by

Rabbi Dr. David Barsky

Jews have been fighting with one another since the beginning of time. This in-fighting resulted in the splitting of the Kingdom of Israel into North and South. It resulted in the birth of Jewish "sects" such as the Pharisees, Sadducces and Nazarenes of old. Today it has led to the Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and Humanistic movements as well as many Orthodox Jewish Sects such as the Chabad Lubbovitch community. In addition, we have the conflict between Sephardic Jews (primarily from Spain & the Mediterranean area) and Askenazi Jews (primarily from Eastern Europe). While both share the Hebrew language, they pronounce Hebrew differently. Each has customs that are unique to their affiliation. The differences are so great, that there are two Chief Rabbis in Israel—one Askenazi the other Sephardic.

Even today, the various factions within Judaism "jockey for position" and just can’t wait to pounce on one another and say "see I told you". This mentality has caused much division where there is suppose to be unity. King David’s cry was "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1).

Some Jews have decided that Messianic Jews should no longer be considered Jewish. They get highly offended when Messianic Jews celebrate the Feasts of the G-d of Israel, or read from Torah, or keep kosher, or even when they advertise their synagogue in the newspaper.

We extend an invitation to all who want to discover the truth—an invitation to attend our Erev Shabbat Service.  We will welcome all our dissenters in love. We will not try to convince them or convert them. You see, from our perspective the word "convert" does not apply. We were born Jews, we live as Jews, and we will die as Jews. When we accepted the truth of Hebrew prophecy about Messiah we became "completed" or "fulfilled" Jews, we never converted to another religion.

The search for truth is a hallmark of Judaism. Yet, without ever attending our service these "attackers" have wrongly characterized us as Christians whose service has "Jewish trappings" that "dishonor our own belief." Nothing could be farther from the truth. We are Jews who worship the God of Israel as our ancestors did. In fact, our brand of Judaism dates back to the first century, when Messianic Jews were called "Nazarenes" and were a recognized branch of Judaism. This recognition occurred almost 2,000 years before Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist or Humanistic Judaism was birthed.

We are Torah observant, Shabbat-keeping, kosher-eating Messianic Jews who believe that the prophecies contained in the Hebrew Scriptures were fulfilled by Yeshua Ha Maschiach (Salvation from the "anointed one" in Hebrew and "Jesus" in English). There are close to 100 Messianic Congregations is Israel, and over 500 worldwide. Messianics now number over 500,000. Our service contains much Hebrew liturgy, and in fact, a relative who just visited from Israel where she lives, commented that our service was "no different" than her services in Israel. Our advise to those who attack us is to come visit and see for yourself who we are and what we preach.

By Their definition of who is a Jew, (born of a Jewish mother, not converted to another religion) King David would not be Jewish. His great grandmother was a shiksa (Gentile) named Ruth. Throughout Scripture Jewishness was passed from the father, not the mother. The founders of the state of Israel when asked, "Who is a Jew" said "Anyone who is foolish enough to want to be." While I know full well the pronouncements of the Israeli government regarding this issue, in all due respect, these pronouncements of man violate the spirit of Torah.

Within Judaism today there is much difference in belief and practice. For example reform Judaism does not believe that the Torah is the inspired Word of G-d. Instead they call it man’s search for G-d. Humanistic and Reconstructionist Judiasm isn’t sure there is a G-d. Do these positions deny them the right to be called Jews? If not, why not? Who decides? After all, Torah and the G-d of Israel are two of the core elements of Judaism. How can you deny Torah and G-d and still be a Jew? Most Reform Reconstructionist and Humanistic Jews do not keep kosher in accordance with the requirements of Torah --does this mean they are no longer Jewish? The Reform Movement just recently adopted a position that embraces and recognizes same sex relationships. This is clearly against what Torah teaches—yet there is no cry to remove their Jewisness. The Lubbovitch Sect of Hasidic Orthodox Jewry believes that their departed grand Rabbi, Menachem Schneerson, is the Messiah. For several years they have prayed by his grave and still wait for his resurrection. Mainstream Judaism still considers the Lubbovitchers to be Jewish. Why then are Messianic Jews denied the right to believe that Yeshua is the Messiah foretold in the Tanakh, and still be Jews? Why are Messianic Jews told they are "no longer Jewish". What is the difference between Messianic Jews and Lubbovitchers? The answer, of course, is Yeshua (Jesus). Just the name of Jesus alone conjures up memories of death and persecution perpetrated "in the name of Christ" against the Jewish people over the last 1,700 years.

Unknowledgeable Jews believe that once a Jew believes in Yeshua he becomes a Christian and is no longer Jewish. It is interesting to note that in Israel, the Chief Rabbi, who is ultra-orthodox, has recently proclaimed that only Orthodox Judaism is real Judaism and that all the remaining branches are "imposters". This pronouncement would strip ninety percent of American Jews of their Jewish heritage if the Grand Rabbi’s position is accepted. Just because someone says it doesn’t make it correct.

There are hundreds of Messianic prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures. The odds of one person satisfying all of these prophecies is many billion-to-one. Yeshua fulfilled them all, including Isaiah 53. Even the Talmud offers evidence of Yeshua as Messiah: "Is this not Messiah Son of Joseph, who was slain?" says Sukkot 52a. or: "Messiah must come during the second Temple-period decries Sanhedrin 99a. Messiah Yeshua, whose very name means salvation, did come as predicted.

Part of the role that Messianic Jews will play in the current era is to "be a light to the Gentiles", to teach them, with love, their rich Jewish heritage, to teach them to embrace Torah, Shabbat and the feasts of the G-d of Israel. To share with them God’s plan for Eretz Yisrael.

To all our detractors, come and observe first hand what we teach. Only then have you earned the right to evaluate what we believe, and comment on it. Only then can we sit and reason together.