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TheConversionofNon-JewstoMessianicJudaism:ATest-CaseofMembershipandIdentityinaNewReligiousMovementConversionofNon-JewstoMessianicJudaism:Test-CaseofMembershipandIdentityinaNewReligiousMovement”assessesthepolicyandpracticeofconversioninMessianicJudaism.Usingsurveys,interviewsandpublicationsitcriticallyinvestigatesthetheological,anthropologicalandsocial-psychologicalissues,discussingtheimplicationsforindividualconverts,MessianicJudaism,andthewiderJewishcommunity.

1. Introduction1ThetopicofconversiontoJudaismisofgreatsignificanceindiscussionofJewishidentity.

Conversion,theprocessbywhichnon-JewsbecomeJews,hasalwaysoccupiedanimportantplaceontheJewishagenda.Fromatheoreticalstandpoint,conversionisafascinatingphenomenoninmanyrespects:religiousandnational,historicalandsocial,philosophicalandpsychological.Fromapracticalstandpoint,conversionisanimportantsocialinstitutionthatisvitalforJewishcontinuity.Jewishattitudestowardconversionhaveevolvedoverthegenerations,reflectingthechangingcircumstancesandneedsoftheJewishcollective.2

ThefocusonconversionandtheissuessurroundingitisalsoofparticularinterestinthemovementofJewishbelieversinJesusknownas“MessianicJudaism”.DanCohn-Sherbokstates:

Fromancienttimestothepresent,conversiontoJudaismhasbeenviewedasanacceptablemeansofjoiningtheJewishpeople.DuringtheHellenisticperiod,Jewsactivelysoughtconverts.SubsequentlywiththeriseofChristianity,suchmissionaryoutreachceased.Yet,throughthecenturiesithasremainedpossiblefornon-JewstoenterintotheJewishfold.Inmoderntimes,thedifferentbranchesofJudaismdevelopedavarietyofproceduresforconversion.Paradoxically,however,MessianicJudaismhasnotformulatedaprocessofconversion,andsuchreluctancehascontributedtoitsisolationfromtheJewishcommunityasawhole.3

1PaperpresentedattheWorldUnionofJewishStudies,HebrewUniversity,Jerusalem,July28th2013.AudiopresentationandPowerpointslidesavailableatRichardHarvey,“ConversionofNon-JewstoMessianicJudaism:MembershipandIdentityIssues,”n.p.[cited30September2014].Online:http://blog.mappingmessianicjewishtheology.eu/search/wujs.2YedidiaZ.Stern,“FromRuthtoNatasha:OntheFutureofConversioninIsrael”(Jerusalem:TheIsraelDemocracyInstitute,2010),1.[CitedJune2013].Online:https://www.idi.org.il/media/932136/From%20Ruth%20to%20Natasha.pdf3RabbiProfessorDanCohn-Sherbok,emailmessagetoauthor,21stMarch2013.

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MessianicJudaismhasbeenvariouslydescribedasasect,cultorheresy.4TheapproachofthispaperistolocateitasanewreligiousmovementintersectingtheboundariesofJudaismandChristianity,andtoidentifythequestionofconversionofnon-Jewsasameansofunderstandingtheself-identityofthemovementasitsituatesitselfbetweenthetworeligiouscommunities.ThequestiontobeaddressedistowhatextentthephenomenonofMessianicJewishConversion(MJC),orconversiontoJudaismthroughtheMessianicmovement,contributestoourunderstandingofMessianicJudaismitselfasamoderndayrevitalizationoftheJewishChristianitythatemergedwithinSecondTempleJudaism.5

a. BackgroundofModernMessianicJudaism6ThemovementofJewishbelieversinJesusknownas“MessianicJudaism”emergedinthelate1960sandearly1970sfromitsrootsintheHebrewChristianmovementofthe19thandearly20thcenturies,stronglyinfluencedbyProtestantEvangelicalMissionstotheJewishpeople.EstablishingitselfinIsraelandDiaspora(particularlyintheUSA),ithasformedcongregationsandsynagogues,schools,traininginstitutionsandnationalandinternationalorganisations.Yetdespiteitsnumericalandinstitutionalgrowth,thereisnoagreementonthemeansbywhichnon-Jewsmightbeadmittedtothemovement,norwhetheraprocessofgiyyurshouldbeavailabletowould-beconverts.7

b. DefinitionofTerms

4Sobel,B.Zvi,HebrewChristianity:TheThirteenthTribe(NewYork:JohnWileyandSons,1974);Berger,DavidandMichaelWyschogrod,Jewsand‘JewishChristianity’(NewYork:Ktav,1978);Rausch,DavidA.,MessianicJudaism:ItsHistory,TheologyandPolity(Lewiston,NY:EdwinMellenPress,1982).5BruceH.Stokes,‘MessianicJudaism:EthnicityinRevitalization’(PhDdiss.,UniversityofCalifornia,Riverside,1994).6StandardintroductionstoMessianicJudaismnowavailableinclude:RichardHarvey,MappingMessianicJewishTheology:AConstructiveApproach(Carlisle,UK:Paternoster,2009);DavidJ.RudolphandJoelWilletts(eds.),IntroductiontoMessianicJudaism:ItsEcclesialContextandContextandBiblicalFoundations.GrandRapids:Zondervan,2013;HannaRucks,MessianischeJuden:GeschichteundTheologiederBewegunginIsrael(NeukirchenerTheologie:Gottingen,2014).DavidRudolph’swebsiteprovidesacomprehensivelistingofresourcesathttp://www.meDavidRudolph,“WhataretheBestBooksonMessianicJewsandMessianicJudaism?”n.p.[cited30September2014].Online:http://www.messianicjudaism.net/.7Thetermsgiyyurand‘conversion’,despitetheimportantdifferencesinmeaningtheyconvey,areusedinterchangeablythroughoutthispaper.SeeAviSagaiandZviZohar,TransformingIdentity:TheRitualTransformationfromGentiletoJew–StructureandMeaning(London,UK:Continuum,2007),3-4;DavidJ.Rudolph,“MessianicJewsandChristianTheology:RestoringanHistoricalVoicetotheContemporaryDiscussion,”ProEcclesia24(2005):58-84.

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WhilstorthodoxhalachadefinesaJewasthechildofaJewishmotheroraconverttoJudaism,forthepurposesofthispapertheReformdefinitionwhichacceptsbothpatrilinealandmatrilinealdescentisadopted,asthisisalsothemostcommonunderstandingfoundintheMessianicmovement.8AMessianicJewisdefinedasaJewishpersonwhoacceptsYeshua(Jesus)asMessiah.9MessianicJudaismisunderstoodaccordingtotheUnionofMessianicJewishCongregationsdefinitionof2005:

TheUnionofMessianicJewishCongregations(UMJC)envisionsMessianicJudaismasamovementofJewishcongregationsandgroupscommittedtoYeshuatheMessiahthatembracethecovenantalresponsibilityofJewishlifeandidentityrootedinTorah,expressedintradition,andrenewedandappliedinthecontextoftheNewCovenant.MessianicJewishgroupsmayalsoincludethosefromnon-JewishbackgroundswhohaveaconfirmedcalltoparticipatefullyinthelifeanddestinyoftheJewishpeople.Wearecommittedtoembodyingthisdefinitioninourconstituentcongregationsandinoursharedinstitutions.10

c. ConversiontoJudaismorMessianicJudaism?

RichNichol,aleadingproponentofMJC,asksthequestion:“IsconversionofGentilesconversiontoMessianicJudaismortoJudaism?”Hisansweris:

Morethansemanticsareinvolvedhere.AsaJudaismweconverttoJudaism.AReformorConservativerabbidoesnotconvertGentilestotheirspecificdenomination,buttoJudaism.Itshouldbethesameamongus.So,whenthehospitalattendantasksoneofourconverts,"whatisyourreligion?"Thenaturalandappropriateansweris,"Judaism."11

8Harvey,Mapping,p.2fn.6,“ForthepurposesofthepresentstudytheachildofJewishparentsoraconverttoJudaismisconsideredJewish,followingReformJudaism,andthemajorityoftheMessianicmovement.”Theterm‘Gentile’isalsoproblematic,butforourpurposesistakentomeansomeonewhoisnotJewishthroughmatrilinealorpatrilinealdescent,andhasnotundergoneaconversionprocess.9WhilstallJewsareinsomesense“Messianic”andtherehavebeenmanyMessianicclaimantsinJudaism,thetermisrestrictedheretothatparticularformofJewishMessianismthatacceptstheMessiahshipofJesus(Harvey,Mapping,p.1fn.2).OthertermssuchasJewishbelievers,Jesus-believingJewsarealsoused.FornomenclatureseeHarvey,Mapping,8-12.ForafullerstatementofthebeliefsofMessianicJudaismseethe2012UMJCStatementofFaith“StandardsforMessianicJewishCongregationsandChavurot”athttp://umjc.org/faith-and-values/statement-of-faith[cited20June2013].10UMJC,“DefiningMessianicJudaism”http://www.umjc.org/faith-and-values/defining-messianic-judaism.N.p.[citedJune2013].11RichNichol,“TheCaseforConversion:WelcomingNon-JewsintoMessianicJewishSpace”http://www.kesherjournal.com/Issue-19/The-Case-for-Conversion-Welcoming-Non-Jews-into-Messianic-Jewish-Space,p.18

