Part One: Tikkun Olam

Our 2007 UMJC Shavuot offering was dedicated to Tikkun Olam-World Restoration-specifically humanitarian ef­forts in Israel coordinated by the Messianic community. In October, UMJC president Jamie Cowen and I were in Israel, where we saw some of these efforts first-hand.

Feeding program in Jerusalem

A Netivyah volunteer and I schmooze with a food recipient in Jerusalem.

Elderly Holocaust Survivors

One of the most amazing stories of recent times has been the return of over one million Jewish people from the former Soviet Union to Israel. A few years earlier, another, smaller, but equally amazing return took place as tens of thousands of Jews returned from exile in Ethiopia. Today these two groups are home, but their story is far from over.

75,000 elderly Holocaust survivors, mostly from the former Soviet Union, struggle each day to obtain food, medication, and other necessities. Until recently, this group was largely forgotten, but a coalition of ministries and agencies has formed to raise awareness and provide immediate help. A key player in the coalition is Chevra International, with which the UMJC is linked through our affiliated organization Chevra USA, another Shavuot offering recipient.

Jamie Cowen with an elderly Holocaust survivor.

The social worker explains that their story is typical. The couple managed on their minimal income until new challenges arrived, and now they just don't have the reserves to meet them. We were able to tell them that help-including a new bed-was on the way, and to leave some money for immediate needs.

Coalition volunteers work with municipalities and social agencies throughout Israel to identify the neediest individuals and get resources to them. The coalition does not need buildings and offices, but keeps a low profile and channels funds directly where they are needed. This approach not only minimizes overhead, but also brings Messianic Jews and other believers together with workers who are not believers in Yeshua, letting our light in the public arena.

Ethiopian Israelis

Like the Jews of Eastern Europe, Ethiopian Jews received tremendous support and publicity as they sought to return to Israel from the land of their exile. And they, too, continue to need help. The UMJC is involved with this group as well, with the SMILE project, an effort launched by our sisterhood to provide dental care resources to them.

Near Haifa, I met with our SMILE contact, Avishalom [on the left], and Fekadu, another Ethiopian Israeli [on the right] who manages a non-profit agency providing health care and education to his people. The 120,000 Ethiopians in Israel face tremendous challenges in their transition from a largely rural, undeveloped country to the hectic pace of modern Israel. They are a people left behind, so our extended hand has real impact.

As with the Holocaust survivors project, our goal is not to create some new program or facility, but to work with existing agencies to help in the most efficient way possible. All of these efforts are acts of Tikkun Olam, reflecting the power and compassion of Messiah himself in undeniable ways. The UMJC, with help from friends and supporters like you, intends to remain involved in these worthy projects. Because they are coordinated by the Messianic community, they not only meet very real needs, but also help to enhance the reputation of Yeshua and his followers in the land of Israel.

To help these Israelis in their time of need, click on the Donate icon above, and send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  letting us know your gift is for Israel. You may also donate by check to UMJC, 529 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, or charge card at 1.800.692.8652.

Part Two: Half empty, half full

On my first Erev Shabbat in Israel, I had the opportunity to speak at the services of Even Israel in Jerusalem, a Russian Messianic Jewish congregation led by Victor Blum. A few days later, I was shocked to learn that the place where we had met, which is shared with a few other groups, had been hit by an arson attack. Victor wrote: "The most unexpected gift from above was the attitude of Israelis. Secular and religious people from near and far came and called to condemn this act of vandalism and support us. Even rabbis of the neighboring synagogues called us expressing their solidarity and comfort. One of them even offered to have our meetings-can you imagine?-in their synagogue. Yesterday, I was sitting in my office when the door opened and our elder introduced to me an Israeli gentleman in his late sixties who had come from afar to tell us that he is so sorry for what happened. He said that many Israelis in different parts of the Land are ashamed because ‘we now do the same as others did to us for centuries-burning down our synagogues.' It is incredible what the Almighty did in his heart and in the hearts of the others!" 

This story captures the current position of the Messianic community in Israel, and you can decide whether the cup is half empty or half full. Opposition, harassment, and worse still threaten the community, particularly in Beersheva and Arad in recent years. There is also a push-back against Evangelicals. Just last month, the chief rabbinate in Israel ruled that Jews should not participate in the Feast of Tabernacles event sponsored for the past 27 years by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem. We have even encountered opposition by so-called anti-missionaries against our 2008 conference in Israel.

