Chabad eyes East Jerusalem's Arab residents
As part of new campaign against the recent wave of violence, Hasidic movement's activists plan to visit capital's Arab neighborhoods and explain the importance of observing the Seven Laws of Noah.
The Hasidic movement has decided to try to solve the terror problem by encouraging non-Jews to observe mitzvot, and have recently launched a campaign aimed at raising awareness of these laws.
The campaign kicked off with an event held on Jerusalem's King George Street in the presence of Deputy for Regional Cooperation Ayoob Kara, who promised to help advance the campaign.
The campaign's initiator, Boaz Kali, said 100,000 billboard signs would be printed with a picture of the Lubavitcher Rebbe alongside the word "messiah" in Arabic and quotes from letters calling for world peace by observing mitzvot. Hundreds of ads have already been distributed near Arab neighborhoods and construction sites.
"This is a religious war, so it requires a religious response, and the Seven Laws of Noah are the basis," says Kali. So far, he adds, the Chabad activists have not encountered any opposition and are now launching a fundraising campaign allowing every person to help fund a sign.
"We have reached an agreement with a company specializing in billboards in Arab villages and cities. They have 1,400 billboards in the entire Arab sector, and we have already bought 20 of them."
One of the city's Arab sheikhs says he has no problem with the Chabad activity, as long as it is done in a pleasant manner, as the promoted mitzvot match Islamic customs, but in the current security situation he sees it as a bad idea.
"It depends on which areas they plan to visit, but in any event I would strongly advise them not to go into the neighborhoods," the sheikh explained.
"The basic commandments of all religions come from the same place. They are acceptable to everyone and talk about each person's moral behavior. It's okay to come and explain about the mitzvot, as long as they are not forcing anyone to do anything against his will."
