Jehovah's Witnesses in Israel

by Honesty 12 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Honesty

  http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/969459.html

  Accusing the Witnesses of targeting society's weaker elements, including new immigrants, the poor and the handicapped, critics blast what they call the group's devious recruitment methods. "They've mapped out all of Israeli society and then target segments that don't get attention elsewhere," said Cohen. "They introduce themselves, they smile, they are nice and they are successful. They cynically abuse people in distress and like other cults in Israel are growing." Cohen asserted they've actively proselytized in group homes for the deaf-mute, adding, "Jehovah's Witnesses, messianic Jews, scientologists all thrive here because there is no public awareness to counter them."

  "They target the less educated people and not the university professors," said Ruth Cohen, a former member who returned to Judaism in 2002. "In Tel Aviv, they go building to building, but in Jerusalem, they are more careful because they are terrified of the ultra-Orthodox. They target Russians, foreign workers and Arabs - but not Muslims, because that is considered too dangerous."

  Claiming to have nearly 7,000,000 practicing members, they are especially controversial for the way they treat those who leave the flock. A Jehovah's Witness who behaves in a way that the community deems immoral is completely excommunicated, or "disfellowshipped," in the parlance of the congregation - an experience Ruth Cohen had to live through.
  
  Jehovah's Witnesses do not consider themselves part of Christianity - which they see as idolatrous - despite their belief in Jesus as the messiah.
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  cabasilas

  Many years ago I called the WT Branch in Israel (it was in Haifa then) and asked how JWs in Israel pronounced the Tetragrammaton. The person I talked to was a bit defensive and wanted to know why I wanted to know. I just ducked the questioning and eventually he told me. As I recall, it sounded like Yehowah. Kind of surprised me, but makes sense that it's closer to the English pronunciation than Yahweh or some other pronunciation.
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  Hope4Others

  I noticed it says "Missionary work is not legal here" Was there not a real big uproar a year or so ago about a young Christian group there preaching and 2 of the group had been arrested?
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  wunce_wuz

  I noticed it says "Missionary work is not legal here" Was there not a real big uproar a year or so ago about a young Christian group there preaching and 2 of the group had been arrested?

  Many years ago a Gilead graduate was sent to Israel. The persons picture was not in the Watchtower magazine at the time nor counted as the number of graduates. The person went in-country as a college student and was "placed" in a boarding house run by a sister. This person dropped comments about the world that opened a dialog. A study was started with the Gilead graduate and was actually "baptised" to go through the whole process right up to elder and beyond.
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  RR

  Ah, Bible Students have been in Israel for years, and they love us. Must be that Pro-Israel stance we promote.

  RR
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  Balsam

  About 2001 a man who was of Jewish blood but converted to the JW and later became a pioneer for many years was asked to go to Israel on the sly. He was not to tell the Israel goverment why he was there and the WTS intended to use him to preach and to teach the JW doctrine. His parents were so upset they had disowned him for going into the JW religion. I wonder what became of him, we wrote him over there in Jerusalem but never got a reply. I hope he got over there and woke up out of his total brain washing he got here. I hated him leaving North Carolina he was such a good appliance repairman, the best we'd ever known. LOL

  Ruth
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  oldflame

  I watched a program last week on the History channel about Christianity in Israel. They say that other religions than the Jewish faith are not allowed to publicly speak out that it is dangerous for a christian to preach openly.
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  Carmel

  While living in Israel we had JWs come to our door twice in four years, but almost every day at the beach one could find dubbies peddling yellow rags or attempting to. It was technically illegal, but tolerated by the population. One time we were just arriving to the beach in mid afternoon when we saw three of them being escorted to their car by the police. Apparently someone complained and they were booted off the beach but not arrested. carmel
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  Roddy

  About 2001 a man who was of Jewish blood but converted to the JW and later became a pioneer for many years was asked to go to Israel on the sly. He was not to tell the Israel goverment why he was there and the WTS intended to use him to preach and to teach the JW doctrine. His parents were so upset they had disowned him for going into the JW religion. I wonder what became of him, we wrote him over there in Jerusalem but never got a reply. I hope he got over there and woke up out of his total brain washing he got here. I hated him leaving North Carolina he was such a good appliance repairman, the best we'd ever known. LOL

  Out of curiosity, did he know that you were not a JW anymore? You think that is why he didn't respond?

  Anyway, am I missing something as to why I find it strange that the WTS have to resort to subterfuge to engage someone in the preaching work in a democratic nation using his Jewish credentials?
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  RR

  I remember a few years ago that the Society had problems in Israel, with their Kingdom Halls being firebombed. It got to a point that their buildings had no writing on them, because of the name "Jehovah" prominently displayed,