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FAQs Jewish Culture

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  • Did you know many Orthodox Jews believe in Reincarnation?

Would it surprise you to discover that over the centuries, certain segments within “Orthodox Judaism” have adopted some non-Biblical concepts? In August, Israeli papers reported that a leading orthodox rabbi created an uproar by claiming that Holocaust victims were reincarnated sinners! Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, leader of the Shas party, Israel's third biggest political party, sparked outrage in Israel for saying that the six million Holocaust victims “were reincarnations of the souls of sinners, people who transgressed and did all sorts of things that should not be done. They had been reincarnated in order to atone.” Where did this orthodox rabbi come up with this bizarre, offensive and anti-Biblical idea? He certainly didn’t get it from the Torah! Even though reincarnation is not part of a Biblical world-view, and comes from India and Hinduism, it has worked its way into some segments of “Orthodox Jewish” thought.

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  • I was given some literature that said the Star of David was a pagan symbol, and was used for sorcery. Could you share with me how it originated? Would you share the significance of the six points on the Star?

Jewish tradition says that King David had a six-pointed star on his shield. Some say that the two interlocked triangles represent God and man, but that is only an interpretation. The six-pointed star is a very old symbol used by both the Jewish people and by pagans. I don’t think anyone knows its origins. If you ever are in Israel and visit the remains of the ancient first or second century synagogue at Capernaum, the hometown of Simon and Andrew, you will find Stars of David on it. In addition, six-pointed stars are found throughout creation. Each of the billions of snowflakes that falls in a snowstorm is a unique six-pointed star! Six-pointed stars are also found in the designs of many flowers. A partial list includes: Tulips, Crocuses, Daffodils, Asiatic and Oriental Lilies, Hemerocallis (Daylilies),Vallota (Scarborough Lily), Eucharis Amazonica (Amazon Lily), Zephyranthes (Fairy Lily), Tricyrtis (Toad Lily), Babiana, Brodiaea (Queen Fabiola), Lycoris, Tigridia (Mexican Shell Flowers), Sparaxis (Wandflower), Freesia, and some kinds of Clematis. In other words, God is the Designer of the six-pointed star, and He has used that design in His Creation! Because He is the Designer, and the six­pointed star is His design, it is a good symbol. The fact that some pagans have misused His design doesn't mean that we can't use it. In the same way, even though the rainbow is misused by some groups today, nevertheless it is a God-given sign of the covenant that the Lord made with all mankind (see Genesis 9).

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  • I understand that I will never be made righteous by the Law, but should Christians be obedient to any part of it because it is good? Does it have a place in the Gentile Christian's life?

One way to understand the Torah is as Israel's constitution. However, not all 613 laws in the Torah are meant to apply to everybody. There are laws that only apply to priests. For example, the High Priest couldn’t marry a divorced woman or a widow, whereas a regular Israeli could. There are laws that only apply to the king (like writing his own copy of the Torah). There are laws that apply to men and not to women, and vice-versa. Most of the laws directly apply to the Jewish people, but not the Gentiles. All of us are to “fulfill the Law,” but the requirements of the Law are different. So what relationship does the Gentile Christian have to the 613 laws of the Torah? The book of Acts records that Messiah’s Emissaries (the Apostles) and the Elders of Messiah’s Holy Community met to decide this very issue. This meeting, recorded in Acts 15, is often referred to as “the First Jerusalem Council.” According to the binding decision issued by the Emissaries and Elders, guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit, apart from saving faith in Messiah Yeshua, only four things are obligatory for Gentile Christians to observe (see Acts 15, especially verses 19-20, 28-29). I would also include obedience to the Moral Law - laws such as not murdering, not stealing, and not committing adultery. These are moral laws which God has written on everyone's heart (see Romans 2:14-15). If someone wants to observe a Biblical holiday or custom, there is the freedom to do so, but there is no obligation to do so. We have the freedom to celebrate the Passover and the Jewish holidays, but also the freedom not to. If someone says, "Messiah is my Passover" and I don't need to celebrate a Passover Seder - fine. If someone else says, "I want to celebrate the Passover and better remember Messiah my Passover Lamb - that's fine too. However, that being said, there are many principles for godly living that may be applied from the Torah to the life of the Christian. Torah means "teaching” or “instruction," and it still serves as a teaching guide for Messiah’s Holy Community of Jews and Gentiles (the Church). For example, should a Christian have a tattoo? The New Testament is silent on the subject, but the Torah teaches us God's will on this practice (see Leviticus 19:28). If I can summarize the Gentiles’ relationship to the Torah, I would say that all that is necessary for Gentiles is to have faith in Messiah Yeshua. That alone saves us. Then there are the four basic requirements in Acts 15. Then there are the moral requirements of the Law that are already written on everyone's heart. Anything beyond these requirements is optional.

