The Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC) applauds the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) for its recent arrest, after a year and a half investigation, in the terrorist bombing of Ami Ortiz, teenage son of David Ortiz, an Israeli-American Messianic Jewish leader in Ariel, Israel.  In March, 2008, Ami Ortiz attempted to open a gift-like package left on his family’s front step to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim. The gift turned out to be a bomb, full of ball bearings and other shrapnel, seriously wounding Ami and almost killing him. It was originally thought the bomb was the work of Arab terrorists, but cameras indicated someone associated with the ultra-Orthodox community was involved. Sadly, this event was the most serious in a continuing string of attacks against Messianic Jewish homes, synagogues and individuals perpetrated by radical ultra-Orthodox fringe groups in Israel.  In fact, the Ortiz attack immediately followed the posting of flyers around the Ortiz family’s neighborhood inciting hatred against them because of their Messianic Jewish faith. The UMJC, as well as other organizations, donated funds to the Ortiz family and to the defense fund designed to assist in the apprehension of the perpetrator. The accused, Yaacov Teitel, an ultra-Orthodox American-born Israeli, has been charged with committing numerous hate crimes in Israel against other minority groups. The UMJC calls upon the Israeli government to halt the incitement against Messianic Jews by radical fringe elements associated with certain religious groups.  

See the article from the Jerusalem Post, 11/1/2009: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1256799061280