The following is a reproduction of my 1997 doctoral dissertation demonstrating that modern “Messianic Jewish Congregations” are actually evangelical Christian congregations, not Jewish.
As such it represents my perspective in 1997 before my return to a Jewish way of life in 1999. Please see my Wanderings 1967-2025 for context.
Both the 2000 print version and 2012 ePub are available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Messianic-Jewish-Congregations-Business-Gentiles-ebook/dp/B0097GFOTK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
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In the previous chapter, we noted that the twentieth century Messianic congregational movement is not directly linked with the first century Jewish disciples of Jesus. Both the American and Israeli Messianic congregations are modern phenomena linked more closely to evangelical Protestantism. Nevertheless, the reappearance of Messianic Jewish congregations in Israel after an absence of 1,600 years merits examination. In this chapter, we examine contemporary Israeli Messianic congregations in their functions of fellowship, discipleship, and evangelism.
Sources
Much of the material for this chapter was gathered by means of personal interviews conducted in Israel January and February of 1997. There is little available written material on Israeli Messianic congregations. The movement is still in its inception and there are few who have reflected on it. The threat of persecution by Jewish religious authorities causes Israeli Messianic Jews caution in committing information to writing that might somehow be used against them.
Out of the fifteen interviews conducted, I have selected six as an introduction to the breadth, variety, and development of the Messianic congregational movement in Israel. These include Zvi, a pioneer-pastor; Yakov, a product of the sixties from America; Reuven, a psalmist; Shlomo, an “almost” rabbi; Natan, a leader for a new generation; and Daniel and Sarah, an Eastern-bloc immigrant couple. Their stories highlight the principal characteristics and significant events in contemporary Israeli Messianic Judaism.
. . . CONTINUE READING CHAPTER 5
Messianic Jewish Congregations - Table of Contents
Wandering Jew - Table of Contents
