TWO DISTINCT GROUPS MADE ONE IN JESUS
YOU HAVE BEEN
GRAFTED IN
Share your grafted mandate with a beautiful high-quality Grafted Tote Bag for a gift of $30 or more to support our work in reaching Jewish people with the Gospel.
This tote bag can be a powerful reminder of the salvation that has been given to you as well as a proclamation of your calling to share God's mercy and salvation through Jesus with the Jewish people as God has shown mercy to you.
Hear Jonathan Bernis and Ezra Benjamin of Jewish Voice explain the biblical mandate set forth in Paul’s letter to the Romans and why, as Jews and Gentile Believers, we are grafted together like the branches of an olive tree to work in partnership to bring God's shalom to the world.
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Paul makes it clear in his letter to the Romans.
As a Believer, you have a mandate to stir the world’s unbelieving Jewish people to jealousy!
So what does that mean? It means to demonstrate that you have something they want – salvation through Jesus (the Jewish Messiah) and eternal life with God – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
It means to live a life of distinction, understanding the Jewish roots of your faith, acting in love for the Jewish people and shouldering the burden for their salvation.
Paul writes that now is the time for the Jewish people to receive God’s mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you (Romans 11:30-31).
In fact, we believe the most powerful witness will come to the world when both Jews and Gentile Believers together proclaim Jesus as their Messiah.
Paul also reminds us, right after describing the Gentile Believer’s burden to seek the salvation of God’s Chosen People, to “not be conformed to the patterns of this world” (Romans 12:1-2).
Instead, we are to hate what is evil, cling to what is good, never be lacking in zeal, be faithful in prayer AND share with the Lord’s people in need (Romans 12:9-12).
At Jewish Voice, we believe no Jewish person is too far away physically or spiritually to experience God’s hope and salvation through Jesus.
We pray you would see yourself and your God-given calling through the beautiful design of the ancient Grafted Seal and respond by joining us in our work to reach every Jewish person in the world with the Good News of the Messiah.
WHAT IS THE GRAFTED SEAL?
This ancient symbol dates back to around the 3rd century A.D, and tells the incredible story told by the early Church to remind Gentiles and believing Jews of the biblical mandate in Romans 11, as well as to portray the power and mystery of two distinct groups made one through the Messiah.
At the top is a traditional lampstand design to symbolize the remnant of Israel with branches grafted back in. These are Messianic Jews (Jews who believe in Jesus).
In the center, the Star of David weaves together the two distinct groups – Jews and Gentile Believers – both working in partnership and shalom to bear powerful witness to the world of God’s promises, love, mercy and grace through Jesus, our shared Messiah.
At the bottom is an Ichthys fish, as well as numbers representing Romans 11:11. These are the Gentile Believers who are called to point salvation back to Israel.
What is Messianic Judaism? Are Jewish people who believe Yeshua (Jesus) is their Messiah Jews or Christians? Are Christians who celebrate their spiritual Jewish roots Messianic Jews?
The origins of Messianic Judaism can be traced back to the Hebrew Christian missions to the Jews in the 19th and early 20th centuries. By the 1960s and ‘70s, Messianic Judaism was gaining popularity with many Jewish Believers, coming out of the Jesus movement or "Jesus people" movement openly identifying as followers of Jesus the Jewish Messiah while remaining committed to their Jewish faith and identity. Many began identifying as Messianic Jews.
While some Christians attend Messianic Jewish congregations and many Messianic Jews attend evangelical Christian congregations, we believe that Christianity and Messianic Judaism are ultimately distinct faiths – and it’s important to see this distinction to find our unique place and roles in the salvation of the world.
The Jewish faith is the only religion in the world that is both a religious faith and an ethnic people group. Both identities are inseparable. Because of this, the biggest distinction that makes Christianity and Messianic Judaism different from one another is that Messianic Judaism is still Judaism at its core. It shares the same core faith and bloodline that believes in a promised Messiah but acknowledges that the Messiah has already come.
Messianic Jews also hold on to other distinct promises that God has yet to fulfill that don’t apply to Christians – namely that God will one day restore all of the "outcasts" of His Chosen People to the land of their birthright, Israel.
Paul helped the Gentiles understand this in the book of Romans where he writes in Chapter 11:
(Verses 17-18)
“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
(Verse 24)
“After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
(Verse 25)
"I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved.
(Verses 28-31)
“As far as the Gospel is concerned, they (the unbelieving Jews) are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and His call (His promises) are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.”
What is the passion behind Jewish Voice?
We believe that no Jewish person is too far away to experience God’s hope and salvation through Yeshua, the Messiah. And it’s our vision to see God’s promises fulfilled and to bring wholeness and peace – shalom – to our broken world.
“People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” That’s a quote from Theodore Roosevelt that our President and CEO, Jonathan Bernis, is fond of sharing.
And that could be said about our work to share the Gospel with the Jewish people and their neighbors around the world!
We wholeheartedly want to alleviate physical suffering in poverty-stricken and heavily persecuted Jewish communities. At the same time, we recognize that the spiritual side of things is even more critical because the consequences last for eternity.
Are my donations tax-deductible?
Yes! Jewish Voice Ministries International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All financial contributions are tax-deductible within the limits prescribed by law. The Internal Revenue Code permits U.S. givers to deduct the amount of their gift that exceeds the value of materials received.
Are you committed to financial accountability?
We want you to be confident that your gifts to Jewish Voice Ministries International are used wisely and effectively. That’s why we are accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
We are also governed by a board of directors that meets bi-annually. We have a U.S. board as well as Canadian and UK boards of directors.
For more information, including access to our annual reports, click here.
How can I make the greatest impact?
You can make the greatest impact by becoming a Shalom Partner – the name we reserve for our most special and committed monthly givers.
By becoming a Shalom Partner, you can help us bless and restore all of Israel. You'll get to experience the joy of seeing Jewish people come to know their Messiah, Yeshua. And through their return to God, we believe that Jesus will then return.
The best part? 100% of your monthly donations as a Shalom Partner go directly to ministry – meaning 100% of your gift will help proclaim the Gospel, lift the physical burdens of persecuted Jewish people, equip fellow Believers in the Jewish roots of their faith and support Messianic Jewish communities in Israel and among scattered Jewish communities around the world.
As a Shalom Partner, you will also receive:
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A 10% discount on all Jewish Voice store products (not available for non-direct store offers)
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Free access to select digital books in our online Partner Portal that will help grow your faith and understanding of Jesus
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A special monthly newsletter with exclusive access to Jewish Voice’s staff chapel events and first-look stories from our outreaches and partner ministries in Israel
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An exclusive Shalom Partner Lapel Pin that demonstrate your love of the Jewish people and your calling to bring wholeness to our broken world
