A Large Crowd Surrounded and Closed in on Me

A Large Crowd Surrounded and Closed in on Me

A Large Crowd Surrounded and Closed in on Me At a recent Israel Festival, I was standing in front of the Jews for Judaism booth answering people’s questions. Then it happened. A missionary and his friends challenged my beliefs. They wanted to know how I could get rid of my sins since the Temple was destroyed and we can no longer bring sacrifices. They believed Leviticus 17:11 says, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no atonement for sin,” and I am condemned to eternal damnation unless I
Torah portion Shelach sacrifice
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
My Encounter with Bob Marley and the Riots

My Encounter with Bob Marley and the Riots

My Encounter with Bob Marley and the Riots The first Rastafarian I encountered was Bob Marley, and I was mesmerized by his long dreadlocks. As I looked at his picture, my mind wandered to Samson with his long hair. Samson is one of the most well know biblical figures, perhaps because of his legendary strength. Although Samson took a Nazarite vow to abstain from wine, contact with impurity, and cutting his hair, he understood that his strength did not come from his hair. It came from God’s bl
Torah portion Naso Nazir
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Stop the Slander Against the Jewish People

Stop the Slander Against the Jewish People

12 This weekend Jews around the world will celebrate the holiday of Shavuos commemorating the giving of the Torah. It is customary to learn Torah insights to enhance our appreciation of the wisdom of Judaism and how it is relevant to our lives. While Jews are celebrating, unscrupulous missionaries are spreading a damaging conspiracy theory against Jews and Judaism. Missionaries falsely proclaim the rabbis have intentionally forbidden the reading of a select chapter from the bo
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
The Israeli Missionary Tried to Mislead Me

The Israeli Missionary Tried to Mislead Me

Israel is Ground Zero for missionary activity targeting Jews for conversion; no wonder they are broadcasting the Gospel into Israeli homes on Israeli cable TV. On a trip to Israel, my wife and I rented an apartment in Jerusalem.  One evening we took a walk and encountered an Israeli who had accepted Christianity. He asserted that he was still Jewish and then asked me, “what’s wrong with believing in the Jewish messiah?” I have heard this setup question before because missionaries are trained to
Torah portion Bamidbar idolatry
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
She Cried When He Screamed, “You’re Not a Jew Anymore”

She Cried When He Screamed, “You’re Not a Jew Anymore”

Before the internet, missionaries shared their message predominantly on street corners and public places. Years ago, I went to the Hollywood Bowl to hear violinist Itzhak Perlman and encountered a Jew for Jesus handing out literature. I stopped for a few minutes to engage her in conversation. When someone screamed at her, “you’re not a Jew anymore.” I saw how hurt she was. Is there any truth to this statement? Doesn’t the Talmud say, “even though the Jewish people have sinned they are still c
Torah Reading Behar-Bechukosai Servant and child of God
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Eye-Opening Debate in Jerusalem

Eye-Opening Debate in Jerusalem

Eye-Opening Debate in Jerusalem Not long ago, I befriended Mark, a young Jewish college student who was influenced by his roommate to convert to Christianity. Together they attended Christian rock concerts and Bible studies. Without a strong foundation in Judaism, Mark was swayed by the biblical “proof-texts” that a Christian youth pastor pointed out to him. Mark’s sister contacted me about her brother, and eventually, the three of us were sitting at a table in a kosher restaurant, engaged in
Torah portion Vayishlach shechem
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
She Went to Pray and Ended Up Crying

She Went to Pray and Ended Up Crying

She Went to Pray and Ended Up Crying Although her highly educated parents were secular, Karen always knew she was Jewish. Growing up in Brooklyn, it seemed like everyone was. An uncomfortable experience with an overzealous religious Jew shattered any thoughts of exploring her religious heritage. However, a chance encounter with a Jew for Jesus seemed like the correct path, and for 30 years, she considered herself more Jewish than the Orthodox Jews from her old neighborhood. While attended a
Acharei Mos Leviticus 17:11
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
His Decision Was Driven By Compassion

His Decision Was Driven By Compassion

Heartwarming stories have surfaced during the current pandemic. Salutes to first responders and volunteers providing medical aid and food to those in need have touched my heart. There is also a flip side. Price gauging, fights, and racist rants reveal an ugly side of our society. A valuable lesson in this week’s Torah portion Tazria-Metzora  (Leviticus 12:1–15:33), can help us navigate these confusing times. If an individual is afflicted with white patches on their skin, only a Kohen (priest
Tazria-Metzora Kohanim
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz