Messianic Judaism: A Critical Anthology

Description

Who are the Messianic Jews? What do they believe and practice? What is the Jewish community's reaction to the development of Messianic Judaism? In this pioneering study, Dan Cohn-Sherbok traces the development of the Messianic movement from ancient times to its transformation after World War II. Focusing on the nature of the movement today, the volume continues with a detailed examination of Messianic practices, and the place of Messianic Judaism within the contemporary Jewish community.

Dan Cohn-Sherbok is Emeritus Professor of Judaism, University of Wales, UK.

"a truly boundary-crossing book...What is remarkable and praiseworthy about this book is first, that Professor Dan Cohn-Sherbok is prepared to examine sympathetically a movement that many Jews believe to be beyond the pale and beneath contempt, a threat to the very identity and survival of Judaism. Secondly, that in a gentle way he takes up their claim to be authentically Jewish and deals with it seriously[...]let's hear more of this. And let's hear more of Dan Cohn-Sherbok."--Baptist Times "Finally, someone in the Jewish world has the courage to say what needs to be said. Dan Cohn-Sherbok, with his usual lucidity and analytic skills, has demonstrated that Messianic Jews have the right to be included in the Jewish people. The path to his conclusion is filled with fascinating historical and confessional revelations."-Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine, The Birmingham Temple, Farmington Hills, Michigan "I appreciate the objectivity of Professor Cohn-Sherbok and his attention to the historical details and theological nuances represented by the Messianic movement. His compilation of various Messianic liturgies and prayers will be most helpful to Messianic Jews and to those who wish to understand the movement. His advocacy of a pluralistic model for contemporary life and community can only lead to deeper and more respectful relationships between Jewish believers in Yeshua and others within the greater world-wide community. This is a must read for all Jewish believers in Yeshua, evangelical Christina leaders and all those whose hearts yearn for the peace of Jerusalem."-Mitch Glaser, Present, Chosen People Ministries "It is both an unusual and a welcome development to find a constructive study of Messianic Jews from a leading Jewish academic rabbi."--Themelios 26.2 "The book is memorable for its clarity and directness. It is also fair - Cohn-Sherbok attends to the diversity of views and structures within Messianic Judaism. He quotes at length from histories, liturgies and creeds produced by various congregations. This makes accessible much material not readily available to the British readers and is likely to make Messianic Judaism a useful resource for undergraduates and seminarians. What comes through particularly well is the extent to which the ambiguity of Jewish believers' indentity is as much an internal problem as it is an internally imposed construct."--Journal of Belief and Values "Dan Cohn-Sherbok, first Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales, is a well-known, encyclopaedic chronicler and commentator on the various Judaisms; and in this book he engages with the most controversial of all, often assembling material which would be very difficult to find conveniently elsewhere...fascinating reading."--Reform "Cohn-Sherbok has done a commendable job of depicting the history and practice of Messianic Judaism in ancient and modern times in what wil no doubt prove to be a valuable and user-friendly resource for Messianic Jews and those interested in the movement. The author has also done a service to Messianic Jews. By taking the time and effort to dedicate a fair-handed book to the movement, Cohn-Sherbok has aided the Messianic Jewish movement in its quest for recognition, affirmation, and acceptance by the wider Jewish community."--Akiva Cohen, Mishkan "He has written a most interesting assessment of Jewish believers in Jesus who are grappling with the challenges of remaining loyal to the claims of Yeshua (Jesus) while being committed to their Jewish ethnic and cultural traditions." --The Evangelical Times "varied, richly textured, often colourful history....masterful and even-handed treatment of this complicated issue."--Leo Serroul, Toronto Journal of Theology, Fall 2002