Inter-Congregational Purim Spectacular February 27, 2021

Esther & Mordechai: Heroes of Zoom-Shan!

On Saturday, February 27th at 7:30 PM Eastern time the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations will host our first Inter-Congregational Zoom spiel.

Our production of Esther and Mordechai: Heroes of Zoom-Shan is written and directed by David Wein, and stars actors of all ages from 16 UMJC congregations. In addition to serving as the premiere of this zany production, the event will include a kids’ costume contest (the hissing and booing will be led by our kids, too!).

This online event will be free, but advance registration will be required. More details to follow soon at umjc.org/events.

Executive Committee Condemns Attack on the US Capitol

This month has been a time of reflection and concern for all of us in the leadership of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations in the aftermath of the disturbing, violent attacks on America’s Capitol. Over the course of the last year, America has been torn apart by tensions that have left our nation and our community divided. Given these challenges, most of us have avoided debates that would turn spiritual brothers and sisters into political adversaries. But we are now seeing the consequences of the dangerous idea that Yeshua belongs exclusively to any single political party or agenda.

On January 6th, we saw the effect of inflammatory voices that bound up impassioned politics with religion, fusing our symbols and even our Messiah to political agendas that challenged the very foundations of our democracy. A mob that included people who advertised their faith in Yeshua descended with terrible intent on elected officials in the Capitol to enforce their will. This attack was illegal, shameful, and resulted in the needless loss of human life, which in itself violates the highest priority of Torah. We stand behind the call for vigorous prosecution of those who participated in the riot. We lament the physical and psychological terrors suffered by members of Congress, Capitol staff, police, and first responders. We earnestly pray for their full recovery from physical and emotional injuries. 

We are deeply offended that rioters who claimed to be Christian appeared with neo-Nazis and other hate groups who openly displayed anti-Semitic symbols and slogans. In so doing, they participated in the mainstreaming of anti-Semitism. What used to slink in the shadows now marches in the open. We join the broader Jewish community in condemning this evil.  

This riot will stand in our memories as a violent attempt to overturn the 2020 election, even after all established legal and procedural remedies had been exhausted. The actions of those who stormed the Capitol should in no way be justified or minimized. Even before the riot, spiritual leaders made prophecies that did not come true, and shared elaborate conspiracy theories that echo centuries-old blood libels against the Jewish people. Their rhetoric included irresponsible talk of violent resistance and suggestions that those who fail to support overturning the election are heretics, lacking in faith, or traitors to the cause of our Messiah. We reject such rhetoric completely.

Yeshua’s followers have often stood on both sides of our political fences.  Some within our community are disappointed by the political direction that our country has taken, while others embrace it. We respect the diversity of viewpoints that has always served to strengthen our Union. We support everyone’s First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. These rights serve as the very cornerstone of the American republic, which has allowed for the flourishing of the Messianic Jewish community. But these rights must be exercised peacefully, whether in service of protesting racism or supporting a candidate. This principle is rooted in the Torah and upheld by Yeshua’s insistence on the priority of the instruction “to love our neighbor as ourselves.”   

As Yohanan reminds us, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:20-21 NIV). 

During these days of tension and division, may we find a way to reflect Messiah’s love within our own lives and congregations, and to the world around us. 

This statement was revised on January 19th by the UMJC Executive Committee in order to clarify our January 13th post. It is in no way meant to imply support or condemnation of any political candidate or party. We want to emphasize that no political view can justify this riot, nor the loss of life and the suffering caused by it.

Youth, Maturity, and the Tensions of 2020

Rabbi Russ Resnik

When I was seventeen, a nice Jewish boy still living at my parents’ home in the suburbs, I joined La Huelga. I marched into the state capital, Sacramento, behind Cesar Chavez and thousands of Mexican-American and Filipino farmworkers on the Delano Grape strike. Most of the workers had walked the whole three hundred miles from the grape-growing town of Delano to Sacramento. Many supporters, like my friends and me, had joined them for the last two or three days. One member of my group had an aunt and uncle who lived outside of Sacramento and agreed to put us up for the last night of the march. In the evening, we were chatting with the older couple after dinner and telling them about the Huelga and the injustices the farmworkers faced. They very politely said it was nice that we wanted to show our support, but shouldn’t we build up a nest egg before we started taking days off work or school and traveling around the countryside?

Now, even back then “nest egg” seemed like a rather quaint phrase, but I knew what they meant. We should be responsible, work hard, and sock away some savings before we started running around the country trying to save the world. To me, though, a nest egg could wait—I was in my first semester at college! Besides, although I was young and naïve, I knew the real issue was that Aunt and Uncle weren’t crazy about this grape strike, or about seeing a bunch of students and who-knows-whats from Southern California join the farmworkers’ protest. We were planning to confront the state establishment in Sacramento the next day and didn’t even have our act together enough to rent a motel room.

This scene was repeated around countless kitchen tables—and often with far less politeness—during those years. The generation gap was taking on Grand Canyon-scale dimensions. But this scene wasn’t unique to the sixties. It may have been heightened back then, but it’s always been part of the intergenerational drama. It’s one reason for the biblical emphasis—shared in many cultures—on honor for the older generation. There’s bound to be a gap, but respect and deference help to bridge it. So does emphasis on raising up and empowering a younger generation. Think of the stories of our ancestors that we’re currently reading in our weekly Torah portions, and the blessings that the parents impart upon their offspring.

In the chaotic year of 2020, though, the gap is more evident. It shows up in the tendency of younger folk to lean more toward positions they consider progressive while older folk have warmer feelings toward the status quo, or the status quo a few decades back. Of course the partisan divide isn’t strictly generational, but it’s definitely raising the community blood pressure, including within our own Messianic Jewish community. Election Day is a specific nearby date, November 3, but election tension is likely to linger long after the votes are in. So, what to do now?

There’s a lot to be said in response to that question, but I’ll start with this: we need to recognize that it takes both perspectives, youthful idealism and mature caution, to sustain healthy community. One side or the other might be right on a particular issue and we can argue our position with passion . . . and at the same time recognize our need to be balanced by the other side. We can advocate our position and honor the opposition, especially as we talk about these things within our own community.

I’m not among those who consider “politics” and “politicians” to be dirty words. Abraham Lincoln, perhaps our most honored president, was a master politician, and so were all his colleagues carved alongside him on Mount Rushmore. But current politics and politicians too easily resort to the lowest forms of partisanship, polarization, and dishonor. They act as if gaining short-term political victory outweighs all other concerns. We shouldn’t let that approach to politics infect our community. We’re community—not just another collection of competing interest groups—because we’re united in something far greater than the issues that divide us. And that “something far greater” can absorb, transform, and mobilize our opposing perspectives into a far greater, redeeming purpose.

