Become a Member
Simon Rocker

By

Simon Rocker,

Simon Rocker

Opinion

If you know someone marrying out, Israel wants to know

September 7, 2009 12:23
1 min read

An anti-assimilation campaign with Israeli government backing is generating fierce controversy, according to Ha’aretz.

The newspaper reports: “The campaign… urges Israelis to report the particulars of acquaintances living abroad so that these people, who are ‘in danger’ of marrying non-Jews, can be persuaded to come to Israel.

“The 10-day Hebrew-language campaign has been mounted by MASA, a partnership between the Jewish Agency and the Israeli government that helps finance and market Israel programs for diaspora Jews.

“It features images of missing-person posters, with Jewish-sounding names written along the bottom. The message is that assimilated Jews are ‘lost’ persons who must be brought home, to Israel.”

To get more from opinion, click here to sign up for our free Editor's Picks newsletter.