New York, NY, April 27, 2001 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) says a new advertising campaign that uses the Holocaust as a tactic to convert Jews to Christianity is "deceptive and offensive." Jews for Jesus, the missionary group that seeks to convert Jews to the belief that Jesus is the Messiah, has undertaken an aggressive new ad campaign featuring Holocaust survivors appearing in several national magazines.

"Once again, Jews for Jesus is trying to distort Jewish identity as part of their deceptive and offensive campaign to impose Christian beliefs on Jews," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and a Holocaust survivor. "By emphasizing the Holocaust, Jews for Jesus is using the darkest chapter in the history of Judaism – the persecution and annihilation of European Jews – to attempt to mislead survivors and their children about their history and faith. It is impossible for a person who is Jewish to worship Jesus Christ. That is the fundamental distinction that sets these faith systems apart."

The Jews for Jesus ads, which have appeared in Newsweek, Time and Rolling Stone and other national magazines, feature an older woman’s visage in close profile, with the caption: "Before you dismiss my belief, you should hear my story."

Beneath the photograph, the woman is quoted as saying: "Some say you can’t be Jewish and believe in Jesus. I disagree. But before you dismiss my belief, you should know that in addition to being Jewish, I’m also a Holocaust Survivor … All I ask is that you hear my story and those of several other remarkable Jews who have suffered greatly and now truly believe in Jesus."

The ads offer those responding to the group’s toll-free number a free copy of a "Survivor Stories" videocassette in which converted survivors recount their experiences.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.