Messianic Jewish Manifesto [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

I found very interesting this book. The author explains the destiny, the identity, the history and the theology of the Messianic Judaism, as he understands it, without beeing an official delegate of it. He explains also correctly different passages of the New Testament which were used against the Jews by an antisemitic spirit in past centuries. The chapter about Torah (Law) is very elucidating. Many Christians will feel a revolution in their Christian thought and theology if they accept the presuppositions of thought of this chapter. Perplexing thoughts and opinions of apostle Paul are explained and commented aptly. Personally, I would like to read more explanations of other passages of the New Testament that seem denigrating the Law. But for this end the author made "The Jewish New Testament Commentary". His appendix "Restoring the Jewishness of the Gospel" is also very interesting. It is very helpful the "Glossary of Hebrew words and names" at the end of the book. The author is very punctilious in his references and footnotes. I think that this is the book for every Christian and/or Jew that is open-minded and longs for further biblical truth, even if he doesn't agree in everything written in this book.

I've followed David Stern for some time and read much that has come out of the Messianic Jewish movement. I've also read many books by traditional Jews about Jesus and/or Christianity (Geza Vermes, for instance). 50 years ago, Jews didn't dare write about Jesus. Now, many traditional Jews are trying to reclaim Yeshua (Jesus) as part of the Jewish rabbinic tradition, and rightly so. How times change.

It saddens me that so many (all) of the negative reviews here simply assume 1) that Messianic Judaism must be wrong, 2) Stern is a Christian masquerading as a Jew, and 3) any such people and/or attempt must be "evil." They are criticizing Stern's motives and character, but where is the critique of the content of the book itself? I doubt if most of them have even glanced at a page. Stern's reputation alone is probably enough for many people to seek him out and attack him. Sad. But before you say it is impossible to be both Jewish and to follow Jesus, please give a definition of Judaism that both allows for all current strands of Judaism (to make it easy, I'll even let you exclude Kaballah) and exludes the Messianic variety. Just don't make it circular (i.e. "anything but Jesus.")

Granted, the relationship between Gentile and Jew has been ugly at times. No question. But then again, as Einstein and others have pointed out, it was only the genuine Christians who came to the aid of the Jews in WW2. Some might point today to the evangelical loyalty to Israel. All that aside, it is incredibly ironic to me that the central question for early Christians was whether or not anyone but a Jew could follow Jesus. (Read Acts, esp. Acts 10 where Peter apologizes for allowing Gentiles into the Jewish sect later known as Christianity. Look at the Jewish response, "so God has granted EVEN the Gentiles mercy.") Back then, people assumed only Jews could follow Jesus. Now the assumption is the exact opposite. Granted, this turnabout is historically mostly the Gentile's fault. However, many Messianic Jews were kicked out of synagogues for following Jesus. Militant followers of Simon bar Kochba didn't get the same treatment. Even today, one of my close friends was physically assaulted by Orthodox Jews in Israel for disclosing that he was a Messianic Jew. He was rescued from the growing mob by an Israeli soldier.

So where's the book review?

If nothing else, understanding this transition is reason enough to read Stern. Navigating this minefield with such aplomb is why Stern deserves a "5." His research and ample footnotes alone rate a "5." Many Gentiles today forget that Jesus was a Jew, his disciples were Jews, the first 3000 or more followers were all Jews, and the growing sect was officially recognized by the Roman Empire as a sect within Judaism. But as many Gentiles there are who forget this, there are probably more (by percentage) Jews who do the same.

Where we go from there is another question. But it doesn't do any good to deny the possibility of being both a Jew and a follower of Jesus. At least in the beginning, that's all there was.

I discovered Messianic Jews within weeks of discovering Jesus. I have straddled both the church and (messianic) synagogue ever since. This book helped clear up much of the history I was missing and seemed to lay out the entire discussion in a great way. I highly recommend it for "Christians" to learn about how we ended up in 2002 with the kind of church culture we have.