\"I can tell you one thing, remember this: If I have problems, I will find you, even under the earth. It won\'t be so good for you. I will be hurt, but you will too.\" These were some of the threats sounded by missionary Igor Hoshevtov while speaking recently by phone with Rabbi Alex Artovsky of the anti-missionary organization Yad L\'Achim. The conversation was taped, and Rabbi Artovsky submitted the tapes to the police as part of charges he filed against Hoshevtov.
The story, as published this week in Mishpacha newspaper, began when Yad L\'Achim - an organization that aims to uncover and stop illegal missionary activity in Israel - discovered that a missionary group was renting space in Canyon Center in Rishon LeTzion. The group used the room to deliver lectures on a regular basis, with the aim of converting elderly Jews and others. Rabbi Artovsky informed the mall management of his discovery, and soon received a call from Hoshevtov with the above threats, and including also the following: \"I have two relatives serving in good places. I can cause you such problems, that it will be hard for you - but I\'ll get out of it.\"
Rabbi Artovsky\'s complaint to the police was also accompanied by a letter from Yad L\'Achim legal counsel Atty. Yoram Sheftel explaining the severity of the apparent crime. Atty. Sheftel explained on another occasion that missionary activity is illegal in Israel only if it is based on the promise of material benefits to the \"targets.\" Sheftel added, however, that, \"Unfortunately, the police, with the backing of the State Prosecution, does not sufficiently enforce the law even when the missionary activity is clearly illegal.\"
Another Yad L\'Achim success was in its discovery of a missionary campaign to target the families of victims and wounded in the Dolphinarium terrorist slaughter. Missionaries repeatedly visited many of the wounded, and sent a letter in the mail directly and specifically to the affected families calling upon them to convert to Christianity. The letter noted that those who do not do so are liable to die and find themselves in \"total Hell separating between you and God.\" Yad L\'Achim Director Yosef Ganz says, \"We sent our own letter to the hurting families, telling them the identity of these people who are newly-concerned for them, and warning of what they really want from them…\"
The story, as published this week in Mishpacha newspaper, began when Yad L\'Achim - an organization that aims to uncover and stop illegal missionary activity in Israel - discovered that a missionary group was renting space in Canyon Center in Rishon LeTzion. The group used the room to deliver lectures on a regular basis, with the aim of converting elderly Jews and others. Rabbi Artovsky informed the mall management of his discovery, and soon received a call from Hoshevtov with the above threats, and including also the following: \"I have two relatives serving in good places. I can cause you such problems, that it will be hard for you - but I\'ll get out of it.\"
Rabbi Artovsky\'s complaint to the police was also accompanied by a letter from Yad L\'Achim legal counsel Atty. Yoram Sheftel explaining the severity of the apparent crime. Atty. Sheftel explained on another occasion that missionary activity is illegal in Israel only if it is based on the promise of material benefits to the \"targets.\" Sheftel added, however, that, \"Unfortunately, the police, with the backing of the State Prosecution, does not sufficiently enforce the law even when the missionary activity is clearly illegal.\"
Another Yad L\'Achim success was in its discovery of a missionary campaign to target the families of victims and wounded in the Dolphinarium terrorist slaughter. Missionaries repeatedly visited many of the wounded, and sent a letter in the mail directly and specifically to the affected families calling upon them to convert to Christianity. The letter noted that those who do not do so are liable to die and find themselves in \"total Hell separating between you and God.\" Yad L\'Achim Director Yosef Ganz says, \"We sent our own letter to the hurting families, telling them the identity of these people who are newly-concerned for them, and warning of what they really want from them…\"