FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES
BY DAN BENZVI

 

I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO RECEIVE AN INVITATION TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF A YOUTH COMPERATIVE RELIGION CLASS AT ONE OF OUR LOCAL REFORM SYNAGOGUES. WHENEVER WE MESSIANICS GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO INITIATE A DIALOG, IT’S ALWAYS A BLESSING, SINCE WE ARE NOT AFFORDED MANY OF THESE.

THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY UPLIFTING FOR ME. I SAW A NUMBER OF TEENAGERS CONFIDENT IN WHO THEY ARE, AND WHO EXHIBITED A SOLID FAITH. THEY ASKED ALL THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, AND DISPLAYED A STRONG DESIRE TO LEARN.

WE DID NOT SPLIT HAIRS ON THEOLOGY OR ON THE SCRIPTURES. I WAS TRYING TO CONVEY TO THE STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHER THAT MESSIANIC JUDAISM IS NOT A DIFFERENT RELIGION. WE ARE JEWS JUST LIKE THE REFORM, ORTHODOX, CONSERVATIVE AND THE RECONSTRACTION BRANCHES OF JUDAISM. EACH ONE OF THESE BRANCHES HAS VARYING BELIFS. MESSIANIC ALSO HAVE VARYING BELIEFS, BUT ARE STILL JEWS.

IF WHAT ONE BELIEVES IS THE CRITERIA FOR HIS OR HERS JEWISNESS, THEN WHY DOES THE HALACHA SAY OTHERWISE? IT SAYS THAT ONE IS JEWISH BY BLOOD, BASED ON THE MOTHER’S SIDE OF THE FAMILY, OR THAT ONE IS JEWISH VIA A CONVERSION TO JUDAISM.

I TOLD THE KIDS ABOUT THE LETTER I SENT TO ALL REFORM RABBIS IN TOWN, AND HOW I RECEIVED NO REPLIES. (READ ARTICLE “A LETTER TO THE RABBIS”). I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THE ORTHODOX JEWS IN ISRAEL DO NOT ACCEPT REFORM AS PART OF JUDAISM. AT THE SAME TIME THESE REFORM JEWS EXHIBIT THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY IN JOINING THE ORTHODOX JEWS IN SHUNNING THE MESSIANICS. I FURTHER EXPRESSED MY WISHES THAT HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WE WILL ALL BE ABLE TO SIT TOGETHER AS JEWS AND HAVE AN HONEST AND PRODUCTIVE DIALOG.

WELL, LEAVE IT TO THE YOUNG MIND TO EXPRESS SUCH GREAT PROFUNDITY. ALTHOUGH WHEN I ARRIVED I WAS A BIT APPREHENSIVE ABOUT HOW I MIGHT BE RECEIVED BY THE STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHER, NEVERTHELESS EACH AND EVERY STUDENT WAS CONVINCED THAT WE MESSIANICS ARE PART OF JUDAISM AND THUS HAVE THE “RIGHT” TO BE JEWS.

I WAS COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED WITH THEIR RESPONSE AND GAVE PRAISE TO HASHEM FOR GIVING THIS OPPORTUNITY. I PRAY THAT THE UNDERSTANDING AND UNBIASED SPIRIT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE DEMONSTRATED WILL SOMEHOW RUB OFF ON THEIR TEACHERS AND RABBIS. LET US ALL PRAY FOR HASHEM TO OPEN UP HEARTS AND AVENUES FOR A TRULY DEEP RECONCILIATION AND UNITY AMONG ALL BRANCHES OF JUDAISM.