During my time in Jerusalem, I encountered a number of Messianic Jews, or Jewish Christians, who sought to preserve their Jewish identity while also claiming the New Testament as sacred scripture and Jesus as their Messiah. One such group was the house church I encountered in Tova's apartment building. Their meeting left me with a cynical taste in my mouth. Since the leader told me that they were in Israel to convert Jews and help them recognize the Messiah when he arrives (again), I felt that their motives were less than honest and their "Jewish" identity quite artificial and deceptive.
This June 9 article from Haaretz discusses these groups in Israel, and attempts by group members to immigrate (or, "make aliyah") under Israel's Right of Return for Jews. It is a dicey game of line-drawing in this situation: What makes a Jew a Jew? Why are we (myself included) so uncomfortable with the blending of religious ideas and blurring of the boundaries of religious identity? In this situation, what are the implications for non-religious Jews (of which there are many) in Israel? If citizenship is granted on the basis of religious belief, and Christians of clear Jewish descent are turned away, then would non-practicing secular Jews really qualify?
Aliyah with a cat, a dog and Jesus
By Daphna Berman
They claim Israeli citizenship under the Right of Return; the state says they forfeited their rights to immigrate as Jews when they accepted Jesus as the messiah
A growing number of messianic Jews are seeking to immigrate to Israel by means of the Right of Return law that makes every Jew eligible for citizenship.
According to a Jewish Agency official speaking off the record recently, fewer than 100 self-identified messianic Jews seek to immigrate annually, but that number is rising.
"The messianic movement has a campaign for aliyah and our emissaries are approached [by messianic Jews] with increasing frequency," the official said.
The movement, also known as Jews for Jesus, is growing especially in the United States and Israel. The community is somewhat secretive because of its unpopularity with the Jewish establishment, so hard figures are difficult to come by. In the United States, there are an estimated 200 congregations with tens of thousands of followers. Locally, there are congregations in nearly every major city. A survey conducted within the local community in 1997-98 reported 5,000 active members. Representatives say this number may now be as high as 12,000, but experts call this a great exaggeration.
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