Monday, October 31, 2022

FakeNews! Lihi Lapid not a Messianic Jew.

 

Lihi Lapid, wife of Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, is pushing back on claims she is a messianic Jew.

Rumors that Mrs. Lapid is secretly affiliated with a Christian church began circulating on the internet last week, after a video by messianic Jewish preacher Chaim Malespin went viral.

In the video, Malespin claimed that Lihi Lapid “is a believer [in Jesus].”

“We’re in a time with more congregations, more openness to the Gospel. Even the government, the Prime Minister’s wife, is a believer right now… Yair Lapid’s wife, Lihi, is a believer.”

“Like what? This is, what? I mean a confirmed believer. This is crazy stuff going on right now in Israel. Hallelujah! Yeah, we’re living in exciting times.”

After Malespin’s video went viral, Mrs. Lapid’s personal website, LihiLapid.com, was hacked, with references to Christianity added.

In addition, Lihi Lapid’s Wikipedia page was edited to reference the rumor that she is a practicing, Christian.

“Her and her family are christians belonging to the messianic church,” the addition read.

Shortly afterwards, the Wikipedia entry was edited, removing the claim, and Lihi Lapid’s website taken down.

A spokesperson for Mrs. Lapid told the London-based Jewish Chronicle that that “Lihi Lapid's website was blocked after it had been hacked and used to spread fake news.”

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Lapid’s Yesh Atid party pushed back on the rumor, calling it “nothing short of ridiculous.”

“Somebody said something that is not true. This is the situation. It’s not true. It’s a lie. I don’t know why he said that. I don’t know what his interest is. I don’t know. But it’s a lie.”

Malespin later issued a video statement walking back his claims and issued an apology.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rabbi Tovia Singer seems to say it’s very true news

https://youtu.be/WZKhOT2Evis

yidl613 said...

"Fake news" was tongue in cheek, correct?

Jerrold Nadler said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-H9jCzbjw8&t=1s

Don't tell my friend Ezra that I had a blast watching this!

Anonymous said...

Milespan retracted and apologized, just like rabbi singer should

Anonymous said...

I go with Rabbi Singer on this.
Her sister and brother in law are part of that movement, not hard to believe what's going on here.
There should be banners hanging from every overpass in tel aviv
"יש"ו עתיד"
He wouldn't get any seats.


Anonymous said...

Milespan was told to retract if he knew what's good for him, especially with an election this close, his jewish agency privileges would be on the line. You can see thru his retraction like a piece of Swiss cheese.
These are all uneducated people, what do you expect.

Anonymous said...

In some circles your either Netireh Karteh or a Messianic Jew.
No in betweens.

Anonymous said...

Of course milespan retracted, he spoke a few days too early

Prof Ryesky said...

Was Milespan's retraction genuine, or was it under pressure from the Lapid camp?

Milespan is not a reliable source. Full stop!

I would like to see some more corroboration, such as, for example, newsletters and membership lists of the Yushke congregation of which Lihi is supposedly a member [And there is no question that her sister is a Yushke, so her sister's church is the one I would look at first.].

spin the news said...

Is that name Male spin.
Or Males Pin?