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  • Since becoming a Christian, I have a new heart that loves the Jewish people. I have been reading and desiring to learn more about Yeshua, and His Jewish background. Can I become a Messianic Jew?

I am delighted by your growing appreciation of the Jewishness of Yeshua, and touched by your love for my people, and that you are willing to become a Messianic Jew. However, it is wrong for you to "become a Jew" or "convert to Judaism” - even “Messianic Judaism." It is the clear teaching of the Word of God that Jews who believe in the Messiah remain Jews, and don't become Gentiles. It is also the clear teaching of the Word of God that Gentiles who believe in the Messiah remain Gentiles, and don't become Jews. God does not want every child of His to become a Jew. God does not make any mistakes, and He specifically ordained that you come from the parents, people and nation that you came from. The God of Israel is a God who created much diversity, and Messiah’s Holy Community was designed to be made up of both Jews and people from every nation, people and language group. Further, I would call your attention to Rabbi Paul's wise admonition in 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, about the necessity of Jews remaining Jews, and Gentiles remaining Gentiles. Jews and Gentiles are to remain in the calling in which they are called. Africans remain African when they come to believe in Messiah; Chinese people remain Chinese, Europeans remain European, and Jews remain Jews - part of their people, and part of their culture. Being a Gentile is not a negative or bad thing. It simply means that you were born to a nation other than the nation of Israel. The word "Gentile" is a good Biblical term that is used to differentiate the Jewish people from the other nations. I like to call those Gentiles who are part of our movement "Kosher-hearted" Gentiles, Messianic Gentiles, Gentile Believers, or Christians. All are good terms. Consider the fact that now that you have found the Jewish Messiah, you lack absolutely nothing! You have been grafted into Israel’s Olive Tree of Salvation and Blessing. You have been reconciled to the God of Israel. Joined to Yeshua, the King of the Jews, you are complete! Every spiritual blessing in Heaven is yours! You are a fellow citizen with the Messianic Jews and the Jewish saints who lived before the Son of God came to Earth, and will live forever with us in the New Jerusalem. That should be enough for all of us!

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  • Isn’t it wrong to call yourself “Rabbi” in light of Matthew 23:8?

Let’s take a look at Yeshua’s teaching in Matthew 23:8-12: “Do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on Earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in Heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Messiah. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” One of the most important principles that will help us correctly interpret the Word of God is: “If the literal sense makes sense, seek no other sense.” The Word of God is to be understood in its historical/grammatical context. If a passage makes literal sense historically and grammatically, then that is what it means. However, if the literal sense does not make sense, we should seek a non-literal sense. In the passage we are considering, Yeshua’s words about not being called “rabbi,” “father” or “leader” are not meant to be understood literally. If we interpreted these words literally, then we could not call anyone on Earth “father” (without exception). But of course we have earthy fathers, and it is right to honor them with the term “father.” In fact, the Holy Scriptures frequently use the term “father” to describe human beings, even in a religious sense (see 1 Corinthians 4:15). The New Testament also acknowledges the word “leader” as a legitimate term (see the Letter to the Messianic Jews - “Hebrews” 13:17, 24). The term "rabbi" is defined for us in John 1:38 as "teacher." Again, according to the New Testament, the office of teacher is specifically part of the leadership of the New Covenant Community (see Ephesians 4:11). Ya’akov (James) also acknowledges the office of teacher (James 3:1). So, if the literal sense doesn’t make sense, it is right to seek a non-literal sense. The rest of the passage tells us that the Messiah is concerned about pride among us, about the desire to be exalted, about the desire to rule and not to serve. Those who are leaders and teachers and fathers in the Faith are not to develop an attitude that demands unquestioning submission. They are to be servant-leaders. Nor is Messiah’s Holy Community of Jews and Gentiles to develop an elite group of clergy/priests who are qualitatively different from the rest of the New Covenant community. In conclusion, the titles, “rabbi” “father” and “leader” may be used, but with humility.

