Pesach is “peak missionary season” writes Shtetler Darren Sevitz, who submitted the following for publication as a warning to the community.

To Whom It May Concern at Jews For Judaism

Are you aware that on Thursday evenings at Pick ‘n Pay Norwood, a number of Jews wearing bright green T-shirts, with the “Jews for Jesus” logo and other Hebraic script [do their shopping]?

I think that they are there specifically on that evening as they are aware that many Jews do their Shabbas-dick purchasing from about 16h30 onward. I think they do this on purpose to tout for potential convertees.

This happened to me yesterday evening, Thursday 4 March:

My ex-auditor [name withheld], dressed up as above, actually engaged me in conversation. His ploy was that we Jews are in the wrong as we do not recognize the Meshiach, who has already come to earth.

We have rejected him (J.C.) and we need to be “saved”. Furthermore we are being punished by G-d because of this, and he will pray for me to be forgiven. He then went on to ask why were the Six Million destroyed in the Shoa? That was because the Jews had rejected Christ. Later on he said I should read Isiah 53 because there it talks about JC.

Now my hackles rise when I hear such rubbish spoken.

1. I admonished him by questioning his rejection of his family by his turncoat behavior

2. I mocked him about Isiah 53, because nowhere in I. 52, 51 or even 54 etc is there any allusion of any kind to JC, nor in fact to his coming etc, nor even to 53.

3. I took exception to his talking about the Six Million. I regard that as an insult to their memory.

Besides how is it that the Nazis also destroyed one million Gypsies and some 15 million Russian “Foynish” (peasants) when they were Catholic and Russian Orthodox respectively?

My feeling is that our Jews for Judaism is either not aware of this invasion of our community on Thursdays or is being extremely lax. Our community is once more being assailed by a subtle enemy who is almost as dangerous as our other enemies. [The] trouble is they prey on the weaker elements of our community.

I hope that something is going to be done about this rabble.

Maurice Skikne

When approached to for permission to use his name, Maurice responded thus to MyShtetl: “You can include my name – I am a proud Jew and I absolutely abhor Jewish traitors to our people. They are and have always been our worst enemies!

Thank you for your email.

We certainly are aware of this. It is not only Pick n Pay, but other places which are frequented by members of our community.

We have a group of volunteers who do try and counter these visits, by shadowing them at the shopping centers and preventing them from interacting with Jews.

We have also met with the management of these centers, but unfortunately there is nothing illegal about the activities of these missionaries and they cannot be stopped from doing what they are doing.

Unfortunately, the missionary groups are extremely well funded and have full time paid staff who work for them. Jews for Judaism is an international organization and although the SA branch is housed in the UOS, it is not funded by the UOS. Generally, the community [does] not respond well to Jews for Judaism’s fundraising efforts as they believe the missionaries cannot really have a serious effect on Jews. How wrong they are!

So, we try and do what we can with what we have.

Kind regards, Darren Sevitz

PUBLISHER’S NOTE:
Shtetlers interested in assisting with donations or otherwise can contact:
Darren Sevitz
Executive Director
Union of Orthodox Synagogues
T: 011 485 4865
F: 086 610 3442
E: darrens@uos.co.za