Israeli settler, far-right activist: 'Spitting on Christians is a Jewish custom'

“The custom of spitting near churches or monasteries is an ancient Jewish tradition,” far-right activist Elisha Yered wrote on Monday in response to a video of Orthodox Jews spitting on Christian pilgrims. 

The former spokesperson for MK Limor Son Har-Melech, of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, said that there is an even a blessing that Jews are supposed to say when seeing a church: “Blessed is He who has patience for those who violate His will,” which Yered described as a “blessing that praises God for not immediately punishing idol worshipers for their wicked deeds.”

זמן טוב להזכיר שהמנהג לירוק ליד כמרים או כנסיות הוא מנהג יהודי עתיק ורב שנים, ויש בהלכה אפילו ברכה מיוחדת כשרואים כנסייה "שנתן ארך אפיים לעוברי רצונו" - ברכה שבאה להלל את הקב"ה שמבליג על מעשיהם הרעים של עובדי העבודה הזרה ולא מעניש אותם באופן מיידי.אולי בהשפעת התרבות המערבית קצת… https://t.co/NPsKbIl8d0 pic.twitter.com/ttYgQaEmfb

— אלישע ירד (@ElishaYered) October 2, 2023

He continued: "Perhaps under the influence of Western culture we have forgotten what Christianity is, but I think the millions of Jews who experienced the Crusades, the [Spanish] Inquisition, blood libel, and mass pogroms will never forget."

קבוצה של צליינים יוצאת עם הצלב לרחוב שער האריות ונתקלת בקבוצה של מתפללים יהודים עם 4 המינים ואז מתחילות היריקות. ספרתי לפחות 7 בכמה שניות. pic.twitter.com/YjqaknATLw

— نير حسون Nir Hasson ניר חסון (@nirhasson) October 2, 2023

Yered came under fire in August after he was arrested in connection with the death of a 19-year-old Palestinian man during riots in the village of Burka. 

Orthodox Jews spit at Christian pilgrims

Yered made the comments as, amid Sukkot celebrations, Orthodox Jews spat on and shouted at a group of Christian pilgrims who were walking in Jerusalem's Old City on Tuesday.

The pilgrims were carrying the four species of Sukkot when they were attacked. The incident, which sparked public outcry, occurred during the Feast of Tabernacles, a holiday that brings thousands of Christians to the Jewish State. 

Tour guide, author, and journalist Robby Berman corroborated Yered’s statement in an interview with Maariv. He said he had witnessed numerous embarrassing incidents involving Orthodox Jews who spat on or harassed Christian believers and tourists.

"My role is to prevent such acts," he told Maariv. "Unfortunately, it happens regularly every day.”

He said that once he asked a 10-year-old ultra-Orthodox child why he spat on Christian and the response was that it was “religious law.”

Over the past several months, a number of anti-Christian incidents have taken place in Israel. These included one notable occurrence that involved Deputy Mayor Arieh King leading a group of devout Jews to the Western Wall, chanting “Missionaries, go home” as evangelical Christians attempted to celebrate Pentecost and pray for peace in Jerusalem.

In November, an IDF soldier spat at the Armenian archbishop and other Christians during a procession in the Old City. In December, the Maronite community center in Ma’alot-Tarshiha suffered vandalism, with the culprits still unidentified, among other incidents.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.