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  • Why do you continue to make a distinction between Jews and Gentiles? Aren’t we all Christians now, and no longer Jews or Gentiles?

Let’s look at the passage in question: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Messiah Yeshua. For all of you who were baptized into Messiah have clothed yourselves with Messiah. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.” Rabbi Paul is not teaching us that all earthly differences between men and women, and between Jews and Gentiles automatically disappear when we become Believers in the Messiah. “There is neither Jew nor Greek” is not meant to be interpreted literally any more than “there is neither male nor female.” Men who believe in Messiah are still men. Women who have encountered Yeshua are still women. In fact, Rabbi Paul teaches elsewhere that there are distinct “roles” for the sexes. For example, spiritual leaders of communities must be men - not women. Men are to be the leaders of the home - not the women. If we understood Paul’s words literally, and there were no longer any differences between men and women, then men could marry men, and women could marry women - something which is clearly wrong. Just as there are still differences between men and women in Messiah’s New Covenant Community, so too there are differences between slaves and those who are free, and there are differences between Jews and Gentiles. The New Testament itself makes distinctions between Gentile Believers and Jewish Believers. That’s why Paul, who identified himself as “a Jew from Tarsus” could also say to the Gentile Christians in Rome, “I am speaking to you who are Gentiles (Romans 11:13).” In fact, it’s quite possible that differences between men and women and Jews and Gentiles will continue in the Age To Come. In the book of Revelation, even though the Son of God is resurrected and glorified, He is still revealed to be a Man. Even more specifically, He is identified as belonging to the tribe of Judah and the Root of David (see Revelation 5:5). I find it interesting that throughout eternity, the names of the twelve tribes of Israel are written on the everlasting gates of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:12). In addition, “the nations” will walk by the light of the Eternal City, and the glory and honor of the “nations” will be brought into it. The leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the “nations.” God has ordained that followers of the Messiah come from every nation, tribe, people and language group; and these differences in language, culture and identity remain on Earth, and some may even endure into Eternity. This ongoing difference between Jews and Gentiles manifests itself in several ways. For example, Messianic Jews should be circumcised for religious reasons, since we are still special participants in the covenant made with Abraham. Paul circumcised Timothy, since he had a Jewish mother (see Acts 16:1-3). On the other hand, Messianic Gentiles must not be circumcised for religious reasons, as Rabbi Paul makes clear in his letter to the Galatians. They are to be content with being circumcised in their hearts. However, Gentiles Believers may be circumcised for aesthetic or medical reasons, but not for religious reasons. So what does Rabbi Paul mean when he writes that there is neither Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, slave nor free? He means that for all who have joined themselves to Israel’s Messiah, there is a new equality that we have. Now that the Messiah has come, we have a new and equal access to the God of Israel. He is equally our Heavenly Father. We can all come boldly before His throne of grace at any time. We all share His Spirit. We are brothers and sisters. However, earthly roles and differences remain. Yes, all who genuinely believe in the God of Israel and the Jewish Messiah are “Christians” - but “Christian” simply means a follower of Christ (Messiah - Israel’s Anointed King); being a Christian does not mean that one’s national and ethnic identity are diminished.

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  • As a believer in Yeshua, aren’t I a “Spiritual Jew” (Romans 2:28-29)? Haven’t I been grafted into the Olive Tree (Romans 11)? Am I not part of the Commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:12)? Am I not a son of Abraham (Galatians 3:29)?

