Proselytization and counter-proselytization of Jews explained

A number of religious groups, particularly Christians and Muslims, are involved in proselytization of Jews: attempts to recruit or "missionize" Jews. In response, some Jewish groups have formed counter-missionary organizations to discourage missionary and messianic groups such as Jews for Jesus from using practices that they say are deceptive.[1] [2]

Christian missions

See also: Conversions of Jews to Christianity and Conversion of the Jews (future event). According to Rabbi Tovia Singer, counter-missionary expert and director of Outreach Judaism, there are well over 1,000 messianic congregations and other missions to the Jews worldwide.[3]

Catholic Church

The Catholic Church has historically been instrumental in its attempt to convert Jews. Such examples include conversos during the Inquisition, especially within Spain. However, since the Second Vatican Council and the production of the document Latin: [[Nostra aetate]], the Catholic Church's attitude towards Jewish conversion has been that of sensitivity.

Pope Benedict XVI suggested that Jews should not be targeted for conversion. In his book,, he stated "Israel is in the hands of God, who will save it 'as a whole' at the proper time, when the number of Gentiles is full".[4]

A document released by the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews under Pope Francis stated "In concrete terms this means that the Catholic Church neither conducts nor supports any specific institutional mission work directed towards Jews",[5] though it also says "Christians are nonetheless called to bear witness to their faith in Jesus Christ also to Jews."[6] The document also denies that there is more than one path to salvation stating "Confessing the universal and therefore also exclusive mediation of salvation through Jesus Christ belongs to the core of Christian faith."[7]

Protestantism

A number of Christian denominations have programs to reach Jews.[8] The JTA, a Jewish news service, conducted an extensive analysis of Christian efforts to convert Jews to Christianity[9] and found that some of the largest evangelical denominations – the Southern Baptists, the Assemblies of God, and the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod – have all increased their efforts to evangelize Jews in the recent past.

The article states that the Christian missionary organization Jews for Jesus completed a five-year tour called "Behold Your God" that brought its message to 53 cities worldwide, and the Christian Chosen People Ministries saw its income grow by 31% to $7.9million between 2003 and 2006.

Jews for Judaism,[10] a Jewish counter-missionary group, writes that there are over 900 Christian groups in North America actively involved in missionizing the Jewish people. Jews for Judaism further states that these groups are currently spending over $250million each year on efforts to convert Jews to Christianity. Jews for Jesus, the best known single ministry to the Jews, spent over $15million in 2008.[11] The Assemblies of God has an extensive organization targeting Jews for conversion to Christianity.[12]

Israel has more than one hundred Messianic congregations according to Yaakov Shalom Ariel, an associate professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina and author of Evangelizing The Chosen People.[9]

A prominent effort to convert Jews to Christianity is known as Jews for Jesus. It was founded by Martin "Moishe" Rosen, who is of Jewish descent and grew up in a non-observant home, converted to Christianity, and was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1957. In 1973, Rosen left the employment of the American Board of Missions to the Jews, now called Chosen People Ministries, to incorporate a separate mission which became known as Jews for Jesus. In 1986, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jews for Jesus is now led by David Brickner, who has been working for the organization since 1977.[13]

The 19th century saw at least 250,000 Jews convert to Christianity according to existing records of various societies.[14] Data from the Pew Research Center has it that, as of 2013, about 1.6million adult American Jews identify themselves as Christians; most as Protestants.[15] [16] [17] According to the same data, most of the Jews who identify themselves as some sort of Christian (1.6million) were raised as Jews or are Jews by ancestry. According to a 2012 study, 17% of Jews in Russia identify themselves as Christians.[18] [19]

Efforts to convert Jews to Christianity are sometimes regarded as antisemitic.[20] Most Progressive Christian and Mainline Christian denominations have publicly declared that they no longer proselytize Jews.[21] [22] Most evangelical and conservative Christian churches have said they will continue their efforts to evangelize among Jews and claim that proselytism is not antisemitic (even if some Jews disagree).[23]

Muslim missions

Muslims have also targeted Jews for conversion.[24] Rabbi Moshe Cohen, of, an Israel-based counter-missionary organization,[25] has identified Al Dawaa, an Israel-based Muslim group headed by Sheikh Abu Yassin of Kafr Manda.[26]

Jewish response

Jewish counter-missionary organizations respond to these efforts by offering personal counseling, web sites with articles addressing common missionary tactics, and discussion forums where Jews who have questions about the differences between Judaism and other religions can be answered by observant Jews.

Some Jewish resources are specifically aimed at countering the missionary efforts aimed at Jews.