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Nevertheless,forthepurposesofthispaper,weunderstandthatMJCtakesplacewithinaMessianicJewishframeofreferencewhichassumes,acceptsandindeedrequiresfaithinYeshuaasMessiahinadditiontofulfillingtheotherrequirementsnecessary.ThisformofconversiontoJudaismthereforeisdistinctivefromconversiontoOrthodox,Reform,Conservativeorotherconversionmodels.

d. NumbersofMessianicJews

i. Israel.TherearefewreliablesurveysofJewishbelieversinJesus.ThesurveyconductedbyKaiKjaer-HansenandBodilSkjøttestimated4,785MessianicJewsin81congregationsinIsraelin1999.12Thisfigurehasnowbeenrevisedupwards,andAkivaCohenstates:

CurrentlythereareaboutonehundredandtwentyMessianicJewishcongregationsandsmallgroupsinIsrael,withaconservativeestimateofapproximatelytenthousandself-identifiedMessianicJews.13

Cohenaddsinafootnotethatthisnumberisproblematic,asthosewhoarechildrenfrommixedmarriagesanddonotfitthehalachiccriterionofmatrilinealdescentmakeupalargepartofthisgroup.Somewould“placethenumberofethnicMessianicJewsatlessthanthreethousand.”14Cohenrefersto“unofficialestimates”ofthecurrentmakeupoftheMessianicJewishcommunityinIsrael:

10percentSabras,55percentRussians,5to7percentEthiopians,atleast25percentEnglish,French,SpanishandGermanimmigrants;and3to5percentexpatriates.15

ii. USA

EstimatesforthenumbersofJesus-believingJewsintheUSAvaryconsiderably.In2003itwasestimatedthattherewerebetween30,000-75,000,buthigher

12Kjær-Hansen,KaiandBodilF.Skjøtt,FactsandMythsabouttheMessianicCongregationsinIsrael(Jerusalem:UnitedChristianCouncilinIsrael/CaspariCentreforBiblicalandJewishStudies,[MishkanDoubleIssue30-31]),1999.13AkivaCohen,“MessianicJewsintheLandofIsrael”inIntroductiontoMessianicJudaism:ItsEcclesialContextandBiblicalFoundations(ed.DavidJ.,RudolphandJoelWilletts:GrandRapids:Zondervan,2013),109.14Cohen,“MessianicJews”,109,fn.20.15Cohen,“MessianicJews,”110,fn22.

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estimatesareoftengiven.16DrBarryKosmin,co-directorofthe1990and2001AmericanJewishIdentitySurveys17(AJIS)states:

ThenumberofMessianicJews/JewsforJesusetc.isestimatedinmostsurveysasaround20-30,000adults.MostofthemareswitchersoutofJudaism.Duetosmallsamplesandfudgydefinitions,statisticsonthistopicaredifficulttoobtainandopentolargestandarderrors–socaveatemptor.18

WhilstnotincludingMessianicJewsasaseparatecategory,theAJISsurveyidentified2.3million“Jewsofotherreligions”who

hadtwoJewishparentsandwerebornandraisedas“coreJews,”buthaveswitchedtoanon-Jewishreligiousgroup.Thusthe“otherreligions”reportedincludethewholegamutfromCatholic,Baptist,EpiscopaliantoMessianicJewsaswellasotherreligionssuchasBuddhism,Wicca,ScientologyandUnitarianism.19

ItisclearthatthenumberofJewishbelieversinJesusismuchlargerthanthosewhoaredirectlyassociatedwithMessianiccongregations.AccordingtoDavidRudolph:

TherearepresentlyoveronemillionChristiansintheUnitedStateswhohaveaJewishparent.WedonotknowhowmanyoftheseChristiansofJewishdescentattendchurches;however,thereislittlequestionthatthenumberisinthehundredsofthousands.20

FigurescompiledrecentlybytheWorldChristianDatabasegivealowerestimateof154,810,basedonresponsesfrom21nationalandinternationalorganisations.21

16SusanPerlman,“StatisticallySpeaking:What'sNewinJewishCommunityDemographics?”inChavurahvolume6/1(February2003):4-5.Cited30September2014.Online:http://www.jewsforjesus.org/files/pdf/havurah/havurah-06-01.pdf.17EgonMayer,BarryA.KosminandArielaKeysar,JewishIdentitySurvey2001AJISReport:AnExplorationInTheDemographyAndOutlookOfAPeople2001(NewYork:TheGraduateCenteroftheCityUniversityofNewYork,rev.ed.2003).JOR(JewishOtherReligion)1,470,000andJCOR(Jewishchildrenofotherreligion)880,000makeup31%oftotal7,690,000inthe2001survey.18BarryKosmin,emailcommunication,22June2011.19Kosmin,JewishIdentitySurvey,2003,p.20-21.20DavidJ.Rudolph,GrowingYourOliveTreeMarriage(Clarksville:Lederer,2003),180fn.2.JewishdemographicsurveysroutinelyexcludeMessianicJewsfromtheirreports.Cf.http://www.jewishdatabank.org/Archive/C-NY-New_York-2011-Screener.pdfwhererespondentswhoidentifyas“MessianicJews”or“JewsforJesus”arenotincluded.21GinaBellofatto,ResearcheratWorldChristianDatabase(CenterfortheStudyofGlobalChristianity,GordonConwellCollege),

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iii. Europe

AccordingtotheresearchofSergioDellaPergola,theEuropeanJewishpopulationcanbeestimatedat1,455,900in2010.22Accordingtoarecentsurveyconductedbythisauthor,anestimated25,000MessianicJewsarefoundmainlyintheUnitedKingdom(5,000)andGermany(10,000),Russia(5000)andUkraine(5000).23

e. Non-JewsinMessianicCongregationsAccordingtosomeestimates,between50-80%ofmembersandattendersofMessianiccongregationsintheUSAarenotthemselvesJewish.WhilstGentilesarewelcomedinmostMessianicgroups,theirpresenceandroleisproblematic.RudolphandKlaymanstate:24

ThedemographicrealityofMessianicGentiles,includingasecondandthirdgeneration,raisesanumberofquestionsthattheMessianicJewishcommunityiscurrentlyengaging.Manyofthesequestionsrelatetotime-honouredtraditionsintheJewishworldconcerningtheparticipationofnon-JewsinJewishlife.25

DanielJusterwrites:

Todaywefaceanewphenomenon.ItisthatthemajorityofourcongregationsarenolongercongregationswithmajorityJewishmembership.Whilewealwaysexpectedgentilestojoinus,wefathersofthemovementexpectedthatoureffortstoreachourpeoplewouldbesuccessfulandthatamajorityJewishconstituencywouldensueinmostofourcongregations.Thisnewrealityhascomeasasurprise.ThemajorityofJewsinMessianicCongregationsarenowincongregationswitha

http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/Center-for-the-Study-of-Global-Christianity.cfm/,emailtoauthor,20June2013.22SergioDellaPergola,WorldJewishPopulation,2010(NorthAmericanJewishDataBankCenterforJudaicStudiesandContemporaryJewishLife,UniversityofConnecticut,2010)(www.jewishdatabank.org),46.23RichardHarvey,“FoundationsofEuropeanMessianicJewishTheology,”n.p.[cited20June2013].Online:http://www.messianicsymposium.eu/EMTS_papers/2013EMTSrhpaper.pdf.24RichNichol,“TheUniquePlaceofGentilesinMessianicCongregationalLife”andJeffAdler,“GentilesWithintheMessianicJewishCommunity,”(paperpresentedattheBoroughParkSymposium2012),n.p.[cited20June2013].Online:http://www.mjstudies.com/storage/Nichol%20Gentiles%20in%20the%20MJ%20Congregation%20Draft%201%20-%20Final.doc.25DavidRudolphandElliottKlayman.“MessianicJewishSynagogues”inRudolphandWilletts,Introduction,48.

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majorityofgentiles.IspeakofAmericahere,forthesituationinIsraelisnotatalllikethis.26

BruceStokes,ananthropologistandnon-Jewishparticipantinthemovement,claims:

Mydissertation…addressesearlythinkingonconversionandabsorptioninthemovement.Sincethattimetheissuehasbecomemuchmoreofadiscussionpointamongmanyinthemovement.27

MitchGlasersimilarlyreflectsonhowthemovementisconcernedwiththisquestion:

ThereisagrowingdiscussionwithintheMessianicJewishnationalOrganisationsaboutthedegreetowhichGentilebelieversinYeshuashouldbeallowedtoparticipateintraditionalJewishobservance(e.g.bar/batmitzvah)andwhattheroleofnon-JewsshouldbeinMessianicsynagoguelife.TherearesomewithintheMessianicJewishnationalorganizationswhoarecallingfortheirgroupstorecognizeJewsbychoicewhohaveundergoneaformalconversionprocess,eitherMessianicortraditional.28

Nevertheless,interestinthetopicisnotuniform,andappearslargelyasadiasporaphenomenon.OneIsraeliquestionnairerespondentstates:

Youwillknowthatthisisdefinitelyanon-issueinIsrael.ConversiontoMessianicJudaismpresupposesaleveloforganizationandstructurethatisnotpresentintheIsraeliMessianicJewishmovementatthistime.Theverynotionof"conversiontoMessianicJudaism"wouldraisethehacklesofmostofthecongregationalleadershipinthecountry.Giventhetheologicalleaningsofthecommunityhere,itisanuntenableconcept.29

f. LimitationsItisbeyondthepurposesofthispapertocompareanddiscussMessianicJewishconversioninthelightofconversionprocessesinotherformsofJudaism(Orthodox,Conservative,Reform,Reconstructionist,etc).RatherouraimwillbetosetthediscussionofMJCwithinMessianicJudaism,whereitisacontroversialissue.SimilarlythequestionoftheacceptanceofMessianicJudaismbyother

26DanielC.Juster,“JewishandGentileDistinctioninMessianicCongregations”(paperpresentedattheTikkunLeadershipConference,2008),unpublished.27BruceStokes,emailcorrespondence,May2013.28MitchGlaser,“MessianicJewishNationalOrganizations”inRudolphandWilletts,Introduction,121.29Respondent32.However,aminorityofIsraelirespondentswoulddisagree.

