Monday, December 12, 2005

Shunning

The practice of "shunning" of former employees of Jews for Jesus is described at http://www.exjewsforjesus.org/j4jquestions/shun.html

Another description of shunning is at http://www.exjewsforjesus.org/j4jquestions/#abusive which says that JFJ shunning included "various levels of cutting off communication with these former members, which have ranged from a complete prohibition against communicating with the person to less extreme forms of cut-off. Often rumors were spread about former members to damage their reputation."

Remember that these are former employees of an organization, not members of a church, that are being shunned, and that current employees are doing the "shunning." This shunning is talked about in some of the ex-Jews for Jesus stories. See, for example, http://www.exjewsforjesus.org/stories/mimi.html and also http://www.exjewsforjesus.org/stories/journey4.html

Apparently this unfortunate practice continues. If JFJ is disturbed by accusations that it is a cult, it should discontinue shunning, which is (sociologically speaking) one of the hallmark traits of a cult.

I liked being in Jews For Jesus

Once, Jews For Jesus gave me audiences to speak to. People that were interested in what I had to say. Pretty Christian girls were interested in me, because I worked for Jews For Jesus. Suffering for Christ made me feel noble. I liked that people looked up to me as an expert in Evangelism. I liked having my name on publications that tens of thousands of people read, published and distributed by Jews For Jesus.

But, now I am appalled that during my tenure, in Jews For Jesus, that arrogance was passed down from the leaders. I was taught that Jews For Jesus and its trained workers, knew, better than the rest of the Church, on most matters. It is a shame, that even the Christian world, having a "cool" position, like Missionary, makes you popular, like a football player, in a high school. It is sad to recall that the majority of suffering I endured had more to do with cruel leadership, and little to do with Christ, and the deprivation I endured had more to do with making money for the Organization, than being "a good soldier for Christ." I was not treated with dignity or regard, by Jews For Jesus, though I did receive praise from those who did not fully understand this group, or how I was treated in it.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Sunday, October 02, 2005

terror

Terror and dread.

My life in jews for jesus was one of regular terror. Never knowing which innocuous action was going to bring down the dreaded yelling, or public humiliation. Or worse, yet, an off hand remark, or the unforgivable action, that will keep you from that promotion, that desired assignment, or pay raise, and inevitably thrown back in your face for years.

In the corporate world, one would have objective job evaluations, based on objective, attainable criteria. In JFJ: Good enough was never enough. And those who excelled, seem to be knocked down a few pegs, so they would not get a "swelled head." But the offenses bringing on wrath seemed quite random, difficult for new staff to anticipate. The offense would not be dereliction of duty, often, but not being able to read the mind of Moishe Rosen. And if you did not follow an unwritten, or yet to be made up rule:You might be publicly ridiculed, for the effect of spreading the word, that there was a new unwritten rule.

It seemed there were whipping boys in JFJ who were more naive, and seemed to walk into these quicksand traps sprung by the leadership. Those who began to sense a trap, a "tests" coming up, had a less grueling time in JFJ. But getting the brunt of the random "object lesson", or viewing it, (and being so relieved it was not you,) caused an atmosphere of absolute terror. You never knew when these, spot checks, tests of reactions, or random tirades, were going to happen to you. You lived in constant vigilance, and dread. TERROR!

Somebody who has not been in an abusive family, alchoholic family, or cult could not think that the word terror or dread are appropriate. But in Jews For Jesus, all staff is overworked, overstressed, isolated, indoctrinated,and sleep deprived. Losing your perspective of right and wrong, appropriate and inapropriate was just a matter of time. Your whole world revolved around Jews For Jesus, and you did not want that world in a upheavel. So when a man with the charisma of a Jesse Jackson lashes out at YOU. There is nothing left in your world to give you the assurance to say"Why be bothered? This guy is crazy, and God loves me." You are crushed, and humiliated, and you will do ANYTHING, EVERYTHING you can to make sure it NEVER happens again. Just the way the executive intended.

You couldn't even talk to an objective person, because it would break an unwritten, and later written rule against speaking ill of JFJ, or relating anything not public about JFJ. So your parent, college friend, pastor, could not tell you how ludicrous an occurence was. There was no objectivity, only isolation among others, who are also afraid to be seen as disloyal (critical of any the executive director does.)

Jews for Jesus mastered the "art of terror to motivate." They used the stick, and the stick that looked like a carrot. Stalin used terror to control his people in the Soviet Union. Saddam Hussein studied and copied Stalin's tactics in Iraq, with the same effect, his people were to afraid to talk to their neighbor's about opposing Saddam Hussein. Now, I do not say that Moishe Rosen, and David Brickner are the same as Stalin. Stalin killed millions of his own citizens, many innocent ones, randomly, to create an atmospere of terror. They just create an atmosphere of terror, and would humiliate, yell with firocity, fine, demoralize, to control absolutely. They have only ruined hundreds of lives. Not an equal comparison, but the same techniques.

I was terrified of Moishe for years after I left Jews for Jesus. His imposing presence I guess intimadated me, even when he seemingly had no place in my life. Not unlike a father, who lives in the back of a grown child's mind, in my mind he had grown into an adopted warped, father figure. This I believe was not hapenstance, but Moishe was trying to be the father-figure, for us all. Again, to control.

I confess, that terror of Moishe continued until he was quite ill. Only then, when he was getting feeble, did I have the courage to think of speaking the truth. I began to speak candidly to my post Jews For Jesus friends, and finally told them about my stories, and opinions, and experiences, in Jews For Jesus. For, now I can act like a free man, and I can speak my mind, but not free from dread. I post this anonomously because I still dread the inevitable retribution that placing my name with this post will have. Those who do speak out receive this retribution as a "lesson" to those still in JFJ and exJFJ to stay quiet. If not you, then a relative.

Once we were slaves but now we are free. Only this "Pharoah" still has "chariots", so we have to be careful.

Pity us if you like. But Stalin was not a happy man. Saddam Hussein was not a happy man. They were pitiful men, obsessed with power, paranoid. They could never truly be happy and relaxed, with the people around them, because they trusted no one.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

How many were labeled "Unstable or Mentally ill" ?

How many who have left JFJ staff were labeled "Unstable or Mentally ill?"

It is absolutely frightening!

What is funny, is that when we were on JFJ staff WE BELIEVED THE RUMORS!

Sometimes we even convinced ourselves that "Something Must Be Wrong With Me."

Nothing is wrong with me or you!

Something is wrong with Jews for Jesus.


http://www.exjewsforjesus.org/

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Prostitute of Jews for Jesus

MANY MANY former Liberated Wailing Wall members who have communicated about their negative experiences in JFJ (called by David Brickner and Moishe Rosen a "microcosm of the larger organization of Jews for Jesus"), refer to the Liberated Wailing Wall as "The Jews for Jesus Prostitute" and themselves as having been "prostitutes" for Jews for Jesus, because of the sleepless and completely spiritually void schedule with one week off in 18 months and one day off a week.

When asked why the Liberated Wailing Wall (LWW) gets so little time off, David Brickner's pat response was always, "It costs too much money to keep the team on the road to give them more than one day off per week."

It is also well known in Jews for Jesus that the LWW makes very little front end money by singing in churches. Most of the income comes in the form of "residual giving," which means people continue to give for years after an initial concert.

The residual income amount is in the millions of dollars per year.

That is why the LWW is called "the Prostitute of Jews for Jesus."

Jews for Jesus leadership doesn't care how spiritually bankrupt the LWW team members become during their 18 months of "Prostitution." They only care about the names, addresses and phone numbers they collect to continue fund raising for JFJ.

Do the research yourself. Interview a few different music professionals or semi-professional bands, booking agents, or managers. Ask them what, in their professional experience, is the longest a music group should be on a tour.

Those I've spoken to about LWW's 18-month tours are disgusted by the unprofessional prostitution of poor young people who don't know they are being used and abused by Jews for Jesus.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Unbalanced

JFJ is simply unbalanced. They insist that their employees focus completely on the organization without regard to the needs of their families or their own personal needs.

For a healthy alternative to this unbalanced approach, see
http://www.tikkunministries.org/newsletters/es-aug05.asp (especially the section on Burnout). If only JFJ would acknowledge that overworking their employees is unhealthy for everyone. Spouses and children often suffer the most in these situations.

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Explanations

JFJ and those who love JFJ say the following:

"How dare you hold grudges against people who - um - supposedly hurt you?

How could you take non-Biblical actions against folks who treated you - um - in a non-Biblical fashion?

