We Will Not Be Intimidated By The "Missionary Police!"

North Tel Aviv

When Yeshua said in Luke 24:44, "Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Torah of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms," He was not speaking of a few obscure verses in the Tanach (Old Testament). There are volumes of passages and concepts that speak of His life, death, resurrection, and return.  The Tenach is more than sufficient to share the gospel with anyone who will listen and the reality is the New Covenant is expressed throughout its pages.

It is very hard, even a deterrent at times, to "break the ice" with the people of Israel by attempting to use a New Testament to share the good news. This approach can immediately raise a wall because unfortunately most Israelis reject it as part of the canon. For this reason, our ministry prefers to share the revealed Messiah Yeshua through the Torah, Prophets, and Writings first, then introduce the Apostolic Scriptures at a later time. We have found this way to be most effective.

North Tel-Aviv is a predominantly upper middle class area of Israel. There are Jewish people here from all walks of life and religious backgrounds. As Zev was sharing the gospel in this area, an orthodox man named Rabbi Yoni Shem Tov approached him and asked what he was doing. Zev replied, "We are here to express God's love to you and everyone else." Rabbi Yoni said, "I'm the rabbi and it is my job to talk to the people about God, not yours." Zev expressed to him the fact that God wants our heart and is not so concerned about our position. See photo.

"Let me see what is in your hand!" the rabbi exclaimed. "This is the Jewish bible, the Word of God." Zev replied. The rabbi examined the bible and found no fault.  Zev then inquired, "Is there something wrong with the Word of God?" Rabbi Yoni said there is nothing wrong with the Bible but once again he warned Zev that he was not qualified. Zev asked, "Are you qualified?" The rabbi was astonished by the question and said of course he was qualified. Zev smiled and said, "Great! Let's open the Bible to Isaiah 53 and examine what it says." See photo.

As Zev began to read, the rabbi asked what was the point of this and what does it have to do with God's love. With empathy Zev replied, "God loves us so much He sent His Son, the Jewish Messiah, to die for our sins and be raised from the dead three days later. No man is righteous and we have all gone astray. This is the true message of love."

Yoni was furious and shouted, "You are a missionary! Leave now! We have missionary police that will come and arrest you!" Zev replied with Isaiah 12:2, "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation." Zev then told the rabbi he loves him and because of the power of the Holy Spirit, he cannot stop us. He pleaded with Yoni to experience the love and salvation of Yeshua. Sadly, Rabbi Yoni turned and walked away. Please pray that he would one day allow the Lord to truly be his salvation.

As Zev began to press on a taxi driver who had been close by called out to him, "I noticed you conversing with the orthodox man and although I overheard him get upset with you when he spoke, you answered him in love. Please tell me what you were talking about because I realized that even when he became angry and tried to scare you, you calmly read the Bible back to him. You spoke with authority even though you are not religious and are not wearing a kippah. "

Zev handed him a Bible and Bible DVD. See photos.


Zev made it clear that this authority has been given to us by God through His Son, the Messiah Yeshua. Moshe, the taxi driver, said he was grieved in the past when he had heard of Jewish people accepting Yeshua as the Messiah, but today he didn't feel that way. He wanted to know more. Pray for Moshe! Zev asked him to read the underlined passages of the Bible that he gave him.

We reached out and deposited many seeds in North Tel Aviv. See photos.


Romans 8:31 reads, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" We will not be intimidated to stop sharing the good news. We will be strong in the spiritual battle and by the power of God fear nothing that comes against us, in Yeshua's Name!