Posters were hung up too late and therefore not too many people knew about the demonstration that should be taking place outside the Jerusalem International Convention Center. It was also the night of Hoshana Rabbah which was another reason for people not showing up in masses.
A few hours before, Christians from all over the world had held their Jerusalem Parade and they did not seem to care too much that the Chief Rabbinate banned the event. Probably most participants did not even know about the ban.
In the evening hours, the Christian Embassy, located in Jerusalem, had organized a special event inside the Convention Center (Binyanei HaUma across the Central Bus Station). Among others, missionaries were supposed to report about their success converting Jews.
An unanimous organization called for a demonstrations against such activities. I arrived at 6.30 pm in front of the Center and found only a bunch of people. Around 50 participants and the majority were Litvaks. First the organizer did not show up at all but who did come was Benjamin Kluger from the anti - missionary organization Yad LeAchim. I exchanged a few words with him, as he had come to find out who had planned the demonstration. According to Benjamin, the demonstration was totally unnecessary, as the Christians were among each other inside the Center and there was no need for them to missionize. The Litvaks, on the other hand, claimed that Christian missionaries invited Jews to the event and gave out free tickets.
Benjamin Kluger (Photo Yad LeAchim)
Suddenly the organizer appeared on the stage and he was a friendly national religious Jew. He handed out pamphlets in English and Hebrew and we participants awaited the buses shipping in the Christians. Also the police showed up and tried to keep us as far away from the incoming buses as they could. Well, we found a way around the law, divided ourselves into three groups and each group was placed at a different entrance.
The Christians reacted very differently. First it seemed that they thought we were a kind of welcoming wagon for them but as soon as they understood what was really going on they started cursing us. We, on the other hand, just told them "Missionaries go".
The missionaries yelled at us:
"Joshua Meschiach", "Shut up" or "Oh, they (the Jews) don't love us".
Well, what a surprise.
The whole time we were watched from the organizer of the missionary event. Although we were only a few people, Christian organizers seemed to be alarmed.
Additional remark:
Not all Christians are missionaries and have bad intentions. There are many good people among them but the so called black sheep use certain events for their own negative purposes.
Maybe some Christians supporting those missionaries financially should know where their money really goes. There are Christians in Israel who are supported financially but do not do anything the whole day but watching TV at their hostels. Others use the money for buying themselves expensive property and just use it for their private purposes.
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