Beersheva Says ‘No’ to Missionaries

An emergency conference was held recently in Beersheva to discuss the scourge of missionary activity, which has been spreading in the city. Israel’s “capital of the south” has seven missionary churches that are working round the clock to convert Jews to Christianity.

The conference, held in the HaKipah shul, opened with an overview of the problem presented by Yad L’Achim’s field coordinator for counter-missionary activities, Rabbi Shimon Abergil. He described the modus operandi of the missionaries, including how they preach in churches and in booths situated in central places throughout the city, and distribute missionary materials in mailboxes. He stressed that the problem has only gotten worse since Oct. 7, and that the missionaries have taken advantage of the worsening security situation, and growing anxiety among the public, to snare more souls.

He was followed by veteran activist Rabbi Binyamin Kluger, who spoke of his early life as a Christian missionary in France, the lies he encountered in Christianity, and the deceptive methods of missionaries who disguise themselves as Jews. He also underscored the supreme importance that missionaries place on preaching to Jews, over members of any other religion.

Rabbi Yossi Feigenbaum, who battles the missionaries via a special website he set up to expose the theological distortions they use in their preaching, showed how they take advantage of the public’s ignorance to convert Jews.

Yad L’Achim saluted the legendary Chief Rabbi of Beersheva, Hagaon Harav Yehuda Deri, zt”l, who passed away unexpectedly in July. Throughout the years, the Rav stood shoulder to shoulder with Yad L’Achim in the battle against missionaries. Several stories were told about his staunch opposition to the cults, including the fact that he had been questioned by police for his unyielding stand.

The emergency meeting, which lasted four hours, succeeded in raising awareness and in recruiting volunteers who gave their contact details and committed to helping Yad L’Achim in putting a halt to missionary activity in their city.