JEWS FOR JUDAISM - PROTESTING TOO MUCH

Sunday I went on the Walk with Israel sponsored by the UJA. This year, I wanted to be a registered walker and was able to raise $420, which was a larger amount than I had anticipated. I went with a Christian friend of mine, Nelson. The next day I was sore as all get out and realized I need to get in shape (it was only a 7.7 km walk for goodness sake)!

Of course, Jews for Judaism was there as well. There were at least 8 of them by my count, but I think there might have been more, and they shadowed us throughout the parade. They also had a number of people with cameras. I almost felt like a star with my own personal entourage and paparazzi to boot. Throughout the proceeding I couldn't help wondering: if what I believe is nerishkeit (foolishness) as they claim, why all the hoopla? Why eight people or more to cover two guys who want to express their support for Israel (along with the Jewish and Gentile believers who supported me) and are out for a walk? If my message is foolishness, then who cares if people listen to me or not?

It reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend of mine who is a Jewish believer out of the Orthodox Jewish community. She told me that, once, she was reading the book of Isaiah and chapter 53 was entirely missing from the book. When she asked the rabbi why it was missing he gave some less than convincing answer like it was never there, or something like that. Who could believe that Isaiah 53 could be completely expurgated! I have checked with others with an Orthodox background who have confirmed this.

Isaiah 53 is probably the most clear passage of Messiah that could be found anywhere in Scripture, and certainly shows that Jesus fits the bill. I can't imagine that Yeshiva bochers around the world can see Isaiah 53 missing, the one the Christians lift up so highly, and not wonder why? As I say, if our message is nerishkeit, why be worried about it? Why go to all the trouble that the rabbis and other leaders of Judaism go to to prevent the message of the Messiahship of Y'shua to be heard? In the words of Shakespeare, "Methinks [t]he[y] doth protest to much!"

I don't mind Jews for Judaism following me (well, maybe a little bit but not much). Really, they help bring focus to my message, which is to raise the image of Y'shua (Jesus) and the fact that there are Jews who believe in Him. And for those who like to think for themselves the question might arise, "Might there be, with all this attention, something to the message that the most Jewish thing you can do is to believe in Jesus?"

The message of Jews for Judaism is "don't listen!" Our message is just that - a message. We just ask you to listen to the message. Why not consider it, consider the rabbis', and then ask God to show you His truth! After all, it is only His truth that matters. Which message has more integrity, after all?