Remember, most of us established and cautious leaders were starry-eyed idealists a few decades back. My idealistic quest led me beyond my suburban roots into the march on Sacramento with La Huelga, and then the 60s counter-culture, and finally the remote high country of Northern New Mexico. There Yeshua finally tracked me down and called me into his kingdom. It’s essential for me and Messianic Jewish leaders like me to remember that earlier zeal for justice, and honor it in others. We don’t want to miss the opportunity to speak into the lives of young people at a time when they’re extraordinarily open. We need to cultivate our regard and affection for younger leaders who are showing idealism and zeal today. And if we older leaders are wise, we’ll recognize that true community needs both—the stability and wisdom of the mature united with the zeal and imagination of the young.

One of my favorite rabbinic sayings comes from the sage Ben Zoma: Who is wise? The one who learns from everyone (Pirke Avot 4:1). We create community that will outlive our current political tensions when we seek to learn from everyone within the community. This means listening to learn, not listening to correct and convince the other. The Scriptures speak often about honoring parents and the parental members of the community, and perhaps not as much about valuing and honoring the perspective of the young, but both are vital. We can value youthful hunger for justice, not in a condescending way, but because we recognize how it energizes and advances the life of the whole community. And as we do, we build community that will weather the storms of 2020, and flourish in the years beyond.

Photo credit: Jon Lewis Photographs of the United Farm Workers Movement. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. (c) 2016 Yale University. All rights reserved.

Talking Responsibly about the 2020 Election

Rabbi Russ Resnik

In today’s uber-uptight political environment it’s hard to know what to say and not say about the current election. (I’m addressing leaders in this blog, but everyone is welcome to read on.) One solution is to simply keep silent on anything remotely political, knowing that you’re unlikely to change anyone’s mind, and someone is going to be offended by (and also likely to misinterpret) just about anything you say.

I can respect that sort of principled silence, but others might see not saying anything as a form of complicity. MLK Jr. said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” There are definitely things that matter in the current election, issues that some among us might feel compelled to address. So how do we do it?

• First, do no harm

Hippocrates articulated this principle in ancient Greece, and it’s still affirmed by the medical profession today. A medical practitioner shouldn’t do anything to add to the problem or make the patient worse. This sounds obvious enough, but spiritual leaders, like doctors, need to be reminded of it. Today we’re living through a moment of deep division and imbalance, a time of anxiety and through-the-roof stress. So if I’m going to address matters related to politics, I have to ask whether I’m adding to the problem or even making the patient—my congregation, my community, my country—worse instead of better. Am I just fueling a never-ending argument, or am I helping to raise awareness in a way that might actually improve things?

• Talk issues, not candidates

When we’re representing a tax-exempt congregation or religious organization, we have boundaries to our speech that might actually be helpful. Our 501(c)(3) status with the IRS means we’re exempt from most taxes, but we . . . 

are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity.

For a government policy, that’s pretty clear. If we’re speaking on behalf of our congregation or organization, and want to preserve our tax-exempt status, we can’t endorse (or oppose) a specific candidate or campaign. But this rule doesn’t forbid us from speaking out about “things that matter,” especially social and political issues rooted in our biblical perspective.

In general, we are more effective, more influential, and more true to our calling of building community and modeling an alternative to the social-media-drenched political dysfunction of this present darkness by not waving the banner of any candidate or party. Instead we can speak out on key issues from a prophetic vantage point on the margins.  

• Season it with wisdom and grace

Our biblical perspective helps us understand not only what we might need to speak out on, but how. I could cite lots of passages, but here’s a good summary verse: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Col 4:6).

So why do we think this doesn’t apply to our speech about politics and politicians? Why do we think we can set this wise counsel aside when we’re talking about Donald Trump? Or Joe Biden? And actually, I’m more likely to influence others if I speak with calmness and respect, even toward or about those I disagree with

• Remember you’re a rabbi in your pulpit AND on your profile

And who said that social media should be a free-for-all? If I’m a recognized spiritual leader, I’m still recognizable on Facebook. I might be able to sidestep the 501(c)(3) restrictions by saying this is my private, not-official, Facebook page, but I can’t sidestep my place in the community. Years ago, I was ministering in beautiful Buenos Aires, Argentina, and one afternoon, my host, Jorge Goldstein, took me sight-seeing. He was dressed in a suit and tie (in contrast with my touristy garb) as we knocked around, and we’d become friendly enough that I could ask Jorge why he was so dressed up. He said he never knew who he might run into, and he was always representing his community, and Yeshua himself, even on an afternoon off.

Don’t worry, I’m not about to advocate daily tie-wearing but, in truth, even on Facebook I’m still Rabbi Russ, still representing the Messianic Jewish community and even the Messiah himself. I can’t indulge in ranting, labeling, spreading doubtful reports of any persuasion, or fomenting discord and division, without reflecting poorly on my community and my calling.

So before I speak, in whatever context, I should ask (a la IRS): Does this speech constitute an endorsement of a specific person or party, and (a la Colossians): Is this speech gracious and seasoned with salt? And remember my first question: Does this speech really help the situation and avoid causing harm?

Before I close I’ll add a final question. A month from now Election Day will be in the rearview mirror, and—God willing—the whole election drama will be settling down. But my congregation and community will still be here. So, today I should ask myself this: Is this speech going to help us come together, and stay together, after the election?

Bottom line: if you feel a biblical imperative to speak out, you should, but without endorsing any candidate or directly supporting any campaign. If that requires some tightrope walking, all the better, because it’s hard to rant while you’re navigating a tightrope. Remember, there’s already enough division, discord, and despair to go around. As we walk through these anxious times with our congregants and neighbors, we have the opportunity to be a source of healing and spiritual uplift. Let’s take advantage of it! 

UMJC Statement of Solidarity

[portrait of George Floyd by Nikkolas Smith]

On behalf of the UMJC, its member congregations and ministries,

We are grieved and outraged by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and the deaths of many other victims of racially motivated violence. We are moved to declare our solidarity with brothers and sisters in the black community. You are right to demand recognition as full, respected members of a free society. We hear your lament that injustices caused by systemic racism are no longer tolerable. We grieve with you as you recall the suffering of too many heartbroken families torn apart by repressive, unrelenting crimes of racial hate. We honor your continued calls for genuine justice, liberty and equality.

Yeshua our Messiah, quoting the Torah (Lev. 19:18), called us to love our neighbors as ourselves; but a man trying to justify himself asked him, “and who is my neighbor?” Yeshua proceeded to tell the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37), making clear that our obligation to love others extends far further than the boundaries of our own tribe or people.

