Jerusalem Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky cancelled a ceremony
scheduled to take place at the Jerusalem City Council hall,
after it was learned the head of the group of Christians who
was slated to receive a certificate for bringing tourists to
Jerusalem, Olaf Hackman, is a missionary figure in the US.
When he refused to make a written commitment to cease
conversion activities in Israel, the mayor cancelled the
ceremony and dispersed the invitees right before the event
began.
A group of 1,200 Christians arrived in Jerusalem recently, to
prepare the way for the arrival of thousands of foreign
tourists. A few days later Hackman was scheduled to receive a
certificate in recognition of his work in promoting Jerusalem
tourism, but in the meantime Rabbi Lupoliansky was informed
that Hackman is heavily involved in missionary activity in
the US. The Mayor's Office then notified him that the
ceremony would only be held on condition that he write a
letter pledging not to take part in any further missionary
activity in Israel.
When a letter from him eventually arrived, any mention of
abstaining from missionary activity was lacking. Instead, in
the letter, Hackman declared he "loves the Jewish people,
works and will work for the State of Israel." The mayor
insisted the letter be rewritten to include the required
pledge, but Hackman's assistants used various ploys to evade
the demand, including a claim that the fax machine at their
hotel was not working, and the like.
Hackman arrived at City Hall one hour before the ceremony,
whereupon the Mayor's Office sent him a written letter to
sign, but the missionary leader refused, claiming it was
insulting and beneath his dignity. He added that he was
willing to declare during the ceremony that he does not
engage in missionary activity.
Mayor Rabbi Lupoliansky remained adamant not to lend a hand
to a man engaged in activities against Judaism and prohibited
by law in Israel. "If he refuses to sign, claiming it is
insulting to him, it is a sign he does indeed engage in
missionary activity," said the mayor, announcing the ceremony
was cancelled and the certificate would not be given. A
commotion broke out and the event was called off just minutes
before it was scheduled to begin.
Ranking officials at the Prime Minister's Office and the
Foreign and Finance Ministries began to apply heavy pressure
on the mayor, saying the move would deliver a major blow to
tourism and diminish income from tourists, but the Mayor
stood his ground. The media also attacked the mayor for
refusing to meet with the Christians but Rabbi Lupoliansky
rejected the claims against him, saying the cancellation of
the event was not a move against Christians, but rather a
stand against a group of Christians headed by a man involved
in missionary activity who refused to desist.
Mayor Rabbi Lupoliansky told Yated Ne'eman that the
problem is not Christians arriving as tourists to see
Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish people. "The moment it
became known this was a man involved in missionary activity,
Jerusalem censured this type of activity. I demanded that Mr.
Hackman make a written declaration he was against missionary
activity and he refused. With a man like this we will have no
part and have nothing in common," said the Mayor.