You are doing the same things that you - um - claim JFJ did.

We have no problems. Never did. Damn shame there are so many disgruntled people out there. They need to go to the Lord and ask forgiveness for their unforgiving attitudes towards us."

What was good about JFJ?

What was good about JFJ?
Someone commented somewhere on the Ex-Jews for Jesus Blog that we are not posting anything positive about JFJ.

I have tried hard to remember positive things, and the one thing that I remember that was really good about JFJ was the MONEY we made.

Yes, we were paid well. We also got certain tax breaks; I don't quite remember how they worked: what comes to mind is a housing allowance and a furniture allowance.

Our health and dental insurance was the best.

Usually at Christmas time, we received a bonus. Sometimes the bonus was quite large.

We could reimburse for expensive meals if the meal was ministry related.

Senior staff were given Ministry Vehicles and those that didn't qualify for a Ministry Vehicle, had a chance to get an interest-free loan to buy a car. Come to think of it, I think JFJ also provided those who bought homes with a loan to buy a house!

We could buy computers through JFJ, interest free.

When staff got married, JFJ helped with beautiful JFJ weddings.

Certain staff qualified for JFJ to pay for higher education, such as programs at Fuller Seminary and even educational programs in Israel.

If you stayed with JFJ a long time, you were able to travel to wonderful places at JFJ's expense.

Yes, those things were good......I guess. Or were they?


http://www.exjewsforjesus.org/

Friday, August 05, 2005

Parallels Blog

http://paralleluniversejfj.blogspot.com/

The views expressed are not necessarily the views or opinions of Ex Jews for Jesus, but it's a fun blog nevertheless.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

HOW TO DETERMINE IF A GROUP IS A DESTRUCTIVE CULT

from this link: http://www.factnet.org/rancho5.htm?FACTNet

Common Properties of Potentially Destructive and Dangerous Cults

The cult is authoritarian in its power structure.

This sounds like Jews for Jesus.

The cult's leaders tend to be charismatic, determined, and domineering.

This sounds like Jews for Jesus.

The cult's leaders are self-appointed, messianic persons who claim to have a special mission in life.

This sounds like Jews for Jesus.

The cult's leaders center the veneration of members upon themselves.

This sounds like Jews for Jesus.

The cult tends to be totalitarian in its control of the behavior of its members.

This sounds like Jews for Jesus.

The cult tends to have a double set of ethics.

This sounds like Jews for Jesus.

The cult has basically only two purposes, recruiting new members and fund-raising.

This sounds like Jews for Jesus.

The cult appears to be innovative and exclusive.

This sounds like Jews for Jesus.


http://www.exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Saturday, July 23, 2005

How Jews for Jesus Explains Ex Jews for Jesus

This is the way Jews for Jesus "explains away" what is being said on the
Ex Jews for Jesus website and on the Ex Jews for Jesus Blog:

"Give up your futile lies about us. Nobody will believe you, because we look nice, and have the right friends. And who are you? You have no credibility because you don't work for Jews For Jesus. Just go home, be quiet, because we have the right to do what we want, because we are right. Even when we are wrong, we are right. And don't you forget that, lazy loser that you are."

Thursday, July 21, 2005

David Brickner, just a puppet?

David Brickner, just a puppet?

Hmm, lets look back on the history of JFJ, and look all those who were thought to have leadership potential: Baruch Goldstein, he had too much, and got shipped out to Canada, too hard to control. Tuvya Zaretsky, since his engagement to a gentile woman was broken up by an executive, hadn't had the same swagger. Sam Nadler, kicked out. Barry Rubin, a long shot, but kicked out early. Avi Snyder, he had all the drive of Moishe, but was too short to be an American Figurehead, and shipped out to Russia, Efraim Goldstein, fizzled out and shipped out of the US, as well as Bob Mendlesohn. Andrew Barron had a lot of talent, but shipped out. Jhan Moskowitz, minus the apostrophe now, too often in Moishe's doghouse. And lastly the golden boy heir apparent Mitch Glaser. Unceremoniously dispatched. Who was left? The missionary Susan prayed with every morning for a year was then dubbed the next heir apparent. But he was raised to understand Church Culture i.e. fundraising. His father fund raised, his grandfather fund raised, his uncle fund raised. Not too Jewish for church sensibilities. Very nice guy to meet, but lacking empathy. Little charisma, little peer respect, few necessities, to mold, change, or guide JFJ into the new Millennium. But a perfect conduit for Moishe to continue leading JFJ, through Susan Perlman. Perhaps the most powerful woman in conservative Evangelical Christianity, that no one has heard of because she oversees David, in the day to day workings of Jews For Jesus, for Moishe. She is intensely loyal to Moishe, his "right hand man", assistant, and constant companion. Even if Moishe passes away she will defend his legacy.

Because of her, David can't say that "Moishe was evil," and he can't say that "we are distancing ourselves away from his paranoid-like suspicious excesses, and becoming more Biblical and balanced, in the treatment of our workers."

All he can say is "Things are getting better".


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Friday, July 15, 2005

Recent vendetta by Jews for Jesus to harm a former JFJ staff member who is DEAF

It has come to our attention that Moishe Rosen is currently on a vendetta to harm a former JFJ staff member who is DEAF, by slandering her to a sister Jewish Mission organization from the Southern United States. Rosen's accusation is that the former employee of Jews for Jesus is involved with an "anti-missionary" organization (saying that we are that anti-missionary organization).

Based on Rosen's accusation, this Godly minister of the Gospel has lost her financial support for the ministry she does in reaching Deaf Jewish people for Christ!!!

Rosen is guilty of not only slander against former staff, he is guilty of hindering the Gospel.

When will the supporters and apologists of Jews for Jesus wake up and realize that the organization they believe in, and its founder, are altogether corrupt???


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Apologize for Past Wrongs, JFJ!!

About nine decades after a lynching, white preachers apologize to the victim's relatives for the crime that was kept silent for generations. See
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-lynch13jul13,0,339557,full.story

Isn't it about time that JFJ apologizes for its past wrongs? Or will it take nine decades for JFJ to acknowledge the sins of the fathers?

Monday, July 11, 2005

We are ex employees

We have been accused by Jews for Jesus of being anti-missionaries.

That is not true.

We are Ex employees of the Jews for Jesus organization.

Friday, July 01, 2005

Do you think that being an advocate of victims of abuse is a sin that needs to be repented of?

Do you think that being an advocate of victims of abuse is a sin that needs to be repented of? We have reason to believe that some supporters of Jews for Jesus hold this viewpoint. And frankly, it strikes us as rather cold and hardhearted. If this is true, it would mean that Christian social workers, police, attorneys, and many other members of society would no longer be able to do their jobs without sinning. Sheesh, it seems like a new "sin" has been invented just to keep the "sins of the fathers" from being visited upon their children.

Any comments?


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Review of Ruth Tucker's book NOT ASHAMED on Amazon.com

This is one of the latest reviews of a book written about the history of JFJ that has been left on Amazon.com

"I picked the book up thinking that it would be a basic look into the Jews For Jesus organization. Instead what I read was a book trying very hard to convince me of the legitamcy and non-cult status of Jews For Jesus. It is obvious the author was paid by Jews For Jesus to portray them in the light of their choosing, which of course is positive. I have nothing against their organization... but I hate to be lured into books that seem to be one thing but then end up being a whole different story once you get past the dust jacket description. At least be honest and straight forward in your descriptions rather than being misleading. If you are a member or supporter of Jews For Jesus this would be a great book for you; if you are just looking for basic insight that is not dirtied up with payola and bias this is not your book!!"

Thursday, June 23, 2005

To Moishe....

Moishe:

Shalom to you in San Francisco.

We were just curious if you are reading this blog.

If you are not reading this blog please reply.

If we don't hear from you, we'll assume you are reading this blog.

In Yeshua,

Ex Jews for Jesus

Monday, June 20, 2005

Obesity

It's just fine to be overweight in Jews for Jesus.

It's not fine to not make goals.

It's not fine to not pass out enough tracts.

It is not fine to do a bunch of other stuff, but you can be fat.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Friday, June 10, 2005

The Light of the Truth

I think this Blog does a great job in providing some objectivity to the entire Jews for Jesus experience that NO ONE ever heard (or would otherwise believe) if this site didn't exist.

Freedom of speech was denied us in Jews for Jesus. Freedom of speech about what happened to us has tried to be taken away from us for speaking out about what happend to us in Jews for Jesus.

