Voices of Messianic Judaism: Confronting Critical Issues Facing a Maturing Movement [Paperback]

Dan Cohn-Sherbok (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2001

Here is a collection of substantive articles compiled to focus discussion on some weighty matters facing the Messianic Jewish movement. Reform rabbi, Dr. Dan Cohn-Sherbok, though not a Messianic Jew, is a friend of the movement. He believes that Messianic Judaism may be considered a branch of Judaism in this century. Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales, author of over 30 books, Rabbi Cohn-Sherbok guided the selection of topics addressed in this book. Here are some examples:

* Should Jewish believers in Messiah attend only Messianic Jewish congregations?

* Is intermarriage acceptable for Messianic Jews?

* Should liturgy have an essential role in congregational worship?

* How should outreach be accomplished?

Many of the best minds impacting this movement have contributed their thoughts to this book, creating a lively, informative, discussion. Each author, expressing his or her own view on a topic (often in direct opposition to another author), is a voice that can help this maturing movement confront the critical issues facing it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A Reform Jewish rabbi [has brought] together leading representatives of Messianic Judaism to publish a remarkable volume. -- International Bulletin of Missionary Research, July 2002

The most important new volume on Messianic Judaism is out and it's an instant classic. Fine accessible scholarship. Essential reading. -- The Messianic Times, Summer 2001

From the Publisher

Someone said, "Where you have three Jews, you have at least four opinions." But this is not just a book of opinions. Voices of Messianic Judaism is a book of substantive articles compiled to focus discussion on some weighty matters facing the Messianic Jewish movement. Reform rabbi, Dr. Dan Cohn-Sherbok, himself not a Messianic Jew, is a friend of the movement. He believes that Messianic Judaism may be considered a branch of Judaism in the 21st century, especially if it wrestles with these Jewish issues. Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales, author of over 30 books, Rabbi Cohn-Sherbok guided the systematic selection of the thirteen topics addressed in this book. Here are some examples:

-Should Jewish believers in Messiah attend only messianic congregations?

-Is intermarriage acceptable for Messianic Jews?

-Where do Gentiles figure in the future of Messianic Judaism?

-Should liturgy have an essential role in this movement?

-How much Jewish tradition should be part of the lives of Jewish believers?

Many of the best minds impacting this movement have contributed their thoughts to Voices of Messianic Judaism, creating a lively, informative, important book:

Joel Chernoff, Bruce Cohen, Robert Cohen, Stuart Dauermann, Tony Eaton, Jeffrey Feinberg, John Fischer, Patrice Fischer, Ruth Fleischer, Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Mitch Glaser, Dan Juster, Barney Kasdan, Mark Kinzer, Sam Nadler, Rich Nichol, Russell Resnik, David Rudolph, Eva Rydelnik, Michael Rydelnik, Paul Saal, Michael Schiffman, Jim Sibley, Kay Silberling, Murray Silberling, David Stern, Michael Wolf

Each author, expressing his or her own view on a topic (often in direct opposition to another author), is a voice that can help this maturing movement confront the critical issues facing it.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Messianic Jewish Resources International (April 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880226936
• ISBN-13: 978-1880226933
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,144,756 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful, April 27, 2004

By 

Meirav "yll" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Voices of Messianic Judaism: Confronting Critical Issues Facing a Maturing Movement (Paperback)

It is said that where there are two Jews, there are three opinions.

If that is true, then this book illustrates that Messianic Judaism is a true Judaism. Dan Cohn-Sherbok, not a Messianic Jew himself, has edited this anthology that explores issues that face the movement today. These individual essays include topics such as how to view scripture, the impact of intermarriage, gentile involvement in the movement, whether to offer conversion, whether women should receive smichah, and the relationship to Israel.

I'd say it's a must for those inside Messianic Judaism, and could be instructive for those on the outside who have at least visited Messianic congregations.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A VARIETY OF VOICES ADVOCATE A VARIETY OF POSITIONS, April 29, 2011

By 

Steven H. Propp (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Voices of Messianic Judaism: Confronting Critical Issues Facing a Maturing Movement (Paperback)

Dan Cohn-Sherbok is a rabbi of the Reform tradition, who is actually somewhat sympathetic to Messianic Judaism (see his book, Messianic Judaism: A Critical Anthology).

In the Introduction to this 2001 book, he writes, "I met with Barry Rubin, the president of Lederer/Messianic Jewish Publishers to discuss a book project exploring the issues now facing Messianic Judaism. After having studied Messianic Judaism for several years, I came to the view that there is a pressing need for Messianic thinkers to address the nature of the movement for the future. This volume, which includes twenty-seven chapters written by leading figures within the movement, seeks to examine a wide range of key topics."

Here are some quotations from the book:

"Adherents of this new movement insist they are not Christians... They believe that they have found the Jewish Messiah and are now completed Jews in that Yeshua is the fulfillment of biblical Judaism. Yeshua never intended to start a new religion. Rather, he came to correctly explain and law and the prophets." (Pg. x)
"This essay advocates that Messianic Jews should attend Messianic Jewish synagogues rather than churches... because the life of practices (the Torah and Jewish customs) describe can most successfully be lived in a synagogue context." (Pg. 47)
"If Messianic Judaism is, as it maintains, 'a Judaism,' then it must be seeking to produce Jews. It is right and good to draw intermarried couples to Messianic Judaism, but this does not mean that intermarriage as a principle should be advocated and supported." (Pg. 115)
"Some believers whose ministry centers on evangelism avoid moving to Israel because they think evangelism is illegal here. They are wrong. Israel is a democracy. Although democratic freedoms are somewhat limited in the areas of security and religion, we can tell anyone we want about Yeshua... It's a shame to avoid the excitement and challenge of evangelism in Israel because of a false belief about its legality." (Pg. 196)
"The depressing statistic is that sixty to eighty percent of the Jews from the West leave Israel---their aliyah is unsuccessful." (Pg. 198)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1, May 8, 2009

By 

Amy (texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Voices of Messianic Judaism: Confronting Critical Issues Facing a Maturing Movement (Paperback)

This is an excellent book - recommended by a Rabbi I admire - book arrived in great condition.