A Letter from the Dorot Chair

W
hen I was first asked by Dr. John Fischer, the current president of the Union of Messianic Jewish
Congregations (UMJC), if I would like to lead a task force that would investigate how Messianic Jewish
congregations could become more relevant, I jumped at the opportunity. I have been a part of the Messianic
Jewish community for more than thirty years, and I see all Messianic Jews as family despite our differences. I must
admit that I saw this as a chance to connect the different parts of the Messianic Jewish world through providing a
cohesive vision based on the information that we would find. I did not know what that vision would be, except
that the research would offer members of the Messianic Jewish community the opportunity to communicate, assert
opinions, and discuss our future together. So, if I am biased in any way, it’s that I desire that the variety of groups
in our community communicate and work together to bring about a more cohesive and mature Messianic Judaism.
I chose my Dorot team based on the desire to go beyond Union members, so that we could reach a broader
audience and be more representative of the larger Messianic Jewish community.

We should never
forget the crucial place
Messianic Jews have
in the kingdom of God.
and also to the Gentiles. Because of this unique identity, we need to keep our congregations thriving.
I also accepted Dr. Fischer’s offer because I believe the Messianic Jewish
community’s identity of celebrating Yeshua in a Jewish context marks us as
unique in the Jewish and Christian worlds. The church and the broader Jewish
community each lack one of these two elements, and we can stand proud to
uphold the original intent of the first-century “messianic” community. We
spend a lot of time criticizing ourselves, or being embarrassed about what we
believe, or assuming we don’t measure up to various Christian and Jewish
communities. While we still have a lot of growth ahead, we should never forget
the crucial place we have in the religious world and in the kingdom of God. I
believe our goal is to foster a rich spiritual life within our Messianic Jewish
community until Messiah returns so that we can be a light to the Jewish people

Thank you for setting aside some time to read through the work of the Dorot Task Force. We spent many days
and nights creating and analyzing our studies of a decent number of younger members of our Messianic Jewish
community. It is my hope that much of our findings will not be in vain but will inspire leaders and congregants to
continue to cultivate vibrant, distinctly Jewish, and relevant congregations for the current and next generations.

Some findings of the following report will be encouraging, while others might be hard to hear, and some might
not offer anything new. Each of our Messianic Jewish congregations are at different places in their development
and so the relevance of the information we provide will depend on the location, age, and maturity level of the
congregation. That being said, there is always room for
improvement in all aspects of congregational life.

Happy reading and feel free to ask us

questions at
Dorot@umjc.org.

Sincerely,

Deborah Pardo-Kaplan
Chair, Dorot Task Force

1
 Acknowledgments

O
ur highly qualified volunteer team consists of six people. There was some turnover at the beginning—and we
would like to thank Rabbi Joshua Brumbach, Sabra Waldman and others for their input in the initial stages.
Some members of our team have chosen not to make their full names public. Many of us have graduate
degrees, have worked for Jewish organizations, and some have been involved in interfaith work, which we hope
helped contribute to the professionalism of the report. Dorot is grateful to Rabbi Matthew Gliebe for consulting
with us on our surveys and for determining the statistical significance of our young adult survey responses.
Thank you to Rabbi Stuart Dauermann for writing about chavurot in our Literature Reviews chapter and to
Rabbi Russ Resnik for helping us understand the history of various Union youth and young adult initiatives.
We especially want to thank all the survey respondents and interview participants for helping us gather in-
valuable information that will help make Messianic Jewish congregations more relevant.

Chair    Deborah Pardo-Kaplan

Members   .G. (YMJA)

R

Dr. Stan Meyer (Formerly of Jews for Jesus and a sociologist)

Sarena Nichol (Union Executive)

H.R.

Scott Schere

2
 Table of Contents

Executive Summary Page

List of Tables and Charts 4

1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

2 Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

3 Findings
  Teen Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
  Young Adult Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
  Young Adult Interviews and Open-Ended Survey Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

4  Literature Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

5  Messianic Jewish Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

6 Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

7 Recommendations
  • Recommendations for the Union and Messianic Jewish Congregations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
  • Recommendations for a Union Youth and Young Adult Director (YYAD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

8 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
• Surveys (Access our online data through the clickable icons.)
• Survey Open-Ended Question Responses
• Interview Questions
• Statistical Significance Evaluation

3
 Executive Summary
T
wo years ago, the Union executive asked the Dorot
Task Force to explore how Messianic Jewish
congregations could stay relevant to younger and
older people in an ever-changing world. They offered
us the example of Synagogue 3000, an effort in the
broader Jewish community to make synagogues vital
centers of Jewish life, and they asked us to evaluate
trends in the larger Jewish and Christian communities.
In May 2020, the Dorot team met to discuss our
mandate and decided to narrow our scope to one that
would research what attracts (and engages) younger
people (teens and young adults) to Messianic Jewish
congregations. We decided it was crucial to understand
how our community’s Messianic Jewish/Gentile young
people feel about their current Messianic Jewish
community, what they value, what needs improvement,
and why some no longer attend. Although the purpose
of this study is to describe what attracts (and engages)
youth and young adults to Messianic Jewish con-
gregations/communities, we also offer recommenda-
tions to Messianic Jewish leaders, which will hopefully
result in vibrant, distinctly Jewish, and relevant
Messianic Jewish communities in a dynamic world.
The largest part of our research involved quantitative
(online surveys) and qualitative (Zoom interviews)
studies. We researched, developed, and analyzed two
surveys, one for Messianic Jewish/Gentile teens and
one for Messianic Jewish/Gentile young adults. To
create and analyze these studies, we developed a
central question: What leads Jewish young adults/youth
to be attracted to, engaged in, and invested in Messianic
Jewish congregations/communities? While this question
only mentions Jewish young adults/youth, we also
included some young Messianic Gentiles in our studies.
However, our research tries to focus on what attracts
Jewish young people to Messianic Jewish congregations
because of the paucity of this demographic in Messianic
Jewish congregations.
The teen survey had 46 respondents (70-79% Jewish),
the young adult survey had 208 respondents (64-74%
Jewish), and we interviewed 29 young adults (79%
Jewish) at 9 (Union, MJAA/IAMCS, Independent)
congregations spread throughout the United States and
4
Canada. Although, we fell short of our interview goals
(which was 50 young adults), we believe that those we
interviewed offered important insights and were
representative of others in the community because
their answers correlated with the survey responses.
The young adult survey included 26 respondents who
do not currently attend/left a Messianic Jewish
congregation. Please see the appendix for the survey
questions/responses and the interview questions.
The overall trends that stood out from the survey and
interview findings are that young people value timeless
elements such as community relationships—with the
rabbi, their peers, their mentors, and members of all
age groups—and the shared values of honoring Yeshua in
the context of Jewish life and tradition. Some of those
surveyed and interviewed also want to reflect modern
Jewish values such as social justice or humanitarian
works, have egalitarian communities, and transparent
leaders (and authentic Judaism) who are willing to discuss
political and cultural issues of the day; sometimes young
adults will leave if these elements are missing. So whether
leaders are trying to retain teens and young adults or
draw in new people, our findings show it is essential to
provide a welcoming community environment where
relationships thrive as well as cultivating faith in Yeshua
within an authentic Jewish space.
Of course, our research is not exhaustive. It’s a starting
point for Messianic Jewish leaders and their congre-
gants, with a hope that they will use this information
and be creative with follow-up as it pertains to their
particular congregation. We did include broader Jewish
community trends in our Literature Reviews chapter
and discussed their relevance to our findings. Dorot did
not look into trends that attract young people to
Christian churches as that would be an entirely
different, although helpful, research effort. We
recommend that for a future study.
After an introduction and showing our methodology
in chapters 1 and 2, this report presents our survey
findings in chapter 3, followed by our interview
findings. In chapter 4, we present some relevant
literature reviews including Pew, United Jewish
Appeal, American Jewish Committee, and Barna
survey trends, and implications for Messianic Jewish
leaders based on the literature. Chapter 5 summarizes
our interviews with heads of Jewish missions so that
leaders of congregations can understand how their
programs might benefit their youth and young adult
populations. In chapter 6 in the Discussion chapter, we
synthesize our survey and interview findings as well as
refer to some of the relevant literature studies. In
chapter 7, Dorot will offer its overall recommendations
for the Union and for Messianic Jewish congregational
leaders in various areas by topic, and in the second half
of chapter 7, we present a review of Union youth and
young adult leadership and make a recommendation
for a Youth and Young Adult Director (YYAD),
which we believe is crucial to the coordination of
programming and development of those demographics
in Union congregations. In chapter 8, we briefly
conclude with an overall review and suggestions for
further research. The appendix will include our
surveys, our interview questions, full responses from
the surveys’ open-ended questions, and a statistical
evaluation of our scale questions. Every chapter
provides valuable insights, but if you want to an overall
summary, you can go to the Discussion chapter and the
Recommendations chapter.
Dorot presented an hour-long slideshow/video
presentation of our preliminary work at the 2022
Union winter leadership conference. This final report
is an expansion on that presentation. We hope that our
findings and recommendations will be helpful for the
leadership and members of the Messianic Jewish
community toward their continued work in creating
vibrant, distinctly Jewish, and relevant Messianic
Jewish congregations.

List of Tables and Charts Page

Age of Attendees and Age of Leaders in Union Congregations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Demographics of Teen Survey Respondents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Teens Preferred Method of Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Ways Teens Participate in Congregations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
What’s Important to Teens in Congregations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Demographics of Young Adult Survey Respondents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Ethnicity of Young Adult Survey Respondents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Age of Young Adult Survey Respondents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Young Adults Preferred Method of Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
What’s Important to Young Adults in Congregations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Frequency of Young Adult Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Ways Young Adults Participate in Congregations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Future Involvement in a Messianic Jewish Congregation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Experiences that Deepen Young Adult Engagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Ideal Service Length by Congregational Affiliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Ideal Sermon Length for Young Adults by Affiliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Jews-Only Rituals Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Culturally Relevant Issues by Political Affiliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Leadership Opportunities by Organizational Affiliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Women in Non-Rabbinic Leadership Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Women’s Ordination Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Learning and Combatting Antisemitism Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Inter-organizational Relationships Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Comparison of What’s Important Teens and Young Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Demographics of Interview Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Statistical Evaluation Charts (Appendix) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

5
 Chapter 1 Introduction

D
avid,* a young adult, and his mother entered the
large sanctuary of a Messianic Jewish congregation
for the first time. It didn’t take long to feel at home.
He was drawn by the message, the worship, and the
leadership. “Rabbi [name of rabbi] was speaking, the
worship was going, we knew it was the right place,”
David said. “We felt so connected and everything made
sense.” Soon, David would go to Israel with the rabbi
and it would deepen his encounter with God and his
relationship with the community. Many young adults
like David are drawn to Messianic Jewish congrega-
tions for similar reasons: an engaging rabbi, the mes-
sage, and worship in a Jewish context. They are often
introduced to Messianic Judaism through their parents
as well. These are just some things that draw young
people. In this report, we will learn about what attracts
and engages teens and young adults as well as what
needs improvement, what repels, and what causes
some to leave.
Before Dorot established our mandate, we defined the
underlying problem, which was the aging of congre-
gational populations and the under-engagement of
Jewish youth and young adults. According to the UMJC
leadership, in Union congregations, 49% of attendees
are over age 65, 9% are between the ages of 25-34, and
2% are between 18-24 (see table 1). These figures are
divided fairly evenly between men and women. Of
those in leadership (table 2), 63% are over age 65, 5%
are between the ages of 25-34, and 4% are between
18-24. Of these figures, 68% are men, and 32% are
women. The Union, and possibly the broader
Messianic Jewish community, is witnessing the greying
of its congregants and leaders without sufficiently
attracting and engaging young people to help revitalize
congregations. While this report is not directly about
leadership transition, attracting and engaging teens and
young adults will impact the pipeline to rabbinic
leadership as well.

Table 1 AGE OF ATTENDEES IN Table 2 AGE OF LEADERS IN

UNION CONGREGATIONS UNION CONGREGATIONS
Age of Percentage Age of Percentage
Congregants Leaders
65+ 49% 65+ 62.7%
55–64 15.1% 55–64 9.9%
45–54 10.2% 45–54 8.8%
25–34 9.4% 35–44 9.9%
18–24 2.2% 25–34 5.2%
18–24 3.6%

*  Not his real name

6
The Dorot team formulated the problem, our mandate, (ages 13-18). The purpose of this study is to propose
and a baseline of questions we would ask our survey how Messianic Jewish congregations/communities can
respondents and our interview participants. (Please see the effectively attract and engage these cohorts, resulting in
appendix to view our surveys and interview questions). vibrant, distinctly Jewish, and relevant Messianic
Jewish communities in an ever-changing world.
The Problem: The future of vibrant, distinctly
Jewish, and relevant Messianic Jewish synagogues/ Central and Sub-Questions
communities in North America requires fresh engage- We used a central question as well as sub-questions
ment, investment, and long-term commitment of to guide the development of our survey and inter-
Jewish young adults (ages 18-35) and Jewish youth view questions.
(ages 13-18). However, the Union executives maintain
that, at this time, these cohorts are disproportionately Our Central Question: What leads Jewish young
under-engaged or under-invested in our communities. adults/youth to be attracted to, engaged in, and
invested in Messianic Jewish congregations/
The Mandate: The Union executive board has communities?
charged the Dorot Task Force with studying vibrant
and relevant Messianic and non-Messianic Jewish Our Sub-Questions were developed to provoke our
congregations in North America who are effectively imagination toward developing further questions for
attracting and engaging young adults (18-35) and youth our surveys and interviews.

•W
 hat do Jewish young adults/youth say attracts and engages them in Messianic Jewish synagogues?
•W
 hat do Jewish young adults say initially led them to become engaged in a Messianic Jewish synagogue/
community?

•W
 hat do Jewish young adults/youth say the Messianic Jewish congregations/communities are doing to regularly
engage them?

•W
 hat do Jewish young adults/youth say repel them or cause them to depart from Messianic Jewish
congregations/communities?

•W
 hat are Messianic Jewish missions, Messianic Jewish camps, and other organizations in the Messianic Jewish
community doing to attract and engage Messianic Jewish young adults/youth?

• H
 ow has technology played a part in engaging Messianic Jewish young adults/youth?
•W  hat is attracting Gentile young adults/youth to Messianic Jewish congregations?
•W  hat are some significant ways that non-Messianic Jewish communities/synagogues are attracting and
engaging Jewish young adults?

•W
 hat can the Union do as an organization to assist congregations in reaching Messianic Jewish young
adults/youth?

•H
 ow are collaborative efforts facilitating the attraction/engagement of young adults/youth?

7
 Jewish Identity in Relation to the Surveys and Interviews

F
or the purposes of our research, we considered respondents Jewish if they had a Jewish parent, grand-
parent, or underwent conversion. In most of our charts, we distinguished between those who are Jews by
birth and those who converted in case leaders were interested in differentiating. In the teen survey, we
asked one identity question that offered five options: Jewish with one parent, Jewish with two parents, Jewish
formal conversion process, Messianic Gentile, none of the above. We also asked in a separate question whether
the respondent identifies as a Messianic Jew. In the young adult survey, we copied Pew’s approach to Jewish
identity which offers seven options to the identity question: Jewish parent(s), Jewish grandparent(s), Jewish
spouse, not Jewish, conversion, Christians are Jewish because Jesus was Jewish, and don’t know. We also
asked the young adults if they identify as Messianic Jewish, and if they did not, we asked how they identify.
We used the term “ethnicity,” though not a perfect word, in many of our charts as a category that included:
Jewish by birth, Gentiles, and converts. A standard sociological definition for ethnicity is that it’s a term that
describes a shared culture, including the practices, values, and beliefs of a group, such as a shared language,
religion, and traditions.

NOTES ON THE TEEN SURVEY REGARDING JEWISH IDENTITY

32 respondents out of 46 (70%) had at least one Jewish parent.
82% identified as Messianic Jews. We did not offer grandparent is Jewish as a category, which
explains why 4 respondents identify as Messianic Jewish. Still, possibly 4+% of Gentile teens
identify as Messianic Jewish.
22% identified as Messianic Gentile.

NOTES ON THE YOUNG ADULT SURVEY REGARDING JEWISH IDENTITY

150 of 208 (72%) respondents identified as Messianic Jews.
134 of 208 were Jews by birth (64%), 19 converted/in process (9%) = (73% Jews)
12 respondents who did not identify as Messianic Jewish would be considered Jewish because they
had a Jewish grandparent: some chose not to identify as Messianic Jewish because they use other
terms, or because they no longer identify as Messianic.
16 respondents (8%) identified as Messianic Jewish despite not having a Jewish parent, grandparent,
or conversion process (a few respondents had a Jewish spouse).
Some respondents marked multiple answers; if a respondent was both Jewish and had a Jewish
spouse, they were noted only as Jewish.
If a respondent was going through a conversion process and had a Jewish spouse, they were noted
only as a convert.
If a respondent had a Jewish spouse but no other Jewish identity marker, they were marked as spouse.
One respondent who said they had a Jewish parent and they converted was marked as Jewish.
Of respondents who answered “Jesus was Jewish/Christians are Jewish because Jesus was,” 9 were
Jewish, 4 were Gentile, and 1 was in or had completed the process of conversion.
Of those who mentioned a conversion process, 12 identified as Messianic Jewish (3 while simulta-
neously saying they are not Jewish), while 7 did not.

8
NOTES FROM THE INTERVIEWS REGARDING JEWISH IDENTITY
23 Messianic Jews (with at least one Jewish parent) (79%)

1 Convert through Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council (MJRC)

9
 Chapter 2 Methodology
T
he largest part of Dorot’s research focused on
creating a qualitative study, where we interviewed
Messianic Jewish/Gentile congregants, and a
quantitative study, where we sent out surveys to the
North American Messianic Jewish community.
The rest of our research examined other aspects of the
Messianic Jewish and broader Jewish community:
• R elevant literature reviews such as the Jewish Americans the most young people, which they readily offered us,
in 2020 Pew report, Synagogue 3000, United Jewish
Appeal, and Barna reports.
•M  essianic Jewish Missions/organizations’ young adult
programming based on interviews with the heads of
Jewish missions.
•W
 e offered a brief history of Union youth/young
adult leadership programs and made recommenda-
tions regarding a Youth and Young Adult Director for
the Union.
•W
 e developed general recommendations for the Union
and congregational leaders.
Methodology
Our interviews and surveys were researched, de-
veloped, and conducted between May 2020 and
August 2021. We compiled and analyzed our surveys
and transcribed our interviews, produced a preliminary
findings presentation, and wrote our final report
between August 2021 and July 2022.
We created one anonymous teen (ages 13-18—in high
school) survey with 43 questions and one anonymous
young adult survey (ages 18-45) with 66 questions. The
young adult survey included up to age 45 to capture
congregants who had left Messianic Jewish
congregations. We sent out surveys as far and wide as
we could within North America, including to various
Messianic Jewish congregations and through
congregational organizations, MJ organizations,
missions, camps, friends, and family. Those who were
interviewed also filled out the young adult surveys.
Our goal for our interviews was to speak with 5 young
adults (4 Jewish and 1 Gentile) per congregation at 10
10
MJ congregations across North America. In order to
determine the selection of congregations to interview,
we asked Union leaders to provide the numbers of
young people at their congregations as well as their
ethnicity—we were looking for congregations with the
highest numbers of young adults, especially of Jewish
identity. We received about 20 responses out of the 66
Union congregations. We also asked leadership at the
MJAA to provide names of their congregations with
and to disseminate our surveys. However,
communication with MJAA (and some UMJC)
congregations was challenging, particularly during the
pandemic, which resulted in fewer interview
participants than planned.
We engaged in 29 virtual face-to-face interviews of
Jewish and Gentile young adults, ages 18-35 (a couple
were slightly older) from nine congregations with
adequate young adult populations (including UMJC/
MJAA/Independent congregations mostly in US, but
also a few in Canada). Congregational interview
participants were located on both coasts of the US and
in-between. We asked interview participants about 20
questions each. Interview participants will remain
anonymous in the Findings chapter. Our interviews
were transcribed (kept anonymous) and analyzed using
grounded theory methods; we coded 29 interview
transcripts and several open-ended young adult and
teen survey questions using ATLAS.ti computer
program with major codes (key words) such as:
attracted, background, engaged, ideal, improving,
invested, leaving, practice, repelled, and valued. We
then subdivided those major codes. In total, we created
more than 1000 sub-codes, which helped us determine
trends and select young adult/teen quotes from the
surveys and interviews for the written report.
We disseminated our surveys to congregants from a
variety of Messianic Jewish affiliations, but not to the
extent that we had hoped: in the teen survey, only 24%
were MJAA respondents and 36% in the young adult
survey. However, 28% of teens did not know their
congregational affiliation, so either Union and MJAA
respondent numbers could be higher. The amount of

Our young adult survey can
still be considered statistically
significant if we consider the much
smaller size of the Messianic Jewish
community in North America.
Union respondents is most likely slightly higher as
some who marked “other” affiliation were from
Tikkun congregations, which may also be Union
affiliated. We also asked everyone on our team and our
interview participants to disseminate surveys to Jewish
believers in Messiah/Messianic Jews that do not
attend/have left Messianic Jewish congregations. In the
young adult survey, 12.5% said they are currently “not
involved.” We asked these respondents to fill out the
demographic questions and the scale questions relating
to an ideal congregation.
The young adult survey had two types of scale
questions: 33 Likert scale questions (rating importance
from 1-5), or Type A, and 6 “other ordinal style
questions” (choosing fully support, somewhat support,
against, or no opinion), or Type B. It is commonplace
for respondents of surveys to default to a particular
selection (for example always 3 on a scale of 1-5); this
is why we varied the style of response. To obtain our
percentages for our charts and tables for Type A, we
11
added numbers 4 and 5 (important/very important)
and added somewhat and fully support on the Type B
questions. We (Rabbi Matthew Gliebe) tested for
significant deviations to the imputed average response
in both types of questions. Seven of the Type A
questions were statistically insignificant (they didn’t
deviate much from the imputed average of 3.79). For
the six Type B questions, 3 were statistically significant
(deviated from the imputed average of 2.203); two
questions resulted in significantly “less” support and
one question had significantly “more” support than the
average support. Please see the appendix for a statistical
evaluation of our scale questions.
Our sample size for our young adult survey is likely
significant, given the overall small size of North
American Messianic Jewish community. Our young
adult survey respondent numbers were comparable to
the Springtide’s Research Institute recent survey of
10,000 young Americans.1 In that survey they had 215
Jewish respondents, which they identify as
“statistically significant.” Our young adult survey had
208 respondents (74% Jewish by birth/conversion) can
still be considered statistically significant if we consider
the much smaller size of the Messianic Jewish
community in North America. As well, a recent UJA
study only surveyed 36 Jewish Millennials on Facebook
and engaged in only 20 in-depth interviews. We have
done our best to offer you nuanced information
especially in the young adult survey, including
breakdowns by age, gender, congregational affiliation,
political affiliation, and sometimes by whether
respondents had kids or not. For the teen survey, we
did not break down information because the results
would not have been statistically significant.
1 
Springtide Research Institute. “State of Religion and Young
People 2021.” https://www.springtideresearch.org/research/
the-state-of-religion-2021.
 Chapter 3 Findings
Teen Survey
Our teen survey of 43 questions had 46 respondents from all circles of the Messianic Jewish community.
Respondents were between the ages of 13-18 (still in high school). The teen survey asked questions about teen
demographics, personal identity, congregational involvement, Messianic Jewish affiliation, political identification,
and had scale questions where respondents rated various issues from 1-5, with 5 being most important and 1 not
important. To obtain percentages of what’s important to teens, we added important and very important (#’s 4 and
5) together. The teen survey also included one two-part open-ended question. For the full survey and responses
see the appendix.

A full discussion of trends based on the analysis of the teen and young adult surveys with the young adult
interviews will be in the Discussion chapter of this report and our recommendations can be found in the
Recommendations chapter. The following is a general overview/analysis of the teen survey.

• T eens are often brought to congregations by their families and are encouraged when their families attend (70%).
• T hey value relationships with leadership/an engaging rabbi, with friends their age—especially Jewish teens
(72%) vs non-Jewish teens (50%)—with youth groups, and social events.

• T hey value shared Messianic beliefs and Jewish traditions, especially celebrating the holidays (91%), life cycle
events (87%), and Shabbat services (76%) with Torah reading (78%), a New Testament reading (74%), and
sermons (78%).

• T hey desire to serve in all aspects of synagogue life, but are not always given those opportunities, such as
serving on committees, helping with something during the service, reading from the Torah, or teaching kids.

• T eens think it’s important/very important to serve in leadership roles (61%).

• T hey want to learn about and combat antisemitism (80%), be mentored (81%) and some of them appreciate
Bible study (67%), worship (music) (61%), and community service projects (54%).

• T hey showed less interest in Messianic dance, spiritual (charismatic) gifts, Friday night (Kabbalat Shabbat)
services, women rabbis, and going to college near a Messianic Jewish congregation.

• T hey think leadership is trying or does a good job talking about culturally relevant issues (87%).
• T hey can be discouraged from attending if there are a lack of peers, they live far, they are not spiritually fed,
they aren’t given opportunities to serve, if the youth group is disorganized, if they move, go off to college, or
attend church.

12
 DEMOGRAPHICS OF TEEN SURVEY RESPONDENTS
Age Identity (Continued)
Ages 14-17: 70% Gentile: 22% identified
Age 18: 13% as Messianic Gentile.
Age 13: 9%

Gender Congregational Affiliation

Female: 59% UMJC: 35%
Male: 41% MJAA: 24%
Other: 13%
Identity (28% were unaware of their congregation’s
Jewish: 70% affiliation)
32 respondents out of 46 (70%) had at
least one Jewish parent. Possibly 4 respon- Politics
dents (who answered “none of the above” Conservative/Very Conservative: 41%
in the identity question) had a Jewish Moderate: 33%
grandparent. Liberal or Very Liberal: 11%

82% identified as Messianic Jewish. Experiences

Possibly 4+% of Gentile teens identify as Bar/Bat Mitzvah: 76%
Messianic Jewish. Messianic Overnight Camp: 74%
Traveled to Israel: 28%

DEMOGRAPHICS
What are the bestOF TEENtoSURVEY RTESPONDENTS
ways EENS’ PREFERRED METHOD OF
communicate with teens?
Ageways to communicate with
COMMUNICATION
Congregational Affiliation
The best
teensAges 14-17:text,
are email, 70% or Instagram. UMJC: 35%
Age 18: 13%
Using websites, Facebook, phone MJAA: 24%
calls,Age
and 13: 9% are the least
TikTok Email Other: 13% 70%
favored method. Text (28% were unaware of their congregation’s
Gender Or SMS affiliation) 54%
Female: 59%
Insta-
Male: 41% gram Politics 26%

Web-
Conservative/Very Conservative: 41%
Identity 15%
Moderate: 33%
site
Jewish: 70% Phone Liberal or Very Liberal: 11%
32 respondents out of 46 (70%) hadCall
at 9%
least one Jewish parent. Possibly 4 respon-
Face- Experiences
dents (who answered “none of the above” 9%
Bar/Bat Mitzvah: 76%
book
in the identity question) had a Jewish Messianic Overnight Camp: 74%
TikTok 7%
grandparent. Traveled to Israel: 28%
82% identified as Messianic Jewish. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Possibly 4+% of Gentile teens identify as
Messianic Jewish. Gentile: 22% identified
as Messianic Gentile.

13
What are ways that teens participate in their Messianic Jewish congregations?
The activities that teens participate in seem to be more passive than active: attending services or youth programs
for example. In their survey, they have expressed a desire to serve, but from this chart, we can see that they are
not serving enough in many areas such as reading from the Torah/Besorah, teaching, participating in worship
music, organizing events, or serving on a committee. Teens do want to participate in leadership roles (61% find
it important/very important), but this chart shows that they may not be serving in such capacities as much as
they would like.

WAYS TEENS PARTICIPATE IN MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATIONS

Attending Holiday Services 83%

Attending Shabbat Services 74%

Participating in Youth
65%
Programs or Events

Reading from Torah/

39%
Haftarah/Besorah

Helping with Something

35%
in Service

Participating in Congrega- 24%

tional Programs/Events

Teaching Jewish Studies/

22%
Hebrew to Children

Participating in Music/ 20%

Worship

Helping Organize Special

13%
Events/Holidays

Serving On a Committee 11%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Congregational Attendance of Teen Respondents

The teen survey respondents seem to be very engaged in congregational life for most of their life, and are dedicated to
attending weekly. Many plan to continue that involvement in the coming year, despite quite a few being less involved
(40%) during COVID-19. A fairly high number stayed involved (44%) or were more so (17%) during COVID-19.

•M  ore than half of respondents have participated in a MJ congregation their whole life.
• A
 lmost 70% attend weekly or more.
• In the next year, more than half plan to be involved the same or more than their current level of involvement.
Almost 7% plan to be less involved.

• C OVID-19: 44% of respondents say there’s no change in level of involvement since COVID-19. 40% say less
involved and 17% say more involved.

14
Do teens feel their congregation does a good job discussing culturally relevant issues
(such as racial justice, gender and sexual identity, mental health, disability)?
Most teen respondents (87%) felt that congregations are at least trying to do a good job talking about culturally
relevant issues. A small amount of respondents thinks that the congregation could improve in their discussion about
culturally relevant issues.

• 4 8% responded “they try,” 39% said “great job,” 13% said “stinks.”

What’s important to teens in their ideal Messianic Jewish congregation?

Below is a chart showing the responses to 26 Likert scale questions. We asked respondents to rate issues on a scale of
1-5 regarding their ideal religious community. The percentages shown reflect the addition of numbers 4 and 5 on the
scale (important/very important). Based on this chart, teens seem to value relationships (with leadership, peers, men-
tors, and social gatherings), as well as Jewish traditions such as holidays, life cycle events, Shabbat services with Torah
readings, Torah study, oneg, and learning about and combatting antisemitism. Less important for teens were focusing
on spiritual gifts, Messianic dance, attending college near a congregation, sharing similar political views, Friday night
services, Hebrew liturgy, and female rabbis.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO TEENS IN THEIR IDEAL MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATION

Having an Engaging Rabbi or Leader 91%
Jewish Holiday Celebrations 91%
Observing Jewish Life Cycle Events 87%
Having Mentors/YA Leaders 81%
Learning About Antisemitism 80%
Shabbat Torah Reading 78%
Having a Sermon or D'rash 78%
Having Other Teens 78%
Oneg/Social Gatherings 76%
Shabbat Morning Service 76%
Reading NT in Service 74%
Having Jewish Teens 72%
Family Members Involved 70%
Vibrant Youth Group 70%
Bible or Torah Study 67%
Teens in Leadership Roles 61%
Participating in Community
54%
Service Projects
Worship Music 54%
Having Non-Jewish Teens
in Congregation 50%

Focusing on Spiritual Gifts

(Charismatic) 46%

Hebrew Liturgy 46%

Messianic Dance 37%
Going to College Near MJ Community 37%
Shared Political Views 33%
Friday Night Service 33%
Women Rabbis 22%

0% 10% 20% 15
30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Teen Survey Open-Ended Question
Our teen open-ended survey question asked respondents to answer the following two-part question: “Tell us the main
reason you want to be involved or don’t want to be involved in your congregation (or the wider messianic community).”
The following are some of their responses. (See the appendix for a complete list of quotes).

Why do teens want to be involved in their Messianic Jewish congregations?

Here are some of the frequent key words (following) from the survey responses that depict why teens want to be
involved in Messianic Jewish congregations:

• B ible/Torah Studies • S hared Beliefs/Like-mindedness

• C ommunity Relationships • S erving
• F amily Attends/Dad Rabbi • T ikkun Olam
• Jewish Tradition/ Messianic Space/Jewish Culture • V alue leaders
• O utreach •W  orship
• P eer Group

   I want to be involved in this community because they match my religious

beliefs and I want to grow in fellowship with people like me.

The following are a few quotes from the teen survey open-ended question that reflect the key words listed
above. For the full list of quotes see the appendix.

• “I
 want to be involved in my community because I love serving and my dad is a rabbi.”

• “I
 really enjoy learning about the Torah.”

• “I want to be involved because going to my congregation each week helps me feel closer to G-d and the community, when
I help out and get involved it keeps me busy in things like helping set up chairs and helping with the Torah, it helps me
realize that I’m working with something important. When participating in youth events, I learn a lot not just about G-d’s
word but life in general and how to live.”

• “I want to be surrounded by like-minded people who believe in the importance of Torah and the Jewish people, and all
the beliefs I have been raised on.”

• “I
 wish to be involved in my congregation because I feel surrounded by very godly people who have poured their entire
lives into our congregation and the messianic Jewish movement and I wish to not only do the same, but I wish to reward
the older leaders with the knowledge that their congregation is going into good hands. I also wish to be more involved in
the movement because I truly believe that God smiles upon the messianic Jewish people and we can retain our closeness
with him with cooperation and constant lifelong learning together in this growing community.”

• “Cuz it’s lit; that’s all I got to say.”

16
Why do teens not want to be involved in Messianic Jewish congregations?
Below are key words that represent the reasons teens are not involved in Messianic Jewish congregations.
These are also some of the reasons that people leave congregations, which we will explore more in the Interview/
Open-Ended Questions section and in the Discussion chapter.

  Some Reasons Why Teens do not Want to Be Involved in Messianic Jewish Congregations

• Church Involvement • L ack of Peer Group • L ack of Social Justice

• College •M  oving •N  ot Spiritually Fed
•D istance • Disorganized Youth Group

• “ I do not want to be involved in my congregation because I am an atheist and being a part of a congregation has
always been more religious than cultural. But sometimes I am involved because my family is there.”

• “ Well, I would like to be involved but I don’t drive and it’s far away from my house, so it all depends on whether my
whole family goes.”

• “ Having being hurt and bullied at my former congregation as a tween and teen, because I was not as observant or
inclined towards rabbinic Judaism.”

• “ We have recently moved so I haven’t been going to a messianic congregation, but a church. We still celebrate
holidays and once in a while visit our old congregation.”