Jews for Jesus continues to go to former staff who speak out and try to get them to recant their stories, to get them to renounce their stories, to change their stories.

David Brickner himself and Jhan Moskowitz keep going to former staff to intimidate and otherwise attempt to coerce former staff to not share their stories anymore.

Yet, they (Brickner as the leader of Jews for Jesus in particular) continues to refuse to submit to outside arbitration and review from outside organziations concerning the 100's of allegations from former staff.

It is no wonder they are going to former staff to intimidate them into being quiet about their true stories of abuse.

They are afraid of the light of truth.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

"Ex" means we are ex-employees, NOT Ex FOR JESUS

A JFJ Administrator has recently accused those involved with Ex Jews for Jesus of being Anti-Missionaries!

This is a false accusation.

We are FOR JESUS and are EX Employees of the Jews for Jesus organization.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Secrets

http://secretjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

The information at the above link is NOT an Ex Jews for Jesus link. We found the link accidentally and have linked it to this blog.

Saturday, May 28, 2005

We Received a Threat from a JFJ Representative

"So tell me, who's the stalker? You courageous(?) people who supposedly have the guts to 'expose' Jews for Jesus (all done anonymously of course, for fear of being stalked by the 'terrorists' Jews for Jesus)? Or, Jews for Jesus who have no problem identifying themselves or have any interest (much to your dismay) in bothering you?

I know the names of many of the people in this blog site and exJFJ site. If you keep that blog you set up in any way, shape or fashion I promise you I will name all that I know. It's time YOU stopped the viscious slander and time for anyone who comes into this site know exactly who is responsible for it.

Arleen Getzel*
(people with NOTHING to hide, hide nothing)"

Persecution

II Timothy 3:12 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
In my service with Jews for Jesus I was privledged to suffer persecution for our Messiah Yeshua's sake. I was threatened repeatedly with "if you are still here when I come back, I'm going to put you through the wall." (They never did come back). I was cussed out by people in orthodox Jewish garb who displayed the middle finger of ...fellowship. People tried to wrestle my gospel tracts out of my hands. This all was not hard to endure. But the sadness I suffered after I left missionary staff when old friends abandoned me because I no longer served with them on Jews for Jesus staff was much more difficult to endure than any threats from unbelievers.


http://www.exjewsforjesus.org/

A Letter From an Ex Jews for Jesus Blog Reader

We have received written permission to post this to our blog:

'...How to begin to THANK you, for the link,and the insight gained from reading the Ex-JFJ blogs.I'm glad you wrote to warn about "cult" mind control. I never realised what a VICTIM, my poor departed Mother was. Jews for Jesus had her totally under their control,whilst not really accepting her.

I never realised that not only they had alienated her from us, her daughters, husband and family, they also took most of her money,whilst she was still alive. At least they never got their greedy hands on my inheritance, a bit of a miracle in itself. I only wish somehow, my mother and I had made our "peace" before she passed away, but she was no longer speaking to any of us, by that time, having already (tried) to cut us out of her Will.

Again, thanks for posting those links.

If you even touched just ONE person,(and you did, because you touched ME, and that's not by mistake.........) you have done an immeasurable good deed. I am indebited.'


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Thursday, May 26, 2005

A letter from an Ex Jews for Jesus Blog reader

We have received written permission to post this to our blog:

'...How to begin to THANK you, for the link,and the insight gained from reading the Ex-JFJ blogs.I'm glad you wrote to warn about "cult" mind control. I never realised what a VICTIM, my poor departed Mother was. Jews for Jesus had her totally under their control,whilst not really accepting her.

I never realised that not only they had alienated her from us, her daughters, husband and family, they also took most of her money,whilst she was still alive. At least they never got their greedy hands on my inheritance, a bit of a miracle in itself. I only wish somehow, my mother and I had made our "peace" before she passed away, but she was no longer speaking to any of us, by that time, having already (tried) to cut us out of her Will.

Again, thanks for posting those links.

If you even touched just ONE person,(and you did, because you touched ME, and that's not by mistake.........) you have done an immeasurable good deed. I am indebited.'


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

What happened to your favorite Jews for Jesus speakers?

What happened to your favorite Jews for Jesus speakers?

Check out the Jews for Jesus website and you'll notice that many of your favorite Jews for Jesus speakers are no longer with the organization. What happened to them?

http://whathappenedjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Sunday, May 22, 2005

If you see someone passing out Jews for Jesus literature, you should...

In my lifetime, I have passed out religious literature in airports and many other places......thousands of religious leaflets have been passed from my hands and from the hands of almost every former Jews for Jesus worker.

Remind yourself that there is a real person inside the poor souls passing out JFJ religious literature for a JFJ's leaders at airports/street corners/college campuses.

Their lives are controlled and they live in terror most of the time. Most can't live their lives without being controlled and most don't feel there is any choice but to remain in JFJ.

If you are moved at all next time you see a individual standing out in the rain/cold/snow/airport/heat passing out JFJ religious literature...tell them they can leave the Jews for Jesus.

Tell them that Jews for Jesus is not really their friend or family and there is a life outside of Jews for Jesus.

Leaving Jews for Jesus does not mean that a person needs to stop loving Jesus and sharing about Jesus.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Would you like to start your own Ex Jews for Jesus blog?

If you start your own Jews for Jesus or Ex Jews for Jesus blog, tell us the the link and we'll announce it for you on this blog.

http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

JFJ Staff Members observed/witnessed...

Staff members observed Moishe Rosen smashing a wooden chair.

Staff members observed Moishe Rosen spanking a female volunteer.

Staff members observed Moishe Rosen slapping various volunteers and
employees in what was referred to as "pain training." In one incident, a
volunteer suffered a broken ear drum as a result of these slaps.

Staff members observed Moishe Rosen pushing an employee out of his chair
and onto the floor.

Staff members observed Moishe Rosen ordering an employee to pour a pitcher
of water over a drunk man's head. (The employee refused).

A staff member witnessed Moishe Rosen throwing a pipe at him.

A staff member witnessed Moishe Rosen throwing a telephone through a plate
glass window.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

No good comments?

There have been very few good comments on the new GOOD about JFJ blog.

http://goodjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

So...does that mean there is very little good to say about Jews for Jesus?

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Why

If Ex-Jews For Jesus is merely a group of disgruntled former employees, then why:

  • are there so many of us?

  • do more former staff arrive every year, telling stories of how the environment has not changed?

  • is there never any serious self-examination on the part of Jews for Jesus' leadership. Instead, there is only discrediting the aggreived as imbalanced or part of a "conspiracy."

  • do people over the span of four decades all share similar experiences of being publicly humiliated?


Why?


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Friday, May 13, 2005

Treated as professionals

Professional Missionary?

A definition of a professional in our society involves extensive training and being mentored and nurtured to be knowledgeable and competent in a given field. Professions, in our society, include physicians, lawyers, pharmacists, dentists, and ministers.

These people enjoy great respect in our society, We tend to believe them because of their training, education, credentials, and commitment to ethical behavior. They are "professional."

Why is JFJ seemingly the only religious organization that does not treat its ministers as professionals? Why do they choose, too often, to deal with their highly trained (maybe even regimented) ministry staff with suspicion and supervision appropriate only for a habitual alcoholic or a habitual liar?

I've heard that JFJ used to have as part of its worker's covenant, that they would treat their workers appropriately as ministers of the Gospel. That is, until one worker left citing that JFJ had broken their covenant with him and their treatment of him was not in keeping with his position as a minister of the Gospel. Needless to say, that phrase was quickly deleted from the Worker's Covenant. And for YEARS I heard this ex-staffer's name reviled by an executive as being the worst kind of covenant breaker! I found out the last tirades of this executive against him to the staff occurred when he sent Moishe a letter forgiving him of his sins against him.

Professionals in our society are given high discretion work. So why are the professionals in JFJ not given any discretion in their ministry? For example, they are given an extremely short window of time to minister to someone while on the street, and time limits on personal visits to minister to people off the streets. No exceptions. Why does JFJ train, then over-supervise, staff, allowing no or little professional discretion? JFJ does not allow their missionaries to manage their own lives or to live up to professional standards. Rather, they constantly need to validate their workers, making sure that the worker complies with every jot and tiddle of their policies and procedures in every aspect of their life.

