Jews for Judaism
Jews for Judaism, established by Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz in 1985, is an international organization designed to counter Christian missionaries whose evangelistic efforts are directed toward Jews. They aim to help Jews strengthen and rediscover their Judaism. It is the largest counter-missionary organization in existence. It provides counseling services, education, and outreach programs to all Jewish denominations.
The organization attempts to counter the efforts of "Jews for Jesus" and other Messianic missionary organizations which believe Jesus to be God and one part of a Trinity, and attempt to proselytize Jews, claiming to be legitimate forms of Judaism, but are considered by most Christians and Jews to be forms of Christianity. "Jews for Judaism" maintains that these Christian groups that attempt to convert Jews specifically target unaffiliated, unobservant, old and young Jews, as well as specifically the Russian Jewish immigrant community.[1][2]
The name Jews for Judaism was developed from Jews for Jesus, one of the principal missionary organizations it was founded to counteract. One of its prominent early members, Larry Levey, was a Jewish convert to Christianity who then converted back to Judaism and led the Baltimore office of Jews for Judaism for a number of years.[3][4] In addition to its activities in response to Christian missionaries, Jews for Judaism has also been noted for its critiques of the Kabbalah Centre.[5][6][7]
Offices
Jews for Judaism has 6 international offices located in: Los Angeles, California, Baltimore, Maryland/Washington in the United States; Toronto, Canada; Jerusalem, Israel; Sydney, Australia and Johannesburg, South Africa.[8]
Directors
- Los Angeles, California, United States - Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz.
- Baltimore, Maryland, United States - Ruth Guggenheim.
- Toronto, Canada - Julius Ciss, a former Messianic Jew.[9]
- Sydney, Australia - Rabbi Eli Cohen.
- Johannesburg, South Africa - Darryl Frankel.
Be-True
Jews for Judaism formed the student organisation, Be-True as a response to missionary activity on university campuses. The organisation runs primarily through student representative volunteers. There are currently Be-True representatives in the United States, Canada and Australia.[10]
Jews for Judaism forums
Jews for Judaism Forums served as a home for many observant Jews, Noahides, practicing Jews, non-practicing Jews, and converts. The forums discussed issues pertaining to interfaith couples and helped inquisitive minds answer their questions about Judaism. Additionally, there were frequent debates on the site between the members and visiting Evangelists. In 2007 Jews for Judaism decided to shut down the forum.
Jews for Judaism has recently started a blog which is now no longer active.[11]
See also
References
- ↑ Max Gross, "Countering Christian Missionaries and Messianists: Jews for Judaism’s Counselors Help Bring the People of the Book Back Into the Fold", The Forward, August 8, 2003.
- ↑ Barry Yeoman, "Saying ‘Shema,’ preaching Jesus", Jewish Telegraphic Agency, November 15, 2007.
- ↑ Carol Brzozowski, "Former Convert Fights Christians Who Convert Jews", South Florida Sun-Sentinel, March 04, 1988.
- ↑ Jan Hoffman, "Inside Jews for Jesus", New York, April 28, 1986.
- ↑ Tom Tugend, "Fraud Arrest at Kabbalah Centre", The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, November 10, 2005.
- ↑ Gaby Wenig, "Against the Stream", The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, July 25, 2002.
- ↑ Nadya Labi, "What Profits the Kabbalah?", TIME, November 24, 1997.
- ↑ Worldwide Centers, Jews for Judaism website, accessed November 14, 2010.
- ↑ Namm, Lesiah (9 February 2001). "Former Messianic Jew now battles [Christian] missionaries". aztorah.com. Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
- ↑ "Centers - Jews for Judaism". be-true.org. Be-True, Jews for Judaism. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
- ↑ "Jews For Judaism (Blog)". Jews for Judaism. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
External links and references
- Jews for Judaism website
- Jews for Judaism Twitter Feed
- Jews for Judaism Australian website
- Jews for Judaism Student website
- Judaism and Jewish Resources
- Kosher Judaism for Jewish outreach, education.
- Kosher Judaism forum the Kosher Judaism forum was created after the demise of the Jews for Judaism forum by former members and administrators with the permission of Jews for Judaism.
- Messiah Judaism for Jewish outreach, education and counter-missionary discussions, similar to Jews for Judaism.
- Kosher Information Resources about Judaism Online
- Free kosher Jewish Learning simple to remember - hand-picked kosher Judaism Articles, Audio & Videos. Only the good stuff by various rabbis, all free, no sign-up.
- Outreach Judaism - Judaism's Response to Christian Missionaries - free audio lectures on Judaism basics by famous Rabbi Tovia Singer
- Kosher in one hour lectures by David Salomon - kosher online Jewish web-educational initiative, with the teachings and writings of historian, biblical scholar and kabbalist, David Solomon.
- Divine Information by Rabbi Yossef Mitzrachi - kosher Non Profit Kiruv Organisation by Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi - free Jewish audio, video, blog for connecting Jews to Judaism and Torah.
- Chabad-Lubavitch - Learning Judaism online, vast informations about Judaism, Talmud-Torah, Kosher Kabbalah, Tradition & kosher Jewish life from on of the most dynamic force in Jewish life today.