Messianic Judaism: A Rabbis Journey Through Religious Change in America

When first published, MESSIANIC JUDAISM stirred controversy throughout the country. The first book to critically examine the role of Messianic Jews in American religious life, it traces the history of this faith that that accepts Jesus as the savior from its late nineteenth-century origin in evangelical Christian missions. Reconstructionist Rabbi Carol Harris-Shapiro bases this portrait on her conversations with members of a large Messianic Jewish community. MESSIANIC JUDAISM adds significant new insights into the nature and varieties of religious experience in United States.

In this ethnography, Harris-Shapiro (Temple Univ.) describes her research into Messianic JudaismAsomething she shows that both Protestantism and Judaism view as taboo. Messianic Judaism wants Jews to complete their faith by accepting Yeshua (Jesus) and for Christianity to return to its Jewish roots. The movement works for people who want to practice both Judaism and ChristianityAsay, intermarried couplesAbut leaves little room for Gentiles. Though the responses to Harris-Shapiro's questions sometimes lack substance, her cogent and lucid writing allows her to present an unbiased academic study of a community's theology. The main value of this book, though, is its explanation of why and how both Christianity and Judaism reject Messianic Judaism. Recommended for academic and larger public libraries where collections support programs in religion, Judaica, or Christian traditions.ANaomi Hafter, Broward Cty. Lib., Fort Lauderdale, FL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.