Things are really heating up in Israel as blatant discrimination against Messianic Jews living in the land has risen sharply, following the Bible-burning escapade in Ohr Yehuda by a group of ultra-Orthodox Jews. And one has to wonder, what is the limit to these acts of violence and hate? How far is the Israeli government going to let it go?

Bible Burning 

The Bible burning event was encouraged by their Deputy Mayor when he found out that Messianic Jews had given Bibles with the New Testament in them to a group of Ethiopian Jews living in the town. The Deputy Mayor then proceeded to drive throug town and announced on a loud speaker that they were collecting all these Bible and other "Messianic propaganda." Once gathered, a group of Orthodox school boys set fire to the large mound of books. Calev Myers, the attorney representing this case is filing formal charges against the group for disecration of another religions sacred holy book, which is an Israel law in place to prevent religious violence. The Deput Mayor, who has offended millions of Christians around the world, has since publicly apologized for his actions.

Bomb Packages 

This year’s Purim celebration, marking the amazing events encountered in the Book of Esther, a 15-year old teenager received a "Happy Purim" package on his doorstep. When he opened it, it was a bomb that send over 100 pieces of sharpnel into his face, throat an lung. Fortunately, his neighbor was an Israeli army medic and knew enough to perform an quick trachenomy. The victim is the son of a Messianic Jewish ledr living in Ariel, and miraculously he has survived the act of terrorism, although a full recovery is highly unlikely.

Unhappy Birthday 

This May makred Israel’s 60th anniversary of independence, and it is tradition for Jewish teenagers to participate in the annual Internationally Bible Quiz. This year, Jewish rabbis called for a boycott of the event because one of the winning finalists was part of a Messianic group they consider a cult. Officials looked into the finalist’s records and found she was registered in the school system as a Jew and her mother is Jewish, making her a legitimate contender, allowing the Bible Quiz to continue. 

These acts of hate in Israel are just a few examples from the past two months of the on-going violence and discrimination against Messianic Jews in Israel, a country claiming to have religious freedom. Again, how long will the government and court system allow this to go on? Don’t they know from centuries experience what it feels like to be on the other end of these awful events?