Imagine a pastor needing to account for every 15 minutes of his day, having an elder periodically search his briefcase, or his bedroom unannounced. Or needing to tell his board how many letters he wrote, phone calls, and the nature of the ministry, how many rest home patients he visited, and their spiritual status. Then he would get feedback if he had used his time wisely. It would be ridiculous. And no pastor would stand for it for professional reasons. Also, because that kind of supervision is inefficient, and counter-productive; wasteful of his time that could be better spent doing his job: To minister.

Ministry is a spiritual service. How can a minister be regimented by rote procedure, and not use his objective training, to try to find ways specific to that situation to solve problems? Why is the Holy Spirit not allowed to lead a worker to spend two hours, with a person in need?

And why does JFJ require theological training for all of its missionaries? They never get to use any of the training. They never get to preach, except for one entirely scripted message that cannot be altered. Not even one word! The only reason for the training that I can think of is so that JFJ can force the new missionaries to continue working for them in order to pay off their educational loan!

In effect, JFJ may really have many 10 year interns, and no MINISTERS in the field at all!


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Sunday, May 08, 2005

Good about Jews for Jesus blog

http://goodjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Leaving

Recently I said good-bye. No, not good-bye to Jews for Jesus....I did said good-bye to JFJ long ago.

This time I said good-bye to a place and people I once thought the world of.

As I said good-bye, I wondered why I was leaving. Was what I am moving on to really better?

I'm not sure, but I do know, that although others seem to be content with a place and people that frustrated and angered me, that I was unhappy, and needed to move on.

In JFJ, each one of us struggled with leaving. Were we really doing the right thing?

As time passes, I believe each one of us knows we made the right decision, but leaving JFJ feels so much like a divorce that it takes a long time to be convinced that leaving was the right thing to do.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Sunday, May 01, 2005

A word of Warning! to young women considering service with JFJ

The women who became leaders in JFJ usually were given a choice.

Opportunity for advancement meant that one agreed to not marry and raise a family.

It has always been known that Susan Perlman was given that choice by Moishe in the early JFJ days and today I see other female single missionaries in the organization that do have leadership roles because of that choice.

There is nothing wrong with choosing the single or childless lifestyle, but it does seem sad to see these women move into middle age (or old age) now without any family (except JFJ). Even women who have left JFJ staff, who were given leadership roles while with JFJ, never did marry. Some of these women, I believe, did want a lifelong partner, but JFJ somehow took their chance to find that partner away when they were young enough to date.

(It can be argued that in the Catholic Church, women make that same choice in order to serve God, but JFJ is a Protestant group.)

JFJ wished these women to only marry approved JFJ men. Once married, a newly married JFJ woman usually was asked to not have children for a certain period of time so that JFJ did not waste time or money on that woman.

Within the JFJ system and hierarchy, a single woman could become great. It does seem sad, however, that a husband and wife could not minister together. Yes, opportunities to minister were given to all JFJ staff wives in some way eventually.

If you are a young woman thinking of serving with JFJ, do consider the consequences of the choice you are about to make.


http://www.exjewsforjesus.org/

Saturday, April 23, 2005

It's a bird, it's a plane....NO....it's....it's....it's....JFJ Super-Missionary!

Look at that van on the freeway.....

It's a bird, it's a plane....

No....it's....it's... JFJ Super-Missionary!

Able to pass out over 600 flyers in 2 two hours, able to recite 13 page scripts in less than 45 minutes, able to write 80 postcards a week, able to lead four people to God in less than 30 seconds....yes...it's true!....its JFJ Super Missionary!

Disguised as a mild-manered Jew who also believes in Jesus, JFJ Super-Missionary is committed to spreading some truth and also the JFJ way.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Friday, April 22, 2005

Rage-aholic

If you have been reading the newspapers or watching the news on television, you know that John Bolton is President Bush's nominee for the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. And you also know that his nomination is in danger because of reports that he often becomes uncontrollably angry toward his subordinates, has in many cases tried to get them fired for minor annoyances, and in general does not seem to have the temperament for someone that most of us would want for the position of ambassador to the U.N.

Bolton seems to be, in my opinion, a "rage-aholic." And he has his defenders, those who, like President Bush, say that getting angry at a subordinate has nothing to do with one's qualifications for the job of U.N. ambassador. In fact, his defenders say, getting angry is just part of life; all of us get angry at one time or another, and sometimes anger serves a useful purpose. All strong leaders will exhibit this emotion in the heat of the moment. Nothing to be ashamed about, nothing that should deny the man a job.

But most of us, I suspect, realize that exhibiting the kind of anger that Bolton is accused of *is* something to be ashamed of. It's a character flaw, one that can be emotionally and vocationally fatal. It can ruin friendships, mess up marriages, and destroy the self-esteem of children. And it can create an unhealthy atmosphere in the work environment.

What's the connection to Jews for Jesus? Well, if you've read the stories at http://www.exjewsforjesus.org or the postings on this blog, you know that the Executive Director of Jews for Jesus is also a "rage-aholic." I'm referring to Moishe Rosen primarily, but also to David Brickner (mini-Mo) to a lesser degree (and anyone who aspires to leadership in JFJ). Throwing chairs and pipes and other objects, screaming at subordinates in public and private, firing people on a whim, this is the modus operandi of the Model Jews for Jesus Leader. It's not seen as a bad thing. In fact, it is seen as something that can be used in a manipulative sort of way, to achieve results that might otherwise not be achieved. Instilling fear in others, for one. If your subordinates are scared of you, they will often do whatever you want. It's the modern version of the King who could order a servant to be tortured or killed if they didn't do exactly what he said to do.

And why don't most Christian leaders have a problem with this Jews for Jesus style of management. I suspect that one reason is because many of them subscribe to the same sort of philosophy, or have the same sort of "anger management" tendencies.

When John Bolton gets denied his job at the U.N., maybe he can apply for a job at JFJ.

Monday, April 18, 2005

The Sayings of Chairman Moishe

(1) You are not tired, you are bored.

(2) People do not come to your events to hear you people preach!

(3) Someone get me some sushi, NOW!

(4) The Bible says nothing about vacations.

(5) If I hear you say El Dub Dub again, I'll cram your fist down your throat!

(6) Rent in San Francisco is about the same as anywhere else.

(7) Postal cards in Five minutes!

(8) That was a hostile statement. You need to deal with your hostility.

(9) Your desktop is a fire hazard.

(10) There is a principle here for my unbiblical behavior.

(11) You are wrong and here's why....

(12) What did you learn? .... No, what you learned was ....

(13) Most of you are recreational sleepers. You need a lot less sleep than you think.

(14) Get me some sushi. NOW!

(15) Affirmation can act as a de-motivator.

(16) 45 minutes is more than anyone needs for lunch.

(17) There are 2 kinds of workers: lazy and inefficient.

(18) Desktops are not storage space.

(19) Conflicting verbal directives are no excuse for your failure.

(20) Get me some sushi. NOW!

Mind Control

How does Jews for Jesus control minds?

It happens slowly and in subtle ways.

First the innocent person experiences a sense of belonging to a wonderful group of Jewish believers. Jews for Jesus seems the best of the best and the person wants more of Jews for Jesus.

As time passes, the person is convinced that JFJ's methods are the best methods and the words of JFJ leaders are the same as God's words.

Once that happens, the individuals will do anything and agree with anything JFJ says and does.

If one questions what JFJ asks one to do, even if the directive may seem wrong to the individual, somehow JFJ's leaders get the person to see how wrong even questioning is.

What is sad is that friends controlled by the organization can become enemies. Anyone who questions JFJ at all is looked at as a threat and is explained away or fired.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Sunday, April 17, 2005

Ceil wrote....

Someone in Ex Jews for Jesus received this description of Moishe from Ceil Rosen in 2003. Ceil gave the receiver permission to share what she wrote.

"Moishe is not the monster you may have thought him to be. After being married to him for 52 years, I can tell you that he is not a cruel person. He does not deliberately hurt people. He does have a high sense of what ought to be, especially in the ministry he founded. It's called principles to live by. If he ever wanted "control", it was quality control over a God given ministry, not control over individuals and their lives.

Because of the initial immaturity of the hippie generation of people JFJ began with, Moishe may have acted at times more like a caring father than just an employer, but there was never malice intended. I think he truly loved the staff as though he were their parent, and when he acted as such, it was not always appreciated, and perhaps not always warranted.

