Members of controversial Jewish sect speak out against ill treatment at hands of religious Jews in wake of blast that severely injured 15-year-old youth belonging to their community
Police are pushing ahead with the investigation into the explosion that wounded a 15-year-old youth in Ariel on Thursday. The explosive device is believed to have been concealed in a gift basket similar to those traditionally exchanged during the Purim holiday. The youth, who belongs to a family of Messianic Jews, is still hospitalized in serious condition at the Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikvah and underwent major surgery well into the early hours of Friday morning. Doctors were forced to sever one of his limbs and warn his eyesight is still in danger.
The Messianic Jewish community has voiced its outrage after initial reports linked the cause of the attack to the youth’s religious affiliation. Some are now saying that the community has long since been subjected to harassment by religious Jews.
The explosion occurred around 2:30 pm on Thursday and Magen David Adom medics as well as police officers were immediately dispatched to the scene. Yarkon Area MDA medic, Nir Katua, said that the teen sustained severe neck injuries.
Chief Superintendent Mark Amiel reported that the police department “considers this case a criminal investigation and is examining all possible leads in this matter, including the suspected involvement of a cult.”
“All Messianic Jewish communities are still in shock and pain over the incident,” Roni, a family friend, said. “The feeling is really difficult right now. The most important thing is that the youth come out of the operating room and the second thing is that we hope that they will catch the person who did this and condemn the phenomenon.”
Roni, also a member of the sect, accompanied the injured teen to the hospital. “Messianic Jews suffer a lot of harassment and from other types of violence – burning down meeting places, pestering (us) at home, the publishing of announcements with featuring our pictures and more.”
Roni also said that the primary danger threatening the members of the community came from extremist religious organizations – Muslim and Jewish. “There is always a danger from the religious perspective but the question is: Where does it come from?
“We would really like to believe that it doesn’t come from Judaism. Every Messianic Jew is a target for radical Jews and in the past Messianic Jewish synagogues have even been burned down in Israel.
‘Dehumanization in newspapers’
Caleb Meyers, the representative of the messianic Jewish community in Israel, explains that: “There is a campaign of harassment against the Messianic Jewish community by radical religious organizations that are trying to create dehumanization – especially in religious newspapers.”
Meyers explains that the messianic community, which numbers about 15,000 people in Israel, “sees itself as a legitimate branch of Judaism. The central belief is that the messianic branch is influenced by the Old Testament as well as the New. It’s a bridge between the Jewish and Christian worlds and harassment comes from this because it threatens the worldview of extremist religious bodies that want to uniquely define who is a Jew.”
According to Meyers, “the teen that was hit was the youngest in a family of six brothers who all served in elite units in the IDF. The vast majority of messianic Jews are drafted into the military.”
I just wanted to thank you for publishing the information about Ami Ortiz who was terror bombed in Israel. He is still in a lot of pain with 3rd degree burns over his body, along with the various embedded shrapnel shards, bolts and other things the pipe bomb was loaded with.
His parents, David and Leah, are exhausted from their 24/7 vigil over their youngest son during the past two weeks. They are strong in faith, but you know how it is when our children are in jeopardy like this. They need prayer support, too, as well as Ami’s five siblings.
I have one report from the Israeli ministries that last week a two page centerfold feature story appeared in one of the largest Israeli newspapers with the bold headline “I forgive them.” It was the quote of one of Ami’s brothers.
When the attack first happened and Ami’s dad, David, was in despair at the hospital, God spoke to him and said, “David, I have a plan.”
Thank God that even the worst the devil can find to throw at us, God is able to ultimate turn to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. What the enemy meant to destroy–the witness of the Ortiz family–has become the most mighty witness of the faith of the Messianic Jews of Israel in that nation.
Some ministry leaders are telling me that there has been so much coverage in the newspapers, radio and television that has been sparked by this attack, that literally everyone in the whole nation now knows who the Messianic Jews are and what they believe! That is so awesome. As one Jewish pastor in Jerusalem said he believes, “God will honor this family and the blood that was shed, and open many hearts.” To this we say, Amen!
Now, the entire Messianic community of Israel is joining in the request of the Ortiz family in asking that the Church worldwide would write letters and emails to the Israeli government asking that justice be pursued fervently for Ami. In the past, persecution of the believers has pretty much been swept under the carpet, and believe it or not, if we in Church remain silent, even this attempted murder might just fade into a non-pursued investigation.
The MAC, Messianic Action Committee, has asked for Christians everywhere to write a letter urging the Israeli government to urgently pursue justice for Ami. This will serve notice that persecution of our brothers and sisters in Israel is not going to be tolerated. We will not turn a blind eye, nor remain silent in this critical hour.
There is a sample letter the MAC has suggested on my web site, as well as the MAC appeal to Christians to speak up now. This is not getting much traction in the Christian news or circles in the United States, but people like you who are talking about what happened to Ami will just spread the news in your circle of influence, we can like little David with a slingshot, takedown the giant who is bellowing threats at the believers in Israel.
Thank you for making your blog a vehicle to talk about what happened to Ami. God bless for speaking up on his behalf.
Donna Diorio
GodHears@israelprayer.com
The direct link to the MAC Report is
http://www.israelprayer.com/articles/Call%20to%20Activism%20for%20Israeli%20Believers.htm
More on this ” controversial sect” http://roshpinaproject.wordpress.com/