Non Jews vs Missionaries
Sunday night was the meeting for the parents of the little girl’s kindergarten. The group has 2yrs 9 months-4 year olds…my daughter is one of the oldest, but she is with a group of at least 5 from last year who are also the same age. The meeting was fine…even easier than most. We have a very experienced teacher, and about 31 children. (It was 35, but it looks like it might be a little less.)
The only long discussion was about the extra fees we need to pay. She would like 750 shekels for the year from everyone. This is to cover special treats, shows, classes from outside teachers (chugim in Hebrew) and to cover basic stuff like toilet paper and cleaning supplies. Their whole budget from the city is only 2000 shekels a year for everything! There was a discussion about giving a bit more, and everything was fine with that.
Then a parent asked to speak. She is someone I know reasonably well, but I wasn’t prepared for what she had to say. In the neighborhood kindergartens (both K-4 and K-5) there are a number of missionary families. What does she mean by missionary? Some are Jewish and believe in Jesus as the Messiah, others aren’t Jewish but all are actively involved with activities to bring Jews to this belief system. I was horrified. Firstly, this is a public, but religious kindergarten and this has no place in our school and secondly because I only knew of one family involved with these activities, and I knew their children weren’t at my daughter’s kindergarten.
As someone who grew up in a primarily non-Jewish environment, and even worked for five years at a Catholic college, I have no problem with non-Jews. I don’t even have a problem with non-Jews who believe that I’m going to Hell because I don’t believe in their messiah. (Although, I do feel sad that they are so concerned about my soul.) BUT…nobody should be trying to convert my children via their children. Apparently last year, one girl at this kindergarten told anther boy that Jesus was the Messiah, and that he lives in all of our hearts!
I’ve heard that the city attorney is working on this, but I really didn’t want to have to explain to my 4 year old about different religions on this level for a number of years.
Sigh!
Some of the rumors about missionaries are true. But some of them are really just paranoia. It would probably help to find out which this one is, you know?
Comment by merpk — September 10, 2008 @ 11:14 am
report these evil people, please.
we have had enough of this missionary crap throughout the centuries, and they dare do it in the JEWISH state??
missionaries are illegal in israel, anyway. you should do something about this.
Comment by nivit — September 17, 2008 @ 6:18 am
Someone just sent me blogs on Moslem missionizing.
We got off cheap this year with gan, less than NIS 300.
Comment by mother in israel — November 11, 2008 @ 11:25 pm