Israel Chief Rabbi Condemns Zealot’s Attacks on Missionary Schools

The issue of the demonstrations last Tuesday by Israeli yeshiva students in front of missionary schools in Jerusalem, Haifa and Jaffa will be discussed by the Cabinet next Sunday at its weekly meeting, it was reported here today. The Cabinet will discuss steps to ensure that the incidents would not be repeated.

Disapproval of the incidents was voiced today by Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim who said that although the problem of missionary activity in Israel gave him “no rest, ” he categorically rejected the type of demonstration carried out by the students on Tuesday. He said “this was not the way to combat the plague of missions and the disreputable manner in which the missionaries carry out their activities.”

(In New York, the American Jewish Committee issued a statement today which “strongly supports the swift action of the Israeli Government in dealing with the irresponsible youths” who participated in the attacks on the missionary schools. The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Central Conference of American Rabbis–Reform bodies–as well as the United Synagogue of America, central body of Conservative synagogues, issued statements condemning the assaults. The Labor Zionist movement here, in a statement issued, applauded the energetic action taken by the Israel Government against the ultra-Orthodox “fanatics.”)

Dr. Meir Mendez, who heads the Department of Christian Communities of the Ministry for Religious Affairs, today called on the French St. Joseph’s Convent and the Finnish school here, and conveyed the Government’s apologies over the demonstrations. The heads of both institutions expressed their appreciation for the prompt police and Government action in the matter. The Israel press today sharply condemned the demonstrators.