Many MKs opened their mailboxes on Monday morning and
were appalled to find a New Testament inside, sent to them by a
messianic organization.
The Bible Society in Israel, a messianic
Judaism institution for research, publication and dissemination of holy
books, sent a “Book of Testaments,” which combines the Tanach and New
Testament in one, leather-bound volume, published with references in
Hebrew for the first time.
MK Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) sent a
letter of complaint to Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, writing that “it
cannot be that missionary materials can be distributed in the Knesset.”
“Texts
that were used to persecute and harass [Jews] cannot be distributed
through the front door of the State of Israel,” Hotovely fumed.
Christian
Allies Caucus chairman MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beytenu) said that the
mailing is “not missionary work, but an act of foolishness.”
Shas MK Nissim Ze’ev did not receive a package, but said they crossed the line between free speech and proselytizing.
“These
are people who believe that all the Jews in Israel must be converted to
Christianity. They get donations from all over the world towards that
cause. How can we give them freedom?” Ze’ev, one of the few Shas MKs who
is an ordained rabbi, asked.
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