• “ Going to a messianic congregation on Shabbat and a church on Sundays, I feel like my messianic congregation pro-
vides fewer opportunities and less motivation for youth serving/interaction/fellowship. My theology and methods of
exegesis do seem closer to my messianic congregation, but there simply isn’t too much opportunity to interact with
other like-minded individuals. Most of the other youth at my congregation seem more interested in other activities
than in studying and/or discussing Torah, and despite valiant efforts by some of the leaders to cultivate this, nothing
really stuck, especially during COVID-19. It’s not that I don’t want to be involved, but the lack of opportunity simply
precludes the possibility of more involvement, and I have many other activities and opportunities for fellowship and
for serving others elsewhere.”

• “ I personally don’t enjoy my congregation much, but that’s

just me. The youth group is extremely unorganized and no
one takes responsibility for the teens. And being a teenager, The youth group is extremely
the way the youth group is set up makes up for a good amount
of my experience in my congregation. After going there for unorganized and no one takes
about 3-4 years now, there are still only about less than 5
different people that I look forward to seeing after service. responsibility for the teens.
I personally wouldn’t feel like I’m missing out on much if
I didn’t attend my congregation.”

17
Conclusion of Teen Survey Results
Most of the teens who responded to the teen survey were Jewish (70%), Union-affiliated (35%, although almost
30% did not know their congregational affiliation), and were equally divided politically between moderate/liberal
(44%) and conservative/very conservative (41%). A large number (82%) identify as Messianic Jewish. Although
22% of teen respondents identify as Messianic Gentile, about 4+% of Gentile teens are identifying as Messianic
Jews, revealing a need for leaders to clarify Jewish identity. Most of the teens have been attending their current
congregation their whole life (61%) or for most of their life (6-10 years: 9%), possibly implying that there isn’t
an influx of new teens.

Teens are often brought to congregations by their families and are encouraged when their families attend (70%).
They value relationships with leadership/an engaging rabbi, with friends their age—especially Jewish teens (72%)
vs non-Jewish teens (50%)—youth groups and social events. They also value the shared Messianic beliefs and
Jewish traditions, especially celebrating the holidays (91%), life cycle events (87%), and Shabbat services (76%)
with Torah reading (78%), New Testament reading (74%), and sermons (78%). They desire to serve in all aspects
of synagogue life, but are not always given those opportunities, such as serving on committees, helping with
something during the service, reading from the Torah, or teaching kids. Teens think it’s important/very important
to serve in leadership roles (61%). They want to learn about and combat antisemitism (80%), be mentored (81%)
and some of them appreciate Bible study (67%), worship (music) (61%), and community service projects (54%).
Teens showed less interest in Messianic dance, spiritual (charismatic) gifts, Friday night (Kabbalat Shabbat)
services, women rabbis, and going to college near a Messianic Jewish congregation. They think leadership
is trying or does a good job talking about culturally relevant issues (87%). They can be discouraged from attending
if there are a lack of peers, they live far, they are not spiritually fed, they aren’t given opportunities to serve, if the
youth group is disorganized, if they move, go off to college, or attend church.

Implications for Messianic leaders are that they should intentionally focus more on teens, making sure there’s an
organized youth group and activities that draw other teens. Encourage teens to serve in all aspects of congregational
life, including on committees. Offer them training and mentoring in Bible and help them grow spiritually and also in
areas that allow them to be active participants in services and in other areas of congregational life. Ask your teens
about the areas in which the teen survey showed less interest to see if these reflect your congregation. Encourage
teens to seek out colleges nearby or near other Messianic Jewish congregations so that they can stay engaged during
that time period. Leaders need to sensitively talk to teens (and parents) about Jewish and Gentile identities,
ensuring that Gentile youth aren’t calling themselves Jews. Leaders should focus on bringing in new Jewish families
with teens and ask teens to invite their friends to events, holidays, and studies—including Jewish friends in
churches—to ensure growth of this demographic.

18
Young Adult Survey
We had 208 respondents for the young adult 66-question survey. For this survey, we expanded our age group to
18-45 (post high school) to be able to include some people who had left congregations—those non-attendees an-
swered the demographic questions and the scale questions, which were mostly about an ideal congregation. We
received a few respondents beyond age 45. The young adult survey included questions about the respondent’s
demographics (age, gender, marital status, whether they had children, identity questions), attendance frequency,
political affiliation, COVID-19-related issues, communication tools, congregational affiliation, experiences that deepen
congregational engagement, ways they are involved in their congregation, levels of involvement, ideal sermon and
service lengths, communication about culturally relevant issues, and also included scale questions relating to various
issues. The following is an overview with some analysis of the young adult survey. Please go the appendix to view the full
survey and responses.

  Young Adult Survey at a Glance

• Y oung adult survey respondents are attracted and engaged by community relationships, such as peer groups
(79%) and mentors (80%) or the rabbi (70%), as well as living out Yeshua faith in Jewish space, which includes
holiday celebrations (93%), life cycle events (90%), Hebrew liturgy (64%), Shabbat service (85%) with Torah
and NT readings and a sermon, Torah study (80%), and children’s programs (Hebrew school) (86%).
• Y oung adults prefer shorter services (max 2 hours) and shorter sermons (15-30 minutes).
• Y oung adults place less importance on having a mostly Jewish community (48%), organized Shabbat dinners
(44%), social justice initiatives (41%), studying traditional Jewish texts (40%), spiritual gifts (38%), a Friday
night/Kabbalat Shabbat service (37%), recognizing a MJ conversion (31%), Messianic dance (27%), and sharing
similar political views (20%).
• Y oung adults are involved in various aspects of congregational life, but they could be even more so at the leadership
level such as leading weekly services, serving on committees, teaching kids and adult education, and helping organize
special events.
• Y oung adults support women in non-rabbinic (84%) and rabbinic leadership (Overall 55%: 61% for Union-
affiliated respondents). Ages 38-47 were most against women rabbis.
• S ome things were slightly more important for Union respondents than MJAA-affiliated respondents, such as
praying from a Siddur, studying Jewish texts, rabbinic/non-rabbinic leadership for women, and that certain
rituals are practiced by Jews only (b’nai mitzvah/circumcision).
• U nion-affiliated respondents were even less interested in Messianic dance, and an ethnically diverse congregation
(Jew/Gentiles).
• U nion respondents were slightly less interested (93%) than MJAA-affiliated respondents (97%) in learning about
or combatting antisemitism and leadership opportunities for teens/young adults, although support was still
obviously very high.
• Y oung adults support inter-organizational relationship building (89%).
• Y oung adults would like to have conversations about cultural and political issues and they want leadership and
Jewish life to be authentic and transparent. Many (75%) feel that leaders are doing a good job talking about
culturally relevant issues.
• Y oung adults feel certain things are missing from their congregations, such as a connection to the larger Jewish,
Christian, and Messianic Jewish worlds, healthy identity norms, good worship music, Jewish education/Bible
study, communal events, female leadership, youth participation, halakhic standards, Hebrew liturgy, and clear
explanations of Jew/Gentile roles.
• L ike the teens, they are not involved for various reasons such as moving, going away to college, church
involvement, living far from a congregation, or a perceived lack of spiritual growth.
• S ome young adults say they aren’t aligned socially, culturally, or politically with the congregation and some have
left Messianic Jewish congregations due to these differences.

19
DEMOGRAPHICS OF YOUNG ADULT SURVEY RESPONDENTS
Gender
Male: 48% • Female: 52%
Identity
Messianic Jewish: 72%
Jewish by birth: 64%/conversion: 9%: Total: 73%
Gentile: 26%

• 12 respondents who did not identify as Messianic Jewish would be considered Jewish since they
checked off that they have a Jewish grandparent. Others chose not to identify as Messianic because
they no longer identify as Messianic Jewish or they might use other terms like Jewish Believer.

• 16 respondents (8%) identified as Messianic Jewish despite not having a Jewish parent, grand-
parent, or having undergone a conversion process.

• 53 raised Jewish/have Jewish parent(s)

• 37 have Jewish grandparent (s)

• 14% have Jewish spouse (intermarried)

• 9% in process/converted

• 7% think Christians are Jews

Marital Status
Married: 54% Single: 42% Engaged: 4% Have Children: 40%
Leaders
32% said leader (of some sort) in the congregation
Politics:
Conservative/Very Conservative: 49%
Moderate: 31%
Liberal/Very Liberal: 17%
Congregational Affiliation
UMJC: 60%
MJAA: 36%
Other (Tikkun/Heritage LA/CPM/Ariel/Independent): 19%
26 Respondents Not Currently Involved
(12.5%)
Female: 58%; Male: 42%
Jewish: 81%
Conservative/Very Conservative: 46%
Liberal/Very Liberal: 35%
Moderate: 15%

20
Identity of Young Adult Survey Respondents
In the young adult survey, 73% of respondents were Jews (64% by birth/9% by conversion) and 26% were
Gentile. See the sidebar in our introduction for more details on our definition of Jewish identity.

Ethnicity Qty
Gentile 55
Jewish by Birth 134
Jewish by 19
Conversion

YOUNG ADULT RESPONDENTS’ ETHNICITY

Jewish by Conversion

9%
Gentile:
26%

Jewish by Birth:
64%

21
Ages of Young Adult Survey Respondents
The following charts show the age breakdown of respondents. It’s fairly even across the board. One exception is
that there were slightly more respondents in the 28-32 age range with 26% (or 54 respondents), and fewer (11%
or 23 respondents) in the lower and higher age ranges. Therefore, we heard from college-age young adults and
beyond. Most of our charts will present information broken down by age range.

Age Range Qty

18–22 23
23-27 32
28-32 54
33-37 39
38-42 33
43-47 23
>48 4

YOUNG ADULT RESPONDENTS’ AGES

>48:
43–47: 2%
38–42: 11%
16% 18–22:
11%
33–37: 23–27:
19% 15%
28–32:
26%

22
Messianic Jewish Identity of Young Adult Survey Respondents
In our young adult survey, 72% of respondents describe themselves as Messianic Jewish. We offered a follow-up
open-ended question for respondents who answered “no” to a Messianic Jewish identity. The question was
“Describe your religious identity.” The following table describes their responses and the number of people who
responded. Responses are also in the appendix.

 
Religious Identification other than
“Messianic Jewish”
• A gnostic (1)
• B eliever in Jesus/Yeshua (6)
• C atholic (1)
• C hristian (5)
• C hristian who is joined to MJ community (1)
• C hristian with Jewish practice (1)
• C onservative Jew that believes in Jesus (1)
• G entile believer (1)/God fearer (1)
• H alakhic egalitarian contemporary chassidic diasporic
queer Jew (1)
• Jewish (2)
• Jewish (no longer Messianic) (1)
• Jewish believer in Jesus (1)
• Jewish Gentile (1)
• M essianic Gentile (23)
•M essianic Gentile enrolled in Conversion
process (1)
•M  essianic non-Jew (2)
•N  on-Jew (1)
• S ephardic/Noahide/Messianic (1)
•N  uanced: “I am not Jewish but do not necessarily have
a canned answer. It would depend upon who I was
talking to,” “I don’t like this question. It would depend
on who was asking, ” “I describe myself as Jewish.
I believe in the New Testament and previously identi-
fied as Messianic Jewish, but that label seems to em-
body ideologies I don’t agree with. (Christian
Nationalism, Strict hierarchies, anti-intellectualism,
anti-LGBTQ, etc.)” (3)

Congregational Affiliation of Young Adult Survey Respondents

In our young adult survey, we asked about congregational affiliation. The main affiliations were UMJC and
MJAA/IAMCS (60% UMJC; 36% MJAA, 19% Other). If they answered “other,” we asked: “If you chose “other,”
please describe your congregation or chavurah’s affiliation, if you know it.” Their responses were:

 
Other Congregational • C onservative Synagogue + • Not affiliated (6)
Affiliations IAMCS/UMJC
• Tikkun (6)
• A
 MC/Independent (1) • CPM (3) • Tikkun/UMJC (2)
• Ariel Ministries (1) • Heritage LA (1) • Unknown (3)
• Assemblies of God (1) • Independent (5) • YMJA (1)

23
Non-Attendee Participation in the Young Adult Survey
In the young adult survey, we asked how long respondents have participated in their current congregation. One of
the response options was “I am not currently involved.” There were 26 respondents, or 12.5% overall who are not
currently involved. The majority were Jewish (81%) and female (58%). Most (15 of the 26) were between the
ages of 23-32. For those non-attendees, there were higher numbers of politically conservative/very conservative
(46%) vs. liberal/very liberal (35%). About 15% considered themselves politically moderate. Most of these young
adults have left Messianic Jewish congregations (based on their comments in the open-ended questions), and some
are involved in churches but may have some involvement in the Messianic Jewish community through camps, for
example. The reasons they left or are not involved include a difference in political, social, and cultural values, they
moved to a place with no local congregation, they attend a Conservative synagogue or a church, it was God’s
leading, they perceived the congregation as racist, or they were led by God to leave.

We allowed those not currently involved to answer the scale questions on various issues to gauge their values in
an ideal congregation. Knowing how people who left Messianic Jewish congregations feel about various issues is
critical to helping leaders retain and reach out to young adults. If you separate the responses of those who left
from the rest of the responses, you can see that those not attending did not have a large effect on the overall
survey results; percentages for issues of those who are not currently involved reflect the greater overall numbers.
For example, half of those not currently involved support an equally diverse community as they do a predomi-
nantly Jewish community (consistent with our overall results); those not attending highly support sermons,
mentors, a relationship with the rabbi, having peers, as do our overall results. Non-attendees’ contribution
doesn’t significantly impact the survey’s overall results. In fact, those attending and those not attending equally
had 53% fully/somewhat support for certain rituals for Jews only. Non-attendees contributed 7% to the “fully/
somewhat support” options in the overall results for certain rituals (b’nai mitzvah/circumcision) for Jewish
members only and 3% to the “against” option in the overall results.

Similarly, non-attendees contributed 7%

SAMPLE to “fully/somewhat support” options in
the overall results for women’s ordination
and 4% to the “against option” in the
overall results. Non-attendees were
slightly higher in their support for
Jewish-Only women’s ordination (62%) than those
Rituals currently attending congregations (54%).
Support for women’s ordination from
those who attend congregations and were
Union-affiliated (61%) was similar to
those who don’t currently attend (62%).
Those who do not attend were slightly
more supportive on issues of social justice
(54%) vs our overall (41%) results, and
support for outreach was lower (39%)
than our overall results (56%). So in-
cluding those who left/don’t attend
mostly did not radically skew our results,
although there may have been a slight
impact on the overall numbers on
some issues.

24
What are the best ways to communicate with young adults?
Email and text are the best forms of communication for young adults. Phone calls, websites, Facebook, Instagram,
and TikTok are lesser forms of communication. Ages 28-37 still look at websites. Ages 23-37 still like phone calls.
(See chart also on page 24.)

YOUNG ADULTS’ PREFERRED METHOD

OF COMMUNICATION

Email 78%

Text or
SMS 67%

Phone
32%
Call

Web-
27%
site

Face-
book 26%

Insta-
gram 13%

TikTok 2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% (Par

TABLE SHOWING COMMUNICATION BY AGE RANGE

(Number of Respondents)

Ages Web- Phone Email Text Face- Insta-

site Call book gram

25
What’s important to young adults in their ideal Messianic Jewish congregation?
The young adult survey had 33 Likert scale questions that asked respondents to evaluate the importance of
certain issues. The chart on the following page depicts what is most and least important to young adult
respondents in their ideal congregation. Percentages are based on adding up numbers 4 and 5 on a scale of 1-5
with 5 being very important and 1 not important. Four of the percentage answers come from “other ordinal
questions” that ask respondents to assess whether they fully, somewhat support, have no opinion, or are against
certain issues. Those percentages combine fully and somewhat support responses. These questions relate to
learning about antisemitism, women in non-rabbinic leadership, women’s ordination, and interorganizational
unity, and they have an asterisk (*) next to the title in the chart on the following page. The young adults who
stated that they “are not currently involved” in a Messianic Jewish congregation in the demographics section also
answered the scale questions.

Overall, the chart on the following page reveals that young adults value Jewish traditions such as Jewish holidays,
life cycle events, Shabbat services with Torah/NT readings, Torah study, Jewish liturgy and worship music,
children’s programs, and women in non-rabbinic leadership, as well as relationships with a multigenerational
community, mentors, their peers, the rabbi, and with the broader Jewish community. Some items did not make
the top of the charts but were still above average: women rabbis (55%), outreach (56%), and communal
standards of Jewish practice (56%). Having a diverse community (Jews/Gentiles: 52%) was equally as important
as having a predominantly Jewish community (48%). Less important were organized Shabbat dinners (44%),
social justice (41%), studying traditional Jewish texts (40%), a Kabbalat Shabbat service (37%), recognizing
Messianic Jewish conversion (31%), sharing political views (20%), and Messianic dance (27%). The term
“social justice” seems to draw less support than participating in “community service projects,” which drew 76%
support. Support for social justice was equally not important (22%) and very important (22%). Sharing similar
political views fell more in the not important (27%) category than in the very important category (20%). More
respondents (37%) thought Messianic dance was not important than very important (15%).

WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOUNG ADULTS IN THEIR IDEAL MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATION (Part 1)

Jewish Holiday Celebrations 93%

Learning About Antisemitism* 92%
Welcoming/Family-Like
91%
Environment
Observing Life Cycle Events 90%
Shabbat Torah Reading 89%
Inter-Organizational Unity* 89%
Having a Sermon/D'rash 87%
Women in Leadership 86%
(Non-Rabbinic)*
Children’s Programs 86%
Shabbat Morning Service 85%

*Response options were: fully support • somewhat support • against • no opinion

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

26
WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOUNG ADULTS IN THEIR IDEAL MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATION (Continued)
Reading NT in Service 81%
Having Mentors 80%
Torah/Bible Study Groups 80%
Congregation Affiliates with
79%
Wider MJ Community
Having Other Young Adults 79%
Generationally Diverse
78%
Community
Sponsoring Community
76%
Service Projects
Organized YA Activities 75%
Relationship with Non-
Messianic Jewish Community 73%

Communal Life Outside 72%

of Shabbat Services
Close Relationship with
70%
Rabbi or Leader
Hebrew Liturgy 64%
Oneg/Social Gatherings 64%
Worship Music 58%
Outreach/Evangelism 56%
Having Communal Standards
56%
of Jewish Practice
Women Rabbis* 55%
Inclusion of Gentiles
(Diverse Community)
52%

*Response options were: fully support • somewhat support • against • no opinion

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

27
WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOUNG ADULTS IN THEIR IDEAL MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATION (Continued)

Having a Mostly
48%
Jewish Community
Organized Shabbat Dinners 44%
Participating in Social
41%
Justice Initiatives
Studying Traditional
Jewish Texts 40%

Focus on Spiritual Gifts

(Charismatic) 38%

Friday Night/Kabbalat
Shabbat Service
37%

Recognizing MJ Conversion 31%

Messianic Dance 27%
Shared Political Views 20%

*Response options were: fully support • somewhat support • against • no opinion

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

28
Regarding what’s important to young adults in Messianic Jewish congregations, there didn’t seem to be sig-
nificant differences when areas were broken down by age, gender, congregational affiliation, or ethnicity, but we
will discuss some slight variances below and we will provide demographic breakdowns on various topics in their
respective sections. The [*] issues in the chart will be discussed more thoroughly in their own sections.

Table Showing Identity Variances on Important Areas

There were very slight variances in the important areas (in previous chart) in terms of gender, marital status,
whether respondents had children, congregational affiliation, and political affiliation. Here is a table in alphabetical
order showing what stood out, otherwise there was no significant difference when issues were broken down.

Identity Variances

•A  ffiliating with Wider Messianic Jewish Community: Slightly less important for liberal respondents.
• Building Relationships with Non-Messianic Jewish Community: Slightly more important to very
conservative, males, for Gentile respondents.

• C hildren’s Programs: Slightly less important for very liberal respondents.

• C lose relationship with Rabbi: Slightly less important for very liberal respondents
•D  ance: Slightly less important to Union-affiliated respondents than MJAA-affiliated.
• E thnically Diverse Community: Slightly less important for liberals/very liberal, and less for Union-affiliated
respondents, and slightly more for Gentile respondents.

• Generationally Diverse Community: slightly less important for very conservative respondents.
•K  abbalat Shabbat Service: slightly more important to male respondents, and to very liberal or very
politically conservative respondents.

•M
 entors: slightly less important for very liberal respondents.
•N
 on-liturgical Worship: slightly less important for Union-affiliated respondents and slightly more important
for female respondents.

•O  rganized Young Adult Activities: slightly less for Union-affiliated and slightly less important for liberals.
• Organized Shabbat Dinners: less important to liberal/very liberal respondents
•O  utreach: slightly less important for liberal/very liberal respondents, and more important to Gentiles.
• P raying from a Siddur: slightly more important for Union-affiliated.
• S ermons: slightly less important for very liberal respondents.
• S haring Similar Political Views: slightly more important to very liberal respondents.
• S ocial Justice: slightly more important to Jews, females, those with no kids, liberal/very liberal respondents
• S piritual Gifts: slightly less important to Union-affiliated respondents, and more important to Gentiles.
• S tudying Jewish Texts: slightly more important for liberal/very liberal/moderate respondents and for
Union-affiliated.

• T orah/Bible Study: slightly less important for liberal/very liberal respondents.

29
Congregational Attendance
We asked young adult survey respondents how long they have attended their current congregations. The largest
portion have attended for more than 10 years. If between 3-28% have been attending for up to 5 years, they may
be those who were drawn from outside the Messianic Jewish community, or they may have moved from another
congregation. Either way, that possibly implies low numbers of newly attracted young adults. We also captured a
number of people who are not attending/who have left (12.5%).

•A
 ttended for more than 10 years: 42% •A
 ttended 6-10 years: 15%
•A
 ttended 1-5 years: 28% •A
 ttended less than a year: 3%
•  Not currently Involved: 12.5% or 26 respondents

Frequency of Young Adult Attendance

Frequency of attendance went down during the pandemic from 82% weekly or more than once/ week to 63%
during COVID-19, and attendance increased during COVID-19 for less frequent occasions (holidays or special
events). Post-COVID-19, 33% of young adults plan to be involved virtually/hybrid and 67% plan to attend in
person. (According to the Pew survey of Jewish Americans 2020), only 17% of Jewish young adults (ages 18-29)
attend synagogue weekly, and 5% monthly).

  Frequency of Attendance (Before COVID-19 vs. During COVID-19)

•W  eekly before COVID-19 (58%) vs During COVID-19 (42%)
•M  ore than once/week before COVID-19 (24%) vs During COVID-19 (21%)
• T wice/month before COVID-19 (7%) vs During COVID-19 (12%)
• O nly special events before COVID-19 (6%) vs During COVID-19 (9%)
• O nce/month or less before COVID-19 (3%) vs During COVID-19 (9%)
• O nly on holidays before COVID-19 (2%) vs During COVID-19 (6%)

  Post-COVID-19 Attendance
• P lan to attend in person (67%)    • P lan to attend only virtually (4%)
• P lan to attend both virtually and in person (29%)

Table Showing Attendance Frequency by Children (See following page.)

The following table breaks down frequency of attendance by couples with/without children. There doesn’t seem to
be a significant difference in frequency of attendance between people with/without children. People without
children attend once/week slightly more than those with kids, and those with kids attend more than once/week
slightly more than those without kids.

30
 Distance Young Adults Travel
FREQUENCY BY CHILDREN to Congregation
How far do young adults travel to
60% their congregations?
More than half (60%) travel up to
30 minutes.
40%

Chart Correlating Distance and

20% Frequency of Attendance
The following chart (Following)
0% correlates how far people live from the
More Weekly Twice a Once Only Only congregation with how often they attend.
than Month per Holiday Special
Distance from the congregation may be a
Once Month Services Events
a Week or Less significant factor in a young adult’s
frequency of attendance and duration of
involvement. Living closer (under 30
No Children Children minutes) correlates with young adult
congregants attending weekly or more
than once per week. Young adults
involved for more than 10 years tend to live closer to the congregation. So, there’s a correlation between greater
proximity to the congregation and frequency and longer-term involvement in the community (more than 10
years) for young adults.

 Table Showing Distance Traveled to Congregation (Before COVID-19)

 • U  nder 20 minutes (32%) • 4 0-60 minutes (13%)
  • 2 0-30 minutes (28%) •M  ore than an hour (6%)
  • 3 0-40 minutes (16%)

HOW OFTEN YOUNG ADULTS ATTEND BASED ON DISTANCE FROM CONGREGATION

50%

50%

1–20
Minutes
36%
35%

33%

21–30
Minutes
27%

27%
25%

25%

25%

31–40
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%

Minutes
18%
18%

18%
17%

17%

17%

41–60
15%

Minutes
9%

9%
8%

60+
7%
7%

Minutes
4%
2%
0%

0%

0%

0%

0%
0%

0%

None of
the Above
More than Once a Week Once a Week Twice a Month Once per Month or Less Hoilidays Only Special Events Only

31
How are young adults involved in Messianic Jewish congregations?
Chart Showing Ways Young Adults Participate in Congregational Life
This chart describes ways that young adults are involved in congregational life based on direct questions we asked
in the young adult survey. Based on these questions, participation tends to lean more passive (87% said they
attend), although 64% said they actively participate in weekly services. We also followed up with a question
where young adults could state the exact areas they were involved in (See list on folowing page). That open-ended
question showed that young adults are clearly involved in many aspects of congregational life, including leader-
ship, however, this chart shows that only 32% consider themselves in a leadership role, only 25% serve on a
committee, only 37% help lead weekly services, and only 15% teach adult education. From our open-ended
question, young adults seem to be helping out with children’s education, facilities, technology/social media, ad-
ministration, outreach, the welcome team, meals, and several work at their congregation.

WAYS YOUNG ADULTS PARTICIPATE IN CONGREGATIONS

Attend Weekly Services 87%

Help or Participate in
64%
Weekly Services
Participate in
49%
Special Programs
Help Lead Weekly Services 37%
Help Organize Special Events 35%
Community Leadership Roles 32%
Serving on a Committee 25%
Teaching Children 25%
Help with Youth Events 19%
Teaching Adult Education 15%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

32
Other Ways Young Adults are Involved
We offered an open-ended question to allow young adults to state other ways they are involved in their MJ
community other than the options in the chart above. The question asked, “If you chose “other” ways you were/
are involved in your Messianic Jewish congregation/chavurah, please list them here.” They gave the following
responses. These responses are also available in the appendix.”

• “ I’ve helped out with the children’s program from time to time, as well as babysitting at congregational
events outside of official services.”

• “ I.T., social media, risk assessment.”

• “ I have written a Bar Mitzvah curriculum, which I deliver online and in person to students both
locally and across the world, drawing on the knowledge I gained while in mainstream Judaism and
my experience as a primary and secondary teacher.”

• “Assisting with media at social events

• “ Coordination/assistance with Bible studies
• “ I give suggestions lol.
• “ I work there.”
• “ I have been in leadership, worship leader, gabbi, shamash, occasional Shabbat school teacher, and I have
organized youth events. I stepped out of leadership a number of years ago for family/personal healing, but
I would like to be more involved.”

• “ Facilities, prayer & welcome team

• “ Maintenance, audio/visual, librarian
• “ Security team committee, general maintenance, virtual service tech team
• “ I do outreach.”
• “ Several things I do in my local shul I would hope to do in a local MJ congregation; I do sometimes play
music in a MJ synagogue where I used to live and attend regularly.”

• “ I have a paid job at my congregation.”

• “ I only go to high holy holiday services with family.”
• “ I am being trained in administrative processes along with my husband. I make the weekly slides for our
service, proof the bulletin and send it for printing, and prepare and print the pages to go on the bema for
the Torah/liturgical portion of the Shabbat service. Among many other things, I am co-head of the chil-
dren’s ministry, and a consultant on the Ladies Ministry.”

• “ I am training to be the executive pastor.”

• “ Meals ministry, and hosting women’s group.”
• “ Website and marketing
• “ I help with Oneg.”
• “ It depended on the allowances given to me by the congregation I was attending. In congregations where
women are allowed to lead services and read from the Torah, I assisted in those ways.”

33
Future Young Adult Involvement in a Messianic Jewish Congregation
The majority of young adult survey respondents (88%) and more than half of teens (54%) plan to be involved
the same or more in the coming year in a Messianic Jewish congregation. A small percentage said they will not be
involved in any religious community in the coming year. A couple of people don’t plan to be involved in any
religious community.

FUTURE YDUNG ADULT INVOLVEMENT IN MESSIANIC CONGREGATIONS

3% 45% Same amount of involvement in coming year.
1% 43% Hope to be involved more than now in the next year.

8% 8% Plan to be less involved than now in the next year.

3% Plan to attend a different religious community.

1% No plans for involvement in any religious community.

43% 45% I hope to be involved the same amount as now

I hope to be involved more than now

I plan to be less involved than I am now

I plan to attend a different religious community

I am unlikely to be involved at all in any religious community

How do certain experiences deepen young adult engagement in their

Messianic Jewish congregation?
We asked young adult survey respondents if the following experiences (conferences, b’nai mitzvah, trips to
Israel, and camp) deepened their engagement in their congregation. Conferences seem to deepen engagement the
most, and conference goers tend to attend services, lead in some way, serve on committees, and participate in
programs. Those who have been to camp help chaperone youth programs and events more than those who had
not been to camp.

CHART SHOWING EXPERIENCES THAT DEEPEN YOUNG ADULT ENGAGEMENT IN CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

Conference 67%
Bar/Bat 43%
Mitzvah
Israel Trip 42%

Camp 35%
None of 20%
the Above
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

67% MJ conferences helped deepen engagement. 35% Jewish overnight or day camp helped deepen engagement.

43% B’nai mitzvah helped deepen engagement. 20% None of the above.

42% Trip to Israel helped deepen engagement

34
Table/Chart Correlating Experiences with Congregational Attendance
We found that conferences, b’nai mitzvah, Israel trips, and camp correlate with weekly attendance (or more).
Levels of weekly attendance dropped to 69% if they had not participated in any of these experiences.

TABLE CORRELATING EXPERIENCES WITH CONGREGATIONAL ATTENDANCE

ATTENDANCE FREQUENCY BY EXPERIENCE

100% 6% 3% 7% 7% 14%
90% 3% 2% 0% 0% 6%
5% 3% 3% 3% 3% Only Special Events
80% 3% 3% 8% 7% 8%
Only Holiday Services
70%
60% Once per Month or Less
56% 64% 54% 59% 53%
50% Twice a Month
40%
Weekly
30%
20% More than Once a Week
26% 25% 28% 25% 17%
10%
0%
Camp Conference Israel Bar/ None of
Trip Bat the
Mitzvah Above

35
Shabbat Service Elements
We asked young adults in their survey about certain parts of the Shabbat service, including their ideal ser-
vice and sermon length. We also asked whether certain rituals (b’nai Mitzvah and circumcision) should be for
Jews only. (The responses are analyzed next page.)

What is the ideal service length for young adults?

Union-affiliated respondents prefer a service that lasts up to two hours. Under 10% of all affiliated respondents
want a service that lasts more than three hours, and 10% of all respondents prefer a one-hour service. We assumed
that Oneg/Kiddush is separate from the actual service. MJAA-affiliated respondents prefer a 1.5-hour service. The
few that wanted a service that was more than three hours were mostly Union-affiliated, male, Jewish, with no kids,
attend more than once/week and are between ages 28-37. (Those who wanted a one-hour service were mostly
between the ages of 18-22).

CHART SHOWING IDEAL SERVICE LENGTH BROKEN DOWN BY CONGREGATIONAL AFFILIATION

50%
45% UMJC
40%
35%
MJAA
30%
25%
20% Other
15%
10%
5%
0%
1 Hour 1.5 Hour 2 Hours 3 Hours or More

What is the ideal sermon length for young adults?

Young adults still want a sermon as part of the service. The ideal sermon length seems to be in the 15-30-minute
range. Union-affiliated respondents prefer a shorter sermon than MJAA-affiliated respondents. Sermons are also
slightly less important for liberal respondents.

CHART SHOWING IDEAL SERMON LENGTH FOR YOUNG ADULTS BY AFFILIATION

80%
UMJC
60%
MJAA
40%

20% Other

0%
5–15 Minutes 15–30 Minutes More than Don’t Know I prefer
30 Minutes no sermon.

36
Do young adults want certain rituals (b’nai mitzvah/circumcision) for Jews only in their
Messianic Jewish congregation?
This question in our young adult survey stated: “As you think about what is important to you in the wider
Messianic Jewish community as well as your local congregation or chavurah, please indicate your opinion on the
following statement: Ritual life cycle events like bar/bat mitzvah/circumcision are for Jewish community members only”
and asked if respondents were against, had no opinion, fully support, or somewhat support. (This question can be
tricky to answer because some respondents may agree that circumcision should be for Jews only but not b’nai
mitzvah.) More than half (54%) of respondents fully or somewhat support that certain Jewish rituals should be for
Jewish members only (33% were against, which was statistically significant when compared with similarly styled
response options. In other words, opposition was strong to this question). Those who more fully/somewhat support
this tend to be Jewish, Union-affiliated, moderate-liberal leaning politically, and those without kids. Both those who
attend and those who said they “are not currently involved” in a Messianic Jewish congregation equally fully/
somewhat support (53%) certain rituals for Jews only, however those currently attending are more “against”
than those not currently involved (35% vs 23%) in a Messianic Jewish congregation.

SHOULD CERTAIN RITUALS BE FOR JEWS ONLY?

50% 47%
45% Gentile
40% 38%
37%
35% 31% 33% Jewish
30%
30% 27% 27% 28% By Birth
25% 24%

20%
20% Jewish
15% 15% By Con-
11% 13% 13%
10% version
5%
5% Grand
0% Total
Fully Support No Opinion Somewhat Support Against

37
Table Showing
Opinion for TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR JEWS-ONLY RITUALS
Jews-Only Rituals BY ETHNICITY
by Ethnicity
More Gentiles (38%) 0% Against Fully No Some- Grand
and Jews by Support Opinion what
conversion (37%) than Support Total
Jews by birth (31%)
are against these rit- Gentile
uals for Jews only. Jewish-
However, it’s fairly
by-Birth
even by ethnicity for
those that fully/ Jewish
somewhat support by Con-
b’nai mitzvah/circum-
version
cision for Jews only
(55% of Jews by birth, Grand
47% of Gentiles and Total
58% of converts).

Chart Showing Opinion for Jews-Only Rituals by B’nai Mitzvah Experience

In the young adult survey, we did not ask directly whether respondents had a b’nai mitzvah. We only asked whether
a b’nai mitzvah deepened engagement in their congregation (of which 43% agreed); about 60% of the Gentiles
respondents who said that a b’nai mitzvah deepens their engagement are against these rituals for Jews only,
however, about 25% of them were supportive of these rituals for Jews only.