We have to be very clear about our use of names and titles. The Holy Spirit is very careful in the Scriptures that comprise the New Testament, not to identify Gentiles as Jews. Gentiles are never told that they “become Jews” or “convert to Judaism.” Messiah’s Holy Community of Jews and Gentiles (the Church) is never said to “replace Israel,” “take the place of Israel,” or be the “New Israel.” What then is the relationship of Messianic Gentiles to the nation of Israel? "Kosher-hearted" Gentiles are sons of Abraham. Abraham is their spiritual father, but that doesn’t make them Jews. They are Abraham's offspring, but that doesn't mean that Christians are "Jews" or "Spiritual Israel" or the "New Israel." Abraham is the father of many nations, but not all those nations are entitled to be called “Israel.” Only those who are descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob can properly be called “Jews” or “Israel.” Gentiles who have found the Messiah are not “Spiritual Jews.” They are “Spiritual Gentiles.” If you look at the context of Romans 2:28-29, you will see that Rabbi Paul is specifically addressing Jewish people. He is teaching us that Jewish people who have saving faith in Messiah are “Jews inwardly” and spiritually circumcised. You might be a wild olive branch that has been grafted in to Israel’s Olive Tree of Salvation and Blessing, but you are a “partaker with us” - the natural branches. You don’t replace us. Yes, Gentile Believers are now part of the Commonwealth of Israel, and have a new citizenship with the Jewish saints, but that doesn’t make you a Jew, any more than Paul having Roman citizenship made him a physical descendant of Rome. Properly identifying Messianic Jews and Gentiles as equal yet distinct is important because of the ongoing differences in their earthly roles and calling. “Replacement Theology” - the teaching that the Church is the New Israel and has replaced the Jewish people, is the result of a flawed interpretation of Scripture. It is wrong and has contributed to considerable violence against the Jewish people.

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  • Do you believe in the “Ten Lost Tribes?” I was told that they referred to the ten northern tribes that made up the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Were they really lost?

The ten northern tribes were never completely lost. That old myth, which is found in both Jewish and Christian tradition, and is exploited by some cults, is based on a misunderstanding of the Holy Scriptures. The myth of the Ten Lost Tribes presumes that when the Assyrians captured the Northern Kingdom of Israel around 722 BC, ten of the twelve tribes were carried off into exile, where their identity was lost. This theory, however, ignores important Biblical facts. Before the Assyrian invasion, many people from the ten northern tribes had moved to the Southern Kingdom of Judah. In 2 Chronicles 11:14-17 we are informed that after the civil war that split the Jewish nation into two parts: “The Levites left their pasture lands and their property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the Lord. He set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs and for the calves which he had made. Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord God of Israel followed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam the son of Solomon for three years, for they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years” (see also 2 Chronicles 15:9). Also, though Assyria did invade and capture many of the residents of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the Assyrians did not take all of them. If the theory of the Ten Lost Tribes were correct, they would have already been lost by the First Century, yet the New Testament makes it clear that Jewish people from all twelve tribes were still identifiable. We know that Yeshua and his family were from the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1:2-16). Rabbi Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1). The Priests and Levites were from the tribe of Levi. Anna the prophetess was from the tribe of Asher (Luke 2:32). There is other New Testament evidence as well. Rabbi Paul knew that representatives of all twelve tribes were alive and identifiable in his day. Defending himself before King Agrippa, he said, “I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve [note present tense] God night and day” (Acts 26:6-7). An entire book of the New Testament was specifically written to the twelve tribes of Israel. Ya’akov (James) the brother of the Lord and the leader of the Congregation in Jerusalem, addressed his letter to “the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad” - to Messianic Jews who were living outside of Israel who are from all twelve of Israel’s tribes. None of the tribes can be lost because it is clear that all twelve tribes will exist in the Last Days. 144,000 Jewish people, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes will be chosen to bear God’s name immediately prior to His Return (see Revelation 7 and 14). Perhaps the most important evidence we have is the testimony of the Son of God Himself. When His twelve specially chosen emissaries asked Yeshua about their reward for following Him, He answered, “you who have followed Me, in the Regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28). No, ten of Israel’s twelve tribes are not lost. The All-Knowing One could never lose anything, let alone the “apple of His eye,” and those He has inscribed on the palms of His hands. Contrary to various theories, the ten tribes did not migrate en masse to the British Isles nor to the United States. They are not American Indians, British Israelites, Jehovah’s Witnesses or Two-House advocates. They all existed in the time of Yeshua, 700 years after they supposedly disappeared, and were still identifiable as Jewish people. They exist today and will continue to exist into the Regeneration. Though most Jewish people today are uncertain of their tribal heritage, God knows, and will reveal it in due time.

