While we do have many things in common with our Jewish brothers and sisters we obviously have some major differences.

One of the major differences is the belief in Yeshua as the Messiah. The concept of believing in a Messiah is not foreign to Judaism. One of the thirteen principals of the Rambam was “I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah. How long it takes, I will wait for His coming every day.” (Number 12)

Also Messianic Judaism is somewhat of a double standard within Judaism. There are many examples of Jews who are accepted by Judaism even though they believe Messiah has already come. Chabad, for example, believes that the Lubavitcher Rebbe is the Messiah. Yet, their movement flourishes within Judaism today. I do not by the way want to disparage Chabad in any way because they do great work within the Jewish community. I am simply trying to state the fact that many if not all of them believe that the Lubavitcher Rebbe is Messiah.

Another example is that of Rabbi Akiva. Judaism considers him to be one of its great sages. While it is true that he has done much to benefit Judaism, he also made a very critical error. He led a revolt with his Talmidim because he thought that Bar Kochba was the Messiah. He along with many of his followers died as a result of believing in a false person. Yet Jews still revere this sage, and they go on to say that one of the reasons we celebrate Lag BaOmer is because that is when the plague was stopped. This plague that they refer to was actually the annihilation of rabbi Akiva and his Talmidim due to this revolt.

Because of the above examples I find it to be a double standard when Jews accept Chabad and Rabbi Akiva, yet they will not accept Yeshua the true Jewish Messiah. We therefore, must not be afraid to share Yeshua with the Jews and point out these things in love.   

I also believe as Jews we should address our Rabbi by his proper name Yeshua and not Jesus.  I am not minimizing a Christian who believes in Jesus, however, I believe they simply do not understand the Jewish roots of the faith.  Why is it important to call him Yeshua, because that is his name?

For example if your name were Robert that is what you would want others to call you.  If I met you for the first time and called you Richard you may forgive the mistake.  You may even let it go once or twice, but if I was to keep calling you Richard, even after being repeatedly told of your name, even the most patient of people would get frustrated.

I understand that Christians understand him as Jesus, but if we are Jews, who know the name of the Messiah then we should use it.  We should not be critical of Christians, but when we come in contact with them we should lovingly explain the name of Yeshua.  The same applies to Jews who do not believe in Yeshua.

Another major difference in Messianic Judaism is the acceptance of the Good News (Besorah HaTovah).  The reason I use Good News instead of New Testament is because I feel more comfortable with the term.  The term New Testament implies that there is an Old Testament.  Many people have used this distinction to imply that Yeshua did away with the Old Testament and gave us a new one. 

I also don’t like the term Renewed Covenant because it carries with it many of the same implications as New Testament.   As we have noted above Yeshua did not come to abolish Torah, but to fulfill it.   This also can lead to the dangerous belief of Replacement Theology, which views the Church as the New Israel.  By using the term Brit Chadasha or Renewed Covenant we may be unwittingly adding fuel to the fire for those who espouse Replacement Theology and that can become a very dangerous practice.

Another reason I use Good News is because that is what Yeshua came to proclaim. “At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.’ So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.”- Luke 4:38-44 (Emphasis Mine)

We also know that there is nothing really new about the Good News.  Everything in Torah points to Yeshua and Yeshua was fulfilling the Torah in the Good News.

In conclusion, I hope that this paper has somewhat clarified the identity of Messianic Judaism, both who we are and where we belong within Judaism.  I also pray that God will use this as a springboard for further discussion and debate among both Christians and Jews alike.

If you have any questions, comments, or any suggestions for future topics, please feel free to e-mail me at at this address.  You can also leave comments on Facebook once the articles are posted. I want to finally thank HaShem for all the glory goes to Him.  He gave me the strength and ability to write this article.  I am only a piece of clay in the hands of the Potter.

Baruch HaShem

Avraham Benjamin