CHART SHOWING OPINION FOR JEWS-ONLY RITUALS BY B’NAI MITZVAH EXPERIENCE

100%
90% Somewhat Support

80% No Opinion
70% Fully Support
60% Against
50%
0
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
No Bar/Bat Bar/Bat No Bar/Bat Bar/Bat No Bar/Bat Bar/Bat
Mitzvah Mitzvah Mitzvah Mitzvah Mitzvah Mitzvah

Gentile Jewish by Birth Jewish by Conversion

38
Table Showing Opinion for Jews-Only Rituals by Age
There was little variance in all age groups for those who support/are against certain rituals for Jews only.
More than half of each age group fully or somewhat support these rituals for Jews only. Each age range are
all equally against.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR JEWS-ONLY RITUALS BY AGE

0% Against Fully No Some- Grand
Support Opinion what
Support Total
18-27
28-37
38-47
Grand
Total

Table Showing Opinion for Jews-Only Rituals by Congregational Affiliation

Almost 60% of Union-affiliated young adult respondents fully/somewhat support that b’nai mitzvah and
circumcision should be for Jews only. Only 46% of MJAA-affiliated respondents and 49% of “other” affiliations
fully or somewhat support these rituals for Jews only. Those in the MJAA stand more strongly against certain
rituals for Jewish members only than those in the Union.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR JEWS-ONLY RITUALS

BY CONGREGATIONAL AFFILIATION

UMJC MJAA Other

No 9.3% No 13.8% 22.9%
Opinion Opinion
Against 31.8% Against 40.0% 28.6%
Some- 30.8% Some- 33.8% 37.1%
what what
support support
Fully 28.0% Fully 12.3% 11.4%
support support
Grand 100.0% Grand 100.0% 100.0%
Total Total

39
Table Showing Opinion for Jews-Only Rituals by Political Affiliation
There is more support (fully/somewhat) among the politically liberal respondents (72%) vs politically conserv-
ative (47%) for b’nai mitzvah/circumcision for Jews only. However, this support drops among very liberal
respondents (47%). About half of politically conservative and very conservatives support this. More than half
(55%) of moderates fully/somewhat support.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR JEWS-ONLY BY

POLITICAL AFFILIATION
0% Against Fully No Some- Grand
Support Opinion what
Support Total
Conser- 0% 35% 18% 17% 29% 100.0%
vative
Liberal 0% 24% 48% 4% 24% 100.0%
Moder- 0% 35% 23% 9% 32% 100.0%
ate
Very 6% 33% 17% 11% 33% 100.0%
conser-
vative
Very 0% 27% 27% 27% 18% 100%
liberal
Grand 0% 33% 24% 13% 29% 100%
Total

Table Showing Opinion for Jews-Only Rituals by Children/No Children

Respondents with no children fully/somewhat support (57%) b’nai mitzvah/circumcision for Jews only, which
is just slightly more than those with kids (50%).

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR JEWS-ONLY RITUALS

BY CHILDREN / NO CHILDREN
0% Against Fully No Some- Grand
Support Opinion what
Support Total
No 0.0% 32.3% 23.4% 12.1% 32.3% 100.0%
Children
Children 1.2% 34.5% 23.8% 14.3% 26.2% 100.0%
Grand 0.5% 33.2% 23.6% 13.0% 29.8% 100.0%
Total

40
Does congregational leadership communicate well about culturally relevant issues
(racial justice, gender and sexual identity, disability, mental health)?
About 75% of young adults in their survey thought that congregational leadership communicates well about
culturally relevant issues (43% some-what, 31% yes). Most teens (87%) in their survey thought congregations
try or do a great job of communicating. Since only 31% said yes, that indicates room for improvement in this
area. The chart below breaks down responses by political affiliation.

Chart Showing Good Communication on Culturally Relevant Issues by Political Affiliation

Conservatives thought congregations were doing well (79%) at communicating culturally relevant issues, but
liberals ranked their approval lower (52%).

CHART SHOWING GOOD COMMUNICATION ON CULTURALLY RELEVANT ISSUES BY POLITICAL AFFILIATION

Don’t Know/ Somewhat
60% Refused

51% No Yes
50%
50%
44%
43%
40%
36%
33%
30% 28%
26% 26%
21%
20%
17%
13%
10% 8%
4%
0% 0%
0%
Don’t Know/ Refused Moderate Conservative and Liberal and Very Liberal
Very Conservative

How do young adults feel about recognizing a conversion process?

According to the young adult survey, 31% of respondents find it important/very important to recognize a
Messianic Jewish conversion process (36% found it not important). Those respondents who have undergone
conversion rate certain things higher in importance than Jews by birth and non-Jews: Jewish tradition (holiday
celebrations especially), standards of observance, studying traditional texts, recognizing a conversion process,
Oneg Shabbat, Shabbat morning service, but lower in importance are Messianic dance and outreach. In the young
adult survey, 12 respondents identified as Messianic Jewish (7 did not) who had undergone/were undergoing
conversion, possibly reflecting those who have completed and are still in process.

41
Leadership Transition
While our research is not directly about leadership transition, we asked some questions to young adults that
related to leadership opportunities for teens and young adults, as well as leadership opportunities for women
(non-rabbinic and rabbinic ordination).

Should there be leadership opportunities for teens and young adults?

The majority of young adult survey respondents (95%) fully/somewhat support opportunities for teens and
young adults to serve on committees and receive leadership training. Note that low numbers of teens (11%) and
young adults (25%) serve on congregational committees.

Table Showing Opinion for Leadership Opportunities by Congregational Affiliation

A large majority (93%) of Union respondents fully/somewhat support leadership opportunities for teens/young
adults as well as 98% of MJAA respondents.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR LEADERSHIP

OPPORTUNITIES BY CONGREGATIONAL AFFILIATION
UMJC MJAA Other
Against .93% Against 1.54% Fully 71.43%
support

Fully 79.63% Fully 83.08% No

support support opinion 2.86%

No 6.48% Some- 15.38% Some- 25.71%

opinion what what
support support

Some- 12.96%
what
support

42
Female Leadership: What roles should women play in congregational life?
Non-Rabbinic Leadership
According to the Union leaders’ email list, 68% of recipients are men and 32% are women. We asked young
adults two separate questions related to women in leadership: one related to women in non-rabbinic leadership
and one related to women receiving rabbinic ordination. Our young adult survey revealed that 84% of
respondents fully (59%) or somewhat support (25%) more opportunities for women in non-rabbinic leadership
roles (as board members, elders, cantors, senior music leader, etc.). Highest support comes from female
respondents, those who are Jewish by birth/converted, those who have no kids, and those who are politically
liberal and moderate, and MJAA-affiliated. Breakdown by ages reveals that 82% of ages 18-27 fully/somewhat
support women in non-rabbinic roles and 86% for ages 28-47. Regarding leadership roles, we also found that
females teach children twice as
much as males (31 vs 14
T S O
ABLE HOWING PINION FOR OMEN W respondents). Males teach adult
N RL
IN ON- ABBINIC EADERSHIP BY education more than twice as much
as females (19 vs 8 respondents).
CONGREGATIONAL AFFILIATION
Table Showing Opinion
UMJC MJAA Other for Women in Non-
No 14.8% No 4.6% No 8.6% Rabbinic Leadership by
opinion opinion opinion Congregational Affiliation
Against 5.6% Against 6.2% Against 2.9% The young adult survey showed
Some- 25.9% Some- 20.0% Some- 34.3% that almost 80% of Union-affiliated
what what what congregants fully/somewhat
support support support support women serving in non-
Fully 53.7% Fully 69.2% Fully 54.3% rabbinic leadership roles vs 89%
support support support of MJAA affiliated respondents.

Grand 100.0% Grand 100.0% Grand 100.0%

Total Total Total

Table Showing Opinion

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR WOMEN IN for Women in Non-Rabbinic
NON-RABBINIC LEADERSHIP BY GENDER Leadership by Gender
More female respondents (90%)
Against Fully No Some- Grand vs male respondents (78%) fully/
Support Opinion what Total somewhat support women serving
Support in non-rabbinic leadership roles.

Female 3.7% 68.5% 6.5% 21.3% 100.0%

Male 7.0% 49.0% 15.0% 29.0% 100.0%
Grand 5.3% 59.1% 10.6% 25.0% 100.0%
Total

43
Table Showing Opinion for Women in Non-Rabbinic Leadership by Ethnicity
More Jews (87%) and converts (84%) than Gentiles (76%) support women serving in non-rabbinic leadership roles.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR WOMEN IN

NON-RABBINIC LEADERSHIP BY ETHNICITY
Against Fully No Some- Grand
Support Opinion what Total
Support

Gentile 3.6% 49.1% 20.0% 27.3% 100.0%

Jewish- 5.2% 64.2% 7.5% 23.1% 100.0%
by-Birth
Jewish 10.5% 52.6% 5.3% 31.6% 100.0%
by Con-
version
Grand 5.3% 59.1% 10.6% 25.0% 100.0%
Total

Table Showing Opinion for Women in Non-Rabbinic Leadership by Political Affiliation

More liberal (92%), very liberal (100%) respondents, and moderate (92%) more fully/somewhat support women
serving in non-rabbinic leadership roles than very conservative (56%) and con-servative (81%).

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR WOMEN IN NON-

RABBINIC LEADERSHIP BY POLITICAL AFFILIATION
Against Fully No Some- Grand
Support Opinion what Total
Support

Don’t Know/ 0.0% 71.4% 28.6% 0.0% 100.0%

Refused
Very Liberal 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 100.0%

Liberal 4.0% 84.0% 4.0% 8.0% 100.0%

Moderate 0.0% 67.7% 7.7% 24.6% 100.0%

Conservative 7.3% 45.1% 12.2% 35.4% 100.0%
Very 22.2% 27.8% 22.2% 27.8% 100.0%
Conservative

Grand Total 5.3% 59.1% 10.6% 25.0% 100.0%

44
 Table Showing Opinion
TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR WOMEN IN NON- for Women in Non-Rabbinic
RABBINIC LEADERSHIP BY CHILDREN / NO CHILDREN Leadership by Children/
No Children
Against Fully No Some- Grand
An equal amount of respondents without
Support Opinion what Total
children (85%) vs respondents with
Support
children (84%) fully/somewhat sup-
Children 4.0% 65.3% 11.3% 19.4% 100.0% port women serving in non-rabbinic
leadership roles.
No 7.1% 50.0% 9.5% 33.3% 100.0%
Children
Grand 5.3% 59.1% 10.6% 25.0% 100.0%
Total

Should women have opportunities to receive rabbinic ordination?

The young adult survey showed that 55% of young adult respondents fully (35%) or somewhat support (20%)
women having opportunities to receive rabbinic ordination. About 33% were against (26% for Union affiliated),
which was statistically significant, in that the “against” response was higher than similarly styled response options
and compared to women in non-rabbinic leadership roles, which had only 5% against. Those most against women
rabbis were MJAA-affiliated, males, Jewish, 38-47 age range, and conservative/very conservative politically. The
majority of all age ranges support women having opportunities to become rabbis, although higher support comes
from ages 28-37, Union-affiliated respondents (61%), Jews and converts, females, and liberals/moderates.1
Women’s ordination had more support (62%) from those who don’t attend or who have left Messianic Jewish
congregations vs 54% for those who currently attend.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR WOMEN RABBIS BY Table Showing Opinion

CONGREGATIONAL AFFILIATION for Women Rabbis by
Congregational Affiliation
UMJC MJAA Other Support (fully/somewhat) for women
receiving rabbinic ordination is higher for
No 13.0% No 13.8% 17.1%
opinion opinion Union respondents (61%) than MJAA
respondents (52%) and less for other
Against 25.9% Against 33.8% 45.7%
affiliations (37%). Also, fewer Union-
Some- 22.2% Some- 26.2% 22.9% affiliated respondents are against women
what what rabbis than MJAA and other congre-
support support
gational affiliated respondents. Those
Fully 38.9% Fully 26.2% 14.3% most against came from “other”
support support congregational affiliations.
Grand 100.0% Grand 100.0% 100.0%
Total Total

1 
This year, on June 3, marks 50 years since the first woman (Reform) was ordained in the broader Jewish community. Since then, more
than 1,500 women have been ordained in all denominations of Judaism.

45
Table Showing Opinion for Women Rabbis by Ethnicity
More Jews (55%) by birth and Jewish converts (68%) fully/somewhat support women receiving rabbinic
ordination than non-Jews (51%). Jews by birth are also more against (37%) women rabbis than Gentiles (29%).

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR WOMEN RABBIS

BY ETHNICITY

Against Fully No Some- Grand

Support Opinion what Total
Support

Gentile 29.1% 29.1% 20.0% 21.8% 100.0%

Jewish- 36.6% 35.8% 9.0% 18.7% 100.0%
by-Birth
Jewish 15.8% 42.1% 15.8% 26.3% 100.0%
by Con-
version
Grand 32.7% 34.6% 12.5% 20.2% 100.0%
Total

Table Showing Opinion for Women Rabbis by Age

There is more support for women receiving rabbinic ordination from the 28-37 age range (92%) than the 18-27
(51%) and the 38-47% age range (59%). All young adult age groups fall in the 50-59% range of somewhat/fully
support for women training for rabbinic leadership. The older age range (38-47) are most opposed.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR WOMEN RABBIS

BY AGE

Ages Against Fully No Some- Grand

Support Opinion what Total
Support

18-27 30.9% 32.7% 18.2% 18.2% 100.0%

28-37 31.2% 36.6% 14.0% 18.3% 100.0%
38-47 37.5% 33.9% 3.6% 25.0% 100.0%

Grand 32.8% 34.8% 12.3% 20.1% 100.0%

Total

46
Table Showing Opinion for Women Rabbis by Gender
More female respondents (62%) fully/somewhat support women receiving rabbinic ordination than males (47%).

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR WOMAN RABBIS

BY GENDER

Ages Against Fully No Some- Grand

Support Opinion what Total
Support

Female 26.9% 40.7% 11.1% 21.3% 100.0%

Male 39.0% 28.0% 14.0% 19.0% 100.0%
Grand 32.7% 34.6% 12.5% 20.2% 100.0%
Total

Table Showing Opinion for Women Rabbis by Political Affiliation

Liberal/very liberal respondents fully/somewhat support (90+%) women receiving rabbinic ordination.
The majority of moderate respondents (63%) fully/somewhat support women rabbis. Conservative or very
conservative are less supportive (in the 30’s%). Almost half of conservatives and very conservative are against
women receiving rabbinic ordination.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR WOMEN RABBIS

BY POLITICAL AFFILIATION

Political Against Fully No Some- Grand

Affiliation Support Opinion what Total
Support

Very 0.0% 90.9% 0.0% 9.1% 100.0%

Liberal
Liberal 0.0% 72.0% 8.0% 20.0% 100.0%
Moderate 26.2% 43.1% 10.8% 20.0% 100.0%
Conser- 47.6% 15.9% 15.9% 20.7% 100.0%
vative
Very Con- 50.0% 5.6% 16.7% 27.8% 100.0%
servative
Grand 32.3% 34.8% 12.4% 20.4% 100.0%
Total

47
Do young adults want to learn about and combat antisemitism?
Support for combatting and learning about antisemitism is high—92% of young adult survey respondents fully or
somewhat support it. Slightly higher support comes from MJAA affiliated, ages 18-27, politically moderate, and
females. Still, it’s fairly even across the board in all areas, especially by ethnicity and those with/without children.
(According to the 2020 Pew survey, 76% of US Jews (older ones) say remembering the Holocaust is essential to
their Jewish identity. One quarter of Jews under 30, say they have been called offensive names because they are
Jewish, according to Pew.)

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR LEARNING/COMBATTING Table Showing Opinion for

Learning/Combatting
ANTISEMITISM BY CONGREGATIONAL AFFILIATION
Antisemitism by
UMJC 0 MJAA 0 Other Congregational Affiliation
Union-affiliated respondents ranked
No Opinion 6.5% No Opinion 8.4% 3.1% No Opinion 5.8% 11.4%
slightly less (93%) than MJAA-
Against 0.9% Against 1.4% 0.0% Against 0.6% 2.9% affiliated respondents (97%) in their
Some- 24.1% Some- 29.4% 16.9% Some- 25.4% 25.7% desire to learn about antisemitism and
what what what combat it.
Support Support Support

Fully 68.5% Fully 60.8% 80.0% Fully 68.2% 60.0%

Support Support Support

Grand 100.0% Grand 100.0% 100.0% Grand 100.0% 100.0%

Total Total Total

Table Showing Opinion for

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR LEARNING / Learning/Combatting
COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM BY AGE RANGE Antisemitism by Age Range
Support for learning and combating
Ages Against Fully No Some- Grand antisemitism is fairly even across all
Support Opinion what Total age ranges. However, those who are
Support on the younger end (18-27) more fully
support it.
(Blank) 0.0% 75.0% 0.0% 25.0% 100.0%
18-27 0.0% 81.8% 7.3% 10.9% 100.0%
28-37 1.1% 62.4% 6.5% 30.1% 100.0%
38-47 1.8% 58.9% 7.1% 32.1% 100.0%
Grand 1.0% 66.8% 6.7% 25.5% 100.0%
Total

48
Table Showing Opinion for Learning/Combatting Antisemitism by Ethnicity
Jews (93%), Gentiles (93%), and converts (90%) are equally interested in learning about / combatting antisemitism.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR LEARNING /

COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM BY ETHNICITY
Ethnicity Against Fully No Some- Grand
Support Opinion what Total
Support
Gentile 0.0% 63.6% 7.3% 29.1% 100.0%
Jewish 0.7% 67.2% 6.7% 25.4% 100.0%
by Birth
Jewish 5.3% 73.7% 5.3% 15.8% 100.0%
by Con-
version
Grand 1.0% 66.8% 6.7% 25.5% 100.0%
Total

Table Showing Opinion for Learning/Combatting Antisemitism by Political Affiliation

In our young adult survey, all political affiliations desire to learn about and combat antisemitism. A large
majority of conservative/very conservative respondents (87%/89%) and all moderate respondents (100%) fully/
somewhat support learning about and combatting antisemitism, and almost all liberal/very liberal respondents
(91%) fully/somewhat support learning about and combatting antisemitism.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR LEARNING /

COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM BY POLITICAL AFFILIATION
Political Against Fully No Some- Grand
Affliliation Support Opinion what Total
Support
Don’t 0.0% 71.4% 14.3% 14.3% 100.0%
Know/
Refused
Very 0.0% 72.7% 9.1% 18.2% 100.0%
Liberal
Liberal 0.0% 76.0% 4.0% 20.0% 100.0%
Moderate 0.0% 73.8% 0.0% 26.2% 100.0%
Conser- 1.2% 57.3% 12.2% 29.3% 100.0%
vative
Very Con- 5.6% 66.7% 5.6% 22.2% 100.0%
servative
Grand 1.0% 66.8% 6.7% 25.5% 100.0%
Total

49
Table Showing Opinion for Learning/Combatting Antisemitism by Gender
Slightly more female 95% young adult respondents than male (90%) want to learn about and combat
antisemitism.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR LEARNING /

COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM BY GENDER
Ages Against Fully No Some- Grand
Support Opinion what Total
Support

Female 0.0% 67.6% 5.6% 26.9% 100.0%

Male 2.0% 66.0% 8.0% 24.0% 100.0%
Grand 1.0% 66.8% 6.7% 25.5% 100.0%
Total

Table Showing Opinion for Learning/Combatting Antisemitism by Children/

without Children
About the same amount of young adult respondents without children (92%) support learning about and combatting
antisemitism as those with children (93%).

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR LEARNING /

COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM BY CHILDREN /
WITHOUT CHILDREN

Against Fully No Some- Grand

Support Opinion what Total
Support

No 0.8% 71.8% 7.3% 20.2% 100.0%

Children
Children 1.2% 59.5% 6.0% 33.3% 100.0%
Grand 1.0% 66.8% 6.7% 25.5% 100.0%
Total

50
Should Messianic Jewish congregations/organizations build and maintain relationships?
A large majority (89%) of young adult survey respondents fully or somewhat support Messianic Jewish com-
munities of different affiliations building and maintaining relationships with one another (UMJC/MJAA/
Tikkun/CPM/JFJ, etc.). Slightly more support comes from MJAA-affiliated respondents and the 28-37 age range.
Support is fairly equal by ethnicity and gender.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL Table Showing Opinion

RELATIONSHIPS BY CONGREGATION AFFILIATION for Inter-Organizational
Relationships by
UMJC MJAA 0 Other
Congregational Affiliation
Almost 90% of Union-affiliated
No Opinion 2.8% No Opinion 1.5% No Opinion 5.8% 8.6% respondents fully or somewhat support
Against 7.4% Against 1.5% Against 5.8% 0.0% relationships between various Messianic
Jewish communities/organizations.
Some- 24.1% Some- 21.5% Some- 20.2% 20.0%
Support was even higher for MJAA-
what what what
affiliated respondents (97%).
Support Support Support
Fully 65.7% Fully 75.4% Fully 68.2% 71.4%
Support Support Support
Grand 100.0% Grand 100.0% Grand 100.0% 100.0%
Total Total Total

Table Showing Opinion

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR INTER- for Inter-Organizational
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS BY AGE Relationships by Age
The 28-37 age range more fully/
Ages Against Fully No Some- Grand somewhat supports (40%) building
Support Opinion what Total and maintaining relationships among
Support organizations. The other age ranges
(younger and older) fall in the
(Blank) 0% 1% 0% 0% 2% 20s% range.
18-27 2% 18% 1% 6% 26%
28-37 1% 31% 3% 9% 45%
38-47 1% 18% 2% 5% 27%
Grand 5% 69% 6% 20% 100%
Total

51
Table Showing Opinion for Inter-Organizational Relationships by Political Affiliation
Conservatives/very conservative (89%) and moderates (94%) showed the most support for relationship building
between organizations; liberals ranked slightly lower at 82% (fully/somewhat support), and very liberal ranked
lowest (55%).

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL

RELATIONSHIPS BY POLITICAL AFFILIATION
Political Against Fully No Some- Grand
Affliliation Support Opinion what Total
Support
Don’t 0.0% 71.4% 14.3% 14.3% 100.0%
Know/
Refused
Very 9.1% 36.4% 36.4% 18.2% 100.0%
Liberal
Liberal 8.0% 60.0% 0.0% 32.0% 100.0%
Moderate 3.1% 72.3% 3.1% 21.5% 100.0%
Conser- 3.7% 72.0% 7.3% 17.1% 100.0%
vative
Very Con- 11.1% 72.2% 0.0% 16.7% 100.0%
servative
Grand 4.8% 68.8% 6.3% 20.2% 100.0%
Total

Table Showing Opinion for Inter-Organizational Relationships by Gender

Females (87.9%) and males (90%) almost equally fully/somewhat support inter-organizational relationships.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR INTER-

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS BY GENDER
Ages Against Fully No Some- Grand
Support Opinion what Total
Support

Female 5.6% 69.4% 6.5% 18.5% 100.0%

Male 4.0% 68.0% 6.0% 22.0% 100.0%
Grand 4.8% 68.8% 6.3% 20.2% 100.0%
Total

52
Table Showing Opinion for Inter-Organizational Relationships by Ethnicity
Support for inter-organizational relationship building is fairly even across identity lines. Slightly fewer Jews by birth
(88%) and slightly more Gentiles fully/somewhat (91%) support interorgani-zational relationships, and almost all
Jews by conversion (90%) support it.almost all Jews by conversion (90%) support it.

TABLE SHOWING OPINION FOR INTER-

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS BY ETHNICITY
Ethnicity Against Fully No Some- Grand
Support Opinion what Total
Support
Gentile 7.3% 70.9% 1.8% 20.0% 100.0%
Jewish 3.7% 69.4% 8.2% 18.7% 100.0%
by Birth
Jewish 5.3% 57.9% 5.3% 31.6% 100.0%
by Con-
version
Grand 4.8% 68.8% 6.3% 20.2% 100.0%
Total

53
Other Open-Ended Young Adult Survey Questions
We asked several open-ended questions in the young adult survey. Below you will see the questions and some key
words that represent respondents’ answers. You will find the full responses for the following open-ended
questions in the report’s appendix. We’ve offered you a taste of the answers to these questions in this section, but
they will be more fully discussed in our Interviews/Open-Ended Survey Questions section and the Discussion
chapter.
  1 The first young adult open-ended question was “Please briefly explain why you are not currently involved in
a Messianic Jewish congregation or chavurah?” For quotes, see the question, “Why do young adults/teens
leave Messianic Jewish congregations in the Interview/Open-Ended Survey Questions section.

Some of the main reasons young adults are not currently attending Messianic Jewish congregations are that they
either are not growing spiritually and prefer churches, they don’t have one nearby, or they don’t connect on a
social, cultural, and political level.
Below are some of the reasons given:

• Anti-colonial
 • God’s
 call to leave • Not-queer
 friendly

• Attends
 Conservative Synagogue • Hate-spewing
 • Politics
 (denigrating others)

• Church • Homophobic
 • Politics
 of right

• College • Islamophobic
 • Raising
 kids

• Conspiracy-prone • Lack
• COVID-19
 rules—mask wearing
(anti masker)
• COVID-19—went
 to church
(in person services)
• Different values 
• Different values than leaders
 of growth • Sexist

• Lack
 of social action • Spread
 of fake/incendiary news
• Lack
 of social group • Too
 concerned with conversion
• Leadership stagnation
to Jesus

• Moved • Too
 Jewish
•Name-calling from leaders to people • Toxic
 environment
with other views
(no spiritual growth)

• Distance (nothing local) • Transphobic


• No
 kids’ ministry
• Evangelical
 approach to •Veneers of Jewishness
social/politics • Not
 aligned theologically, socially,
culturally, politically • Xenophobic


54
  2 The second question in the young adult survey was “What are your main reason(s) for attending your
Messianic congregation or chavurah?” Here are some of the key words to describe responses:
Some of the main reasons that young adults attend Messianic Jewish congregations are that they grew up Mes-
sianic, they value the shared beliefs, and they value Jewish traditions/identity.
Below are some of the reasons given:

• Children’s
 education/Raising kids •H  onor God •N  ot comfortable in church
Messianic
• In-depth teaching/sermons • O bserving Torah/ Observing
• C ommunal prayer • Intermarried
commandments

• C ommunity relationships/fellowship • Israel support • O utreach to Jews

• C ritical thinking • Jewish heritage • R abbinic d’rashot
• E ncouraging others • Jewish identity • R epelled from traditional shul
• F aith • Jewish people—called to be part • S erving
• F amiliarity • Jewish Space/Jewish Tradition/ • S habbat
• F amily attends Torah service • S hared beliefs
• F amily feel/Home • Jewish/Yeshua combo • T orah Study/Teaching
• F riends with leaders • L eaders • U MJC congregation in close
proximity
• G entile among Jews • L iturgical prayers
(commonwealth)
•M  atchmaking • V alued Messianic ideals
•G od’s call
•M  entoring • V alues weekly services
•G rew up Messianic
•N  on-replacement theology •W  orship
•H olidays

55
A few quotes from the YA survey open-ended question of why respondents want to attend their
congregation. (For a complete list, see the Appendix).

“I grew up in the messianic world as my father is a leader of a messianic congregation. It is part of my identity and who I
am and I don’t ever want to lose that.”

“To live out my Jewish religious obligations with other Jews who also believe in Yeshua, where we can all openly embrace
and grow in Yeshua faith. To build a Jewish religious community for my children and for Messianic Jewish continuity
more generally.”

“I love the Messianic Jewish community. It is my main community of identity, and I have life-long friendships across the
larger Messianic world. I am very committed to my religious convictions, and my synagogue and local community is
where I pray and live out my faith with others who share those commitments.”

“Connection to personal and corporate faith in Yeshua as a Jewish messiah, and connection to tradition, liturgy and a
Jewish way of life. And connection to a strong and supportive community in general.”

“I am a Jewish believer in Yeshua, and I want to worship and walk out my Jewish faith alongside other Jewish believers,
and Gentile believers who understand the role of the Jewish people theologically.”

  My congregation is a place where I can pursue an

authentic Jewish life engaged in the traditional practices
of our people while believing in Yeshua.

56
3 The third open-ended young adult survey question was “What is something you feel is missing from your local
Messianic Jewish congregation or chavurah or from the wider Messianic Jewish community?”
Some of the main things that young adults find missing from Messianic Jewish congregations fall into a few
categories: teaching/Jewish education, Jewish tradition, authenticity/transparency, social/political relevance,
and connection to other communities. Below are some of the reasons given:

  Some Missing Things

•A  pologetics • Ingatherings • R abbinic training (MJAA)
•A  ppreciation for all Jewish identities • Interfaith dialogue • R acial justice conversations
•  uthenticity
A • Intergenerational community • R eal life issues discussion
• B iblical literacy • Jesus and NT • R elevance socially, politically,
• C hanting Torah portion/reading • Jew/Gentile identities religiously
scroll/Torah service
• Jewish continuity •  elevance to wider culture
R
• C hurch Jews • Jewish education •  elevance to younger people
R
• C ommunal events • Jewish text/traditions (leaders)
• C ommunal living/farm messianic •  obust conservative theology
R
incubator
• K avannah •  obust liturgy
R
• L eadership transition •  ecurity
•  ommunity connection (COVID-19)
C
• L ist of babysitters, handy
S
• C oncerts people, cooks •  habbat dinners
S
• C onnection to Christians • Local youth gathering outside of shul •  hort services
S
• C onnection to Jewish community • 
L ocation/Proximity of cong. •  ocial justice/Tikkun Olam
S
• C onnection to MJ community •  atchmaker program
M •  ocial media
S
• C ounseling services •  essianic Jewish Theology
M •  tability
S
• C reation care •  essianic vision
M
•  tandards/halakha
S
• C reativity •  odern music
M
• D eep relationships •  tructure
S
•  oney
M
•  upport for arts
S
• D iscipleship/mentoring •  oral issues engagement
M
•  iscussions at national level on social •  ore fellowship with other churches •  upport for congregations in middle
D S
M
issues of country
and shuls
• D rummers •  ore focus on youth/youth programs •
M  eaching rabbinic texts
T
• E ducation and music resources •  ore Jews
M •  heological unity
T
• E xegesis in sermons •  ore young families
M •  oo many Gentiles
T
• F inancial accountability • 
N on-religious gathering •  oo much evangelical influence
T
• F ocus on praise/worship • 
N ormal people •  opical sermons
T
• F ocus on young adults/ • 
O neg •  radition, practice, prayers
T
YA groups
• G entile equity •  nline Tech
O •  raditional observance
T
• G ood music •  rganized service
O •  ransparency
T
• G rowth •  utreach
O
•  nity
U
• H alakhic discussion •  utreach to Jews in churches
O
•  nity between congregations
U
• H ealthy identity norms •  eer group at conferences
P
•  nity protocols (Tikkun/MJRC)
U
•  elping Gentiles understand why they •
H  olitical discussions
P
•  ision of MJ movement
V
attend •  rayer team
P
• H oliday services •  ro-life issues support
P •  olunteerism/serving
V

• H oly spirit •  rofessionalism

P •  elcome secular types
W

• H ospitality •  rogressive politics

P •  omen in leadership (support)
W

• In-person meetings •  rogressive voices

P •  oung men to facilitate/lead
Y
•  outh participation
Y

57
Below are a few quotes below from the young adult survey open-ended question that asked what is missing from
their congregations. Other quotes will be found with the responses to “What needs improving?” in
the Interview/Open-ended survey question section. (See the appendix for a complete list of quotes.)

“I am actually very satisfied with the Messianic congregation that I attend. I don’t currently feel anything is missing
from the congregation or community.”

“I feel like there should be more youth representation; whether it is a youth giving a sermon or just playing some
bigger part in representing the Messianic Jewish community.”

“Talking about real life relevant issues/being real. I think our leaders are too afraid of rocking the boat that they
sometimes miss talking about deeply rooted issues or talking about what is going on personally in their lives.”

“There are multiple things: I think Messianic Synagogues have a certain “mold” to them. We sing the same music,
same songs, etc. Pretty much a same format—a Friday night or Saturday morning service (with a few exceptions).
Why not switch the formatting up? Why not try to do Kiruv in a different way?
Why not plant congregations where there are more young people? I’ve found
it almost frustrating that messianic communities have more of a “shtetl”
mindset of ‘This is how we’ve been doing it, and this is how we’re going to
Being a Jew in a
continue doing it.’ I think we live in a post-shtetl world where we need to
engage more.”
messianic body that’s
“Both messianic congregations I’ve attended are dominated by Gentile
like 90% Gentile …
believers and increasingly model after a church more than a Synagogue. I find
them sometimes lacking in real “Jewishness” because of the obvious and
feels like being an
reasonable need to be accessible to the non-Jews for whom a more traditional
service of mostly Hebrew liturgy out of a siddur would be both foreign and not
explainer more than
very spiritual. I’m just in the minority in that regard. I also find myself just being able to
spending more time doing things like explaining what tefillin are or what
Pesach is about than actually using tefillin or peacefully keeping Pesach. Being live like a Jew.
a Jew in a messianic body that’s like 90% Gentile in our area often feels like
being an explainer more than just being able to live like a Jew.”

Why not plant congregations where

there are more young people?

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Conclusion of Young Adult Survey
The majority of respondents who answered the young adult survey were Jewish (64% by birth/9% by conversion),
identified as Messianic Jewish (at least 72%), were married with no kids, and almost half were conservative
politically and the other half moderate/liberal. In the young adult survey, 16 respondents (8%) identified as
Messianic Jewish even though they had no Jewish background (and about 4% of Gentile teens are identifying as
Messianic Jews as well), revealing the need to increase teaching about Jewish/Gentile identity distinctions.

What Attracts and Engages Young Adults?

