Catriel's Notebook: "Messianic Synagogues" Target Jews but Hit Chrstians, Some of Whom Are Converting to Judaism

By Catriel Sugarman, Researcher on Jewish Issues, Social Critic, Lecturer, acatriel@netvision.net.il
February 2009

In the last few decades, accompanied by a blaze of publicity, hundreds of so-called "Messianic synagogues" have sprung up in cities throughout the US, Europe, and Israel.

Despite their founders' incessant denials and their unceasing attempts to worm these institutions into the mainstream Jewish community, these "synagogues" have almost always been rightly perceived to be Evangelical Chrstian Churches in the guise of Jewish houses of worship. Though divested of the most flagrant Chrstian symbols (e.g., crosses), and cleverly designed to look "Jewish," their toned down Chrstian message has been, nevertheless, unmistakable.

And they have not been successful in drawing large numbers of Jews. Even with the endless hype and the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars by various Chrstian bodies over the years, these "Messianics" have succeeded in converting only a fraction of a fraction of the vast number of Jews whom they confidently expected to reach by means of their newly minted ersatz synagogues.
Attracting Non-Jews

Instead something totally unexpected has happened. These "Messianic synagogues" have fired the imagination of countless thousands of non-Jews. Although the founding fathers of "Messianic Judaism" clearly intended the movement to be only a slick evangelical tool to reach Jews and convert them to Chrstianity, these fledgling "Jewish" congregations have been inundated by perhaps hundreds of thousands of non-Jews who are eager to join them.

Spiritual pilgrims, these non-Jews want to emulate what they see as the more authentic Jewish traditions in worship and lifestyle, but, at the same time, retain their belief in Jsus as their own personal messiah and savior.

According to Reverend Stan Telchin, a Jews-for-Jsus activist, non-Jews make up about 80 percent of those who attend Messianic synagogues.

Other experts suggest that, despite the pervasive "Jewish"-even "Orthodox"-image the Messianics seek desperately to project to the Jewish world, their congregations are probably 90 percent non-Jewish.

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Christians have spent billions of dollars over the last several years ramping up their missionary program. It's documented on one of my favorite sites: http://www.messiahtruth.com

There is even an anti-missionary forum there. The moderators are very learned, and the owner, Uri Yosef is a professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. (I think it is that one anyways).

It's worth the effort to become a member there... very informative.

This movement is definately a way to bait Jews who are not familiar with Christianity.

I know some people who attend churches like these. None of them are or were ever Jewish. as far as I know none of them actively try to convert Jewish people. But obviously some do. I always thought that J4J was a bad name. Whoever thought that up should be fired!

BTW you know the other name for J4J?

Christians.

Very true walker. maybe we should start a group called Muslims for Buddah.