Nevertheless, any organization worth its salt must have one CEO who can and does make decisions on how it will be run. In any business or religious organization there can only be one "boss." Employees who don't care to accept that leadership are always free to leave. When a person enrolls in school or enlists in the armed services, that individual is bound to follow the
rules. You can quit school; you can't quit an enlistment in the service, but you don't have to re-enlist if you don't want to! Life is like that, full of commitments (marriage, etc.). "


Editor's note: No comment feature on this one. Just one wife's perspective.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Monday, April 11, 2005

Hope of Reconciliation with Jews for Jesus?

Some of us once believed that JFJ would consider apologizing for all the horrible wrongs committed to their former staff and make things right.

God can work miracles, but sometimes it seems ridiculous to believe such a thing could ever happen!

Instead, JFJ insists we individually go to those who abused us within JFJ and explain we believe we have been abused and to work out our hurts privately.

JFJ just did way too many horrible things to get away with a little private "We're sorry."

Some people have never recovered from what JFJ did to them.

If real reconciation is not possible, what can be done to help those who have been abused besides speaking out on this blog?


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Every Knock is a Boost

One of the mottos we all learned in JFJ was "Every Knock is a Boost."

That being the slogan of today, let me examine this slogan and see if the saying really lives up to its name.

Here's a example:

You are on Campaign Training and you are exhausted. You had a tract bag grabbed from you somewhere in Chicago and spent the evening at the police station and because you were at the police station, you were unable to study for the quiz that is going to be given first thing in the morning.

So, you go to the Campaign Trainer and ask if there is a chance you may be excused. Well, you not only find out that asking such a question should have not been asked, but you get fined extra postcards for asking. You also are in major trouble because you missed the evening's lecture.

The next morning you show up at the quiz without having any sleep the night before. Well, you don't pass the quiz since you can't remember what you tried to study all night.

Because of your horrible performance on the quiz you are made to stand before the entire Campaign Training Class and you are publicly humiliated for doing so bad on the quiz. You are also humiliated in front of the group because you allowed your tract bag to get grabbed in the first place.

Your punishment will be an all night eight-hour sortie in Grand Central Station the first night of Campaign. You will be allowed soda during the punishment sortie, but you will not be allowed to take bathroom breaks.

Yes, every knock is a boost, you know.


http://www.exjewsforjesus.org/

Sunday, April 10, 2005

All this really did happen.....

Someone was falsely accused of being mentally ill when he left JFJ.

Someone was screamed at in a public meeting for yawning.

Someone was fined 25 cents per minute for every person he kept waiting.

Someone was kicked off the Liberated Wailing Wall bus and left alone in a strange city with no money.

Someone and the chair he was sitting in were rolled across the room by a JFJ senior executive.

A young woman, when she was 22, was pulled over to sit on the lap of a JFJ senior executive (he was in his 40s then).

Someone was falsely accused of lying on his evangelistic reports.

Someone was falsely accused of stealing donors.

Someone had rumors spread that he was trying to destroy JFJ.

A woman was made to hand wax a JFJ senior executive's car when she was pregnant.

Someone was falsely accused of taking drugs.

Someone was relieved of duties for psychological stress with no doctor's evaluation.

Someone was falsely accused of drinking.

Someone found Playboy magazines in a JFJ senior executive's desk.

Someone saw a JFJ senior executive in a pornographic chat room.

Someone had a pipe thrown at him by a JFJ senior executive.

Someone saw a JFJ senior executive throw a chair at a staff member.

Someone was recruited to spy on her husband.

Someone's private confession was held as blackmail.

Someone had false rumors spread that he left because he was gay.

Someone had stories told that he had AIDS.

Someone had his new employer contacted to try to get him fired (because the employer did not get a JFJ senior executive's permission before hiring him).

Someone lost her hearing in one ear due to violent slaps in pain training that punctured her ear drum.

Someone's dentist appointment was interrupted and she was sent to hand out tracts with an unfilled hole in her tooth.

Someone had to sign an agreement to not stay in Jewish missions in order to get severance pay.

Someone's marriage was broken up by the group.

Someone had her apartment searched "for things that belonged to the organization" when she left.

Someone was fired because she did not have a JFJ senior executive's approval on the man she wanted to marry.

Someone had to miss his daughter's graduation to attend a "Council" meeting.

Someone was told by a Board member, "Thank you for not suing... because you would surely win. But if you quote me I'll deny I said this." The Board then "officially" reported in the matter that a JFJ senior executive had done nothing wrong.

Someone was told to work harder when she felt suicidal.

Someone had stories fabricated about him that he went to prostitutes.

Someone was told by a JFJ senior executive that this senior executive had a panty fetish.

Someone confronted a JFJ senior executive with evidence of adultery in the early 1970s.

Someone lost her position when she discovered a JFJ senior executive looking at porn.

Someone was humiliated when his "firing" was publicly announced at a retreat.

Someone left "dishonorably" because he only gave 60 days notice (though his mother died and he left to be with his father).

Someone was accused of "breaking the covenant" for speaking to fellow staff to defend himself of accusations that he went crazy.

Someone was told that nothing he ever did would amount to anything if he left JFJ.

Someone was told be a JFJ senior executive about his girlfriend's sexual appetite and her orgasms.

Someone was not allowed to contact anyone he left through JFJ to tell them he left.

Someone (a young man in his late 20s) was asked by a JFJ senior executive about his wife's sexual satisfaction.

Someone was told by a JFJ senior executive how to please her husband sexually including suggesting that she greet him in the nude when he returned from a trip.

Someone (a young woman in her 20s) was asked by a JFJ senior executive about her orgasms.

Someone was accused of having his lip cancer spread to his brain to explain why he wanted to leave.

Someone wrote a popular song on her own time for which JFJ has received all the royalties.

Someone, when he left JFJ, had a letter written to his supporters falsely accusing him of sexual impropriety.

Someone was falsely accused of incest with his daughter.

Someone was allowed to only see his wife on weekends during JFJ Campaign and was directed that no sexual relations with his wife were allowed during those weekend visits.

Someone was falsely accused of plotting with the board of another mission to take over when he didn't get to lead JFJ.

Someone was told by a JFJ senior executive to spank her kids occasionally for no reason just to keep them afraid of her.

Someone had a phone thrown by a JFJ senior executive through his plate glass office divider for being 5 minutes late for a meeting to write postcards to donors.

Someone was not allowed time off to go to their High School Reunion because they'd "already had time off this year to get married."

A well-educated college graduate someone wasn't allowed to go home for Christmas because the supervisor wanted to help the person "build some character."


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Saturday, April 09, 2005

JFJ Co-Laborers


In the early 80s, a new program was started with Jews for Jesus called Co-Laborer in Messiah.

The idea was that JFJ needed to get back to the wonderful spirit that was in the original group; that is, a joy about sharing Jesus with anyone and everyone. The staff was so busy with structure, meetings, and goals and it was believed that a volunteer spirit would bring a new dimension to JFJ.

Moishe Rosen was not so sure about the program, but allowed it to be started. I don't remember why he did not believe in it, but I believe he was concerned about controlling volunteers.

So, ever since 1982, JFJ has held yearly one-week CLIM (Co-Laborer in Messiah) training sessions and trained volunteers to set up JFJ Chapters in places where JFJ branches could not be founded.

The training Co-Laborers receive(d) was no where as demanding as JFJ Campaign Training or other training courses, but the training was still difficult. Much information is packed into a short week and the new official JFJ volunteers leave with excitement about Jews for Jesus and also an excitement about being called by God to serve with Jews for Jesus.

The people recruited by JFJ to be CLIMs were/are high-quality people, and usually gentiles. Some are Jewish, but for some reason do not qualify to serve on staff with JFJ or do not wish to.

Co-Laborers generally never faced any abuse from JFJ and loved JFJ. Co-Laborers were aware of the hardships involved with being part of JFJ staff, and tried to help whenever they could. Most never received top status on in the JFJ hierarchy unless they were large donors to JFJ's cause.

I remember one CLIM saying she knew she had "lowly status" on the JFJ totem pole and didn't even feel qualified to witness to Jewish people without JFJ's permission.

Sometimes when someone left JFJ staff, they continued to serve JFJ in a Co-Laborer capacity. Of course, these people could continue do the actual missionary work for JFJ and present the Christ in the Passover presentations in churches for JFJ. Those who JFJ does convince to stay with JFJ as Co-Laborers are former staff who JFJ still has some control over or people that JFJ still has on a leash.

I remember seeing a JFJ organizational chart at CLIM training. Moishe Rosen was at the top and everyone else served under him. A question was asked why Moishe had total control and the answer was, "This is his baby."