We know this story and principle well, but how well do we implement it in our lives and in our congregations? Do we love in words only, or also in deeds?

We call on our fellow leaders in the Messianic Jewish community to reach out proactively to black church leaders, activists, organizers, and business leaders in our local communities. Now is the time to offer our listening ears, our feet, and our financial resources to support them in their time of grief and in their calls for justice, accountability, and reform. 

We are also moved to call for a time of introspection and repentance. We must all search our hearts in the sight of our almighty God and ask, “Have I stood idly by the blood of my neighbors? Do I bear in my heart any unconscious residue of racism? Have I ever responded in fear when love was called for instead?” 

As we listen and learn from our brothers and sisters in the black community, and from people of color within the Messianic Jewish community, we commit to honor one of the Torah’s weightiest commandments: “Justice, only justice, shall you pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:20)

- UMJC Executive Committee

How to Reopen Safely (and Gradually)

A few states in the U.S. are beginning to re-open non-essential businesses after a long period of stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders. Over the next 6 - 8 weeks, many other states and European countries may follow suit. It is unlikely that large gatherings will be permitted until later in the summer. In the meantime, you and your congregation’s leaders should take this opportunity to plan for a safe (and likely gradual) reopening.
 
In addition to considering your congregants’ physical safety and health, reopening presents a variety of psychological challenges which must be factored into your planning. While rushing to get back to "normal" might excite and invigorate those who are young, healthy, and impatient, this approach will likely alienate many others, and leave your pews empty for months longer than necessary.

Just as your congregation feels reassured by enhanced security measures in response to growing anti-Semitism, they’ll also feel reassured by visible and strict hygiene and social distancing measures, even measures that might feel overbearing or limiting to you as a leader. 
 
Remember that your goal is not only to protect your congregants from infection, but also to help them feel safe and comfortable in your synagogue building during a time of tremendous uncertainty. Managing this process well will increase confidence in your leadership and will pay off in the long-term with increased commitment, community engagement, active volunteer service, and consistent financial support.
 
Please review the World Health Organization’s Interim Guidance for Faith-Based Communities in the Context of COVID-19 and consider the below UMJC guidelines (which have been customized to the unique context of Messianic Jewish congregations) as you make plans.

UMJC Guidelines on Safe & Gradual
Reopening of Messianic Congregations
in the Context of COVID-19

 1.  Plan to continue live-streaming.
 
Until there is a working vaccine, expect that many of your congregants will be too nervous to show up in person. Others have come to enjoy the convenience of “attending” from the comfort of their homes. By continuing to live-stream, you can stay connected with your elderly and medically vulnerable congregants, and reach people in more remote areas who are not already served by another congregation.
 
Now is the time to make important hardware or software investments to ensure good quality live-streaming that will continue well into the future. Consider your current audio, visual, and lighting set up and make adaptations as needed, with a larger number of at-home viewers in mind.
 
2.  Experiment with new gathering formats.
 
Warmer weather brings great opportunities for your congregants to gather outdoors in small numbers where the risks of transmission are lower. A few ideas:
 
·      Young parents: Socially Distanced Stroller Brigade in a large local park.
·      Men’s Group:  Social Distancing Beers around a bonfire.  
·      Sisterhood: Bring Your Own Beverage to meet in a member’s large backyard.  
·      Youth Group: remote scavenger hunt documented on TikTok or Instagram.
·      Young Professionals: service project in a local food bank, or grocery deliveries to your elderly congregants.

3.  Limit the number of total in-person attendees.
 
Although approaches will vary across the country and the globe, it’s likely that your local or national government will only permit small gatherings at first – of 10 people, then perhaps 25, then 50, etc. You should plan to reopen your synagogue similarly. In the next few weeks, it may be safe to resume small in-person classes or a morning minyan, as long as attendees are spaced apart in well-ventilated rooms. Brace for the reality that it may be several months before your entire congregation can gather on a weekly basis at full capacity as they’ve been accustomed.
 
4. Change your seating arrangements and service schedule.
 
Once you are ready to welcome congregants back to your regular in-person services, prepare to cut your seating capacity by at least 50%. If you have fixed pews, block off at least every other pew. If you have separate chairs, remove at least half of the chairs from your sanctuary, and make large gaps between chairs and rows (with a few clumps for families to sit together). Advise attendees not to share pews or rows of chairs with other families or solo attendees.
 
If your sanctuary tends to fill up to 50% capacity or greater with your regular attendees, offer multiple service times to avoid overcrowding and maintain spacing. You could encourage adults over 65 to attend the earlier service (don’t offer any children’s programming or nursery care during the early service to drive the point home), leaving the later service for families with small children, teens, and adults under 65. Abbreviate your usual service length to avoid overworking your leaders and key volunteers. 

5.  Improve indoor ventilation.
 
If weather and security conditions permit, open doors or windows to improve the air circulation in your building. For the next few months, move any classes or Torah studies that are normally conducted in small classrooms into larger, well-ventilated rooms. You may need to cancel some classes or stagger schedules to do this.
 
Chairs, tables, door knobs, and light switches should be wiped down between classes with cleaning wipes. Recruit your congregants to help with this! Attendees should plan to bring their own pens and pencils for note-taking, rather than borrowing from the synagogue supply.
 
6.  Check temperatures.
 
Invest in a contactless thermometer so that you can quickly take temperatures as people enter the building. This is going to feel incredibly overbearing in a synagogue environment, but actually has the effect of building confidence in your hygiene measures and subtly encouraging increased vigilance with distancing and hand-washing.

The standard response by attendees will be: “Wow, they’re really taking this seriously. That makes me feel better about coming today. Oh yeah, I should probably go wash my hands.” Anyone with a temperature higher than 99.3 must be sent home immediately, with no exceptions for leaders or key volunteers.
 
7.  Encourage hand-washing and mask-wearing.
 
Place signs throughout the building reminding attendees to wash their hands frequently. Provide automatic hand sanitizer dispensers in key areas.
 
If your local or national government advises wearing face coverings in public places, then everyone should comply and wear them at the synagogue, just as they would in a grocery store or place of business.

Only the rabbi, cantor, and musical vocalists should remove their masks to lead the service, and only while standing at a distance from seated congregants. The rabbi, cantor, and vocalists should wear their masks at all other times, especially when seated or conversing in close proximity with congregants. 
 
Remember that a mask doesn’t work unless it is worn properly – it should cover your chin, mouth, and nose, and fit snugly with no large gaps at your cheeks.
 
8.  Refrain from handshakes, hugging, and kissing.
 
Bowing and elbow bumping is a new form of greeting that most have already adapted to during this period of social distancing. Stick with it. Greeters should refrain from shaking hands with visitors or members. Instead of distributing siddurim or bulletins by hand, leave them on a table near the entrance with clear signs so that first-time visitors can locate them easily.

