What is Messianic Judaism?
Dr. Charlie Kluge, Messianic Rabbi
Congregation Gesher Shalom, Orlando Florida

Messianic Judaism is a Biblically–based, end-time, prophetic movement of people born Jewish and not born Jewish who believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Jewish Messiah of Israel of whom the Jewish Law and Prophets spoke. It is a mechanism for fulfilling God’s plan for revival of His people through the outpouring of His Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). Messianic congregations join together believers in Yeshua (those born Jewish and those not born Jewish with a heart of Ruth) as engrafted branches onto the root of Biblical Judaism, serving as a guiding light to the nations and bringing the “Good News” of salvation to the Jew first and to all people.

Many may ask, “How can you be Jewish and believe in Yeshua (Jesus)?” Historical and Biblical evidence demonstrates that following Yeshua was initially an entirely Jewish concept. Two thousand years of persecution, division and theological error have all contributed to this dichotomy that many take for granted today.
Yeshua (Jesus) was a Jew living amongst His Jewish people. He was called by the name “Yeshua” which is the Hebrew word for salvation. He kept Torah, or the Law of Moses. He studied the Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament) and read them aloud at the local synagogue on Shabbat. After His death and resurrection, His following increased. It is believed that hundreds of thousands of Jews followed His teachings and established Messianic Synagogues throughout the Roman Empire and beyond.
Judaism is based upon the Covenant of God through Abraham. God had told Abraham that He would bless all nations of the earth through Abraham’s offspring. The Covenant was then passed on to Isaac and confirmed, again, through Jacob. After wrestling all night with the Angel, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel; meaning one who has prevailed with God. On Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) about 3500 years ago, God gave His government, the Torah (Law, Instruction), to His Jewish people. Christianity is based upon the life, death and resurrection of Messiah (Christ) and, then, on Shavuot (Pentecost) about 2,000 years ago the giving to His people the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). Messianic Judaism is based upon both!
Congregation Gesher Shalom, a Messianic Synagogue, has as its mission to further the revival of the Messianic Jewish Community begun by Yeshua (Jesus) and His disciples in the first century, making disciples as they did in the context of their Jewish identity. We pray for and help bring about revival by teaching people about their Messiah. We desire to be an outreach to the local community, retain our Jewish identity and support Israel.
Gesher Shalom is a place where Jew and Gentile may be nurtured into a loving relationship with God, through Yeshua, by the Ruach HaKodesh and may be fully equipped to fulfill the calling of God. We are a “mishpocha”, a family of God, breaking bread, praising and worshipping God through music, dance and liturgy. The spirit in our congregation is one of being unified, loving, sharing and helping one another. We believe in and exist as “the one new man in Messiah”.