Thanks again for your support! I've already spoken and corresponded with some of Messianic Judaism's leading voices, and the topic is as interesting as I was hoping. I think their story and recent growth demonstrates some truths about religious affiliation that are relevant to all of us today, and that we (dun-dun-dunnn!) need to be serious and strategic about.
I've also learned about the Christ At The Checkpoint conference, which took place just this past week in Bethlehem. The conference brought together Palestinian Christians and some Israeli Messianic Jews, aiming to combine their forces into a sort of Jesus-powered vanguard that will bring peace to the region. It seems like a long shot from both sides, but I think it could actually work.
The previous Christ at the Checkpoint conference, in 2012, was officially denounced by most of the major MJ organizations in the U.S.: the MJAA, UMJC, IAMCS, and IMJA. But this year, a founder, president, and longtime leader of two of these organizations, Daniel Juster, spoke at the Christ at the Checkpoint conference, while none of the big MJ organizations objected-- at least, not publicly.
On the fundraising front, I've raised $984 so far, but need $586 more to meet the goal-- and the deadline is in just 9 days. So if you know anyone else who might be interested in this, please let them know! Thanks again.
Thanks again for your support! I've already spoken and corresponded with some of Messianic Judaism's leading voices, and the topic is as interesting as I was hoping. I think their story and recent growth demonstrates some truths about religious affiliation that are relevant to all of us today, and that we (dun-dun-dunnn!) need to be serious and strategic about.
I've also learned about the Christ At The Checkpoint conference, which took place just this past week in Bethlehem. The conference brought together Palestinian Christians and some Israeli Messianic Jews, aiming to combine their forces into a sort of Jesus-powered vanguard that will bring peace to the region. It seems like a long shot from both sides, but I think it could actually work.
The previous Christ at the Checkpoint conference, in 2012, was officially denounced by most of the major MJ organizations in the U.S.: the MJAA, UMJC, IAMCS, and IMJA. But this year, a founder, president, and longtime leader of two of these organizations, Daniel Juster, spoke at the Christ at the Checkpoint conference, while none of the big MJ organizations objected-- at least, not publicly.
On the fundraising front, I've raised $984 so far, but need $586 more to meet the goal-- and the deadline is in just 9 days. So if you know anyone else who might be interested in this, please let them know! Thanks again.
"Whither Messianic Judaism?" just hit its funding goal on Inkshares, which I'm stoked about-- thanks again everyone! I'm glad to be able to focus on researching and writing it now.
Meantime, I'm lining up interviews with Daniel Juster (Tikkun International), Susan Perlman (Jews for Jesus), and Rabbi David Levine (Beth Israel Messianic Synagogue and Messianic Jewish Teachings podcast). These are three people whose perspectives I'm most interested in for this article, and I'm glad I'll be talking with them.