Not Offended
Ok, so Pope Benedict ordered changes to a Latin prayer for Jews at Good Friday services by traditionalist Catholics, deleting a reference to their “blindness” over JC, removing a phrase that asked God to “remove the veil from their hearts,” but still hoping Jews will recognize JC.
“Let us also pray for the Jews. So that God our Lord enlightens their hearts so that they recognize Jesus Christ savior of all men.”
It also asks God that “all Israel be saved.”
This got the ADL all hot and bothered, who said the prayer is still “deeply troubling” because of its call to convert Jews.
I personally couldn’t care less about this prayer’s call for Jews to recognize JC. It doesn’t offend me because I know this is what Christians believe. And I don’t believe it presents a danger to Jews, since the Vatican is merely expressing its beliefs, nor calling for physical violence against us.
Of course, feeling so secure in my own faith helps, and I truly believe that the Jewish faith is the true faith. I trust that my Christian readers won’t be offended by that, just as I am not offended by their beliefs.
So ADL: pick your battles!
And still on topic, I have become a very big fan of Tovia Singer in recent weeks. Besides having an entertaining and informative talk show on Israel National Radio, he is also well known as the Founder and Director of Outreach Judaism, an international organization dedicated to countering the efforts of fundamentalist groups and cults that specifically target Jews for conversion.
If you are not familiar with his work, here he is on the Christian radio show Way of the Master (one of Kirk Cameron’s new gigs), responding to the host who is “trying to convert” him to Christianity.
Needless to say, said host bites off more than he can chew.
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.
February 8th, 2008 at 2:26 am
It offends me, because some Catholics intepret this as a call to force jews to accept JC, why they don’t call moslems to accept JC? because they will be finished by moslems. I don’t see any point in their religion to call this or another people to accept their idols. Better call all pederasts priest to redeem therselves and stop hurting innocents. Oh , well! I forgot is the same religion who found the inquisition and kill millions of innocents, what we can expect from them!
February 8th, 2008 at 3:12 am
fantastic!!!
tovia is great!
thanks for that.
p.s i agree with you in regards to the pope and his prayers
February 8th, 2008 at 3:27 am
“There is no pope.”
(Gertrude Stein)
February 8th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Good one, Tovia Singer - Ha’Kohen!
I don’t care what non-Jews think or say about us, as long as they keep their agenda paws off our bodies and souls.
I have long ago taken the ADL in disregard. Though they sometimes get it right, they press the panic button every time.
February 8th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I do believe it’s a battle worth fighting, since it’s not simply the Christian belief, but they are activly seeking to convert Jews and succeeding. They prey on the most vulnerable of our people, targeting orphanages, retirement homes, widows, secular & the less religiously educated. Missionaries devoted to Jewish evangelism have successfully converted hundreds of thousands of Jews worldwide.
More than 1,000 Christian missions worldwide are targeting Jews for conversion
More than 1,000 churches worldwide identify themselves as “Messianic synagogues” - There goal being to disguise Christianity as “more Jewish” to appeal to Jews.
Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent annually to bring the message of the gospel to the Jewish people.
As things heat up in the middle east, as prophecy is fulfilled, the efforts to bring about the “second coming” by converting the Jews increases.
Because of this, it’s more than a simple “let them believe what they believe” issue. Our ancestors didn’t believe it was a harmless religion. Time and again, they were willing to choose the sword over the cross - choosing death rather than bowing to idolatry.
Any religion that uses manipulation or deceit to lure or force people to accept it, is just wrong… and dangerous.
…and I agree - Tovia rocks!
February 9th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
The Emess,
I was referring to the prayer. That in itself does not harm us. Missionaries do not use that prayer as their justification for their work.
Of course, I think you have to fight missionaries and I agree with Tovia’s approach…bring Jews back to their Judaism.