Messianic Jews in Israel could maintain Jewish practices while believing in Jesus as Messiah, according to a source.

In Israel, Messianic Jews have the opportunity to remain Jewish and live Jewishly, even if they believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Unlike in other countries, they can keep the Sabbath, observe Jewish holidays, eat kosher, and have their sons circumcised. Their Judaism would not be destroyed by their faith in Jesus, but rather preserved and passed on to future generations in a modified form.

This scenario presents a unique possibility, one that has not existed since the second or third century. It envisions Jewish communities that believe in the Messiah Jesus and continue their Jewish traditions, distinguishing them from churches. Such a development would challenge Christian theology and offer a new perspective on Jewish identity and faith.

Messianic Jews are not Jewish Christians. They identify as Jewish, yet they have largely ceased to live Jewishly. Historically, individual Jews who came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah had to abandon Jewish practices and adapt to the lifestyles of non-Jewish Christian communities. Over generations, the memory of their Jewish roots has faded, and they have become part of a church that has increasingly distanced itself from its Jewish heritage.

The baptism of Jews was originally seen as an incorporation into the realm of the Messiah’s power. It later evolved into a transition from one religion to another, which is typically how non-Jews convert to Christianity. When Jews converted, they left Judaism as a way of life and became Christians, effectively leaving the Jewish community behind.

Judaism, as a religion visible in daily practice and not focused on missionary activity, views baptism as a betrayal and an attack. Some rabbis, like Nathan Peter Levinson, have described Jewish missions as a “Holocaust by other means.” Others express similar concerns more subtly, noting that Jewish missions, while starting kindly, often result in the destruction of Judaism itself.

Messianic Jews could remain practicing Jews while believing in Jesus as the Messiah. This would position them as a distinct group within contemporary Judaism, rather than as part of a church. Their existence would be unique, offering a new theological challenge and a potential model for Jewish identity in the modern world.

Source: Read the original report (translated from German)