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formsofJudaismandChristianitywillnotbediscussed,exceptwherethisissignificantfortheintra-MessianicJewishdiscourseonthetopicthatarisesfromdiscussionofMJC.

2. DiscussionofConversionwithintheMessianicmovement

WhilstacademicstudiesofconversionofGentilestoMessianicJudaismhavenotappearedpriortothisstudy,discussionhastakenplaceinseveralforumswithintheMessianicmovement.30In1983theUnionofMessianicCongregations(UMJC)intheUSAdecidednottorecognizeconversionsofGentileswithinMessianicJudaism,althoughaminorityofitsmembercongregations31didrecognizesuchconversions.In2004theMessianicJewishRabbinicalCouncil(MJRC),agroupof26leaders,developedandimplementedaformalconversionprocess.ArangeofpapersintheUMJCjournalKesherdiscussedtheviewsnotonlyofUMJCleadersbutthosefromotherMessianicJewishorganizations,ChurchleadersandRabbisfromthewiderJewishcommunity.32TheUMJCExecutiveCommitteeissuedthefollowingstatement:

TheUnionofMessianicJewishCongregations(UMJC)wascreatedin1979asabroadbasedorganizationofMessianicJewishcongregations,willingtoentertainandconfrontimportantissues.OnesuchissueistheroleofGentilesinMessianicJewishcongregationsandwhether,incertainlimitedsituations,GentilescanbeformallyconvertedtoMessianicJudaism.In1983,theUMJCexaminedthisquestionandissuedapositionpapercontainingtwoviews(availableatwww.umjc.org).ThemajoritypositionopposedGentileconversion;theminoritysupportedit.Hence,since1983theUMJCdoesnotrecognizeconversionofGentileswithinMessianicJudaism.Itdoes,however,includeunderitsumbrellasomegroupsthatdorecognizesuchconversion.Recently,agroupofleadersaffiliatedwiththeUMJCdevelopedandbegantoimplementaformalconversionprocessforGentileswithintheirlocalcongregations.TheUMJCdoesnotendorseorrecognizethisprocess.Yet,theUMJCExecutiveCommitteerecognizestheimportanceofourfoundingmandate,“ToprovideaforumforthediscussionofissuesrelevanttoMessianicJudaismandMessianicJewishCongregations.”Wewillcontinuetoprovidefordialogueonthisissueanditstheologicalandpractical

30OneexceptionisAlanCampbell,“TheNon-ConversionsofJewsandGentilestoMessianicJudaism:ASense-MakingAnalysisofInterpersonalandMassCommunicativeInfluenceonSpiritualTransformations”(Ph.D.diss.,SchoolofCommunicationandtheArts,RegentUniversity,2010).31Approximately10%,byshowofhandsofvotingdelegates.32AndrewSparks(ed.)Kesher:AJournalofMessianicJudaismIssue19-Summer2005(Online:http://www.kesherjournal.com/Issue-19/View-issue).

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ramifications,includingcoverageinourprofessionaljournal,Kesher.Inthemidstofourdiversity,weaffirmourunityinMessiahYeshuaandinourvisionfortheMessianicJewishcongregationalmovement.33

TheKesherissuecontainedtheessaywrittenbyRabbiRichNicholadvocatingconversion34,diverseresponses,andtwobookreviews.Nicholadvocatesforaconversionprocesswhichis:

• madeavailableinaverylimitedway,primarilytothoseGentileswhohaveJewishspouses,butalsotosomeothersunderveryspecificcircumstances(andnotpresentedasthenormforGentileswhoembraceJesusastheMessiah...)

• isundergirdedbyhalachicstandardsbywhichthenewconvertisexpectedtolive

• canhelptoelevateMessianicJudaisminourowneyes,intheeyesofourchildrenandintheeyesofawatchingworld.Anationwithnoboundarieswillnotbeaviablenationforlong.MessianicJudaismwillnotgrowtobecomeavital,worthyexpressionofJewishpeoplehoodwithoutamelioratingthissituation.Itisamatterofsurvivalanditisamatterofintegrity.35

Nicholbuildshisargumentfurtherinhis2012BoroughParkSymposiumPaper,whereheappealstothebilaterialecclesiologymodelofMarkKinzer,theworkofpost-supersessionistMethodisttheologianRKendalSoulen,andtheJewishphilosopherMichaelWyschogrod.36BeforecallingforaconversionprocessasanecessarystepinthevalidationofMessianicJudaismasaJudaismsuigenerishestates:

thefactofJewishandGentileidentitycannotbeeffaced.Theineluctablecharacterofthesedimensionsofhumanidentity[emphasishis]atteststothedepthandresolutionofGod’sconsummatingengagementwithcreation.AstheRedeemer,ofIsraelGodactsinfidelitynotonlytoIsrael,

33JamieCowan,“DearReader”(IntroductiontoKesherIssue19),online:http://www.kesherjournal.com/Issue-19/Dear-Reader.34RichardCNichol,“TheCaseforConversion:WelcomingNon-JewsintoMessianicJewishSpace”(http://www.kesherjournal.com/Issue-19/The-Case-for-Conversion-Welcoming-Non-Jews-into-Messianic-Jewish-Space).SeealsoashorterversionofthispaperatRichNichol,“TheUniquePlaceofGentilesinMessianicJewishCongregationalLife”(paperpresentedattheBoroughParkSymposium2012),http://boroparksymposium.com/papers(accessedJune2013).35Nichol,“TheCaseforConversion”,n.p.36Soulen,R.Kendall,TheGodofIsraelandChristianTheology(Minneapolis:FortressPress,1996);MichaelWyschogrod,TheBodyofFaith:GodandthePeopleIsrael(2nded.Northvale:JasonAronson,1996);MarkKinzer,PostmissionaryMessianicJudaism:RedefiningChristianEngagementwiththeJewishPeople(GrandRapids:BakerAcademic/Brazos,2005).

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buttothetotalityofthehumanfamily’screatedandcovenantalidentity.(Soulen154-155)

NicholproposesthatatthecoreofMessianicJudaism’sself-definitionandcommunalformationshouldbetheorganicconnectionbetweenJudaismandChristianityastwofaiths.Thisresultsintherealisationthat“Christianityisacculturated(Jewish)messianismforthenations.”37Nicholdistinguishesbetweenwhathecallsthe“MissiologicalApproach(MA)”andthe“BilateralApproach(BA)”,arguingthatthetwoorientations“createoverarchingvaluesystemswhicharecommunicatedpowerfullyinmyriadwaysinourinteractionswithoneanotherandwithcongregants”.38AsaBilateralApproachpractitioner,hefavourstheapproachtendsto“gravitatemoretoatraditionalJewishthananEvangelicalChristianstartingpoint”forcongregationallife.39Becausethe“BAcongregationisauniquekindofsynagogueandnotaculturallyattunedchurch”itisappropriatethatitsself-identificationisprimarilyJewishandit“mustbemadeupprimarilyofJews”.40NicholrecognisesthatwhilstnotallGentilesattendingaBACongregationwillwishtoconverttoJudaism,andtherewillcontinuetobearoleforthemasGentiles,similartothatofGentilesattractedtomainstreamsynagogues,theConversionoptionshouldbeclearlyavailabletosomeforwhomitwouldbeappropriate.ResponsestoNichol’spaperfromMichaelWolf,JeffreyFeinberg,JohnFischer,KaySilberlingfromwithintheMessianicmovementandoutsideobserversDanCohn-SherbokandDouglasHarinkprovidedavarietyofresponses,fromMichaelWolf’s“absolutelynot!”toJohnFischer’s“thetimehascome”.41MichaelWolf,representingthepositionoftheMessianicJewishAllianceofAmericaandtheSteeringCommitteeoftheInternationalAllianceofMessianicCongregations,arguesagainstaconversionprocess.42AccordingtoWolf,aconversionofGentilesdoesnot“conformtoscripture”as“theclearandconsistentpatternoftheNewCovenantistohelpGod-fearingGentilestofindtheiridentityasfellowheirswiththeirJewishbrethreninMessiah”without

37Nichol,“UniquePlace,”17.38Nichol,“UniquePlace”,5.39Nichol,“UniquePlace”,6.40Nichol,“UniquePlace”,19.41SeealsoJohnFischer“TheLegitimacyofConversion,”inVoicesofMessianicJudaism,(DanCohn-Sherbok,ed.,Baltimore:LedererBooks,2001).42MichaelWolf,“AConvictionAgainstConversion”,n.p.[cited20June2013].Online:http://www.kesherjournal.com/Issue-19/A-Conviction-Against-Conversion.TheIAMCSisthelargestgroupingofMessianicJewishCongregations,with127groupsworldwidelistedonthedirectorywebsiteathttp://www.iamcs.org/#/congregations-rabbis/iamcs-directory-pdf(accessedJune2013).