At a tour of JFJ Headquarters during a CLIM training the trainees were told to not dare interupt the administrative staff since JFJ workers could not be interupted for an reason. A couple days later a new CLIM went to JFJ Headquarters and the administrative staff was more relaxed and did talk freely. Was it a show put on for the visiting CLIMs a few days before? Maybe JFJ wanted their official voluteers to remember that there was no slacking off in JFJ?

Co-laborers did not deal directly with JFJ, but went through a Coordinator who did a wonderful job of keeping them linked to JFJ and to eachother. This person worked hard. Originally this person was also a Co-Laborer and could work from her home, but Moishe Rosen felt a need to control her, so the CLIM-Coordinator eventually did move to San Francisco.

CLIMs also reported to JFJ once a month. Co-Laborers could be "fired" from volunteering if they failed to submit reports. I always thought the idea of being fired from being a volunteer was rather amusing!

If all JFJ workers had been treated with the kindness that JFJ Co-Laborers experienced, many may have actually enjoyed working for Jews for Jesus.

It's puzzling that one group of people could have a positive experience with JFJ while the majority under JFJ's employ remember fear, abuse, control, and ridicule.


http://www.exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Thursday, April 07, 2005

Spreading poison

This is a quote from a frequent commenter to this blog:

".......that's a problem with some people here. Some of you think of yourselves as failures and you blame JFJ for making you think that way. Maybe some did have you feeling that way. ....................... But if you're still hanging on to that mindset about yourselves now, then you can't blame JFJ. We all have things we're gifted for and we all have things we just aren't very good at."

Our reply:

JFJ is an organization that evaluates people and their personalities. Churches do not spend time like JFJ does in trying to size people up.

Poisonous rumors about individuals are spread by JFJ. The assumption that some that post here think of themselves as failures is just another method to the way JFJ spreads poison.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

OBJECTIVITY

Some have commented on this blog that we only post the negative about Moishe Rosen, David Brickner, and Susan Perlman, ( we seem to be relatively silent about the rest, apparently treating them as victims of the system.)

Some have commented that we ignore the positive, or do not see the complex contradictions of Moishe Rosen.

I thought about this, and thought of all the endearing qualities of Moishe, and the strengths of JFJ.

But then I realized, it seemed these were not the ends. Moishe can act nice, but he repeatedly said to the staff that he disdains nice people.

Likewise, it appears his ministry entitles him to do things, that no Christian should be entitled to do, at least with a clear conscience.

So, I began to have the opinion, that his "virtues, and giftedness" was used as a license, to do the most abominable things, thus negating the virtuousness of them.

Do I feel our reporting should be more balanced and fair? His strengths, are interwoven with his unrepentant weaknesses, seemingly excusing him. So I say no, we should not hail him as great though flawed.

I still feel some affection towards him, but this emotion can't blind me from the great wrongs he habitually created, too often excused or overlooked by others, because of his apparent virtuosity.

No one is perfect, but flawed Christians should get better. I was taught the fruit of the Holy Spirit, is repentance, and change. But I never saw change, just entrenchment to protect, and hide, that which should have changed.

I was also taught to discern what a Christian was, who did not change, or grow.


http://exjewsforjesus.org

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Friday, April 01, 2005

Mediation?

Some have suggested that those of us who were hurt by Jews for Jesus should seek to have these grievances professionally mediated. The idea being that mediation would allow the person who was abused to talk to their abuser in a safe environment, and possibly reach emotional and spiritual closure. I personally don't know of anyone who has engaged in professional mediation with JFJ. I suspect that there are several reasons for this, including:

(1) JFJ might not submit to an arbitration or mediation process, for a variety of reasons. Remember, this is an organization that often shuns people who leave without a "good" reason. The feelings of individuals are not at the top of their priority list. My guess is that Jews for Jesus would avoid arbitration since the outcome is beyond their control. Why arbitrate or mediate when they have an in-house attorney? What is the benefit for them?

(2) Persons who have been hurt by JFJ might not want to submit to this process, fearing that a similar outcome might result (i.e., more hurt and more damage to the individual). In other words, there is a trust issue here.

(3) Who would pay for such a process? I'm sure that professional mediators are not cheap, although they are undoubtedly somewhat less expensive than lawyers.

(4) Is mediation worth the emotional toll that it would probably take on individuals? It would take a great deal of courage and emotional strength to go through this process, especially for someone who has been badly hurt by their involvement with JFJ. But what would result? Surely not a financial settlement, since JFJ would never agree to binding arbitration. Probably not even a sincere apology. The most that one could get from JFJ would probably be something like, "We are sorry that you experienced emotional distress while working for Jews for Jesus." And even that would never become public, since of course JFJ would insist on a confidentiality clause. Nevertheless, I'm sure that there are numerous people who used to work for JFJ who would willingly go through mediation if the financial costs were not too great. But the question is, would JFJ agree to it? My guess is no.

A number of people have written letters to JFJ to express their concern about the abuse that has taken place in the past and may still be taking place today. These letters were written, for the most part, by individuals who experienced abuse while in the employ of JFJ. (In other words, they have first hand knowledge of the abuse). I have seen several of these letters. I have also seen the responses (from Jews for Jesus) to some of these letters. In no case do I remember the responses to these letters ever taking responsibility for the pain that these individuals experienced. Usually the responses were defensive and "blamed the victim." Once in a while a meager apology was offered, something like "I'm sorry that you experienced pain. If anyone hurt you, they should not have done that." Can you see how shallow and empty that kind of response is? It reminds me of Iran-Contra in the 1980s when Reagan or one of his officials said, "Mistakes were made." No ownership of the problem. At any rate, I just can't see why JFJ would engage in mediation with anyone. It is not to their benefit, except in a spiritual sense, and I don't think that is high on their list of priorities.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

CONTROL or CHAOS?

CONTROL or CHAOS?
Remember the TV show GET SMART?

Maxwell Smart was Agent 86 working for CONTROL. (Did you know that Agent 86 meant "Agent OUT OF IT!"?)

The enemy organization was CHAOS.

Max was married to Agent 99 and worked for the CHIEF.

There are some similarities in how many issues in Jews for Jesus were/are done because it seemed like a good idea to CONTROL or there might be CHAOS.

But....CHAOS is sometimes a better thing than CONTROL!

Maybe we should have done all of "the work" under the CONE OF SILENCE!?
(Remember that device? It was the silliest thing where nothing was
discussed or accomplished!)

This is what Jews for Jesus was and still is: the JFJ organization is similar to the CONTROL organization that we watched on TV in the 1960s. There is so much control that nothing is accomplished and nothing changes. Discussing issues regarding abuse with JFJ is like discussing under the CONE OF SILENCE. Also, it doesn't seem like Jews for Jesus is accomplishing all that much in the field of evangelism.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 31, 2005

I love my work!

Three times one summer in the late 90's. I bumped into JFJ staff workers, we exchanged friendly banter, and all gave an unsolicited, "Out of the blue", exclamation "I love my job!"

The first time I heard it, I was impressed with the person, knowing how difficult life in JFJ was. The second time I heard it, it was not as believable. The third time, I realized, this is calculated damage control, because leavers were starting to be vocal about what a living hell their work experience was.

To this day I have only heard one other staff worker say: "I love my job!", in 30 years, (and that was about 25 years ago).

Those same three comments in a couple month period, a coincidence? I hardly think so.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Jews for Jesus and Spirituality

I remember my very first day with Jews for Jesus. I was sitting inside their biggest money-making machine's vehicle (the Liberated Wailing Wall bus). I had arrived the day before and was told that this first full day would be my beginning to learn my part for the skit "tradition."

I was up before eveyone else, because I'd had lots of great sleep for months (while this group of people had been sleep deprived for months). I was reading my Bible, enjoying time with God.

I had been given a copy of the Liberated Wailing Wall training manual the day before which made it clear that Bible study time for ministry preparation counted on our Time Logs -- I thought I was in a very God-centered organization ! (for those who may not have experienced "time logs" they are how Jews for Jesus makes sure their missionaries do what they tell them to do. Everything in your "ministry" life has to be recorded -- how many Jewish people you meet with can never be more than 50 minutes, how many donor postcards you were required to write had to be recorded along with how many you actually wrote, etc. You even had to write down your "good and bad" thing that happened in the week, which usually came back to bit you and was used against you at some point).

Back to the story:
I was told I would also be doing my personal testimony at the evening service, so I was in prayer, reading my Bible, thinking about what to say, and keeping a record of the time I was spending, because the Manual said that is what I had to do.

