Messianic Jews and ‘Judaizing’ Christians - notes from Brazil and Israel

DavidLehmann

December2013

SomethingishappeningintheworldofevangelicalChristianitywhichmayheraldfurtherrupturesintheboundariesdividinggreatreligioustraditions–andasusualthechangeiscomingfrombelow,isunderminingevenquiterecentlyestablishedacademicclassifications,andcutsacrossgeographicandculturaldividesinunforeseenways.Irefertothemultiplicityofcriss-crossingventurescombiningthemesfromJewishliturgy,ideasfromJewishhistory,Jewishartefactsandsymbols,thesacredstatusofthelandwheretheeventsoftheBibletookplace,andmuchrelatedlanguageandimagery,withevangelicalideasaboutthereturnoftheMessiahandtheendofdays,abouttheimplicationsofrecognizinginnewwaystheJewishidentityofJesus,andtheeschatologicalsignificanceoftheStateofIsrael.Andthatisonlyforstarters-ashortlistoftheelementswhichareassembledindifferentpermutationsandcombinationsandwhichsofarwouldbeveryhardtofitintoapatternsavethisone:thecontinuingerosionofreligiousauthorityacrossmostcountriessavethoseinwhichreligionisinthegripofthestate–orviceversa–andtheadherencetotheBibleoverandbeyondanyparticularreligioustradition,andallpost-Biblicalcommentaryandelaboration.Thesesubjectshavebeentalkedaboutagreatdealinjournalisticandpoliticalcommentformanyyears,butthetalkhasbeenmostlyfocusedontheUnitedStatesandonthepoliticalsupportforIsraeldirectlyandintheCongresscomingfromevangelicalchurcheswhoaresaidtobelievethatsupportingIsraelwillsomehowhastenthereturnoftheMessiahortheendofdaysandsoon.Iamnotconcernedwithsuchpoliticalmatters,orindeedwiththeUnitedStates.Myinterestistoconveyasenseofgrassroots-drivenactivitieswhichassembledifferentstrandsofJudaismandJewishreligiouspracticeandcombinethemwithevangelicalstyleandethos.MyobservationscomefromBrazil,fromjoiningBrazilianevangelicaltravellerstoIsrael,andfromobservingmessianiccongregationsinIsrael,andthelinksintoglobalnetworksoflike-mindedpeopleareevident.

Cases:

1. Congregação Har Sião in Belo Horizonte InBeloHorizonte(pop.2.4million)onaSabbathmorningyoucangotothe‘official’synagogueofthesmallJewishCommunityandifyouareluckyyouwillfindtenmengatheredtosaytheirShabbatprayers.If,however,yougototheCongregaçaoHarSiao1-theMountZionCongregation–neartothevastMineiraofootballstadium,youwillfind,asIdidinOctober2013,some300peopleassembledinaservicewhichinmanywaysisamimicoracopyofafairlyorthodoxJewishservice:themenwearskullcapsandprayershawls(talletim,sing.tallit),theprayerbook,issuedwithPortuguesetranslationandtransliteration,bytheNetivyahBibleInstructionMinistrybasedinJerusalem,isanabbreviatedversionoftheoriginalwithexcerptsfromstandardJewishliturgy,thetunesaredrawnfromtheAshkenazitradition.ThebuildingisprotectedbyawallwhichlookslikeanimitationofthestoneworkofJerusalemandturnsouttobeintendedassuch.ThiscongregationfiguresprominentlyonthewebsiteofNetivyah.TheTorahscrollsareauthentic,oneofthemboughtinIsraelbutoriginatinginIraq,andtheyarecarriedaroundthehallasinastandardJewishservice,beforethereadinginHebrewandPortuguese.OnthedayIwasthereayoungmanreadfromtheTorah:hemadesomemistakes,butnomorethanoneoftenhearswheninexperiencedpeoplereadin‘mainstream’synagogues.Hedidnotreadthewholeoftheweek’sparashah2,butthenagainneitherdomanyReformandLiberal(andother)synagogues.AsinReformsynagogues,theparashaisalsoreadinthevernacular.TheKedushah–asetofchantedresponseswhichappearsintherecitationofthe18blessings(the‘Amidah’)inmorningservices-issungtothesametunesandwiththesamepatternofresponsesasinmanyOrthodoxsynagogues.(BeloHorizonteHarSion.LikewisewhenitcomestoopeningthearkwheretheTorahscrollsarekept(minute30).ThenameYeshua(Jesus)isinsertedatcertainpoints.Thustheopeningsentence–OLordopenthoughourlipsandourmouthshalldeclarethypraise’(Psalm51:17)becomes‘…andourmouthshalldeclareJesus’.Thereweremanydifferences,tobesure:theblessingofthecohanim(priests–thatismenwhoaredescendedfromcohanim,thoughitisnotaconditionforwhichthereisanyrequiredcertification,anditdoesnotbringanyspecialprivilegesinJewishcommunitiessavethatofbeingcalledupfirsttotheweekly

1http://ensinandodesiao.org.br/congregacao-har-tzion/2TextualportionfromthePentateuch,whichisreadinasequentialannualcycleinallsynagogues,inportionsfixedsincetimeimmemorial.

readingfromtheTorahscroll)wasperformedbyallthegrownmenpresent,withtheirsonsanddaughtersnexttothem,tallitovertheirheads.Since–withtwoexceptionsonthisoccasion–theyareallnewtoJewishnessofanykind,thetitleofcohenishardlyaccessible.Womenandmensittogether.Therearefeaturesoftheservice,however,whichareunmistakablyevangelical.Oneistherelationshipofthecongregationtotheleader,characterizedbyoscillationsbetweenfriendlinessandhumourandleapsofincantationandrousingoratoryandmoralexhortation,andanotheristhepatienceofthecongregationinlisteningtohim:hisaddresslaststwiceaslongastheentireliturgicalpartoftheservice.Inaconventionalsynagoguesuchlongwindednesswouldnotbetolerated.Heintersperseshisaddresswiththecalltothemtorepeat‘Amen’:‘Amen,gente!’–andtheyreply‘Amen!’Whereanevangelicalpreacherwouldpronounce‘InthenameofJesus’–‘EmnomedeJesus’–Marcelosays‘EnnomedeYeshua’–theHebrewnameforJesus.Theinterplaybetweentheleaderandthecongregationisstandardevangélico.Thereisalsoapausewhenthemembersofthecongregationarecalledtocometothefrontanddeposittheirdízimo–theirtithe–inacollectionbox:boththewordandtheprocedurearethesameasinPentecostalservices.TransliterationsofHebrewareprojectedontoscreenandasmalltrioofpercussionandwindaccompaniesthesingingandprayingthroughout.TheleaderofthecongregationisMarceloGuimaraes,aretiredengineerwithacareerinaleadingGermancorporation,whoalsousedtobeaPentecostalpastoratavastchurchinBeloHorizonte–theIgrejadaLagoinha.ButhebegantobecuriousaboutJesusasaJewandalsoabouthisownorigins.HesaysheinitiallyjoinedtheJewishcommunitybutlaterdistancedhimselffromthem.Hedoesnotexplainthereasons,buthemaywellhavebeencontinuinghisvocationofleadershipacquiredasanevangelicalpastor.Inanycase,hehasbeentwiceordainedinthemessianicstream,andoneofthesewasbytheUS-basedUnionofMessianicHebrewCongregations.Earlyonhecapturedtheconjoiningofethnicandbelief-basedidentitieswhichisdistinctivetoJudaism.HeusedtogotoGermanythreeorfourtimesayearonbusiness(theNetivyahwebsitedescribeshimasa‘formerCEOofaGermancompany’butthisisanexaggeration–heworkedforMannesmanntheengineeringcompany)andtwentyyearsagohetooktostoppingoverinPortugalinsearchofhisancestryandhewenttotheTorredoTomboNationalArchiveinLisbonwheretherearedocumentsfrom40,000Inquisitiontrialsand,accordingtoitswebsite,birthrecordsfrom1563–thoughhehimselfsayshisfamilycamefromPortugalduringtheMinasGeraisgoldrush(‘ciclodeouro’)inthe18thcentury.Inthisattachmenttocenturies-oldJewishrootsMarceloisfarfromalone.ThereisaverywidespreadbeliefamongBraziliansthattheyaredescendedfromJewswhocameoverfromPortugalintheearlycolonialperiodfleeingfromorhidingfromtheInquisition,andthishasbecomeauniquelyBrazilianadditiontoMessianism,sinceitplacesBraziliansinaseparatecategoryfromothermessianicswhodonotclaimtobeJewish.MarceloexplainsthatPedroAlvaresCabral,whofirstestablishedPortuguesesovereigntyinBrazil,wasacrypto-Jew–