9.  Don’t share microphones.
 
Microphones are typically handled with bare hands, and covered with spittle. Don’t share them between musicians or prayer leaders! One mic per person – this may require you to whittle down the size of the team on your bimah temporarily for the sake of good hygiene.
 
10.  Revise your Israeli dance program.
 
If your congregation incorporates Israeli dance in your worship, require dancers to maintain a large distance between themselves, and refrain from holding hands while dancing. Create a new space for dancers in an area that is well-ventilated and far away from other attendees, as they tend to breathe and perspire heavily while dancing. 

If these changes cannot be accommodated, then dancing should be prohibited during the main service until the virus is eliminated in your state or country. You can make up for this cancellation by offering weeknight outdoor Israeli dance classes instead. 
 
11.  Revise your Torah service.
 
Plan to limit the number of people on your bimah at the same time. Only one person each week should actually handle the scrolls throughout the service – the same person should remove the Torah scroll from the ark, unwrap and unroll it, cover and lift it for hagbah, and return it to the ark. Eliminate your usual Torah procession for now. 
 
12.  Revise or cancel your Oneg/Kiddush.
 
Ask attendees to bring their own lunches. Eliminate half of the usual seating at your Oneg tables to ensure good spacing as people eat and schmooze together. All tables and chairs should be wiped down with cleaning wipes before and after Oneg. 

Set aside a designated area for small children to eat, as they require closer interaction from parents and caregivers. Don’t allow children to run through the hallways or social hall - arrange a supervised outdoor activity to keep them occupied during or after Oneg.

If these changes cannot be arranged or adhered to, then Oneg/Kiddush should be cancelled until the virus is eliminated in your state or country. 

Virtual Seder Resources

Hosting or attending a virtual seder this year? You’re probably looking for an online haggadah so that your virtual seder guests can follow along. Here’s a roundup of online haggadot, both Messianic and mainstream:

Messianic Haggadah Options:

• Rabbi Elliot Klayman has offered his Messianic Jewish Passover Haggadah (published in 2010) as a free download to all members of the Messianic Jewish community. This abbreviated haggadah is great for family gatherings that include impatient and wiggly little ones! Be sure to make a donation to Messianic Literature Outreach to show your appreciation for this free resource.

• First Fruits of Zion’s The Master’s Table is a $5 PDF eBook designed especially for Christians who are new to the customs and traditions of Passover. A great resource to share with your Christian friends!

Mainstream Haggadah Options:

• A Family Haggadah by Shoshana Silberman. This abbreviated haggadah includes beautiful illustrations, poems, and reflections for your family seder. Available on Amazon Kindle for $6.

• The Kveller Haggadah: A Seder for Curious Kids. You’ll find this accessible and engaging, especially if you come from a Reform background. Available for free at Kveller.com

• The Family Participation Haggadah published by the Shalom Hartman Institute for Diaspora Education is free to download and easy to print at home. Nearly every page makes suggestions for meaningful ways to include your children (or grandchildren) in the rituals of the seder.

• PJ Library Haggadah. If your child already receives books from PJ Library, you know you can expect a high quality, engaging, and well illustrated haggadah as well! Available for free online.

• The Wandering is Over published by the Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Boston. This haggadah is ideal for families that include Russian and/or Hebrew speakers. Free to download and easy to print at home.

Passover Plates you can Prepare in a Pandemic

The entire global Jewish community is preparing for our first isolated Pesach in living memory. Plans are coming together for virtual seders, Zoom gatherings, and downloadable haggadot. Many are planning to organize a seder in their own homes for the very first time - there’s no escape to Bubbie’s house this year, and we can’t lean on the catered synagogue-sponsored gathering, either. And this year our pantries are looking a bit … interesting … as the grocery store shelves are swept clean by panic shoppers.

What’s a Passover-planning newbie to do?

Candyce Joy from Tent & Table is here with a few lifesaving recipes. Her approach is elegant and simple, and sure to wow the family members or roommates you’ve been quarantined with these past few weeks. You can find the ingredients in your average grocery store, and there are no fancy knife skills needed. All you need is a love for fresh produce, vibrant herbs, and some company in the kitchen!

Before you review the recipes, head over to Facebook and FOLLOW Tent & Table. Candyce comes out with amazing recipes and hosting ideas on a regular basis. In our book, she’s the Martha Stewart of Messianic Judaism!

Check them out below and let us know in the comments if you try them out:

Don’t forget to LIKE Tent & Table for more recipes like these!

Keeping Your Kids Learning, Connected and Engaged At Home

By Jonathan Hughes, M.Ed.

You are stuck at home! Your kids are driving you up the walls! They haven’t seen their friends! They are missing your congregation’s children and youth programming! What are you to do? Don’t worry! We have some ideas to keep them learning, connected and engaged at home!

Build a Virtual Parents’ Community

Jewish hospitality and community is well known! Working together, solving problems together and sharing life together! This is what we do! This is why the first thing you can do, to help your kids make the most of the time at home, is reaching out to see what other families are doing. The congregation I attend created a Facebook group called, “Put the Social Back In Social Distancing.” In this group, families coordinate virtual play dates, share ideas of activities to do with their kids and offer support to each other. Go ahead and create your group today, invite families and start sharing ideas!

Hebrew

This is a great time for you to keep the Hebrew learning going, or if your kids have never started the worthwhile journey of learning Hebrew, now is a great time to start!

• Duolingo: a great resource to learn Modern Hebrew. It plays like a game and has features for you to challenge your friends to stay at the top of the practice leaderboard. (Free) 

• Learn to Read Hebrew: This simple web-based app is for anyone who hasn’t learned to sound out the Hebrew letters. You will quickly go from reading individual letters to reading full Hebrew words. (Free)

• Living Language Courses: great resources for learning not only Biblical Hebrew but also Koine Greek. They offer book and CD programs, as well as online courses. (Paid)

• Shalom Sesame: Have little ones you want to start getting familiar with Hebrew, Israel and Jewish Life? Why not have them learn by watching Shalom Sesame? And if you are feeling really adventurous, search for Rechov Sumsum, the all Hebrew Israeli version of Sesame Street. (Free)

Bible and Jewish Life

• Bimbam: a treasure trove of quality videos on Jewish practice and Torah, all geared towards kids (and kids at heart). (Free)

• PJ Library Family Activities: The same people who send out free Jewish themed books each month have also amassed family activities to keep your kids busy during this time. They are doing virtual story and craft time at their Facebook page, new activities throughout the day. (Free)

• Jewish Kids Website: Packed with videos, games, stories, music and information about the Jewish holidays. Check out Chabad’s Jewish kids website for hours of free Torah learning. (Free)

Offline Activities

Interested in some offline activities? We have just what you are looking for!

