5,000 Orthodox Jews Protest Mormon Project in Jerusalem

About 5,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews on Thursday blocked off the center of the Jerusalem religious quarter of Mea Shearim to protest the construction of a $15-million extension of Brigham Young University, the Mormon institution.

The demonstrators, most of them wearing traditional black clothing and broad-brimmed hats, carried placards warning: “Mormons! Respect Our Holy Land,” and “Conversion Is Murder.”

Israelis who object to construction of the extension contend that the Mormons plan to use it as a missionary center for proselytizing in the religious heart of the Jewish state.

“They have a whole (program) ready to go to convert Jews,” said Moshe Dann, spokesman for Yad L’Achim (“Hand To A Brother”), a religious youth organization that has been leading the fight against the extension.

Mormon Assurances

Mormon officials have given assurances that the extension, which is under construction on Mt. Scopus overlooking the walled Old City, will not be used for proselytizing. They have suggested that the city appoint a committee of Israelis to oversee work done at the extension and make sure that the university does not renege on its pledge not to undertake missionary activity. Jerusalem’s City Council formally accepted this pledge last week.

“I don’t think anyone else has ever been asked to give such promises,” Brigham Young President Jeffrey R. Holland said during a good-will visit last month, “but we’re trying to be good soldiers about it and not be offended.”

The Mormons say the extension is intended to accommodate about 200 Brigham Young students studying biblical geography, the history of Christianity and Mideast politics.

The university has been sending students to Israel since 1968, and in 1973 began searching for a suitable site for an extension. The government finally offered it a lease on five acres of land near Hebrew University on Mt. Scopus, and in 1984 the project was approved.

“Legally, there is no way to stop them from going ahead, and they are going ahead,” a spokeswoman for Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek said. The mayor has supported the project from the beginning, she said, “because we believe Jerusalem is a city that should be open to all religions.”