likehisownfamily-practisedhisreligionsecretly,andhesaystheJewswhoarrivedinBrazilpracticedcousinmarriage,whichhebelievestobetypicallyJewish.(ItmaybehiswayofalludingtoJewishendogamy.)Marcelorecountshowdespitehissecularizedbackground,hisparentsspokeoftheirJewishancestorsandkeptcertaintraditionsofdress,observedlawsofmourning,ofhavingabathontheSabbath,followingtheJewishtraditionofmourning,3andwouldsetasidepartoftheharvestforthepoor.Laughing,hesayshisgrandmotherwouldsweepthehousestartingoutsidesoas‘naojogarprosperidadefora’–soasnottosweepwellbeing,orprosperity,outofthedoor–andremarksthatthisisaSephardicustom.IhaveheardsimilarstoriesfromothersinBrazil,aboutparentsorauntsorgrandmotherswhowouldneverdotheirshoppingonSaturday,whoalwayscleanedthehouseonFridayandevenonewhosaidhisauntusedtotouchtheupperpartofadoorpostasshewalkedintoaroomasiftouchingthemezuzahintheJewishcustom.(Notetheprominenceofwomenasbearersofthesetraditions.)ThissenseofheritageanddescentisperhapstheforemostelementamongBrazilianmessianics:theyareautomaticallyqualifiedbecausethisnotionhasspreadamongtheBrazilianpopulationforseveraldecadesnow.ItprovidesabasisonwhichdifferentgroupsadoptJewishcustomsandrulesaccordingtonodiscerniblepattern.CarlosGutierrez’researchinSaoPauloforexampledescribedanex-pastorinthelowermiddleclasseastofthecitywhorequiresthathisfollowerskeepkosherandnottravelbycarontheSabbath,andfoundareligiouslyqualifiedpersontoperformcircumcision(Gutierrez2011).Marcelosaysthattherearesome15Jewishfamiliesinhiscongregation–thatis,peoplewhohavebeenbroughtupJewish,plusanussim,someofwhomhaveproofoftheirJewishancestry.ButtheyalllovetheJewishpeople,theyloveIsraelandtheywanttolearnTorah.Marcelo’saddresssoundsasifitisdrawnfromamixtureofsourcesandalsofromhisownthoughts.Heinsists–asmanymessianicsdo–onthespecialapocalypticormillenarianstatusofthelandofIsrael–nottheJewishpeopleortheJewishreligion,buttheland.ThisiswheretheMessiahcame–hedidnotcomeanywhereelse.Inanothercontext,inIsraelitself,Brazilianevangelicalsonastudytourtellme:GodiseverywherebutyetthisiswheretheMessiahcame,orthisiswherehesenthisson.‘Marceloagain:ThereisnodifferencebetweenJewsandothers,butIsraelisdifferent:becauseJesuswillreturnthereandnowhereelse.’OntheSundaymorning,asonthethirdSundayofeverymonth,agroupgathersatBeloHorizonte’stinyPraçaEstadodeIsrael(StateofIsraelSquare)highabovethecitycentre,toprayforIsrael.Theystandinacircleandrecitethirtyquotationsandblessings,allwithoneexceptionfromtheProphetsandPaul’sletters.ThesupportforIsraelisnotframedinacombativegeopolitical

3Hementionedsittingshivaforsevendaysandhealsomentionedyahrzeit-theannualdayofmourningontheanniversaryofaparent’sorcloserelative’sdeath.Duringshiva,dependingonparticulartraditions,oneisexpectedtostayathome,sitonlowchairsandsoon.Ontheseventhdaythemournersrevisittheburialplaceofthedeceased.

languagethoughMarcelohimselfiswellinformedaboutsomeoftheinsandoutsofIsraelilifeandpolitics.Hesayshedoesnotacceptthetitleofrabbiwhichsomeofhisfollowersusetorefertohim,butheistheundisputedleaderandinthePrefacetotheprayerbookhesignshimself‘RabinoMesianico’.HeexplainsthatheleftthechurchwhenhecametotermswiththefactthatJesuswasaJewandthebeliefthattheMessiahwillreturntoJerusalemasprophesiedintheBookofRevelation–aprophecycherishedbymostMessianics.IfJesuswasaJewthentheproperliturgyforhisfollowersistheJewishliturgy.Butthereismore,namelytheattachmenttotheLandofIsraelandtotheStateofIsrael.ForMessianicstheattachmenttothelandisextremelyimportant.WhenIdiscussthiswiththemtheydonotnecessarilymentiontheideaofa‘Promised’land,butturnrathertotheconcrete–‘thatiswhereitallhappened’.SoMarcelotravelsfrequentlytoIsraelandmeetswithhiscolleaguesorcontactsintheNetivyahMinistry,andhetakesgroupswithhiminwhatBrazilianevangelicalsallcall‘caravanas’.Hisson,whohasadegreeintheologyfromtheDallasTheologicalSeminary4,hasbeenstudyingforaMastersinJewishStudiesattheHebrewUniversityinJerusalemandthefatherreckonshewilleventuallysettleinIsrael.WhenIaskhowhecansortoutthelegalitiesofsuchastepherepliesthattheyhavelawyersworkingonthecase.Itwouldbeamistaketotryandforcethenumerousstatements,expectations,historiesandexhortationswhichonehearsfromMarceloorfromtheotherpreachersIhaveheardinthesecongregationsintoacoherentsetofviews.Itwouldbepreferabletothinkofthemascallingupasetofsympathiesandsensibilitieswhileatthesametimetryingtoforge,ifnotanidentity,thenastrandwithintheevangelicalfield.ThuswhileMarcelowasclaimingJewishancestryhealsowasanxious,itseemedtodrawaline:

‘TheJewwhorecognizesJesusremainsaJew,andtheGentilewhorecognizesJesusremainsagentile.GentilesandJewsareequal–theyarecutfromthesameroot(ceiba)’

SodespitethestrongidentificationasdescendantsofthesecretJewsorforcedconverts–knownasanussim,meaning‘thosewhohavebeenforced’-theyarenotJewish,theyareMessianic,thoughtheyprayinasynagoguesayingthesameprayerswhichJesussaid.Asamongevangelicals,theinterpretationofBiblicalstoriesisquitefree.ForMarcelo,eversinceAbrahamGodhasappearedtomentoannouncetheirredemption.OneofthethreemenwhoappearedtoAbrahamwassilentyetAbrahambowedbeforehim:hethinksthismusthavebeenaprefiguringofJesusbecauseitisforbiddentobowbeforeanangel.InhisaddresshealsodwellsonthestoryofLot–whichfiguresinthisweek’sTorahportion-andtellshis

4http://www.dts.edu

Commented [DL1]: NeedsmoreaboutTribulations,BookofDanieletc.

listenersthatLot’swifewasturnedintoapillarofsalt(Genesis,19)becauseshelookedbackinnostalgia,notjustoutofcuriosity–thatis,shewasstillattachedtothelifeofdebaucheryinSodom.MarcelohastakenhisespousalofJudaismintothethemeofpersecutionandanti-semitismbybuildingasmallMuseumoftheInquisition.5Itiswellorganizedwithdisplaycases,quiteanumberoforiginalbooksinHebrewandaboutjewish-PortugueseorBrazilianmattersandTorahscrollswhichhehasobtainedinhistravels,andalsoareproductionoftheInquisition’sinstrumentsoftorture.Itseducationalpurposeisaugmentedbyaudio-visualaids.Itisestablishedasanon-profitfoundationandhasthesupportofvariousJewishdignitariesandalsoofProfessorAnitaNovinskyoftheUniversityofSaoPaulowhohasbeenthepioneerofthehistoryofcristaosnovos(NewChristians)inBrazil.ThesponsorisABRADJIN–AssociaçaoBrasileiradeJudeusdaInquisiçao–foundedin2000.OnecanseehowconversationshehashadinIsraelhaverubbedoffonMarcelo.LikemanyIsraelishecriticizes‘fanaticism’-andalsocriticizespeoplewhospendalltheirtimestudyingTalmudwithoutadosisofreallife–awordherepeatsmanytimesinhisaddresstothecongregation.HealsoappearstopositionhimselfwithinJewishreligiouspoliticsbyreferringtothevarietyofJewishmessianisms–thefollowersofSabbataiZvi,forexample,orofthemorerecentLubavitcherRebbe–anobservationwhichcanbeinterpretedasanoff-the-cuffremarktoshowhedoesnotaspiretomonopolizeanyparticularcurrent,orasevidenceforthelegitimacyofthenewwaveofmessianicsofwhichheispart,eventthoughtheyseemtobeasmuchanoffshootofevangelicalChristianityasafuturebranchofJudaism.ToapersonfamiliarwithJewishritualthepracticesassembledbyMarceloandhisfollowersseemtobeahotch-potch,orbricolage.Butthen,somewouldrespond,isthatnotthehistoryofreligiousworship?Perhaps,butheremanyimportantquestionsareleftintheair:itisunclearwhetherJesusisregardedastheMessiahwhowillreturn,asisstatedontheanussimwebsite,orwhetherhewasagreatrabbiandprophetandthathe–orsomeoneelse–willreturnastheMessiahattheend.ItisunclearwhetherthepeoplewhojoinhiscongregationarecalledontoobserveJewishcustomsrelatingtofoodandtoSabbathobservance,forexample,thoughitisclearthathedoesnottrytoimposeobservance,leavingthisuptoindividuals.Themessageinthesermondidnottouchonthesesubjects,keepingtomoralthemessimilartothoseonehearsfromPentecostalpreachers.Aperusalofwebsitesrelatingtoanussimandmessianiccongregationsproducesavarietyofideas,orconcepts,mostofwhichleaveopentherelationshipbetweenthesite’ssponsorsandJewishpeopleandpracticesandinstitutionsasconventionallyunderstood.

