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Messianic Jews
Name: Messianic Jewish Alliance of America
Founder : The group is literally an alliance of Hebrew Christians who believe in Jesus but retain their Jewish identity. When MJAA was founded in the summer of 1979 there were initially thirty-three congregations. Daniel Juster was the first president, but several persons were involved in bringing the alliance into existence. Messianic Jewes attribute the founding of Messianic Judaism to their Messiah, Yeshua, or Jesus of Nazareth.
Date of Birth: (0-33 A.D.)
Birth Place: Taking into consideration the beliefs of the Messianic Jews that Yeshua was the sole founder, his birthplace was in Bethlehem.
Year Founded: The MJAA was founded in 1979. However, many Messianic Jews believe that Messianic Judaism was founded upon the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. During the first century A.D., literally hundreds of thousands of Messianic Jews flourished. In addition, many Messianic Synagogues were scattered throughout the Roman Empire and beyond.
Brief History: The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America, or the MJAA, was founded upon a threefold principle. First, to promote a clear and visible testimony to the fact that there resides a substantial and growing movement of Jewish people who believe that Yeshua, or Jesus of Nazareth, is the Jewish Messiah and Savior of the World. Second, to bring together, into one coherent organization, Jewish and non-Jewish people of like faith and mind with the shared vision for the Jewish revival. Third, and most significantly, to introduce the Jewish people to Yeshua,the Messiah.
Sacred or Revered Text: The MJAA believes that the Bible, consisting of the Tanach, or the Old Covenant Scriptures, and the B'rit Chadasha, or the New Covenant Scriptures, is the inspired and authoritative Word of God.
Beliefs: The MJAA believe in one God as declared in the Sh'ma (Deuteronomy 6:4), who is Echad, or a compound unity and eternally existent in three forms: God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. They believe in Yeshua, or Jesus, as the Messiah, in coordination with His deity, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His future return in power and glory. The MJAA believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, as described in the section of Sacred or Revered Texts. Finally, they believe in God's eternal covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore, the MJAA stand in support of the Jewish people as well as the State of Israel, and hold fast to the Biblical heritage of their Jewish forefathers.
Size of the Group The number of Messianic Jews in the United States numbers in the tens of thousands. Some people suggest the number to be as high as 100,000. Synagogues are springing up in almost every major city across the country, representative of the tremendous growth of this movement.
Remarks: The MJAA is the largest association of Messianic Jewish believers in Yeshua, or Jesus, in the world. They are affiliated with Messianic Jewish Alliances in 15 other countries, including Israel. Over the last 1500 years, Jews have been persecuted by those who called themselves "believers" in Jesus. They have persuaded Jewsthat to follow Yeshua is to denounce the Jewish faith, and therefore become non-Jewish. The MJAA feels that the Adversary, or Satan, has used this interpretation of the gospel to prevent the Jewish people from accepting Yeshua as their promised Leader and Savior. Therefore, the MJAA feels it is critical and essential that they exist as an organization to bear witness to the Messiahship of Yeshua.
MessianicJewish
Alliance of Australia
The MJAA is an evangelical, non-denominational organization, whose aim is to provide
support for Messianic Jews and their families throughout the world, but particularly in
Australia. Established in 1960, this organization continues to be another witness for the
Jewish people in support of Yeshuaas Messiah.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/BradBurman/mjaa.htm
MAOZ
MAOZ is a Messianic Jewish newsletter based in Israel. This page provides a variety of
prayers and insights from a Messianic Jewish perspective.
http://rampages.onramp.net/~maoz/
Jews for Jesus
The official home page of Jews for Jesus. This page offers an extensive background
regarding this religious movement by means of a tremendous number of links to reading
passages. This page also offers a search engine, useful in providing a more substantial
means to access information concerning this Messianic Jewish organization.
http://www.jewsforjesus.org/
Menorah Ministries
A Messianic Jewish resource center located on the Internet. This location provides a
referral ministry about Yeshua, the Messiah, in order to acquaint others with Him, along
with the Bible, as well as Israel and the Biblical roots of Christianity. This page is
devoted to educating and acclimating visitors to the beliefs of Messianic Jews through
numerous amounts of links to Biblical passages.
http://rainbow.rmi.net/~menorah/
The Association of Torah-Observant
Messianics
This organization aims to bring together both Messianic Jews and non-Jews alike who
feel they have a distinct and particular calling to live a Torah-observant lifestyle.