Since 57% of respondents in the young adult survey have been attending their current Messianic Jewish
congregation for at least 6-10+ years and only 28% for 1-5 years, the implication could be that the majority were
raised in a Messianic context and that outreach to new young adults has been either unsuccessful or limited.
Keeping young adults engaged and proactively outreaching to new ones is critical, and the young adult survey
provides insight into the values of Messianic young adults, which can help with both endeavors. Like the teens,
young adults are attracted and engaged by a welcoming community and congregational relationships, such as peer
groups (and all generations), the rabbi, and mentors, as well as living out Yeshua faith in Jewish space, which
includes holiday celebrations, life cycle events, Shabbat, worship, and children’s programs (Hebrew school/b’nai
mitzvah training). Young adults survey respondents value certain things slightly more than teens, such as a
Shabbat morning service, having a sermon, the Shabbat Torah/NT reading, Bible study, worship music,
participating in community service projects, Hebrew liturgy, and supporting opportunities for women to receive
rabbinic ordination (55%). Young adults value certain things less than teens, such as oneg/social gatherings,
exercising spiritual gifts, and Messianic dance. Young adults prefer shorter services and sermons. About half of
survey respondents wanted a mostly Jewish community (48%) and half wanted a diverse community of Jews and
Gentiles (52%). They placed less importance on organized Shabbat dinners, social justice initiatives, studying
traditional Jewish texts, spiritual gifts, a Friday night/Kabbalat Shabbat service, recognizing a MJ conversion,
Messianic dance, and sharing similar political views.

What’s Important for Union Respondents?

Some things were slightly more important for Union respondents, such as praying from a Siddur, studying Jewish
texts, rabbinic/non-rabbinic leadership for women, and that certain rituals be practiced by Jews only (b’nai mitzvah/
circumcision). Union-affiliated respondents were less interested in Messianic dance, and an ethnically diverse
congregation (Jew/Gentiles). Union respondents were slightly less interested (93%) than MJAA-affiliated
respondents (97%) in learning about or combatting antisemitism and leadership opportunities for teens/young
adults, although support was still very high.

What Needs Improvement?

Young adults are involved in various aspects of congregational life, but they could be even more so at the
leadership level such as leading weekly services, serving on committees, teaching kids and adult education, and
helping organize special events. They would like to have conversations about cultural and political issues and they
want leadership and Jewish life to be authentic and transparent. They feel certain things are missing, such as a
connection to the larger Jewish, Christian, and Messianic Jewish worlds, healthy identity norms, contemporary
Jewish worship music, Jewish education/Bible study, communal events, female leadership, youth participation,
Jewish traditions such as studying Jewish texts, halakhic standards, and Hebrew liturgy, and clear explanations of
Jew/Gentile roles. Like the teens, they are not involved for various reasons such as moving, going away to college,
church involvement, living far from a congregation, or perceived lack of spiritual growth. More than the teens,
young adults sometimes feel they aren’t aligned socially, culturally, or politically with the congregation and some
have left Messianic Jewish congregations due to these differences (see Interview and Survey open-ended questions
section for reasons for leaving).

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Implications for Messianic Jewish Leaders
Implications for leaders from the young adult survey are that they should intentionally foster authentic relationships
with young adults and a provide warm welcoming congregational environment that honors the uniqueness of Yeshua
faith in Jewish space. Creating Jewish space requires a certain level of standards of Jewish observance including
celebrating holidays, life cycle events, Shabbat services with a Torah and New Testament reading, Hebrew liturgy,
learning about and combatting antisemitism, and fostering a connection to the broader Jewish world.

Since holidays ranked very high in importance for young adults, leaders should wholeheartedly celebrate them
and consider celebrating second days where applicable. Keep sermons and services relatively short, but allow
time for gathering at oneg and outside of Shabbat services. Leaders should empower young adults to lead in a
variety of ways, which includes providing a variety of leadership opportunities for women that may put them on
a trajectory toward rabbinic ordination.

Congregations should work together with other Messianic Jewish organizations as young adults wanted to see
relationship building. Leaders should try to cultivate a congregation that welcomes young adults with a spectrum
of political and cultural views and that offers them opportunities to engage in community service projects, social
and racial justice, and broader humanitarian issues. Find time to communicate about culturally relevant issues.
Leaders should ask their young adult congregants about the areas that they seemed to be less interested in in the
survey (dance, Friday night services, MJ conversion, spiritual gifts, etc). Talk to congregants about whether certain
rituals should be for Jewish members only and discuss Jew/Gentile distinctions. Decide on an action plan for
outreach to other young adults since the majority have been in the Messianic Jewish community for a while and it
appears that new ones aren’t entering Messianic Jewish congregations (see our Recommendations chapter).

Comparison Chart: What’s Important to Young Adults and Teens (Surveys only)
Category
• Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Life Cycle Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Mentors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Antisemitism Learning* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Torah Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Sermon/D’rash* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Peers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Reading NT* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Oneg/Social Gatherings* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Shabbat Service* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Bible Study* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Service Projects* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Hebrew Liturgy* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Worship Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Diverse Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Spiritual Gifts* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Messianic Dance* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Friday Night Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Women Rabbis* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
* Fairly significant difference
YA Teens
91% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93%
90% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87%
81% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80%
92% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80%
81% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78%
87% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78%
79% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78%
81% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74%
64% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76%
85% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76%
80% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67%
76% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54%
64% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46%
58% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54%
52% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50%
38% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46%
27% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37%
37% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33%
55% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22%

60
Young Adult Interview Findings
We interviewed (through Zoom) 29 young adult Messianic Jewish/Gentile congregants across North America
(representing nine congregations—Union/MJAA/Independent) with approximately 20 questions each. Those
interviewed also filled out the young adult surveys. For a list of our interview questions, please see the appendix.
These interview participants remain anonymous in this report.

  Demographics of Interview Participants

• 1 5 Males • 5 MJAA-affiliated
• 14 Females • 2 3 Messianic Jews (with at least one Jewish parent) (79%)
• Ages 18-38 • 1 Convert through Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council
(MJRC)
• 1 9 Union-affiliated (+1 attended a Union/and
Independent congregation) (65%) • 6 Gentiles (20%); 2 intermarried
• 5 Independent-affiliated • 3 Rabbis’ Kids
Background of Interview Participants
Most of the young adult interview participants were raised attending some kind of religious congregation,
whether a Messianic Jewish congregation or a church, or both: 10 Messianic Jews were raised going to church
(a few simultaneously attended a MJ congregation), 16 were raised attending a Messianic Jewish congregation
(9 attended a Messianic congregation but no church), and 3-4 Messianic Jewish interview participants cur-
rently attend both a church and a Messianic Jewish congregation. Growing up, a couple of Messianic Jews
were more observant in Jewish practice, while most engaged in Friday night dinners, went to Shabbat services,
kept kosher light, some had a b’nai mitzvah, visited Israel, and went to Messianic Jewish camp. Their most
common current Jewish practices include attending weekly Shabbat services, having Shabbat dinner, keeping
kosher (light), and celebrating holidays. A few pray traditional Jewish prayers daily. Of the 6 Gentile interview
participants, 2 are intermarried, 1 is a Messianic Christian and former church leader, 1 is a Messianic Gentile
who had Seventh-Day Adventist parents and was raised Messianic Gentile, 1 is a Messianic Gentile who was
raised a nominal Christian in a Jewish neighborhood, and 1 is a Gentile who was raised Christian, rebelled
against Christianity and who came to Messianic Judaism through a journey of exploring Judaism. These non-
Jews attend weekly, value Shabbat, Jewish holidays, Friday night dinners, and some keep kosher (light). A
few, both Jewish and Gentile, had journeys where they left their faith and returned. These Jewish/Gentile
young adults are currently involved in their congregations in a variety of ways including: facilities main-
tenance, children’s ministry, giving the d’var, leading dance, as gabbis, greeters, president of their synagogue,
a rabbinic intern, teachers, on the technology/sound team, involved in worship, as a youth leader, part of the
sisterhood, or are on staff.

Summary of Young Adult Interview Findings

The young adults that were interviewed value many similar things to the young adult survey respondents,
such as close relationships, a welcoming community, Jewish tradition/life cycle events, mentoring and
discipleship, and connection to the broader Jewish and Christian worlds. Some of the things that initially
attracted those interviewed to the congregation were relationships, leadership, the worship, the depth of
teaching (the message), their spouse, a music festival, a Passover Seder, an Israel trip, a rabbinic internship,
and some felt it was God’s calling upon them.

The things they value overlap with what they would like to see in their ideal congregation. Their ideal
congregations include a blend of tradition and modern life, honoring Yeshua in Jewish space, an inter-
generational congregation but also healthy peer groups and families, clear leadership transition plans, modern
Jewish worship music, independent minyanim, being social/racial justice focused, oneg, outreach, shorter

61
sermons, strategized political discussion, less hierarchical congregations, civic engagement, sensitivity to
Jewish seeking visitors, a mostly Jewish constituency, clear doctrines (divinity of Yeshua), and location
proximity. Some admire congregations that were growing and others preferred smaller, more intimate settings.
Some engage in congregations through creative ways, such as in art programs at congregations, online
“Painting with a Twist” programs, a café at synagogue, and dance, and others would like to see vibrant holiday
celebrations, camping on Sukkot, and studying the mystical aspects Messianic Judaism.

Generally, things that repel the interview participants are aging congregations, lack of transparency, lack of
unity, lack of social justice engagement, controlling leadership, financial requests, Gentiles treated as second-
class, and national conference costs. The main reasons that interview participants left congregations were:
they moved, lived too far, a lack of peers, their parents left, boredom, lack of empowerment, split vision,
anti-conversion experience, to make aliyah, too small or too few Jewish people, and lack of spiritual depth.
For a handful, it was their first Messianic Jewish congregation.

In five years, most of the interview participants see themselves as still involved although some might move to
smaller communities or home groups and some might go to churches if they don’t find a spouse. Others would
like to improve their knowledge of traditional prayers, the Shabbat service, and Hebrew. Some would like to
live in proximity to congregations to create close communities. Their hopes for the wider Messianic Jewish
community involve growth, its long-term existence, unity (missions/congregations, regional, standardization of
halakhah), outreach, world impact (social justice/racial justice), having a variety of political beliefs, and brick
and mortar congregations with intentional community.

The main values or ideals of the young adult interview participants can be categorized in the following ways:

• C ommunity and Relationships

The interviewed young adults desire to have a welcoming, family-like community and close relationships
with the rabbi (and rabbi’s spouse), their peers, as well as an intergenerational community. A few want a
diverse (Jews/Gentiles) community, while many desire a predominantly Jewish community. These young
adults enjoy socializing (and the food) together, whether it be through a coffee shop at their congregation,
during oneg, or gatherings outside of services. They also desire transparency, vulnerability, and humility
from leadership. Some would like to see more “normal” and “psychologically balanced” congregants in their
congregations. They attend programs where they can meet other young people, including conferences such
as Kabbetz, Meuchad, Muchan (CPM), Grassroots, and YMJA, and they want improvements in
programming for youth/twenties at major conferences. One CPM conference attendee explains the reasons
they enjoyed one conference in particular: “I loved Muchan; it was incredible. I loved meeting new people in
general, traveling to Europe. Having the experience that the Messianic Jewish world is very large—is really
cool, the teachings are usually pretty good.”

• C reativity
Some of the interviewed young adults would like to push congregations to be a bit more edgy, such as having
unconventional gatherings, participating in humanitarian aid, having smaller chavurot, engaging in the arts,
and having egalitarian participation.

• J ewish Tradition

The interviewed young adults want to see consistency of many elements of Jewish tradition in services, such
as celebrating Jewish festivals, a Torah service, liturgy, but they also like creativity and spontaneous prayer.
Some would like daily minyan. Some want to see more modern Jewish music, Hadar-Minyan inspired.
Some desire that conversion to Messianic Judaism be more broadly accepted.

62
• L eadership Transition/Mentoring/Discipleship
The interviewed young adults value being mentored, serving, being empowered, and they desire leadership
transition to a younger generation. They want leaders to check in with them about their personal lives
(careers/relationships/matchmaking). They want to serve but don’t always see opportunities. Some want to
see women in the leadership lineup/as teachers.

• O
 utreach
The interviewed young adults want to reach out to other Jewish young adults and be connected to Jewish
and Christian communities (some continue to attend churches because of opportunities to be involved and
to meet peers).

• P roximity
The interviewed young adults want to live close to their congregations or would like to see the majority of
congregants living nearby to create a family feel.

•T
 eaching
The interviewed young adults enjoy Bible studies and some value apologetics. They want their congre-
gations to solidify their core beliefs/faith doctrines and have clear theology, such as the divinity of Yeshua.
They want to discuss the sermons after services. The ones with families want robust children’s programs
and events/programs that work with their schedule.

•U
 nity
The interviewed young adults want to have regional gatherings with other congregations.

• Worship
Some interviewed young adults enjoy acoustic nights. Others would like to see melodies from the broader
Jewish community, such as from B’nei Yeshurun, Joey Weisenberg, Ikar, Hadar, and Navah Tehilah.

YA Interviews and Survey Open-Ended Questions’ Findings

Definitions of Key Words in Interviews and Survey Open-Ended Questions
We coded our interview transcripts and our survey open-ended questions with key words. We developed
about ten main headings (and sub-codes/key words) so that we could pinpoint the trends/themes that ran
through the interview and open-ended survey question responses. Here are the main key words:

Key Word Definitions • Invested: Ways people are involved in their

• B ackground: Includes information about how congregations.
people were raised, their religious practices
growing up, and their journeys. • L eaving: Reasons people have left their congre-
gations/or do not attend.
•  ttracted: What initially attracted them to
A
• P ractice: The current religious practices of the
congregations and what they find generally draws
interview participants.
them to Messianic Jewish congregations.

• E ngaged: What keeps people involved in MJ •R

 epelled: What people do not like at their
congregations (which may also cause them to leave).
congregations.

• Ideal/Improving: What people see as their desired • engaged

 alued: This can overlap with the attracted and
V
categories, but more generally signifies
community and what needs to be improved in their
what people find desirable at their MJ congregations
MJ communities.
once they are a part of it for a while.

63
The Four Questions
We coded the interviews and open-ended survey questions together to get the broadest picture possible of
trends. This section will bring out the trends from the surveys and the interviews backed up by quotes from
survey and interview respondents. Based on the categories of key words, we divided the data from the
interviews and survey open-ended questions into four questions. Each question will be followed by a brief
analysis and quotes from the young adult surveys/interviews.
Quick glance of the four questions based on our surveys and interviews:
  1 What attracts, engages, and is valued by young adults and teens in their Messianic Jewish
congregation? This question gathers results from the teen survey open-ended question regarding why
they want to be involved, and the young adult open-ended survey question that asked their main reason
for attending. It also includes information from the interview questions that asked the young adults what
attracts and engages young them.
  2 What needs improving/how do young adults view their ideal MJ congregation?
This question gathers information from the young adult open-ended survey question about what’s missing
in their congregations, and the interview question that asked about their ideal congregation.
  3 What repels young adults/teens from their MJ congregations? This question gathers information
from the teen open-ended question that asked why they don’t want to be involved in their congregation
and the young adult open-ended question that asked why they are not currently involved. It may overlap
with why young adults/teens leave congregations. Responses also reflect interview questions that asked
what repels them from congregations.
  4 Why do young adults/teens not attend/leave their MJ congregations? This question gathers
information from the teen question that asked why they don’t want to be involved and the young adult
open-ended survey question that asked why they are not attending or what’s missing from Messianic
Jewish congregations. It also reflects responses from the interviews that asked about reasons the interview
participants may have left a congregation.

The Four Questions Expanded with Analysis and Quotes

What attracts, engages, and is valued by young adults and teens in Messianic Jewish congregations?
At A Glance: There are some things that initially attract young adults to Messianic Jewish congregations. The
most common are parents/families that bring them (including Messianic leaders’ kids), but others have also
expressed that the rabbi and other relationships draw them in, as well as services on Shabbat. A good number
of teens and young adults were raised Messianic and that helps with long-term commitment. For those raised
Messianic and for the newly arrived, it’s important that relationships continue to engage them, that their
families attend, that the rabbi (and spouse) is engaging and acts as a mentor, and that they have peer groups
and a healthy intergenerational community. They also value the authenticity of the Jewish experience and its
weddedness to Yeshua—they are attracted by the shared values of the community. They appreciate living close
so that they can be involved on a weekly basis, as well as being enabled to serve. They care about a connection
to the broader Jewish community (including outreach), to the Messianic Jewish community, and to the
Christian community.
Initial Attraction—Parents: Young people were initially brought to congregations by their parents and
  A 
they often remain because their parents attend or are involved, including rabbis’ kids. They are also often
initially drawn to the congregation because of leadership, especially the rabbi and their spouse, other
relationships, if their spouse is Jewish, and the honoring of Shabbat. Teens value an engaging rabbi (91%).

64
 “The majority of young adults go to congregations because their parents go or want to go.” (YA Interview)

Initial Attraction: Rabbi

“Rabbi [name of rabbi] was speaking, the worship was going, we knew it was the right place. We felt so
connected and everything made sense.” (YA Interview)

And I’ve known [rabbi] most of my life and so it felt like a natural space. (YA Interview)

Initial Attraction: Relationships

“Since [husband] lived here, he knew a lot of people and I also, being involved in the UMJC for so long,
knew a lot of people. It was a very natural fit.” (YA Interview)

Initial Attraction: Shabbat

“The big thing they got convicted on is what does it mean to keep the Sabbath holy and are we doing that
in an appropriate manner?” (YA Interview)

  B Authenticity: Young people care about an authentic Jewish experience as well as transparency from
leadership, which includes vulnerability, humility, and a willingness to talk about sensitive issues.

“Something I’m really proud of when it comes to [name of congregation] is our desire to be—we’re heavy
in integrity in how we present ourselves as Messianic believers.” (YA Interview)

“I think young adults and youth in particular right now are yearning for the authenticity of experience,
of vulnerability that would come from people that are speaking from the bema about racial issues, about
things that are hitting home like mental illness, issues of sex and gender, of… just relational issues,
environmental.” (YA Interview)

  C Community /Relationships-Friendships/Welcoming: A welcoming, family-like environment where

relationships (with peers, leadership, mentors, all ages) are nurtured are key to drawing and keeping
young people. In the teen survey, 81% said they find it important to have mentors/YA leaders and 78%
value other teens and a vibrant youth group (70%). Young adults also find it important to have relation-
ships with their peers (79%) and a close relationship with the rabbi (70%); teens want an engaging rabbi
(91%). Oneg/social gatherings are important for teens (76%) and young adults (64%). Young adults
value organized young adult activities (75%). In the YA survey, 72% of respondents found it important/
very important to also have a communal life outside of shabbat services—so they want to grow
relationships at other times as well. In the YA survey, 78% of respondents said it’s important to have a
generationally diverse community

“As large as it is, it’s easy to slip through the cracks if you’re not proactive—but she was definitely one of
those faces that you knew was willing to step out and say hey to somebody new that she didn’t know.”
(YA Interview)

“But I gotta say it was the people; it was the people and the atmosphere that they created a lot more so
than any kind of style of service.” (YA Interview)

We literally moved because of the community.

65
 “One of the things that really keeps me there is yes
  I want to build Messianic the people, but definitely community. I tell the teens
Jewish community. I find it this all the time, ‘If you’re not around people, you’re
bound to fail. We need each other. It’s not just me and
rewarding. I love the movement, God, not just me and the Lord. It’s you and everybody
and the relationships I have else. The Lord gave us each other to help each other
out. We need each other.’” (YA Interview)
around the country and around
the world.” (YA Interview) “At the end of the day, I think it just comes back to
love. I know it’s a trope. If you can have a place where
young people who are in need and who are hurting, can come and feel loved and feel cared for and feel
included, it doesn’t even matter what the rest of the expression is like. That’s just our basic need.”
(YA Interview)

“There were individuals. So particularly a gentleman named [redacted]... We became very good friends.
And then I became friends with some of the other younger members of the community there, and that
made a large difference in my desire to continue attending.” (YA Interview)

“I wish to be involved in my congregation because I feel surrounded by very godly people who have
poured their entire lives into our congregation and the Messianic Jewish movement and I wish to not only
do the same, but I wish to reward the older leaders with the knowledge that their congregation is going
into good hands. I also wish to be more involved in the movement because I truly believe that God smiles
upon the Messianic Jewish people and we can retain our closeness with him with cooperation and
constant lifelong learning together in this growing community.” (Teen Survey)

  D Connection to the Jewish Community: Many young people want to connect with the larger Jewish
community. In the young adult survey, 73% thought it important/very important to have a relationship
with the broader Jewish community, and in the interviews as well.

“And with this rabbi and congregation, I think there’s a real effort made to engage with the normative
Jewish community” (YA Interview)

  E Intergeneraltional Community: While young people enjoy hanging out with their peers, they also want a
community that’s multigenerational. In the young adult survey, 78% thought it important/very important to
have a generationally diverse community.

“I definitely would always love to have people my age; nice to have peers and people older than you.”

“I love the intergenerational community the most—that bonds over the dining room table or a breakfast
table in conversations and snacks. That’s what I really value—that’s what I’m really drawn to—and coffee.
My current congregation doesn’t have that, but the one in [city] did. (YA Interview)

  F Jewish Tradition/Space/Identity:
The hallmark of the Messianic Jewish community is faith in Yeshua in a context of Jewish life and
tradition. Many young adults expressed a desire for a predominantly Jewish congregational membership
and leadership (48% of young adults; 72% of teens surveyed valued having other Jewish teens) and for
Jewish traditions, including holidays, life cycle events, a Torah service (with Torah/NT readings), Hebrew

66
 liturgy (YA: 64%; teens 46%), Torah studies (YA: 80%; teens: 67%), and having
communal standards of Jewish practice (YA: 56%).
I really value that
“But that was, for me, it was really good to be in a Messianic community and the a large majority
style of worship and the liturgy spoke to a piece of my heart that was not
otherwise being tended.” (YA Interview) of our commun-
“I have really appreciated, and this is something I think lacks severely in the ity is Jewish;
church, the observance of life cycles.” (YA Interview)
it adds a level of
“For example, now and then I will invite people over to my apartment for erev
Shabbat dinner, and very frequently I get invited over to other people’s places for authenticity
erev Shabbat. And that’s just a really nice informal way of getting to know each
other better in a very Jewish way and a God-centered way.” (YA Interview)
of being a
Messianic Jewish
  G Leadership: Young people are often drawn by the rabbi (and their spouse) and a
desire to foster that relationship. Many appreciate when leadership is Jewish as congregation.
well. In the young adult survey, 70% of respondents thought it important/very
important to have a close relationship with the rabbi and most teens (91%) found it
very important to have an engaging rabbi.

“But they, [rabbi’s wife] especially, they really work hard. And they’re very deliberate about making sure
that every single new person is acknowledged, and someone sits down and hangs out with them at oneg, and
they don’t feel like it’s their first time.” (YA Interview)

  H Location/Proximity of Congregation:
Young people prefer living close to the congregation and that often affects the frequency of attendance and
their long-term involvement in congregational life.

“Yeah, so right now I’m living in a place that’s less than a 10-minute drive away. And that makes a huge
difference. I know that’s pretty unusual for most Messianic congregants probably. That makes it extremely
easy to go during the week.” (YA Interview)

“Yeah. And it also helps because not only am I close to the synagogue, but quite a few other members are
fairly close to the synagogue too. For two families, I can walk to their house in 15 to 20 minutes. So that’s so
unusual. But it’s really special.” (YA Interview)

“I think that a very important aspect of the way that the community is going to grow is localized community,
where people are at each other’s houses and eating together and living together and within walking distance
of each other. And we want to be, I guess, at the forefront of encouraging and pushing and leading by exam-
ple, of creating that kind of thing.” (YA Survey)

  I Mentoring/ Discipleship/Teaching:
Young people desire continual close mentoring and discipleship, including in non-religious areas such as
career and marriage. Young adults found it very important/important to have mentors (80%) and so did
teens (81%). They often feel that mentoring is lacking in their congregations.

“Having mentoring during that time to help me build my trust with God and have more ability to trust him,
that really helped me in the process of having more of a foundation in my spiritual walk.” (YA Interview)

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 “The fact that both [rabbi] and [rabbi’s wife] are Jews and their relationship is a strong pillar within the
community—that was a really important example for me. And, truly, that was a big factor for me. Maybe
that sounds a little bit weird, but just really having strong cultural and family Jewish examples was a huge
factor for me. And the fact that I felt like they could be personal mentors to me.” (YA Interview)

“I like Rabbi [name of rabbi] and I think he brings a depth of understanding to the scripture, unlike most
Christian pastors, and that he brings in other Jewish sources to help explain the contexts of the passage being
spoken about. As for the community, it’s good but it’s the teachings that keep me coming back.” (YA Survey)

“They teach the entirety of the Tanakh and Second Testament as a part of the same story of HaShem’s
revelation to His people.” (YA Survey)

  J Normalcy/Professionalism: Young people appreciate when congregations have a semblance of “normalcy”

and professionalism to them.

“But I really appreciate the fact that at the synagogue, you don’t go there and you feel like half the people are
demon possessed and the other half are Spirit-filled or half the people are homeless and the other half are
hippies. And you also don’t go there and feel like the people going there are crying their eyes out and then
going back home and doing drugs during the week.” (YA Interview)

  K Outreach: Young people want a congregation that interacts with the larger communities around them,
Jewish and Christian. In the young adult survey, 56% of respondents found it important/very important to
do outreach. They want to impact the world.

“Just their outreach locally and globally is something that I really love being a part of, and just to know that
I’m part of something that has such a big impact.” (YA Interview)

“My view of Messianic Judaism is the old person point of view of doing outreach and reaching Jewish
people… The reason why I enjoy that [attending church] more is that it is people my age and people who
want to do outreach and share the message of Yeshua.” (YA Interview)

“But I would also see one that impacts the community at large—where we’re not just an insular building,
not just a group of people who gather and do funky stuff and then we go to work and tell people why
Messianic Judaism is a cool way to be. But one where there’s a healthy working relationship with the larger
Christian community and also a healthy relationship with the Jewish community.” (YA Interview)

“It has a ministry side to it, an outreach side to it. And so yes, it is a congregation, but they’re trying to do
something and move forward in some way. It’s not just inward focused, and I liked that.” (YA Interview)

  L Peer Groups (other teens/young adults): Young people really desire peer relationships, and they are
attracted to and remain at the congregation when there is a vibrant youth group and friendships. In the
young adult survey, 79% of respondents said it was important/very important to have peers. Teens also
want to have people their own age (78%) and a vibrant youth group (72%). College-age kids want to hang
out with their particular age group.

“Other young adults, having people going through the same things in life.” (YA Interview)

“College age young adults are just looking for a place to be with one another.” (YA Interview)

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  M Serving: Young adults and teens want to serve at
all levels of congregational life and be empowered    There are a lot of young
in various leadership opportunities. They use the families—and so it felt like we
word “serving” many times.
walked into this city with
“Make a point of asking the 25-year-old person, community, and it felt
people who are on the younger end of things tend
to have a ton of energy. They really want to serve.
immediately like home.
And if you don’t give them opportunities to serve
in your own community, they’re going to go somewhere else.” (YA Interview)

“I actually find special young adult programming to be kind of, almost condescending, maybe. And I have
that approach too, now that I’ve stepped into leadership, my approach is that everyone, after their bar/bat
mitzvah, should be serving on a committee in some capacity.” (YA Interview)

  N Shared Values /Likemindedness/Yeshua and Jewish Life: Sharing the unique identity of believing in
Yeshua while practicing Jewish tradition is a deep value for teens and young adults.

“My congregation is a place where I can pursue an authentic Jewish life engaged in the traditional practices
of our people while believing in Yeshua.” (YA Survey)

“I am a Jewish believer in Yeshua, and I want to worship and walk out my Jewish faith alongside other Jewish
believers and Gentile believers who understand the role of the Jewish people theologically.” (YA Survey)

“The idea of going somewhere where I was among people who were believers and who shared my values
and my approach and my yearnings—that was a very important thing. (YA Interview)

“But by and large, I would say people you know get attracted to what they’re already like.” (YA Interview)

“To live out my Jewish religious obligations with other Jews who also believe in Yeshua, where we can all
openly embrace and grow in Yeshua faith. To build a Jewish religious community for my children and for
Messianic Jewish continuity more generally.” (YA Survey)

“I love the Messianic Jewish community. It is my main community of identity, and I have lifelong friendships
across the larger Messianic world. I am very committed to my religious convictions, and my synagogue and local
community is where I pray and live out my faith with others who share those commitments.” (YA Survey)

“Connection to personal and corporate faith in Yeshua as a Jewish messiah, and connection to tradition,
liturgy and a Jewish way of life. And connection to a strong and supportive community in general.”
(YA Survey)

   I want to be involved in this community because they match my religious

beliefs and I want to grow in fellowship with people like me.

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 Music and worship is very important.

  O Unity: Young adults and teens desire a unified community, even with different opinions. They also want
regional get togethers and to know what’s happening in the larger Messianic Jewish community. Young
adult survey respondents (89%) would like to see Messianic Jewish organizations of different affiliations
build and maintain relationships with one another.

I would say that [congregation] is a very—how do I word this—we’re a pretty diverse group of individuals.
And despite the differences of opinions we all seem to express, we still remain relatively unified.
(YA Interview)

  P Worship: Young people find music and worship essential to congregational life and many serve on the
worship team. Some prefer the older Messianic music, while others would like to see new Messianic music
being developed. Some prefer the liturgy seamlessly blended with contemporary music. A few appreciate and
are leaders in Messianic dance. In the YA survey, 58% found worship music important/very important
(64%: liturgy), and 61% of teens (46%: liturgy). Teens (37%) found Messianic dance more important than
young adults (27%).

“But I do like the way [current congregation] does things. I mean, I like old classic Messianic songs. But I
also don’t mind adding in like really good songs from the Christian community which we also do at [current
congregation]. Yeah. I like the mix.” (YA Interview)

“The best way that I get the most out of worship is when I’m dancing, because I feel His presence. And it
just reminds me of how David danced.” (YA Interview)

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What needs to be improved in Messianic Jewish congregations/what would young adults
like to see in their ideal MJ communities?
At A Glance: Areas in congregational life that could be improved include Jewish traditions such as having a
Torah service with readings, and enhanced liturgy/worship, which require some standards of Jewish practice.
They want their leadership to be authentic, provide more mentoring, discipleship, and teaching, as well as being
empowered to lead. Relationships and community are key; they want more communal gatherings, events, and
concerts outside of weekly services, and to live close to their congregation to enhance involvement. Young adults
would also like to see more modern music, Jewish textual/biblical literacy for leaders and congregants, and they
want a greater connection and outreach to the broader Jewish community. They want clarification on
identities—distinctions between Jews and Gentiles, without making Gentiles feel underappreciated. They would
like to see certain values that reflect the larger Jewish community such as egalitarianism, openness to progressive
politics, and participation in social justice.
  A Authenticity/Transparency: Young people are asking that leadership be vulnerable, humble,
and transparent.

“What’s missing from the wider Messianic Jewish community? Answer: Transparency and authenticity…”
(YA Survey)

“I think young adults and youth in particular right now are yearning for the authenticity of experience of
vulnerability that would come from people that are speaking from the bema about racial issues, about things
that are hitting home: mental illness, issues of sex and gender, of... just relational issues, environmental.”
(YA Interview)

  B Connection to Jewish community/Christian Community: Young people would like to feel connected to
the larger Jewish community (73% of YA) and Christian communities. “Maybe more fellowship with other
churches and non-Messianic synagogues.” (YA Survey)
  “It would be useful to pay attention to what values are important to Jewish people and to perhaps consider
that they might not be wrong.” (YA Survey)

“I feel a lot of Messianic Jews are disconnected

from the larger Jewish community and so I feel I hope we can contribute greatly to the Jewish
really it would be wonderful to encourage and be community, not just as witnesses. I mean,
more involved in what’s happening currently in
Judaism.” (YA Survey) ultimately as witnesses, but also in … ways, like
  C Conference Communication: Some young adults winning Nobel prizes or fighting in the IDF, or
want direct and timely conference communication.
making really good policy against antisemitism…
  D Education/Teaching: Young people would like to
learn everything from apologetics to Bible to other
Jewish texts, including liturgy and kabbalah. They want to be regularly discipled and mentored and they want
sermons to be deep, but not too long.

“Talking about Jesus and the New Testament equally as much as the Old Testament.” (YA Survey)

“I would love there to be more opportunities to learn about Jewish liturgy and how it has developed over
time.” (YA Survey)

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 “Education! Being Messianic can be challenging and I wish we offered more education. Not only do we need
education on Judaism but also discipleship and walking out our faith in the day to day.” (YA Survey)

“I believe that there is a lack of depth in spiritual teaching.” (YA Survey)

“Biblical literacy—there is such a plethora of contradictory teachings in contemporary Messianic Judaism,

more than can be accounted for by diversity alone, and I am concerned that until we as individuals have a
solid systematic understanding of theology and Scripture, we are vulnerable to a variety of false teachers
who appeal to “Hebraic roots,” often falsely so, in order to gain followers.” (YA Survey)

  E Female Roles: Young people (especially women) would like to see more opportunities for women to teach
and lead. More than half of young adult respondents (55%) in the survey support women having opportun-
ities to receive rabbinic ordination (61% for Union-affiliated respondents) and 84% of all respondents
support women in non-rabbinic leadership roles.

“Support for women to be in leadership.” (YA Survey)   We lack roles

“I’d love to see some female leadership roles, where we and opportunities
for women.
have devotionals, something for women or something in
general from a woman’s point of view. I know that this is
treading on precarious ground about women teachers, but
you know if they can have Beth Moore—she’s a solid teacher—why can’t we have something like that.”
(YA Interview)

“We still need to find more ways to honor and celebrate women.” (YA Survey)

  F Jew/Gentile Roles/Distinction: Most young adults would like leaders to clarify distinctions between Jews
and Gentiles in congregations, particularly regarding Jewish observance. Some would like Gentiles not to feel
like second-class citizens. In the young adult survey, 52% think it’s important/very important to have a
diverse community (Jews/Gentiles), and 50% of teens think it’s important to have non-Jewish teens in their
congregation. Additionally, in the young adult survey, 16 respondents (8%) identified as Messianic Jewish
even though they had no Jewish background. About 4% of Gentile teens are identifying as Messianic Jews as
well. These results show lack of understanding of identity and a need for further clarification.