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convertingtoJudaism.43Conversionis“contrarytotheprinciplesandpracticeoutlinedinscripture”.ThepracticeofMessianicJewishconversion,contrarytoNichol’sassertionthatitwillhelptheMessianicmovementbecomeacceptedwithinthewiderJewishcommunity,“willbeseenastheultimatedeception”.44AnotherdangerWolfseesisthatthewiderChristianChurchwillseesuchaconversionprocessasdamagingtotheroleofMessianicJudaism:

IbelievethattheimpactoftakingevenafewbornagainGentilebelieversandcallingthemJewishwillcauseconfusionaboutexactlywhoweareandwhatwearedoing.Wewillbeseenasdevelopingintoasect.Itdoesnotmatterwhetherweapplytheprocesscarefullyorsparingly.Doingitatallislikebeingalittlebitpregnant.AndthiswillnotbelostontheChristianfamilies(andthosefamilies’pastors)oftheGentile(or“formerGentile”)membersofourcongregations.TheGentilechurchwillrecognizethatthisisfarafieldfromouroriginalvisionofcallingourJewishpeopletofulfilltheirspiritualdestinythroughapersonalrelationshipwithYeshuaHaMashiach.45

Admittingthepracticeofconversionwould“proveextremelydivisive,splittingthecongregationintomoreclasses”,withhalfthenon-Jewsinthecongregationlininguptobecomeconverts,andtheotherswouldrefuse,seeingthepracticeasnon-Scriptural.Asregardstheidentity-designationforGentileswithintheMessianicCongregations,Wolfadmitsthatthereneedstobeanoptionforsomeonewhodoesnotfeelcomfortablecallingthemselves“Christian”(becauseofthehistoryofChristiananti-Judaismandthenegativeassociationsoftheterm),butan“unscripturalconversionprocessisnottheanswer”andthisaspectofMessianicJewishlifehastobeacceptedandworkedthroughcreatively.46WhilstsomeseetheintroductionofaconversionprocessintotheMessianicmovementasnecessaryandinevitable,WolfstatestheofficialpositionofthelargestorganisationofMessianiccongregationsasfirmlyagainstsuchamove.“Goddoesnotchange,scripturedoesnotchange,andourstandonthisissuewillnotchangeeither”.47JeffreyFeinbergreflectsthemajoritypositionwithintheUMJC,arguingthatthereisnoformalconversionprocessintheTorahoftheHebrewBible,andMessianicJewsshouldnotdependonlaterrabbinicJudaismforanormativeprocess.TheevidencecitedbyNicholforaconversionprocessintheBrit

43Wolf,“Conviction”.ForthesamematerialseeMichaelWolf,‘ConversionofGentiles—NoWay’inDanCohn-Sherbok,ed.,VoicesofMessianicJudaism(Lederer,2001),137-138.44Wolf,“Conviction”,ibid.45Wolf,“Conviction,”4.46Wolf,“Conviction,“4.47Wolf,“Conviction,”4.

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Hadashah(NewTestament)ismisinterpretedbyNichol,whounderstandsthecircumcisionofTimothyasthatofaproselyte.Nicholstates:

ShayeCoheninhisimportantwork,TheBeginningsofJewishnessarguesthatintheperiodbeforethecodificationoftheMishnah,TimothywouldhavebeenviewedasaGentileandthathiscircumcisionrepresentedaformalconversiontoJudaism.Matrilinealdescent,accordingtoCohen,thoughthenormativecriteriafordeterminingJewishidentitytoday,wasnotthestandardinthetimeofRavShaulandTimothy.48

AccordingtoFeinberg,PaulalreadyviewedTimothyasanethnicJewwhoneededtocompletehisreligiousobligations.Timothy’s“conversion”shouldnottherebeseenasanexampleofaGentilebecomingaproselyteJew.FeinbergseesnobiblicalprecedentforconvertingGentileswhohavenotbeenraisedinaJewishhousehold.49Also,forFeinbergaformalizedconversionprocessis“premature”attheinternationallevel,becausetheUMJChasyettodefine“whoisaJew?”50RecentdiscussionhasreflectedonPaul’sinstructionin1Corinthians7,andthedifferentinterpretivestrategiesonthispassagereflectthecompetingpositionsonMJCheldbyMessianicleaders.DavidRudolphdisagreeswithNichol’sreadingofShayeCohen.Hewrites:51

Duringmydoctoralwork,itbecamecleartomethatPaul'scircumcisionofTimothy,immediatelyaftertheActs15JerusalemCouncildecision,reflectsPaul'sviewthatTimothywasaJewbymatrilinealstandardsasShayeCohenargues.SeeAJewtotheJews,23-27.Thus,thereisabiblicalprecedentformatrilinealbasedJewishidentitythatIfindcompellingandthisisnotaprecedentthatnecessarilyunderminesthepatrilineal.52

InhispaperinStudiesinChristian-JewishRelationsRudolphlaysoutabiblicalandtheologicalframeworkfordealingwiththequestionofconversioninlightofPaul'sruleinallthecongregations(1Cor.7).AlongwithMichaelWyschogrod,herecognisesPaul’scontinuingTorahobservanceandPaul’sexpectationthatthiswouldbecontinuedbyJesus-believingJews.AstothequestionofGentileconversionto(Messianic)Judaism,hewrites:

48Nichol,13,referringtoShayeCohen,TheBeginningsofJewishness(Oakland:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,2001).49JeffreyFeinberg,“TheCasefor‘Defacto’Conversion:BuildingMessianicJewishandMessianicGentileHouseholds”,n.p.Cited20June2013.Online:http://www.kesherjournal.com/Issue-19/The-Case-for-Defacto-Conversion-Building-Messianic-Jewish-and-Messianic-Gentile-Households.50Feinberg,‘Case”,ibid.51DavidRudolph,“Paul’s“RuleinAlltheChurches”(1Cor7:17-24)andTorah-DefinedEcclesiologicalVariegation”inStudiesinChristian-JewishRelations(Volume5,Issue12010CP1-24),17.52DavidRudolph,emailcorrespondencewithauthor,10May2013.

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Whataretheimplicationsofmypaperforconversion?ItseemstomethatPaul’sruleisageneralhalakhicprohibitionagainstconversionbecauseoftheNewCovenantrealitydescribedinActs15,Gal2,Eph2,etc.Generallyspeaking,Yeshua-believingGentilesshouldnotbecomeJewishconverts(i.e.Jews).Thissaid,manyhalakhicprohibitions,includingNewCovenantones(e.g.Yeshua'sstanceondivorceinMark10:10-12),haveexceptionsandthesamemaybethecasewithPaul'sruleinallthechurches(1Cor7:17-24).Whatexceptionsmighttherebe?IthinkacompellingcasecanbemadeforexceptionsinthecaseofaGentilemarriedtoaJewwhofeelsledbytheLordtoembracetheJewishpeopleasRuthdid(Ruth1:16).AdirectresultofconversioninthiscaseisthatthechildrentypicallyhaveamoreclearandunambiguousidentityasJews.AsimilarargumentcanbemadewithrespecttoJewsadoptingGentilechildren.HerethechildrentakeonJewishidentityandcontinuethelineoftheirparents,passingonthecovenantoftheirfatherstotheirchildrenasinthecaseofYarcha(1Chr2:34-35).TheremaybeotherexceptionsforwhichacompellingcasecanbemadeonthebasisofScripturalprinciples.Intheend,wearedealingwiththeneedtoupholdPaul'sgeneralhalakhicprohibitionagainstconversion.Iftheexceptionsbecomethenorm,wenolongerhavearule.Therefore,myviewisthatexceptionsneedtobecarefullyweighedbywiseandlearnedleadersingroupsliketheMessianicJewishRabbinicalCouncil(MJRC),Tikkun,etc.53

AfurtherpositionisalsoexpressedbyKaySilberling,whoarguesthatMessianicJewishconversionatpresentlacksauthenticity,soshouldnottakeplacewhentheMessianicmovementlacksmaturity,structureandstability.54Thosewhodoconvertwillstillfindtheirpositionuncertain.

ThefluiditysurroundingJewishidentitymakesforlivelydebatesastowhether“Jewish”isasocial,cultural,ethnic,racial,geographic,religious,ormythiccategory,orsomecombinationofalloftheabove.Itisverylikely,then,thatconversionwillnotalleviatetheanxietyatall.Itmayactuallyincreasetheconverts’socialanxietybyheighteningtheirsenseofmarginalityvis-à-vissomeperceived,monolithic,ontologicallyJewishworldthatis,instead,asocialconstructandhenceintangibleandfluid.Theymaybeexpectingthat,byundergoingconversion,theywilljoinacohesivegroupthathasaclearlymarkedidentity.Thoseconverts,then,expectingtolandonsolid,secureground,mayinsteadfindthemselvesthrustuponthewavesofastormyandblusterysea.Whileridingthosewavesmaybeexhilaratingtoothers,itisnotlikelytocomfortthosewhoareseekingrelieffromsocialinstability.55

53DavidRudolph,emailcorrespondencewithauthor,10May2013.54KayeSilberling,“TheNotionofConversioninAntiquityandBeyond”,n.p.,cited20May2013,inAndrewSparks(ed.).Kesher:AJournalofMessianicJudaism.Issue19,Summer2005.Online:http://www.kesherjournal.com/Issue-19/The-Notion-of-Conversion-in-Antiquity-and-Beyond.55Silberling,ibid.

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TheMessianicmovementitselfisnotatrueJudaism,buta‘judaizedformofProtestantChristianity’.

