1985-1986 Rothberg Yearbook

The pressure o f the situation lies not on the Mormons!
to prove their right to establish a center but on their"
opponents to prove that such a center would be!
detrimental to Israel. A mission o f Mormons in Jerusalem
is not likely to convert thousands o f Jews. To base a!
policy in dealing with the Mormons on fear alone could!
leave a gaping hole in the legal and moral fabric on which!
any democratic nation is founded. That’s a high price to!
pay.
Jim Bramson
* * *
On Wednesday evening, Nov. 27, Moshe Dann, “the
forem ost authority” on the Mormon question, spoke in
the Goldsmith building on the topic entitled “Mormons
on Mt. Scopus: Cause and E ffect.” Mr. Dann began by
stressing his lack o f animosity for the Mormons and their
presence in Israel but his deep concern for having an
active missionary group in Jerusalem. In his tw enty
minute address, he discussed the possible Mormon
disrespect for Jewish claims to Israel and to prove that
Mormons do, in fact, plan to missionize in Israel.So
what?
It seems that Mr. Dann failed even to attem pt to
prove that a missionary group in Jerusalem would, in
some way, be detrimental to the society — his “concern.”
It was interesting to becom e acquainted with some o f the
incriminating articles he had stacked in his folder beside
him. They proved nothing to me.
As fair as Mr. Dann’s allegation that the Mormons
maintain a pro-Arab position on Israel land rights, let’s
face it, much o f the world does not accept Jewish
legitimacy in Israel, and that has not previously prevented
groups fostering that mindset — including Arabs — from
establishing institutions in Israel. Therefore, that little
tid-bit does not appear to lend any credence i/O the
argument that a Mormon institution ought not to be
established here.
Then, concerning the question of whether or not the
Mormons intend to use a “visitors’ center” for missionary
purposes, Mr. Dann’s information proving that they do is
all dated to 1979, does say something to admit to
intentions of using the center as a base for missionary
activity, but that in itself does not prove the conclusion
that such an institution would be a menace to Israel.
Mr. Dann’s emphasis on proving the Mormon’s
missionary intentions does, however, imply to me that
the reason for the belief that the Mormons ought to halt
construction of their facility is tremendously based in
fear. Some people are afraid to have a missionary base in
Jerusalem and are willing to let that fear dictate how the
situation ought to be dealt with. Of course, there are
other proselytizing groups in Jerusalem, including the
ultra-orthodox Jewish groups, but that’s different — Jews
proselytizing Jews as opposed to Christians proselytizing
Jews. If Israel is to be called a democratic, egalitarian
state then that can not be true. Either all rights are
afforded to everyone, or they are not. There is no in
between. And if the choice is not for equality under the
law, then soon, we slip further and further towards
facism.
Response:
Dear James,
I read your tidbit on Mormons in Party Line. It
proved nothing to me. Israel is not, does n o t claim to be,
and m ust never be a democratic, egalitarian state. Israel is!
a Jewish state — first, forem ost and by design. For this it j
was created, for this it must strive, and for this it is
unique. We do not aspire to be loved by all men. We do
not wish to be equal. We are special, chosen, annointed. j
We are not like everybody else. We dare not become. May!
Heaven have mercy on us. We are a people with a mission.
We are not afraid o f the Mormons. We have a religious!
and moral obligation to protect Jewish children — mainly j
American students like yourself — who, while open to
every cult, ideology, fad, religion, know nothing about!
being Jewish. They Eire at hom e in the National library,]
but can not find their way in a siddur. They know]
everything about the Chinese, but do not know the]
names of their prophets. It is you who ought perhaps to]
fear the Mormons. It is you who are the most vulnerable.
It is you the Mormon is trying to bring into his fold. It is I
for you James we are fighting.
For the Jewish people, each soul is considered a
whole world. The loss of one Jewish soul is considered as !
if we have lost an entire universe. That is how important j
each Jewish person is to us. There is no price high enough
for us to pay to ensure the preservation o f Jewish life — a
single Jewish life — towards that goal.
The Jewish people do not proselytize. It is against the
fundamentals o f the Jewish Law. On the contrary. When
a Jewish person confronts a person who wishes to convert
to Judaism, it is his obligation to disuade the non-Jew
from taking on the yolk of Judaism. If a young man
wants to convert for the sake o f marrying a Jewish girl,
he is forbidden by Jewish law from so doing. Therefore I
find your crude reference to ultra-orthodox Jewish
groups most disturbing. To bring a Jewish child who has
been deprived of his heritage by ‘enlightened, western,
egalitarians’, closer to understanding his roots is not
proselytizing him. It is enriching him. It is giving him his
heritance. To baptise him in the Jordan River is to rob
him of both this world and the next.
The Jewish People in their homeland have every legal,
moral, religious, national right and OBLIGATION — to
protect and cherish what is theirs, the world will have to
come to terms with that. So James, will you.
Khana R. Feiler