New York, NY, September 5, 2008 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) denounced a call by an international evangelical group to target European Jewry for conversion, declaring it a “serious affront to the Jewish people” and  “disrespectful to Judaism’s own teachings.”

The theological commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) issued the call in its document, “The Berlin Declaration on the Uniqueness of Christ and Jewish Evangelism Today,” reiterating its commitment to proselytize European Jewry.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, and Rabbi Eric J. Greenberg, ADL Director of Interfaith Policy, issued the following statement:

Promoting a campaign to convert Jews away from their faith is a serious affront to the Jewish people and disrespectful to Judaism’s own teachings.  Though the World Evangelical Alliance claims it seeks to convert Jews out of their “love” for Jews, we believe that if the WEA really loved Jews, they would respect Jewish teachings and recognize the integrity of Jewish tradition.

 

It is especially troubling that the WEA includes and validates the deceptive proselytizing tactics of Messianic Jews and groups like Jews for Jesus. To issue this declaration from Berlin, where the Nazis directed their Final Solution to exterminate the Jewish people, is the height of insensitivity. This Evangelical document is not an offer of love, but a prescription for hate. As long as the WEA teaches that Judaism is incomplete or misguided, anti-Semitism will continue.

 

We urge on the WEA to withdraw its call to target the Jews of Europe for conversion and immediately begin serious dialogue with Jewish interfaith representatives, so they can understand the immense pain and anger they are causing with their ill-advised and theologically misguided position.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.