Messianic Judaism is a movement of Jewish congregations committed to Yeshua the Messiah that embrace the covenantal responsibility of Jewish life and identity rooted in Torah, expressed in tradition and renewed and applied in the context of the New Covenant.

A Messianic Jew is one who is born of a Jewish parent or was converted according to Rabbinic standards and is joined by faith to Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel.

There is a wide divergence of beliefs in the Jewish world. The practices of an ultra-Orthodox Jew and a secular Jew are completely different. But both can and often do claim un-dying allegiance to Judaism and the Jewish people. Messianic Jews are no different in this respect. But Messianic Jews do believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of the living God and the mediator between God and man.

Absolutely not. In fact, most Messianic Jews become more Jewishly observant after believing in Yeshua than before. It is true Messianic Jews share with Christians in the belief concerning Yeshua being the Messiah. But we view ourselves as still part of the Jewish world, albeit another branch, comparable to the Conservative or Reformed movements. Many of the congregation's members are involved in various ways with the larger Jewish community.

Tikvat Israel, which means Hope of Israel, is a Messianic Jewish congregation. Messianic Jewish congregations are comprised of Jews who believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah while maintaining Jewish traditions and lifestyle.

No. Jews for Jesus is a Christian organization based in California whose goal is to see Jewish people believe in Yeshua as the Messiah. While Tikvat Israel shares a similar desire, the congregation has no association with Jews for Jesus. Tikvat Israel stands for the proposition that Jews should both believe that Yeshua is the Messiah and then continue to live a Jewish life reflecting that faith.

Yes. We have many guests from various backgrounds who attend our services. We only expect those visiting to honor our observances, such as men wearing a head covering.

No. However, since it is a Jewish congregation, Tikvat Israel's purpose is to attract primarily Jewish people. Gentile spouses of Jews, those with clear Jewish lineage (e.g., a Jewish grandparent) who want to restore their Jewish identity and Gentiles who desire to serve and walk alongside the Jewish people are welcome to apply for membership.

No. Messianic Jewish congregations currently do not provide a means to convert. Messianic congregations are often the ideal setting for inter-married couples because both the Jew and the Christian can find fulfillment without relinquishing identity or beliefs. But since the congregation is a Jewish one, the expectation is that the customs followed by the family will be Jewish as expressed through the Messianic faith.

Basic membership requirements are:

• a) Attending Shabbat services on a regular basis
• b) Attending a home group on a regular basis
• c) Accepting some functional responsibility in the congregation (e.g. building maintenance, nursery, Oneg, etc.)
• d) Tithing (10%) of gross income to the kingdom of God
• e) Attending a multi-week course, called Foundation Series, taught semi-annually by members of the congregation (also available on cassette)

Finally, prospective members must be presented to the congregation. For someone transferring from another congregation, a letter of transfer must be provided (or a reasonable excuse why one cannot be obtained must be provided).

Tikvat offers Hebrew classes and worship dance classes for its children. Additionally, Shabbat School classes are available for children between the ages of 3 and 12. A nursery is also available for younger children. Children are normally dismissed after the Torah reading for these activities. Teenagers are expected to sit through the entire Shabbat service. They have their own group, which meets weekly. Teens are encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities throughout the year. These include field trips, sleep-ins, and theatrical presentations.

Of course. Bar (Son) and Bat (Daughter) Mitzvah (Commandment) is encouraged for all children. This ceremony recognizes the time of life when a boy or girl becomes responsible to follow God and keep the commandments. Children begin to prepare for Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Shabbat School classes. Approximately one year prior to Bar or Bat Mitzvah, children are encouraged to take a special class to learn the traditional Jewish prayers of the synagogue and their Torah portion. Finally, to make Bar or Bat Mitzvah, the child must show achievements in four areas: personal spirituality, assistance in his or her family, service in the congregation, and service in the community.

Hebrew is offered from time to time.

Tikvat Israel is predominately a 'small group' based congregation. The purpose of these 'chavurah' groups is to encourage intimate relationships among the members through sharing meals, prayer, discussion and the application of Scripture to personal problems. It is also a means of outreach to the community. (A list of chavurah groups is on the back of the weekly sermon outline).

Special services and/or events are held for most of the Jewish holidays, e.g., Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost), Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, Succoth (Tabernacles), Chanukah (Feast of Dedication) and Purim (Feast of Lots).

Money is rarely mentioned during service, and no collection plate is ever passed. An offering box is attached to the entrance of the sanctuary for members to deposit their tithes and offerings, much like the days of the Second Temple.

Tikvat Israel has a congregational form of government, with the spiritual leadership residing in a Messianic Rabbi assisted by zakanim (Elders) and shamashim (home group leaders). See Question 22 for more information about home-groups. Congregational meetings are held from time to determine action affecting the congregation as a whole. Tikvat Israel is not a sovereign or independent assembly, but is under the authority of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC).

These are traditional items of Jewish life, history and worship. The shawl is called a tallit, and the small round cap is called a kepah (Hebrew for 'covering') or yarmulke (Yiddish for 'honor the King'). All males worshiping with Tikvat Israel are encouraged to wear one or both of these accessories, but the conscience of each individual is respected in this matter.

Yes, but in a Jewish context. Both practices owe their origins to early Jewish tradition. Baptism by immersion is called mikveh and is usually done in a living body of water, such as a stream or river. We have congregational mikvehs at our annual picnic. Communion originates from the Jewish practice of blessing the wine and bread. This is more fully expressed at the Passover Seder. Communions are encouraged to be part of a family's Shabbat meal on Friday nights. They are occasionally partaken in home groups, and always received as part of the congregation's Passover Seder in the Spring.

Tikvat Israel sponsors a worship dance troupe called the Tikvat Israel Dancers, who perform in public forums. Judah also offers dance classes for anyone wishing to attend.

A bookstore within the synagogue offers musical and teaching tapes, books and other literature, as well as various Jewish paraphernalia. Also a library on the second floor provides extensive reading materials, videos, etc. which can be checked out.

The 'one new man' is a phrase from the New Testament that describes the accessibility to God by Gentiles without the need to become Jewish. In the 1st century either one was Jewish or was a pagan, a believer in the one true God or a polytheist. Many Gentiles saw the reality of the true God through the witness of the Jewish people and often affiliated with synagogues to worship the Lord. However, unless the Gentile converted to Judaism, he could not fully participate in synagogue activities, thereby creating a secondary class of people accompanied by discrimination and insecurity.


In the Book of Acts in the New Testament, God reveals to the Apostle Peter that Gentiles can equally enter in the kingdom of God by believing in Yeshua without the requirement to first become a Jew. The Apostle Paul later explains that God has created a 'one new man' out of Jews and Gentiles, where Jews can remain Jews and Gentiles can remain Gentiles but still be equal before God by their mutual faith in Yeshua as the Messiah. This is particularly important in, for instance, Tikvat Israel's relationship to the church world. Because members of Tikvat Israel believe Yeshua is the Messiah, similar to those in the Church, we can fully fellowship one with another and participate in mutually beneficial activities to bring glory to God and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah. However, this does not mean that Messianic Jews are to relinquish their Jewish identity and traditions.


Gentiles who join Tikvat Israel are joining a Jewish congregation and are expected to similarly honor Jewish tradition and customs. The 'one new man' concept is best seen in a corporate sense with the larger church world, rather than in a single congregational setting, where different practices by different members could create confusion.