Supreme Court rules Messianic believers must be granted citizenship rights in many cases.
For decades, Israel has made it next to impossible for immigrant Messianic Jews, who affirm belief in Jesus as Messiah, to become citizens of Israel. Often, if Messianic believers disclosed their faith in 'Yeshua,' the name they use for Jesus, government authorities would reject their citizenship application.
But last week, the Supreme Court of Israel, ruled on a case involved 12 Messianic Jews who sued the government Ministry of the Interior for their legal 'right of return' (and then to become citizens of Israel).
The court in its ruling said:
The parties have submitted to us the following notification:
“In their notification dated 13.04.08 the Respondents declared, that the fact that a person is a “Messianic Jew” has no bearing on an application according to Sec. 7 of the Law of Citizenship, as well as an application according to Sec. 4(A)(a) of the Law of Return (as long as the person applying according the abovementioned section of the Law of Return is not considered to be Jewish, as described in section 4B of the Law of Return).
The Respondents declare that in accordance with their notification they will process the applications of all Petitioners as soon as possible, as well as the application of Alvetina Zibareva, and Valentina Zibareva who requested to join the petition on 01.04.08 to the extent that their request is similar.
Due to these circumstances the representatives of the Petitioners requested to remove the petition without a ruling regarding court costs.
The Petition is removed by consent as aforesaid.
One blogger explains the ruling this way:
I received a communication today that clarifies the settlement reached yesterday in Israel...
The ruling would not cover all Messianic Jews, but would cover many of them: If a person was not a Jew previously (religious definition) but is a descendant of Jews, then they can make aliyah (citizenship) without discrimination for their current faith in Yeshua.
According to CBN:
"This is yet another battle won in our war to establish equality in Israel for the Messianic Jewish community just like every other legitimate stream of faith within the Jewish world," said Calev Myers, founder and chief counsel of the Jerusalem Institute of Justice.
Messianic belivers in Israel were wondering whether the recent bomb attack on Ami Ortiz, the son of Messianic pastor, had any influence on the court's ruling. Ortiz was severely injured in the incident and is expected to be in recovery for months to come.
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Posted by Tim Morgan on April 21, 2008 5:32PM
Comments
Jews are indeed unique people.They are the only people I know of who define themselves by one or all of the following: nationality, culture, birth and religion.Interestingly enough, one can be completely and unapologetically seular and still be considered a Jew by one of the other definitions.This being the case, I can see no reason to exclude someone who believes in Messiah. In fact, why should a person be discriminated against because they have a contrary view of Messiah, when they are Jews who neither believe in (nor probably even care about) Messiah?The State of Israel at this time in its history needs all of its true Sons and Daughters. Why it would want to exclude some of its sincere believing children when so many it embraces are not believers at all is something the excluders need to clearly explain.
Posted by: Steve Skeete at April 23, 2008
I was very young when I was adopted, but there is a particular physical feature I possess which I have read is an indicator of being of Jewish origin. So it is with that faint glimmer of hope that news such as this is of particular interest. I really want to see the Holy Land one day, and this just seems to bring it a bit closer. Thank you.
Posted by: RonB51 at April 25, 2008
What a wonderful victory is wrought when God's children stand up and be counted. I am sad that there has been such a struggle for Jews believing in Yeshua. But it is not new. All the Disciples of the new testament are told that if one identifies with Yeshua they will invoke the harsh treatment that purposes to dispel both His followers and His servants. Yet in this struggle the presence of God comforts and leads His children to a glorious victory.
Posted by: Anthony at April 26, 2008
Praise the God of ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND jACOB
Posted by: richard bogatch at April 26, 2008
Over at Jewcy, Roi Ben-Yehuda has written an excellent article defending the rights of MJ's in Israel. He writes:
Take for example Law of Return as it applies to Jewish-born Messianics. The notion that a Jew who accepts Jesus as the Jewish Messiah loses his/her right to make Aliyah is in complete contradiction with the purpose and logic of the law. It is bad enough to deny citizenship to a Jew who willfully converts to another religion (as the 1970 amendment to the law stipulates). It is something else all together to deny it to a Jew whose self-identity remains Jewish. Surely, antisemites do not care wither or not a Jew believes Jesus was the Messiah, or whether he/she is a Jew who converted to another faith. And from the perspective of the Law of Return, shouldn't the ubiquitous gaze of the antisemite be the deciding factor of whether or not someone is Jewish?
http://www.jewcy.com/post/messianic_jews
Posted by: Gaby at May 5, 2008
In line with comments about the citizenship of secular "Jews" in Israel, the question arises: do the Israelis who embrace Buddhism, forms of Hinduism or participate in any of the several "New Age" festivals held every year in Israel thereby forfeit their citizenship since they have in essence denied their Hebrew spirifual foundations? The O.T. prophets were quite clear in denouncing "Baalism" -- what makes the embrace of an eastern spiritual philosphy or religion (baesed on the embrace of sundry false gods) any different? Yet to my knowledge Israel does not declare such people as "no longer Jews". It is logical then that Messsianics merit an equal claim to Israeli citizenship. Now, having said that, may I implore the Messianic community to embrace Palestinian Christians, and work with them for peace with justice for all peoples who "belong to the land" (as Father Elias Chacour wrote.) The ministry of Musalaha is an example of Arab Christians reaching out to Messianics towards reconciliation and peacebuilding.