“I would like to see a greater social balance to where Gentiles don’t need to feel less than or somehow
become “better Jews” in knowledge and practice of Judaism to gain a space a value. I don’t know the answer
to the issue. But I would like for all children growing up in the movement to know they are loved by God for
who they are. Regardless if they came from a special people group or not. Yeshua died for them and that is
key. They need to know they are loved by God and nothing can make them be more loved or less loved. If
they were made part of the people of Israel, that’s great. If they were made to be part of the Nations. That is
great. They matter and they are special to their Father God just the same.” (YA Survey)
  G Jewish Tradition/Jewish Identity:
Young people would like to see the basics of Jewish tradition practiced at their congregation, from a Torah
service to a variety of liturgy and they would like a clear distinction of Jewish/Gentile identities. They want
leadership to be literate in Jewish texts and traditions. And they would like to engage with the broader
Jewish community.

“Although small, I feel the community should be Jewish and legitimate with Jewish practice. We should
engage with the wider Jewish community in a more authentic way.” (YA Interview)

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 “I think one of my truest hopes is that the movement will get over our identity issues.” (YA Interview)

“I would like for my congregation to read from the Torah each week; provide more education in Judaism;
discuss halakhah more; discuss Jew/Gentile relationships and roles more in depth.” (YA Survey)

“Fluency in Jewish texts and tradition among the leaders.” (YA Survey)

“I think chanting (or at least reading) from the Torah portion from the Torah scroll is missing in my local
congregation (and others). From the Messianic community at large, I think rabbis (specifically in the IAMCS/
MJAA) should have a more robust education requirement for rabbinic ordination. I think they should match
(or be similar to) the UMJC’s requirements. In my view, this would help add more exegesis to sermons, a
more robust liturgy, and the rabbi’s involvement in the Torah service. I think too many Gentiles in the
Messianic movement are here for the wrong reasons. Many join because they embrace One Law theology or
believe that the Messianic synagogue is the best church in town. I value and am grateful to have Jew and
Gentiles worshipping together in the Messianic community; my concern is that many are here for the wrong
reasons (though many are here for the right reasons). I think there should be more opportunities for
congregants to have access to education that would deepen their understanding of Messianic Jewish theology,
history, and apologetics.” (YA Survey)
  H Jewish Observance Standards: Many young people would like to see a standard liturgy and Jewish
practice, and some would like daily minyan. In YA survey, 56% thought it important/very important to
have communal standards of observance.

“I’d also love to see the Messianic community more intentionally develop a core of halakhic discussion,
whether it is through the MJRC or through some other method.” (YA Survey)

“What is expected Jewish practice in one community, is exceptional or even looked down upon in another
community.” (YA Survey)

“I do want to know which traditions are best. The traditions that were given to me I’ve learned are really
different from what Jewish people do around the world and from what other Messianic Jewish people do. I’d
like for a better rationale for what was chosen and not chosen. And for that to feel a bit more universal
rather than we’re just doing our own thing.” (YA Interview)

“I think one of the challenges of Messianic Judaism is

We lack strong, standard halachic
tradition, and strong theological
traditions that are coherent.
independence on a number of levels. There’s not like a
denomination. It’s like a loose confederation. People are just
doing whatever they want to do. So it’s hard to have any kind
of accountability for leaders doing bad things. Not really
having some kind of traditions and customs that Messianic
Jews follow. It’s kind of different wherever you go.” (YA
Interview)

  I Leadership Transition/Generational Transition: According to the young adult survey, 95% of young
adults think teens and young adults should serve on committees and receive leadership training. In the teen
survey, 61% of teens thought it important/very important for teens to serve in leadership roles. Very few
teens (11%) and young adults (25%) sit on committees.

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 “The older generation, this movement needs to
listen to the younger generation.” (YA Interview)
  J Matchmaking: Young people would like to meet I don’t know how to ask for mentorship
someone. Conferences are great places to do that,
including those hosted by Jewish missions. or who to turn to. The lack of mentor-
“A matchmaker program! And the Union/ ship/building up young leaders is
Messianic movement in general really lacks here…
what better way to carry our vision into the
future? What are we waiting for!?” (YA Survey)
a broader problem within the
  K Mentoring/Discipleship: Young people refrain Messianic Jewish community.
from asking for mentoring, although they desire it
deeply. They will take something unstructured,
but many want a structured program and close
relationships with leaders that continue to mentor/disciple them long-term. In the YA survey, 80% thought
it important/very important to have mentors as well as 81% of teens.

“But it’s actually a real connection of investing time into a person’s spiritual growth; to walk with them as
they deepen their relationship. I think that’s something that the few youth groups that I’ve been to, even
young adult groups, in the Messianic movement –sometimes it’s missing a little bit.” (YA Interview)
“As a young adult, attending my temple first as a college student, now as a young professional, it would be
extremely helpful to have access to mentorship. At this point, I’m in my early 20s, want to keep growing
spiritually and need advice/guidance (about life, growing spiritually, finding a spouse someday, etc.). I don’t
know how to ask for mentorship or who to turn to. The lack of mentorship/building up young leaders is a
broader problem within the Messianic Jewish community.” (YA Survey)

“So what I would look for in an ideal Messianic congregation is one that is welcoming, that has kind of, not
a structured mentorship program, although that is also a really good idea to have, but has a culture in the
congregation where older women will seek out younger women and just become friends and confidants of
theirs.” (YA Interview)

“I think that an ideal synagogue would also have a focus on building up young people in two specific ways.
Number one, in their spirituality, having—in the church world they’ll call them small groups—but just
encouraging the younger set. And now I’m talking both college and early career people. Not just on Saturday
mornings, but encouraging people to have a devotional life where they’re having time with God every day,
or where they’re getting together with other young people on a Wednesday night or a Friday night or what-
ever to talk about Scripture. It can be tough because we’re often so pinched for resources that that’s not
something that gets a lot of focus, but it should be, because people—young people, especially—young people are
going to be attracted to a vibrant, spiritually-growing community. That is what people want. And if we can’t
give that to them, they’re going to go to the church down the street, which is fine, if that’s what causes them
to grow spiritually, then great. But then we lost them.” (YA Interview)

“I believe the Messianic community at large needs to focus on the youth far more, especially those that wish
to be leaders and serve within their congregation in the future. I believe we do have ways for events and
activities with the youth, but I believe we lack proper pouring into of the youth and encouragement needed
to allow for growth and aid in their lives. We also in many ways should encourage different ways to reach
out such as with social media and other opportunities to grow our community and encourage participation
and community.” (YA Survey)

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 “If your cantor is doing all the work and getting tired, then have it be someone who is musical and can pick
up the liturgy quickly and maybe don’t give them challenging stuff that they don’t have training for, but
people can do with it. People can do that. Or, have them create a youth program, have them create a
discipleship program for the teens.” (YA Interview)
  L Normalcy: Normalcy: Young people perceive a strange subculture in Messianic Jewish congregations that is
not based necessarily on biblical values.

“But it’s more about the number of healthy individuals we need to, at least have, I don’t know what that
ratio would be, but there need to be enough of those people in the community to then provide examples for
anybody who does want to grow and get healthier in their life, right?”

“What’s missing—any sense of relevance to the wider culture. We say we want other Jewish people to join
us, but we’ve created this weird subculture that’s very alien to the average mainstream Jewish person.”
(YA Survey)
  M Outreach: Young people want to bring their Jewish friends to places that they feel comfortable in. They
also want their Jewish friends who attend church to come to Messianic congregations. They desire to reach
Jews and all nations globally. In the young adult survey, 56% found it important/very important to engage
in outreach.

“The thing to me, think about the Jews that live in our neighborhood, I think they’re important, but I think
there’s a global aspect of going out and bringing the good news of Messiah in its Jewish context and historic
place to the whole world.” (YA Interview)

“I would love to see a fraction of the “church Jews” in my neighborhood attend our community.” (YA Survey)

“But one of the things about young adults is that young adults go where young adults are. … you have to
figure out how to attract a key core group of three or four younger people or couples who will start bringing
their friends and who will feel comfortable bringing their friends, and who are encouraged to bring their
friends, who are encouraged to reach out to their non-believing Jewish friends and bring them to a
congregation that has something of value to them.” (YA Interview)
  N Peer Group (teen/young adult): Young people are impacted by a definite lack of people their age at their
congregation. They want more peers and gatherings outside of services. In the young adult survey, 79% said
it was important/very important to have peers, and 78% of teens. Teens also found it important to have
other Jewish teens (72%) and a vibrant youth group (70%).

“Youth program, we only have Shabbat school right

now. A prayer team and an outreach/ evangelism
What’s missing—any sense of rele- program.” (YA Survey)

vance to the wider culture. We say we
want other Jewish people to join us,
but we’ve created this weird subculture
that’s very alien to the average main-
stream Jewish person.
“Local youth gatherings outside of the synagogue setting
(teens, 20s 30s), fun activities, Bible study/discussion
groups, mentorship programs although this is challeng-
ing as people have different understandings and beliefs.
Events teaching people about Jewish identity. Also chal-
lenging as people have different perspectives on what it
means to be a Jew. Togetherness—getting together to
sing songs.” (YA Survey)

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 “My age group is missing! Both singles and young families. Participation by more than a small percentage
in serving and leading would be a nice change. We could also stand to be a bit closer to Judaism than
Christianity in terms of service/music/liturgy/lifestyle.” (YA Survey)

“Not enough connection with the wider community (UMJC, Messianic Jewish, and wider Jewish com-
munity). Even though the community is quite strong, it is small and insular. Because the community is
aging, there is a noticeable lack of younger people even in my age group, let alone 20-somethings and teens.”
(YA Survey)
  O Social/Racial Justice: Young people want to do humanitarian works. Some are sometimes repelled by the
term “social justice,” which can have political connotations, but they respond positively to the idea of
Tikkun Olam or community service projects. According to the young adult survey, 41% of respondents said
social justice is important/very important, and 76% of
young adults found sponsoring community service
projects important. They want their congregations to   I’ve struggled to find a place of
reflect their values of serving others outside of their
community. They see injustice and inequality in the worship, mainly due to a difference
world and want to help. Some see Yeshua as a role
model for social justice.
in moral ideology. Social justice
and the fight for equality are
“The broader Messianic community has a lot of work
to do in the social justice space. I find many many very important for me…
leaders and broader organizations to be very out of
touch. There seems to be a huge disconnect between
the teachings of the Torah and the conduct of some organizations/ individuals. It has caused me to
disassociate with the MJAA unfortunately. Growing up in the community, I experienced the negative effects
of purity culture and witnessed the effect on my peers as well. I believe the way purity is spoken about
needs to be reevaluated and the double standards for men and women need to be eliminated.” (YA Survey)

“I’ve struggled to find a place of worship mainly due to a difference in moral ideology. social justice and the
fight for equality are very important to me, and I want my place of worship to share those values with the
same passion that I have.” (YA Survey)

“More social justice and less being hidebound by reform Protestantism.” (YA Survey)

“Teachings on social justice and Tikkun Olam from a scriptural perspective need to be strengthened and
needs to increase. To clarify, I don’t just mean what the Bible says on these topics, I am asking for a Jewish
scriptural understanding.” (YA Survey)
  P Unity: Young people want to get together with larger groups of peers and with people who share their values
and beliefs. They want to feel connected to the broader Messianic Jewish community. In the young adult
survey, 89% of respondents think that Messianic communities of different affiliations should build and
maintain relationships with one another. The Union respondents ranked slightly lower (65%) than MJAA
(75%) and others in their desire to fully support building and maintaining relationships with others.

“I would say unity: the biggest issue facing the Messianic Jewish community, right now, is the amount of
synagogues identifying as Messianic Jewish, but having no clear, obvious connection with one another.”
(YA Interview)

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 “Then also having more distinct relationships with other cities and other congregations. I know that is
happening with UMJC but being able to have more of a sister congregation, somewhere that is close where
we meet up sometimes.” (YA Interview)

“More unity. I think that’s every young person’s hope and goal. More unity. I went to a couple Grassroots
events and that was UMJC/MJAA/JFJ/CPM all of them trying to get together and say why are there so many
breakdowns—we’re all the same. We need to be together in this fight. We’re not alone, we have each other.”
(YA Interview)

“Defined protocols for interacting across Tikkun-MJRC faction lines among local congregations. The mutual
alienation is a big problem.” (YA Survey)

“Would also love to see Messianic leaders travel and speak at fellow UMJC congregations to give us a sense
of togetherness and encouragement.” (YA Survey)

“Community with other Messianic congregations in our area. I wish that we would get together with other
Messianic congregations to build a bigger and stronger community.” (YA Survey)

“My only issues are the feuds between organizations and synagogues.” (Teen Survey)

“I hope for more unity and more relationships. I hope for the missions world and congregational world to
work together. Went to the YMJA conference, I got to meet all of these young Messianic Jewish people from
all over the country (Philly, Florida and Georgia) and we became good friends back in 2016. I maintain a lot
of those relationships today.” (YA Interview)

Politics: Young people are clearly repelled by what they view as monolithic conservative congregations that
  Q 
don’t accept progressive liberal views. They want their congregations to be relevant to the wider culture and
embrace Jewish community values.

“Where do I even start? Our movement by-and-large lacks relevance (socially, politically, religiously),
education and Jewish literacy, money, professionalism, structure, and healthy identity norms. We lack
attraction for Jews to engage us. We lack roles and opportunities for women. We lack a healthy identity
paradigm for Gentiles who are already in our congregations to engage in. I think we lack evolution of
ideology and practice in positive directions. We are missing whole segments of age demographics, and the
resulting healthy generations turnover is missing. We lack spaces for politically non-conservative Jews to
voice their values. We lack spaces for anyone who wants to engage and approach Judaism in a more
traditional religious manner. We lack strong, standard halachic tradition, and strong theological traditions
that are coherent. There are so many things missing that I didn’t list here.” (YA Survey)

“The broader Messianic community seems to largely think of themselves as no different than the evangelical
right, and repeats the statements found there despite these statements having no basis in the scripture they
claim to follow.” (YA Survey)

  R Worship/Music: Young people expressed a desire to have more creativity in terms of the arts, storytelling,
and dance. One respondent mentioned the need to focus on beautification of our spaces, which helps culti-
vate worship. Young people would also like to see more contemporary Messianic music, either borrowing
from the Jewish community or Christian world trends.

“Good music.” (YA Survey), “What’s Missing from my local

Messianic Congregation? Answer: Drummers. (YA Survey) I hope for both the missions and con-
gregational world to work together.

77
What repels (discourages) young adults and teens within Messianic Jewish congregations?
At A Glance: The following are some things that discourage/repel young adults and teens from attending
Messianic Jewish congregations. They include living far from a congregation, no peer group, schedule conflict,
leadership, weirdness, burnout, and politics. Some of the following things can cause young adults to leave, but
some continue attending despite the discouragement. Some things not mentioned below include conference costs,
Gentiles being treated as second class, too much focus on money, and camp melodrama.
  A Burnout: Young adults would like to find a balance where they are empowered to participate and serve, yet
without overburdening them with too much involvement. They feel there aren’t enough volunteers and that
Shabbat can become a burden.

“For me, I’m actually in a place that I’ve got to withdraw from a few places so that I can focus more in-depth
on certain aspects—but you can fall into the volunteer trap. ‘We’ve got 700 other projects for you.’ You’ve
got to remember to pull back and leave space, so that’s where I’m at. It’s not a fear of being deeply involved,
but a fear of being too deeply involved.” (YA Interview)

“I do say no to certain things because of burnout. Burnout is a big thing. Especially in Messianic
congregations, there’s so many people doing 5 million things and I don’t think the kingdom is supposed to be
busy. I don’t think you’re supposed to do that.” (YA Interview)

“Leadership was asking for me to do a ton of things. Leadership made me youth leader and then I was
leading music. Shabbat became a chore and became a burnout. There was too much in the way of leading a
youth group, youth camp, and music group. I felt stretched too thin.” (YA Interview)

  B Commercialism of Church: Some young people were turned off by churches they had attended and were
drawn by Messianic congregations—they don’t want to see the same commercialism of worship/events in
their Messianic congregations.

“The worship was more of a concert and the message was 20-minute timed message, in and out—not a
whole lot of depth.” (YA Interview)

“They had really cool arcade games and fun activities outside of it. But what was a big drawback was how
commercial everything seemed.” (YA Interview)

  C COVID-19: Despite the accessibility of services online, many young adults/teens did not want
to attend online services during COVID-19. Weekly attendance went down during COVID-19, while
attendance on special occasions went up (holidays, etc.).

“Not as much [attendance] because of the COVID-19 scenario. There have not been much hanging out Zoom
events.” (YA Interview) “Since COVID-19 started, the group at our congregation has significantly shrunk
and most of the people left are much older than me.” (Teen Survey)

“It was online, and I was having online fatigue.” (YA Survey)

“Out of 4 weeks, I probably attend 3. Sometimes you don’t want to watch a service online. I usually read
Torah once/month, so I go to that one.” (YA Interview)

  D Leadership: Young adults tend to find the older leadership challenging to work with.

78
 “I’m sure I’ll continue to get involved, but honestly, the only reservations that I have is just, it’s dealing with
the old guys. Not to be offensive about it, but it’s the dysfunction, the lack of awareness, the lack of profes-
sionalism that’s exhibited by older, sometimes original, leadership…Makes it really tough for younger people
to step in. And they’re the biggest pain in the butt when you start to get into the trenches…” (YA Interview)

  E Location, Distance: Many teens and young adults are prevented from attending due to distance of the
congregation and lack of one in their city (or one they perceive as healthy).

“In a city without a Messianic Jewish congregation that I prefer.” (YA Survey)

“Well, I would like to be involved but I don’t drive and it’s far away from my house, so I it all depends on
whether my whole family goes.” (Teen Survey)

“We were in [city], we got married in [date] and moved to [city] for my graduate school and to be transparent
we did not attend a congregation there regularly mainly because the closest ones felt unhealthy and also the
closest one was 40 minutes away.” (YA Interview)

  F Overzealous Religion: A number of young adults expressed their desire for proper instruction on Jew/
Gentile distinctions, especially regarding observance levels. And they are repelled by certain spiritual
expressions such as dancing, banner waving, and shofar blowing at inappropriate times.

“And the Messianic world in general has certain strangenesses that it has adopted, and that it wears is a
badge of pride, but which might look very, very strange to people from the outside. And that could be any-
thing from dancing and banner waving and shofar blasts to the fact that maybe it has an obvious Gentile
presence that is participating fully with wearing tallit, and being involved in a way that might be a little
confusing to somebody who thought they were maybe just attending a synagogue.” (YA Interview)

“A lot of messianic Jewish congregations don’t have a lot of Jews in them. I actually really like the types of
Gentile Christians who go to Messianic congregations and are very passionate about Jewish people, Jewish
culture, and the Jewish roots of the faith. But when you have Gentiles wearing talit and getting super
emotional about Jewish things at a place where there aren’t any Jews or many Jews, it feels weird to me. And
I, as a Jew who didn’t feel like I grew up with a ton of Judaism, feel like that isn’t a place where I’m gonna
grow in my own Jewish identity very much.” (YA Interview)

“And not to bash anybody who’s going through any kind of growth, but for me it’s frustrating to see people
who tie tzitzit to a belt loop or decide to grow payes [sidecurls], because they have this overzealous thing to them;
they’re going to spur questions, but they’re the wrong questions. You’re not helping—I’d like to continue that
education for our new zealous congregants—let’s channel that in the right direction.” (YA Interview)

  G Peer Group: Peer Group: Many young adults and teens are discouraged by the lack of friends their age.

“I’ve heard from other people, and my boyfriend [name], he had been previously attending the congregation
off and on four years before me, this is one of his biggest discouragements, is that he didn’t have any peers in
the community.” (YA Interview)

  H Politics: Young adults have been repelled (and some have left) due to what they view as leadership/
congregational support of right-wing, conservative politics.

“And I’ve spoken to many people who find the ideological tenor, particularly the politically ideological tenor
within the movement to be unbearable.” (YA Interview)

79
 “I also think that if we have any interest in engaging
I also think that if we have any interest with young Jewish people who are not believers, and
when we wish to make a case to them, that our
in engaging with young Jewish people who communities are something that are worth looking at,
if we have any desire at all, to be any sort of witness to
are not believers… tying ourselves to right- Jewish people at large… tying ourselves to right-wing
nationalism is a fatal error.” (YA Interview)
wing nationalism is a fatal error.
“I think this is a really major, major problem as I watch
Messianic leaders use their soap boxes, not to talk
about the gospel, not to talk about the Torah, not to talk about anything, but to tout modern political
controversies. And to even go so far as to say that someone who disagrees with them is not part of the fold,
cannot enter into fellowship, will not go to heaven, crazy things that are odious.” (YA Interview)

  I Unity (Lack of): Some teens and young adults are turned off by interorganizational disputes.

“I absolutely love being in the community. My only issues are the feuds between organizations and
synagogues, and some people being a little too sheltered with how we do things. I enjoy growing up as a
Messianic teen however! (Teen Survey)

  J Weirdness: Young adults and teens are discouraged that many Messianic congregations attract unusual people.

“Like I said, it has a very diverse group of people, which I like. But there is generally an air of normalcy and
stability and kind of almost like habit. In my experience with some other Messianic synagogues, I think it’s
not unusual for a Messianic synagogue to attract very odd characters and that just sometimes is not a great
place for young people to be growing up and developing themselves.” (YA Interview)

K Schedule Conflict: A number of young adults and teens in school or with families find it challenging to
attend services or other congregational events.

“But I was just so busy the past three years with school and work and that I really didn’t have an opportunity
to. No space in my schedule.” (YA Interview)

“But it is a very different season and when some people are starting to have children, it became I can’t come to
something at 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. even if you’re saying it’s for our family.” (YA Interview)

“I haven’t gone to one of their prayer times because I have a class then, but hopefully if they continue online.”
(YA Interview)

80
Why do young adults/teens leave (or not attend) Messianic Jewish congregations?
At A Glance: The reasons for leaving were revealed in the young adult survey open-ended questions as 26
respondents (21 Jews) who do not attend/left Messianic congregations filled out the surveys. Those interviewed
have similar reasons to survey respondents, but left predominantly because they moved, lived too far, the lack of
peers, were turned off by lack of Jews in the congregation, or due to the lack of empowering new leadership. In
the young adult survey, we asked them why they are not currently involved. A few (especially those who lean
conservative politically) left because of lack of spiritual growth and their desire to attend a church. Others moved
or they went away to college. A good number (more liberal leaning) left due to offensive politics and different
cultural values.

  A Church/Spiritual Growth: Messianic Jews sometimes leave to attend church. It’s often difficult for
Messianic congregations to compete with churches that have more money, larger children’s programs,
and sometimes more education opportunities.

“I grew up and spent most of my life being involved in the same Messianic congregations. I found that I was
plateauing in my growth there after many years. And God also clearly led me to the church where I
currently attend and serve. I wasn’t looking for a new congregation at the time, but God’s leading was
clear.” (YA Survey)

“Raised in a Messianic congregation, when my wife and I started to have kids, we felt a church with a
growing kids ministry was the place to raise our family.” (YA Survey)

  B College: A lot of Messianic Jewish teens don’t plan for Messianic spiritual life during college (37% of teens
find it important/very important to attend college near a Messianic Jewish congregation). They often
disconnect once they are in college.

“My age group wouldn’t necessarily be as committed or taking active part because we’re in college.”
(YA Interview)

“I think religion becomes less of a priority when in college, so makes sense that UMJC focuses on pro-
fessional life because that’s when people decide what values they want to sustain in their life [re the Young
Prof group].” (YA Interview)

“As I am moving to college this fall, I am not sure what my plans are for finding or attending a Messianic
Jewish community.” (Teen Survey)

“I will also have to be less involved soon since I travel to and from college—the closest to a Messianic Jewish
community I have there is a Jewish roots community.” (YA Survey)

“But a lot of parents who I’ve known, I’ve noticed in the youth programming, especially because we lose
kids when they go to college a lot. And it’s usually kids whose parents aren’t necessarily giving that
example.” (YA Interview)

  I am moving to college. “I loved seeing when students came because they

I am not sure what my plans
are for finding a Messianic
Jewish community…
wanted to grow spiritually. It’s those students who
typically do not “fall away” when they leave for college.
Personally, I try just reaching out to previous students
and maintaining a relationship with them. Too often
kiddos leave for college and then their home church

81
 doesn’t continue connecting with them. There is an age gap between high school and late 20s/30s in churches
too. I think it comes from a lack of discipleship. I didn’t grow up having older women investing in me, so
when I became the “older person,” I made the effort to invest in those younger than me.”
(YA Interview)

  C Leadership: Some young adults are repelled by leadership who remain stagnant in their spiritual growth.

“We believe the Lord told us our time ended at our 18-year Messianic congregation and the leadership
seemed to not really want to change/adapt for growth and times.” (YA Survey)

  D Moving/Work: Many Messianic Jews leave congregations because of moving (for work or otherwise) to a
city without a congregation. They have not thought of becoming virtual members of existing communities or
attending online chavurot.

“Only reason why I left a congregation is because I moved from a different state. Attended congregations in
those areas.” (YA Interview)

“Moved across country to a new city.” (YA Survey)

  E Politics/Cultural Values:
Politics was a large reason for leaving even though only 20% of young adults and 33% of teens find it im-
portant or very important to share similar political views in their congregation. Liberal young adult survey
respondents find it slightly more important to share similar political views.

We left Messianic Judaism because we
no longer felt at home there theologically,
socially, culturally, or politically.
“I stayed (as the youth leader) for as long as I could for the
teens. When they graduated out of my group I resigned and
told the leadership the environment had become fiercely
political, the congregation prone to conspiracy, and the
environment too toxic to enable spiritual growth or
discipleship. I attended for 14 years.” (YA Survey)

“The climate at the congregation became further and

further polarized along political lines until anyone centrist/moderate or further left felt completely
unwelcome.” (YA Survey)

“I also think that if we have any interest in engaging with young Jewish people who are believers, and when
we wish to make a case to them, that our communities are something that are worth looking at, if we have
any desire at all, to be any sort of witness to Jewish people at large… tying ourselves to right-wing
nationalism is a fatal error.” (YA Survey)

“An acknowledgment that you don’t have to embrace far right, borderline fascist, politics in order to be a
faithful Messianic Jew.” (YA Survey)

“There does not exist one that I know of that is overtly queer friendly, diasporic, and anti-colonial/anti-
missionary. My values don’t align with the core values of Messianic Judaism—I discovered in my time in MJ
spaces that beneath its veneers of Jewishness, that community mostly cared about Jesus and converting more
people to Jesus, from an evangelical perspective. That was the central driving force. My central driving force
is living a good Jewish life. It’s different.” (YA Survey)

82
Conclusion of Young Adult Interviews and Open-ended Survey Questions
There are many things that overlap when we examine what attracts and engages Messianic young adults/teens
in congregational life and what they think needs improving or should be available in their ideal community. They
attend because of the shared beliefs in Yeshua within a Jewish context and because of the welcoming community
filled with close relationships and friendships, including with leadership, their peers, and a multigenerational
community. They value Jewish traditions such as holidays, Shabbat, liturgy, a Torah service, and a connection to
the broader Jewish community. They value serving and being empowered in their communities, and the common
worship. Some are satisfied with their congregational life, but others want improvements, and still others would
like to see radical changes that involve smaller, independent communities (chavurot) that can better foster
relationships, halakhah, and cater to humanitarian issues. When the things that they value aren’t present, such as
peers, standardized Jewish practice and study, empowerment for the next generation, or leadership that lacks
authenticity, they can be discouraged to the point of sometimes deciding to leave. Some are simply not able to
attend due to life circumstances such as living far away, moving to a different city that has no congregation, or
going away to college. Others leave because they find stability and depth of teaching, peers, and programs at
churches or non-Messianic synagogues. If the congregation does not reflect the larger Jewish world’s values of
social justice and a spectrum of politics, but mimics conservative right-wing values, some can angrily turn away,
even after many years of being invested.

The majority that we interviewed or surveyed hope to continue to be involved in the next year, and many hope
to still be involved five years down the road. Still, some are non-committal to long-term commitment, depending
on where their careers take them and marriage—a few are open to going to churches in the future. Some say they
will remain in Messianic Jewish communities (and even their particular congregation) for the rest of their lives,
particularly those who were raised in the Messianic Jewish community.

