Posts by Rich Nichol
Messianic Jewish Synagogues: Coping with Covid
Introduction In the first of our three-part Kesher series on Tomorrow Together, Rabbi Elliot Klayman explored how the Jewish community historically has dealt with world-shaking traumatic situations that directly affected the Jewish world. In this second part of our three-part series we will survey how the modern Messianic Jewish congregational movement has adapted to…
Read MoreAt Starbucks with Edith Stein: A Messianic Jewish Leader Interviews the Famous Catholic-Jewish-Scholar-Saint
Edith Stein wasn’t difficult to spot. Let’s just say that most of the people in the Starbucks in Needham, Massachusetts, dressed and comported themselves very differently from this small, slender woman with the dark eyes, covered in a brown wool habit and black veil. She was sitting alone at a table waiting for me. I…
Read MoreThe Unique Place of Gentiles in Messianic Jewish Congregational Life
Despite dramatic differences in theological outlook, leaders of many modern Messianic Jewish congregations share a common conviction that discerning the proper roles for non-Jewish believers in our congregations is a vitally important enterprise. In this paper we will explore the issue both theologically and practically. Part 1 will explore two rather different approaches to the…
Read MoreEli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg’s The Jewish Gospel of John: Discovering Jesus, King of all Israel
Though geared for a Christian audience, the question motivating the author is a deeply Messianic Jewish one. The challenge of the Gospel of John for a Jewish follower of Yeshua is this: if the Fourth Gospel is anti-Semitic, how can any Jew embrace its message? The author reveals to us the existential problem which motivated…
Read MoreResponse to Dr. Vered Hillel’s Paper: Rabbi Rich Nichol
Dr. Vered Hillel is one of my heroes. Rarely have I encountered a person with the demonstrated erudition, work ethic, heart for people, humility, passion for building the Kingdom of God, and sechel that I experience as we work together together at MJTI. So, it is a great joy for me to respond to her…
Read MoreThe Case for Conversion: Welcoming Non-Jews into Messianic Jewish Space
This article is written with my deepest respect to my Messianic Jewish colleagues who, with heart and soul, are seeking to build something beautiful-modern Messianic Judaism. I also hope these thoughts will be a blessing for many in our synagogues who wonder about the many issues raised in this piece. The passing of time…
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