Jewish inoculation

Editorial

Those who attempt to combine Judaism and Christianity - Messianic Jews, Jews for Jesus and Hebrew Christians - primarily target three groups of Jews: college students, interfaith families and the elderly.

College students enter a wide-open world, often far from home, where they are challenged to push their personal boundaries and engage in spiritual exploration. We all too often send them into this setting with a tangential Jewish identity. Non-Jewish religious groups that appear to speak a Jewish message can exploit a student's weak foundation by hiding their true purpose: conversion.
Jews now have unparalleled opportunity to meet, fall in love with and marry anyone. At issue is where interfaith couples and families seek to affiliate. Where will they feel most welcome? Who will address their unique needs? Often the Jewish partner has negative memories of organized religion from childhood or may feel awkward bringing a non-Jewish spouse into a synagogue. Messianic congregations welcome newcomers unconditionally, seemingly without judgment, aiming to make them feel comfortable. Too few synagogues can make similar claims.
Our local Jewish community includes many older members living in retirement communities throughout the Valley. Who will lead them in Shabbat worship? Who will administer to them during times of personal crisis as they confront disease and end-of-life issues? Those who can neither tap into strong Jewish identities nor have Jewish family to turn to may look to the Messianic Jewish "rabbi" who pays them a visit, offering comfort and support.

All three groups, to varying degrees, are vulnerable to Messianic Jews, Jews for Jesus and Hebrew Christians, who repackage Judaism to promote an evangelical Christian message - namely that Jesus is the Messiah.

We can do more to present our unique and time-tested message to prepare our children for a wide-open world; to work with Hillel and Chabad at Arizona State University; to welcome interfaith couples and families into synagogues; to care for our elderly in need of Jewish contact and support.

The challenge falls to all of us: rabbis, trained congregational lay leaders, the educated unaffiliated, and to professional and lay leaders of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and other organizations. Together, we can ensure that no one in our community is exploited by religious leaders with a less-than-honest message.

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