The leader of the group that year woke up and came to see who was awake an hour early. He saw me, saw what I was doing and said, "Put your Bible away! Put your Time Log away! You can't count your Bible reading time unless it is schedule or unless I say so!"

I realized at that moment that something was wrong, but I thought it was my "leader." Then I met more "leaders" in Jews for Jesus, all the way to the top of the organization, all of whom were more controling as you went up the ladder.

In other words, that first day's experience was "typical"! It was NOT an exception to the rule.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Is Jews for Jesus really FOR Jesus?

Someone once asked me if Jews for Jesus is really FOR Jesus.

"Well," I thought, "OF COURSE they're for Jesus. You never hear them saying anything against Jesus or the Gospel." JFJ is "for" Jesus in that they are not against him.

But, then I gave it some more thought. Those that join staff are very much for Jesus, wanting to be proactive, dedicated to serving him and bringing others to know Jesus as Messiah.

But then the work ethics of Jews for Jesus takes over. JFJ stresses the "work" so much to the exclusion of the Spirit. Those that stay in JFJ are duped into thinking that serving JFJ is the same thing as serving Jesus. The work takes over more and more of the life of the JFJ missionary until there is no time or spirit or love for God left. In other words, BURN OUT.

JFJ insists that there is no such thing as Burn Out, but rather the missionary is lazy, no good, and not dedicated enough. After hearing this, either the missionary stays and gets worse, or leaves. If he or she leaves, MAYBE they will heal, or maybe they'll be convinced that they really are a failure or God is not real.

Either way, the damage is done. A dedicated, hard working servant of God no longer is sure of his or her salvation, or at the very least, no longer interested in telling others about Jesus.

Maybe JFJ is "against" Jesus after all. "By their fruits ye shall know them."


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Saturday, March 26, 2005

Jews for Jesus does anti-missionary activity

Jews for Jesus missionaries endure plenty of persecution on the streets, both in their regular duties and during various campaigns. Sometimes persecution is by isolated individuals and at other times it is the result of organized "anti-missionaries activity." JFJ missionaries glad bear up under verbal and physical abuse from unbelievers for the sake of the gospel. However, what missionaries don't bargain for when they sign up is the abuse they suffer from those who should be upholding them: their supervisors and other leaders. This is doubly difficult to endure not only because they suffer humiliating verbal abuse and physical hardship but it comes from fellow belivers who happen to be their managers. It is this kind of abuse that causes missionaries to "burn out" and leave the Jews for Jesus organization. This abuse is the true "anti-missionary activity."


http://exjewsforjesus.org

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Why should we care?

Someone has recently written the the participants of this Ex Jews for Jesus Blog are filled with hate and only seek revenge.

No, we do not hate. No, we do not seek revenge.

What has happened is that God has directed us to share what really happened in Jews for Jesus. We are doing what God has asked us to do.

We begin each day wanting to put our efforts elsewhere, but we continue to be led by God to speak out and tell our stories and our experiences.

We'd much rather do nothing; that would be so much easier.


http://exjewsforjesus.com

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com



Broadsiding

Most of us remember our first sortie. I remember skaking with fear as I began my mission for God.

The feelings most had before going out on the streets to pass out Jews for Jesus tracts usually were feelings of fear.

Once we got going, the fear left us, and boldness entered our being.

During my first sortie, a young Jewish man stopped and argued with me. He was very surprised to find out that I was doing "this" as a volunteer. I will never forget telling him that no one had forced me to go on the streets and share my love of Jesus; I wanted to tell the world the wonderful message of God's love.

He assumed I was a member of some cult and had been forced to stand on a street corner and pass out brochures. My statement that I wanted to be there changed his attitude.

I don't remember if I did the "JFJ thing" and got his name and address for further follow-up; I was too new to JFJ to know that I was supposed to do that, but the excitement of talking to him made me want to go on more and more sorties!

So, whenever a JFJ missionary called me to volunteer for a sortie, I rarely said no.

When I went on Jews for Jesus staff I knew I would have to go on sorties. The idea of going on many sorties a week excited me, but soon, I found that most JFJ staff dreaded sorties. Not only did they dread sorties, but most dreaded the way JFJ had them share the gospel. I was sad to learn that most JFJ leaders rarely went on sorties.

The entire methodology of JFJ was built around JFJ's boldness and JFJ's leaders didn't even participate in the methods that JFJ shared with the church!

The whole thing was a scam and I was a part of it.

There was no longer joy in broadsiding. If a Jewish person now approached me on the streets I could not answer that I wanted to be there sharing my love for Jesus.

The truth was that JFJ forced me to stand on the streets to promote JFJ's LIE. Jews for Jesus did not really want to share the gospel with the world; Jews for Jesus just wanted to promote Jews for Jesus.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Jews for Jesus Council Meetings

There have been many stories written about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. There were stories that showed these men coming together for a purpose and chanting "United We Stand, Now and Forever!" as they entered the great room where the Round Table stood.

Sometimes when I picture this scene, I remember the Jews for Jesus Council Meetings. Men and women leaders from Jews for Jesus from all over the world came together and sat around something similar to a round table.

From the point of view of a visitor, these meetings appeared to have some of the glory and honor that could have been present under the legendary Round Table of King Arthur.

The JFJ Executive Director sat at the head of the table surrounded by men and women who were considered the greatest in Jews for Jesus. Decisions and discussions on things that could change individual's lives were made at these meetings.

At a JFJ Council Meeting in 2000, David Brickner asked the senior JFJ members present to renew their love for God and their love for sharing the gospel. What happened? Nothing changed in JFJ, but David sure gave a good speech.

It would really be so wonderful if those who lead JFJ could actually renew their love for God and reach out to not only those who JFJ ministers to, but also to those who JFJ has hurt.



http://exjewsforjesus.org

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Friday, March 25, 2005

Has Jews for Jesus really changed?

Has Jews for Jesus really changed?

I think it is quite possible (and actually quite likely) that the JFJ of today is much different than the JFJ of yesterday. When you take Moishe out of the picture (at least out of the day to day operations), then you take away much of the abusiveness that was present in the organization. In the past, branch leaders and others who aspired to JFJ's upper echelons were motivated to do Moishe's dirty work (motivation like the need to please Moishe, the fear of his wrath, the desire to be promoted, etc.), but after Moishe retired, this motivation was essentially gone. It is not surprising that things changed when Moishe stepped down from being executive director.

But this is not to say that the organization has become healthy overnight. You can't just smooth over past abuses by saying "mistakes were made" or "people are not perfect" or "there were many bumps in the road." Perhaps a good analogy would be that JFJ has cancer, but the disease is in remission, since the symptoms are no longer present to the same degree that they once were. But to follow the oncological metaphor, the organization is still sick. It is only when all of the illness is rooted out completely that one can say that the organization is "cancer-free." Here are some principles of repentance that may help us determine if JFJ has truly changed:

(1) JFJ abuse was systemic and pervasive and must be "owned" and acknowledged. To my knowledge, this acknowledgement has never happened.

(2) Drastic change is necessary. This means radical change, not incremental or superficial changes. One example of radical change might be to remove Moishe Rosen from the Board of Directors. Another might be to integrate more explicitly compassionate and humane values into the mission statement of the organization.

(3) JFJ needs to make amends with everyone who was hurt. By "JFJ" I mean both current leadership and emeritus leadership. Until Moishe acknowledges the great pain that he caused so many people, over so many years, I cannot consider JFJ to be a changed organization. The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children, and the sins of Moishe Rosen will be visited upon the next generation of JFJ leadership until repentance truly occurs.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Numbers


Jews for Jesus loves numbers.

How many broadsides were passed out in two hours? What? Only 400. You better do better next time.

How many Jewish people did you meet? What? Only 1. You better do better next time.

How many gentiles did you get to sign up for the JFJ Newsletter? What? Only 2. You better do better next time.

How many people were at your JFJ event? What? Only 100. You better have better attendence next time.

How many people did you meet with last week? How many people did you call? How many people did you email? How many? How many? How many?

How many of this and that can JFJ report on the next Newsletter? How many books and CDs have been sold?

How many meetings did DOME set up today? How many postcards were written?

How many? How many? How many?

How many have worked for Jews for Jesus? 900! How many have experienced abuse through JFJ? Over 300 have mentioned privately or publicly about the abuse experienced through the organization.