Finally,MessianicJewshaveyettogainconsensusandtoarticulate,asamovement,whatitisthatproselytesareconvertingfrom,and,evenmoreimportantly,whattheyareconvertingto.Despiteprotestationstothecontrary,MessianicJudaism,asitispracticedinmanyregionsoftheworldtoday,isnotaJudaism.Inmany,ifnotmost,cases,itisajudaizedformofProtestantChristianity.Theworldtowhichmanyinthemovementcontinuetogazefortheirvision,theirdirection,andtheirtheologyistheworldoflateTwentiethCenturyChristianrevivalism.56

RatherthanpracticeconversiontoMessianicJudaism,Silberlingarguesthat

AmoreeffectivestrategywouldbeforMessianicJewstogoaboutdefiningthemselvesinapurposefullyethicalmanner,withoutdoingsoinwaysthatcanharmthosewhooccupythein-betweenspacesoftheirsocialandtheologicalworlds.Thereareotherethicalwaystoresolvethetensions,suchasencouragingconversiontoJudaismthroughotheravenuesforthoseextremelyrarecasesinwhichthelackofaceremonyposesasingularhardshipforindividualsorforintroducingliturgicalpracticesthatmorefullyenfranchisenon-Jewsquanon-Jews.57

ForSilberling,then,“MessianicJewswoulddowelltocreateethicalandsensitivepracticestoenfranchise,educate,andembraceallthefaithful,steadfast,non-JewishMessianicbelieversintheirmidst.”58WhilstSilberling’srationalewillnotappealtootherswhoopposeMJC,andSilberlingherselfmaywellbemoretolerantofconversionofotherformsofJudaism,shefindsherviewsinagreementwiththosewhoopposeconversionforthecontraryreasons,thattheactofconversionis‘tooJewish’ratherthan‘notJewishenough.’SuchdiscussionsreflectavarietyofinterpretivestrategiesandtheologicalunderstandingswhicharerepresentativeofthedifferenttheologicalstreamswithintheMessianicmovement.59Suchdiversityofunderstandingsarefoundnotjustindiscussionofconversionbutinrelationtoothercontroversialmatters,suchasChristology,TorahandtheplaceofIsrael.60Questionsofidentityandauthority(ofScripture,RabbinictraditionandChristianunderstanding)liebeneathsuchpresentingissues,andhaveyettoberesolved.Beforesummarisingthesedifferentpositions,wewillnowgivebriefcasestudiesofconversionfromtheconverts’perspective,focusingonthepracticeofconversion,andthefindingsofthequestionnairesenttoMessianicleaders.

56Silberling,ibid.57Silberling,ibid.58Silberling,ibid.59SeeHarvey,MMJTconclusionforthe8typesofMJT.60SeeHarvey,MappingMessianicJewishTheology,Conclusion.

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3. CasestudiesThesecasestudiesaregiventoindicatesomeofthevaryingmotivations,circumstancesandprocessesfollowedbythosewhohaveundergonesomeformofconversionwithMessianicJudaism.61

A.Hannah–ConversionwithintheMJRCconversionprocess

HannahwasraisedinaChristianhome,withherownpersonalexperienceoffaithinJesusashergoodshepherdandaconstantsourceofloveandcaring.ShebroughtupherthreechildrenasChristians,andusedtheirfamilyBiblestudyasawaytogettoreallyknowthefamilyof“JesustheJewishMessiah”.Notsatisfiedwithlocalchurchesinherarea,shecontactedaMessianicJewishteacher.ShelearnedhowtocelebratethePassoverinaMessianicJewishcontext.TheRabbiinvitedhertohelpformaMessianicgroupstartingupinherareaand“MessianicJewishlifeandstudywasnowimplantedinus”.

SheaskedtheMessianicrabbiwhysheworshippedinthisnon-ChristianwayandherepliedthiswasthelifestyleandworshipofourMessiahYeshua.Shefoundcontentmentinfollowingthisformat.”HannahrealisedthatnowshewasnotreallyChristiananymoreandshewasnotJewish.TheMessianicrabbiexplainedherfamilywereGodfearers.ThissatisfiedthemforawhilebuttheysoondiscoveredtheyneededtobeJewish.TheyrealizesthisconversionwasnotandwouldnotbeacceptedbytheestablishedJewishCommunity,butitwastheirpersonal,compellingwayofunitingthemselvestoYeshua’s[Jewish]family.Inthe1990stheytookpartinaconversionceremonywhichwasaverypersonalritualbetweenthemostawesomeGodandhispromisedMessiah,Yeshua.Sincethenaalargeportionoftheirliveshasbeeninvolvedinpursuitoftheircongregationalgoals.Hannahdecidedtoconvertafteralongperiodofindividualandcollectivestudy,muchself-reflection,prayer,andhonestcommitmenttotheJewishGodandYeshuaashisMessiah.HerconversiontookplaceundertheauspicesoftheMJRC,asherrabbibelongstothisgroupandhasadvocatedpubliclyaconversionprocessfornon-Jews.Sheisverymuchinfavourofaconversionprocessasitallowsher“anavenueofworshiptotheGodofAbram,Isaac,andJacobasaJew”aswellasallowinghertomakeapublicstatementthatsheisidentifyingasaJew.Itaffordsherawayto“voluntarilyunitewithJewsthusfeelingconfidentandapartoftheblessingofGenesis12:3.”AsaTorah-observingconvert,shebelievesshemustbe“committedtotheJewishlifestyleofthe‘OldCovenant’”.Conversionshouldtakeplaceunder61Namesandsomedetailshavebeenalteredtopreserveanonymity.Interviewswereeithergivenviaemail,inresponsetothequestionnaire(seebelow)or,inthecaseofSarah,fromanonlineresource.

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theauspicesofa‘qualifiedleader’.InHannah’scase,herhusbandalsoconverted,andsheestimates10%ofhercongregationareconverts.Whilstconversionisnotasignificantissueinthelifeofhercongregationithasmanyimplications,withrelatingtothegreaterJewishCommunity,understandingoftrueidentity.Itaffectsthestructureandsocietalnormsofhercongregation.

HannahunderstandsthatherconversionwillnotberecognisedbyotherJewishgroups,butwould“stillliketoknowwhyMessianicJewishgroupsarenoteligibletobeincludedasanothergroupintheJewishcommunity”.

B. Baruch–ConversionwithintheMJRCProcessBaruchhadnoconnectionstoJudaismoranyotherreligiousupbringing.HisfaithinJesuscameincollege,wherehewasimmediatelyfascinatedbytheJewishnessofJesusandstruckatthelackofattentioninthechurchhewasintotheJewishnessofhisSaviour.HemetaJewishChristianinhischurchandlearnedallhecouldfromthem.HedroppedoutofcollegetovisitIsraeltolearnmore,andstartingattendingaMessianicJewishcongregation,studyingJewishhistoryandculture,inadditiontoattendinghischurch.Baruchwas“movinginadirectiontowardJudaismwithoutgivinguponJesus”.HespentmorethantenyearswithmissionstotheJewishpeoplebutbecameincreasinglydissatisfiedwiththeirapproach,realisingthathewascausingJewstoassimilateintoChristiancultureandlosetheiridentityasJews.HebelievedGod'spurposeforJewishpeopleincludedaffiliationwiththeJewishcommunity,observanceofTorahandtraditionandpassingthesetraditionsontofuturegenerations.HelefttheJewishmissionagenciesandstartedaMessianicJewishcongregation,affiliatingtotheUMJC,whoseleadersmentoredandtaughthim.Hebegantopursuerabbinicalordination,withoutrealisingthatasaGentileheshouldnotseektobecomearabbi,asatthattimeitwasstillpossibleforanon-Jewtobeordained.Eventuallyhismentorsaskedhimwhathewasdoing,andurgedhimtocompletetheconversionprocessthroughtheMJRC,whichhewasalreadyeagertodo.Hehadalready,withoutrealisingit,beinglivingasifhewasaJewforanumberofyearsbeforeconverting.Hiswifeandchildrenjoinedhimintheconversionprocess.BaruchdoesnotconsiderconversionasnormativeorthattheinvolvementofMessianicGentilesinMessianicJudaismislimitedtothosewhoconvert.ThecongregationheleadsobservessomedifferencesinceremonyandliturgybetweenMG'sandMJ's.C. Chava–Becominga“Messianicproselyte”attimeofMarriage

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WhenChavamarriedShimon,aMessianicJew,theyaddedasectiontotheirceremonythatwelcomedChavaintotheJewishcommunity.ThiswasimportanttothemforthesakeoffuturechildrensotheywouldhaveaclearandunambiguousidentityasJews.Thishashadtheaffecthopedfor,andtheirchildrenareveryclearabouttheirJewishidentity.TheweddingtookplaceasaNewCovenantweddingliturgy,withanoptionalceremonywherebyanon-JewishbrideofaJewishgroommaybecomeaproselytetoIsraelfollowingtheexampleofRuth.InthemarriageceremonyChavaexpressedherdesireandintentionnotonlytomarryShimonbutalso“tojointhenationofIsraelcovenantallyasaMessianicproselyte.”Shesawthisalsoasamarriageofsort,anirreversiblecovenantlinkingherdestinytothepeopleofIsrael.ShejoinedherselfpubliclytoIsraelphysicallyaswellasspiritually,inaconnectionandcommitmentindependentofher‘personalsalvation’.ChavaunderstoodthatasabelieverinYeshuashewasalreadygraftedintoandtherecipientofallthebenefitsofthecovenantwhichGodmadewithourfatherAbraham.JoiningIsraelasa“Messianicproselyte”inadditioninvolvedtakingonforherselfalltheobligationsofGod’scovenantwithIsraelaswell.Sherealisedshedidnotneedtobecomea“Messianicproselye”inordertomarryShimon,butfeltcalledbyGodtojoinherselftoIsraelinthisspecialway.ShehadalreadyreceivedtheGodofIsraelthroughtheMessiahYeshua.NowshechosetojoinherselfincovenanttothepeopleofIsraelfollowingtheexampleofRuththeMoabite.Shimon,asarepresentativeofIsrael,andasherhusbandtobe,acceptedChava‘intothelineageofAbraham,IsaacandJacob’,andstatedthattheiractofmarriagewouldbeseenasasealingofthecovenantshewasalsomakingwiththepeopleofIsrael.D. Sarah–ConversionforallGentiles62SarahwasbroughtupinthetraditionalChurchandattheageof20becamepersonallycommittedtoGod.Sheleftandforthenext25yearsparticipatedinvariousevangelicalchurches.DuringthattimeshebecameincreasinglydissatisfiedwithChristianityandstartedinvestigatingtheJewishrootsofherfaith.Afterwhatseemedalongjourneyofsome10years,shediscoveredMessianicJudaism.ShejoinedaMessianiccongregation,forseveralyearsthinkingofherselfasanon-JewpractisingMessianicJudaism.AsaresultofresearchbytheRabbisinhermovementitbecameclearthatthewayaheadforthosewhowerenotbornJewishwasconversion.63Whenaconversioncoursewasintroduced,shefelta

