity to Jewish children to get them to convert. He is the one who designed and printed the flyers and brought his children to the place, covering for them during the encounter [with the Yad L’Achim activist] and helping them escape after they were discovered. The police must hold him fully accountable, according to the law.”
Yad L’Achim wishes to thank Betzalel Mizrachi for responding so quickly to its appeal for help. “His speedy actions and determination to have the law enforced helped us drive the missionaries away from the public arena, from the surroundings of children and youths,” a senior official said.
