Conservative Judaism/Jesus as the Messiah

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Expert: - 3/5/2003


Question
I am curious, I hear that some Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah and some do not. Why is Jesus, as the Messiah, not accepted by all the Jews ?
A little background on myself: I am a Seventh-day Adventist who is studying the old and new covenants of the Bible and would like to know more about Judaism.

Answer
Dear Valerie Betty,

Thanks for writing.

Let me respond in brief and urge you to read "Judaism and Christinity:The Difference" by Dr. Trude Wesi Rosmarin for a much fuller explanation.

1. No Jew accepts Jesus as the Messiah. When someone makes that faith commitment they become Christian. It is not possible for someone to be both Christian and Jewish.

2. Jesus is rejected as messiah because we don't see any fulfillment of what is expected if and when a messiah arrives.

3. The Hebrew Bible (what is called by the non-Jewish world the Old Testament) is not a proof for anything in the New Testament regarding a messiah.

The Hebrew Bible according to Jewish interpretation was describing a national savior who would arrive in the time of the Bible at the time of the exile to Babylon and restore the nation of Israel with a capital at Jerusalem.

It didn't refer to someone hundreds of years in the future as Christianity would interpret it.

Thanks for writing and enjoy your studies.

Rabbi Dov  

Conservative Judaism

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Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner

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Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history, philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.

Experience

I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)

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