Messianic Judaism

Messianic Judaism is a special kind of religious group that mixes parts of Jewish traditions with Christian beliefs. It started in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, growing from earlier efforts by Christian groups to share their beliefs with Jewish people.

People in Messianic Judaism believe that Jesus, whom they call Yeshua, was the Messiah and a divine being. They follow many Christian teachings, such as believing in salvation through faith in Jesus and the importance of the Bible, which includes both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament.

Even though Messianic Jews see themselves as part of Judaism, most Jewish groups and leaders consider them to be a form of Christianity. This difference has caused debates, especially in Israel, where the highest court decided that Messianic Judaism should be seen as a Christian group under certain laws.

Demographics

From 2003 to 2007, the number of places where people met for Messianic Judaism grew from 150 in the United States to about 438. There were also over 100 such groups in Israel and many more around the world. By 2012, there were between 175,000 and 250,000 members in the United States. By 2025, there were about 30,000 members in Israel and up to 1.5 million members worldwide.

History

Pre-19th century

People called Jewish Christians tried to share their beliefs with other Jews starting in the 1st century. One important person, Paul the Apostle, spoke in synagogues in many cities. By the 4th century, there were not many records of Jews helping to share these beliefs. A few Jews who changed their beliefs started trying to share them around the 13th century, but this did not usually lead to new groups of Jewish Christians. Often, these efforts were pushed by bigger Christian churches.

19th and early 20th centuries

Main article: Hebrew Christian Movement

In the 1800s, some groups tried to create communities for Jews who changed their beliefs to Christianity. Many of these early groups did not last long. One group started in London in 1809 by Joseph Frey. They even made a special book in Yiddish for their services. Another group began in London in 1813 and met for special prayers. In Eastern Europe, a man named Joseph Rabinowitz started a group in 1884 that mixed Jewish and Christian ideas. In the United States, a group started in New York City in 1885. In the 1890s, some Jewish people who changed their beliefs met in New York while keeping some Jewish traditions. The term “Messianic Judaism” was first used in 1895. In 1894, a missionary named Leopold Cohn started a group in Brooklyn to share Christianity with Jewish people. By the early 1900s, there was also a small group in South Africa that called themselves “Christian Jews.”

Modern-day Messianic Judaism movement, 1960s onwards

The Messianic Jewish movement began in the United States in the 1960s. Before this, people who changed from Judaism to Christianity were expected to leave their Jewish traditions. But in the 1960s, some Jewish people wanted to keep their traditions while also believing in Jesus. This idea grew stronger after events like the Six-Day War and when Jerusalem became under Jewish control again.

In 2018, Vered Hillel became the first woman to be ordained as a rabbi by the Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council.

Foundational organizations

In 2004, there were about 300 Messianic congregations in the United States. Many of these groups joined together in organizations like the International Association of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS) or the Union of Messianic Congregations (UMJC).

The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA) started in 1915. It changed its name in the late 1960s to better show its focus on Jewish identity. In 1986, it created a group for congregations called the International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS).

In 1979, 19 congregations in North America met and formed the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC). By 2022, it included 75 congregations in 8 countries. In 2016, a congregation called The Way was started near Denver, Colorado. It focuses on keeping Jewish traditions while also following Christian beliefs. The group meets on the Sabbath and celebrates Jewish holidays.

Messianic Seal of Jerusalem

The Messianic Seal of Jerusalem is a special symbol used by Messianic Judaism. It shows the temple menorah, an old symbol important to Jewish people, together with the ichthys, a sign that represents Christianity, and a Star of David where they meet.

There is some disagreement about when this seal was first made—some think it is very old, from the first century, while others believe it was created much later in the twentieth century. Other symbols used by Messianic Judaism include a cross inside a Star of David, a dolphin, and a lit menorah.

