Messianic Jewish Aliyah: The Significance and Challenge of Modern Israeli Immigration for the Messianic Jew

By Jennifer Marik Betham-Lang

"In these well-thought out pages the reader will find a candid review of the history and current status of the Messianic movement. The issues, the dreams and the devotion of the Messianic followers are portrayed and reported with passion, clarity and raw honesty.
As a professor of World Religions and History of Judaism, this work provides any student the insight needed to understand the precarious nature of this (and perhaps other) marginal religions in the world and what they go through in order to be able to express their convictions and practice their faith."
Arlette Poland, J.D., Ph.D.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris NZ
• Release date: Feb 18, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450019842

Jennifer Marik Betham-Lang

Jen Marik Betham-Lang has been interested in pluralist theology since childhood. She earned her wings of gold and flew as a Naval Flight Officer in the U.S. Navy before later serving as a chaplain. She studied with various faith groups including those at California Baptist University, Southern Adventist University, Claremont School of Theology, and Orthodox Jewish learning centers. She earned her Master of Letters in Theology from the University of St. Andrews in 2008 and plans on finishing her doctorate in 2010. She currently resides in New Zealand with her husband and three children where she continues to write.

Book preview

Messianic Jewish Aliyah

The Significance and Challenge

of Modern Israeli Immigration

for the Messianic Jew

JENNIFER MARIK BETHAM-LANG

Copyright © 2010 by JENNIFER MARIK Betham-Lang.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4500-1983-5

                Ebook         978-1-4500-1984-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Bible texts from the New Revised Standard Version, Copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.

Note: Most of the names of interviewees have been modified to protect their identity.

Xlibris Corporation

0800-891-366

www.xlibris.co.nz

700009

Contents

Introduction

I Aliyah In Traditional Judaism

A.   Nationalism Without Antisemitism

B.   Secular Zionism

C.   Religious Anti-Zionism

D.   Passive Zionism

II Aliyah In Messianic Judaism

A.   What is Messianic Judaism?

1.   Historical movement

a.   Nazarenes and Ebionites

b.   Hebrew Christianity

c.   1800-1960’s

i.   Israelites of the New Covenant

ii.   Hebrew Christian Alliance of America

iii.   Solidarity during war years

2.   Modern movement

a.   Messianic Judaism Today

i.   Is a Messianic Jew a Christian or a Jew?

ii.   No Replacement Theology

iii.   Not Evangelical Zionism

b.   Zionists

i.   Financial support

ii.   Cultural Support

iii.   Prayerful Support

c.   Inspires Evangelical Zionism, yet retains separation

d.   Literal text interpretation regarding Israel

i.   Abrahamic covenant

ii.   Prophetic time of the Gentiles

e.   Gospel is to Jew first

f.   Gentiles are grafted into Israel

B.   Reasons for Aliyah in Messianic Judaism

1.   Prophecy

a.   Aliyah must happen for the Messiah to return

b.   It will happen

c.   It is happening

i.   Flooding immigration—especially from Russia

2.   Evangelism

a.   Great Commission by assimilation

3.   Easier to be Jewish in Israel

C.   Who is to Make Aliyah in Messianic Judaism?

1.   All Jews should contemplate aliyah

2.   Whoever legally can

a.   Jewish lineage only

b.   Non-Christian, non-Messianic, non-Muslim Jews only

D.   How do Messianic Jews Circumvent the Prohibition?

1.   Avoid divulging Messianic faith

2.   Emphasize other reasons for immigration

a.   Scholastic

b.   Vocational

c.   Family

3.   Spiritualize aliyah

a.   Immigrate to a spiritual Israel, support physical Israel

b.   Aliyah not a physical requirement

4.   Adopt Reform Judaism mindset: bloom where planted

E.   External Challenges for the Messianic Jew Desiring Aliyah

1.   Know the costs

2.   Difficult living—poor economy

3.   Persecution

F.   International Politics

1.   Palestinian Conflict

2.   Arab rights in land, not to it

3.   State of Israel in Tikkun Olam

4.   Messianic Jews to bring peace (Messianic Age)

III Conclusion

IV Works Cited

Notes

DEDICATION

With thanksgiving first and foremost to our

Divine Source of all wisdom…

This book is dedicated to the memory of my grandfather,

Hector Betham, who taught us all the benefit of an upright character, hard work, and a jolly sense of humor.

Also, it is dedicated to my best friends—to my dear husband and fellow theologian, Roger Lang, who helps me with ideas, motivation, and research, and to my darling mother, Dulcie Betham, who

inspires me and helps alleviate my duties so that I can write.

Remembered as well are my beloved children, Paul Montgomery, Immanuel Joseph, and Luise Jemma Skye, whose love and

antics keep me smiling.

INTRODUCTION

Aliyah, immigration to Israel, is significant to the Messianic Jew for many reasons. The Messianic Jew, self-defined as a Jew who accepts the messiahship of Yeshua (Jesus Christ) while yet embracing the Jewishness of his culture, accepts Old Testament law and prophecy of the physical return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. In this book, I will discuss aliyah as it exists in traditional Judaism to provide a context for defining aliyah in Messianic Judaism. I will focus on Messianic Judaism itself, and its applied theology not only to explore what it is or is not, but for the purpose of emphasizing the reasons that aliyah is significant in its teaching. A leading reason for aliyah in Messianic Judaism is Messianic prophecy, Israeli evangelism by assimilation, convenience in Jewish law observance, refuge from antisemitism, and divine invitation. Although Messianic Jews consider themselves to be Jewish, this Jewishness is not recognized by many Christians, traditional Jewish affiliations, or even the State of Israel, which brings challenges to the Messianic Jews seeking to follow their conviction to aliyah. This difficulty in immigrating to Israel is often met in different ways—applying for Israeli citizenship while keeping a mindful secrecy of Messianic identity or perhaps, in some cases, remaining in the diaspora and simply experiencing aliyah in the realms of the spiritual. Once making a physical aliyah, however, the immigrant is often met with diverse challenges such as financial hardship, political unrest, and a war-torn Israeli culture. In light of all this, many Messianic Jewish leaders still press for Messianic Jews to fulfill divine admonishment by making aliyah to the biblical Zion—the Holy Land, Eretz-Israel.

I

ALIYAH IN TRADITIONAL JUDAISM

What is aliyah? The word aliyah is defined in Hebrew as simply going up. When a Jewish congregant is called upon to read from the Torah on the bima (raised platform), he has received an invitational aliyah. As one ‘goes up’