This page is not as extensive as the Jews for Jesus homepage, but it does offer short passages from the Bible, as well as links to a Messianic Jewish resource magazine, known as Teshuvah.
http://www.teshuvah.com/organizations/atom/
TheReturn to God
Archive
This organization is committed to presenting reliable information aboutGod, and to
restoring Christianity to how first century believers practiced it. This page provides a
numerous listing of informational links regarding the background of Messianic Judaism.
Also located on this page is an extensive list of publications which are founded and
operated by this organization.
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/rtg/rtg-home.htmll
Congregation Beth Yeshua
A Messianic Jewish Synagogue located in Philadelphia, PA. The home page provides
various links to lists of events at the Synagogue, as well asa description of the
foundation of their beliefs. This Congregation is one of a growing number of Messianic
Synagogues across the country.
http://www.cby.org/
Messianic Bureau International
This is a Messianic Judaism home base of sorts. The MBI manages a tremendous number of
Messianic Judaism sites. This page provides links connecting the reader to worldwide
Messianic Jewish organizations. The purpose of the MBI is to proclaim the sanctity of
Messiah Yeshua to all people, butmost importantly to Jewish people. Also, to provide a
means of communications for all people involved in the Jewish and non-Jewish Messianic
movementand restoration.
http://www.messianic.com/
YASHAnet
An informative source regarding the people and land of Israel, currentevents
surrounding Messianic Judaism, and the Messiah Yeshua. Provides a substantial amount of
material concerning Judaism and Christianity, as well as historical background describing
Messianic Judaism.
http://www.yashanet.com/
American Messianic Fellowship
The purpose of this organization, as stated at the time of its founding in 1887, is
" to promote the intellectual, social, and religious welfare of all
nationalities." Provides a distinct and extensive listing of Messianic Judaism
related material on the Internet. Also, this page relates insights into the AMF's
doctrines and beliefs through links to featured articles.
http://www.amfi.org/
CHAIM
An organization designed to promote the Messianic gospel among the Jewish people by
means of direct evangelism, motivating and equipping churches, and discipling Jewish
believers. Their overall drive is to help rebuildthe Reformed witness to the Jewish
people in America. This site also provides links to various Jewish evangelical sites.
http://www.goshen.net/CHAIM/
Zola Levitt Ministries
A teaching and evangelistic association, this organization works through Gentiles to
reach the Jewish populace. These Ministries attempt to accomplish this by educating their
Gentile viewers and listeners on the principles of faith which will be most helpful in
witnessing to their Jewish friends.
http://levitt.metronet.com/watiszlm.html
Christian Friends of Israel
Promotes the coordination of Christian friendship and support for Jewish people and
the State of Israel. This organization calls upon Christians to uphold Israel and her
right to exist. This page has a useful list of links to materials regarding literary
publications, as well as various programs aimed at aiding Jews throughout the world reach
Israel.
http://WWW.YASHAnet.COM/CFI.htm
Choosen People Ministeries
Chosen People Ministries was founded under the name American Board of Missions in 1894 by Rabbi Leopold Cohn in Brooklyn, New York. They believe Jesus to be the messiah prophesized in Jewish scriptures and their ministry is devoted to bringing that message to Jewish people. This is a substantial and generally well organized web site.
http://www.chosen-people.com/
Created by Matthew Philip Steinberg
Soc 257: New Religious Movements
Fall Term 1996
Last modified: 07/20/01