IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING -- II

 Following the original Post on the subject, we received so many Comments on-line and off. Here is one, in part:

"Why should anyone be surprised that these kinds of things happen when we willingly involve Evangelicals in the work of the Jewish Agency? The very definitiin of "Evangelical' includes 'as paramount the tenet that salvation is achieved by personal conversion to faith in the atonement of Christ' (source: Dictionary.com)." 

If you were aware of a greater number than 1 on-going example of messianic Evangelical collaborations with the Jewish Agency, please let me know the specifics.

And, another Comment:

"JAFI has been aware of the problems with Return Ministries since 2016. I personally know of meetings that took place in Jerusalem with Sharansky's staff 5 years ago, JAFI executive administrators in 2019 and again with Herzog in 2020. Return Ministries was at the top of the agenda at those meetings. JAFI staff and directors took the video footage and documentation seriously and asked for follow-up. Ironically the now director of Beyneynu presented at those meetings and was welcomed. In fact, she was given those mailing list contacts by BOG and Federation heads. So what is going on?"

"What is going on?" indeed.

In the meantime, one of the FOB, on reading the earlier Post, alerted me to the Jewish Agency professional who led the Bikat Kinarot Village effort -- Uri Lahav who just recently left the Agency. After some research, I found the Agency's own description of Bikat Kinarot -- in the Annual Report of JAFI's Companies. I ask you to simply read this:

"Bikat Kinarot 

The campus at Bikat Kinarot, located in the northern region of Emek HaYarden, serves as a social, educational, and professional facility that advances both the Zionist enterprise and pluralistic engagement. By bringing proud, patriotic, and passionate Israelis from a variety of backgrounds together with visitors from abroad engaged in exploring their connection to Israel and Judaism, both populations are enriched and emerge with a heightened sense of responsibility for the continuity of the Jewish People, the advancement of Emek HaYarden, and the future of the State of Israel. 

Since 2016, The Jewish Agency has run four residential programs on the Bikat Kinarot campus. The goal is to expand this. Current programs consist of a pre-military academy for Israeli Jews and Christians (45-60 participants), post-army and National Service programs (24 participants), a program for Garin Tzabar participants and Lone Soldiers (20-26 participants) and volunteers from abroad (40-60 participants). New programs which are in various stages of exploration and development include a residential program for young immigrants studying engineering at the local Kinneret College, a civilian program for the Druze community in the Golan Heights, a Technological Education Center for young adults, an educational curriculum that focuses on the specific ecological and environmental challenges of Emek HaYarden, a Young Adult Guidance Center for employment and educational and parenting resources and networks, an Outdoor Training Facility, accommodations for Khan Education programs (which works with local schools and youth movements), and a Joint Venture Center focusing on casualties in the IDF and in the US Army total of ten programs over the upcoming years." 

Isn't there something omitted? Like any reference at all to the Jewish Agency's contractual operational partnership with the messianic Evangelical Return Ministries? Why not?

In an insightful article in ejewishphilanthropy, Sam Sokol reported that Return Ministries was "...contracted to perform construction, mainitenance and landscaping work" and, apparently, nothing more at  Bikat Kinarot. https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/jewish-agency-accuses-evangelical-contractors-of-numerous-violations-but-denies-they-evangelized-new-immigrants/?utm_source=Jan+4,+2021&utm_campaign=Thurs+Dec+24&utm_medium=email  In other words, to paraphrase the Jewish Agency's Secretary General, Josh Schwarcz's admonition: "Look away, nothing to see here." 

Really? I found Schwarcz's letter to be patronizing to the Jewish Agency Board who received it just as I believe that too many of the JA Board just want issues like this to be minimized and to just go away. Unfortunately, the members of the Company Board include the Deputy Chair of the JA Board and its CEO. At one and the same time, I have no doubt that JA Board Chair, Michael Siegal, is totally commited to resolving this matter since he was made aware of it.

But, here's the JAFI Board and Management roster for the Bikat Kinarot Company

Rany Trainin (Chair), Amira Aharonovich, Eli Carmeli, Michael Fainberg, Rinat Galili, Eytan Mizrachi, 

Dror Morag, Sigal Moran, Yael Rakov, Rina Ramot, Nechemia Rappel, Yulia Shamalov Berkovich. All of the above were appointed by The Jewish Agency. (emphasis added)

CEO: Nir Lahav 

And just who are these leaders? Here are some:

• Rany Trainin -- Deputy Chair of the Jewish Agency Executive
• Amira Aharonovich -- Director General of the Jewish Agency
• Yael Rakov -- a fair housing activist in Ofakim
• Michael Fainberg -- Economist -- JAFI
• Dror Morag -- JAFI Board Member from the WZO
• Sigal Moran -- Israeli Politician, Regional Council Mayor
• Yulia Shamalov Berkovich -- Oleh, Politician

Were these leaders unaware of Return Ministries contract relationship with JAFI? Did they know but were they just too busy to actually care? Did they just leave matters related to the  Bikat Kiranot Company in the hands of the CEO, no questions asked? Was the Contract between the Jewish Agency and Return Ministries ever approved by this Board of Directors or JAFI'S?

In other words: was there any supervision of this JAFI Company by its own Board of Directors or by JAFI leadership? A devastating article in Vision Magazine -- https://visionmag.org/jewish-agency-gone-missionary/ -- makes clear that JAFI leaders themselves have been aware of the Return Ministries on-going missionary activities for years.

Any answers? Any at all?

Rwexler