83
 Chapter 4  Literature Reviews
T
his chapter will provide various summaries of
reports, surveys, books, and articles from the
broader Messianic and non-Messianic Jewish com-
munity, which will include some recommendations to
Messianic Jews, some of which will also appear in our
Recommendations chapter. This chapter does not
represent an exhaustive list of material on trends in the
Jewish community but only a handful of relevant
material. We chose to review the Pew, United Jewish
Appeal (UJA), American Jewish Committee, Syna-
gogue 3000 (S3K), and Barna surveys because they
reflect the most recent or larger studies in the Jewish
and Messianic Jewish community. We also added a
section on chavurot because of Rabbi Stuart Dauer-
mann’s recent work in this area and its appeal for
Messianic Jewish young adults. We selected only a few
journal articles to review based on their relevance to
this report, and they are listed by subject.
At A Glance: There are a few trends in the broader
Jewish community that Messianic Jews can learn from
not only for outreach purposes but also to engage
young adults. Synagogue attendance among young
adults/Millennials is in decline, but they have found
other ways to engage and develop their Jewish identity.
The 2020 Pew study found that 17% of 18-29 year olds
attend synagogue weekly and they do so because they
find spiritual meaning, belonging, and a connection to
ancestry. Those who don’t attend synagogue regularly
and are repelled by organizations and institutions,
engage culturally through holiday events, through
cultural artifacts, and are attracted by innovative and
alternative communities (see S3K and Wertheimer).
They also have a renewed interest in rituals and
embodied experiences, and they want to participate
rather than be a spectator. They want leaders to give
them ownership in the decision-making of the com-
munity, and they want leaders to be authentic and
casual. This younger generation is also more politically
liberal, not motivated to attend synagogues out of
family obligation, Jewish continuity, or religious ob-
ligation. Regarding Israel, 25-40 year olds believe Israel
is necessary for the survival of the Jewish people (AJC,
70%) and that it’s important to maintain close ties to
Israel (AJC, 73%). But according to the Barna study,
only 11% of Millennials described an affinity to the
State of Israel (31% have traveled there). Dorot’s study
showed that 28% of Messianic teens have been to
84
Israel and 42% of young adults felt that Israel
deepened their engagement in the congregation.
Overall, Messianic Jewish leaders can learn from these
Jewish trends, especially that they need to find other
creative and innovative Jewish ways to engage young
adults (Messianic, and non-Messianic in terms of out-
reach) outside of weekly services. For those young adults
who do attend congregations, Messianic Jewish leaders
need to empower them to lead, make decisions, and
actively participate in congregational life. In relation to
Israel, Messianic leaders should continue to encourage
trips to Israel as well help educate young adults (and
teens) regarding Israel’s history, politics, and BDS, while
having a sensitivity toward Palestinians.
Surveys and Reports
American Jewish Committee.
Survey on American and Israeli Jewish Millennials
(New York: AJC, 2022).
https://www.ajc.org/Jewish-Millennial-Survey-2022/
American-Jewish-Millennials
On April 25, 2022, the American Jewish Committee
(AJC) released a survey on Millennial American and
Israeli Jews and their opinions regarding Israel. Results
from AJC’s Survey of American Millennial Jews, con-
ducted by the research company YouGov, is based on
online surveys carried out between February 9–March
30, 2022, with a sample of 800 Millennial American
Jews (defined between the ages of 25-40). Results from
AJC’s Survey of Israeli Millennial Jews, conducted by
the research company GeoCartography, is based on
online surveys carried out between February 14–
February 22, 2022, with a national sample of 1000
Millennial Israeli Jews (defined between the ages of
25-40). The poll found that most Jews aged 25-40 think
Israel is necessary to the survival of the Jewish people
(69.6%), and that it’s important for American Jews to
maintain close ties with Israel (72.8%). A majority,
64.7%, said they took pride in Israel’s accomplishments.
They said they believe that 90% of American Jews
cared about Israeli Jews. A third of respondents said
Israeli actions have made their lives more difficult, and
one in five said anti-Israel sentiment had corroded their
friendships or caused them to hide their Jewishness.
The AJC noted the high scores for mutual caring in both
populations in its press release. “Significant majorities
of American (72%) and Israeli (89%) Jewish
millennials say it is important that the American Jewish
community and Israel maintain close ties, with 48% of
Americans and 46% of Israelis saying it is very
important,” the release said. The survey also noted
sharp differences over the degree to which Diaspora
Jews should be involved in shaping Israeli policies. The
AJC release said that “55% of American Jews and 22%
of Israelis say it is appropriate for American Jews to try
to influence Israeli policy, while 36% of Americans and
69% of Israelis say it is not appropriate.”
Recommendations for Messianic Jewish leaders:
Consider having discussions with your younger con-
gregants about the importance/history of Israel and
help them navigate the erosion of friendships based
on anti-Israel sentiment as well as BDS on campuses.
Encourage trips to Israel to help develop a connection
to the reality of the land, its politics, its culture, and
its history.
Barna Group. Jewish Millennials: The Beliefs and
Behaviors Shaping Young Jews in America
(Ventura, CA: Barna Group, 2017).
In 2016, Barna conducted a mixed-methods study of
Jewish young adults between the ages of 18 to 31.
Data was drawn from surveys of 1,503 participants and
focus group interviews, including 32 participants.
Focus group sessions were held in Paramus, New
Jersey, and Los Angeles, California.1 The central
question of their study was “to see how young Jews
are experiencing and engaging” their faith.2
Findings
Barna reported the following findings:
a. J ewish Millennials in America highly value their
Jewish identity. Despite declining synagogue
attendance among emerging young adults,
48% of participants thought “Jewish identity to
be very important;”
1 
Barna Group, Jewish Millennials: The Beliefs and Behaviors
Shaping Young Jews in America, 103.
2 
Ibid., 5.
85
b. Participants said their religious identity, and in fact
matters of faith, continue to be important to them;
c. Participants reported that Israel was not central to
their Jewish identity. Only 11% described an affinity
for the State of Israel, though 31% have traveled
to Israel.
d. Participants described themselves as more politically
liberal than their family members and peers.
e. Over half, 58%, have only one Jewish parent;
f. Over half, 53%, said that their concept of Jewish
identity is different from their parents;
g. More than half, 52%, felt that Jewish expression
should be inclusive, not exclusive. Moreover, they
said that a person can be Jewish, even if they ascribe
to another religion;
h. Participants reported they continue to Jewishly
engage, and practice rituals in traditional ways;
i. Despite being less engaged with the wider Jewish
community, participants said they feel engaged with
their heritage and Jewish peers. Furthermore, 78%
said they draw their values from family, 52% from
culture, and 42% from the Jewish community;
j. Almost half, 48% are comfortable discussing
spiritual matters and 53% are comfortable listening
to the religious views of others.3
Implications
This study raised several implications for the Messianic
Jewish Community.
First, this study, along with the 2013 and 2020 Pew
Study found that Jewish young adults continue to
engage with their Jewishness, even in traditional ways,
outside of the synagogue. Messianic leaders should
consider new metrics in measuring and studying
Jewish identity and continuity. Traditional metrics,
such as synagogue attendance, may not be the best
indicator of how well heritage is being transmitted to
the emerging generation.
Second, Barna’s study agreed with other studies finding
declining attachment to the State of Israel among
young adults.4 In fact, some studies find concern
3 
Ibid., 16
4 
Cohen, S., and A. Kelman. Beyond Distancing: Young Adult
American Jews and Their Alienation from Israel. The Jewish
Identity Project of Reboot. New York, NY: Rebooters.net, 2007.
United States. Accessed June 20, 2017. http://www.bjpa.org/
Publications/details.cfm?PublicationID=326.
among younger generations over Palestinian justice.
Messianic leaders should consider how the language of
Christian Zionism in Messianic congregations might
attract or alienate younger Jews who may not be as
galvanized as older generations were.
Third, Jewish young adults are more willing to discuss
religious faith than older Jewish generations. Among
Jewish Boomers, religion was often considered a
private matter, and it is not uncommon for many to
experience defensiveness when the topic of Jesus is
raised.5 Messianic leaders should anticipate an open-
ness to spiritual conversations rather than approach
conversations expecting defensiveness. The expec-
tation of defensiveness may create a self-fulfilling
prophecy among those ready to discuss spirituality.
Fourth, many young adults were raised with one Jewish
parent, and therefore were raised with non-Jewish faith
traditions as well as Judaism. For them, Christian
holidays, discussions of Jesus, are a part of their family
heritage. These experiences provide bridges and points
of connection in engaging them around the gospel.
Moreover, they value interfaith gatherings. Many young
adults often see the inclusion of Yeshua in Jewish
practices as an interfaith experience rather than
cultural appropriation. In an op-ed piece for The
Christian Post, Dr. Michael Brown believes something
similar to the Jesus movement of the late 1960s and
early 1970s might be happening today among
Millennials. He noted that “while it is true that many
millennials are dropping out of organized religion, they
are still on a spiritual search.” He said the Barna survey
confirmed that. He noted that the result that 49 percent
of Jewish Millennials see Jesus as either God incarnate
or as a rabbi or spiritual leader is “an extraordinary
figure no matter how you parse it.” He concluded that
“without question, for all who have eyes to see, there is
much greater Jewish openness to Jesus the Messiah
than we have seen in the past. This is wonderful news
for those of us involved in Jewish outreach.”
Fifth, Barna and Pew Research found that young adults
are more politically liberal than their parents.
Messianic Leaders should consider how to avoid
alienating young adults and teens through politicized
language from the bema and in personal conversation.
5 
Chaim Waxman, Jewish Baby Boomers: A Communal Perspective,
New York: State University of New York Press, 2001.
86
Pew Research Center. Jewish Americans in 2020.
(Washington, D.C.: Pew, May 11, 2021.)
Jewish Americans in 2020 (Pew Study)
A new Pew Research Center report was recently
released. It was based on a survey of 4,718 Jewish
American adults fielded from Nov. 19, 2019, to June 3,
2020. According to the Pew study, 12% of Jews by
religion attend a synagogue on a weekly basis. For Jews
of no religion, those who identified themselves as
Jewish based on family background alone, less than 1%
attend synagogue on a weekly or monthly basis. Young
adults (18-29) reported that 17% attend weekly, and
5% monthly—still a very small percentage. While this
is a remarkable figure, Pew Research discovered that
American Jews remain Jewishly engaged through other
means. The implications for the Messianic community
are that leaders will need to innovate alternative
means, outside of traditional synagogue services, by
which young adults can Jewishly engage. This section
will explore some of those alternative means.
  The implications for the Messianic
community are that leaders will
need to innovate alternative means,
outside of traditional synagogue
services, by which young adults
can Jewishly engage.
Reasons Young Adults Say they do not
Attend Synagogue
Young adults, 18-29, said the main reason they (73%)
do not attend a synagogue on a regular basis is, “I’m
not religious.” The second most popular reason was,
“I’m just not interested,” and third was, “I express my
Jewishness in other ways.” What is interesting is that
only 36% cited lack of knowledge and 10% cited cost.
For households making less than $50k/year, cost was
less than 20%. The report indicates that Jews are drawn
or repelled primarily by their interest in spirituality and
heritage rather than being repelled by appeals for money
or drawn by free events. The implications are that litur-
gy and membership costs are not a significant repelling
factor. Moreover, fear of security, feeling welcomed, or
pressure to give money were among the least important
reasons for not attending. While it is still important to
advertise free high holiday services and to subsidize the
cost of Passover tickets, these endeavors are not key to
drawing in young adults as half described interest alone
as the main factor. For those who do attend synagogue
at least once a month, 92% said they find spiritual
meaning in attending, 87% said they find a sense of
belonging, and 83% said they feel connected to their
ancestry or history. Guilt, family pressure, and sense of
obligation were a less important reason for attending.
How Non-Attenders Jewishly Engage
The study found that many non-attenders engage
through cultural means and special holiday events
outside of traditional Shabbat services. Sixty-two per-
cent (62%) reported they attended a Passover Seder in
the previous year, 61% reported they attended a life-
cycle event (b’nai mitzvah, wedding, funeral), and 46%
reported they observed Yom Kippur in some manner
such as fasting. The implications are that special
holiday events continue to draw non-attenders,
particularly the high holidays and Passover, not
necessarily because of cost, but a desire to Jewishly
engage with the most important Jewish holidays.
Yom Kippur continues to be more important than
Rosh Hashanah to non-Messianic Jews. Most Messianic
Congregations have found that within the Messianic
community, Rosh Hashanah tends to be more popular
than Yom Kippur.
Jewish non-attenders reported they Jewishly engage
through several different cultural means. Seventy-two
percent (72%) reported they Jewishly engage by
cooking and eating Jewish foods, 62% through sharing
cultural celebrations with their non-Jewish friends, and
57% through visiting Jewish historical sites when they
travel. On the other hand, Jewish films, online media,
Jewish music, and political activism as a means of
Jewish expression were the least popular means of
engagement. The implications are that film, social
media, and social causes, while remaining important,
are not the primary means Jewish individuals feel they
are personally Jewishly engaging.
Messianic leaders should not curb congregational com-
mitments to social justice, film, and literary events, or use
of social media. However, these means of engagement are
not as attractive as food (no surprise), interfaith cultural
events, and events that focus on local history such as
Jewish walks or tours. Some possible outreach events might
87
include cooking classes, challah bakes, and walking tours
of historical Jewish neighborhoods. Finally, 74% of Jews
18-29 reported they own a menorah; 57% said they
have a mezuzah, and 54% said they own a siddur.
Cultural artifacts, those things that are tactile and
tangible remain important sources of Jewish
connection to young adults. Young adults, like most
Jews, find these tangible and physical expressions of
Jewishness important in their home. Messianic leaders
should use physical artifacts to engage Jews. Some tangible
artifacts include retaining the Torah service, allowing
congregants to see and touch the Torah, celebrating home
dedications by hanging a mezuzah, and the gift of a
menorah for special events.
Alternative Venues for Jewish Engagement
Pew Research interviewed 36 rabbis and community
leaders to learn how Jewish leaders are engaging young
adults outside of the synagogue. They found that
Jewish institutions remain the organizers and coordi-
nators of venues for Jewish engagement. However, the
venues have moved outside of the traditional Shabbat
service. The following are some of the innovative ven-
ues attracting young adults: OneTable, a non-profit
organization, funds Shabbat dinners at people’s homes
and subsidized 9,000 meals in over 400 cities in 2019.
Their program provided Shabbat dinners for 109,000
young adults. Non-orthodox, independent synagogues
such as those within the Emergent Synagogue Network
host innovative celebrations of Jewish holidays such as
Wilderness Torah, who host a Passover Seder in a
rural area under the night sky in Northern California;
The Open Temple, who hosts a mikveh celebration at
the beach and a drumming circle on the beach in
Southern California; and Moishe House, who have
urban community living and host workshops for young
adults such as Challah bakes. Other popular programs
implemented by synagogue include Torah on Tap,
holding Torah studies in a local pub; or Trybe in Los
Angeles (Ikar’s young adult group) who hold events at
a trendy coffee house in West Los Angeles. Implica-
tions for Messianic Leaders are to experiment with
gatherings outside of the normal Shabbat service, encour-
age monthly shabbat dinners in the home for young adults,
and explore nature and the outdoors for holiday events.
Conclusion of Pew 2020
Pew Research has found that as synagogue membership
and attendance decline in North America, American
Jews remain interested in Jewishly engaging and are
turning to cultural means for personal engagement.
The high holidays (especially Yom Kippur) and Passover
remain the most important holidays that many non-
religious Jews consider participating in. Jewish religious
objects and artifacts remain important parts of Jewish
engagement as they are physical and tangible objects that
help a person feel connected to their heritage. The wider
Jewish community has successfully experimented with
innovative means of engagement. Messianic leaders as
well should consider creative means outside of the Shabbat
service. However, the traditional Shabbat service has not
become obsolete. As Emergent Synagogues,
Independent Minyanim, and new independent syna-
gogues thrive, it indicates that young adults are inter-
ested in engaging in Jewish tradition through the
Shabbat service and community involvement.
United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York.
Insights and Strategies for Engaging Millennials
(New York: UJA, 2016).
The UJA study focused on young adults ages 22-36,
who self-identified as Jewish, lived in New York City,
have completed college, did not have children, and
who were less engaged in Jewish life. UJA spoke to
36 Millennials on Facebook and engaged in 20 in-
depth interviews.
When reviewing the UJA Federation study of Millen-
nials, it is interesting to note that Millennials have a
strong focus on identity. However, they do not associate
their Jewish faith with their identity. Instead, they focus
on areas such as their career, relationships, and family
as developing their identity. The freedom Millennials
have in relation to their career and location has made
creating, managing, and maintaining an identity often
difficult. However, an overwhelming number of re-
spondents do plan to raise a Jewish family. Six aspects
of Jewish culture are central to the study; they are the
search for meaning, family values, witty sensibilities,
empathy, community, and religious practice.
The study recommends that leadership focus on
functionality, primary life goals, conversation and critical
thinking, being authentic and transparent, using a casual
tone, infusing humor and self-awareness, bite-sized
digital content, and addressing individuals in a more
personalized way. We need to focus on the individual
and understanding their needs. Focusing on areas like
88
Focusing on areas like
empathy and community
can eventually lead to
religious practice.
empathy and community can eventually lead to religious
practice. Emphasis should be on the notion that Judaism
is very strong, diverse, engaging, and functional.
There are faults with current programs such as services
and Shabbat dinners, which feel too disconnected, and
organized trips to Israel do not provide sustainable,
everyday engagement opportunities. A cookie cutter
approach does not work; it has to be authentic and
casual. Holding events that emphasize functionality
and their primary life goals can be a start: career
events, baking classes, events that are engaging and
connected. Having activities such as community
(like-minded people), search for meaning (helping
others, good deeds), empathy (volunteering) can also
be a good start. It is without a question that engaging
the Jewish young adult population is incredibly
difficult. There are low percentages of Jewish graduates
stating that religion is very important, or attending
service weekly and participation in prayer, scripture
study, or religious education.
Implications for Messianic Jews:
Young adults have a strong desire for family values and
raising their families Jewish, and Messianic Jews can
help them form their Jewish identity. By being casual,
functional, and authentic we can meet their needs. We
need to make a strong effort to be personable and build
a community that incorporates their values. The task is
large, but yet it is really much more obtainable than
most think. Ideas include: Shabbat dinners (family
Values, community building, religious practice), mussar
and Talmud classes (search for meaning), baking and
cooking classes (community building, casual tone),
Hebrew language classes (functional, infuse humor and
self-awareness), career events (primary life goal,
community building) and specific local community
events (empathy, community building).
S3K: Synagogue 3000 Reports
Tobin Belzer and Donald E. Miller. Synagogues that
Get It: How Jewish Congregations are Engaging
Young Adults. S3K Report (Synagogue Studies
Institute, Spring 2007): 2:1.
In 2007, Tobin Belzer and a team of researchers
conducted case studies of synagogues with “vibrant
young adult populations.” 6 Their study reported
findings from case studies of the Stephen Wise Temple
in Bel Air (Reform); B’nai Jeshurun in Manhattan
(Conservative), and Anshe Shalom B’nai Israel in
Chicago (Orthodox).7 The Synagogue Studies Institute
puts out many reports of relevance to Jewish, Muslim,
and Christian congregational life (https://www.syna-
goguestudies.org/s3k-reports/). The Jewish congre-
gations in this study varied in location, size, budget,
and theological approach. The study highlighted that
there is no single formula that leads to thriving
congregations but many ways to engage young adults.
  Young adults’ affiliation
and engagement was a
continual choice, not a
one-time decision.
Findings
Their study found the following:
a. Most young adults (20s/30s) have no congregational
affiliation—lower than any other demographic—and
that congregations have been slow to serve this
population. Scholars have discovered that this age
group “are ambivalent towards organizations,
institutions, commitments, and the norms that
constitute Jewish life.” And this group tends to be
more politically liberal than the baby boomer parents.
b. Synagogues that are successfully attracting and
engaging young adults take similar approaches to
churches and mosques who likewise have vibrant
young adult communities;
6 
Tobin Belzer and Donald Miller, Synagogues that Get It: How
Jewish Congregations are Engaging Young Adults, S3k Report,
(Spring 2007): 2:1.
7  Ibid., 3-4.
89
c. Synagogues with vibrant young adult communities
varied widely from small to large, traditional to
progressive.
d. Young adult communities often represented a
subgroup in their synagogues, and yet found ways to
integrate, valuing intergenerationality;
e. Young adults became engaged in their communities
out of personal interest in a connection to their
heritage and personal fulfillment. They were not
motivated out of sense of familial duty, concern for
Jewish continuity, or religious obligation;
f. Young adults’ affiliation and engagement was a
continual choice, not a one-time decision.
Participants continually leveraged how much
involvement they felt comfortable committing to,
how often they chose to attend, and how much of the
beliefs they adhered to;
g. Synagogue leadership described a concerted effort to
listen to and understand the interests of their young
adult community; they sought to meet their needs,
show value, and delegate a degree of young adult
ownership in the decision-making of the community.8
Belzer went on to describe lessons learned.
a. Young adults want to feel valued by the community,
not just by the leaders;
b. Young adults want a sense of ownership and to feel
they share in the decision-making process;
c. Participants described a multifaceted interest in
their involvement, attracted by practice, community,
and self-fulfillment, but not always doctrine or
religious faith;
d. Successful congregations created creative spaces
for religious expression through music, art, writing,
and dance
e. Young adults reported they wanted to be met “where
they are” rather than feel judged for their lack of
knowledge of Jewish practice and belief;
f. Participants welcomed emotional experience and
sought spiritual encounters in their communities;
g. Young adults sought a balance between particular-
ism and universalism. While they sought a connec-
tion to their Jewish heritage, they valued a pluralism
affirming other practices and traditions.9
8 
Ibid, 1-2.
9 
Ibid, 9-10.
Things that were important to young adults who par-
ticipate in congregational life were attending religious
services, engaging in social events, education, and re-
lationships with peers and congregational leaders.
All congregations intentionally foster a welcoming
environment through welcoming committees,
mentorship programs, and Shabbat meals.
•A
 t the Orthodox Synagogue, Shabbat dinners
hosted by congregants was essential as well as
religious services on Friday and Saturdays, kashrut,
God, attending classes and lectures, volunteer
opportunities, serving on committees, and living
within walking distance to their synagogue. Those
involved tended mostly to be families. There were
two kinds of services—feminist and traditional.
•A
 t the Conservative synagogue, Friday evenings
were key, God, singles mixers, shared Shabbat meals,
small active core of volunteers, 40s/50s demographic.
Some live close, while others travel far to attend.
•A
 t the Reform temple, God and religious practice,
Shabbat, and kashrut are less important. Some drive
far to participate, but Friday services are challenging
due to traffic. Socializing and community are key
through cocktail parties at bars, volunteer opportu-
nities, and educational programs with singles
and marrieds.
For many young adults, Jewish identity occurs within
synagogue life. They seek to be authentic, express
themselves fully, try not to adhere to denominational
affiliation, and dislike judgment. They don’t want to
simply watch religious services but participate and be
empowered. They are often ambivalent about larger
Jewish communal engagement, and they desire
engagement with the outside world. They value
individual differences that relate to gender, race, class,
and sexual orientation. They have religious experiences
through prayer, work, relationships, and social justice
and they see many ways to God. They value learning
through religious texts and liturgy, and especially with
teachers that are not dogmatic or condescending.
Young people need multiple points of entry to
congregational life, from leading to affinity groups.
While they value religious standards in a community,
they may make their own choices personally regarding
90
religious practice. They value engaging and accessible
leaders who serve as role models. They want to be
greeted and welcomed.
Recommendations from the S3K Report that are also
Valuable to Messianic Jewish congregations
1 
Show that young congregants’ presence is valued
(intergenerational communication).
2 
Engender a sense of ownership (let young adults
create and plan own events, create leadership
positions, create lay-led committees).
3 
Acknowledge that young congregants’ interests in
religion are multifaceted (multiple points of entry—
social, cultural, emotional, theological).
4 
Meet young congregants where they are (learning
opportunities, reduce fee structure).
5 
Produce an effective emotional experience
(cultivate member participation, accessible/
charismatic leaders, fund a charismatic young
person to cultivate community).
6 
Create balance between the particular and
universal (thoughtful transmission of theology and
tradition, facilitate interfaith dialogue, acknowledge
individual differences).
Implications for Messianic Jews from the S3K Report
This study has five implications for Messianic
Jewish leaders:
a. Messianic leaders should consider ways to empower
young adults in their congregations and help them
feel invested with decision-making authority in the
direction of the community;
b. Helping young adults feel valued transcends the
attitudes of the leadership. Leaders need to teach
and guide their members to share their vision of
enabling and involving young leaders. Often, older
members with longevity feel sidelined in the wake of
emerging young leaders. It is important to cast a
vision for the members of the community to raise up
young leaders.
c. Messianic leaders need to carve out creative spaces
for young adults to experiment in and innovate
Jewish expression and practice.
d. Leaders should consider ways churches and
synagogues have successfully attracted young adults
 but realize that effective strategies have varied
widely among many synagogues;
e. Leaders should consider that young adults, in
general, value intergenerational communities and
are normally not seeking to create subcommunities
siloed from the larger congregation;
f. Young adults, like older generations, are seeking a
spiritual experience. They are all seeking teaching,
doctrine, practice, or liturgy alone. They often come
seeking a connection to God.
Steven Cohen., J. S. Landres, E. Kaunfer, and M.
Shain. Emergent Jewish Communities and Their
Participants. S3K Reports. (New York, NY: The S3K
Synagogue Studies Institute, November 2007): 6.
http://jewishemergent.org/survey/documents/
NatSpirComStudyReport_S3K_Hadar.pdf.
Emergent synagogues, independent Minyanim, and
alternative communities all represent innovative
spiritual communities that have emerged beginning in
the late 1990s. Most were pioneered by Jewish GenX,
and today are composed of Jewish young adults. These
communities tend to be independent of mainstream
denominations, oriented toward young adults, attract
Jews disaffected with mainstream Judaism, and
intermarried couples. Moreover, they use
contemporary Jewish worship and stress social justice.
In 2007, the National Spiritual Communities Study
carried out a study of 1,354 Jewish participants who
reported attending one of 15 alternative spiritual com-
munities. The study was limited to those alternative com-
munities founded in 1996 or after, with vibrant young
adult communities. The study explored what attracted
and engaged young adults to thesecommunities.10
Findings
This S3K study found the following:
a. The communities maintain regular meetings, unlike
the pop-up Shabbats or ad hoc organizations.
10 
Steven Cohen, Shawn Landres, Elie Kaunfer, and Michelle
Shain, Emergent Jewish Communities and their Participants,
S3K Reports. (Synagogue Studies Institute, November 2007): 6.
91
b. Participants described the meetings as warm, sacred
communities in which they found “meaningful
prayer” and a rejection of formal denominational
affiliations.11
c. Participants avoided the word “member” because the
term signified institutional affiliation.
d. Participants tended to attract female and unmarried.
e. Participants often attended two or more
communities, floating around.
f. Participants said they were attracted to educational
opportunities to learn more about their heritage and
Jewish practice.
g. Participants had strong Jewish social networks,
including dating other Jews, and Jewish friend-
ship circles.
h. Participants felt closely connected with the Jewish
people despite being unaffiliated with mainstream
institutions.
i. Participants reported having Shabbat meals and
in-home rituals.
j. Participants appreciated meaningful worship
experience with quality music and sermons.12
Implications and Recommendations for Messianic
Jewish Congregations
A few implications are raised by this study. First, young
adults often seek educational opportunities to learn
more about their Jewish heritage and practice. Messianic
congregations should seek to create those educational
opportunities in creative, innovative ways. These
opportunities may include classes to familiarize young
adults with the siddur and prayers, field trips to Jewish
cultural events, and seminars on contemporary Jewish
issues. Second, young adults value celebrations in the
home such as Shabbat meals and celebrations in intimate
settings. Congregations might consider Havdalah
celebrations, opening up homes for Tu Bishvat Seders,
and Sukkot celebrations for young adults.
11 
S Ibid. 38.
12 
Ibid. 39-40.
21/64 Non-Profit Organization
https://2164.net/about-us/:
(philanthropy advising organization)
Stephen Cohen and Ari Kelman, The Continuity of
Discontinuity: How Young Jews are Connecting,
Creating, and Organizing their own Jewish Lives
(21/64, 2005).
Steven Cohen and Ari Kelman conducted case studies
of four innovative young adult communities in 2003,
over the course of a year. The four communities they
studied were Ikar, an Emergent Synagogue in Los
Angeles; Storahtelling, a musical and drama cultural
literacy Jewish program; JDub Records in New York;
and Salon, a Jewish discussion venue in Toronto.
Their study included on-sight observation, interviews
with the rabbis or leaders, and in-person interviews
with participants.13 Each of these communities were
vibrant young adult communities innovating Jewish
expression and engagement, and attracting new, disaf-
fected young adults.
Findings
Cohen and Kelman reported the following findings:
a. Young adults said they were attracted to these
innovative, and independent communities but chose
not to affiliate with synagogues or institutional
organizations because they felt “demographically
disenfranchised.” They did not feel institutional
Judaism represented them or engaged their
interests.14 Moreover, participants said they felt
Jewish institutions were “overly bounded, socially
exclusionary… and institutionally focused in their
governance and programs.” 15
b. Young adults reported they were attracted to these
innovative communities because they “crossed social
and cultural boundaries,” were inclusive, and
culturally diverse.16
c. Participants explained that these communities
delivered personal meaning that engaged personal
needs rather than trying to sell a cultural product.17
13 
Stephen Cohen and Ari Kelman, The Continuity of Discontinui-
ty: How Young Jews are Connecting, Creating, and Organizing
their own Jewish Lives, 21/64, (2005): 1-14.
14 
Ibid., 44.
15 
Ibid.
16 
Ibid.
17 
Ibid.
92
d. Young adults reported that the communities were
collaborative rather than spectator events. Attendees
felt they were involved in the gatherings, rather than
passive spectators.
e. Participants said there were minimal expectations
on them, with no requirements for memberships or
commitments, and the freedom to be as invested as
they were willing.18
Findings show that many want to feel
the freedom to willingly affiliate and
come and go.
Implications for Messianic Congregations
First, one finding with important implications is that
young adults did not feel coerced or pressed to commit
to any type of membership or affiliation. In our drive to
raise up young leadership and build young adult
communities, it is easy to unconsciously press or even
coerce young adults to commit. Yet, emerging young
adults are often working out their identity, beliefs, and
where they belong. Pressing young adults may lead to
repelling these participants. We press them to attend
conferences, take on responsibilities, and become
members. Findings show that many want to feel the
freedom to willingly affiliate and come and go.
Second, the finding that participants are attracted to
interactive gatherings raises the question: How can we
make our Shabbat services more interactive? Can we
intentionally involve attendees in different parts of the
Torah service, invite a different person up for aliyah
each week, and rotate greeters? Will setting the chairs
in a circle or around tables create a more intimate or
interactive setting than theatre style chairs?
Third, young adults reported disinterest in institutional
programming. Overly promoting denominational
programs and institutional identification may dampen
some young adults’ enthusiasm rather than engage it.
Fourth, young adults desired diversity and a multi-
cultural expression. While Messianic synagogues should
seek to distinctly identify as Jewish communities,
18 Ibid., 45.
are there ways to represent the diversity of cultural
expression within the community? Are there diverse
Jewish expressions, such as Sephardi, Persian, and
Mizrahi Jewish cultures that can be highlighted?
Are there Jewish festivals where it is appropriate to
highlight the ethnic heritages of non-Jewish members
of the congregation?
Books
Wertheimer, Jack. The New American Judaism.
New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2018.
Jack Wertheimer, scholar at Jewish Theological
Seminary, published The New American Judaism, a
study of Jewish beliefs and practices across all the
denominations and among emerging independent
synagogues in America. Wertheimer conducted 60-90
minutes interviews with over 160 rabbis from main-
stream denominations and among independent
synagogues, exploring how their communities were
run, new practices, and trends.19 The first section
explores “the lived religion of ordinary Jews,” in-
cluding Jewish identity engagement, and affiliations.
The second part explores mainstream Jewish denom-
inations, including Reform, Conservative, Modern
Orthodox, and Haredi synagogues. The third part
explores Renewal movements including the Havurah
movement, Emergent Synagogue Network, Indepen-
dent Minyanim, and special interest communities that
Wertheimer calls “niche synagogues.” 20
Findings
Among the findings of the book, Wertheimer argued
the following:
a. T
 hough synagogue attendance declines, American
Jews are continuing to Jewishly engage through
alternative modes including cultural activities and
alternative communities;
b. There is a renewed interest in traditional rituals and
embodied experiences. Reform Jews are wearing, once
again, the yarmulke and tallit in the service, having
Torah processions, and prostrating during the Great
Aleinu on Yom Kippur. Conservative synagogues are
opening up mikvehs, sponsoring meditation and yoga
classes. Modern Orthodox synagogues are borrowing
traditions from non-Orthodox communities and
19 
Jack Wertheimer, The New American Judaism, Princeton:
Princeton University Press, 2018, 12.
20  Ibid., 13.
93
Hassidic ones as well. Synagogues are experimenting
with dance. Conservative ones are using Middle
Eastern instruments during worship.
c. Synagogues are experimenting, having multiple types
of services, as some churches do, for example
traditional, contemporary, and tot Shabbats for
children and families.21
Innovative Practices and Settings
In part three, Wertheimer described innovative
practices among Renewal, Emergent Synagogues, and
independent communities. Some of the innovations he
described were the following:
Tot shabbats are short, late Friday afternoon shabbat
services oriented toward families with small kids.
Typically, these services are interactive, educational,
and end before dinner. Tot Shabbats in a Messianic
congregational context could enable families with children
to continue to be involved in the service without creating
the need for childcare.
Niche synagogues are small communities built around
specific subgroups. Wertheimer discussed LGBTQ+
synagogues, which began within Reform Judaism and
developed into a sub community. Messianic networks
and congregational affiliations might consider planting
small communities geared toward specific interest groups,
run by the same leader. For example, young adult Friday
night fellowships, Hebrew roots fellowships attracting
Christians whose primary interest is in their Jewish
background; and seeker fellowships. 22
Young adult communities, such as IKAR in Los
Angeles and Romemu in New York have innovated
ways of doing traditional Shabbat services. Wertheimer
explained they are entertainment oriented while
retaining traditional liturgy. They focus on high quality
music and worship. They are inclusive of non-Jews and
non-Jewish family members. They tend to be demo-
cratic in their worship orientation. For example, the
seating at IKAR is in a circle, with the bema in the
middle and the worship team up front on the front
row. In traditional synagogues, the seating tends to be
theatre style, with the participants seated facing the
front as passive spectators. Services are highly inter-
active, incorporating meditation, embody activities and
personal interactions.23
21  Ibid., 185.
22 Ibid., 241.
23  Ibid., 245.
Young adult communities tend to congregate in
unconventional urban settings, such as rented schools,
storefronts, and even industrial spaces; as opposed to
suburban synagogues in upper middle-class neighbor-
hoods with large elaborate buildings.24 IKAR, for
example, meets at the Shalhevet High School in Los
Angeles’ Fairfax district.25 The Kitchen meets in urban
San Francisco between Lower Haight and the Mission
District.26 Members commute to attend services,
attracted to the innovative settings.
One final implication of these findings is that young
Jews are attracted to Hebrew liturgy, and traditional
rituals. While it is tempting to minimize tradition,
believing young adults are looking merely for music
and entertainment, Wertheimer reported that
American Jews in the twenty-first century want more
traditions, while including quality music and worship
at the same time.
Here are some of the innovations that might be
of interest to the Messianic Jewish community:
• Pop-Up Shabbat
The pop-up events or pop-up shabbats try to meet
outside of the home (e.g., a bar, park, beach) where
members can bring guests. The service is brief followed
by a meal or oneg. The Open Temple in Venice have
done yoga on the beach and a mikveh in the ocean.
• Learning Programs
Synagogues started sponsoring an assortment of learn-
ing programs because they found that young adults,
raised with little Jewish education, come to synagogues
to learn about Judaism. They have liturgy clinics to
teach basic stuff like the Torah blessings, financial
management clinics for college students, and a health
professional available for older members.
• Prayer for Healing (MiSheberach)
This prayer has become popular in the Torah
service, inviting members to stand and have a rabbi
or elder come over, lay hands on the member while
they recite the Misheberach. It’s done at IKAR in
Los Angeles and Open Temple.
24  Ibid., 252
25 https://ikar.org/
26 https://www.thekitchensf.org/
94
• Use of Projection Screens
Reform, Reconstructionist, and some Conservative
synagogues are moving to this because it encourages
members to look up rather than down and feel more
a part of the service.
• Circle and Horseshoe Seating
Smaller synagogues are experimenting with seating
people in a circle or a horseshoe formation with the
bema or a table in the middle. A Reform synagogue
does “Prayer Lab,” where they dim the lights, use
candlelight, place people in a circle, and divvy up the
liturgy among the members. Then they go to stations
in the corners of the room for part of the service.
• Language on the Website and Bulletin
Synagogues are trying to use seeker sensitive lan-
guage such as “a caring community” and “a diverse,
multicultural community” and “a welcoming com-
munity” or words like “inclusive,” “welcoming
interfaith and non-Jewish family members.” One
phrase that is becoming popular is “we welcome all
who want to do Jewish.” The expression “Doing
Jewish” has caught on.
• Music
Synagogues are experimenting with more middle
eastern and Asian instruments. The Cajon, Sitar,
and more exotic instruments are used in worship,
for those that use instruments.
Journal Articles by Topic
Chavurot
Dauermann, Stuart. “Thriving, not Just Surviving.”
Kesher Journal (January 20, 2022).
The Chavurah: a Life-Giving Relational Option
As we consider the kinds of structures that will best
serve the Messianic Jewish future, we do well to learn
from the chavurah movement of the late 1960s and
1970s founded by young Jews alienated from the
structures and institutions of their parents’ Judaism.
They wanted what we also need: face-to-face spirit-
uality that nurtures spiritual accountability, personal
buy-in, communal growth, relational care, and familial
warmth. And on a pragmatic level, we need Messianic
Jewish structures that are financially sustainable but
not financially-driven. Yeshua certainly didn’t tell us to
go into all the world and meet the budget. When our
agenda is preoccupied with how we are going to meet
the budget, something is wrong. The good news is this:
Chavurot are low-cost and self-sustaining.
Consider three Questions: What is a chavurah?
What good can it do? And how might we do this?
What is a chavurah? A chavurah is not a break-out
group. It is not Bible study (although the Bible is studied
in that context), and similarly it is not a prayer meeting.
A chavurah is a group of six to twelve, or maximum,
fifteen people who gather together, eat together, learn
together, and pray together that they might grow
together to better serve God’s purposes in the world.
Relationships are central, as participants learn what it
means to be family together. This is not so much a
meeting as a family gathering. It is ideal for younger
people who value what might be called sibling cama-
raderie. There needs to be at least six people so that
introverts won’t feel too on-the-spot to participate, and
no more than fifteen people so that individuals don’t
have to fight to break into group discussion. This is
meant to be a richly interactive relational environment.
What good can it
A chavurah is not the do? Just as a family
is the place where,
“Jewish Version” of ideally, we learn to
a bible-study or be responsible,
loving, secure and
prayer meeting. effective people, so
the chavurah is the
familial structure
where we learn to
be responsible, loving, secure and effective members
of the people of God. We learn from modeling, trial
and error, study, and discussion. The Bible insists
that relationship with God and with others are coor-
dinated: We cannot rightly separate loving the
Lord our God with all our heart soul and mind and
loving our neighbors as ourselves. The chavurah is
where we grow in relationship with each other, and
thereby relationship with God. And it is where our
growing relationship with God develops a relational,
human face.
How might we do this? Structurally, chavurot can
grow within a wider congregational community,
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provided they include the kind of independent
decision-making, role-discovery, and responsiveness to
the Spirit’s leading which makes for maturation as
opposed to simply ratifying viewpoints, hierarchies,
and programs formed elsewhere. Maturation requires
responsible independence, and interdependence, but
unless we outgrow dependence, we don’t grow.
Growth will always be from the bottom up, rather than
the top down, thus highlighting the foundational role
of chavurot. However, the Union, MJTI, the MJRC,
and others of our institutions have a crucial role to play
as they provide coordinating, educational, and
networking services of all kinds, embodying Yeshua’s
leadership principle, “I am among you as one who
serves.” By so doing, they will continue to play a key
role in helping to shape a productive future for our
corner of the vineyard.
Alternately, chavurot can grow into a wider com-
munity, rather than within a previously existent one.
Chavurot need to be small in order to be every-member
relational, and they grow through multiplication rather
than addition, birthing other chavurot. These groups
of chavurot may then elect to meet periodically for a
larger congregational meeting, which embodies the
Five Cs:
 Connection: Linkage to a wider tradition and
community across time. This includes rites of
passage, rituals, holy days, etc.;
 Celebration: Of God and His mighty acts;
Catalysis: Energizing and focusing participants to
 