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  • I have a Jewish father and a Gentile mother. Am I Jewish?

In the modern Jewish community, Jewish identity is determined by the mother (matrilineal descent). If your mother is Jewish, then you are Jewish. Some parts of the Jewish community also acknowledge patrilineal descent (through the father). In fact, the Bible primarily supports patrilineal descent, as can be seen by the many genealogies. We discover in the New Covenant Scriptures that Rabbi Paul had Timothy circumcised, indicating that this inspired emissary considered Timothy to be Jewish, even though Timothy's father was a Gentile and his mother was Jewish. Therefore, the Messianic Jewish movement accepts both matrilineal and patrilineal descent. This is in keeping with the policy of the State of Israel, which will grant Israeli citizenship to those who have even one Jewish grandparent on either side. Part of the rationale for this is that, if having one Jewish grandparent was enough to get one killed in the Holocaust, it should be enough to be a citizen in Israel.

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  • What does "Shema" mean?

Shema" is the Hebrew word meaning "hear." It is an imperative - a command to listen, and is best known as beginning the prayer known as "the Shema," which is found in Deuteronomy 6:4 - "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one." It is one of the most basic and frequently offered prayers of the Jewish people. Messianic Jews likewise believe that there is only one God, but we believe that this One God is comprised of three Persons - God the Father, God the Son (Messiah Yeshua) and God Holy Spirit. In fact, when Yeshua was asked by an expert in the Torah which commandment He regarded as being the greatest of all, He answered that the greatest commandment is, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one," adding that we are required to love this one God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (See Mark 12:28-31).

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  • Is there a difference between "Jew," "Hebrew" and "Israelite"?

The terms "Jew," "Hebrew" and "Israelite" (or "Israeli") are used as synonyms by the Jewish people. Even by the time of the New Testament, the three terms were used interchangeably. At first, the term "Jew" referred to someone from the tribe of Judah, but eventually it was applied to those from all twelve tribes. That is why Paul could say that he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews (Philippians 3:5), an Israeli (Romans 11:1), and a Jew from Tarsus, even though he was from the tribe of Benjamin (Acts 21:39). The three terms are still used interchangeably to this day.

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  • I understand that the First Jerusalem Council didn't demand that the new Gentile Believers keep all of the commandments but doesn't Acts 15:21 teach that as they matured, they should learn Torah, and become more Torah observant?

There is a better way to understand Acts 15:21. Acts 15 records the decision of Messiah's Emissaries (the Apostles) and the Elders of Messiah's Holy Community (the Church) regarding the relationship of Gentile Christians to the 613 laws of the Torah. In Messianic circles, this meeting is often referred to as "the First Jerusalem Council." According to the binding decision issued by the Emissaries and Elders, guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit, apart from saving faith in Messiah Yeshua, only four things are obligatory for Gentile Believers to observe (see Acts 15, especially verses 19-20, 28-29). It was understood that obedience to the Moral Law - laws such as not murdering, not stealing, and not committing adultery, which God has written on everyone's heart, were also included (see Romans 2:14-15). After these four requirements were given, in the very next verse (15:21), Ya'akov (James) said, "For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath." Ya'akov, the Messiah's brother and the head of the Community of Believers in Jerusalem, was not saying that Gentile Believers should start off slow, with just the four requirements previously mentioned, and then move on to more Torah observance, and learn about Torah observance from those in the synagogue. No, Ya'akov was summarizing the Council's position and making the very same point, but in another way - that all 613 commandments are not required of the Gentile Believers - only those four things mentioned (along with the moral laws that God has written on everyone's heart), and that this is what Moses taught, and what the synagogues teach. Even today, non-Messianic synagogues teach the same thing - that Gentiles don't need to become Jews, or follow all 613 commandments, in order to be right with God.

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  • Is a Bar Mitzvah Biblical or just a tradition? If it's just a tradition, then why have a Messianic Bar Mitzvah?

