By Faye Curran, for the Mitzpeh, @FayeCurran16
Michele Bachmann campaigned to be a presidential nominee in 2012. She has now come back into national news with a different focus.
The former Minnesota congresswoman and presidential hopeful took a trip to Israel three weeks ago to explore the origins of the Bible.
“We as a remnant want to be faithful in these days and do what it is that the Holy Spirit is speaking to each one of us, to be faithful in the Kingdom and to help bring in as many as we can — even among the Jews — share Jesus Christ with everyone that we possibly can because, again, he’s coming soon,” Bachmann said on the Tony Perkin’s radio show three weeks ago.
This statement was first noticed by Right Wing Watch, an activist website that claims to monitor and expose the agenda of the “Far Right,” according to its About page.
The Washington Times reported Nov. 9 that Bachmann’s message Bachmann should be a warning to Jews that “missionizing” is still a concern.
Students of this university responded to Bachmann’s announcement.
Rachel Bluth, a journalism graduate student said, “This sounds like what my ancestors have heard throughout history…. This is the most offensive thing I have ever heard.”
“This kind of thing is outrageous,” senior kinesiology major Karl Dempsey said. “Anyone should be able to practice religion freely without people in such responsible positions getting carried away with their power… It’s just such a shame … and can provoke dangerous stigmas.”
Micha Green, a journalism graduate student, said “That’s crazy…. It’s scary to think at one point she contributed to how this country operated. Her voice is still powerful in certain circles, and I hope no one gives her radical ideas too much power.”
Rabbi Avi Shafran, spokesperson for Agudath Israel of America, a communal organization for Haredi Jews in the U.S., told The Jerusalem Post Nov. 8 “A statement like Ms. Bachmann’s should serve to remind Jews that missionizing is alive and well, and that we must always be on the lookout for it.”
