Concern over push from messianic Jews
A JEWISH outreach worker has warned that Russian Jews and backpacking Israelis are about to become the target of a fresh campaign by Jewish messianic organisations.
ASHLEY BROWNE
A JEWISH outreach worker has warned that Russian Jews and backpacking Israelis are about to become the target of a fresh campaign by Jewish messianic organisations. More than 70 delegates attended a conference in Sydney last week, called the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism —- Australasia.
Jews for Judaism executive director Rabbi Eli Cohen said that sources among the messianic movement were delighted with the conference turnout, with attendees from all parts of Australia and New Zealand.
“It shows that they are getting their act together and working on their pitch,” he said.
“My understanding is they left the conference inspired by what they heard and determined to carry out their work.
“Our response is not to stop them, but to take away their custom.”
Presenters at the conference included Jews for Jesus executive director Bob Mendelsohn and Celebrate Messiah director Lawrence Hirsch.
Session topics included “Lessons from the Field, What’s Working, What’s not Working?”, “Israeli Tourists and the Gospel” and “Ministry to Inter-married couples”.
Rabbi Cohen said he was confident most Jewish Australians were comfortable with their Jewish roots and immune to approaches from Jewish evangelicals, but he held out less hope for those outside the community.
“Israeli backpackers are a concern and New Zealand is a disaster, particularly the South Island, where the Jewish community is isolated and unable to counter the success the messianics are having with the Israeli backpackers, several of whom have gone back to Israel as professional missionaries.”
According to Rabbi Cohen, messianic Jews are also increasingly targeting Jews going through periods of transition, such as children whose parents are divorcing or moving from study to the workforce.
“People who feel a sense of attachment and joy from being Jewish are less likely to be vulnerable to the messianics.”
Rabbi Cohen has been speaking at various shuls and schools throughout Sydney to educate the community about the tools and strategies used by messianic Jews.
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