Rabbi Moshe Shulman has responded to specific missionaries who target Jews, including Michael Brown,[34] Rachmiel Frydland, Risto Santala, and David H. Stern (author of the Complete Jewish Bible).[35] Rabbi Shulman's website offers scholarly articles on the misuse of the Targums, Midrash and Talmud by non-Jews who quote from Jewish sources in an attempt to convert Jews.[36]

The leading counter-missionary organization in Israel is, an organization focusing on Orthodox Judaism outreach and counter-missionary activity. is made up of both paid staff and volunteers, and is largely supported by donations both from Israel and the diaspora.[37]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. David Cho, "Conversion Outreach Plan Stirs Outrage: Jews for Jesus Trains 600 for Street Work", The Washington Post, August 17, 2004; Page B01 full text
  2. News: Cho. David. Conversion Outreach Plan Stirs Outrage. September 15, 2017. The Washington Post. August 17, 2004.
  3. Web site: Let's Get Biblical Study Guide (Volume 1) page 13 ISBN 978-0996091305.
  4. News: Allen . John . Church should not pursue conversion of Jews, pope says . 24 April 2024 . National Catholic Reporter . March 10, 2011.
  5. Web site: Pullella . Philip . Vatican says Catholics should not try to convert Jews, should fight anti-semitism . Reuters . 27 October 2023.
  6. News: Vatican takes on tense question of salvation for the Jewish people . 24 April 2024 . Catholic News Agency . December 11, 2015.
  7. News: Akin . Jimmy . New Vatican Document on Jews, Salvation, and Evangelization . 24 April 2024 . National Catholic Register . December 13, 2015.
  8. Web site: Evangelizing the Jews . Jewsonfirst.org . 2008-06-16 . 2011-01-21.
  9. Web site: Yeoman . Barry . JTA, Inc . Jta.org . 2007-11-15 . 2011-01-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120527180214/http://www.jta.org/news/article/2007/11/15/104639/evangelicalpartI . 2012-05-27 .
  10. Web site: Jews for Judaism . Jewsforjudaism.org . 2011-01-17 . 2011-01-21.
  11. http://jewsforjudaism.org/faq-quick-links-157
  12. http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=397:who-are-the-assemblies-of-god-and-what-do-they-have-to-do-with-the-jews&catid=27:missionary-groups--tactics-and-responses&Itemid=4433 Who are The Assemblies of God, and what do they have to do with the Jews?
  13. Web site: David Brickner's Homepage . 2011-04-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726203423/http://brickner.jewsforjesus.org/about.htm . 2011-07-26 .
  14. .
  15. Web site: How many Jews are there in the United States?. Pew Research Center.
  16. Web site: A PORTRAIT OF JEWISH AMERICANS: Chapter 1: Population Estimates. Pew Research Center.
  17. Web site: American-Jewish Population Rises to 6.8 Million. haaretz.
  18. http://sreda.org/en/arena Arena - Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia
  19. http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg 2012 Survey Maps
  20. https://web.archive.org/web/20090728062438/http://ejpress.org/article/29965 US group denounces call by evangelical alliance for conversion of European Jews (Archive)
  21. http://www.jcrelations.net/en/?id=1499 Ecumenical Considerations on Jewish-Christian Dialogue
  22. http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcon3.htm Policies of mainline and liberal Christians towards proselytizing Jews
  23. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/march/31.76.html Why Evangelize the Jews?
  24. Web site: Jews for Allah . Jews-for-allah.org . 2011-01-21.
  25. Web site: yad leachim . Yadlachimusa.org.il . 2011-01-21.
  26. Web site: New Danger: Muslim Missionaries . Yadlachimusa.org.il . 2007-11-21 . 2011-01-21.
  27. http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=20&Itemid=464 Jews for Judaism
  28. Web site: Jews for Judaism.
  29. Web site: Jews for Judaism.
  30. Web site: Jews for Judaism.
  31. http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=315:the-scriptural-messiah-a-second-look&catid=72:scriptural-studies&Itemid=507 Proof Texts
  32. Web site: Judaism's response to Christian missionaries . Outreach Judaism . 2011-01-21.
  33. Web site: The Committee for Good Relations . Beyneynu . 2011-01-21.
  34. Web site: Michael Brown . Judaismsanswer.com . 2011-01-21.
  35. Web site: Lies Damned Lies and What the Missionaries Claim the Rabbis say . Judaismsanswer.com . 1996-02-22 . 2011-01-21.
  36. Web site: Judaism's Answer . Judaismsanswer.com . 2011-01-21.
  37. Web site: About our Staff . Yadlachimusa.org.il . 2010-12-23 . 2011-01-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100503085652/http://www.yadlachimusa.org.il/Index.asp?CategoryID=190 . May 3, 2010 .

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