This issue looks at some recent harassment of messianics in Israel, more troubling signs from the UK, Obama's response to the Ft. Hood incident, teachings from the Qur'an, a reality check for Al Gore, and a writing tip.
OUR ISRAELI CONNECTION
David Zauber reports
According to the Jerusalem Post, Dec. 3, “Beit She'an police on Wednesday arrested two haredi [ultra-Orthodox] residents on suspicion they torched a car belonging to a local messianic Jew late Tuesday night, when it was parked next to the city's police station. Both suspects' remands were extended until Sunday. Police are probing whether the incident is linked to rising tensions over what some Jews in the area are calling missionary activities on the part of some Christians …
The owner of the car, Eliav Levine, identifies with the messianic Jewish community and has lived with his family in Beit She'an for a year and a half. “Originally from the former Soviet Union, Levine and his family have been subjected to repeated harassment by local Orthodox Jews,” Levine's attorney said Wednesday.
The article listed a series of attacks against the family, including a prior arson attempt, pressure exerted by one of their landlords, and interrogation of the children at school regarding the family's religious beliefs. Levine explained that they are not missionaries. They are Jews who believe in Jesus and pray with other Jews from Russia who also believe in Jesus.
Anti-Semitism Growing in the UK
In a move to “warn” supermarkets and consumers that certain products originate in Israeli settlements, the British government advised all food chains in the UK to place a prominent label on all imported products made in Judea, Samaria and the Golan Heights. The Israel Foreign Ministry called the step “capitulation to Palestinian organizations,” even as British officials tried to assert the move was not a boycott against Israel. “We are talking about a worrisome move,” a diplomatic source in Jerusalem told Ynet. “No similar move has been undertaken in any other country. What's concerning here is the conspicuous designation of Israeli products under the guise of transparency and concern for
British consumers.”
IT’S NEWS TO ME
Traditional Values Coalition reports
President Obama's Department of Defense has hired an Islamist named Louay Safi to teach soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas about Islam before they deploy to Afghanistan. Safi is a top official with the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), an organization that has links to Hamas and was named as an unindicted co-conspirator by the Justice Department in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism trial! Writing in a 2003 publication, Safi noted: “The war against the apostates [non-believers of Islam] is carried out not to force them to accept Islam, but to enforce the Islamic law and maintain order.”
According to the Qur'an
Allah is said to have transformed some non-Muslims into apes and swine (Surah 5:60, 2:65).
Resisting Islam is punishable by death, crucifixion, or the cutting off of the hands and feet (Surah 5:38).
Allah leads and misleads as he pleases (Surah 14:4, 6:125).
Allah orders people to transgress so that he will have an excuse to destroy them (Surah 17:6).
Heaven is a place where a Muslim will be reclining, eating meat and delicious fruit, drinking exquisite wines, and engaging in sex with many beautiful women. There is no mention of women's rewards (Surah 52:17, 19, 20, 4:57, 76:12-22, 55:54-56, 47:15).
Reality Check
According to his “Inconvenient Truth,” Al Gore believes the polar icecaps will melt sending 20-plus-foot flood waves into coastal cities worldwide. If he really believes this, why did he recently buy property in San Francisco near Fisherman's Wharf, only four feet from the ocean?
WRITING TIPS
Watch for those dangling modifiers
Look for phrases or clauses that modify the wrong word because of their position in the sentence.
Poor: Having recovered from his illness, his mother took him abroad.
Better: After he recovered from his illness, his mother took him abroad.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.
