JIJ Combats Religious Discrimination

Jerusalem Institute of Justice’s struggle to advance democracy, civil rights, and religious freedom becomes increasingly more vital as religious persecution intensifies in the State of Israel. Over recent months, JIJ has seen a rise in religious intolerance, discrimination, and flagrant harassment of Messianic Jews in Israel.

Yad L'Achim Targets Messianic Couple

Having befriended their next-door neighbors, a Messianic Israeli couple was falsely accused of proselytizing to the neighbor's teenage daughter and converting her to Christianity this past summer.  Yad L’Achim, a radical anti-missionary organization, succeeded in having the couple and their congregational leader summoned to court on the pretense of breaking anti-missionary laws.  Furthermore, Yad L’Achim launched a campaign against the couple and their leader, inciting local residents by spreading anti-Messianic propaganda and staging a protest in front of their home. However, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ) represented the two parties, and the court immediately dismissed the charges on unfounded allegations, granting reparations to the congregational leader.

Israeli Citizenship & Religious Discrimination

In the area of citizenship rights and unlawful religious discrimination, JIJ is currently handling several cases, one of which involves two Jewish sisters originally from France who became Israeli citizens at an early age when their parents made Aliyah (immigration to Israel) in 1974. After residing in the Land for a few years, the family left and had not returned since.  However, in 2009, unaware that they retained Israeli citizenship, the two sisters decided to visit Israel and upon their entrance, quickly discovered that they were indeed Israeli citizens.

One year later, they decided to return to live in Israel and attempted to go through the Aliyah process with their own families.  During procedures, they were discovered to hold Messianic beliefs and though already Israeli citizens, they were illegally denied Israeli identity cards, which entitle them to all basic rights and legal status in Israel. JIJ appealed on their behalf before the Public Complaints Commission and succeeded in securing them identity cards; however, the Ministry of Interior is now refusing to grant them the immigration benefits entitled to all new and returning citizens. As a result, the two sisters along with one child currently reside in Israel devoid of the access to absorption benefits, which help ease the tremendous financial burden on new immigrants. JIJ is currently working to obtain full immigration benefits for the sisters and their families.*

Another case which JIJ is currently handling involves a young woman whose citizenship was actually revoked after half a year due to her affiliation with Messianic Judaism. The Ministry of Interior discovered this affiliation after the young woman's mother also applied for aliyah. During application procedures, the mother, although unaffiliated to Messianic Judaism,  was subject to rigid interrogations and accusations of missionary activity and connection to Messianic Judaism.  Thereafter, the young woman's citizenship was immediately revoked and the mother's application thus denied. JIJ is currently preparing a petition to the Supreme Court on their behalf.  

JIJ Advances Religious Freedom & Democracy

Presently, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice has successfully handled over 440 cases including 18 Supreme Court victories, which contribute to the advancement of religious freedom and overall democratic values in Israeli society. We want to thank you for partnering with us to secure freedom of religion and safeguard basic civil rights for all in the State of Israel.

*Some details have been changed due to confidentiality & client protection.

Yad L'Achim stages protest in front of home of Messianic Israeli couple

Ad in the local newspaper calls for residents to protest opposite the couple's home. "Leave us alone. We're sick of the missionary brainwashing. We must not be silent. We must stop them."

JIJ helped two returning Israeli citizens obtain their Israeli ID cards after they had been denied on the basis of their faith

JIJ is currently preparing a petition to the Supreme Court on behalf of a young woman whose citizenship was revoked due to her affiliation with Messianic Judaism

JIJ is currently working on over 20 new cases and has successfully handled over 440, including 18 Supreme Court victories dealing with religious discrimination