Serious Ramifications in the Beer Sheva Verdict Extend to the Messianic Jewish Community throughout Israel

The mob scene outside the Beer Sheva congregation on Dec 24, 2005

There are serious ramifications to the verdict handed down in the case of the Beer Sheva Messianic congregation that was overrun by an angry religious mob in 2005. The mob was stirred up by the anti-missionary group Yad L'Achim with the cooperation of the chief rabbi of Beer Sheva Yehuda Deri. The crowd was under the false understanding that the congregation was about to commit an illegal act by baptizing 10 busloads of Jewish children under the age of 18.

Judge Iddo Ruzin did not think this was grounds to hold Rabbi Deri and Yad L'Achim responsible for what happened that day, December 24, 2005. When justice is not upheld crimes increase. It is that simple. Judge Ruzin has in effect declared 'Open Season' on people who were already targets of widespread and often violent religious persecution. What this will mean for the Jewish believers in Jesus in Israel is EVEN MORE acts and attacks of persecution by religious opponents who know they are not going to be held accountable for their crimes.

Police Speaking to Agitators in the Mob

This is the same judicial issue involved in the case against Jack Teitel who attempted to murder the Ortiz family and who did murder at least two Palestinians. When Israeli judges balk at prosecuting the religious criminals brought before them, it only emboldens the religious to increase the 'quality' and quantity of their crimes.


Ami Ortiz was blown to bits opening a package bomb delivered by a man who has confessed to police that he was with Yad L'Achim and was trying to kill Ami's father for his faith in Yeshua/Jesus.

THE AMERICAN CHRISTIAN SUPPORTERS OF ISRAEL MUST NOT REMAIN SILENT IN THE FACE OF THIS TRAVESTY OF INJUSTICE AGAINST OUR ISRAELI SPIRITUAL BROTHERS & SISTERS. You may think you are doing enough by defending Israel against her enemies in the world, but you are doing NOTHING if you will not rise up and defend the Body of the Lord in Israel against legally unhindered religious persecution. If you think it is okay with the Lord to shut your eyes to this injustice and do nothing, say nothing, then you are about as deceived as you could possibly be.

We hope that an appeal will be filed and that the Israeli Believers will not just accept this unjust verdict. Whatever the community in Israel decides, the Christian community must pull its head out of the sand and rise to the defense of the Body in Israel. That much is clear. Like Mordechai told Esther, Don't even think you can just go on enjoying your sweet life in the palace while your family is destroyed by the order of the palace! If the American Church does not arise on to demand justice and safety for the believers of Israel, then God will raise up deliverers elsehwere and the American Church will just have to bear the disgrace of being salt that has lost all savor.

The mob scene inside the Beer Sheva congregation on Dec 24, 2005

Here is the notice sent by the pastor of the Beer Sheva congregation of the verdict rendered by Judge Ruzin.

A verdict has been handed down by Judge Iddo Ruzin in our lawsuit filed against the Chief Sephardic Rabbi Yehuda Deri, and against the anti-Messianic organization, Yad L'Achim. The judge did exactly what we have been praying and hoping . . . that he would not do! Judge Ruzin has determined that the two defendants are innocent of any wrong-doing concerning the events before, during, and after 24 Dec 2005, and that we did not produce sufficient evidence to prove any personal liability on their part in our civil suit against them.

Judge Ruzin has ordered that we pay 1000 ILS to each of the defendants, and that we pay the legal fees of each of their advocates, which will come to tens of thousands of shekels. (We have not yet been notified of this amount.)

We express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of you for your encouragements, prayers, praises to God, and financial contributions throughout this lawsuit to date. We believe, with many of you, that we were led by the Lord to enter into this lawsuit, and we have sought to honor the name of Yeshua. We believe that, at least in this latter regard, we were successful: even the judge in his decision referred to the Lord as "Yeshua", and not by the acronym commonly used by many in this land. We understood from the outset that there was a risk involved in taking these particular defendants to court for what we still know they are liable.

We would greatly appreciate you prayerfully considering assisting us with further donations to help us with the large financial burden we are now obligated to pay. If we decide to file an appeal of this decision, we will do so only after consultation with other Messianic leaders from around Israel, just as we did before going to trial.

Glory to the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel,

Howard Bass - Pastor - Kehilat Nachalat Yeshua (under amutat Nichalim BaNegev)
Olavi Syvanto - Elder, and Board Member

Adv. Marvin Kramer
Adv. Kevork Nalbandian
We always believed, and still believe and accept, that the verdict is the Lord's, and it is for us to discern what He is saying to us through it.