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By: Brett Modesti, Exec. VP, FJMC Western Region Published in The Torchligh: tThe Quarterly Journal of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs Used by permission This article will be of interest only to those of us who have Jewish children, or Jewish parents…or know someone who does. Everyone else is safe. You can go on to browsing another article, or perhaps pick up a copy of Time or People magazine. Enjoy. For those who are still with me… I have some good news, and I have some bad news. The good news is that life has never been better for those of us Jews who live in this country. We are free to live our lives and practice our faith as we see fit. We are relatively safe to be Jews and to live as Jews. We are more comfortable today in our Jewish identity than ever. The bad news is that our children and our elderly parents are at risk. Worst of all, they don't even know it and may not see it coming. There is an organized army out there that has planned and prepared very thoroughly to capture their Jewish identity and above all their souls. The Hebrew-Christian Missionary movement is one of the most underrated and ignored threats that our people have ever faced. They specifically target our teens and preteens in high school and college (knowing that at this time of life their minds are most rebellious and vulnerable to new ideas). Their other primary target is our elderly parents in residential care facilities. Why the elderly? Not only might they "save" their soul, but they might also "save" their estate for their respective church or organization. The fundamentalist evangelical Christian missionaries are well funded, organized and highly scripted. There are more than 600 Christian missions specifically targeting the Jewish people. Various Evangelical and fundamentalist Christian groups and churches allocate more than $300 million each year for this effort alone. Their weapons are deceit, half truths, and manipulation of the innocent and vulnerable. They are not unopposed in their efforts. The Western Region of the FJMC is fighting back. And we have a most formidable weapon. Rabbi Tovia Singer is the National Director of Outreach Judaism; an organization dedicated to countering the effort of Christian groups and cults that target Jews for conversion. He is one of just a handful of qualified and successful exit counselors helping families reclaim their loved ones from the evangelical Christians. He is a stimulating and provocative speaker who has lectured in Synagogues and on college campuses around the country. He is an inspiration to thousands. For 8 days, beginning on October 31, the Western Region of the FJMC brought this world-renowned authority on the problem to various sites around the region to speak directly with our youth regarding this threat. Local Men's Clubs throughout Arizona and California sponsored the events. Rabbi Singer and his counter part from "Jews for Jesus" presented their cases in front of over 1000 students from Hebrew High, Hebrew School Classes, the Hebrew High Leadership Retreat at Camp Ramah in Ojai, California, and Hillel college students. Additionally, Rabbi Singer had special presentations for parents and other adults. The impact he had was amazing. In every venue, the students became fully engaged in battling back against the "Jews for Jesus" speaker. They were able to see through his manipulations, and articulately questioned him on his facts and tactics. Some students responded by getting up to leave the room in the middle of his presentation. Others had to almost be held back as they responded strongly in defense of their Jewish heritage. As a father of teenagers myself, I was heartened to see their response. When Rabbi Singer recapped the tactics and scripts used on them, they were fascinated and relieved to find out that there are tools they can use to fight back. From a counselor at Camp Ramah: "My name is David Blumberg and I was one of the counselors present during your presentation with the students of the Los Angeles Hebrew High weekend at Camp Ramah in Ojai. I was enthralled with the Role-play lecture that you put on and felt that I needed to tell you how the presentation moved me. I was informed of what you do prior to the weekend (being that I am a counselor) but was very surprised with how truly informative it was. In talking with the students after, they too were delighted to have had the opportunity to have seen your presentation and be a part of it." From a mother whose child was lost to the Hebrew Christian Missionaries: "Your visit to our synagogue last week was so wonderful, we're still Talking about it! I am the mother of 5. My 22 year old son became involved with Young Life while in High School and he is now very involved with their organization. Three of my children had the opportunity to hear you and participate, asking you questions which made them think. I'm sure they heard you much better than they hear me on this topic! Your message was so vital, I will continue to keep it buzzing amongst the parents and our precious children. " Rabbi Gershon Johnson (Temple Beth Haverim, Agoura Hills, CA): Thank you again profoundly for bringing R. Tovia Singer to our students. His presentation and role-play provoked a wonderful discussion with the students, even after you left. It was just great! Thank you, thank You, thank you! Cantor Michael Freed: "Thank you for your appearance at Burbank Temple Emanu El last Tuesday. I enjoyed your presentation and felt it was very valuable for the children. I would be very interested in reading through the Training Manual you showed to the group, if you have an extra copy available. Thanks again. There is no adequate way to relate the threat that is posed to our youth and elderly by these evangelical missionaries. There is also no way to adequately relate how strong was the impact on all of the teens that had a chance to participate in these events. Their faces told the story. They understood the danger before them, and the necessity of arming themselves with further knowledge. R. Singer and the FJMC had a positive effect on these young people that will most likely last their lifetimes. As many students as we had a chance to effect, there are countless others out there who are still at risk. Worst of all, they won't know where to turn when they come face to face with missionaries who are after their souls. We must educate as many students as we can to the threat, and how to respond to it appropriately. Parents too need to be educated. They have to be prepared to act appropriately. This week with Rabbi Singer made a difference in many lives. It was a good start on what will surely be a long raging battle. The new millenium will quicken the pace and heighten the sense of urgency in the war win young Jewish souls over to Christianity. Join with us. Be proactive and informed. The national FJMC office in New York and your local regional officers have information for you on this vital subject. The FJMC has developed an extensive program and manual titled "Countering Hebrew Christianity: A Guide for the Jewish Community". It is a valuable tool, and contains a wealth of pertinent and practical information. Outreach Judaism also has an extensive array available. Naturally, if you need help with a specific struggle involving someone you care about, Rabbi Singer can assist you directly. Better still, don't wait for a crisis to arise… it may be too late. Take steps to educate yourself and your children now. Their souls may depend on how you respond. For more information Rabbi Singer can be reached at:
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