Simply because something is a tradition does not make it automatically wrong. There are many Jewish traditions, and each should be individually judged as being either good, bad or neutral. There are traditions that are anti-Biblical and we shouldn't practice them, like men covering their heads while praying (see Paul's instructions in 1 Corinthians 11). There are traditions that are neutral, and we may either choose to do them, or not do them, such as lighting Shabbat candles. There are traditions that are good and beneficial to do. For example, the Word of God does not command us to drink wine as part of our Passover observance. It is a tradition that developed before the First Century. But the Son of God Himself used this Jewish tradition, and at His last Passover Seder He took the "cup after supper" and infused it with new meaning that pointed to Himself and the New Covenant that He was instituting between God and mankind. Becoming a Bar Mitzvah is one of those good traditions. Different cultures have various "coming of age" ceremonies, when a young man or woman takes their place as an adult in the community. Sadly, in many cultures entering into adulthood was accompanied by initiation rites that caused pain. For some, danger was involved. Among certain tribes in Africa, a young man became an adult when he killed his first lion. But for the Jewish people, there is no pain or danger. Instead, it is the joyous completion of an initiation which begins at birth, and leads to a gradual immersion of the child in God's ways, and culminates with an acceptance of personal responsibility. Bar Mitzvah literally means "son of the commandment," but can be understood as "a man of duty" or "a man of responsibility." Among the Jewish people it is customary for a thirteen year-old to become a man of responsibility when he comes before the community, and reads from the Book inspired by our Creator. This is a statement that his new manhood is based on the foundation of the Word of God. Our Messianic Bar Mitzvahs are centered on our glorious Messiah and Savior. Most of the portions that are read are the Messianic prophecies that are rarely read in non-Messianic synagogues. For example, my son Ari read Isaiah 53, and my daughter Aliza read the Messianic prophecy found in Isaiah 11:1-10. Everyone who came received a clear proclamation of who Yeshua is! It was fantastic!

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  • If Sunday is the first day of the week, and sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday is the Sabbath and should be kept holy, then why do Christians worship on Sunday?

Before 66 AD, it was advantageous for the new Gentile Believers to be closely associated with Israel, Judaism and the Jewish people. Prior to that time the Jewish people had a special relationship with the Roman Empire, and Judaism was a religion that was tolerated. The first Gentile Christians were considered to be part of Judaism, and came under its protection. All this changed, however, in 66 AD, when the Jewish people revolted against the mighty Roman Empire. From that time on, the Jewish community was looked upon with suspicion and distrust, and it became disadvantageous to be identified with Israel, Judaism and the Jewish people. After Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, and later, when the last of the Jewish Apostles died, a trend away from Jewish observances developed in the Gentile Christian communities. Then, in 132-135 AD, during the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian, this movement away from Jewish observances intensified as a result of a second, failed, Jewish revolt against Rome. The Second Revolt was crushed, the city of Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jewish people were forbidden to enter it. Many Gentile Believers no longer wanted to be identified with the Jewish people or culture, and deliberately disassociated themselves from our holidays, customs and traditions. So, instead of worshiping on the traditional Sabbath day, as the Jewish people, including Messiah Yeshua and the Apostles, had done for over a millennium, the first day of the week, the "day of the Sun" was chosen. The Christians infused it with new meaning, focusing on the Messiah's resurrection. It was no longer the "day of the Sun," but the "day of the Son" and "the Lord's day." It seems that the motivating factors behind switching from Saturday to Sunday were historical, not Scriptural. No one at that time is recorded as having said, "Aha, Yeshua rose from the dead on Sunday. The Church must switch to Sunday worship!" It simply did not happen that way. Meanwhile, during those early centuries there continued to be Messianic Jewish communities which continued to worship on Shabbat, and considered sunset Friday evening until sunset Saturday evening to be the Sabbath. There is room for both the traditional Jewish Sabbath observance, as well as worshiping on the first day of the week. Rabbi Paul makes it clear that Jewish people need not live like Gentiles, nor Gentiles live like Jews. As God has called each, in that manner let him live (see 1 Corinthians 7:17-24) - which would include days of worship. The Apostle to the Gentiles specifically pleads for tolerance when it comes to religious days (see Romans 14:5-6). When the First Jerusalem Council met to decide the relationship of Gentile Believers to the Laws of God, Sabbath observance was not required. I would ask my Gentile Christian brothers to show this same kind of tolerance for the special calling and lifestyle of Messianic Jews. Just as the Messianic Jewish leaders at the First Jerusalem Council did not require our Gentile brothers to conform to our customs, today's Gentile Christians, who far exceed us in numbers and influence, should now extend to us the same grace and courtesy.