Bible

• Have your kids dress up as their favorite Bible character and tell a little bit about their life.

• Read a story from the Bible and then allow your kids to choose an activity from our Choice Activities menu to show what they learned.

• Make a nature journal to record all the beautiful and interesting things God has made.

• Re-enact a Bible story with sock puppets.

Gospels

• Read a story from the Gospels and have the kids act it out. It will be funny and meaningful!

• Challenge your kids to memorize the words of Yeshua and make a celebration when they are ready to recite it.

• Write a children’s book or create a cartoon about one of Yeshua’s teachings (i.e. giving tzedakah, caring for the needy, praying to God, etc.) 

Prayer

• Create a gratitude journal and have your kids write a few things each day they are thankful for. Encourage them to pray and thank God for all the things He has given them. This is a great bedtime activity.

• Teach them how to pray the Tehillim/Psalms for the sick. Tehillim 6, 9, 20, 30, 41, 88, 103, 121, 130, 142 are usually selected as prayers for the sick. As a family, dedicate time each day to pray these Tehillim together. 

Holidays

• Have each kid choose a Jewish holiday and create a poster about it. Take turns presenting what they learned.

• Encourage them to help plan the Shabbat menu and create table decorations. Create a theme for each Shabbat (i.e. pirate Shabbat, Shabbat in Paris, under the sea Shabbat, etc.)

• Learn the songs for Pesach. Record a song and post it to social media to share with your friends. Tag it with #passoversongs2020

And if you run out of ideas, you can always get those kids working on that Pesach cleaning! 

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Jonathan Hughes, M.Ed. is a member of the UMJC Educators Committee, and the director of Sparks of Messiah Online Torah School, an online Torah school for young disciples of Yeshua. Sparks of Messiah has been delivering quality Torah education through distance learning for almost two years and would love to share our experience and help your congregation transition your children and youth programming to the virtual world. Access our Guidance for Messianic Congregations on Distance Learning White Paper and sign up for our free distance learning training.

He is also the founder and director of Behold! Messianic Jewish Education, a Messianic Jewish curriculum company which has created Learning Maps to help you select resources to teach Hebrew, Torah, discipleship to Yeshua, Jewish practice and holidays.

Special thanks to Yoshi McLeod for his input on activities.

Live-Streaming Messianic Congregations

See below for a list of UMJC congregations who are live-streaming their services, or providing alternative online programming, including classes, prayer gatherings, and recorded sermons.

UMJC Congregations Live-Streaming:

Member Congregations:

Daphne, Alabama - Congregation Mayim Chayim

Sacramento, California - Beth Yeshua

Ontario, California - Devar Shalom

San Diego, California - Kehilat Ariel

West Hartford, Connecticut - Shuvah Yisrael

West Haven, Connecticut - Simchat Yisrael

Washington, DC - Ahavat Yeshua

Gainesville, Florida - Kehilat Kol Simcha

Hollywood, Florida - Beth T’filah

Melbourne, Florida - Kol Mashiach

Pensacola, Florida - Brit Ahm

Tampa Bay, Florida - Ohr Chadash

Atlanta Area, Georgia - Beth Adonai

Roswell, Georgia - Tikvat David

Skokie, IL - Devar Emet Messianic Synagogue

Lenexa, Kansas - Adat Yeshua Messianic Congregation

Boston Area, Massachusetts - Ruach Israel

Newton, Massachusetts - Beth Yeshua Messianic Congregation

Clarksville, Maryland - Emmanuel Messianic Jewish Congregation

Rockville, Maryland - Beth Messiah Congregation

Ann Arbor, Michigan - Zera Avraham

Florence, Montana - Beth Tephila

Albuquerque, New Mexico - Adat Yeshua Messianic Synagogue

New City, New York - Beth Am Messiah

Lake Katrine, New York - Adat Chaim

Cary, North Carolina - Shaarei Shalom

Columbus, Ohio - Beth Messiah Congregation

Memphis, Tennessee - B’rit Hadasha

Knoxville, Tennessee - Shomair Yisrael Messianic Jewish Congregation

Dallas, Texas - Sar Shalom

Humble, Texas - City on the Hill

Richmond, Virginia - Tikvat Israel Messianic Synagogue

Springfield, Virginia - Ohev Yisrael Messianic Congregation

Tukwila, Washington - Beit HaShofar

International Members

Belo Horizonte, Brazil - Har Tzion Messianic Jewish Synagogue

Toronto, Canada - Congregation Melech Yisrael

Toronto, Canada - Kehillat Eytz Chaim

Vancouver, BC - Kehilat Tsion

Affiliates

Tampa, Florida - Fountain Of Blessings

Recorded Sermons & Alternative Online Programs:

West Los Angeles - Ahavat Zion

San Francisco Bay Area - Tsemach Adonai

Chicago Area - Devar Emet

* indicates provisional UMJC membership

Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Messianic Jewish Communities

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly, with major outbreaks in South Korea, Iran, Italy, Germany, France, and the West coast of the United States (the disease is now present in 35 states). This has already affected a UMJC congregation - Beit HaShofar in Seattle - which has suspended in person services and moved to virtual/streaming for the next few weeks. Today, the World Health Organization officially assigned this new disease pandemic status.

The Union is currently considering the impact of the coronavirus on our upcoming events, including the Young Professionals Retreat (currently scheduled for May 22-25 in North Carolina) and our Summer Family Conference (scheduled for mid-July in Columbus, Ohio). We are hopeful that we will be able to continue with our plans for joyful summer fellowship and festivities, but are keeping a close eye on the situation in the meantime. We will update you if there are any changes. 

Two weeks ago, we sent preliminary guidance to the leaders of our member congregations. Today we’re providing updated guidance to members of the Messianic Jewish community across the globe.

1. PRAY! Pray for a working vaccine, for critical patients, and for overworked doctors and nurses.

We persist in our prayerful hope that the hard work of Israeli researchers will yield working vaccines. Let's join in prayer that several of these vaccines will pass human trials, that they will be rapidly approved by the various government bureaucracies (like the FDA in the U.S.) and become available to elderly and immuno-compromised individuals across the globe.

Let's also pray for the patients across the world who are reliant on ventilators while they recover, and for the many overworked doctors and nurses, that God would provide them with supernatural strength and protection from illness.

2. Wash those hands!

The best defense against respiratory viruses is frequent hand-washing with soap and water, but studies show that only 5% of people do it properly. Pick your favorite 20-second hand washing song, commit to singing it at the sink more frequently than you normally would, and become more conscious of how frequently you touch your face, mouth, and nose. 

