As posted previously, the Cleveland Jewish News accepted a paid ad for a movie produced by and about Messianics. There has been a significant response from the community expressing disappointment with this decision. In subsequent issues, the CJN did print two letters from concerned community members who explained why this was such a bad decision, according to all Jewish groups across the spectrum, and how the Messianic group is so dangerous to the survival of Klal Yisroel.
However, it is of great concern that rather than apologize, the CJN also published this week a letter entitled ‘CJN praised for taking ad,’ from the very pastor who runs the Messianic “church” in which he attempts to argue why his group is part of the Jewish community and how there is nothing wrong this film since it features “Jewish” people in the story line. Click here to view a copy.
Understandably, while the CJN wants to be a voice for all segments of the community, its decision to include the Messianics clearly expresses an approach that not only endorses a group of people who seek to undermine the foundation of our very community, but really shows that they “do not get” that this is offensive to their readers, virtually every Jew, whether he is Orthodox or unobservant.
So we ask that readers please contact not only the Cleveland Jewish News both by phone and email, as well as contacting Jewish agencies, synagogues, and any business advertising in the CJN and tell them how upset you are by this decision.
Editor: editorial@cjn.org, 216-342-5206
Advertising: advertising@cjn.org, 216-342-5191,
Randy Loeser, Vice-President, Sales & Operations 342-5191, rloeser@cjn.org
Click here for a complete list of CJN staff contacts.
Avrohom Henfield says
I truly fail to see the point of all the attention being focused on the CJN. The CJN’s mission statement states, “The Company [CJN] is not affiliated with any one program, organization, movement, or point of view within Jewish life, but expects to give expression to all phases of that life.” Why keep looking for something where it doesn’t exist? It’s like telling Hershey’s to stop making chocolate. If a frum person wants the news, pick up a Yated or Hamodia. What other news even matters?
Sarah Leah says
Calling the CJN again, and complaining is going to acomplish NOTHING. If the Jewish community was really serious then they would cut off their financial support. They obviously don’t care where their money comes from. They are NOT sorry, and indulging a cult that is a cancer to the Klal Yisrael should never be taken lightly.
Neil from Beachwood says
@Avrohom Henfield:
The key words here are “within Jewish life”. Christian missionaries are not part of Jewish life. Christian missionaries who fraudulently call themselves “Jewish” do so for the purpose of destroying Jewish life.
My wife and I stopped subscribing to this fish wrapper years ago. I call on the entire Jewish community, left, right, and center, to do the same.
Channah Appel says
the fact is that while we all from the frum community may have stopped our subscriptions to the CJN because their publication does not represent Jews, or News ( one of my past students told me that her family referred to it as “the Cleveland” for that reason) we need to recognize that there is a secular section of the community that is still receiving the paper, and neing influenced by their serious mistakes. I am certainly furious at the fact that the missionaries are targetting the Russian community by airing films such as these at the SOM theater location, and that there are folks that believe that this is a service to exposed people to a “stream of Jusaism” that is actually a tidlewave.
Amy Newman Smith says
To be most effective, don’t contact the CJN. Contact their advertisers. Let them know you will not subscribe to CJN or Jstyle, and if any of their publications arrive at your house, you will throw them in the trash unexamined. Here are few I spotted that would be good candidates for such a contact:
Park Synagogue (or any of the synagogues)
Maltz Museum
Sherri Foxman’s Party411 (big sponsor of their bar/bat mitzvah issue)
Cleveland Clinic at Legacy Village
Ritz-Carlton (main sponsor of their wedding issue)
Jewish Family Services
JCC
Menorah Park or any affiliated facilities
Agnon School, Solomon Schechter,
If you have the time, you can view the bar/bat mitzvah issues, or wedding issues online, with all ads in place. Numbers to call to explain that you will not book with any vendor that supports these publications and why are right there in the ads.
Joe Green says
As I commented on the previous LJN post, my child had received a call asking if we were Jewish. To follow up, I got an envelope today from the Israel Restoration Ministries. Inside was a DVD (I am assuming with the movie referred to above), a booklet and a letter. The DVD and the letter (as well as the envelope) are covered with pictures of Israel, Menorahs, and other Jewish words and images.
I have a right in the U.S. to raise my family in the religion I choose. And when another religion poaches upon my kids and that right, then I get upset. Children are impressionable and calling the house and talking to my kids, and then mailing a DVD which hides the fact that it is trying to poison the mind of impressionable youth, is indicative of an underhandedness and a lack of honesty (or any other morals for that matter). Obviously that other religion does not require morals. Just souls. And Jewish souls must fetch a premium. I suppose this is better than the good old days when I might have been dragged out to public square and burned alive to save my precious soul.
Hmmm. What is it about the Jewish soul that all the other religions want it? If only the CJN could appreciate the value of their own Jewish souls as much as these dishonest ministries did. Then they would not sell them for the price of an ad.