WN: Jesus lives on in Jerusalem - Ynet News

[WorthyNewsBot]

Some 15,000 Messianic Jews currently live in Israel, but if you saw one on the street you would almost certainly fail to recognize any difference. They honor Jewish circumcision, bar-mitzvah, and wedding ceremonies, but believe Jesus is the messiah.

http://www.worthynews.com/top/ynetnews-com-Ext-Comp-ArticleLayout-CdaArticlePrintPreview-1,2506,L-3939336,00-html/

[hupo]

Some 15,000 Messianic Jews currently live in Israel, but if you saw one on the street you would almost certainly fail to recognize any difference. They honor Jewish circumcision, bar-mitzvah, and wedding ceremonies, but believe Jesus is the messiah.

The only thing that isn't accurate is the number. I believe there are many more that are still "in the closet".

Don't forget, there is not much sympathy for Messianic Jews amongst the Orthodox. Even secular Jews are not exactly overjoyed about this.

My community tolerant as they may be, are not happy when I mention Yeshua. I do that on occasions but I don't wave it around.

I feel people should see Yeshua through the way we live, and not through sermons, speeches and discussions. At least in my community.

Yes, we do go by many of the Jewish customs and I don't see why not. After all Yeshua was a Jewish Rabbi, wasn't he?

[hupo]

I sometimes read of Messianic Jews and Christians being ragged on by orthodox Jews in Israel. Have you seen much of this? I know Christians are not allowed to witness to Jews without risking deportation. I ask because you are a live witness and it is sometimes hard to guage the accuracy of news written about events across the globe

Yes it is very true. The main group who are "saving Jewish souls" are "Yad LeAchim" (A helping hand to brothers).

The small town of Arad is at the focus of their activities. We had friends there who are now back in the States, who have been through all kinds of ordeals. There were attacks on meeting places, one of which was burned to the ground. There were Messianics or Christians who were blamed for Missionary work, who were physically beaten up.

We have friends who have been in Israel for many years now and are doing an amazing job with adolesent kids, Israeli, Palestinain and other countries. They were detained at the Airport and sat in jail until their country got involved and managed to release them. Again...."missionaries" was the excuse.

It is very awekward staying in this country if you are not Jewish and even then, there are arguments as to who decides if you are a Jew or not. If I declare I believe in Yeshua, I could be declared officially non-Jewish.

Someone from my own (very tolerant) community, asked me if I believe in yeshua and if I am Christian. My answer was that I do believe in Yeshua and I am Jewish and so was Yeshua....and a Jewish Rabbi at that! She didn't speak to me for about 3 years.

But in case I have painted too black a picture. There is gathering interest in "this Yeshua". Another member of our community told me she doesn't have any problem with what I believe in, Judaism, Islam, Hinduizm etc...."just don't talk to me about Yeshua!". I didn't, and about 2 months later she came to me saying "You talk with everyone about Yeshua only to me you don't say a thing" - I reminded her of her request but she said...." Ah! I didn't mean it like that"

So God has his ways of opening doors

[Guest]

Thank you, hupo, for your testimony. We don't get to hear about things like that here all that often.

[hupo]

My impression of what is going on is "Aslan is on the move"

We've had bible study meetings in an Arab village. 50-50% Muslims & Christians

Until recently we have had a meeting place in ZFAT too, the Kabalistic center! The couple running it have having a hard time getting back to the country, so it's on temporary hold.

They tell me there are Messianic Rabbis in MEAH SHEARIM the stronghold of orthodox Judaism in Jerusalem!

Hard to believe yet God has His ways and something is going on, for sure!

By the way, if anyone here is planning a visit to Israel, let me know. We've met with several forum members on various visits

[Guest shiloh357]

There are Christians who hate Israel, who believe the founding of Israel was illegitimate, who side with anti-Zionists/anti-Semites and cite Jewish persecution of Christians as one of many reasons to cast doubt on the legitimacy of Israel. They use this persecution as means of singling Israel out for special condemnation despite the fact that Christians are persecuted everywhere in the world and other nations are not disparaged in the same way for it.