3. Practice "social distancing."

Resist the urge to hug, kiss, and shake hands with your fellow congregants on Shabbat. Try a fist bump or another innovative greeting instead. During your Torah procession, refrain from touching or kissing the Torah scrolls. These new practices are sure to provide fodder for new jokes and light moments in your community.

This may feel awkward and overbearing at first - it's helpful to remember that "keeping your distance" during a pandemic is not the same as panicking, hoarding supplies, or locking yourself into a proverbial bunker. Instead, it's a way to show loving concern for the elderly members of your family and congregation, who would have a harder time getting through a bout of illness that you would.

4. Stay home if you're sick.

The symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea or diarrhea. What does this mean for you? If you have any flu-like symptoms at all (even a slight sniffle that feels like a common cold), stay home and call your doctor! Don't "push through," mask your symptoms with medicine, and bring your germs to school, work, or the synagogue. Again, staying home and seeking qualified medical advice is part of showing loving concern for the elderly people in your life.

5. Prepare for disruptions to your daily life.

Several universities and school districts across the United States and Western Europe are preparing to shut down or switch to virtual/online learning. Large corporations are sending their employees home to telecommute, as well. This may occur in your area in the next few days or weeks.

Resist the urge to stock up on bottled water, toilet paper, or bleach - rest assured that clean water will continue flowing to your pipes in the midst of an outbreak, and remember that soap and water are just as effective as harsh chemicals. Instead of hoarding unnecessary supplies, make sure that all of your family members' medical prescriptions are filled, and you have enough non-perishable food in your home to sustain yourselves during a two-week quarantine.

6. Promote good hygiene in your synagogue. 

Gather with your congregation's leadership team and consider how you can promote elevated food safety during your weekly Oneg/Kiddush. Everyone preparing food should wash their hands thoroughly before engaging in meal prep. Wear disposable gloves - these will help you remember not to touch your face while serving in the kitchen. Consider temporarily serving only prepackaged foods rather than home-cooked meals. Everyone in the synagogue should wash their hands before serving themselves, to avoid spreading germs on food service utensils. 

Promote cleanliness throughout the synagogue building by volunteering to clean and sanitize all Oneg tables, kitchen counters, handles, door knobs, and stairwell banisters in your congregation before and after your weekly service. 

Thank you for joining us in prayer and calm preparation. May God bless you, your family, and your congregation with wisdom, strength, and good health in this time of uncertainty. 

COVID-19 Guidance for Congregations and Day of Fasting & Prayer

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading across the globe, including reports of at least 3 cases in Israel, 400 in Italy, and over 60 in the United States. Public health and epidemiology experts have projected that COVID-19 is likely to spread further over the next few months. 

Join with the wider Messianic Jewish community in a day of fasting and prayer on March 9, 2020.

In the words of our friend Boaz Michael (Founder of First Fruits of Zion),

"Since biblical times, the Jewish community has banded together to face the threat of plague and disease by declaring a day of prayer and fasting. The Talmud tells numerous stories of similar occasions when the Jewish community was faced with threats like infectious diseases. What did the Jewish people do? The leadership came together and agreed to declare a day of fasting. (Joel 2:15-17) We have chosen Monday, March 9 for a designated day of fasting to ask God for mercy on the people of China and the whole world in the name of our Master. We have chosen March 9 because, on the Jewish calendar this year, that's the date for the Fast of Esther. March 9, 2020, is already a scheduled fast day observed in memory of the three-day fast that the Jewish people of Persia undertook before Queen Esther went to appear before the king. This year we are going to combine that traditional fast day with a special focus in prayer asking our Father in Heaven for mercy on his people and on all of his creatures."

As you commit this to fervent prayer, and counsel your congregation to refrain from panic, please review the best practices and guidelines below and consider implementing them in your congregation. 

The good news is that most people who are infected experience no symptoms, or very mild symptoms (similar to a common cold or flu). And in even better news, Israeli and American researchers are rapidly approaching a working vaccine. 

The bad news is that, as a respiratory infection, it is highly contagious. People over the age of 80 or those with preexisting respiratory or immune conditions are at higher risk, and when infected are more likely to develop pneumonia, requiring hospitalization or intensive care. The mortality rate for infected patients over the age of 80 is 14-18%. 

All of us have elderly congregants in our pews, and people with respiratory and immune conditions. As we gather together in shared spaces every Shabbat, consider implementing the following guidelines to protect your congregants from illness:

1. Encourage hand-washing. The best defense against respiratory viruses is frequent hand-washing with soap and water, but studies show that only 5% of people do it properly.

• Consider placing signs in your synagogue bathrooms reminding congregants to wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet.

• Do you shake hands with everyone during your Torah procession? Stash a bottle of hand sanitizer under the Torah table, and use it discreetly when you return to the bimah. 

• Require all Oneg volunteers (or anyone handling food that is served in the synagogue) to wash their hands thoroughly before engaging in meal prep. Follow the same food safety guidelines that are used in commercial kitchens - if you accidentally touch your face, mouth, or nose while preparing food, go back to the sink and wash your hands again. 

• Instruct nursery workers to wash their hands any time they come in contact with a child's bodily fluids (including nasal discharge and spit up). Have them wash the children's hands when they enter the nursery, before and after eating, and before reuniting with their parents. This doesn't have to be onerous, many nursery programs sing a special hand-washing song. Small children tend to adjust quickly to new routines, and this has positive knock-on benefits at home, where children are likely to repeat the routines they learned in the nursery.  

2. Don't go to synagogue when you're sick. During the long cold and flu season, many of us have a tendency to "push through" our symptoms or mask them with medications so that we can show up and serve our communities. Now is not a good time to continue this habit. 

• Model this principle as a leader and stay home if you have a cough, fever, or any other symptoms of illness. Your absence will surely serve as a disruption to your community, but this principle presents an opportunity to strengthen your wider leadership team so that everything doesn't fall apart just because you unexpectedly miss a Shabbat. Now is the time for serious conversations with your Board members, clergy, and Elders about whether they have the capacity to conduct a service (or manage an event) and provide effective pastoral care to congregants in your absence. 

• Ask your congregants to stay home when they're sick, to avoid infecting others. Set up a system of back-ups for key volunteer roles. 

• Screen infants for illness before they enter the nursery. Include a new question on your nursery check-in forms. In addition to gathering information like the child's name, parent's contact information, and any known food allergies, add the following question: "Have you or your child experienced a fever, rash, or vomiting in the last 24 hours?" Anyone who answers yes should be turned away from the nursery and encouraged to go home for the day. The clergy team should follow up with a pastoral phone call as soon as possible. 

