Messianic Jews, Jews for Jesus - A Bibliography

This is a bibliography put together in December 1996 by Rabbis Roderick Young, David Adelson and Jennifer Krause. It is intended to help people understand, and guard against, the troubling phenomenon of those Jews who leave Judaism by converting to a particular brand of Evangelical Christianity that its adherents call "Messianic Judaism." It is not a definitive bibliography, but is a good beginning for those who want to make a serious study of "Messianic Jews."

 

1. Beiser, Vince, "For the love of Jesus: The Ominous Rise of Messianic Judaism." Jerusalem Report, January 26, 1995

2. Berger, David and Michael Wyschogrod, Jews and 'Jewish Christianity', Hoboken: Ktav, 1978.

3. Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (Conservative Movement), Tshuvot on Synagogue Membership, numbers 090181 and 091481.

4. Cryderman, Lyn, "Who is a Jew?" Christianity Today vol. 34, June 18, 1990.

5. Edelstein, Alan, "Let Us Prey: Jews Who Choose Jesus." Moment August 1994.

6. Feher, Shoshana, Passing Over Easter. Ann Arbor: UMI, 1995.

7. Fischer, John, "Messianic Jews Are Still Jews." Christianity Today vol 26, no. 7, April 1981.

8. Gager, John G., "Jews, Christians and the Dangerous Ones in Between" in Shlomo Biderman and Ben-Ami Scharfstein eds. Interpretation in Religion, Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1992.

9. Harris-Shapiro, Carol, Syncretism or Struggle: The Case of Messianic Judaism. Ann Arbor: UMI, 1992.

10. Hurvitz, Mark & Aron Manheimer, Davka, Vol. II, No. 2, March-April 1972.
We published it with a caveat (and, I almost lost the editorship because of it (the material, not the caveat)... thanks to Richard and others who stood up for us): "Due to the controversial nature of some of the articles contained herein, this issue of DAVKA is copyright 1972."
Partial contents:

  • Adler, Rachel, The Concept of Messiah in Jewish Tradition
  • Mitchell, Elichai & Shira Lindsay, Jews do Believe in Jesus
  • Garber, Zev, The synoptic Jesus: A Jewish Approach
  • Rembaum, Rabbi Joel, A Polemic by Rashi Against Christian Theology
  • Mitchell, Janet B., Going Home
  • Levy, Rabbi Richard N. Passion & Passivity: Three Musical Crucifictions
  • Bruce, Lenny, A Jew (from "The Essential Lenny Bruce")
  • Meltzer, David, YHShWH
  • And my own editorial, which I later put Online explains some of the thought behind the materials published
  • 11. Jones, L. Gregory, et al, ed., Modern Theology, vol 11, no. 2, April 1995.

    12. Juster, Daniel C. and Daniel W. Pawley, "A Messianic Jew Pleads His Case." Christianity Today vol. 26 no. 7, April 24, 1981.

    13. Lipson, Juliene G. Jews For Jesus: An Anthropological Study. New York: AMS Press,1990.

    14. Novak, David, "When Jews become Christians", First Things 17, November 1991.

    15. Rausch, David, Communities in Conflict. Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1991

    16. Rausch, David, Messianic Judaism: Its History, Theology and Polity. Lewiston, NY: The Edward Mellen Press, 1982.

    17. Reform Responsa Committee, #67 "Burial of a 'Messianic Jew'," Sept. 1983

    18. Reform Responsa Committee, #66 "Children of 'Messianic Jews'," July 1984.

    19. Reform Responsa Committee, #150 "Marriage with a 'Messianic Jew'," 1981.

    20. Reform Responsa Committee, #68 "Status of a 'Completed Jew' in the Jewish Community," Sept. 1983.

    21. Rottenberg, Isaac C., Jewish Christians in an Age of Christian-Jewish Dialogue. Published privately. (Donated to HUC Library in 1995).

    22. Sidey, Ken, "Messianic Jews Seek Visibility, Respect." Christianity Today vol. 34, Fall 1990.

    23. Stokes, H. Bruce, Messianic Judaism: Ethnicity in Revitalization. Ann Arbor: UMI, 1994.

    24. Washofsky, Mark, "Why We Reject 'Messianic Jews'," Reform Judaism, Winter 1996.

     

     

    © Rabbis Roderick Young, David Adelson and Jennifer Krause, June 19, 2003

    Published by MemHeh Productions