As part of Jews for Judaism’s outreach efforts, we visit messianic conferences held by groups such as the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations and Jews for Jesus.
On one occasion in New Mexico, my colleague, Rabbi Michael Skobac, and I checked into the hotel and spent the majority of our time in the lobby. When approached, we eagerly dialogued with Jews about their decision to accept Christianity.
During one cordial conversation with a “messianic Jew,” a conference leader approached us. Upon hearing my name, he became visibly upset and insultingly remarked, “Rabbi Kravitz. You are merely a rabbinic Jew. We are biblical Jews.”
Like the founder of Jews for Jesus before him, this messianic leader considers Judaism to be a “false religion” that follows the words of men. Messianic Jews reject rabbinic Judaism and claim that they have the truth because their faith is based solely on the word of God.
I responded to the messianic leader by asking, “What’s on your head?” When he answered, “A kippa,” I pointed out that wearing a kippah [yarmulka] isn’t in the Bible; rather, it is a rabbinic tradition. Similarly, the eight strings and five knots of the tzitzit [corner fringes], which he was wearing, are rabbinic and not mentioned specifically in the Bible.
I also told him that I witnessed some of the conference attendees lighting Shabbat candles Friday night, and others putting on black tefillin [prayer boxes] Sunday morning. With each example, I stressed that the details of these mitzvot are not found explicitly in the Bible but are based on rabbinic tradition passed down from generation to generation.
Having made my point, I declared, “You have the audacity to say that I am ‘merely a rabbinic Jew’ and you are a biblical Jew, when everything you do to masquerade your Christianity in the guise of Judaism is based on rabbinic tradition.” Furthermore, his theology is one hundred percent Christian. This is what some cults call “Heavenly Deception.”
Having successfully demonstrated the hypocrisy of condemning rabbinic Judaism while at the same time using it to validate one’s Jewish identity, the messianic leader was silent.