Posted by: John Berg at May 11, 2008
This is absolutely awesome! It is one more farely large step toward the recognition and granting of equal rights to Messianic "Jewish" believers. The congregations of Messianic Jewish believers in Yeshua are growing month by month and year by year in the nation of Israel, and this is beautiful. Too bad some of the recognition had to come when a bomb, undoubtedly made by an ultra-orthodox Jew, blows up in the face of a 15 year old Messianic Jewish boy. But he undoubtedly was protected, and will live and make a full recovery. This event too, has brought huge recognition to the Messianic community in Israel. My web-host is a Messianic believer who lives near Haifa. Again, I am glad to see this official recognition finally given by the government of Israel. Pete
Posted by: Pete from UNITYINCHRIST.COM at May 20, 2008
Hello people. Firstly, my deepest sympathies go out to Ami Ortiz and his family. May Yeshua bless him and preserve him. The news that many Messianic Jews may now make aliyah is indeed encouraging but it is still a fair way from a full success. I understand Israel's original intense need to ensure the "Jewishness" of the nascent Jewish state back in the early decades of her founding. But here we are now, in Israel's 60th anniversary of that blessed occasion, and the World's hostility to Israel is such that one must agree with Richard and Gaby who posted earlier: surely Israel should welcome with open arms the tens of thousands of Messianic Jews who would readily live, fight and die for Israel's prosperity and security if only given the chance! I for one, would readily emigrate to Israel if I, a Jew by conversion of my parents, could be assured of full citizenship. In the meantime, let us hope that Israel makes further steps towards the acceptance of we "Messianics" as full-on true sons and daughters of Israel.
As for us embracing our Palestinian Christian brother and sisters, some caution needs to be practised. After all, Hanan Ashwari claimed to be a Christian yet she was (is) one of the most vicious critics of Israel; a nation she calls "The Zionist experiment"! But for everyone who supports Israel's prosperity and continuity, let us indeed throw open our arms. In times like these, we need all the friends we can get.
Posted by: Mark Storm at June 7, 2008
Dear much loved brethren in Messiah,
We salute,greet and give respect to you all in Messiah.
Warm shalom to you all dear Worldwide Messianic brethren.My name is Suantak David Israel(A voluntary Messianic Pastor from remote North East India) Beulah Lane,Churachandpur District,Manipur State ,India.We are so happy and full of Joy to read and know that the much long awaited " Law of Return" is legalise now to all Messianic Jews.We salute and greet you all with raise up hands to show our respects,appreciation and victory in taming the impossible.Please do know that,we are a small group of Messianic Congregation here in the North East India,meeting few Messianic friends from Jerusalem Israel(Bro. Hillel Halkin -A writer and journalist from Israel),Pastor Mark.D.Vlad from New Beginning Church,Illinois,USA(Who ventured till here in remote India to Ordained me as a Messianic Pastor,much loved Bro.Steven Mooney(A Deputy Director in Fire Deparment,Freeport USA),Young and talented Pastor Alcot Walker from UK(Core Director in International ministries) Messianic Congregation of UK.Pastor Tony from Pennsylvania,who is serving and staying here in India for 9 years now,doing research and printing Bible in Telegu language.We all talked much about who we are and where we are from to conclude as 'MESSIANIC JEWS' and followers of Messiah.We all pray for the full 'RESTORATION OF ISRAEL'and for the 'PEACE OF ISRAEL' for we love so much our FATHERLAND(OUR PROMISED LAND AND HOLY LAND).We love you all so much.Do remind us all Messianic current news and we look towards your recognition and affiliation in International Messianic Alliance in the the future.We remain in prayer ever for the Peace and Restoration of Jerusalem Israel.
Much love in Messiah,
Servant Messianic Pastor-Suantak David Israel,N.E.India.
Address: Messianic Pastor Suantak David Israel
Messianic Congregation of YHWH(MCOY)
House No. 103,Beulah Lane,
Churachandpur,Manipur State,
N.E.India.Pin-795128.
Mobile No. 9436200129.Email-dsuantak@rediffmail.com
Posted by: Pastor Suantak David Israel at July 14, 2008
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