5http://www.museudainquisicao.org.br;seealsowww.anussim.com.br

2. Congregação Israelita da Nova Aliança (Israelite Congregation of the New Covenant)

InPortoAlegreManoelaCapenedotookmetoatinycongregationmeetingontheSabbathinasmallhallrentedintheneighbouringtownofCanoas.ThefeelingwasquitedifferentfromBeloHorizonte.Menandwomensatseparately;allthemenhadafewdays’growthofbeard,thewomenweredressedincloseimitationifnotexactreplicationofthemodestharedistyleprevalentinJerusalem,inLondon’sStanfordHillandinWilliamsburg(Brooklyn,NewYork)–savethattheydidnotusewigs,ratherdelicatelytiedheadscarves.Thegroupnumberedabout30andwasnoticeablydifferentfromtheBeloHorizontecongregationinsocialcomposition–lessprosperous–andalsointheirproximitytoJewishcustoms.Wewereallseatedonbenches,notchairs.TheyspendthewholeoftheSabbathinthesynagoguesoastoavoidtravelling,andduringtheSabbaththeydonothandlemoneyoranswerthephone(thoughtheymadeanexceptionforourvisit,forwhichwewereverygrateful);theydidnotproselytize,andindeedwerewaryofinvitingoutsidersinlesttheystarttoproselytizeamongthegroup.(Manoelahadtospeakatlengthwiththeleader’swifetopersuadeherofourgoodintentions.)ThereadingofthepassagefromtheTorahfollowsasimilarproceduretothatinorthodoxsynagogues.ThechantingisauthenticbutthereaderisstillimprovinghisHebrewandalso,beingpoor,theyonlyhaveanimitationTorahscrollinwhichthewordsareprintedwithvowels,unlikeastandardscroll,whichofcourseisnotprintedbuthandwrittenbyaskilledscribe.Theycallpeopleuptobeblessedatintervalsinthereading,andeachonehastowearaprayershawl.ButlikeotherventuresinthisJewish-Evangelicalspace,theyblowtheshofarontheSabbath,whichmainstream(oratleastOrthodox)Jewsneverdo:theusualorthodoxandReformpracticeistoblowtheshofaronlyonNewYearandYomKippour.6Evenso,thereisamusicalaccompanimentintheformofasingleelectronickeyboard,andtheshofarissoundedeventhoughinmainstreamsynagoguesthisisonlydoneonRoshHashanahandYomKippour.ThispracticeseemsquitepopularinBrazilamongMessianicsandalsoinsomePentecostalchurches.Theleadergivesalengthyaddressandinteractiveaddresswhichiscomplementedbypointsmadebyothermen.Hetalksabouttheweek’sportion(ParashaVayeera,Gen.23)–whichrecountsthenegotiationsbetweenAbrahamandEphrontheHittiteoverasiteforhistombandAbraham’sinsistenceonpayingfortheland.Thisleadshimintoamatterofgreatconcerntothecommunity,namelymarriage–andhealludestothepassageaboutLaban’strickery(Gen.29),twogenerationsfurtheron,whenhetriedtodenyJacobthewifehereallywanted.Thisbroughthimtomarriageandreproductionwhichare

6However,theblowingoftheshofarinsecularlocationsisnotunheardof–forexampleinJerusalemsupermarketsinthelead-uptotheNewYear.

bigchallengesforthiscommunity:theydonotevangelizeanddonotlookforvisitorsandtheydonothaveverylargefamiliesontheharedipattern,soreproductiondependsorganicgrowth.Throughthenationwidenetworktheyareaffiliatedto–alsonamedCongregaçaoIsraelitadaNovaAliança7(CINA)8–theylinkupwithcommunitieselsewhereinthestateofRioGrandedoSul,inCuritibaandsoon:throughCINAtheyhaverelationswithanothercongregationinCuritibaforexampleandoneyoungmanpromisedtomarryayoungwomanfromthere.Alessandraandanotherheavilypregnantwomanhavethemselvesproudlyphotographed.Soweseehowtheapparentlyarchaicpracticeoftheshidduch-theconcertedmarriagesystemprevalentintheultra-Orthodoxworldappearsasavitalnecessityforacommunitywhichisforcedbyitsisolationtoconsideritsownsurvival.CINA,tojudgefromitswebsite,seekstoinstitutionalizemembership,soforexamplesomeaffiliatesare‘Congregations’othersaresimplyaffiliategroups.TheleaderofthisoneinCanoashasthetitle‘Rosh’(head)whichisalsousedbyCINA.Itisanunusualtitlefortheleaderofacommunity(asdistinctfromheadsofyeshivas)butissymptomaticofanimpulsetoinstitutionalization.IntheCanoascommunitythereisnomentionofJesus,ofthemessianicreturnoranysuchthemes.AlthoughsomeofthemembershavebeenPentecostalstheyhaveleftallthatbehindthem.TheyalludetothePortuguesecolonialSephardiheritagebutdonotmakeofitaclaimtofullJewishacceptance.TheywanttobegoodJewsandtothatendtheywanttomakewhatcontemporaryJewishjargoncallst’shuvaandtheycall‘retorno’.T’shuvadoesofcoursehaveanancientmeaningas,simplistically,repentance,butinthe20thcenturyitcametobeusedindailyparlancetorefertosecularizedJewswho‘return’(hencethePortuguese‘retorno’)tostrictobservance.Buttheyareaheterogeneousgroup:oneofthememberswasborninBrazil,livedinArgentinaaged9-14(moreorless)andthenreturned.Heonlylearnttoreadat16.Another,whoismakingmostprogressinlearningHebrew,speaksofagrandfatherwhocamefromLithuaniaandthinkshemighthavebeenJewish.Andthereisthequestionofcircumcision,whichbringsnervouschuckles.ItisunclearwhethertheadultmalesinthegrouphaveundergonecircumcisionbuttheysayacertainRabbiGottlieb,whohasasoninBrazil,comesfromLondonandperformstheoperation,andhastrainedotherstodoit.ThisseemstobequiteprevalentinMessianiccommunities,buthadnotbeenmentionedinBeloHorizonte.ThecommunityinCanoasmaybelongtoCINAbutdoesnotseemtofollowCINA’sstrongmessianicandpro-Israelasdepictedonitswebsite.However,itshouldalsobesaidthattheseseemtobelooseassociationsandmaybewhatiswrittenonawebsitedoesnotreflectmorethantheviewoftheindividualswhocontrolit.TheCanoascommunityseemsdistinctiveinthatithasgravitatedtoamuch

7NovaAliançaisaversionoftheHebrewBritHadashawhichmeansNewTestament,whichintheorycomplicatesthiscongregation’spuristapproachtotheirJudaism.8http://cinanoticias.blogspot.com.brandwww.israelitas.com.br

moreorthodoxJewishvariant,withanemphasisonthehabitsofdailylife,comparedwithothersIhaveencounteredsofar.Theuniformityofthewomen’sdresscodewasparticularlynoticeable,aswerethemen’s‘three-day’beardsandtheeagernesstoobservetheSabbathasstrictlyaspossible.

3. Congregaçao Beit Tefilah Yeshua (Jesus’ House of Prayer), Rio de Janeiro (Humaitá)

Thiscaseisdifferentyetagain.ItisledbyEduardoStein,whowasbroughtupasaJewandinapredominantlyJewishenvironmentinRioandmarriedawifefromthesamebackground.AtacertainpointSteinchangedtowardsaMessianicaffiliationandsetupasynagogueinthemiddleclassdistrictofHumaita.HehasnamedhissynagogueandcommunityBeitTefilahYeshua(Jesus’HouseofPrayer).HeistherabbiandLudwigGoulartisthe‘Rosh’.Ludwigplaystheguitarduringservicesandalsotakesaleadroleinspeakingandliturgy.RabbiSteinhasalsowrittenabookentitled‘CabaladaAutossuficiencia’(‘TheKabbalaofSefl-sufficiency’)WhenIspenttheSabbaththereinOctober2013therewereabout30people.Unlikesomecongregationsonevisits,theywerenoteasytosituatesocio-economically,butRabbiSteintoldmehewantstorelocatetoalowerincomeareabecauseitishardforpeopletotraveltohiscurrentlocation–publictransportinRiobeingsomethingofanightmare.Butwhatevertheirclassposition,asagroupmembersofthecongregationtoldextremelyvariedlifehistories.TherewasayoungmedicalstudentfromBahiawhowasdoingathesisongenderidentity:hesaidhehadhadlittleopportunitytoattendareligiousserviceinaccordancewithhisJewishbackgroundinBahia,butnowwasaregularattendant;thesonofaPentecostalpastorwhohasadegreeintheologyfromaTheologyFacultywhichseemstospecializeintrainingevangelicalpastorsinRio(FaculdadedeTeologia–SeminarioUnido9)isalsohimselfa‘pastorauxiliar’inhisfather’schurch–hesaidhisfatherwasawaydoingapsychoanalysiscourse;ayoungmanwhohadadegreeinHebrewfromtheFederalUniversityofRiodeJaneiroandspokethelanguagequitewell;LudwighadgonetoliveinLosAngelesinhislateteensanddidavarietyofjobs,buthehadaseriesofhealthproblemsanditwasduringanoperationonhiskidneythathehadarevelationwhichdrewhimtomessianicJudaism,helpedbyaRabbi.HedevotesalotofhistimetostudyingTorahandHebrewandseemsabletoliveonhisincomeasRosh–liketheRabbi.Likeseveralotherpeopleinthis–andother-congregationshelikedtospeakEnglish.ThisisparticularlytrueoftheNayraPedrini’sApostolicChurchontheIlhadoGovernadorwherehercloseassociatesalwaysaddressmeinEnglish.RabbiSteinforhispartspeaks

9Thisfacultyhasnowebsite.