62Sarah’sstory,“FromChristianitytoJudaism”,n.p.,cited10May2013,online:http://www.ubmsonline.org/category/testimonies/#.UfDzMj6biLF.63Thisgroupadvocatesallnon-Jewsshouldconvert–seebelow.

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senseofreliefthatatlastshewouldbeabletocallherselfwhatshewasalreadylivingout,asshewaskeepingShabbat,theFestivalsandHighHolyDays,biblicalkosher64etc.In2010,aftercompletingthecourse,shewentthroughthemikvehandbecameaconverttoMessianicJudaism.SinceherconversionshebelievesherrelationshipwithGodhasimproved,herprayerlifehaschangedcompletelyandherlifeismoreexciting.

4.Instructionprograms

1. MessianicJewishRabbinicalCouncil(MJRC)TheMJRCConversionProcessisa16pagedocumentdetailingthemotivationsforthoseseekingconversion,theprocessofpreliminaryqualification,application,sponsorship,education,examinationandapproval,conversionceremony,withtheappropriateeducationalguidelinesandsyllabusrequiredforthestudyprogram,andtheapplicationformsforapplicantandsponsortobecompletedandsubmittedtotheBethDin.65ForconversionundertheMJRCprocess,the“fundamentalmotiveforconversionshouldbeahavatYisrael,theloveofthepeopleofIsrael”combinedwith“acorrespondinglovefortheTorahasGod’sparticulargifttotheJewishpeople.”

TheapplicantforconversionshouldseeboththewrittenTorahandtheoralTorah(i.e.,thelivingJewishtraditionofinterpretationandapplicationofthewrittenTorah),understoodinlightofYeshua’steachingandredemptivework,ashis/herguideforlife.66

WhilstallChristiansshouldpossessameasureofsuchlove,thetypeofahavatYisraelthatleadstoconversionisonethat“soidentifieswithactualJews,andwithIsrael’sjourneythroughhistory,thatitresultsinapersonexperiencingachangeintheirsenseofself.

TheyseekconversionbecausetheynowalreadyseethemselvesaspartoftheJewishpeople,andcouldnotconceiveoftheirindividualorfamilyidentityapartfromtheirinvolvementwiththeJewishpeople.

ThisloveoftheJewishpeoplemustbetiedtoacorrespondinglovefortheTorahasGod’sparticulargifttotheJewishpeople.TheapplicantforconversionshouldseeboththewrittenTorahandtheoralTorah(i.e.,thelivingJewishtraditionofinterpretationandapplicationofthewrittenTorah),understoodinlightofYeshua’steachingandredemptivework,ashis/herguideforlife.Atthesametime,theapplicant’sappreciationfor

64Noteatingporkorshellfish,butmixingmilkandmeat.SeeHarvey,Mapping,203-208,forthiscommonbutanomalouspracticeintheMessianicmovement.65MJRCConversionProcess,(MessianicJewishRabbinicalCouncil,WestHaven,Connecticut,2008).SeeAppendix1.(obtainpermission).66MJRCConversionProcessPack,2.

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theTorahshouldnotbeabstract,separablefromhis/herlovefortheconcreterealityofJewishlife.WhilelovefortheTorahmaybeadequatemotivationforconversionwithinOrthodoxJudaism,inMessianicJudaismwemustbeespeciallyconcernedthatloveforJewishthingsneverbedivorcedfromloveofJewishpeople.67

TheMJRCimposesstrictguidelinesandcaveatsontheconversiononnon-Jews.

HowdoestheMJRCinterpretandapplytheNewTestamentteachingontheconversiontofullmembershipintheJewishpeople?TheMJRCacknowledgesthatNewTestamenthalakhahincludesageneralprohibitionofconversiontofullmembershipintheJewishpeopleforfollowersofYeshua(Galatians5:2;1Corinthians7:17-20).Webelievethatthisgeneralprohibitionisstillapplicableinthe21stcentury,andisintendednotonlytopreservethepurityofYeshua-faithbutalsotoguardtheintegrityofJewishcommunallife.However,halakhicprohibitionsarenotuniversalandunqualified.Thereareexceptionalcases(e.g.,intermarriage;Jewishancestry;extraordinaryvocation)wherethegeneralruledoesnotapply.TheMJRConlysanctionsconversioninsuchexceptionalcases.HowmayoneapplyforconversionthroughtheMJRC?InordertoqualifyasanapplicantundertheauspicesoftheMJRCanapplicantmustbeanindividualwhoisactivelyaffiliatedwithaMessianicJewishsynagoguewhoseleader(s)isamemberoftheMessianicJewishRabbinicalCouncil(MJRC),orwhoisactivelyaffiliatedwithaMessianicJewishcongregationwhichadherestoMJRCstandards,andwhoissponsoredbyamemberoftheMJRC.ItisalsorequiredthattheleadershipwillrecognizetheMJRCconversionprocessinwriting.68

2. RuthIIProcessintheTikkunNetworkDanielJuster,aleadingMessianicJewwhooverseastheTikkunNetworkofMessianicCongregationsworldwide,opposes‘conversion’butadvocateswhathecallsa“RuthIICommitment”.RecognisingthatsomeGentileswishtomakealife-timecommitmenttotheJewishpeopleandtheMessianicmovementheasks:

WhataboutGentileswhobelievetheyarecalledforalife-timetolivetheirlifewithandbeforetheJewishpeople.TheyarecommittedtoliveinthecontextoftheMessianicJewishcommunityandthelargerJewish

67MJRCconversionprocesspage2.68http://ourrabbis.org/main/faqs-mainmenu-25

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communityforgood.Thisseemstoestablishadifferentcategoryofcommitmentandcovenant.Whatshouldbedone?69

Whilstleaving‘asmallcrackopeninthedoorwaytoconversion’Justerpreferstheoptionofa“RuthIICommitment”whereanon-Jewwhosensesalife-timecalltotheJewishpeopleandtobepartoftheMessianicmovementisabletoaffirmthemselvesasaGentilewhohascommittedthemselvestotheJewishpeople.

Somehavetakenusbeyondtheabovetoconversion.Ithinkconversionisadangerousmatterandhavewrittenthisbefore.ItcouldbemisunderstoodbythelargerBodyofBelievers,[and]wouldbethedesireofsomanygentilesforthewrongreasons.ItdoesnotseemtobenecessarysinceaspecialRuthinclusionwouldbeapartwaystepthatwouldbeadequate.Idounderstand[theneedfor]clarifyingidentityforthosewithJewishgrandparentswhodesiretoclarifytheirplaceasJews.Iwouldthinkthatforthoseofusthatbelieveinrestoration,thatanymovetoconversionwouldhavetobeverycarefullydonewithverystrongstandards.Majorhalakhicdirectionshouldcomeoutoftherestoredapostolicandpropheticleadershipinourmovement.Wearebelievingformoresuchleadershiptoberestored.Thereneedstobestrongpropheticconfirmationforsuchamove.SoIleavesmallopencrackinthedoorwaytoconversion.However,IalsonotethatmostgentilesinourmidstarejustcalledtobegentilesortoenterRuthIIprofessionsandstillidentityasRuthIIgentileswheretheonenessofJewandgentileisstillreflected.Atthispoint,however,theJewsaretheirpeople.70

Therefore,atthistime,Justeropposes‘conversion’,arguingthat:

Unlessweopposeconversion,wewillgodowntheslipperyslopesincethereisnoacceptedhalakhainthemovementtodefinelegitimateandillegitimateconversions.71

Theproblemswithaconversionprocessareboththeologicalandsocial:

Somethinkthatthesefolksshouldbeconverted.TheysimplygothroughaconversionprocessandcallthemselvesJews.HoweverthereisnothingintheNewCovenantScripturestosupportthisandmuchtodiscourageit.Inaddition,toconvertundertraditionalJudaismwithouthidingthetruthofone’sbeliefsisrare.Isthishonest?Therehavebeenexceptions.In

69DanielC.Juster,“JoiningIsraelWithoutBecomingaJew”,n.p.,[cited30September2014].Online:http://www.tikkunamerica.org/resources/JoiningIsraelWithoutBecomingAJew.pdf.70Ibid.71DanielJuster,emailcorrespondencewithauthor,May2013.