commit to and serve its common core community
values and purposes;
 Communal Prayer: Gathering together to seek
God’s face;
Children: A context where children will see that
 
the spirituality of their chavurah is not theirs alone,
and where kids connect with kids.
Can this happen online? Ideally, no, but in the days of
COVID-19, at least transitionally, yes, even if only as a
bridging strategy. And communities can of course hybrid-
ize and do both online and under one-roof models.
There’s much more to be learned about this kind of
chavurah, and I (Stuart Dauermann) have a book in
process to share much of that. Meanwhile, Dr. Bruce
Stokes and I stand ready to share our research and
experience with those wanting to know more in a
project called CHAI, the Chavurah Action Initiative.
  They see themselves
as religious mavericks
and heeding God’s call.
Gentiles and the Messianic Community
Kaell, Hillary. “Born-again seeking: explaining
the Gentile majority in Messianic Judaism.”
Religion, (2014).
Kaell’s article traces why Gentile Christians have been
attracted to Messianic Jewish congregations by
exploring five Messianic congregations (MJAA/Ariel/
Assemblies of God/Jewish Voice Ministries) with
higher Gentile constituencies. She reveals that Gentile
believers seek out Messianic congregations that have
rituals and rules, are patriarchal, are often politically
conservative, often have little reverence for their
childhood churches, pursue Christian alternatives, and
are active online. She’s discovered that Gentile
believers don’t seek out Messianic congregations
because they are conveniently located or have great
children’s programming, rather they seek them out to
further their own spiritual growth. Most Gentile
believers come to Messianic congregations as
individuals or couples (of 56 interview participants,
18 were single/divorced with no kids, 11 were single/
married with grown kids, another 18 were older
couples who attended without kids). Their seeking
started after kids had left home. They see themselves as
religious mavericks and heeding God’s call. She also
divides their motivations and experiences into four
categories: biblical, prophetic, experiential, and genetic.
It is the Messianic community’s intellectual and
sensory sides that draw Gentile born-again seekers.
They are drawn by sermons they see as more
intellectual, Jewish traditions, music, and the per-
ceptions of God as sovereign judge that they do not see
in evangelical churches. Some are drawn to tracing
their family lineage toward discovering their Jewish
heritage. The commonality among Gentile Christians in
Messianic Jewish congregations is in the practice of
“seeking” while all these other attractions vary among
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Gentile Christians even within one congregation.
Gentile believers appreciate Messianic Judaism because
they perceive it as combining a charismatic emphasis
on bodily ritual and the evangelical emphasis on Bible
study that fosters a personal relationship with Jesus.
This article is helpful for Messianic leaders who want
to understand why Gentile Christians are drawn to
Messianic congregations. Some of her research
accurately reflects the journeys of the Gentiles that
Dorot interviewed and those who filled out our young
adult survey.
Reason, Gabriela. “Competing trends in Messianic
Judaism: the debate over evangelicalism.” Kesher
(January 2, 2005).
Gabriela Reason compares the relationship to
evangelicalism between congregations in the MJAA
(Congregation Beth Yeshua) and the UMJC (Rabbi
Mark Kinzer/Congregation Zera Avraham and Rabbi
Tony Eaton/Simchat Yisrael). She contrasts the
willingness of MJAA congregations to affiliate with
evangelicalism and the Union’s desire to “mature
away” from evangelicalism—all of this is reflected in
the manner that each group engages in Jewish rituals
(circumcision/b’nai mitzvot, etc.). She portrays the
MJAA as being guided by the heart when it comes to
Jewish tradition, and Union-affiliated members as
deeply devoted to Jewish tradition and law. This article
is relevant to those who care about Jewish traditions
and standardizing Jewish practice within Messianic
Judaism, the conversion of Gentiles in Messianic
congregations, and Messianic Jewish connection to the
broader Jewish community. She touches on the Union’s
view of making Messianic congregations mostly Jewish
spaces and seeing Messianic Judaism as a species of
Judaism rather than of Christianity. This article is also
of interest to those who are concerned about the unity
between the various Messianic Jewish congregational
organizations. Reason depicts a chasm between the two
organizations with the MJAA portrayed as a
charismatic revivalist style and the Union as a more
bureaucratized model. In our Dorot surveys, we saw
that young adults and teens from both MJAA and
Union congregations consistently care about Jewish
traditions, relationships with the wider Jewish
community, inter-organizational relationship building,
congregations as Jewish space, and a distinction
between Jews/Gentiles in congregations. Since our
respondents came from both Union and MJAA
congregations, the values of both groups may be
moving closer in their outlook on these issues since
2005, when Reason’s article was written.
LGBTQ Issues
Saal, Paul. “Queer for Jesus: A Messianic Jewish
Perspective.” Kesher (July 5, 2016).
Rabbi Paul Saal, of Congregation Shuvah Yisrael in
Connecticut, discusses the need for Messianic Jews to
identify with the marginalized, the disenfranchised, the
lonely, and the emotional pain of others when develop-
ing Messianic Jewish ethics. The central issue he ad-
dresses is whether Messianic Jewish congregations
should welcome LGBTQ+ persons and what some
stipulations and conditions might be surrounding their
presence. He expressed the need for Messianic Jewish
congregations to be places of inclusion, respect, and
hospitality, even if there might be some restrictions
upon certain congregational responsibilities and privi-
leges. This article provides helpful insights for leaders,
through theological discussions, to help understand
young adults who have left Messianic congregations due
to their perception of congregations’ inhospitality and
lack of welcoming of the LGBTQ community. This
article is important for Messianic Jews concerned about
outreach, retaining a broad spectrum of Jewish believers
in Messiah, and building a connection to the broader
Jewish community.
Technology
Wolfson, Ron, and Stephen Windmueller. “The Rise
of the Online Synagogue.” Tablet Magazine
(April 6, 2022).
This article discusses the phenomenon of the virtual
synagogue and positively views the role that technology
is now playing in the religious world. While churches
have been broadcasting their services for years,
synagogues are most recently realizing the benefits of
Rabbi Paul Saal expressed the need for Messianic Jewish congregations
to be places of inclusion, respect, and hospitality…
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this trend. Online livestreaming is now being used for
worship, programming, and socializing. It makes all of
this more accessible to those local and afar. According
to the article, online access is here to stay and is very
helpful, especially for the homebound, elderly, and the
infirm. Livestreaming services offer access to viewers
from all around the globe. Non-Messianic synagogues
are finding their attendance numbers skyrocketing,
especially during high holiday services. Non-Messianic
shuls are also creating virtual groups (like the
Neighborhood at Central Synagogue in NYC), which
offer people real community and access to Jewish
learning and religion. One rabbi mentioned that she
doesn’t use the term “virtual” for her synagogue
viewers/online members, but she prefers the term
“mixed presence,” which is an inclusive way of looking
at members who live afar and which help them feel
part of the local group. Messianic leaders should
consider the benefits of online access, while still
remaining aware of halakhic issues and the advantages
of in-person services/meetings.
Nichol, Rich. “Messianic Jewish Synagogue: Coping
with COVID-19.” Kesher Journal (January 21, 2022).
Rabbi Rich Nichol, emeritus rabbi of Congregation
Ruach Israel in Boston, Massachusetts, informally
surveyed seven Messianic congregations which he
visited during January through March 2021. The
article includes some reflections on survival strategies
used by these sampled congregations and their use of
Zoom and other electronic platforms to keep the
congregants together. He revealed unintended
consequences of an electronics-dominated social
environment and sought to develop a future strategy
for technology. He offers some specific suggestions as
to how congregations and smaller Messianic Jewish
groups can thrive in a “post-COVID-19” world.
 Chapter 5  Messianic Jewish Organizations
How can Messianic Jewish congregations
benefit from Jewish missions’ (or minis-
tries’) young adult programs?
A
t A Glance: Dorot interviewed the heads of Jewish
missions, Dr. Mitch Glaser (Chosen People Min-
istries) and David Brickner (Jews for Jesus), as
well as Rabbi Kirk Gliebe of HaDerekh Youth (Devar
Emet Messianic Jewish Outreach) to find out about
how their youth and young adult programming can
benefit Messianic Jewish congregations. Messianic
Jewish congregants can partake in numerous opportu-
nities for youth and young adults, including trips to
Israel, outreach opportunities, conferences, retreats,
camps, shabbatons, and internships. Congregations can
also draw ideas from missions’ programming to use
within their congregations. Missions often have more
funding than congregations, so they can offer young
adults/teens more programming options, scholarships,
and opportunities for congregants to come together in
larger settings. Missions may also have staff who could
serve as congregational leaders, which would address
the leadership transition issues. See below for more
details on youth and young adult programs.
Chosen People Ministries, a 128-year-old Jewish
Mission focuses on outreach to the Jewish people as
well as planting congregations (they have 5-6
congregations in the United States and 3-4 in Canada).
CPM is in 20 countries. Each of their 40 congregations
throughout the world is independent, but they all work
under Chosen People Global Ministries, which is
headquartered in New York City. Currently, between
15-20% of CPM staff are young adults, but if you
include ages 35-45, then at least 30% are young adults.
CPM focuses on evangelism (they lead 200 to faith each
year), discipleship, and training.
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Chosen People Ministries has several programs for
young adults that congregations can participate in or
draw ideas from, including global conferences, retreats,
NYU outreach, internships, summer camps, academic
opportunities (Feinberg Center/Moody Bible Institute),
backpacking in New Zealand, trips to Israel, outreaches
to Jews, including to Haredi communities. They also
have many online sites, including I Found Shalom,
which are video testimonies of Messianic Jews. Many
of these opportunities are listed below in more detail:
CPM Programs for Youth and Young Adults
Camps
Camp Kesher: CPM has an active children’s camp
ministry in the US and Israel: Camp Kesher and winter
camp Kesher. They had 80 kids this past summer at
Camp Kesher located at a Christian camp in Pennsyl-
vania called Tel Hai. They have camps on the east and
west coasts. A couple dozen counselors come from
Jewish studies at Moody, or from CPM congregations.
They have many young adult counselors who become
a part of further discipleship and mentoring and then
some of those counselors continue on in other CPM
young adult programs. Probably 40-50% go on to other
programs. Some may have participated in a young adult
program and then become a counselor.
Israel Camps: CPM is investing a lot in their Israel
work. In Israel they had more than 600 kids at camps.
A lot of them are from Russian Jewish families, but
many are not, and many are not believers in Messiah.
Conferences/Retreats
Muchan: A global Messianic event that usually occurs
every 2-3 years for about 5 days, and they’ve held 4-5
of them so far. The recent one in Warsaw had to be
canceled due to COVID-19. It’s run by Ryan Karp who
is almost 40 years old. They don’t restrict it to Jewish
believers. If someone is a Messianic and they attend a
Messianic congregation or work with a Jewish minis-
try, they can participate; CPM reviews every applica-
tion. If a Gentile believer is genuinely involved in the
Messianic community, then they’re happy to invite
them. Out of 150 people, probably 100-120 are Jews
who attend Muchan. About 20-25% are non-Jewish.
They usually have about 30 young people from Israel
every time and 15+ countries represented. Goals are
Bible teaching (did Romans in Rome), and history of
Jewish life of that city. Core Bible teaching—15 hours,
7-10 hours Jewish life in that area, fun and games,
tours (general/Jewish life tour), social/fellowship
element, and Jewish identity exploration. One goal is
matchmaking. Half a dozen couples have met there.
They have marrieds and singles attending. They have
children’s staff for couples with kids, and they’ve had a
number of kids who attend. According to Mitch Glaser,
“That’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that
when you are going above ages 28 or 30 and you are
recruiting that group, you better be ready for couples
and babies; have childcare.” They did a Muchan
reunion over Zoom in December (100 or so people).
There’s quite a bit of follow up and it is heavily
subsidized. They advertise through word of mouth,
online—digital ads, through congregations, and the
Messianic Times. Success is defined as: building good
relationships, the quality of the fellowship and of the
teaching, and the food (they stay in upscale hotels).
Living Waters: A young adult Israeli retreat that CPM
has been doing for 15 years in Israel for pre and post
army up till 35 (only for Israelis). It is in Israel for 3-4
days. It includes Bible teaching and a lot of fellowship
and worship. There’s an organic flow between Muchan
and Living Waters. Everything is partnership oriented.
CPM has a lot of different ministries, plus 15
congregations in Israel. And they usually have an
American Bible teacher and someone who is either a
pastor/scholar/business person. They bring in
successful business people who offer practical advice,
such as biblical entrepreneurialism. Professors come
from Dallas Theological Seminary and Talbot. Jewish
identity is not number one concern. They don’t address
identity issues as much as at the Muchan conference.
Jewish identity is important for them by meeting other
Jewish believers and by giving Jewish content. In 2022,
they plan to do one in the US.
Education
Student Ministry: CPM’s university student programs
are usually at Moody. Student staff raise some support,
get scholarships, and work with CPM through college
years, and in any given year they have probably 3-5
students. That group is usually focused on preparing
for full-time Jewish ministry in US/overseas.
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Graduate Students: The Feinberg Center in Brooklyn
is for graduate students, who can easily fall in the
18-35 age range. Probably have a dozen regular stud-
ents. They have dorms in the Feinberg Center that can
handle up to 4 male and 5 female. Some go on staff
after graduation.
Mentors: Robynne B. and Scott Brown in New
Zealand are “pied pipers” for young people; they are
24/7 people. They are constantly surrounded by young
people and filled with accessibility. “Young people need
mentors. If you read all the surveys, they are dying for
mentors, people to invest in them.”
Internships:
Internships are during the summer, in ministry or art,
or accounting. Most of the people coming to CPM are
people who are interested in Jewish stuff and are
coming from congregations and from other countries.
Israel Outreach/Trips
Outreach Israel: CPM brings people to Israel for
Outreach Israel, which is a 3-week short-term ministry
outreach in Israel for college age. A dozen young
people come from the US primarily.
Experience Israel: An Israel trip led by Justin Kron
for 12-15 post college age till 35 or 36. They raise their
own support.
Outreach/Evangelism
Backpacking Ministry: Zula Lodge: Israeli back-
packing: This takes place in New Zealand. During the
last season they had more than 5000 bed nights for
Israelis, who all heard the gospel. CPM owns one place,
and rents two or three on NZ’s South Island. All
post-army Israelis (ages 23-24). Some of the staff speak
Hebrew. CPM brings over volunteers from Israel who
are post-army, young, single, to serve with CPM in
NZ—and they usually have 4 at a time. By now they’ve
brought over 30 Israelis to disciple other Israelis at
their facilities. It’s become a planned strategy. They
bring over short-term teams to work for a few weeks in
NZ and that’s 6-10 people a year (they help them and
they raise some money). Some come for 3 months.
Some may have attended Muchan or children’s camps
in Israel or are recommended by leaders.
Campus Outreach—Beit Mayim Chayim:
CPM brings in four young adults to build a presence on
a college campus. Recently, they rented an apartment
near NYU, brought in four people (men this time), and
they’re hoping to replicate that. They had two Jews and
two Gentiles (who were part of a Messianic work).
They integrate with the Jewish and Christian students
at NYU but don’t study there. NYU has the largest
number of Jewish students in the country. Christians
all have Jewish friends. They attend all the Jewish
events, Hillel, and Chabad. They have weekly Shabbat
dinners, weekly Bible studies, and CPM puts a lot of
mentoring/apologetics training into these four young
people. They also have retreats. They orient all four
people around the schedule of the campus. They go on
vacation when the campus is on vacation. No one is
over 23 so far. “They make contact with chutzpah and
wisdom.” They have relationships with the various
Christian groups on campus. Probably dozens show up
for Shabbat dinner. Everything ended up being
relational; they met people at Jewish events, Christians
interested in Jewish stuff showed up. Everything was
small: 10-15 people at a time. This effort was from
Sept-May. No one came to Messiah during that time.
There were over 100 significant gospel sharing
conversations with open-minded Jewish students.
Because of COVID-19, CPM had to shut it down in
May. CPM learned a lot from this first one and they
hope to make this a very important part of their
ongoing ministry.
On the Derekh: Outreach to Haredim (working with
other ministries).
What are CPM’s most successful programs?
Technology
CPM’s testimonies called I found shalom with 2 million
views/year. (I Met Messiah is another joint program
with Israel College of the Bible which has 10 million/
views/year). People watch these more on FB than on
the website.
CPM has two new websites plus CPM Answers:
“Follow Messiah,” which is seeker sensitive, and
“About Messiah.” They tend to focus on young people.
FB campaigns oriented toward young people on Insta-
gram and TikTok.
“The key to this whole thing: I don’t think you need to
be young but young people need to find you attractive.
That doesn’t mean you have to wear skinny jeans.
There needs to be a willingness on the part of
grownups to open up their lives, homes, families to
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young people. To me that’s the secret sauce. You can’t
have office hours. Hospitality, spending time, talking,
investing yourself into young people. One of best
young adult workers is semi-retired. He always had
young people around him. You’re never too old to have
a ministry to young people, you can be a friend, a
brother, an uncle, a grandfather—what matters is your
investment in their lives and your willingness to walk
alongside these guys.—Dr. Mitch Glaser”
Jews for Jesus is headquartered in San Francisco and
was founded in 1970. At least one third to one half of
its staff are young adults. JFJ has three pillars: “Go and
tell, come and see, and love and serve.” Each of their
ministries are crafted around those three pillars. JFJ
offers young people opportunities to do outreach,
internships, café ministry/recording studio, backpacker
ministry, children/youth ministry through camp Gilgal,
education opportunities, and humanitarian projects.
They have a developed online ministry and proprietary
technology for communication. Congregations can
collaborate with JFJ, for example, even with online
holiday services. Perhaps, JFJ can provide staff
members to lead services and the congregation can host
(see the technology section below). Congregations
should also consult with JFJ to see if they have staff
who may want to be in congregational leadership.
JFJ has made a concerted effort to bring up the younger
generation. The founding generation are in their
60s/70s. Their director of communication who took
over from Susan Perlman a few years ago just turned
32. They try to give real positions of responsibility to
younger folks. They send a lot of younger leaders in the
US to the Arrow Program Leadership Development,
which is based in Canada, but has a lot of younger US
leaders. They help develop young people in leadership
skills. It’s a two-year program where they get together
2 or 3 times during the year. Between 600-1000 Jewish
people come to faith each year through JFJ. They have
kids who come to faith in camps every year as well.
The following are JFJ programs that engage young
adults, which congregants can partake in or copy to use
within congregations:
JFJ Programs for Youth and Young Adults
Camps
Camps Worldwide: Camp Gilgal has been running
since 1990. A lot of the people who are populating
some of JFJ staff positions as well as these young adult
and internship programs are those who have grown up
as part of JFJ’s children’s youth ministry, have gone to
camp. Usually about 10% in any given crew of new
recruits are people who have gone through the camp
program and grown up in the ministry. They start out
at camp till college, then go to Massah (college age),
summer internships, which then feeds into JFJ’s
full-time staff. All of them are Jewish kids, the only
exception JFJ has made is if they are members of
Messianic congregations with a rabbi’s reference. Many
kids come from Canada to Camp Gilgal in US (upstate
NY) or to Midwest camp in Michigan. JFJ has camps in
Ukraine, Germany, and Israel with hundreds of kids.
They’re trying to get one going in France, but it
requires a lot more training; all of the staff had gone
through the training and they were ready to launch
before COVID-19. Their branch is in Paris, the camp is
in the countryside.
Education:
JFJ has worked with seminaries. They have a program
at Western Seminary—a program in Jewish studies and
leadership. It used to require three summers in person,
but this year it is all online. It is not just open to JFJ
staff but anyone who is interested in the program. A
number of JFJ staff go through at their own pace. A
couple of staff members have graduated from Dallas
Theological Seminary. They have several staff involved
in various leadership programs at NYU: non-profit
admin, art at Baruch College in NYC. Their property in
the Village has a lot of room for growth, and people are
coming in for internships in art.
Evangelism/Discipleship
Massah is something JFJ launched in 2007 specifically
geared to reach out to the Israeli traveler community.
Young adults were interested in doing evangelism, and
they also wanted discipleship. So Massah is an
evangelistic and discipleship program that started out
encouraging and offering an opportunity for Messianic
101
Jews primarily from North America to travel to Israel
and then India. It’s a basic program of going alongside
other travelers, staying in the same locations, the
hostels and hiking, and sharing their faith along the
way. There’s also a training program and onsite
discipleship and that’s really been one of the key
programs for young adults. Massah has since grown to
become much more of an Israeli young adult program.
Every year, they have 8-12 young adults from North
America, but a much larger group of Israeli young
adults who go to India, Peru, and this past year because
of COVID-19 they did the hikers’ trails in Israel.
Housing
JFJ is trying in the coming year to purchase a property
in Los Angeles (near UCLA) to improve their housing.
In NYC and San Francisco there’s permanent property
for people doing internships. They have two buildings
that have apartments in them, office space, and a coffee
shop. The ministry in Westwood and the Village
(NYU) is youth/young adult focused. They’ve given
their young adults the opportunity to cast the vision
and to staff it, so they own it. That seems to be a big
attraction for young adults. About 8 young people are
in the village, 18 staff in NYC altogether, more than
half young adults and they reside in both facilities.
Internships:
JFJ’s most successful place for internships is in Israel.
Probably half of the staff in Israel started out as
interns. They’re able to offer housing and a stipend in
Israel and everything is close; their center is in Tel
Aviv. Interns can earn enough to live on during their
internship and it gives them an opportunity to get a
breadth of experience. Internships can last the summer,
6 months, or 9 months.
Outreach/Evangelism
Coffee shop/Recording Studio: There’s a cafe in
NYC and one in Los Angeles. The Upside Down coffee
shop in Los Angeles is constantly full of students, and
all staff are young adults. The café has free wifi and a
ton of seating; there are so many young people there;
some sit on the floor. It’s a donation-based service, no
prices. They’ve been able to more than meet expenses
each month. For Shavuot, they had an all-night study,
with first coffee free. It coincided with final exams;
some were studying for exams, some studying Torah.
They’ve owned the property since the 1990s.
Brickner’s son Isaac, who is branch leader, had a vision
to do a coffee shop, and they raised the money, reno-
vated and got the coffee shop running two years ago. In
L.A., they also have a recording studio where Jewish
believers can come and work on their projects. His son
is a sound engineer. It’s a high quality studio, which
attracts a younger audience; they don’t charge to come
in and work on their project. They have an intern who
came on staff with an engineering background. The
studio is in the same building as the café. There’s a lot
of creativity and a lot of models are being tried. They
are also running an art show in conjunction with the
coffee shop and they have small music concerts, which
draws people.
(See: https://www.upsidedown.com/homepage or
https://shoutoutla.com/meet-isaac-brickner-director-
upside-down-jews-for-jesus-la/
Couch Surfing was a ministry in San Francisco where
a lot of Israelis came to the JFJ house and slept on the
couch. The leadership who was there at the time for
three years had a vision for that ministry. No one
currently leads this.
Israel: Moishe Rosen Center in Florentine, Tel
Aviv. Like the Village, this center has trendy bars and
cafes. The center has a café and space for meetings and
events. During the traveler ministry, everyone who
goes to Manali, India, goes to a coffee shop called
Dylan’s (Bob Dylan themed). It’s run by an Indian
believer named Rajan who makes amazing chocolate
chip cookies. Travelers who go to India become very
familiar with his cookies and so twice a year JFJ flies
Rajan to Tel Aviv and they put on a weekend of
Dylan’s at the Moishe Rosen center with all the
contacts they’ve made over the years who are travelers.
The other thing they do at the Tel Aviv center that
draws a lot of young people is an art show: “India
through the eyes of the traveler”—an art show that has
photography and other forms of art displayed that’s
related to what travelers have experienced in India.
They invite people to submit artwork and they turn the
center into a gallery. They have a Sitar player and an
Indian food truck that pulls up in front of the center.
Israelis visit from Thursday-Saturday; they have
between 500-600 Israelis each time they do this event.
They take non-Messianic Jewish art. It has created a
buzz in the Israeli and traveler community in Israel.
102
   The Upside Down
coffee shop is constantly
full of students…
Social Justice
In the “love and serve” component, JFJ has a ministry
to the homeless and the trafficked in Tel Aviv. A team
of young adults, called Mekomi, which means local
and “my place.” They have a food truck that goes out
on the streets in some of the downtrodden neighbor-
hoods and they feed the homeless and help the traf-
ficked off the streets and go to rehab. According to
Brickner, it’s turning into a much wider ministry that
really taps into what young adults are interested in—
social justice. So “love and serve” has made JFJ more
relevant to a young adult group. It’s being developed
into something called the Warm House, which is to get
trafficked women in Tel Aviv off the streets and help
them get their lives together. They’re working in
conjunction with JVMI (Jewish Voice) to develop that
ministry in the coming months.
Technology
JFJ uses all forms of social media. They overleverage
their online presence with all ages. They have remote
Shabbat dinners, holiday services, Bible studies.
They’ve been able to maximize that as a whole new
strategy for ministry. They saw the actual number of
visits between non-Messianic Jewish people and their
staff increase by about 25% this year over last, but
most are online visits, through Zoom, etc. It’s captured
a younger audience. For example, they did a Yom
Kippur service, hosted by JFJ staff, with Olive Tree
congregation hosting, with the liturgy conducted in
Paris at a synagogue that is cooperating with Paris
staff, plus stories and testimonies done by staff in Tel
Aviv, and San Francisco/L.A. provided programming
—because of online they had an international Yom
Kippur service that was high quality. It was a
livestream event attended by more than 1000 people.
They’ve hired some program directors to help increase
the quality of what they’re offering people. It is run by
younger people. Not just for fellowship but for evange-
lism. Within 30 seconds on their website, a chatbox
appears, and if you say you are Jewish you get a live
 staff member talking to Advice from David Brickner: “Giving them oppor-
you. The first contact is a tunity to have community, to have a meaningful part
It was a livestream bot, then followed by a in shaping what the ministry is like, and engaging
event attended connection to a real people in their own subset of subculture seems to be
person. Staff is on call. very effective for us in engaging younger people and
by more than being relevant.”
Proprietary tech: JFJ
1,000 people. developed Wingman
technology (in-house).
Everyone has the app
on their phone. It’s in realtime, what’s happening all
around the world, where contacts and communication
is going on. They know how many Jewish people are
being engaged daily and they rate the level of communi-
cation with letters. They can see where these conver-
sations occurred: on a website, in person, FB, etc. All
staff get trained to use it. It keeps contacts available on
HaDerekh Youth1, a division of Devar Emet
a phone and connects with all staff around the world.
Messianic Jewish Outreach, focuses on meeting the
Young adults connect and see they are part of a much
spiritual needs of teens and young adults in the Jewish
bigger picture, which ignites enthusiasm.
community at large as well as to provide spiritual
What are the top JFJ programs that engage mentoring for Messianic Jewish youth in order to grow
young adults? faith in Yeshua as Messiah and encourage Jewish
In US: 1. Massah, 2. Internships, 3. Café ministry identity. HaDerekh Youth focuses on the Jewish
(LA/NYC) community in Chicago. According to Rabbi Kirk
Gliebe, Messianic Jews are supposed to make talmidim,
In Israel 1. Mekomi, 2. Massah, 3. Events space to become leaders in the house of Israel, and radical
(Moishe Rosen center) disciples. According to Gliebe, “Our movement sucks
at clarity of identity, at mentoring, at leadership
What are JFJ’s future plans to engage young adults?
development.” He believes in remaining actively
JFJ will continue to do what they are doing because
engaged in kids’ lives of and managing caseloads.
they’ve seen it work, but the best methodologies have
He feels they need mentorship/discipleship, not just
yet to be tried. They want to stay on the cutting edge of
activity, which he says has failed in the church (pizza
creativity. Brickner said that the blessing of the young-
nights for example don’t work). They need intentional
er generation is that they have fresh ideas, energy, and
spiritual mentoring. For him, it’s not just education but
that JFJ needs to do its best to empower those people to
inculcation. Focus on becoming radical followers of
actualize those creative gifts that God has given them.

   Giving them opportunity to have community…engaging people

in their own subset of subculture…seems to be very effective for
us in engaging younger people and being relevant.

They want JFJ to be a place for young adults who have Yeshua, leaders in the house of Israel, and prioritizing
a calling and gifting for relentlessly pursuing God’s Yeshua first. Mentoring involves calling to stay in
plan for the salvation of the Jewish people. touch, studying challenging Bible texts, changing lives,
and being actively engaged in community. HaDerekh