excellentEnglishandhassenthissontostudyEconomicsinIowa.HehimselftalksabouteventuallygoingtoliveintheUS.RabbiStein’spreachingistheclosesttoPentecostalthatIheardinthesethreecases.InanaddressonaParashahwhichcanbeheardontheinternet10hedrawstheexampleofAbrahamtodevelopthethemeofobediencetoacall:Abahamhadalife,hehadwealth,andyetheansweredthecall,andthesamewentforthefishermenwhoansweredJesus’call(‘yeshallbefishersofmen’…‘letthedeadburythedead’).ForhimJesuswassentbyGodashisson,anditisthankstoJesus,whotookthemessageacrosstheworld,thatJewshavebeenabletobea‘lightuntothenations’.Hisfocusonthisoccasionisonobedience.IntheservicesIattendedhespokeofthepromiseofprosperityandhealth,thoughnotatlength,andhealsoplacedhishandsinagestureofhealingoncongregants.Oneveryyoungmanisbroughttothefront,theRabbi’swifebringsinaflask,heisblessedandaprayerissaidforhissickson.Butthisisnotdissimilar(savefortheflask)fromaprayerforasickpersoninanysynagogue.ItwasquitediscreteincomparisonwiththedramaticgesturesonesometimesobservesinPentecostalchurches.Forherpart,hiswife,evidentlyaffectedbyillnessinherownfamily,expressedherfaithintheMessiah’shealingcapacityandalsoherbeliefindepressionasaconsequenceofdiabolicpossession:‘Satanstealsnotonlywhatyouarebutyourfuture,whatyoumightbecome’.Asintheothermessianicsynagoguesandallevangelicalchurches,aloudspeakeramplifiesthevoiceoftheleaderorpreacher,andtheserviceisaccompaniedbyaband–inthiscase,eventhoughtheroomissmall,afive-manband(tom-tomdrums,clarinet,bells,guitar,hand-held‘cymbals’).Butunliketheothercasesthetuneshavelittleifanythingincommonwiththetunesonehearsinmainstreamsynagogues,eventhoughSteinmustknowthosetuneswell.Yetsidebysidewiththeseevangelicalthemes,prayersaredrawnfromastandardOrthodoxprayerbookwithHebrewtextandPortuguesetranslationandtransliteration.Buttherecitationoftheprayersismodified:alineistakenfromapsalmandrepeatedoverandoveragain.TheRabbicelebratesmarriagesbuthisapproachdoesnotfitanymodel:hesaysthatifthemaninvolvedisamemberofhiscongregationhewilldoit,butifheisnothewillrequirehimtocommittojoin,yetatthesametimeheaffirmstheheadshipofthehusband:‘ohomeneaautoridade’(‘authorityrestswiththeman’).OverallheattacheslittleimportancetotheethnicdimensionofJudaism,especiallyina‘raciallymixedsocietylikeBrazil’(‘umpaısmiscegenadocomoonosso’).HedoesnotmentiontheanussimthemesodeartootherMessianicsinBrazil.Thepastormentionedpreviouslysaidthattherehadbeenmanyhealingsinthisplace,manymiracles–bothhereandinhischurch.Therationaleofhisdualadherenceremainedamystery,compoundedbyhispastor-father’sattendanceat

10http://www.novabty.com/#!artigos-judaismo-messianico/cxto

acourseonpsychoanalysis,whichisnotadisciplinemuchpromotedbyevangelicals.AnotherpersonspokeofthevocationofraisingtheawarenessofevangelicalchurchesaboutJudaismandsaidthatsomepastorsfeel‘touchedbyaloveforIsraelandmayevenadoptsomeJewishdevicesorcustoms’(‘umaexpressaojudaica’).Thecongregation’swebsitedisplaysitsowncredoof14principlesoffaith(‘EstatutodaFe)11whichincludeseveralcoreChristianprinciples,suchasthatJesusdiedforthesinsoftheworld,thatheroseagainafterthreedays,andwillreturntoruleforever;thatJesusisthemediatorbetweenGodandallcreation;and(quotingversesfromtheNewTestamentinsupport)thattheTorahisimmutableandcontainslawsforthewholeworld.InconversationonememberspokeofthetrueJudaismasa‘transcultural’obeisancewhichencompassed‘everybody’–aBiblicalasopposedtoarule-boundethoswhichlikeChassidicJudaismwentforbeyondmereliturgy.

4. Nayra’s Church: Igreja Apostilica Unidade em Cristo ThiscaseismuchbetterknowntomesinceIhavebeenaccompanyingiteversinceImetitsleadingpastorNayraPedrinidaSilvaattheGardenTombinJerusalemin2011.Nayra’schurchhasmanyfeatureswhichmightbecalledclassicallyPentecostal:onherFacebookpage12sheregularlyannouncesservicessuchas‘Cultodepoder’(tothePower),Confraternizaçao,MinisteriodeMulheres(forthepromotionofwomen’sministry),aYouthCongressandsoon.Herchurchinshortisahiveofactivity.Thepreachingfocusesalotonfamily,onthedifficultiesofbringingupchildren,thedangersofdrugs,thecorruptionofthechildrenofthewealthy.Buttodaythenotionofaclassicmodelhasgivenwaytoamultiplicationofhabitsandritualfeaturesandideologicaltrendssothattheword‘classic’haslostitsmeaning.Likewisetheneo-PentecostallabelisalsonolongereasilysummarizedbecausethemodelpioneeredbytheUniversalChurchoftheKingdomofGodhasbeenborrowedanditscomponentelementshavebeenunpickedandrecomposednotonlybyotherorganizationsinBrazilandoutsidebutalsobytheUniversalChurchitself.Nayra’schurchholdsabout800peopleatitsmainpremisesintheIlhadoGovernador,neartotheinternationalairportinRiodeJaneiro.Ithasasmallnumberofbranches,notablyoneinTokyo,butitisnotanempire-buildingorganization.Thechurch’ssocialbaseseemstobeamongBrazil’s‘emergente’

11http://www.novabty.com/#!estatutos-de-fe-/c1qyt12lookforNayraPedrinidaSilva

classes:thesectorswhichhavebroughtarapidexpansioninthecountry’surbanmiddleclassintheperiodsincethelate1990s.Ifyouattendaweekendservicethewomenaredressedquiteformallyandthementootakecarewiththeirappearance.Mostpeopleseemtocomebycar.Thechurchdoesnotonlyrunservices:italsorunsmanyBibleStudyclasses,andithasorganizedsocialworkinlocalcommunitiesaswellasvisitinginhospitals.ThislasthasdevelopedsofarthatIwastoldofplanstoestablishitselfasafullyfledgedcharitableorganizationinordertoprovidetheservicemoreprofessionally.ButNayra’schurchdoesstandoutfromotherPentecostalsandneo-PentecostalsnotjustinitsaffinityforthingsJewish–Jewishartefacts,theStateofIsrael–butintheseriousnesswithwhichNayraandhercloseassociatestakethis.ForNayraisauniversitygraduatewholeadstoursoftheHolyLandandstudiesthearchaeologysoshecanprovidecompetentexplanationsaswellasBiblicalexegesis.InadditionshenowalsotakesgroupstoTurkeyandJordan,visitingsitesfromtheEpistlesofPaul,forexample.IhaveaccompaniedhermorethanonceassheleadsgroupsaroundJerusalemandthesurroundingarea.ThevisitsaretositesassociatedwitheventsinthelifeofJesus,buteachtimeherdescriptionofwhathappenedatthesite–thePoolofSiloamforexample,ortheGardenofGethsemane–beginswithaquotationfromtheOldTestamentprophesyingtheevents.FindingcorrespondencebetweenOldandNewTestamentisimportanttoherpreaching.AttheSheepGateshesaysmaybethiswaswheresheepwerewashedbeforebeingsacrificedattheTemple.ThePoolofBethesdaisbesidestheSheepGatetotheOldCityandNayra,linkingtheSheeptoJesusastheLambofGod,recountsthemiracleperformedbyJesusthere(John5:1-14),butshedoessowithanimportantgloss:manypeoplebelievedthatmiracleswereperformedtherebyangels–forexampletherewasabeliefthatfromtimetotimeanangelwouldcometostirupthewaterandperformamiraculouscure,butonlythefirstpersontobatheinthepoolwouldbecured.Sotherewasarush.Jesushealedamanwhocouldnotgetthereintime–Nayradescribesthesickmanasatetraplegic.Whattheydidnotunderstandwaswhatliesbehindthesupernatural:whenthatiswhylaterJesusencounteredthemanagainhewarnedhim‘Sinnomore,lestaworsethingcomeuponyou’.AndNayraelaborates:‘whyareyouhangingaround?whyaren’tyouwithyourfamilycelebratingyourcure?’ ButthenshechangesregisterandbringstogetherEzekiel38:9(GodsavesIsraelfromtheKingofGog)andtheApocalypse(Revelations6)(theSevenSealsfollowedbytheannouncementofthegreatdayofGod’swrath).Thisbringshertocontemporaryevents:theArabSpring,Israel’sdiscoveryofoffshoregas,whichmayproducemorethanRussia:‘theseareannouncements,fulfillingtheprophecies.Prepareforthelastdays.’Shereiterates:itiswrong,ormistaken,toseekthesupernaturalwithoutseekingGodbehindthesupernatural.WhenshereachestheGardenofGethsemane–or

thepropertywhichbearsthatname-sceneofChrist’spassion,shesays:ThedevilwastrackingJesus’everystep–thatis,peoplemaygainbenefitsfromJesus’healingbutthedevilwantstopreventthemfromdrawingthecorrectconclusions:thedevilwouldwantthemjusttotakethebenefitandcontinuelifeasusual.InNayra’swords:‘Goddoesnottemptus–heputsustothetest;itisSatanwhotemptsus’(Deusnaotenta–eleprova;Satanastenta’)AtthesametimeNayrabringsthesacredfigurestolifeasfleshandbloodindividuals:ifJesusinhisagonyshedbloodthismeanshehadaheartattack;theservantofthehighpriest–whomshenamesMalko-whoseearwascutoffbyadiscipleandwasimmediatelyrestoredbyJesus(Luke22:50)-wouldlosehisjobwithouthisear.Nayra’scharismaisunusual–althoughthetechniqueofbringingbiblicalincidentsandfigurestolifeinanimmediatewayiscommontoPentecostalpreaching,inotherwayssheisquitedifferent.ShedoesnotraisehervoicelikemanyPentecostalpreachers,andshehasaratherunevangelicalrespectforerudition,asobservedinhereagernesstolearnfromEli’sarchaeologicalexpertise;butherfollowersareinaweofherbothforherlearningandalsofortheairofsanctitysheexudes:atonepoint,atthechurchofStAnnenearthepoolofBethesda,thegroupallkneeldownaroundherandsheblessesthem.Nayrahasaloyalandadmiringgroupofassistantpastorsandhelpersaroundher,mostlywomen,aswellasherhusbandwhosharestheleadershipofthechurchinRiobutrarelyaccompaniesheronthesetripstoIsrael.ListeningtothemandtoherandalsolisteningtoElitheguideandotherMessianicJews,onemightbeledtoseekaconsistentsetofinterpretations,inthemannerofadoctrine.Butthatisnot,sotospeak,‘howitworks’.Atanyparticularmomenttheymayexpressfirmviewswhichareformulatedasdefinitivetruths,buttheyalsoformulatetheirideasinquitespeculativeways–asNayradoesinsomeofherinterpretations.SomeofthethingsshesaidattheSheepGate,oraboutthehighpriest’sservant,werestatedmoretentativelythandogmatically.Thecertitudesareintheunderlyingmessageofthemorallife,constantlyunderthreatfromtheforcesofevil,andintheproclamationofarelationshipoftrust,faithandadorationofJesus.Shesaysnothingaboutprosperityasonehearsinstandardneo-PentecostalchurchesnotablytheUniversalChurch.TheuseoftheBibleandtheritualfreeassociationswhichcharacterizeNayra’schurchandherwordsraiseimportantquestionsofinterpretation.Forexample,atonepointIwastoldthattheycelebrateChristmasasa‘familyfestival’andthattheyregardtheJewishfeastof‘Tabernacles’(‘Sukkot’)asacommemorationofChrist’sbirth.Yetonanotheroccasionitwasexplainedtomebyherassistantpastor,Tiago,intermsofthethreeJewishseasonalfestivals,theothertwobeingPassover(Pesach)andtheFeastofWeeks(Shevuot).SincePassovercommemoratesthePaschalLambandShavuotcommemoratesthePentecost,SukkotshouldbetheannouncementofthereturnoftheMessiah,ofRedemption.HenotesthatSukkotisknowninPortugueseas‘Tabernaculos’(andinEnglishas