Theology and core doctrines

Messianic Jews believe in many ideas that come from both Christianity and Judaism. They often think about God in three ways: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. This idea is called the Trinity. They believe God the Father is all-powerful and everywhere. Many also believe Jesus is the Messiah and pray to him.

Messianic Jews use both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament as their holy books. They follow many Jewish traditions, like observing Shabbat and holidays, but they also believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Their beliefs about Jesus vary, with some seeing him as fully divine and others as a special, important human.

They also have different views on what it means to follow God's laws today. Some believe everyone should follow all the laws from the Torah, while others think these laws are only for Jewish people. Despite these differences, they all believe that the Jewish people are special to God and have a special role in the world.

Religious practices

Messianic Judaism has many different ways of practicing its beliefs. Many groups follow Jewish traditions such as prayers, special holidays, and resting on the Sabbath. Some meet on Friday nights or Saturday mornings for worship, using books that are similar to Jewish prayer books but with some changes.

People in Messianic Judaism also often celebrate Jewish holidays like Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. They may also keep some dietary rules, such as not mixing milk and meat products, though not everyone follows these rules the same way.

Some people who are not from Jewish families join Messianic Judaism because they like its style of worship. Messianic Jews practice baptism, sometimes calling it a mikveh. Not all members follow the same rules, and some choose not to convert to Messianic Judaism.

Culture

Music

Messianic Jewish hymns are special because they focus on Israel's important role in history and the hope for a savior. These hymns often talk about Jesus, usually calling him Yeshua, and describe him as the "Savior of Israel". They also include many songs from Israel. Several musicians, like Joel Chernoff from the duo Lamb, Ted Pearce, and Chuck King, create music that shares these Messianic messages.

Reception

Among mainstream Christianity

In the United States, the start of the Messianic Jewish movement caused some tension with other Christian and missionary groups. In 1975, the Fellowship of Christian Testimonies to the Jews spoke out against parts of the Messianic Jewish movement.

In Israel, the difference between Messianic Jews and regular Christians is less obvious, and the word meshihiy (משיחי, meaning 'messianic') is often used instead of notsri (נוצרי, meaning 'Christian'). Some groups in Israel, like the Israel Trust of the Anglican Church at Christ Church, Jerusalem, support Messianic Jews there.

Among Jews

Many Jewish groups do not accept Messianic Judaism as part of Judaism. They believe that accepting Jesus as the Messiah goes against traditional Jewish teachings. Jewish leaders say that Messianic Judaism mixes Jewish and Christian ideas in a way that is confusing and not true to Jewish beliefs. All major Jewish groups agree that Messianic Judaism is a form of Christianity, not Judaism.

Some Jewish scholars see Messianic Judaism as a different way to practice Jewish traditions, but most Jewish leaders do not agree. They think that believing in Jesus as the Messiah is a big change from Jewish teachings.

Response of Israeli government

In Israel, whether someone can become a citizen under the Law of Return depends on their Jewish background. In 2008, Israel's Supreme Court decided that Messianic Jews with some Jewish ancestry could become citizens, even if they were not considered Jewish by traditional religious rules. Some Messianic Jews in Israel have faced discrimination and even violence from some Orthodox groups who strongly oppose their beliefs.

Response of US governments

The U.S. Navy decided that Messianic Jewish chaplains must wear the Christian cross as their symbol, not a traditional Jewish symbol. One Messianic Jewish chaplain candidate chose to leave the program rather than wear the cross. In another case in Birmingham, Alabama, a police employee won a lawsuit after saying she was treated unfairly for needing to rest on the Jewish Sabbath.

Messianic organizations

Main article: List of Messianic Jewish organizations

Messianic Judaism includes several groups and organizations that support its beliefs and practices. Some of these groups are:

• Chosen People Ministries (CPM)
• HaYesod (First Fruits of Zion)
• International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS)
• Jewish University of Colorado
• Jews for Jesus (contested)
• Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA)
• Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council
• Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC)
• Messianic Covenant Fellowship International (MFCI)