3. Expand your online and virtual attendance programming. It is possible that your local community may be affected by school closings, travel restrictions, or other mass quarantine measures. Think ahead and prepare for this possibility by improving your congregants' access to the congregation and its leaders through the internet. 

• Record your weekly sermon and distribute it on your website and on a podcast channel. (While you're considering this, subscribe to the Union's weekly Torah commentaries on Apple Podcasts!)

• Create a Secret Facebook group whether the members of your congregation can gather online to share prayer requests, updates, organize watch parties, and even stream live videos. Wondering how to set one up? Click here. 

• Conduct your mid-week classes and Torah studies over the internet. Zoom offers affordable pricing for virtual conference rooms - several Union leaders have begun experimenting with Zoom for mid-week studies and have found higher involvement and engagement from their congregants who live far away and cannot commute to the synagogue in the middle of the week. Want more ideas? Click here. 

• Consider live-streaming your weekly service. 

New Messianic Jewish Bible Published in Jerusalem

Several worthy Messianic Jewish editions of the Scriptures have appeared in recent years, and the most recent one, the Jerusalem Illustrated Bible (JIB) adds a new dimension.

What stands out first are the illustrations by the renowned Israeli artist and illustrator Elhanan ben Avraham. Ben Avraham’s illustrations reflect deep study and insight into Scripture as well as artistic excellence, providing in many cases a non-verbal midrash on the text. For example is a large black-and-white illustration of Revelation 18:4-5 shows Babylon the great represented in the foreground by a tall ziggurat or tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). An image of a city radiating light emerges in the background, suggesting a vision. The gates of Babylon exude solidity and might, but it’s the heavenly city that beckons. The Bible features 250 illustrations, many of them as richly detailed as this one.

The second unique feature of the Jerusalem Illustrated Bible is indicated by the name itself. It is published by the Bible Society in Israel, based in Jerusalem, and includes Hebrew and English text of the entire Bible—Tanakh and the Apostolic Writings. The English version is based on the New American Standard Bible, with adaptations to reflect the Jewish setting of the Scriptures and a Torah-positive reading. Thus, the familiar John 1:17—“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”—is rendered, “For the Torah was given through Moses; unmerited love and truth were realized through Yeshua the Messiah.” The JIB provides a Messianic Jewish reading that remains clear and accessible.

Finally, the JIB features side-by-side Hebrew and English text, which will be invaluable to readers conversant in both languages, as well as a great study tool for those learning the Hebrew. The layout adds to the beauty and richness of the whole Bible.

The JIB is described on the Bible Society website as “a large family Bible,” and it certainly has the potential to fill that niche with its beautiful, abundant illustrations and fresh rendition of the Scriptures.

—Rabbi Russ Resnik

For ordering information visit the Bible Society in Israel website.

Christianity Today Posts a Strong Condemnation of Anti-Semitism

“Killing Jesus’ Brothers and Sisters” is the title of a powerful op-ed by Christianity Today editor-in-chief Mark Galli, posted on January 3. Christianity Today was founded by Billy Graham in 1956 and remains one of the most influential Evangelical Christian publications today. The subtitle of the op-ed raises two questions for Christians: “Why did we turn on the Jews so quickly? And what do we do about it now?” Galli addresses these questions with an unflinching look at Christian history and at some essential biblical texts, and raises a clear call to repentance.

Read the op-ed here.

Russ Resnik, UMJC Rabbinic Counsel, has written a response in appreciation of Galli’s bold stand, especially at this time of increased anti-Semitic activity. He builds a biblical case for a further step in repudiating anti-Semitism.

Gid'on Nelson August 25, 1950 - November 26, 2019

Union friend and colleague Gid'on Nelson passed away November 26 in Florida. After living for years in Israel, Gid'on returned to the USA, where he led Beth T'filah congregation in Hollywood, Florida until recently. He served as UMJC Southeast Regional Director in 2009-2011. We will all miss his generous and enthusiastic spirit in following the ways of Yeshua his Messiah. Gid'on is survived by his wife, Tania, and his beloved extended family of children and grandchildren.

Response to Synagogue Shooting in Poway, California

Today we're grieving with the Jewish community of Poway, California (close to San Diego), in the wake of a synagogue shooting at a Chabad. An attack on one Jewish community is an attack on us all, regardless of denomination or affiliation.

So far one woman has died, and three others are injured, including a teenage girl and two adults. One of the injured adults is Rabbi Goldstein, the Chabad shaliach, who appears to have engaged with the shooter, stopping further bloodshed. As a result of his heroism, he is recovering from a gunshot wound to his hand. Even with his injury, he spent time comforting and calming his congregation until the paramedics and first responders arrived.  

Take some time today to pray for a speedy recovery for the injured, and for comfort to the families who are mourning today. We will soon learn the name of the woman who was murdered. May her memory be for a blessing. 

Pray especially for the Messianic Jewish community of Kehilat Ariel, a UMJC member congregation only 20 minutes away from Poway. Ask God to comfort and reassure the congregation in this time of grief, and to guide them with wisdom as they show love and solidarity to the wider Jewish community in their area. 

Since the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh 6 months ago, the Union has dedicated significant time and resources to helping our member congregations upgrade their own security systems and teams, through training programs, webinars, and grants.

Why is this so important? Because Messianic Jews are not immune to the recent and troubling rise in American anti-Semitism. People who hate Jews don’t care whether some of us believe in Yeshua. Anti-Semites hate Jewish people whether we are rich or poor, powerful or marginalized, religious or secular, Messianic or mainstream, Israeli or American (or any other nationality).

Indeed, one of our member congregations in Cary, North Carolina, has weathered two separate hate crimes over the past 6 months. Thanks to their investments in upgraded security equipment and teams, both perpetrators have been identified and brought to justice. 

This summer at our Family Conference, we'll offer 4 hours of free ALICE Training (Active Shooter Response Training) to conference attendees. Consider attending this special workshop offering on behalf of your congregation.

If you cannot attend our conference in Los Angeles, consider making a generous donation to our Synagogue Security Fund to help us expand security training & support to our congregations (mark your donation for "Security" in the special instructions section).

With love and solidarity,

Monique Brumbach
UMJC Executive Director

Count the Omer with the Global Messianic Jewish Community

Beginning on April 20, 2019, Messianic Jews around the world will unite through Walking to Sinai, 49 days of prayer, study, and giving.

Join the Messianic Jewish community as we thank God for the gift of the Torah, the land of Israel, and our Messiah, Yeshua. Sign up for Walking to Sinai by subscribing to our e-news list at umjc.org/subscribe, to receive daily emails that will guide you through the Counting of the Omer.