While Jewish persecution of believers in Israel is horrid, it is worth pointing out that it does not occur in a vacuum. Jewish backlash against Christians is rooted in 1,700 years of Jews being labled by Christians as a cursed race, subjected to merciless pogroms and other forms violence leading up to and including the Holocaust. Jews have, for nearly two millenia, been on the receiving end of intense hatred aimed at them by baptized Christians in good standing in their local churches. Many of the guards who worked in the concentration camps of WWII attended church every Sunday. The Jews have been held up as the emblem of God's eternal contempt and disdain. Theology was erected to elevate the church as the true Israel meant to replace the cursed and discarded Jewish people. The promises of God to restore Israel were selectively reinterpreted by Christian theologians as references to the "church age."

It is against that 1,700 year long backdrop of darkness and anti-Semitism that Jewish contempt of Christianity must be understood. There is no justification for persecution, but it is easier for Christians to be more patient and realize that from the Jewish perspective, conversion to Christianity from Judaism is viewed as treason, as siding with those who tortured and murdered Jews in the name of Jesus. To become a Christian in the eyes of most Jews, particularly those who still remember the holocaust is akin to siding with Hitler. They are not theologically equipped to understand the difference between nominal Christianity and genuine folllowers of Christ and so there needs to be greater patience on the part of Christians who are reaching out to them. The church has historically done almost incalcuable damage to Jeiwsh-Christian relations and the lines of communication are slowly being repaired.

[hupo]

Yes , Yes we know all that Shiloh. hupo is talking of his personal experiences. Your comeback is always along the Christians have persecuted Jews so it is understandable that Jews persecute Christians.

NEWSFLASH...It is wrong for either side to persecute the other.

Well KatyAnn,

I would say there is no conflict in what Shilo wrote and what I'm experiencing.

There is all together too much hatred in the world and that is all from the enemy!

Nowdays the hatred is coming from Fundamental Islam too.

But there is this....

How would I know I am developing the Spirit's qualities (forgiveness, love etc') unless I am confronted with a situation that allows me to show (or not) forgiveness to an enemy?

I find that close to impossible even within my (tolerant) community

Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

[MorningGlory]

I sometimes read of Messianic Jews and Christians being ragged on by orthodox Jews in Israel. Have you seen much of this? I know Christians are not allowed to witness to Jews without risking deportation. I ask because you are a live witness and it is sometimes hard to guage the accuracy of news written about events across the globe

Yes it is very true. The main group who are "saving Jewish souls" are "Yad LeAchim" (A helping hand to brothers).

The small town of Arad is at the focus of their activities. We had friends there who are now back in the States, who have been through all kinds of ordeals. There were attacks on meeting places, one of which was burned to the ground. There were Messianics or Christians who were blamed for Missionary work, who were physically beaten up.

We have friends who have been in Israel for many years now and are doing an amazing job with adolesent kids, Israeli, Palestinain and other countries. They were detained at the Airport and sat in jail until their country got involved and managed to release them. Again...."missionaries" was the excuse.

It is very awekward staying in this country if you are not Jewish and even then, there are arguments as to who decides if you are a Jew or not. If I declare I believe in Yeshua, I could be declared officially non-Jewish.

Someone from my own (very tolerant) community, asked me if I believe in yeshua and if I am Christian. My answer was that I do believe in Yeshua and I am Jewish and so was Yeshua....and a Jewish Rabbi at that! She didn't speak to me for about 3 years.

But in case I have painted too black a picture. There is gathering interest in "this Yeshua". Another member of our community told me she doesn't have any problem with what I believe in, Judaism, Islam, Hinduizm etc...."just don't talk to me about Yeshua!". I didn't, and about 2 months later she came to me saying "You talk with everyone about Yeshua only to me you don't say a thing" - I reminded her of her request but she said...." Ah! I didn't mean it like that"

So God has his ways of opening doors

He does indeed. That's amazing...and wonderful!

[hupo]

Hupo, I apologize for my part in the way the direction of this thread was starting to turn. I have enjoyed the thread and hearing what you have to say. I know the history and there is too much tension on both sides. This thread is about what God is doing in Israel to bring Jews to Christ.... as witnessed through your eyes.

Oh, no need for apologies. It isn't my thread. I'm a participant like everyone else here.

There are bound to be different views on the issue. Shilo brought the facts as he knows them and they sound pretty accurate, unfortunately.....

The main thing is that God is working and we can see His work, even if for us it is painfully slow

But God has His timing and I do my best to put my trust in Him

[nebula]

How would I know I am developing the Spirit's qualities (forgiveness, love etc') unless I am confronted with a situation that allows me to show (or not) forgiveness to an enemy?

Whoa! That's deep.