Yad L'Achim

Yad L'Achim (Hebrew: יד לאחים) is an Orthodox Jewish organization operating in Israel. Yad L'Achim is made up of both paid staff, and volunteers, and is largely supported by donations both from Israel and the diaspora [ [http://www.yadlachimusa.org.il/Index.asp?CategoryID=190 Yad L'Achim's About our Staff page] ] .

History

It was formed in 1950 with the stated goal of to "help new immigrants to the newly born country, and to help them find a suitable religious framework. [From the Yad L'Achim website, [http://www.yadlachimusa.org.il/Index.asp?CategoryID=188 background page] .] "

Beliefs

Yad L'Achim adheres to the strictures and stringencies of Haredi Judaism. Haredi Jews are known for focusing on such issues as adherence to religious law, non-assimilation, modesty of dress, keeping the Sabbath, known as Shabbat or Shabbos and holy days.

Causes

Some of the main issues to which members of Yad L'Achim are devoted to are anti-missionary (also known as counter-missionary) activity, "rescuing" Jewish women who have married Arab and/or Muslim men whether by choice, or who are suspected of being coerced, or tricked into marriage. Yad L'Achim claims to get over 1,000 reports of women in marriages to foreign workers, and Arabs a year [ [http://www.yadlachimusa.org.il/Index.asp?CategoryID=188 Yad L'Achim background page] "Indeed, Yad L’Achim gets some1,000 calls a year reporting such cases." - Yad L'Achim] . Another issue is assimilation.

Controversies

The US Department of State has made at least 4 references to Yad L'Achim in the International Religious Freedom Report for Israel and the occupied territories in 1999 [ [http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/irf/irf_rpt/1999/irf_israel99.html U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999: Israel] Evangelical Christian and other religious groups also have complained that the police have been slow to investigate incidents of harassment, threats, and vandalism directed against their meetings, churches, and other facilities by two ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups, known as Yad L'achim and Lev L'achim.] , 2003 [ [http://www.state.gov/p/nea/ci/israel/79001.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2003] : Israel and the occupied territories In recent years, evangelical Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Reform and Conservative Jews complained of incidents of harassment, threats, and vandalism directed against their buildings and other facilities, many of which were committed by two ultra-Orthodox groups, Yad L'Achim and Lev L'Achim.] , 2006 [ [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71423.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2006] for Israel and the Occupied Territories Media sources reported that the Messianic Jewish community accused Yad L'achim, a Jewish religious organization opposed to missionary activity, of harassing its members.] , and 2007 [ [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90212.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2007] for Israel and teh Occupied Territories The Messianic Jewish and Jehovah's Witnesses communities accused Yad L'achim, a Jewish religious organization opposed to missionary activity, of harassing and occasionally assaulting its members. ] .

External links

* [http://www.yadlachimusa.org.il/ Yad L'Achim's homepage.]
* [http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=10029 Charity Navigator] 's page on Yad L'Achim

References