Tabernacles)andthatreferstoJesushavingcometodwellamongmen(thePortugueseversionandtheGreekversionusethewordmeaningthathe‘dwelt’amongmen).ForTiagotheseare‘Biblical’festivals,whereasotherJewishfestivals(Hanukkah,RoshHashanah,Purim)werejustJewish,andhemadeadistinctionbetweenwhatisJewishandshouldnotorneednotbeadoptedbyevangelicalsormessianics,andwhatis‘Biblical’.Tiagowasthereforeorganizing,throughhistravelagency,amassmeetingfor1500peoplefromBrazilandArgentinatocelebrateTabernaclesinahighprofileconferencecentreinJerusalemin2014.YethewasquitefirminhisdisapprovaloftheadoptionofJewishritualsbyevangelicalchurchesandpraised‘theArgentines’forfirmlystoppingitbeforeitspread.Yetitseemshardtodrawthelines.AtEaster2012atNayra’schurchintheIlhadoGovernadorshepresidedinfrontofsome800peopleatalectern,andatherfeetwasarrangedacompleteSedertable:thatis,alltheitemswhichgotomakeuptheceremonywhichaccompaniestherecountingoftheExoduswhichtakesplaceinJewishhomesonPassover:matzohs(unleavenedbread),‘haroset’(dates-symbolizingthemortarusedtobuildthepyramidsorsimilar),wine,bitterherbsorhorseradish(bitternesssymbolizingtheservitudeinEgypt)),andalambbone(thepaschallamb).Atthesametime,toonesideofthestage,alargecrosswasdrapedwithalongpieceofredclothandinfrontofityoungwomendancedintutuswhilethecongregationsangsongsofpraise.Allthewhileabandofkeyboard,guitarandpercussionwasplaying,asishabitualinevangelicalchurches.Shealmostcalledonmetopronouncetheblessingoverthematzohs,butthoughtbetterofit.Nayra’schurchisbynomeansalone,andeachexampleIhavecomeacrosshasitsownwayofmixingandmatchingelementsofJewishandevangelicalpracticeandtradition,liturgicallyanddoctrinally.ThedynamicandhighlysuccessfulPastorReneTerraNovafromManaushasadoptedacellularstructureinthenameofthetwelvedisciplesofChristbutalsoofthetwelvetribesofIsrael.Thismodelismeanttoempowerindividualstoestablishacellwiththeirownhouseatitscentre,attractingfollowersfromtheirneighbourhoodandfromotherchurches.TerraNova’schurchdoesnotcelebrateChristmas(regardedasapaganfestivaldedicatedtoconsumerism)butdoesontheotherhandcelebratevariousJewishfestivals,includinginadditiontoPassoverandPentecost(Shavuot),otherswhichNayra’sdeputyTiagowouldregardasJewishratherthanbiblicallikePurim,HanukkahandYomKippur(deSouzaandPinto2013).TerraNovahasatravelagencyandtourguidesinJerusalemmarvelatthesizeofthegroupshebringstothecountry:heisreputedtotravelthelandwithacaravanofthirtybuses!Tiago,forhispart,hasanagency,AmarTurismo,which,onthebasisofhisrelationshipbuiltupwithNayrawithchurchesandtraininginstitutionsintheUS,hasexpandedtotakepeopletoFloridaonholiday,andheleadsasomewhatfreneticinternetandFacebook-fuelledlifemanaginghisdisparateventures.His

postsalternatebetweenpromotionsofhisagency(AmarTurismo),expressionsofloveforGodandexhortationstothegoodandmorallife.13

5. Yad Hashemona Nayraandothershavecloserelationswiththecommunityof‘believers’orMessianicsinIsrael.ThesearepeoplewhoareJewishbybirthororiginyetbelievethatJesuswastheMessiah,andaccordingtooneinformantnumbersome10,000inIsrael.OneoftheirmainlocationsisakibbutzcalledYadHaShemona(ThememorialoftheEight)whichwasoriginallyanduniquelyestablishedbyaFinnishpeopleinmemoryoftheeightJewswhoweretakenfromFinlandandkilledbytheNazis.Eli,theguidewhooftenaccompaniesNayraandhergroups,andofwhoseexplanationsmorelater,livesthere.OnesourceofthegrowthofMessianics,whichismoderateratherthanrapid,isinthewavesofimmigrantstoIsrael-forexamplepeoplefromtheformerSovietUnionwhohadhadcontactwithevangelicalchurchesyetcametoIsraelasJews.IvisitedYadHaShemonain2011andspoketolong-establishedmembers.Thisdidnotyieldacoherentsetofbeliefsoradoctrine.Itcouldbesaidthatitistoomuchtoexpectamemberofanyreligiousgroupproducesuchathing,butinthiscasetheissueisnottheirbeliefsbutratherwhethertheyhavealiturgyorasetofpracticalpreceptswhichsetthemapart.EventhatishardbecauseasiswellknownevangelicalChristiansalsohavewidelyvaryingpractices(butaratheruniformsetofrhetoricaltechniquesorstyles)andevenanindividualpastorhasonlyalooseliturgicalscheme.ManyMessianicshaveexplainedtomethattheyrecognizetheteachingoftheNewTestamentandthedivinityofChristastheSonofGodsenttosavetheworld,andthattheyalsohaveaconceptoftheSecondComing,orthereturnoftheMessiahdrawnfromtheteachingsofChristandtheBookofRevelation.Ontheotherhand,othersspeakofChristmoreasagreatJewishRabbi,andBeyondthistheMessianicsofYadHaShemonadonotspecifyadoctrine:intwoconversationswithprominentandlong-establishedmembers,oneofwhom–Ayelet-wasafourthgenerationMessianic,andtheother,borninVenezuela,hadbeenanadherentsince1982.InthewordsofAyelet,theyusethelabel‘MessianicJews’asanumbrellaterminordertoavoidfittingintoaparticularstreamorpackage.Theydescribedelementsofevangelicalism,asinaspiritualconversionexperienceinonecase,intheunstructuredcharacteroftheirSabbathmeetings,andthespontaneouscharacteroftheprayers:‘weopenourmouthsandspeaktoGod’.TherewasanemphasisoncorrespondencesintheOldandNewTestaments,thoughtheywerenottheologicallyortextuallyveryelaborate:thusIwasreferredtothementionofvineyardinJesus’parable(Matthew20:1-16)andthevineyardin(Isaiah5:1-7)butthereaderwouldhavetroublefindinganythingincommonbetweenthetextsbeyondtheuseofthefigureofthevineyardinverydifferentmetaphoricalsenses.

13lookforTiagoBrunet

TheinformantsIspoketoatYadHashemonawereparticularlyeagertoexpressdoubtsaboutthevalidityofJewishritualobservanceliketheseparationofmilkandmeat,andtheycriticizedChristianbaptismasanancientJewishritualreformulatedtocreatedivisionsbetweenChristiansandJews.Therewaslittlesignofritualdevicesdefiningafrontierbetweenthe‘believers’andotherJewsornon-Jews,yettheyhavean‘internalobligation’tomarryamongthemselvesthoughindoingsomaywellhavedifficultypersuadingtheIsraeliRabbinatethattheyareeligible:IwastoldtheydoindeedhavedifficultieswiththeMinistryoftheInterior,presumablyingainingeligibilityforIsraelicitizenshipforconvertsandaffiliates.ButthecommunitylivingofYadHaShemonaisnottypicaloftheirwayoflife–mostlivedispersedaroundthecountryandnotinclose-knitcommunities.ThemembersareenthusiasticcitizensofthestateofIsraelandrunvariousbusinessesoutoftheirkibbutz:ithasahotelandcateringestablishment,whichreceives,forexample,IsraelicivilservantsonaconferenceaswellasUniversalChurchtourgroupsfromBrazil–whoseemtoinsistonbeingaccommodatedhereandonlyhere.Andthemembersaremuchindemandasguidesforevangelicalgroups.TheVenezuelan-bornSalomonloopstheloopoftheconnectionsamongevangelicalsbymentioninghowaBrazilianpastora,ValniceMilhomens,broughtthecellularsystem,fromColombiatoBrazilin1999,anditwasthentakenupbyPastorTerraNovaaswehaveseen.14WhenaskedabouthowtheyenactthereligiousdimensionoftheirmessianicadherencethethreepeopleIspoketoatYadHaShemona,alllongestablishedmembers,gaveanswerswhichpointedtoaloose,unstructuredandnon-prescriptivesortofreligiouspractice.TheymeetontheSabbath,bringpetitionstoGodandstudyScripture,asubjectonwhichtheyhavemuchexpertise,beinginspiredbyBiblicalpropheciesintheirmessianicexpectations.Evenso,theteachersaretreatedasguidesratherthanauthoritativeinterpreters:‘Godcanbetrustedtoguidepeopleevenifhisguidancehastobetranslated’.Thereisnoreligiousleadership,orindeedanypoliticalleadership:YadHaShemonadoeshavealeadershipstructurebyvirtueofitsstatusasanagriculturalcommunity,notitsreligiouscharacter.ButIheardfromanotherinformant(JosephShulamofNetivyah–seebelow)thattheYadHaShemonakibbutzisrivenbyfactionsthattheyhaveseveraldifferentsynagoguesandsomegotosynagogueselsewhere.