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  • My husband is a Gentile Believer, and I am a Jewish Believer. I was taught that it was disrespectful to put the "o" in G-d or L-rd. My husband says it is disrespectful NOT to write them out completely. What is your opinion on this?

The reason that many Jewish people use a dash in "God" and "Lord" comes from the desire not to violate the commandment about not taking the Lord's name in vain. Sometimes the rabbis "built a hedge around the Torah," which means that they were extra strict about an interpretation, taking additional measures so that the original commandment wouldn't be violated. However, that meant adding extra burdens that God Himself never commanded. So, out of a desire to show respect to God, and not violate the commandment to not take the Lord's name in vain, traditions grew up not to pronounce the Yud Hay Vuv Hay - the Tetragrammaton, by substituting other things for God (like HaShem - the Name); and not to fully write out God or Lord, by substituting G-d or L-rd instead (unless it is used in holy writings like the Torah). I understand the rationale, but I think these traditions go beyond what God intended. When it comes to traditions, there are good traditions that can be followed, there are bad traditions that should not be followed, and there are neutral traditions that each individual may decide to follow or not follow. I would say that this is a neutral tradition, and so the decision is ultimately up to you.

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  • How many Messianic Jews are there in Israel?

A thorough study of the Messianic Jewish community in Israel was published in 1999 by the United Christian Council In Israel in cooperation with the Caspari Center for Biblical and Jewish Studies. It is called "Facts and Myths about the Messianic Congregations in Israel." Here's what this excellent study found:

There were 81 groups made up of 69 congregations and 12 house groups. Of the 81 groups, some 57 were founded in the 1990's.

Prior to 1948 there were two congregations. In the 1950's five congregations were added. In the 1960's no congregations were added. In the 1970's seven congregations were added. In the 1980's ten congregations were added. In the 1990's 57 congregations were added.

In 1948, at the founding of the State of Israel, the number of Jewish believers was fewer than 200. Just prior to the founding of the State, 80 Jewish Believers left the country under "Operation Mercy/Grace," a rescue mission organized by the Jerusalem Anglican authorities to evacuate "all Hebrew Christians who preferred not to remain within the anticipated new Jewish State." Following the establishment of the State of Israel, there were no more than 100 Jewish believers.

By December 1950, there were approximately 200, including children. By 1960, there may have been as many as 200 adults. By 1967, there were roughly 500, probably including children. By 1976, there are estimated to have been between 500 to 1,000. By 1986, the movement had grown to between 1,000 to 2,500. By 2000, there were perhaps 3,000 to 4,000, including children. That means that out of a population of 4.5 million Jews in Israel, Messianic Jews comprise just one-tenth of one percent! (Since this study is now three years old, the number of congregations and individual believers has probably grown somewhat.)

The majority of congregations have experienced an increase in membership in recent years and, in general, it is the newer congregations which have enjoyed the greatest growth. The major source of growth in the 1990's was due to the large increase in the number of new immigrants. This has resulted not only in an increase of new Russian-speaking congregations, but also in Russian being the second language in otherwise Hebrew-speaking congregations.

The recent development of Ethiopian Messianic Jewish congregations is closely related to Operation Moses (1984-1985), when many Ethiopian Messianic Jews emigrated to Israel. There are 6 congregations, comprised of approximately 120 adults and 50 children. There are approximately 20 Russian-speaking congregations that have Russian as their first or only language. Half of the members were Believers before they arrived in Israel, and half have come to the Lord since they have been in Israel.

Almost all the groups define themselves as "Messianic." The vast majority will not use the term "Christian" as a self-designation. This serves to emphasize that a Jew who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah is still Jewish. Jewish substitutes are preferred over Christian terminology and labeling. Denominational names are rare. The vast majority don't use the terms "rabbi" to refer to their leaders, or "synagogue" to describe their congregation, given the much greater religious nature of Israeli society, in which a rabbi is a qualified, yeshiva-trained individual, and a synagogue is understood to be part of Rabbinic Judaism.

