The wife of a U.S. military officer wrote a letter to a Jewish organization demanding that they "accept Jesus as their savior" • A senior U.S. military officer and rabbi responded by writing a letter that went viral
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The wife of a U.S. military officer recently wrote in a letter to the Jewish Freedom of Religious Affairs (MRFF) Foundation, which aims to protect U.S. military Jews from harassing their faith, claiming that "you will all die in hell because of your insistence on not accepting Jesus as Savior."
The letter, originally published without mentioning the addressee, was originally sent to Mickey Weinstein, one of the fund's funders and supporters.
The scathing letter, one of many to note, caused one of the members of the foundation, the colonel in reserve and the American military rabbi Joel R..
Schwartzman, respond to the letter directly and publish the contents of his response in the U.S. Air Force Bulletin, where he has served as a military rabbi over the years.
The excited letter went viral and was widely circulated.
In the letter, the woman demands that the foundation stop fighting Christians' attempt to convert Jews to Christianity.
"My husband and I are blessed by Jesus, our Savior and we just want to spread our gift among the soldiers and their families. We have never forced anyone to listen to our views by force. Why your organization only attacks Christians (probably referring to missionary activity e.g.) "After all, there are Christians in our army from all other religions. Do you not at all think that yours as a people already has a bad enough history of attacking Christians?"
"You and your organization are only exacerbating the reputation of your people with your constant activity," Weinstein attacked.
"Perhaps you should understand that most of the blame for the situation lies on your shoulders. Please find other issues to deal with and stop harassing us Christians."
The woman later threatens the rabbi and the Jewish people that they will all be burned in hell if they do not accept Jesus the Savior and writes that "why do you and your organization not bow their heads and accept Jesus Messiah, they would also receive haters like you as he received Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul. "Today's Pauls. Please surrender to Christ before it is too late. You Jews will all be burned in hellfire for your refusal. Surrender to Jesus who loves you."
Signed by the wife and mother of a U.S. Army officer.
The one who decided to answer them is Joel R.
Schwartzman, a colonel in the reserve and an American military rabbi.
"I do not plan to reply to the letter itself," he clarified at the beginning of his reply.
"A lot of people did that on our site, who answered you line after line about everything. Instead as a proud Jew and rabbi I want to answer my completely personal answer to you."
"How would you feel if someone told you to convert or you would burn forever in the fire of hell? How would you feel if you were called derogatory names and accused of horrible deeds? How would you feel if these were not just readings but you were actually met with hateful actions because of faith "How would you feel if you and your loved ones were threatened? I bet you would not feel good, that you were not comfortable, especially if your people had a history of being persecuted non-stop."
"You would feel great fear if someone or someone told you that you and all your loved ones should be killed because that is what God wants. In fact, there is a direct threat here that he will either convert to Christianity or die. Others have already told you that the Jewish people have suffered hundreds of years of persecution and murder. "Christians and kept his faith, gave himself over to it not because of the zeal of the Christians but in spite of this zeal."
"In my military service I have met with many like you who have tried to redeem my soul and convert my religion or the religion of my friends," the rabbi added and shared.
"I have always tried to explain my love and commitment to my faith and if I did not succeed I stuck to the military code that prevents any possibility of coercion on the part of any military entity to participate in religious ceremonies or acts he does not want to take part in. Such acts, such attempts were "This is what our organization is doing. No military man has the right to force his faith or push his nose into another person's belief. It is certainly possible to talk and argue but not to force. Not in the US military."
"Instead of condemning us you should start practicing your faith more. Christianity is about love and should not be a weapon. Christians often cast their faith like knives and axes on the people around them and they are not meant to be verses used to intimidate but to strengthen Christian believers inside. Offers you to engage in your love and stop preaching to us, "the rabbi wrote.