6. Pentecostal experiences in Jerusalem PentecostalsobviouslygotoIsraelforreligiousreasons,buttheyarenotpilgrimsinthesamesenseasCatholicsandOrthodox.Traditionally,Catholicsgoonpilgrimageaspartofanexchange–theyhavemadeavoworareseekingabenefit.Eveniftheygotobecured,asatLourdes,theyaremakingthesacrificeof

14http://scristiane26.blogspot.co.il/2011/02/valnice-milhomens-biografia.html

thejourneyaspartoftheexchange,andothers–theircarersandatLourdesthearmyofsupporters–aremakingsacrificesontheirbehalf.Butthekissingoftombs,thelightingofcandlesandsoonareregardedaspaganbyPentecostals.Tobesurepentecostalsdooffercures,butthesearepartofabargainwithachurchratherthanwiththesupernatural.ThestandardPentecostallifestoryhasanepisodeofhealinglinkedtojoiningachurch.PastorsplacetheirhandsonapersontoinvokethepowerofJesusandcallforacure–theexpectationbeingthatthepersonbeingblessedoreventuallyhealedwilljointhechurchasacontributingmember.SowhentheygotoJerusalemPentecostalsdonotvisittheChurchoftheHolySepulchre,whichisregardedasapagansitewherevisitorstouchtombsandlightcandles.Orworse,Catholicchurchesareplacestotradeandmakemoney–heirstotheTemplefromwhichJesusejectedthemerchants.InsteadtheygototheGardenTomb,asiteownedbyaUK-basedProtestantcharitywhichissaidtobe–thestaffarequitecarefulnottobetooemphaticaboutthis–theplacewhereJesuswasburied.OppositetheGardenabarerockfaceoverlookingtheEastJerusalemcanbeinterpretedasdepictingaskull–asinGolgotha,theHilloftheSkull,thoughagainthestaffarequitecautiousintheirdescription.Theyalsofirmlyforbidanyincantationsormagicalpractices–somethingwhichhasledBraziliangroupsfromtheUniversalChurchtobesummarilyejectedaftertryingtoconductmagicalprocedureswithmaterialsfromthesite.Visitorstothetombitself,whereJesuswasburiedandfromwhichhethendisappeared,goin,lookaroundandhavethemselvesphotographedattheopendoor.MoreimportantmomentsforthemaretheprayerswhichtakeupmostoftheirtimeintheGarden:ithasseveralspacesfurnishedwithbenchesandgroupsconductservicesmuchastheywouldathome:theirpreachersleadtheminprayerandpronounceanaddress,oftenconcludingwithaceremonyofeatingbreadanddrinkingwine–aversionoftheEucharistbutshornofitstransubstantiationdoctrine:theseelementsare‘representations’only.ThemainritualundertakenbyevangelicalvisitorsinIsraelisbaptism–orre-baptism–byimmersionintheRiverJordan.TheKibbutzYardenihasconstructedpremiseswithalargecoachpark,andchangingroomswherevisitorcandonthewhitegownsprovidedandthenwalkdownstepstotheriversidewheretheirleaderswillholdthemwhiletheyareimmersedbythrowingtheirheadsbackwardsandunderwater,emergingtotheapplauseoftheircompanions.Thereisalsoashopwellstockedwithsouvenirsincludingarangeofflaconsbearingthewords‘WaterfromtheRiverJordan’indifferentlanguages.Outsidetherearenumerousuniformandlargetiledplaquesbearingascripturaltextinmanylanguages–similartotheHouseofPrayerontheMountofOlives.Thereligioustouristsdonotjustwonderaround:theyareingroupsandtheyareguided,bothbytheirownleadersandbylocalguides,whoarecertifiedbyexpressveryvariedopinions.

AskedaboutthesignificanceoftheTempleforChristians(i.e.evangelicals)apastorwhoisleadingagroupprovidesanexplanation:TheJewshadmadeanidoloftheTemple–theywereobsessedbyitandtheprophetEzekielwrotethatGodtooktheHolyofHolies(inPortuguese‘aGloria’)awayfromtheTempleonthewingsofSerafim,andthenatPentecostitpoureddownon120witnesses(nottwelve)asinActs1:8.Forhimthetempleismeremateriality.GuidesarecertifiedbytheIsraelMinistryofTourismwhichrequiresthemtofollowalengthycourseofstudyandpassadifficultexaminationinarchaeology,history,andevenscientificaspectsofIsrael’senvironment.Butstilltheybringdistinctiveinterpretations.WehaveseenhowElifromYadHaShemonaprovideshisownmillenarianinterpretation.AnotherguidewhospokegoodbutstronglyaccentedPortugueseprovidedahighlypoliticizedcommentaryashisgroupemergedfromtheYadVashemHolocaustmemorial–asitewhichisnotusuallyontheitineraryofevangelicalgroups.(HeblamedRooseveltfortheHolocaustbecausehedidnotbombAuschwitzwhenitwasknownwhatwashappening;hecriticizedLulatheBrazilianpresidentforvisitingArafat‘thegreatestterroristofthemall’;buthealsoinvokedthememoryofthePortuguesediplomatwhosavedthousandsoflivesbyillegallyissuingpassportstofleeingJews.“Germans’,hesaid,‘arenotintelligent:theyjustobey.’AndEurope’srecentmovestoboycottproductsfromWestBanksettlementswere‘anti-semitism’.)Butitisnotcleartomethatthetouristsareimpressedbythisdiscourse,orwhetherindeeditmeansanythingtothem:theywanderedthroughYadVaShemwithoutaguide15andwereofcourseshockedbywhattheysaw,buttheydidnotappeartolinkittothecityofJerusalemortheStateofIsrael.Anotherguide,whohadthetalentofanaturalethnographer,triestoeducatethevisitorsinmodernhistoryandarchaeology,asifshewasgivingafirstyearuniversitycourse:IlistenassheexplainsthatthePhariseeswerecaricaturedintheGospels;Paulwasgreatat‘marketing’.Butwhatdothetouristsmakeofitall?Formuchofthetimetheydowhattouristsdo:theybuysouvenirsanddrinkcoffee.TheircontactwithJewsisminimal,limitedtotheguides.TheytendtostayinhotelsinEastJerusalemwhicharestaffedbyArabs;theydonotarrangecontactswithIsraeliinstitutions,religiousorsecular.Theirinterest,ifitistobesummarized,istosetfootinthelandwhereitallhappened–itisaBiblicalinterest.AttheendofthetriptheyreceivecertificatesfromtheirownpastorsandalsofromtheIsraeliMinistryofTourism.Apastorleadingagrouptellshowintheend,attheSecondComing,the‘remaining’JewswillrecognizeMessiah.HedoesnotrelatethistotheJewsheseesinthestreet.Thevisitorscanneverthelessbeimpressedbythereligiosity,thefaith,oftheJewstheyseeattheWesternWall.

15YadVaShemonlypermitsitsownguidestoescortvisitorsandonthatdaythearrangementhadfailed.

Quiteoftenonehearspeoplesaythevisitchangedtheirlivesorinfusedthemwithasenseofholinessordivineinspiration.AmongagroupofArgentineandBrazilianevangelicals,severalofwhomarestudentsataMexicanleadershiptraininginstitutioncalledMISIONwhichreceivesstudentsfromalloverLatinAmerica,someonesayshe‘feelssomething’assoonashegetsofftheplaneinIsrael;therearepeoplewhocomerepeatedly.TheimportanceoftheexperienceislinkedbacktotheBible,tothemiraclesandepicswhichtheyhaveheardintheirchurches:‘Godiseverywhere,buthesenthissontothisplace,sothisplaceisspecial’.AndwiththeBiblecomestheWord:onseeingtheDeadSeaScrollssomeonespeaksofthe‘preciousnessoftheword’.TheyseemtobelookingtolinkuppersonallyandmateriallywiththeBiblicalstoriesmorethanwithJewsoranyothercontemporarysocialcategory.TiagoBrunet’sgroupsarealwaystakentotheJerusalemHouseofPrayerforallNationsatthesummitoftheMountofOlives,whichoncebelongedtoaMuslimwho,hetoldme,hadavisiontellinghimtoopenittoChrist.Theysaythevisionpersistedtillheobeyedandhandedittoevangelicals–principallyitseemstoevangelicalauthorTomHess.Thehousehasalargeskylightlookingtothesky,surroundedbyindicatorspointingtoallthecountriesoftheworld.OutsideapassagefromtheBibleisreproducedinnumerouslanguagesontiledplaques,asatthebaptismalsiteatKibbutzYardeni.IntheHouseofPrayergroupsspendaslongastwohoursprayingandsinging,ofteninterspersedwithsobbingandcriesofpraise.

