Yad L’Achim activist Binyamin Volcan was released from hospital Sunday night with bruises all over this body, after being brutally attacked by a missionary in Rishon Lezion.
Mr. Volcan explains “Every week, Yad L’Achim teams circulate among missionary points around the country distributing our pamphlets to Jews who might be unaware of the missionaries true motives. On Sunday, I was sent together with another activist, to a J’s Witnesses facility to distribute material to Jews seeking to gain admission.
“The reason we engage in focused informational activity at the centers is to catch these innocent Jews before they enter and are subjected to brainwashing.”
Volcan began distributing materials exposing the cult for what it is, when he was suddenly attacked from behind. “One of the cult members knocked me over and began pounding me with blows,” he recalled. “He took me completely by surprise and managed to hurt me badly.”
When Volcan came to his senses, he saw his assailant entering a car that had been used to transport Jews to the missionary group. The man apparently worked as a driver for the transportation company, which, it is suspected, is a partner to the missionary activity.
Volcan jotted down the number of the license plates, which he later gave police. He then made his way to Maayanei Hayeshuah Hospital in Bnei Brak, where he was treated and released.
He filed a complaint with the Rishon Lezion police, but has little confidence that they will follow up on it. “I’m convinced that they’ll ignore my complaint, as they’ve done so often in cases of missionary violence,” he said. “I expect that Yad L’Achim’s legal department will receive a laconic response from the police in a few weeks saying that the case has been closed due to lack of public interest.”
Yad L’Achim chairman Rabbi Shalom Dov Lifschitz was outraged by the attack. “Once again, we see that the missionaries aren’t afraid to act violently in broad daylight,” he said. “This is partly a result of the political and public ambivalence shown toward their destructive activities.
“I again call on the Knesset to urgently pass a comprehensive law banning missionary activity. At the same time, we must strengthen the hands of dedicated activists who are engaged in this holy work.”
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12 Responses
It seems that it is still the religion of “Love”…perhaps “Tough Love”!
At least, ironically I would imagine that the missionary did more anti-missionary work with his violence than Reb Volcan did with his anti-missionary pamphlets.
He should have a Rafuah Sheleima!
Rabbi Lifschitz should be careful what he wishes for. Passing a law banning missionary activity may make Lev Lachim or Chabads activity illegal.
Last I checked, those were Jewish kiruv, not gentile Christian missionary, groups, any oymer. Lehavdil.
ItsFunToBeBT
A secular law may not make that distinction.
Be careful what you wish for. We’re still in golus even in eretz yisroel.
I believe that it is already illegal to missionize in Israel.
It seems that (on the yahrtzeit of Rav Meir Kahane zatzvk”l) we are reminded that perhaps now even Eretz Yisrael needs a JDL chapter!
What goes around comes around. If the police don’t do anything this thugs could have an accident
Are not the Xians supposed to “turn the other cheek?
If the police won’t do anything then learn some basic self defense or carry a weapon.
The U.S. State Department may be partly to blame for the violence against Yad L’Achim volunteers.
Please see their 2010 annual report on Israel:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/nea/136070.htm
and search for “Yad L’Achim”.
With their convoluted logic, they accuse the Tzadikim and Tzidkanios of this wonderful organization of “harassing” the missionaries. I understand that these distortions have been published by them for years (under our “friend” President George W. Bush and — of course — under the current secretary of state, [Arafat kisser] Hillary Clinton).
If this whole thing happened as reported in the article, the victim must have earned great schar. Maybe when they go out, they could be trailed by a Yid who is strong, maybe a veteran, in case something like this happens. If anyone resorting to violence is made to really regret what he did, it should help put an end to this kind of thing.
10 – In all honesty, they are harassing the missionaries, and G-d willing will continue to do so. I can’t think of something more annoying to a missionary than to lose clientele
8 – J Witnesses aren’t christians, their a unique cult with their own set of whacky beliefs.
7 – Unchecked vigilante violence… yay! Complete societal decay is just what Israel needs right now…