Messianic
Jewish Identity
Spring 2001 Issue 211
I
have worried for some time about the Jewish Messianic movement. I do not know
what it is like in other countries, but here in South America it has got
absolutely out of order.
There are people who are not Jewish but proclaim that since they are
circumcised in their hearts they are Jews. Some even call themselves
“Rabbi”. Others have declared almost all Colombia and even South America to
be Jewish. They look everywhere for Jewish genealogy. Many claim to be Marranos-the
ones who came from Spain after being converted to Catholicism by the Inquisition
. These Marranos are now proclaiming a return to their Jewish roots.
When I read Stan Telchin’s article in issue 209 of Chai
and the “Open letter” from Menahem Benhayim along with the answer of Stan in
issue 210, my heart almost burst! I received confirmation about the feelings and
questions I had had in my heart for some time. I was looking for answers to all
this Messianic confusion. Jewish Rabbis were constantly telling me: “The
people you try to make Jewish should come to us. We can teach them the right
way.” I always answered them: “My goal is not to convert Gentiles to Jews,
neither to make a Jew more religious or more observant of the Law, even less, to
create some kind of mutation combining the two religions. My only desire is to
lead the Jews to complete their faith in the Messiah” As simple as that!
I believe that a Gentile is a Gentile and a Jew is a Jew. Even now, as a
believer in the Messiah I have learned through the Scriptures that God considers
both groups precious in His eyes. Abraham was told that God would bless “all
the nations of the earth” (Gen.18:18). Messiah also spoke of two different
identities. He said that he came at first to the Jews, to “the lost sheep of
Israel” (Matthew 10:5,6). He also clearly stated, “Other sheep I have, which
are not of this fold, them also I must bring” (John 10:16).
Should these two identities merge into one? Should they worship the same
God, apart? That was my question
for a long time. I personally came to know the Messiah through Protestant,
Evangelical Christians. At the time (1972) they called themselves “Followers
of Jesus Christ”, they were people that came out of the Hippie movement. There
were Christian Communes, not regular churches, and I never ever experienced any
anti-Semitism. On the contrary.
I
came from a Jewish background not as observant as Stan Telchin. My grandfather
and great-grandfather were Rabbis in Romania. My parents were a bit less
observant, but they were faithful to the Holidays and Shabbat.
Like Stan and many others, announcing the news to our relatives that we
now believed that Jesus was the Messiah, was quite a trial! I wrote about ten
letters and tore them all up. I tried many ways to say one simple thing. It took
me about four months to finally say it straight.
The best solution for making things a bit easier, was the Messianic
groups. I said to myself, “I will be accepted a bit more by my family circle
now that I observe almost the same as them, except with the difference - Yeshua
the Messiah!” That, I thought to myself, will be the best answer and my family
would see very clearly that the Messiah is Jesus!
Then I found out that we were doing things we did not understand; we did
not really know about our own Jewish customs, and it got to be a burden and was
not a joy any more. Even though they had enriched my knowledge, the fresh word
of the Lord was lost in all these rituals. How is one to put all this it into
its right place? That is the question.
To be honest, I now regret voting in the (IMJA) meeting for the change of
the name from “Hebrew - Christians” to “Messianic Jews”. I do believe we
have to go back to the wisdom of the founders of the movement, and search our
hearts deeply, thoroughly and honestly as to what motivates us. Maybe in this
way we will find a solution to this situation that is causing so much division
and confusion.
Fanny Roiter
President of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of Colombia and
vice-president of the International Messianic Jewish Alliance.
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