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addition,aMessianicJewishconversionwillnotbeacceptedinthelargerJewishcommunity.

Juster’ssolution“isacallingandlifecommitmenttolivewithinandbeforetheJewishcommunityandwithinaMessianicCommunityforlife”.Suchapersonshould

…undergoaprocessofeducationanddiscipleshipinthiscallingandthenmakeacovenantcommitmentthatisexplicit.GentilesintheBibleareneversaidtobecomeJews,butwedoseeGentileswhojoinedIsrael.WhensuchacovenantcommitmenttakesplacethestatusoftheGentilechanges.72

Forsuchapersontherewouldstillbeafewtraditionsthatwere‘offlimits’,suchaswearingthetallitandcircumcision,whichwouldbeoptionalbutnotrequired.73IfsuchapersonmarriesaJewtheirchildrenwillbeconsideredJewishandthefamilywillbeembracedasaJewishfamily.

Whatofthechildrenofsuchamarriage?TheJewishcommunitywillnotrecognizeasJewishthechildofaJewishfatherexceptinReformJudaismandifthepersonbelievesinYeshua,thisstatusinReformwillbequestionedorrejected.However,intheMessianiccommunitysuchchildrenarefullyembracedasJewish.Inaddition,thestatusofonebornofaJewishmotherwhobelievesinYeshuawillnotbeacceptedasJewishbymost.TheonewhoisbornofaJewishmotherandwhocomestofaithinYeshuaisalsonotrequiredtobeacceptedbyIsraelforcitizenship,butthisisnowbeingseriouslyaddressedagaininIsrael.SoingeneralpeopleinsuchquestionedcategorieswillhavetobeacceptthedeclarationoftheMessianiccommunityastotheirstatus.74

Theformalcommitmentapersonmakesunderthisarrangementis:

Icomebeforeyoutodayafterseriousexaminationofmyselfandexaminationbyothers.ItismyconvictionthatIamcalledtolivemylifewithandbeforetheJewishpeople.IthereforeprofesstoliveaspartoftheJewishpeople.ThoughIamnotaJew,IcometotakeupalifethatisareflectionofthepromisethattheGentileamongyoushallbeasaJew.IsaytotheJewishnation,yourpeopleshallbemypeopleandyourGodmyGod.75

WhilstJusterclaimsthattheRuthIIprocessstopsshortofbeinga‘conversion’process,ifformalisesthecommitmentofaGentiletoliveasaJewasmuchas

72Seeappendix2forMentoredProcessandCovenantCeremony73Juster,“Joining”:“Thoughcircumcisionisnotrequiredforthiscommitment,IdobelievethatwhenamanmarriesaJewishwomenandwillproducewithherchildrenconsideredJewishandafamilyconsideredJewish,beforemarriagetoaJew,heshouldbecircumcised.“74Juster,“Joining”,3.75Juster,“Joining”,3.

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possible.WithoutsufficientHalachicauthorityintheMessianicmovementthoughtBateiDinandabletodefinethestatusofsuchapersonasaJew,Juster’sstop-gapsolutionattemptstobridgethegapbetweenafull-orbedanddefinitiveconversionprocess,andrefusingthewould-be“Messianicproselyte”arecognitionoftheiralteredstatus.

3. MessianicProselyte–MichaelRudolphSimilarlyMichaelRudolphhasalsodevelopedawayforanon-JewtoidentifywiththepeopleofIsrael,withoutformallydeclaringthattheyareJewish.76

4. UnionofBritishMessianicJewishCongregations(UBMJC)

ThisgroupadvocatesconversionofallGentiles,arguingthatitisdivisivetomaintainadistinctionbetweenJewandGentileintheBodyofBelievers.Thegroup,whilsthavingsomeconnectiontootherMessianicJewishgroups(originallysponsoredbyanoffshootoftheIAMCS),practicesaformofMessianicJudaismthemajorityofitsleadersandparticipantsarenon-JewswhohaveconvertedtotheirownformofMessianicJudaismundertheirownself-constitutedBethDin.ThisraisesparticularproblemsandquestionsfortheotherstreamsoftheMessianicmovement.Theleaderofoneofthecongregationsinthisgroup,BinyaminSheldrake,isverymuchinfavourofconversionofGenitles,arguingthat:

InessenceitcomesdowntotheOliveTreetheologyofRom11.ThereisonlyonetreenottwoanditisaJewishtree.Goddoesnothave2peoplesdividedbyethnicityorrace.AvrahamwasnotbornJewishandfaithsavedhimandhebecamethefatherofallJews,eitherbydescentoringraftingbyfaith.AvrahamteachesusthatfaithisthewayforanyonewhetherbornJewishornot.FromhimcametheJewishpeople,plusmanyotherswhoconverteddowntheagesandjoinedhiminfaith.77

SheldrakedoesnotwshtoseethebodyofbelieversinJesus

76MichaelRudolph,“ProselytestoIsraelinaMessianicJewishCongregation,”unpublishedpaper,6August1988;“Intermarriage,ProselytesandTheNextGenerationInMessianicJewishCongregations,”unpublishedpaper,3March2000.77Questionnaireresponse,(quotedwithpermission)fromRabbiBinyaminSheldrake,AdatYeshuaMessianicSynagogue/UnionofBritishMessianicSynagogues.[cited20June2013].Seealso:BinyaminSheldrake,“AreYouBeingCalledtoJewishIdentity?”[cited10June2013],online:http://www.ubmsonline.org/home/congregations/teshuvah/conversion/#.UbBo2Pabg3w.

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dividedintoethnic,racialgroupsthatsimplycannotexist.Despitetherhetoricandwell-meaningtheology,thosewhoarenotbornJewishwillalwaysfeel,sensethemselvestobeinferiortothosebornJewishifthiskindofracialdivideismaintained.78

Theconversionprogramtakesatleastayear,followingacourseinwhichassignmentsarewritten,Hebrewislearned,andthosewantingtoconvertforthe‘wrongreasons’areexcluded.Themajorityofpeopleinthisgroup,composedoffourcongregationsintheUK,havebeenthroughsuchaconversionprocess.

SomehaveJewishbackgroundsbutwouldnotbeconsideredtobehalachicallyJewishbyanyotherJewishbody,somehaveconvertedfromIslam,somefromCatholicism,somefromevangelicalchurches.Thereasonforallofthemisthesame:arevelationthatitisarevivedformofJudaismwithYeshuaatitsheartthatisthewayforwardforthesalvationofourpeople.ThepropheticingatheringofthenationstotheGodofIsraelandHisMessiahrepresentsthe‘proof’forJewishpeoplethatYeshuaisindeedtheMessiah.79

Conversionisthuscentraltothelifeofthecongregation:

Iwouldsaythatitfairlycentral.Judaismhasalwayswelcomedconverts(moreorlessdowntheages)andsodowe.Judaismis,shouldbe,anoutreachfaith,takingtheGreatCommissionseriously.Wedo,andseekconvertstoYeshua,tothefaiththatHetaughtwhichwasandisJudaism,HisJudaism,andnotlaterformsofit.WehavebeguntodevelopprogrammestoactivelyreachouttonotonlyourownJewishcommunitybutalsotothe‘nation’aroundus,especiallytothenon-Britishcommunitywherewearehavingsomesuccess.80

ItisclearthatthisapproachisdifferentfromtheminoritycautiousandconservativeapproachofotherswithintheMessianicmovement,andfromthemajoritywhodonotpracticeconversionandareopposedtoit.SheldrakebelievesthatallGentilesshouldconverttothisformofMessianicJudaism,butitisnotconnectedtotheotherstreamsoftheMessianicmovement.InordertolocatethesedifferentapproachesacrossthespectrumoftheMessianicmovementanditsdifferentstreams,wenowturntothequestionnaireandevaluatetheresponsesreceived.

4. QuestionnaireAnalysis

78Ibid.79Ibid.80Ibid.

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Morethan500questionnairesweresentbyemailtoleadersofMessianiccongregationsandorganisationsworldwidebetweenJanuaryandJune2013.81Leaderswereidentifiedthroughlistingsofcongregationalorganisations,otherorganisationssuchastheMessianicTimesandtheologicalinstitutions,andpersonalcontactsoftheauthor.59individualresponseswerereceived,inadditiontostatementsfromorganisations.Theyeitheransweredthequestionsposedorgaveshorterpersonalstatementsofpositionsheld.Asexpected,duetothecontroversialandsensitivenatureofthesubject,amajoritydidnotrespondandseveralexpressedtheirconcernatsuchaproject.82Concernswerealsoraisedthatthepaperwouldgiveundueemphasistooneparticularposition,generallyperceivedtobetheopposingviewtothatheldbytherespondent.However,ofthe59responsesreceived,afullrangeofpositionswasexpressed.83Sevenrespondentswerewomenandtenwereidentifiedasyoung/emergingleaders.SixrespondentswerenotJewishbutinvolvedinleadershipofMessianicgroupsandorganisationswithoutanyconversionprocess.Threerespondentshadthemselvesundergoneaconversionprocess.Morethantwentyrespondentsrequestedanonymity,soallresponsesarequotedanonymously(asnumbered)ornameshavebeenchanged,unlessmaterialpreviouslypublishedisused,orspecificpermissionhasbeengiven.Ouranalysisonlyreflectstheresponsesreceivedanddoesnotclaimtobeproportionateorquantitative,orreflectallthecontoursandcompositionoftheMessianicmovementasawhole.Itisgenerallyassumedthat90%ofUMJCmembercongregationsand100%ofMJAAcongregationsareagainstaconversionprocess.InIsraelthemajoritywithonlyafewexceptionsareagainstconversionprocess.