There tends to be less use of Torah scrolls, tallits (prayer-shawls), kippas (head coverings) and other rabbinic traditions. Only two congregations have a scroll of the Torah which is regularly read during the service. The decor tends to be simple. The most frequent items are banners or other wall hangings bearing quotations from Scripture. Jewish symbols such as shofars, menorahs, the Star of David, and occasionally the Israeli flag, can be found. The cross is not used as a symbol.

Meetings are held in private homes and rented facilities, including church facilities. A few congregations have their own buildings, and it seems that in each case they were either received as gifts or purchased with funds donated from abroad, rather than collected locally. Congregations meeting in church buildings normally express that they do not find this problematic, but would prefer their own premises.

Baptism is performed by immersion and can take place in any body of running water. Preferred sites are the Jordan River and the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), while some use the Mediterranean Sea. Some congregations use the facilities of a nearby church. Three congregations with a Lutheran background practice infant baptism, but the majority of congregations will not baptize people below the age of 18. A few baptize children aged ten or a little younger.

The majority of the congregations celebrate the Lord's Supper once a month. Normally, the first Sabbath of the month is chosen. An almost equal number of groups observe the Lord's Supper either every week, or every second week. Only two congregations share in the Lord's Supper once a year in connection with Passover.

Of the 69 congregations, only 15 had membership lists. Being Jewish or non-Jewish has no impact on membership.

Several of the 81 groups operate with a plural leadership, although in most cases one person is the senior leader. The 81 groups have 78 different leaders. Of the 78 leaders, 55 are Jewish, which is about 70%. Two are Arabs. Some ten of the 55 Jewish leaders were born in Israel. The average age is under 50, and only some five leaders have turned 60. The intermarriage rate among the Jewish leaders is about 50%. Only a few of the Jewish leaders have formal theological training of more than three years; some have a year or more of Bible School, but most have a long period of "on the job training."

The majority of the congregations do not allow women to serve as either elders or pastors. They may be deaconesses, whose function is generally limited to practical tasks. Many of the Russian-speaking congregations are willing to having women as elders, but none actually have them in place. Women are allowed to teach other women, children, and serve in other capacities, such as leading worship, praying, reading, and bringing testimonies.

The theology can best be expressed by the term "evangelical." There are between 400-500 "Hebrew Catholics" in different Catholic churches and organizations, who see themselves as part of the Catholic Church. The majority of the Messianic Movement do not want closer cooperation with the Hebrew Catholics.

Almost all the congregations celebrate the Jewish holidays in one form or another and view their fulfillment in the Messiah. Most do not celebrate Church holidays like Christmas or Easter. The older congregations have become more Jewishly oriented over the years.

In July 1980, the Amutot Law was passed, known in English as the "Friendly Societies Law." It provides a legal framework for non-profit and charitable societies to operate. Of the 69 congregations, about half are registered as an Amutah.

With almost no exception leaders expressed willingness to cooperate both locally and nationally. Some leaders admit that willingness to cooperate does not always translate into action. National committees and national conferences are held on a variety of topics and organized by different groups or institutions. A fellowship of leaders of Hebrew-speaking congregations exists with its own planning committee. National leadership meetings are held on average three times per year. A national evangelism committee is structured under the national leadership committee, but operates independently. The Messianic Action Committee came into existence in 1997 in connection with the proposal to the Knesset of a new anti-missionary law. Several congregations are actively involved in Pro-Life work and the struggle against abortion. There is a national social fund. The Ebenezer Home provides care for elderly Messianic Jews. There is an Israeli Bible Society. Israel College of the Bible is training leaders. Only a few Messianic leaders are involved in the work of the United Christian Council in Israel (UCCI).

For many congregations and their members, harassment and opposition seem to be an inevitable consequence of being a Messianic Jew living in Israel. The hostility which they often face includes posters publicly exposing individuals or groups, unreliable and biased newspaper articles on congregations and members, threats of and actual loss of jobs, damage to property, death threats, interruption of meetings or attempts to prevent them from taking place, graffiti, arson and so forth. Messianic Jews are routinely lumped together with the cults. However, some congregations have experienced little or no harassment.

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