What is a Messianic Jew?

What the movement is

Messianic Judaism (including groups such as Jews for Jesus) developed mainly in the United States in the second half of the twentieth century. Its congregations use Hebrew terms, celebrate Jewish festivals and often keep some Jewish practices, while holding Christian beliefs about Jesus and the New Testament.

The Jewish view

Jewish communities across the spectrum hold that belief in Jesus as Messiah or as divine is not compatible with Judaism, for the reasons explained in our answer about Jesus: the oneness of God (Deuteronomy 6:4) and the Jewish understanding of the Messiah as a human king whose coming is marked by world peace and the ingathering of the exiles. For that reason, Messianic congregations are not counted as Jewish denominations, and their outreach to Jews is widely seen as missionary activity.

Still Jewish

The Talmud teaches that “an Israelite, even though he has sinned, is still an Israelite”. A person born to a Jewish mother remains Jewish in Jewish law whatever he or she believes, and can always return to Jewish practice and community.

Respect

This is a description of positions, not a judgement of individuals. Many people come to these questions sincerely; a conversation with a rabbi is the best way to explore the Jewish answers.