How many people write on this Ex Jews for Jesus Blog? It has been assumed that only a few write here. The fact is that what is being written are the voices of hundreds.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Purim


Jews for Jesus does not really celebrate Purim although most JFJ offices do hold Purim parties. Moishe Rosen told me once that he didn't pay much attention to Jewish holidays like Purim anymore. In fact, he told me that he didn't pay that much attention to the Jewish religion and the related holidays anymore since he's a Christian and didn't like practicing Jewish traditions all that much.

Well, back to Purim....

Haman was so so powerful. He wanted to see the Jewish people wiped from this earth.

When children are told this story, the good guys, the Jews, win over the bad Haman.

The king finds out that his beautiful Queen Esther is Jewish and Haman is hanged and there is a happy ending.

For those of us who were hurt by Jews for Jesus, a happy ending does not come quite so easily. We'd love to see the not so good guys get exposed, but Moishe Rosen, David Brickner, Susan Perlman, and senior JFJ staff continue to live in luxury and do bad things to people just like Haman did.

Young and innocent people that will eventually be hurt by Jews for Jesus.

The cost these people will pay is giving up family life, giving up freedom, and for some, leaving the Christian faith.

This Ex Jews for Jesus Blog and the Ex Jews for Jesus website will continue to tell the truth.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Monday, March 21, 2005

Strange fire?

I have heard that David Brickner had several bbq grills lit up at a JFJ staff retraining gathering where all JFJ staff present were required to sacrifice burnt offerings on these burning fires.

Can anyone explain what exactly occurred?


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

Yeshua versus Y'shua

Back in the early 1980s, Jews for Jesus decided to begin spelling the Hebrew name of Jesus as "Y'shua" instead of the commonly used "Yeshua." They did this not for scholarly reasons but for marketing purposes. The executive director believed that he could measure Jews for Jesus' influence in the Christian world by changing the spelling of this name. The more people that started to use "Y'shua" instead of "Yeshua," the more power he thought he had. And there was probably a "branding" element to this name change as well. Whenever people saw Y'shua spelled with an apostrophe, they would think of Jews for Jesus.

Unfortunately, there is absolutely no scholarly basis for transliterating the Hebrew name of Jesus as Y'shua. Any Hebrew scholar will tell you that Yeshua is much closer to how the name sounds when spoken, and in fact the use of this apostrophe when spelling out Y'shua has no basis in any commonly accepted transliteration method. Only ignorant people or cynical marketeers will continue to transliterate it as Y'shua. And that says a lot.


http://exjewsforjesus.org

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Friday, March 18, 2005

Automated JFJ answering machine parody

"Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of JFJ.

In order to assist you in connecting the right JFJ staff member, please listen to all your options before making a selection:

To hear lies about former JFJ staff members - Press 1

To hear the reasons for why a particular JFJ staff member did not work out - Press 2

To hear complaints about about a former JFJ staff member's performance - Press 3

To hear phones thrown through plate glass windows - Press 4

To ask why you didn't get this information in a JFJ newsletter - Press 5

If you want us to continue to abuse JFJ staff - Press 6

If you want us to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7

To request another JFJ postcard for the third time this year- Press 8

To complain about the cramped quarters in the LWW bus - Press 9

To complain about expensive JFJ executive lunches - Press 0

If you realize this is the real world and that former JFJ staff must be the ones to blame for our behavior, hang up and have a nice day!"

Working for Susan Perlman

The day really began when I heard the automatic garage opener announce Ms Perlman's arrival at the office. I didn't know if it was the sound of the opener or my stomach churning that I heard loudest. Within seconds of her arrival through the executory back door the tone of the day would be set, whether it would be hell or purgatory. Although I had been her assistant a long time, every day was unpredictable. Initially I had hope that with enough practice the days would smooth out and her verbal reprimands and dressing downs would become rarer, but that hope waned with time. What held me together was the believe that my work for her was a ministry. I knew the maze of her filing cabinets, how many little toy mice inhabited her office spaces, the titles of the books on her shelves and the details of providing food to the hungry senior staff at the council meetings. I knew what to do if a "reporter" called (frequently they were phonies) and when the deadlines were to submit evangelistic ads to magazines or to make changes in the art for Issues. But if anything went wrong, it was as if I had walked in off the street for my first day of work. It could be a long distance call from a branch leader, and if I didn't think to ask a question Ms Perlman wanted answered, a long critical review of my career ensued, ending with me calling the branch back at my own expense to ask the vital question. What hurt most was her telling me off in front of other staff. Respite came when I left for personal reasons. But my trials didn't matter because I know there's a crown awaiting me in the world to come with a stone in it inscribed "I received this in the house of my friends."


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 17, 2005

ABUSED SHMABOOZED

Some may say spiritual abuse is just a few weak individuals not being able to handle the pressures of a high-powered Ministry. Those same critics might say that children sexually abused by pedophiles just couldn't handle adult love.

But Microsoft has a strong autocratic leader and he's all right. Or is he? Look at his unfair, anti competitive business practices. Hmmm, look at IBM. They are creative, innovative, and acceptable to the Bible Belt. But just because something seems good, or okay to the casual observer, does not mean that it is Kosher on the inside.

But Moishe is such a talented, powerful, and charismatic leader. And Michael Jackson is such a likable performer, and he wouldn't do anything wrong. Why would he? He could have everything he could want by proper means.

Look at the complainers, the whiners, the disgruntled. Look they can't get over it. Why don't they just forgive and forget? If Jesus was sexually abused, He would forgive. If His mother was raped, He would forget. An organization can't sin. All we lost was 20 years of our life that we believed were in service of the Holy One, and it was just building an empire for the Rolly Polly One. Missing family milestones, neglected spouses, never allowed a satisfaction in our work. If we spoke the truth inside or outside The Ministry we couldn't work in other Ministries, or in the "secular world."

We trusted totally; could only have Ministry friends, live in approved places, assigned to specific cities, worked so much we could not even keep up a hobby. We lived, ate, drank, slept, hated, shunned, the way we were told. After a couple years, objectivity disappears. Constantly tested for loyalty, deference to higher ups, willingness to do the ridiculous, and humility (by humiliation).

The workers covenant say the executive director is always right. The board of directors was composed of the executive director, his compulsively loyal companion, and trusted Religious leaders, who get lavish perks, and make thousands off the sales of their theological books, by means of the executive director. Hardly checks and balances.


http://exjewsforjesus.org/

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/

A Conflict of Interest for JFJ Psychologists?

For many years, Jews for Jesus has been sending some of their employees to see psychologists who have some kind of a relationship with the JFJ organization. For example, one psychologist who is retained in this way sits on the Board of Directors of Jews for Jesus. Another is a regular donor to JFJ.

I believe that this is a conflict of interest. To whom does the psychologist or therapist have loyalty? To his patient or to Jews for Jesus? Whomever the psychologist chooses to give his loyalty to (and I suspect that it always goes to Jews for Jesus, especially if they are the ones paying him), there would seem to be a conflict of interest. Although breaking patient confidentiality is a violation of California law for a psychologist or psychotherapist, I can't help but wonder if psychologists retained by Jews for Jesus have passed on private information to the leadership of JFJ.

But, you might ask, what if the patient signed a waiver or release of confidentiality form? Doesn't that give the psychologist the right to tell Jews for Jesus anything that they learn about the patient? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Among psychotherapists there is an ethical problem called "dual relationships." This is where the therapist and the patient have more than one relationship with each other, such as being friends or business associates or some other kind of relationship. The legal issue of confidentiality may be overcome by the patient signing a release form. But the ethical issue of dual relationships remains. A therapist is supposed to avoid dual relationships, because these kinds of relationships get in the way of therapeutic progress and hinder positive growth for the patient. Of course, sometimes there is no way to avoid a dual relationship, but when this happens, the therapist is supposed to refer the patient to another therapist.

It appears that Jews for Jesus loves to create these dual relationships, and not just in the arena of psychotherapy. Any kind of blurring of the boundaries for JFJ is a good thing, because then their ethical and moral lapses become more ambiguous and less clear to everyone involved.

http://exjewsforjesus.org

http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth Edition (DSM-IV) is the definitive manual for diagnosing Mental and Emotional Disorders. Section 301.81 of the manual describes a condition known as Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Can anyone else think of someone at JFJ who fits this description?

Diagnostic criteria for 301.81 Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

(1) has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

(2) is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

(3) believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

(4) requires excessive admiration

(5) has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

(6) is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

(7) lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

(8) is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

(9) shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes


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http://exjewsforjesus.blogspot.com/