During this season, follow our prayer and study calendar, and set aside $1 per day as a thank offering for Shavuot. This year, 25% of your offering will support the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, an Israeli organization fighting for the rights of Messianic Jews in the Land of Israel. The remainder of your gift will support the Union’s Leadership Development programs, including our yeshiva scholarships and rabbinic internship program.

Set aside $1 per day of the counting of the Omer, as a symbol of your gratitude to God. You can collect these dollars in a tzedakah box, and wait until Shavuot to send in your gift, or set up your donation online at umjc.org/donate.

Response to Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting

Last weekend, hundreds of Jewish Pittsburghers gathered to observe the National Refugee Shabbat, organized by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). Drawing on the themes of wandering and welcome found in Lech Lecha (last week’s Torah portion), HIAS organizers hoped that synagogues observing Refugee Shabbat would commit to adopt refugee families and help them settle into their new lives in America. 

One week later, the same Jewish community that had gathered to show compassion to strangers was rewarded with a hailstorm of bullets. The perpetrator, a domestic terrorist, walked into a synagogue building shared by three congregations, interrupting a joyous bris with rage and bloodshed.

(This attack came only three days after another domestic terrorist attempted to gun down worshippers at a black church in Kentucky. When he couldn’t get through the church’s locked doors, he diverted to a nearby store and murdered two black people in cold blood. He shot and killed Maurice Stallard, 69, while he shopped for school supplies with his 12 year old grandson, then headed outside where he murdered Vickie Jones, 67, in the parking lot.)
 
Eleven Jewish people died yesterday, while worshipping the God of Israel on Shabbat in their beloved synagogue, observing an ancient custom that unites us as a people. This marks the deadliest attack on a Jewish community in American history. There are no words sufficient to capture the depths of my grief as a Jewish woman, a mother, and a defender of refugees.
 
In the twisted logic of an anti-Semite, there is no right way to be Jewish. When Jewish people succeed, we are labeled “globalists,” which is code for: the hooked-nose manipulators of Hollywood, the media, and the global banking system. When we show compassion for strangers or take up the cause of widows and orphans, we are castigated for “opening the door to invaders.” In the mind of an anti-Semite, there is no right place to be Jewish either. When we return to our ancestral homeland, we are branded as “colonizers” and the architects of an “apartheid state.” When our enemies overtake us and send us into exile, we are shunned and shunted into ghettos.
 
Outside of the land of Israel, only the post-war urban centers of America (and a handful of European capitals) have provided a secure place to live openly as Jews. But even this illusion has begun to shatter. The Anti-Defamation Leagueobserved that there were nearly 2,000 reported and verified incidents of anti-Semitism in America in 2017. This marked a 57% increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes since 2016. In college campuses and coffee shops, extremists from the right and the left have distributed vile literature blaming Jewish people for a variety of societal ills, calling for the dismantling of the state of Israel, or for acts of violence against American Jews. Today, the rhetoric became a reality.
 
We concluded our holy Shabbat with sadness, rather than joy, because we stand in solidarity with Am Yisrael. An attack on one Jewish community is an attack on us all, regardless of denomination or affiliation. May God comfort the families in mourning today.
 
Blessed is God, King of the Universe, the True Judge.

- Monique Brumbach, UMJC Executive Director

 
Later this week, we will distribute exclusive UMJC resources on improving synagogue security to the leaders of our member congregations (including webinars, recorded seminars, and checklists). If your synagogue or chavurah is not yet a member of the Union, please contact me directly via email so that we can assist you, regardless of your congregation’s membership status.

In Memory of Steve Fenchel

Steve Fenchel, leader of UMJC-affiliated Sha’ar Adonai Messianic congregation in New York City, passed away early Sunday morning, June 10, from massive internal bleeding.

Steve grew up in a Jewish home in Brooklyn, where his father raised him in the Orthodox tradition. When Steve was nine years old his father died and Steve became angry with God. He spent his adolescence and young adult years in alcohol and drugs until a chance meeting on the street led to an encounter with Messiah Yeshua in the early 70s. Steve met and married his wife, Carol, soon afterwards and the two moved to New Mexico.

Steve was introduced to the Messianic congregational movement in the 80s and eventually became an elder and worship leader at Adat Yeshua, Albuquerque, New Mexico, working with founding leader Russ Resnik. Later Steve and Carol returned to New York City to work with Chosen People Ministries (CPM) and founded Sha’ar Adonai in upper Manhattan.

CPM president Dr. Mitch Glaser sent this note to CPM staff: “We all loved Steve dearly and we will miss him, but we are grateful to know that he is with the Messiah he served for many decades. May the Lord comfort us all.”

Rabbi Russ adds: “Steve and Carol were close friends to Jane and me for many years, going back to the beginnings of Adat Yeshua in the 80s. We lived a couple of blocks apart for several years and our daughters were the best of friends growing up—even sharing a joint Bat Mitzvah. Steve was always a warm and lively man with a real love for Yeshua and Scripture, and an open and welcoming heart to all he met. We are among the many who are going to miss him greatly.”

Steve’s memory will be cherished by his wife, Carol, and their daughters Elan (and husband Jeremy Schieffelin), Mattea, and Sabra, and granddaughters Zarah and Sienna, who knew him as Poppy.

Israel Turns Seventy

Celebrating in Jerusalem, 1948

The state of Israel celebrates its 70th anniversary on April 19 this year. Amid the tensions and challenges of the turbulent Middle East it's a day of celebration for Israel and recognition of the "first-fruits of redemption," as the Jewish people from around the world reclaim and restore their ancient homeland.

Just hours before the end of the British Mandate over the land of Israel, on May 14, the 5th of Iyar, 1948, David ben Gurion opened Israel's declaration of independence with these words:

The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.

After being forcibly exiled from their land, the people kept faith with it throughout their Dispersion and never ceased to pray and hope for their return to it and for the restoration in it of their political freedom.

After tracing the history of the Jewish return to Eretz-Israel, ben Gurion continued:

Accordingly we, members of the People’s Council, representatives of the Jewish community of Eretz-Israel and of the Zionist movement, are here assembled on the day of the termination of the British Mandate over Eretz-Israel and, by virtue of our natural and historic right and on the basis of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel, to be known as the state of Israel. . . .

Placing our trust in the “Rock of Israel”, we affix our signatures to this proclamation at this session of the provisional council of state, on the soil of the homeland, in the city of Tel-Aviv, on this Sabbath eve, the 5th day of Iyar, 5708 (14th May, 1948). (Full text of the Declaration)

*

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem—
“May those who love you be at peace!
May there be shalom within your walls—
quietness within your palaces.”
For the sake of my brothers and friends,
I now say: “Shalom be within you.”
For the sake of the House of Adonai our God,
I will seek your good. Psalm 122:6-9 TLV