81ForQuestionnaireandinstructionsseeAppendix3.82“Youwillknowthatthisisdefinitenon-issueinIsrael.ConversiontoMessianicJudaismpresupposesaleveloforganizationandstructurethatisnotpresentintheIsraeliMJmovementatthistime.Theverynotionof"conversiontoMessianicJudaism"wouldraisethehacklesofmostofthecongregationalleadershipinthecountry.Giventhetheologicalleaningsofthecommunityhere,itisanuntenableconcept”(Respondent28).Aslittlepreviousresearchhadbeenconductedonthistopic,severaloftheparticipantsinthequestionnaireraisetheissueofthesensitivityofthesubject.DuetothelackofconsensuswithintheMessianicmovementonthissubject,andthewaydiscussionofthetopicwouldbeperceivedwithinthewiderJewishandChristiancommunities,whereitmightbeusedtocriticisetheMessianicmovement.Whilstitisinevitablethatsuchpossiblemis-useofthisresearchispossible,ithasbeenconductedwiththeintentionofhelpingtoclarifysomeoftheissuesinvolvedwhilstcriticallydiscussingthem,withoutproposingaparticularpositionorapproach.Throughsuchasdiscussionamorereasonedassessmentoftheissuescanbemade,whichwillhopefullygeneratemorelightandlessheatinwhatisalreadyacontroversialbutasyetstillunder-researchedareainJewishstudies.8327USA1Brazil1Germany4Holland19Israel8UKresponsesreceived(IJuly2013).

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ResultsfortheQuestionnairearetabulatedasfollows:1.Doyouhaveyourownpersonalpolicy/viewsonconversionofnon-JewstoMessianicJudaism?Yes/No(ifYes,pleasegivedetailsand/orattachyourresponse)OpposedtoMJC 39(66%)84Anoptionnotnecessaryorrecommended 2(3%)MJRCconversion 13(22%)AnotherformofMJC 5(9%)Total59Observation.ThisfindingshowsthedisproportionatelyhigherexpressionofMJRCviews,whichareapproximately10%oftheUMJCandprobablylessthan5%ofthewidermovement.2.Doesyourcongregation/organisationhaveapolicyonconversionofnon-JewstoMessianicJudaism?Yes/No(ifyes,pleasegivedetailsand/attachyourresponse)Yes–25(42%)No–34(58%)Observation–theissueisnotsignificantformostoftherespondents.3.Towhatextentareyouinfavourofaconversionprocessfornon-JewswhobelieveinYeshuaasMessiahandwishtobecome(Messianic)Jews?(1=verylittle,notatall–5=verymuch,definitely).Pleasegiveyourreasonsforyourchoice:Thequestionwasposedthustoengagetherespondentsincriticalreflection.Manychosenottogiveanextent,buttogivetheirreasons.Lessthan50%gavearesponse.Thesewere1=18;2=2;3=1,4=2;5=6

1. AgainstMJCinallcircumstances–hereticalandjudaising,against1Cor.7(A)

20(40%)

2. AgainstMJC,butsomeexceptionalcircumstancesmightbeaccepted,recognisingthoseconvertedelsewhere(B)85

17(29%)

3. InfavourofanalternativewayofincludingGentilesintheMessianicmovement(C)

3(5%)

84TworespondentspreferconversiontootherJudaisms.85“Somefreedompermitted”;“WecannotlimitGod”;“Someexceptionsmightbepossible.”

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a. RuthII(Juster,TikkunMinistries)and“MessianicProselyte”(Rudolph)–disputedJewishancestry,marriageandchildren;specialcalling

4. InfavourofMJCinexceptionalcircumstances(ancestry;marriage;specialcalling)(D)

16(27%)

a. MJRC(D1) 15b. Individualunregulatedconversions(D2) 1

5. InfavourofallGentilesbecomingJews–noethnicdistinctionsinbodyofChrist(E)

2(3%)

6. AgainstMJCasinauthentic,betterconversiontootherformsofJudaism(Elhanan)(F)

1(2%)

4.Towhatextentareyouagainstaconversionprocessfornon-JewswhobelieveinYeshuaasMessiahtobecome(Messianic)Jews?(1=verylittle,notatall–5=verymuch,definitely).Pleasegiveyourreasonsforyourchoice.Responsesreflectedthepreviousquestionandthequestionaimedtocheckunderstanding.5.IfconversiontoMessianicJudaismcantakeplaceundercertainconditionsorinexceptionalcircumstances,whatwouldtheybe?Variesreasonsandcircumstancesweregivenby90%orrespondents,particularlyfamilyreasons,disputedancestry,exceptionalcalltoidentifywiththeJewishpeople.6.Doyouhaveanymembersofyourcongregation/organisationwhohaveundergoneaprocessofconversiontoMessianicJudaism?Ifyes,whatproportion/numberofyourcongregationareinthisgroup?90%–noneOthers–small,1,5%,10%,majority7.Pleasegivebriefdetailsoftheirbackground,circumstancesandreasonsforconversion(whilstpreservinganonymity)Examplesgivenin25%ofresponses.8.Wouldtheybeinterestedincompletingasurveytoaddtothisresearch?Ifso,pleasecouldyougivecontactdetails,orforwardthisemail.Somereceivedandrespondedtotheforwardedquestionnaire.9.Towhatextentistheissueofconversionsignificantinthelifeandactivitiesofyoucongregation/organisation–pleasegiveillustrations/examples

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Examplesgiven10.WhatfurthercommentsorquestionsaboutconversiontoMessianicJudaismwouldyouliketoseeaddressedinthispaper?Severalrespondentspointedoutthespecialcasesintheirownarea–especiallyIsraelandHolland.

5. Conclusion

Conversionofnon-JewstoMessianicJudaismremainsaminorityoption,althoughithasgeneratedsignificantcontroversy.AsintheJewishcommunityingeneral,thenumbersofconvertsareproportionatelyverylow.86Apartfromoneparticulargroup,itwouldappearthattheMessianicmovementdoesnotencourageconversion,andifitoccurs,willdosowithinamoderatedandsupervisedprocess,underacompetentMessianicJewishRabbinicauthority.Yetquestionsremain.Isitreallypossibleto“joinIsraelwithoutbecomingaJew?”(Juster).WhilstconvertsseethemselvesasbecomingJews,non-MessianicJewsdonotacceptthemassuch,exceptinaverysmallnumberofcases.87AretheItisclearthatfurtherresearchisneeded,bothonthenatureofMessianicJudaism,andontheissueofconversion,asitpointstothetensionsandfault-lineswithinthemovement.WithintheUMJC,thereisevidenceofanongoingrespectfulconversationonthesubject.88Whilstagreeingtoholddifferencesintension,themajorityholdtoapositionof‘NIMBY-Notinmybackyard’.Conversionisnottobeencouragedorpracticed,butisnotrejectedwhenitdoesoccur.ThemajoritydecisionoftheUMJCnottoperformorrecogniseconversionstoMessianicJudaismwhilstkeepinginmembershipagrowingminoritygroup,theMJRC,whodopracticeconversions,appearsadefactorecognitionofthoseconversions,butatadistance.TheUMJCrecognisestherabbinicalordinationofoneoftheMJRCconverts,andacceptsthemasa

86Thefigureof2%isgiveninthe2013PewForum“PortraitofJewishAmericans”,65.Online:http://www.pewforum.org/2013/10/01/jewish-american-beliefs-attitudes-culture-survey/.“2%ofJewshadnosuchbackgroundbutindicatetheyhadaformalconversiontoJudaism,while1%didnotformallyconvert.”87AnecdotalevidencehasbeensuppliedbutnotcorroboratedofaMessianicJewishconversioncertificatebeingacceptedforpurposesofAliyaandIsraelicitizenship.88SeeSeanEmslie’scollectionofarticlesandblogscontinuingdiscussionoftheUMJCposition:http://towardblog.wordpress.com/category/messianic-jewish-conversion/andhttp://towardblog.wordpress.com/2005/01/11/analysis-of-the-umjc-conversion-position-paper-the-majority-position/

28

congregationalleaderandtheircongregationashavingmembershipwithintheUMJC.WithintheMJAA,thereisaclearpolicyonthenon-acceptanceorpracticeofconversion.InIsraeltheoverwhelmingmajorityofcongregationsdonotacceptorseetheneedforconversion,althoughtherearesomeexceptionalcases.IntheUK,conversiontoMessianicJudaismisnotaccepted,exceptforonegroupcomposedofgentileconvertstoMessianicJudaism,whoadvocatethatallnon-JewsshouldbothacceptYeshuaasMessiahandconverttotheirownformofJudaism,whichdoesnotrecogniseotherJudaisms,whethermainstreamOrthodox,Conservative,ReformandLiberal,ortheotherMessianicstreams.

DanCohnSherbokconcludes:

WhenReformJudaismemergedinthe19thcentury,ReformconversionwascondemnedbytheOrthodox.Today,ReformconvertscontinuetoberegardedasGentilesbyOrthodoxJews.InIsrael,OrthodoxrabbispressforachangeintheLawofReturnsothatnon-OrthodoxconvertswillnotbepermittedtosettleintheHolyLand.ThissituationhasnotaffectedReformJudaism’sattitudetowardsconversion,norshouldsuchattitudesdeterMessianicJewsfromconvertingthefaithful.JewishidentityshouldbeavailabletoallthosewhogenuinelydesiretobecomeJewish,includingthosewhoregardYeshuaastheirSaviour.89

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