I see all this resistance as a last-ditch effort. The future is with greater  influence for the Messianic Jewish community in Israel (as well as worldwide). Even now, there are signs of mainstream Israeli sympathy for Messianics, perhaps in reaction to Orthodox opposition, including UMJC and MJAA connections with significant political figures. Growing numbers of Israelis look at Messianic Jews as a minority unfairly picked on by some agencies and some Orthodox groups. This increasing good will is directly linked to Messianic Jewish humanitarian efforts, as well as to the fact that Messianic Jews are not going away, but are increasing their numbers in Israel and their involvement in all aspects of Israeli life, especially including military service. I believe this is the future in Israel, and that we also will see similar openness, coupled with targeted opposition, in the Diaspora.

The bottom line: now is the time to strengthen our support for Israel and for its Messianic community. So, the time is right for next year's tour and conference. Jamie and I met with Israeli leaders who are helping us plan and promote this event. [Right to left, David Lazarus, Eitan Shishkoff, Jamie Cowen, David Katz, Seth ben Haim, Andrey Gelbet, and me. Daphna Sadan and Martha Stern are also on the committee.] Israelis are really glad we are coming and are helping ensure that we connect deeply with them, their history, and their efforts in the land today. Even if you've been to Israel many times, the tour and conference have much to offer-including the opportunity for hands-on humanitarian work with efforts like those I've described. I hope to see you next year in Jerusalem!

Russ Resnik, Executive Director

To support UMJC efforts in Israel and around the world, click on the Donate icon above, or donate by check to UMJC, 529 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, or charge card at 1.800.692.8652.

Melech Israel Reaches Out on Long Island

Melech Israel in Syosset, Long Island, NY, has been part of the UMJC Planters Program since 2004. Melech has built its outreach on informal small groups that focus on events or issues of interest to the wider Jewish community. Currently, groups are exploring the biblical theme of Tikkun Olam, or restoration (see Acts 3:18); first a restored relationship with God, and then with the world around them. In addition to Bible study, eight members formed a team to participate in a walk in Manhattan raising money for breast cancer research. Other groups are participating in construction projects with Habitat for Humanity.

In both cases, half the group members are Jewish people who have not yet met the Messiah. Melech Israel leader Kiel Cooper notes that Tikkun Olam humanitarian projects resonate with the local Jewish community, and help congregants rub shoulders with Jewish people in real issues and genuine relationships, showing the relevance of faith in Yeshua first-hand. 

Congratulations . . .

Two UMJC member congregations recently escorted their Torah scrolls into new facilities. Mazel tov to Congregation Beth Messiah, Houston, [left] and, during Sukkot, Beth Messiah, Columbus, OH, where leader Howard Silverman [below]  said, "This is the culmination of years of God's faithfulness toward us and of our following him. And at the same time it's the beginning of a new chapter in growth and opportunity for ministry."

Sha'arei Shalom congregation in Raleigh-Durham, NC successfully completed the UMJC Planters Program at the end of September. This vibrant congregation averagesnearly 100 in regular attendance, with lots of younger people and career families. They are now financially self-sustaining and beginning the process of acquiring their own building. Planters chairman Ron Aaronson says, "Congratulations to Sha'arei Shalom and its leadership couple Seth and Rachel Klayman for a job well done."

Come Home Again: Honoring the Past-Embracing the Future

Join a two-week tour of Israel, June 22-July 4, combined with the annual UMJC conference, June 26-28, 2008.

The theme of the tour and conference, "Come Home Again: Honoring the Past-Embracing the Future," reminds us that Israel represents our past, our biblical legacy, the "home" that we want to honor, and also our future, the place of messianic hope and fulfillment. Throughout the conference we will hear from both veteran Israeli leaders, and young, future leaders in the land. The conference also offers three intensive teaching tracks, including one on history and archaeology, particularly as they relate to the life of Yeshua and the early Messianic community in Israel.

During the tour itself, we will hear from Israeli Messianics in various locations sharing their history in the land and their vision for the future. Whether you have been to Israel many times, or never before, this tour is for you, with its Messianic Jewish perspective, the option to spend several days in volunteer work, and an amazing opportunity for a Messianic Jewish group to have a positive impact in Israel. You have a part to play-don't miss out on the journey of a lifetime!