7. Messianic congregations in Jerusalem Inlate2013,aftermyencountersinBrazil,IpursuedthesethemesfurtherinJerusalem,firstbytalkingtoAlecGoldberg,andlaterinameetingwithJosephShulamoftheNetivyahCentre.AlecisDirectoroftheCaspariCentrewhichIwoulddescribeasamessianicthink-tank,headedbyaJewbutstaffedbyScandinavianChristians.HeisRussian-born,Jewish,andabelieverintheMessiah.AlexdescribestheMessianicMovementas‘Jewishatleastintermsofitsleadership’butwithmanyfollowerswhoarenot‘technically’Jewish.LaterhesaysthatthismaybetrueinIsraelbutintheDiasporamostcongregationmembersarenotJewish.IntheUSMessianicsare‘muchmoreJewish’intheirexpressionandritualsandcalltheirpremises‘synagogues’,whereasinIsraeltheydon’t(see‘KingofKings’below).InIsraelhedescribesMessianiccongregationsasfollowinganevangelicalstyleofworship,withlittleliturgy:‘everythingisfluid’.Inhisdepiction,Israelimessianismisnotahome-grownphenomenon:mostleadersbecamebelieversabroadandorganizationsdependalotonoverseassupport,financialandother.Forallthis,heattachesmuchimportancetoethnicJewishidentityandsignsofbelonging(viz.circumcision),toZionistadherence,andsaysthereisapreferencefor,thoughnotaninsistenceon,marriagewithinthemessianiccommunity.Infact,thereisnotreallyan‘insistence’onanything–ashesays‘everythingisfluid’.

JosephShulamcomesfromaverydifferentpointofviewandaverydifferentbackground.IknewabouthisNetivyahCentrethroughMarceloGuimaraesinBeloHorizontewho,Inowdiscovered,hadcontactedhimafterreadinganarticleabouthiminNewsweekin1993.HeregardstheCaspariCentreandtheevangelical-styleMessianiccongregationsdescribedbelowasvehiclestoconvertJewstoChristianity(yetAlecGoldbergseemedtoattachmuchimportancetothepracticeofcircumcisionamonghiscoreligionaries.).ForJosephthereisa‘chasm’betweenChristianityandJudaism,withtheir‘differenthistoriesandgoals’,butsinceChristianityispost-Gospelandevenpost-PaulinetheNewTestamenthastoberegardedaspartoftheJewishheritage.JesusofcoursewasaJew,alltheapostleswereJews,andPaulaswell.ForhimthisheritagestartswiththeOldTestamentandgoesallthewaytomoderntimes,andshouldbevaluedforitsuniversalism–soforexamplehementionedA.J.HeschelasanexampleoftheuniversalismwhichhesaystodayissomewhatinretreatinJudaism.Theword‘Christian’barelyappearsintheNewTestament(threetimesintheEpistlesofPaul)which‘belongtous’.Yeshuais‘theonlybridge,and‘thekeytothesurvivaloftheJewishpeople’.SounlikeKingofKings(below)forexample,NetivyahhasasynagoguewithanArkandTorahscrolls,andtheyusethestandardOrthodoxIsraeliprayerbook.Josephcountshimselfasa‘believer’likeotherMessianics,butheisnotamongthosewhoareonapathtoChristianity:indeedwhenhecircumcisedhisnew-bornsonin1969itcausedascandalamongthebelievercircles.Heisonthe‘farleft’ofmessianism–bywhichhemeansheisthemostaversetoatranspositionofJewstoChristianity.Heisalso–likeallthemessianics–aferventZionist,whoregardsthesettlersastheonlyZionists,nowthattherestofIsrael(excepttheultra-Orthodox)arepost-Zionist.SidebysidewithhismessianismishisstrongconvictionthatIsraelhasademographiccrisisbecauseofdecliningbirthratesamongthosewhoareneitherArabsnorultra-Orthodox.Sothisiswheretheanussimcometotherescue.TherearemillionsofdescendantsofthosewhowereforcedtohidetheirJewishidentitybytheInquisitionandyetveryoftencontinuedtopreservesometraditionsinsecretforcenturies.HerecountsforexamplehowaPortugueseguidewhoescortedhimandagrouparoundthecountryeventuallybrokedownand‘confessed’thathergrandparentsusedtolightacandleonFridayeveningandhideitinatin-linedcupboard,andheaddsnumerousothercustomswhichIhavealsoheardaboutinBrazil.ThisvastpopulationcanformthebasisofnewimmigrantstoIsrael.AndindeedMarcelo’scongregationistheonlyotherorganizationfiguringontheNetivyahwebsite.ThewebsitealsocontainsnumerousvisualandaudioresourceswhichforegroundmorethanmyinterviewthepoliticaldimensionofShulam’svision:thejoiningofthereligiosityofIsrael’sJewsandtheJewsingeneralwiththemessageofJesusandthehopeofhisreturn.Netivyahalsohasasocialprogramme,subsidizedbytheJerusalemmunicipality,distributingfoodentitlementsworth400shekelstoneedypeople.Iaskhim,asIaskothers,ifthereisacoreorcoherentdoctrinewhichiscommontothemessianicmovementasawhole,andhelikeothers,saysthereisnotand

aboveallhedoesnotthinkthereisaneedforone.RatherherecallshowperiodsofcrisisarealsoinJewishhistoryperiodsofcreativity,soheisnotconcernedabouttheproliferationofprocedures,rituals,beliefsanddoctrines.

1. KingofKingscongregationAcongregationwhichgathersweeklyinaroominalargebuildingonJerusalem’smainstreet–Yaffo.ThemeetingsareonFridayevening–Shabbat.Theformatisloose,andthecentralfeatureisanaddressbyapreacher.Theleaderiscalled‘roeh’–shepherd/pastor.SongsaresunginHebrewtowordsprojectedontoascreenwithRomantransliteration:thesongsincludeoneverywell-knownJewishsong,butwithacrucialchangetomentiontheHolySpirit(RuachElyon,RuachShalom)andatanotherpointversesfromHatikva(theIsraeli/ZionistAnthem)areintroducedbutagainwithacrucialchangetoincludeJesus(YeshuainHebrew).InconversationwithacongregantIaskhowhewoulddescribethismeetingormeetingplace–isitasynagogue?andhesays‘no,thereisnoArk…’ThereisnoTorahscrollorArk.Justasimplypodiumandlectern.ThepreachertellsmethatthevariousMessianiccongregationsacrosstheworlddonothavea‘core’,thatthereisnopointinlookingforacore–thecoreissimplytheBible.HeworksforIntercessorsforIsrael,andisbornJewishlikevariousotherspresent.Simultaneoustranslationisprovidedforagroupofpeoplesittinginonepartoftheroom.

2. MessianicserviceatChristChurch,OldCityThisissimilartotheKingofKings,exceptthatitincludes,surprisingly,aEucharist,whichiscelebratedwithmuchceremonyandaclearemphasisonthedoctrineoftransubstantiation(whichevangelicalsreject),andthereisevenlessJewishmaterialintheservice.IttakesplaceinChristChurch,whichstandsneartotheJaffaGateintheOldCityandresemblesastandardEnglish19thcenturyparishchurch.Theleadersareapairofbrotherswhowerebroughtupinayeshivaworldbutbecamemessianics,orbelieversandhavebeenrunningthiscongregationforfortyyears.Thereseemstobelittleevangelizationandmuchofthecongregation–maybehalf–werenon-Hebrewspeakersusingaveryeffectivewireless-transmittedsimultaneoustranslationsystem.

8. The temple of Solomon in São Paulo In2011theUniversalChurchoftheKingdomofGodstartedworkontheconstructionofabuildingithascalledtheTempleofSolomon.Althoughinitiallydescribedbysomeasareplicaoftheoriginal,theChurchhassincedroppedthat

word,sinceasthearchitecttoldme,itishardtospeakofareplicawhichitistenormoretimeslargerthantheoriginalmayhavebeen.Itissome75metreshigh–theheightofa19-storeybuildingandthesizeofashoppingmall.Thechurchhasboughtpropertyinthesurroundingstreetstocreatethespaceandprecinctsneeded,leadingtoamultiplicationofpropertypricesinthearea.Itseemsthatitwill,andperhapsisintendedto,bringaboutafinancialorcommercialtransformationofanindustrialareaindecline(Braz)whichoncewasthesiteofthrivingtextilefactories,andnowhousesnumeroussmallshopstradinginthematerialssecondhandclothes.Thechurch’sleader,EdirMacedo,hassaidheisbuildingtheTempletoenableBraziliansandothersofallfaithswhocannotgotoIsraeltohavetheexperienceoftheTempleintheirowncountry.Thedesignofthebuilding,whoseprogressismonitoredonawebsite,isbasedonHerod’sTemple,withmanyfeaturesofaRomantemple.ThearchitecttoldmethatthedescriptionintheBookofKingsisimpossibletointerpretorreproducebecausewedonotknowwhatthemeasurementsreallymeant,andofcoursetheyarenottechnicaldescriptionsanyhow.Theimportantaspectfromourpointofviewisthatthebuilding’sreinforcedconcretestructureaswellasitssurroundingesplanadeareentirelyfacedandpavedwiththinslabsofstone3cm.thickbroughtfromHebron,whichthearchitecttoldme,wasthesourceofthestonesusedtobuildthelasttwoJerusalemtemples.Itisdesignedforabout10,000people,butalsohasrecordingstudios,meetingrooms,accommodationforthechurch’sleaderandoffices.Nexttoit,andsomewhatdwarfedbyit,sitsacupolawhichfromtheoutsidehastheshapeofasmallmosquedomebutisinfacttheroofofasmallmuseumwherethehistoryofthechurchwillbeexhibited.(Thearchitect’sassistantremarkedonthedisproportionbetweenthetwostructures.)Thepillarswhichstoodoutsidetheoriginaltemple,asdescribedinIKings7knownasJachinandBoaz,arereproduced,accordingtothearchitect,insideratherthanoutside.ButtheEncyclopaediaJudaicasaysthatinSolomon’sTempletheystoodoutsidethesanctuarywithintheentrancehall.16TheUniversalChurchalsousessomeJewishemblemsinmanyofitschurchesinBrazilandperhapselsewhere(sinceitisaglobalorganization).NotableistheStarofDavidetchedinstainedglasswindowsordepictedinotherprominentplaces,andareplicaoftheArkoftheCovenantonitspodiums,paintedingoldandwithtwolongpoles,asifreadytobecarriedbyfourpeople.Beyondthat,however,thechurchhasnotgonefar–thatisitspastorsdonotcommemorateJewishfestivals,forexample.TheChurchdoeshoweverplacestrongemphasisonconnectionswithIsrael,whereithasestablishedasmallfootholdandhascultivatedconnectionswithpoliticians.Itarrangestoursforitsfollowerswho

