Torah portion Beshalach
Confronting Anti-Semitism on Campus I have encountered street preachers who share the gospel on college campuses. Once, I witnessed a preacher who attracted a large crowd of students by spewing insults and condemnation at professors, women, and other minorities. A crowd of students gathered to heckle the preacher. He
Torah portion Yisro
Missionaries Masquerade In The Guise Of Judaism As part of Jews for Judaism’s outreach efforts, we visit messianic conferences held by groups such as the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations and Jews for Jesus. On one occasion in New Mexico, my colleague, Rabbi Michael Skobac, and I checked into
Torah portion Terumah
Why I Refused to Turn the Other Cheek When I receive anti-Semitic emails, I immediately delete them. However, while staffing a Jewish information table on a college campus, I was the victim of a verbal anti-Semitic outburst that turned violent. This individual, who disliked Jews, attempted to punch
blood atonement
I Made It Clear: I’m Not Going to Hell One afternoon, while watching my grandchildren at the park, I was approached by a young Christian woman. She noticed that I was Jewish and asked if I offered animal sacrifices as described in the Bible. I explained that sacrifices were
Torah portion Vayakhel-Pekudei
Enlightening the Minister Who Said Jews Are Blind Shortly after moving to California, I was contacted by Herb, an older Jewish man whom a Baptist minister had befriended. Herb invited the minister to his home to speak with his friends and family, and he asked me to present the Jewish
Torah portion Vayikra
Demystifying the Paradox of Animal Sacrifices I often recall the stories my father and grandfather told me about fighting in the World Wars. Their experiences taught me that “sacrifice” means the willingness to put your life on the line to help others. To this day, I adhere to this belief
Torah portion Shemini
The Jewish Soldier Who Refused to Kneel to The Pope This coming Shabbat marks the Yahrzeit (anniversary of the passing) of my father Moshe Kravitz (Moshe ben Avraham), of blessed memory. He was born in 1921 and passed away in 1988 on the 24th of Nisan 5748. My father cherished
Israeli Missionaries Distort a Rabbi’s Words When we were expecting our first child, my wife and I were ecstatic. Our joy turned to concern when my wife went into labor ten weeks before her due date. After checking with our doctor, we rushed to the emergency room. For 24
Torah portion Acharei Mos
She Cried When He Said Her Parents Are in Hell Sarah grew up in Brooklyn, surrounded by Jewish friends and family. Her parents were highly educated, and, although the family was not religious, they were proud Jews. When Sarah encountered a Jew who believed in Jesus, she was skeptical at
Torah portion Emor
If Rabbis Can Marry Why Can’t Priests? When I was in high school, “Coffee Houses” were popular, but they were not a cafe, and they weren’t even about coffee. They were social gatherings where young people would talk, enjoy music, and stay out of trouble. The first coffee
Torah portion Behar-Bechukosai
He Screamed, “You’re Not a Jew Anymore!” A number of years ago, I went to the Hollywood Bowl to hear violinist Itzhak Perlman. Walking from the parking lot to my seat, I heard someone nearby scream, “You’re not a Jew anymore!” I looked around and discovered the recipient
Torah portion Bamidbar
An Israeli “Messianic Jew” Discovers Real Truth On a hot summer day in Jerusalem, I noticed a young man wearing a t-shirt with the Hebrew words [יהודי משיחי] in bright letters. These words are pronounced “Yehudi Meshichi” and mean “Messianic Jew”; that is, a Jewish believer in Christianity. I
Jews for Judaism offers individual and group sessions with people who are searching for spiritual meaning, dating an individual who is of another faith or thinking about converting to another faith.
Join