Messianic on Israeli TV: English Transcript

In the last weekly bracha, I noted an Israeli Messianic Jewish leader was interviewed on prime time Israeli television. Jewish anti-missionaries lobbied the Israeli government and media to prevent the broadcast, but the broadcast went on as planned.

The above broadcast is in Hebrew, but I’ve made available the full English transcript below.

The transcript was originally published by a Jewish anti-missionary group, but they promptly took it down. As you’ll see, the interview shows Messianics as we really are, not as the demons we’re portrayed to be via anti-missionary FUD.

Thanks to the power of the caching web, I’ve resurrected the transcript here for your viewing pleasure:

Are you Jewish?
Yes, definitely.

Do you know how to daven?
For sure. I put on tefillin, everything.

Do you fulfill all the commandments in the Torah?
Yes.

Only the Torah commandments?
Yes. We have a different style from the religious and the chareidim. With us, there is no coercion. There is more freedom.

Before we speak about freedom, to what are you obligated as a Messianic Jew?
I'll tell you the truth, I'm not obligated. We love. We want our learning, and love our traditions. We are a part of the [Jewish] people, and live among the people.

When you make kiddush on wine on Shabbat, what do you say?
We say borei pri hagefen, but we don't say "who commanded us." We distinguished between commandments from the Torah and those that were added. It's simply in the heart. We don't just believe in the prayers in the siddur, but in free prayer.

When you make a bracha on wine, do you see a continuation of the wine of Jesus?
Wine and bread is a symbol. It comes from the Paschal Lamb and in place of sacrifices and blood. This is true in Christianity and in Judaism.

You didn't answer my question.
I'll get to it. The bread and wine is a symbol of the messiah, who is our sacrifice.

I'm not sure that I agree with you as far as your understanding of sacrifices, but let's continue. The service you see with wine, which you drink, is a continuation of the blood of Jesus? Do you say prayers in this regard?
Yes. Borei pri hagefen on the wine, and hamotzi on the bread. We're giving thanks and this gives forgiveness for our sins.

You've got a problem with the way you relate to wine as a continuation of the blood of Jesus. This reminds me of idol worship. There's a little avoda zara [that is, idolatry] here.
It depends on how you look at the Torah and the prophets. We see someone who died on Kiddush Hashem. There is holiness in this; there is no power in the wine and bread.

So you believe in Jesus as the messiah. How does this find expression?
Our faith firstly finds expression in values of love and faith and integrity and generosity. Our emphasis is on values, not on Halachah.

So you're wiping out 2,500 years of history?
I would say that the students of Jesus are our model.

You are in essence like the Karaites?
We keep tradition.

Only the chareidim attack you, not the knitted-kippa-wearers?
Not really. I daven at a minyan of national religious, but they don't know I'm messianic. If they would know they'd throw me out.

If you come to the most simple shul where people are davening mincha and tell them that you are a messianic Jew, what will they tell you?
There are many people who are interested in engaging in dialogue with us. We aren't Christians. We're Jews.

You are a group of 15,000 and you head one of the congregations. How many congregations are there?
Around 100, in Israel.

I understand that you're supported by Christians?
We receive money from non-profit associations. A lot comes from abroad, from messianic Jews and also from Christians who love Jews.

Is your status in the country like that of all citizens or do you have problems?
There are problems in the Interior Ministry because of the influence of the chareidim. I want to say that Israeli society is not what it was 20 years ago. Today, they recognize us more. For instance, if we want to rent an apartment, they'll give it to us gladly. They recognize our values, that we pay taxes, serve in the army. We say judge us according to our deeds.