Yad L’Achim Warns: Missionaries in Ashdod Parks Caught Distributing Gifts to Children
July 17, 2019
Chareidi girls receive presents from a missionary in the park.
{{{credit: Facebook page of the missionary congregation Beit Hillel}}}
Disturbing pictures that reached Yad L’Achim in recent days show missionaries from the “Beit Hillel” Christian congregation in Ashdod circulating in the “Ashdod Yam” park dressed in the cult’s shirts and distributing gift boxes to dozens of boys and girls.
A quick check by Yad L’Achim revealed that though at this stage the boxes don’t contain missionary material, the writing is on the wall. “From our past experience with the modus operandi of the missionaries, we know that they start off by acquiring the trust of the children, and of the parents, and only then start inserting missionary material,” said one Yad L’Achim official. “The children often swallow the bait and agree to come and participate in children’s activities at the Christian-missionary church.”
A missionary rides his three-wheeled bike and distributes gifts.
Yad L’Achim notes that in the past year alone there were several incidents of children and young teens being taken in by deceptive missionary practices, including some who were even baptized, R”l. In all the cases, family members turned to Yad L’Achim for help; after meeting at length with the counter-missionary organization’s experts, the youngsters understood their mistake and left the cult.
Yad L’Achim officials stress that in light of the fact that a large container of presents has been delivered to the Ashdod missionary church, they anticipate that the missionaries will increase their efforts to use the distribution of gifts as a way to entice children, in Ashdod and around the country, in the month and a half that remains until the start of the new school year.
The public is asked to contact Yad L’Achim, at any time of day or night, in the event of encounters with missionaries, at 1800-620-640.