16Interviewwiththearchitect,RogerioAraujoon15March2013.seeIIKings 7:15–22, 41–42 and II Chronicles 3:15–17; 4:12–13. TheinterpretationoftheEncyclopaediaJudaica,isreproducedontheJewishVirtualLibrarywebsite:http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0011_0_09825.html

stayatYadHaShemonaandMacedohimselftakesgroupsofhisofficials(bishopsandpastors)fromaroundtheworldontripstoIsrael.Theybringsuitcasesfulloffollowers’prayersandpetitions(‘pedidosdepromessa’)whichareofferedinchurchesandtheyofferthemassacrificesonMountSinai–thoughtourguidesinJerusalemsaytheysometimesgotoothersummitstosavetime.InconversationswithBrazilianobserversoftheUniversalChurchIhaveheardvariousinterpretationsofwhattheUniversalChurchandaboveallMacedoistryingtoachieve.UnlikeotherexampleswehaveofferedheretheritualproceduresintheUniversalChurcharestandardized,eventhoughtheychangefromtimetotime,butinthatcontexttheplaceofJewishreferencesismoretodowiththeBiblethanwithJudaism.Thisisnotexceptional:wesawhowTiagoBrunetofNayra’schurchalsomadeadistinctionbetweenwhatisBiblicalandwhatisJewish.MacedodoescultivateJewishconnections,butthisislargelyforpoliticalreasons–notablyhisinterestintourism,inIsrael.Nexttothevast‘CatedraldaFe’hebuiltintheRiosuburbofDelCastilhothereisaMuseumcontainingaminiaturereplicaofJerusalemasitwasatvarioustimesinitshistory,reproducingthereplicaatJerusalem’sShrineoftheBook(adjacenttotheIsraelMuseum).ThismuseumhasreceivedsymbolicandpoliticalsupportintheformofvisitsbyIsraeliDiplomaticrepresentativesandalsobyleadersofRio’sJewishcommunity.

9. Commercial aspects InSeptember2011IvisitedtheExpoCristaoatSaoPaulo’sAnhembiConferenceCentre(CentrodeConvençoes).Thisisacommercialeventforthebenefitoftheevangelicalmarket.Ihadexpectedittoappealmostlytopastorsandbusinesspeoplebutinfactthecrowds–andtheynumberedmanythousands–wereoverwhelminglyyoungpeoplebelow,roughly,theageof40.Thereweremanystallssellingdevotional,self-improvementandself-realizationliterature,includingalargestallbelongingtotheUniversalChurch’sownpublishinghouse.ButtherewerealsoseveralstallsbelongingtotravelagenciesadvertisingtripstoIsraelandonewhichsoldmatzohs,prayershawls,shofars,silvergobletsandthelike.InmylaterresearchesIrealizedthatpastorslikeTiagoBrunetarebynomeansexceptional:ReneTerraNovaalsohasasubstantialtravelagencybusiness.InIsraelsomemessianicsseemquiteheavilyinvolvedastouristguides;KibbutzYardenimustbemakingfortunesfromthebaptismal‘ghat’ithasbuilt,thoughthisishardlyspecifictoMessianics,cateringprincipallytoevangelicals.

10. Conclusions AlthoughtheyrecognizethedivineinspirationandvalidityofbothOldandNewTestament,andalthoughitisimpossibletodefineacoresetofbeliefscommontoallthoseIhavemet–letalonethethousandsIhavenotencountered-onegeneralizationwhichcouldbemadeisthatmostoftheMessianiccongregationsandgroupsdonotuseanyrecognizablyChristianritualelements–withtheexceptionoftheoneIattendedinChristChurchinJerusalem’sOldCitywhichcelebratestheEucharistwithbreadandwineandaproclamationofthetransubstantiation.Insofarastheydohaverituals,likethoseIobservedinBrazil,theyareJewishorderivativeofJewishpractices.ButthenwhatinthiscontextareChristianrituals?ForMessianicsChristianmeansevangelicalandevangelicalsregardtheritesofCatholicandOrthodoxasformsofpaganism.Sotheyborrow,orinherit,fromevangelicals,invaryingdoses,formsofaddressandinteractionbetweenpreacherandcongregation,useofmusic,tithinginsomecases(whencongregantslineuptomaketheircontributions),gesturessuchasholdingtheirarmshigh,layingonhandsinagestureofhealing,andoccasionally(Iamtold)exorcismandglossolalia.Theseareuncodifiedbutwidelyrecognizablesharedelementsofevangelicalculture.Itispossiblethattheygotomakeupaclassicstereotypewhichremainsatthecoreeventhoughtherearemanyvariations,butforthetimebeingIdonotseethatcore.JosephShulam(whodescribedhimselfasonthe‘left’ofthemovement’)isanexception:heusesnoevangelicalgesturesandtechniques.)Themessianicssharethesecharacteristics,butratherthansotospeak‘balancing’themwithJewishbeliefsordoctrine,theyadoptJewishpracticesandmarkthedatesofJewishfestivalswithhaphazardlyselectedpracticeslikeblowingtheshofar,circumcision,orreadingfromtheweek’sTorahportion.InRabbinicJudaism,intheyeshivaworld,whichlieattheheartoftheJewishheritageandJewisheducation,theyhavenointerestwhatsoever.TheonlytextofinterestistheBible,andthecommentariestheyrefertoaretheworkofmodernleadersoftheirmovement.MessianicsalsoshareastrongcommitmenttoJewishpresenceinthehistoriclandofIsrael,althoughtheMessianicswhoareIsraelicitizensseemtohavearangeofpoliticalopinionsinIsrael’sdomesticspectrum.Messianicsworldwide,betheyofJewishupbringingornot,alsoattachagreatdealofimportancetopersonalacquaintancewiththeland,anditmaywellbethatthisattachment,andthepoliticaladvocacywhichcomeswithit,aremorefundamentalandmoremotivationallyimportantthanmyinterviewsconveyed.(Itendedtoavoidpoliticalissues.)Thisattachmenttothelandcaninturnbelinked,perhaps,toanattachmenttotheconcreteandadistanciationfromthesymbolicandmetaphoricalwhichdistinguishessomecontemporaryreligiosity.Itissurprisingtomethatpeopleforwhomthesupernaturalisquiteintangible,andwhoforthemostpartrejecttransubstantiationaswellasanthropomorphicrepresentationsforGodorJesus,expressastrongattachmenttotheplacewhichGodchosetosendtheMessiah,

andalsoastrongcommitmenttotheearthlypoliticalarrangementsgoverningthatplacetwothousandyearslater.Ofcourse,theyalsobelieveJesuswillreturnandthathewillreturninthisplace,butgiventhatsomuchelseintheirreligiousobservanceissymbolicorimmaterial,whyisthisspecificquestionconcentratedintosuchconcretemateriality?InBrazil(inthecasesIobserved)thefocusontheconcretetakestheformofadoptionofJewishmotifsinworship,suchasprayershawls,Hebrewliturgy,blowingtheshofar,rulesofSabbathobservance,andevenofcircumcision.ThispatternseemsindependentoftheemphasisplacedonJesusasMessiah,butwhetherthatobservationisofanysignificanceIcannottell.Somuchseemsarbitraryorincidental.Eitherway,thereislittleinterestifanyamongMessianicsinRabbinicalJudaismorHalakha.TheHalakhaoughttobeawayoffilteringthemanycommandmentsintheBible,sinceitcanbeseenasatranslationofthosecommandmentsintorulesforeverydaylife.Butthepatternofobservanceandadoptionislocalizedandseemstoreflecttheoptionsofcongregationsortheirleaderswhichdonotsofarappeartohavea‘logic’.

Research Questions Whatifanythingdothisfamilyofmessianicmovements/congregations/churches/synagogueshaveincommon?HowcanonebegintoexplainthereachfortheinclusionofJewishthemesinevangelicalcelebrations?ThephenomenonofJewish‘believers’hastobeexplored,especiallyintheUSandEurope.InIsraelitisquitelimitedandmaywellbeaderivativeofthebusinessandotheropportunitiesprovidedbythevastChristiantouristindustryinthecountry.ThecoreroleoftheBiblicaltextisimportant.Thisinturnmayberelatedtothefocusontheconcreteandthematerialwhichseemstocharacterizethesemovements.OfcoursewhetherwefocusonJewishbelievers’congregationsoronChristianpeopleadoptingJewishhabits,customsandprocedures,thereisamajorquestionofreligiousauthority.Mostofthesecongregationshavealocalsourceofauthoritywhichismoreorlessconnectedtohigherorglobalsources,butusuallyverylittleifatall.

deSouza,A.R.andM.C.O.S.Pinto(2013)."Duasigrejasexpoentesdonovoempreendedorismopentecostal."Contemporanea3(1):111-127. Gutierrez,C.A.R.(2011)."Bneianussim":umaexperienciadejudaismonaperiferiapaulistana.Anthropology.SaoPaulo,UniversiyofSaoPaulo.Masters.