1 
https://www.demjo.org/haderekh-youth

103
Youth sponsors three annual programs—the Summer
Aliyah (camp), Winter Aliyah (in Michigan), and
Israel Aliyah, as well as has Club Macabbee for
younger kids and shabbatons for college age kids.
Camps
Camp HaDerekh: Camp HaDerekh is a one-week
summer camp for Messianic Jewish Youth (incoming
4th-12th graders) to connect with other Messianic
Jewish believers; together they grow in a relationship
with God, are challenged in their Jewish identity and
have amazing adventures in the wilderness of Michi-
gan at Camp Selah. This camping experience includes a
forest, a mess hall, a lake, Scripture studies, traditional
Jewish worship and singing.
Education
Club Maccabee is K-6th: Jr/high school kids teach
club Maccabbee. Club Maccabee is a specially designed
program to assist in the efforts of congregations and
outreaches to teach Jewish children the truths of
Scripture in a fun Jewish environment.
Israel Trips
Israel Aliyah: The HaDerekh Youth Israel Aliyah is a
program for diaspora Messianic-Jewish high school and
college-aged young people to grow in their faith and
104
Jewish identity while in the land of Israel. This Aliyah
does this by connecting them to the land of Israel and
by enhancing their connection with the greater Israeli
Jewish community, and by developing Ahavat Yisrael
(love of Israel).
Retreats
Winter Aliyah. The HaDerekh Youth Winter Aliyah is
an opportunity for Messianic Jewish teens to go up to
Lake Geneva, WI, for a weekend of spiritual develop-
ment and Messianic Jewish identity formation.
Shabbatons Shabbatons are for college age-30.
Conclusion to Jewish Missions/Organiza-
tions
Messianic Jewish missions and organizations can
provide outreach programs, conferences, Israel trips,
training and mentoring resources, and camps that
congregations can’t necessarily afford or replicate.
They offer ways for young people to meet from various
congregations and provide innovative ideas that young
adults/teens can help establish at their congregations.
They can also possibly provide staff for congregational
leadership. Check out their various websites for con-
tact information.
 Chapter 6  Discussion: An Overview of
Trends from the Surveys and Interviews
Demographics
A
bird’s-eye view of our research shows that the
majority of survey respondents and interview
participants were Jews by birth/conversion
(between 70-80%); and a fair number of Gentiles
responded as well (in the surveys, 20-26%). A larger
portion of survey respondents (teens: 35%, YA: 60%)
and interview participants (66%) were Union affiliated,
although we also had respondents from MJAA congre-
gations (surveys: 24% teens, 36% YA; interviews: 17%)
and other affiliations (surveys: 13% teens, 19% YA;
interviews: 17%). The young adult survey had nearly
double the percentage of Union respondents (60%)
than the teen survey (35%). A good number of teens
surveyed did not know their affiliation (28%), which
Are MJ congregations growing their size
through transfer growth alone? Do these
findings indicate that we are failing to attract
and engage new Jewish young adults?
implies a greater need for communication between
leaders and teens about their connection to the larger
Messianic Jewish community. About ten percent of
young adult survey respondents were in the process of
converting or had converted as well as one of the
interview participants, whereas the teen survey had
none who had undergone conversion. A fairly equal
number of women and men responded to the surveys
and were interviewed, as well as marrieds/singles, and
those with/without children, with an even distribution
of age ranges. In the teen and young adult surveys, we
had nearly the same percentages of politically con-
servative respondents compared with moderate and
liberal respondents combined (there were slightly
higher moderates and liberals in the YA survey). The
young adult survey had 26 respondents who are not
currently attending/left Messianic Jewish congregations
105
(81% were Jewish, 46% politically conservative, 35%
liberal, 15% moderate). Those non-attendees answered
some of the young adult survey demographic questions
as well as the scale questions
Congregational Growth
Most interview participants and survey respondents
were raised Messianic, brought by their parents, or came
from the church world; very few young adult interview
participants, and likely survey respondents, were at-
tracted from the broader Jewish world. In the teen
survey, most teens (61%) have attended their congre-
gations their whole life. Only 28% have attended
between 1-5 years (2% less than a year). In the young
adult survey, 42% have attended their current
congregation for more than a decade, 15% for 6-10
years, 28% between 1-5 years, 3% less than a year.
While these numbers may be a positive indication that
some Messianic Jewish congregations are retaining teens
and young adults, it raises a couple of questions: Are
Messianic Jewish congregations growing or maintaining
their size through transfer growth alone? And therefore,
are these findings an indication that we are failing to
attract and engage new Jewish young adults? Since teens
usually follow their parents, then outreach to families is
key to attracting that demo-graphic; leaders will need to
be more intentional about attracting families, so that
kids can grow up in the Messianic Jewish community.
In order to retain those already involved, leaders will
need to continually engage teens and young adults
through relationships, mentoring, and cultivating faith
in Yeshua in a distinctly Jewish context with Jewish
tradition and values. Cultivating this kind of thriving
congregation will naturally attract new young adults,
however, thoughtful and proactive outreach will also
need to take place.
Attracting and engaging teens and young adults
requires upholding their values, which Dorot has
discovered falls under two main areas: Community/
Relationships and Shared Messianic faith within
Jewish Space.
1 Community Relationships
Dorot discovered through our surveys and interviews
that teens and young adults deeply value community
relationships—they impact their initial attraction to a
congregation as well as their long-term commitment.
These relationships include with the rabbi and spouse,
with their peers, with welcoming congregants, with
mentors, and they are impacted by the congregation’s
communication with the broader Messianic Jewish,
Jewish, and Christian communities. Many young adults
expressed their appreciation for a continually
welcoming and family-like environment. They desire
to meet people their age, sometimes through social
gatherings and organized activities. Many want to
gather outside of weekly services and eat food and
socialize together. They value youth groups, college-age
groups, young adult activities, and unity between
congregations (especially regionally), and they value
inter-organizational relationships. They also appreciate
being a part of a multigenerational congregation,
therefore congregations that consist of a variety of age
groups are ideal to keeping young people engaged.
Many want to live close to their congregation, and to
each other to help foster relationships. Any programs
that lead to developing peer and multigenerational
relationships are valuable. They desire their relation-
ships (and especially leaders) to be authentic and they
appreciate leaders’ willingness to talk about culturally
and politically relevant issues.
Some prefer intimate groups, while others enjoy large
congregations. Young adults and teens want mentors,
not just in theology, Bible, and apologetics, but also in
marriage, career, and health, and don’t usually know
how to seek out these mentoring relationships. In the
broader Jewish community, leaders hold events in
these “secular” areas to draw young people (i.e., career
workshops). Some Messianic Jewish young adults
refrain from asking for mentoring and discipleship, so
leaders should initiate contact and set up structures
for education (Bible studies, Shabbatons, retreats,
   Programs are an excuse to
build relationships. They’re the
glue holding younger people.
Then like attracts like
like..
106
chevrutah-style study) and communication. Fostering
intentional relationships is key to a relevant and healthy
Messianic Jewish community. Dr. Mitch Glaser,
president of Chosen People Ministries, expresses the
importance of relationships: “Programs are an excuse to
build the relationships. They are the glue to hold the
younger people, and then like attracts like.”
Relationships with the Broader Messianic Jewish
Community (and Christian world)
Many teens and young adults want to know what’s
happening in the broader Messianic Jewish world—
where their friends have gone that they knew from
Messianic conferences or camps in their childhood for
example—and to feel connected to congregations in
their region. They want better and timely
communication on the national level, especially about
conferences; young adult parents with children need
time to plan for conferences and camps, so sending
them information early is crucial as well as subsidizing
costs. Teens and young adults would like to see
regional congregations meet together, and various
Messianic Jewish organizations build and maintain
relationships with each other (89% in the young
adult survey). Some have expressed their desire for
more conferences like Grassroots, which is inter-
organizational with little programming and lots of
social interaction.
Congregations and missions should communicate and
work together instead of duplicating efforts; missions
have much to offer congregations, such as camps,
internships, young adult conferences, humanitarian
works, outreach opportunities in the US and abroad,
education, scholarships, housing, and possible staff
during leadership transition—30% of CPM staff are
young adults, for example.
Conversely, congregations can offer missions staff (and
Jewish seekers) places for religious life and community.
Teens and young adults would also like a connection to
the broader Christian world, especially to their Jewish
friends in churches who they meet at Messianic Jewish
camps. A few young adults attend both Messianic
Jewish congregations and churches for the
opportunities to serve, learn, do outreach, and meet
other young people. Messianic leaders could
communicate with their members to find out which
churches Jews attend so they can invite them on special
occasions and connect with them. Leaders should
consider relationships with other congregations in
their region (possibly having a sister congregation for
shared events), fostering relationships with Messianic
Jewish organizations, and working together with other
Messianic Jews on matters of Jewish tradition to create
a more unified approach.
Relationships with the Broader Jewish Community
Many of our interview participants and survey respon-
dents have grown up in Messianic families or in church
communities. They may, therefore, be slightly more
disconnected from the broader Jewish community if
their congregations and families don’t intentionally
participate in wider Jewish communal life. Young
adults would like to connect (73%) with and outreach
(56%) to the broader Jewish communities (as well as
to the world) and often consider the values of those
communities as their own, although they don’t always
perceive their congregations as accepting broader
Jewish community values (egalitarianism, social and
racial justice, creation care/environmentalism, pro-
gressive politics). Leaders should connect with the
Jewish community both personally and as a congre-
gational unit (support Jewish organizations and attend
events). Congregations need to set by example their
connection to the broader Jewish community.
There are a few trends in the broader Jewish
community that Messianic Jews can learn from to
continually engage their current young adult gener-
ation and to attract non-Messianic Jews to Messianic
Judaism. Synagogue attendance among young adults/
Millennials is in decline, but they have found other
ways to engage and develop their Jewish identity.
The 2020 Pew study found that 17% of 18-29 year olds
attend synagogue weekly and they do so because they
find spiritual meaning, belonging, and a connection to
ancestry. Those who don’t attend synagogue regularly
and are repelled by organizations and institutions,
engage culturally, through holiday events, through
cultural artifacts, and are attracted by innovative and
alternative communities (see S3K and Wertheimer in
the Literature Reviews chapter). Things that are im-
portant to young adults who attend religious services,
include engaging in social events, education, and
relationships with peers and congregational leaders.
All Jewish congregations in one of the S3K studies
intentionally foster a welcoming environment through
107
welcoming committees, mentorship programs, and
Shabbat meals. In the Jewish reports, they found that
young adults also have a renewed interest in rituals
and embodied experiences, and they want to
participate rather than be a spectator. They want
leaders to give them ownership in the decision-making
of the community, and they want leaders to be au-
thentic and casual. This younger generation is also
more politically liberal, not motivated to attend out of
family obligation, Jewish continuity, or religious
obligation. Regarding Israel, 25-40 year olds believe
Israel is necessary for the survival of the Jewish people
(AJC, 70%) and that it’s important to maintain close
ties to Israel (AJC, 73%). But according to the Barna
study, only 11% of Millennials described an affinity to
the State of Israel (31% have traveled there). Dorot’s
research shows that 28% of Messianic teens have been
    Dorot’s research shows that
  28% of Messianic teens have
  been to Israel…
to Israel and 42% of young adults felt that Israel
deepened their engagement in their congregation.
Overall, Messianic Jewish leaders can learn from
trends in the broader Jewish community; they need to
find creative and innovative Jewish ways to engage
young adults outside of weekly services, such as Siddur
learning classes, field trips to cultural centers, seminars
on contemporary Jewish issues, Shabbat meals in the
home, or celebrations in intimate settings, as well as be
authentic and casual as they approach younger adults.
Leaders also need to empower young adults to lead,
make decisions, and actively participate in congre-
gational life when they do attend regularly. Leaders
will need to encourage young adults and teens to visit
Israel so they can have a basis for understanding
Israelis (vs. Jews in diaspora) and the politics there.
Leaders will need to be nuanced when speaking with
younger adults and teens about Israeli politics who may
have more compassion for Palestinian issues and who
may not sympathize with Christian Zionism (see our
Literature Reviews chapter for more implications for
Messianic leaders).
Relationships with Messianic Gentiles
Dorot found that Messianic Jews are attracted by many
of the same things that non-Jewish members are
attracted by, however, the Jewish constituency tend to
more strongly affirm a desire for certain things: female
leadership (non-rabbinic/rabbinic), certain Jewish
rituals for Jews only (b’nai mitzvah, circumcision), and
halakhic consistency among congregations. Some
Gentile young people were brought to congregations by
their parents and grew up in a Messianic environment,
others attend because of their Jewish spouse.
According to our literature reviews, Gentile Christian
adults often seek out Messianic Jewish congregations
because they see themselves as spiritually seeking and
as spiritual mavericks, interested both in intellectual
and sensory development and tracing their lineage.
Dorot found that some of the non-Jewish young adult
interview participants had rejected Christian practice
in their journeys, others were drawn by family
members, felt it was God’s call upon them, or were
spouses of Jewish believers in Messiah (14% were
intermarried in the YA survey and a couple in the
interviews). These Gentile believers tend to value
Jewish practices such as Shabbat, holidays, Friday
night dinners, and keeping kosher (no pork/shellfish).
While in the young adult survey, most young adults do
not find it important that congregations recognize a
conversion process, 31% find it important/very
important, and those who have converted seek places
of acceptance. Some of the interview participants
sympathize with the reasons for needing Messianic
Jewish conversion and would like to see more
discussion about it.
Almost half of young adults surveyed
desire a Jewish constituency (48% in
YA survey) in their congregation…
Almost half of young adults surveyed desire a Jewish
constituency (48% in YA survey) in their congre-
gation, including a preference for Jewish leadership,
and they want congregations to teach clear distinctions
between Jews and Gentiles in matters of identity and
traditions. In the young adult survey, even more
respondents expressed their appreciation for the
diversity of nations (Jew/Gentile) within their
108
congregations (52%), although teens thought it more
important to have Jewish teens (72%) than non-Jewish
teens in their congregation (50%). Interview partic-
ipants and survey open-ended responses revealed
strong support for congregations to be authentically
Jewish with a majority of Jewish people and Jewish
leadership. There seems to be some identity confusion
among Gentile teens and young adults as some are
identifying as Jews; in the young adult survey, 16
respondents identified as Messianic Jewish even
though they had no Jewish background (23 young
adults called themselves Messianic Gentile). About
4+% of Gentile teens identified as Messianic Jews as
well. Gentiles possibly identifying as Messianic Jews
implies that leaders are not clearly teaching identity
distinctions. Despite the regard for Gentiles in
congregations, most respondents desire clear delin-
eation of identity; they are often frustrated when
Gentiles wear Jewish ritual garb with no prior under-
standing of Jewish tradition and history. Many prefer
that congregations focus on its Jewish members and
not aim to be simply places to educate Gentiles about
Jewish life. Gentile respondents expressed that they
sometimes feel like second-class citizens.
In order to create an authentic Messianic Jewish space,
leaders will need to sensitively clarify Jewish vs Gentile
identity and what that means in terms of Jewish prac-
tice and the wearing of Jewish ritual garments, as well
as deciding who can use the term “Messianic Jew.”
2 Shared Messianic Faith in Jewish Space
Many of the survey and interview participants
expressed their appreciation of congregations offering a
place to share their faith in Yeshua with other Jews
(and Gentiles) in the context of Jewish life and
tradition. They want to be better Messianic Jews
engaged with Jewish life and tradition. This implies
that congregations should clearly be Jewish spaces that
embrace Yeshua and the New Testament (81% of
young adults, 74% of teens thought it important to
read NT in services) with basic guidelines for Jewish
practice. Teens and young adults value Jewish tradition
in their congregations (and at home), including high
holiday celebrations, life cycle events, Shabbat services
with a Torah service (Torah/NT readings), Hebrew
liturgy (less for teens) and contemporary worship,
children’s programs (Hebrew school), at-home Shabbat
dinners, and a certain level of kashrut (no pork/

   Yeshua should not
be downplayed or
a side issue…
shellfish)—we were only able to gauge kashrut levels
based on our interviews, as our surveys did not inquire
about it. Yeshua should not be downplayed or a side
issue; leaders should consider using traditional Jewish
liturgy with messianic components, New Testament
readings (which can be chanted in Hebrew) and study,
engage in Zichron Mashiach (Lord’s Supper ceremony),
Tevilah, contemporary worship, and innovative
Messianic Jewish liturgy. Young adults also want
teaching on core beliefs/doctrines that include the
divinity of Yeshua, so studying the New Testament is
as crucial as studying Tanakh and other Jewish texts.
Congregations have advanced in the past decades in
their attempt to establish spaces where Jewish tradition
can flourish, and there is currently a desire among
younger people to have more halakhic consistency
throughout the congregations of the Messianic Jewish
community (56% in the young adult survey want
communal standards of observance and this was
expressed in the interviews as well) so that Messianic
Jewish congregations can be recognizable throughout
North America. They would like to see a baseline of
tradition that at the very least includes a Torah service
and Hebrew liturgy, while some would like daily
minyan. To accomplish those desires, young people feel
there is a need for further Jewish education/literacy for
congregants and leaders. While they find Bible studies
important (80% for YA, 67% for teens), the young
adult survey respondents (40%) didn’t show as much
support for studying traditional Jewish texts (Talmud,
Midrash medieval commentators, etc.). However, the
survey open-ended question responses and the
interviews revealed a desire to learn more in the realm
of Jewish studies, including liturgy, Hebrew, Jewish
mysticism, and traditional Jewish texts, and for leaders
to be literate in Jewish studies. A large majority of
young adults share the concern with the broader
Jewish community about antisemitism (92% in young
adult survey; 80% of teens) and would like their
congregation to combat against and educate about it.
109
Contemporary Jewish worship music (and some
Christian) is important, as is Hebrew liturgy, more for
young adults (64%) than for teens (46%). While some
prefer older Messianic music, many would like to see
or create new Messianic music or adopt some music
from the trendier parts of the broader Jewish
community (see the Recommendations chapter). Teens
and young adults showed less interest in Messianic
dance, Kabbalat Shabbat services, sharing similar
political views, and exercising spiritual gifts. Union-
affiliated young adults were more interested in praying
from a Siddur and studying Jewish texts. In order to
foster a Jewish environment, some young adults, espe-
cially Jews and MJ converts, were supportive (54%) of
having certain rituals (b’nai mitzvah and circumcision)
for Jewish members only.1 If Messianic leaders have
not already initiated even minimal Jewish practice such
as a Torah service with readings and Hebrew liturgy,
leaders should consider leading their congregations
into more advanced Jewish practice. Holidays and life
cycle events should be celebrated wholeheartedly as
they were on the top of the list of importance. Consider
even second-day Jewish holiday celebrations. Leaders
may need to train and study more to make these
happen or engage young adults/teens and rabbinic/
cantorial interns to help.
Leadership Transition
Young people value when leaders nurture relationships
with them, which they think is essential for leadership
transition. Young adults and teens want to serve and
they do in many capacities, from putting up chairs to
giving sermons, but they sometimes feel deterred by
current older leadership who they perceive as limiting
opportunities. In the young adult survey, 95% of
young adults fully or somewhat supported teens/young
adults serving on committees and receiving leadership
training. However, our surveys showed that the
numbers of young adults (25%) and teens (11%) who
serve on committees, for example, are low, and only
32% of young adults consider themselves in a leader-
ship role. Our teen survey also showed that teen
participation in congregational life tends to be more
passive (attendance rather than active involvement);
a low percentage of teens read Torah, help with ser-
1  T
 his question, along with women’s ordination, had the most
opposition (33%) when compared with other young adult survey
Type B scale questions. Those most against were Gentile, MJAA-
affiliated, and politically conservative.
vices, teach kids, organize events, or are involved in
music—despite the fact that 61% of teens in their
survey find it important for them to serve in leadership
roles. The MJAA has already developed teen/young
adult mentoring programs, including for young leaders,
which Union leadership and Union congregations
should consider adopting (see Recommendations chapter
under College, and Leadership Transition). Jewish mis-
sions also have discipleship and mentoring programs
that teens and young adults can partake in (See Jewish
Missions chapter).
For there to be a larger pipeline to leadership and to
create more vibrant congregations, leaders need to
consider the role of women in leadership. The majority
of young adults (less for teens) would like to see an
advancement in the roles of women. The support for
women in non-rabbinic roles (84%) is higher among
young adults than support for women rabbis, although
more than half, 55% fully/somewhat support women
having opportunities for rabbinic ordination—even
more so for Union-affiliated respondents (61%). Those
most opposed to women’s ordination are older males, in
the 38-47 age range, are MJAA affiliated, and are either
conservative or very conservative politically.2 The lack
of female participation in non-rabbinic and rabbinic
training and internships will have implications for
generational transition. It will also impact attracting
and retaining young Jewish liberal congregants who
value egalitarianism. According to our young adult
survey, many of these young people have already
become frustrated and have left Messianic Jewish
congregations. Leaders should intentionally empower
younger male and female leaders, give them roles at a
young age, and consider training teams of congregants
for rabbinic positions, even if they plan to work in the
secular world (more rabbis in the future may be bi-
vocational). Perhaps male and female bi-vocational
leaders working together in one congregational setting
can offset the opposition to women rabbis.
Attendance
Attendance at Shabbat services went down during
COVID-19 from 82% to 63% weekly/more than once/
week for young adults; during COVID-19, 40% of
2 
The question on women’s ordination, along with the Jewish-only
rituals question, had the most opposition (33%) when compared
with other Type B young adult survey scale questions. Union-af-
filiated respondents were 26% opposed.
110
teens said they were less involved, and 17% said they
were more involved. The majority of respondents plan
to be involved the same amount or more in the coming
year, especially young adults (88%), but also teens
(54%). Most plan to return in person, although some
plan to attend both virtually and in person, while only
a small percentage plans to attend only online. Leaders
will need to continue offering virtual options and
welcome those online and in-person equally (consider
calling the community “mixed presence” rather than
dividing the community between “virtual” and “in-
person” members). Reconsider the meaning of
congregational “membership” to one that welcomes
people from around the globe, which will allow young
adult congregants to feel they are part of a larger
community. Also consider that younger adults/
Millennials like to come and go and don’t like to be
pressured to commit (see Literature Reviews chapter) to
membership. Leaders should always be sensitive to
health needs of all members and de-politicize public
health safety measures.
In five years, most young adults see themselves as still
involved in the Messianic Jewish community, although
some might move to smaller communities/chavurot or
home groups, and some might go to churches if there
isn’t a Messianic Jewish congregation nearby or if they
don’t find a spouse in the Messianic Jewish world.
Some young adults would like to live in proximity to
congregations to create close-knit communities. Living
close, within 30 minutes, helps increase frequency of
young adult attendance as well as long-term commit-
ment (more than ten years). Looking at the future,
some young adults expressed their hope that the wider
Messianic Jewish community simply continues to exist.
Others look forward to community growth, more unity
(between missions and congregations, regionally, or
standardization of halakhah), more engagement in
outreach, more impact on the world (social justice/
racial justice), that congregations offer a place with a
variety of political beliefs, and that the community
continue to offer brick and mortar congregations with
intentional community. A few are devoted to a life-long
commitment to their congregation, especially if they
have been raised in the Messianic Jewish community,
are Jewish, and are rabbis’ kids. Teens also expressed
not being able to attend weekly due to dependence on
families to drive them. Experiences such as conferences,
trips to Israel, b’nai mitzvah, and camps can contribute
to deeper engagement in congregational life for teens
and young adults and can correlate with weekly at-
tendance; when young adults do not participate in any
of these experiences, their weekly participation drops
considerably (from 90% to 69%). Leaders should
encourage teen and young adult involvement in the
broader Messianic Jewish community; helping them feel
they belong to a larger community refreshes and seems
to solidify their local involvement. Leaders should
communicate to youth and young adults about their
future plans to see how they can encourage long-term
involvement in the Messianic Jewish community.
Not Attending/Leaving Messianic Jewish Congregations
Since most teens and young adults that we surveyed
and interviewed were raised in Messianic Jewish (or
church) communities, retaining them is just as im-
portant as attracting others from outside of Messianic
Jewish communities. In the past few years, there have
been a number of young Jewish adults leave Messianic
Jewish congregations and our young adult survey
captured some of them. In the young adult survey,
21 out of the 26 young adult survey respondents who
were not attending a Messianic Jewish congregation
were Jewish. Young people can be repelled by certain
things, which they may tolerate, or which may event-
ually cause them to leave their congregation and the
broader Messianic Jewish community. They simply
may move away, live too far from a congregation, or go
off to college.
They can be repelled by burnout, distance, disorga-
nized youth groups, and they may be driven away by
inauthentic leadership, lack of professionalism and
normalcy, lack of cultural relevance, lack of partici-
pation in social/racial justice, and repulsion of extreme
right-wing politics or conspiracy theories. Teens (87%)
and young adults (75%) feel that congregational
leaders are trying or are doing a great job at communi-
cation about culturally relevant issues—only 31% of
young adults fully agreed about this and they lean more
conservative politically; liberal young adults said that
leaders can do a better job at communicating about
culturally relevant issues. In the surveys, teens (33%)
and young adults (20%) do not think it’s very im-
portant to share similar political views (liberal respon-
dents found it a little more important to share similar
political views), yet politics (repulsion to right-wing/
conspiracy theories) still seem to be a strong point of
111
contention that causes young adult Jews to leave
Messianic Jewish congregations (and the broader
Messianic Jewish community). As noted in our
Literature Review chapter, Barna and Pew Research
found that young adults/Millennials are more
politically liberal than their parents.
Messianic Leaders should consider how to avoid
alienating young adults and teens through politicized
language from the bema and in personal conversation
and create an atmosphere that allows for a spectrum of
political opinion. Leaders should also look to impact
the outside world in humanitarian efforts and social/
racial justice. Because most young people are repelled
by the lack of professionalism, the lack of financial
accountability, and weird cultural expressions in
Messianic Jewish congregations, leaders can set up
professional structures and policies by hiring pro-
fessionals or engaging professionals in their midst.
Professionalism in all aspects of congregational life will
contribute to reaching and retaining young Jewish
professionals. Leaders should also reconsider certain
cultural/religious expressions (banner waving, blowing
shofars at inappropriate times) that may repel young
adults from attending.
The aging of Messianic Jewish congregants (49% are
age 65+) and leadership (63% are 65+) within the
Union (and likely other affiliations) becomes a serious
issue when younger people are not being attracted or
engaged to revitalize congregations. Whether leaders
want to retain young people or attract new ones to
their congregation, the same principles seem to apply.
Many things that young adults and teens value are not
necessarily programs but are traits or characteristics
that young people desire of their community. As Dorot
stated, these fall into two categories: relationships and
shared beliefs. Messianic Jewish teens and young
adults value whatever can create opportunities to
develop deep relationships and community together
with a shared faith in Yeshua in the context of Jewish
life and tradition.
Please see Dorot’s recommendations to the Union and to
Messianic Jewish congregational leaders in the following
chapter, which are based on the teen/young adult feedback
as well as our own ideas.
 Chapter 7 • Part 1
Dorot Recommendations for MJ Congregations
T
he following are Dorot’s recommendations to the
Union and to Messianic congregational leaders in
alphabetical order by topic. These suggestions are
not exhaustive but offer a starting point for Messianic
Jewish leaders to be creative about follow-up. Please
select what is relevant and of interest to your congre-
gation. Also, see the Literature Reviews chapter for
additional recommendations from the broader Jewish
community (some are incorporated below). Dorot’s
recommendations for a Youth and Young Adult
Director (YYAD) follows this section.
Each topic will begin with a recommendation to the
Union as a national entity, followed by recommen-
dations for congregations at the local level. Not every
section will have national recommendations.
Antisemitism: Young people desire to learn about and
combat antisemitism (80% of teens and 92% of young
adults). The broader Jewish community has a recent
heightened awareness of antisemitic acts, which are on
the rise according to all Jewish organizations. The ADL
just recently published an audit that found that
antisemitic incidents have reached an all-time high in
2021 with 2,717 incidents of assault, harassment, and
vandalism. According to the Pew 2020 survey,
American Jews (76%) say remembering the Holocaust
is essential to their Jewish identity. Fighting and
learning about antisemitism is a relevant way for
congregants and leaders to connect with the broader
Jewish community and to engage in outreach.
  Recommendations to the Union
• T he Union can recommend to congregations various
fundraisers for Jewish organizations (such as the
ADL) that address antisemitism or create one
project that all congregations can participate in. For
example, there could be a national book club where
everyone reads one Holocaust book.
• T he Union could advise on how to ensure there’s a
mandatory Holocaust public school curriculum in a
congregation’s state that doesn’t have one.
112
  Recommendations to Congregations
•M
 essianic Jewish congregations can read books
together/have book clubs about antisemitism (for
resources see the ADL or AJC websites).
•G
 ive to organizations such as the ADL, the AJC, or
B’nai Brith (in Canada).
•A
 ttend lectures in the Jewish community or invite
speakers to congregations.
•W
 ork on projects that help fight antisemitism in a
congregation’s local neighborhood (i.e., make sure
your local school district has a Holocaust curriculum).
• S peak in churches and educate Christians about the
history of antisemitism; Jewish missions already do
this, so contact them to help make arrangements to
speak in churches.
•M
 essianic Jewish young adults/teens can call
government officials about establishing policy that
combats antisemitism. (https://www.state.gov/
bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-civilian-security-
democracy-and-human-rights/office-of-the-special-
envoy-to-monitor-and-combat-antisemitism/)
• T he King’s University in Dallas is offering a master’s
degree with a concentration in antisemitism.
Encourage young adults to study there. Most
universities with Jewish studies centers or degree
majors or with Hillels have lectures/classes on
antisemitism. Young adults can audit or attend these
classes/lectures.
Authenticity/Transparency: Young people value
humility, truthfulness, and communication, especially
from their rabbis, regarding Jewish tradition and about
issues they are talking about on social media. One
definition of authenticity from psychologist Brene
Brown is that “it’s a collection of choices that we have
to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and
be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our
true selves be seen.” According to the UJA survey of
Jewish Millennials (see Literature Reviews chapter),
leaders can meet their needs by being casual,
functional, and authentic.
  Recommendations to Congregations
• L eaders need to make an effort to be frank,
straightforward, honest, and humble in all their
efforts with young people.
•A
 ccording to our surveys, there’s room for leaders to
improve on discussions about culturally relevant
issues. Young people want to have honest discussions
about faith and culture. Some congregations avoid
these discussions because they’re worried about
divisive arguments, but their views will come out on
social media and privately, and people will decide to
leave congregations without having discussed with
leaders and congregants. Therefore, it’s helpful to set
aside time and create a rubric for an honest dis-
cussion at your congregation about politics and faith
and about other cultural issues.
• Y oung people value an authentic Jewish expression,
including services that offer a baseline of Jewish
tradition. They also want clear distinctions between
Jews and non-Jews in congregations and for that to
be discussed. Leaders should have classes and group
discussions, especially for new Gentile membership
about Jewish ritual.
Chavurot: Please also see the chavurot section in the
Literature Reviews chapter, written by Rabbi Stuart
Dauermann. Young adults desire to be more creative
about their communities, and may want to belong to a
chavurah (separate from or linked to a congregation).
Emergent synagogues, independent Minyanim, and
alternative communities all represent innovative
spiritual communities that have emerged beginning in
the late 1990s. Most were pioneered by Jewish GenX,
and today are composed of Jewish young adults. These
communities tend to be independent of mainstream
denominations, oriented toward young adults, attract
Jews disaffected with mainstream Judaism, and inter-
married couples. Moreover, they use contemporary
Jewish worship and stress social justice (see S3K reports
in Literature Reviews chapter).
One young adult in their survey said, “I dream of an
experiment: small, multigenerational communities with
a core who pray and learn and live together (here in a
113
single block, or there on a farm), with additional
congregants who are fully part of the group but don’t
necessarily live quite as communally, and a place for
hosting classes, conferences, concerts, and events for
broader Messianic and non-Messianic Jewish
community as well as Christians and other neighbors.
Alongside the intensity of conferences and the existing
havurot and congregations where even the most
involved people see each other maybe two or three
times a week, these would serve as something in
between—and something more. Imagine such
communities as laboratories for MJ community life,
education, liturgy, advocacy, arts, foodways,
community engagement, zedakah… Their purpose is
more than a start-up incubator for MJ (important and
necessary as MJ’s entrepreneurial phase has been: this
one’s ministry, that one’s website, etc.); varying by
each one’s local context, resources, needs, and gifts,
they nevertheless would supply coordinated and
thoughtful hospitality for developing a Messianic
future—one that serves the wider Jewish world and
others, even as it learns from the wider Jewish world
and others how to become what we are called to be.”
(YA Survey)
  Recommendations to the Union
• T he Union could provide guidelines for Messianic
Jewish chavurot as well as a list of Union-affiliated
chavurot on their website. Be in communication
with Rabbi Dauermann who has developed CHAI—
the Chavurah Action Initiative (https://www.
interfaithfulness.org/chai/).
  Recommendations to Congregations
•M
 essianic Jewish congregations should consider
linking smaller groups of chavurot to their main
congregation, or give young adults freedom to create
independent chavurot, which may have a particular
affinity (environmentalism, humanitarian works,
halakhically focused, etc.).
Churches/Spiritual Growth: A number of Messianic
Jews/Gentiles leave congregations for churches, partic-
ularly for children’s programming or because they feel
they aren’t being spiritually nourished. Some young
adults attend both a MJ congregation and a church and
expressed their desire to connect more with churches.
Congregations can compete if they professionalize and
work together with others in the Messianic Jewish
community to standardize things. Churches have a
number of Jews within them and leaders should
consider communicating with them for education and
to invite to special events.
  Recommendations to Union:
• C reate one kids’ curriculum that all congregations
can use. This can be part of a national Hebrew
school curriculum (headed by someone who is
overseen by a Youth and Young Adult Director). See
our education recommendations.
• E ncourage and subsidize leaders to further their
education in Jewish studies, theology, and Bible,
including seasoned leaders.
• C reate an ongoing list of churches with a large
Jewish membership so that congregations can invite
them to special events or so leaders can speak at
those churches. Missions may have lists like this.
  Recommendations to Congregations
•M
 essianic Jewish leaders need to engage in
continued education, whether that be in Jewish
studies or theology, so that they grow and are able to
spiritually nourish congregants.
• S ometimes leaders might need sabbaticals; bring in
new or interim leaders so that congregants don’t feel
like the teaching is repetitive, and so leaders can be
refreshed and take time to learn.
• C onnect with at least one local pastor and have them
preach at your congregation. Leaders can try to
speak at local churches as well.
•O
 rganize a monthly event with a local church
so congregants feel connected to the broader
church world.
•A
 sk local pastors if there are Jews in their church
who can be invited to special events.
College: Many Messianic Jewish teens go away for
college in cities where there are no local Messianic
Jewish congregations. Only 37% of teens in their
survey considered it important to attend college near a
Messianic Jewish congregation.
  Recommendations to the Union
•A
 Union Youth and Young Adult Director could
create a college freshman mentorship program or high
114
school seniors’ program (see the YMJA section below)
or develop a chevrutah program that matches a college
student with another college student or with an older
adult for monthly virtual/in-person meetings. This
will keep college students connected to the
community and help them grow while in college.
• T he Union’s website could provide a list of MJ
congregations near major universities and colleges.
• C onsider reinstituting the hadrakhah program that
offers college students internships (non-rabbinic) in
congregations.
•H
 ave a national virtual event (Shabbaton) for college
students once or twice a year. Have a college
student/teen teach at the Shavuot online event.
• C reate an Israel trip that involves college students.
  Recommendations to Congregations
• E ncourage teens in your congregation to attend a
college near a Messianic Congregation.
• T eens go from attending weekly to no congregation
in this period of their life. There needs to be a
transition process for them. Young adults in college
value meeting people in their very particular age
range because they are at different stages of life than
those who have families and are older—so you might
think about setting up a separate college group at
your congregation, even virtually, or help them meet
at in-person events once a month, especially if you
are located near a university.
• C onsider something like the YMJA’s College
Freshmen’s Mentorship Program—this program
pairs up all graduating high school seniors with an
adult/young adult who go through a curriculum
with them for their first year of college to help grow
in faith. The YMJA ministries coordinator gets
applications from graduating seniors and then she
invites leaders (who she’s met through conferences
etc.) and who she’s vetted (spiritually mature young
adults between ages of 20-50). Based on knowing
their identity, she pairs with mentees. This program
lasts from August-May (academic year), once/week
for about an hour with curriculum (Jewish life,
spiritual life, difficult topics in college related
to faith).

•M
 essianic Jewish college students can also stay
connected through various Jewish missions’
programs or HaDerekh activities (Shabbatons,
Israel trips, be camp counselors), especially during
the summer.
•M
 eet college kids on campuses for Bible studies.
Leaders can ask Cru/InterVarsity if you can come
monthly to their meetings to talk about Messianic
Jews or study the Bible from a Messianic Jewish
perspective.
•A
 lso encourage college kids to attend Hillel on
campus. They will be able to connect with the
Jewish community as they may not have previously,
and they may have opportunities to dig deeper into
Jewish tradition. They should approach Hillel (as
any Jewish synagogue/organization) with humility
and a desire to learn.
Hillel
Hillel is a decentralized Jewish educational, cultural,
and religious movement with local branches serving at
over 500 college campuses worldwide. It was founded
in 1923 and adopted by B’nai B’rith in 1924, and now
has grown into the world’s largest Jewish campus
organization. Each Hillel branch is unique, but they all
share an overarching set of values, general mission, and
format. Hillel provides a mix of informal educational
and social programming, travel experiences, religious
services, student support, and kosher food services.
Hillel embraces a pluralistic approach to Judaism which
seeks to recognize and affirm all branches of Judaism
and Jewish backgrounds. It aims to create inclusive
environments, which affirm universal humanistic
values from a Jewish lens. This usually leads to gener-
ally progressive political and social organizational tone,
but the organization also embraces a Zionist-positive
position on campus and helps combat all forms of
antisemitism. The Hillel movement offers a unique
opportunity for Messianic Jews to explore their own Jewish
identity and expression, deepen their Jewish education,
gain firsthand exposure to other forms and expressions of
Judaism, and to connect and build friendships with fellow
Jews from other backgrounds.
It is important to note that the Hillel movement does
not recognize Messianic Judaism as a legitimate form of
Judaism and may see such an identity or affiliation as
potentially hostile to its mission. This is because Hillel
115
embraces the definitions and norms of the major
branches of Judaism and does not tolerate prosely-
tizing. Messianic Jews should be willing to embrace
this stance in part, recognizing the historical tensions
and the good-faith effort to create safe spaces for
Jewish students to explore their identities within
normalized boundaries. Messianic Jews should consider
taking on a post-missionary approach to engaging with
Hillel, using humility and tact while remaining
transparent and confident in their own Messianic Jewish
identity. Messianic Jews should expect to bear the
weight of partial exclusion due to the unrecognized
status of their identity. This may include being
excluded from leadership roles as well as some
activities such as Birthright trips to Israel.
Note that many Messianic Jews have participated at
Hillel (and at least one was president of a Hillel) in
various capacities over the years and generally find
that the benefits of engagement far outweigh the costs.
For more information on the Hillel movement, visit the
movement’s central website at www.hillel.org.
Communication: Use email, texting, and all forms of
social media to communicate with teens and young
adults. Non-Messianic synagogues are trying to use
seeker sensitive language such as “a caring com-
munity,” “a diverse, multicultural community,”
“a welcoming community,” or words like “inclusive”
or “welcoming interfaith and non-Jewish family
members.” Some are using phrases such as, “We
welcome all who want to do Jewish;” the expression
“Doing Jewish” has caught on. Messianic congregations
can consider using some of this language in its pro-
motional materials.
  Recommendations to the Union
• C ommunicate often and early, especially to young
adults with families for conferences, events,
camps, etc.
•D
 on’t rely on rabbis to communicate to their youth
and young adults. Have a database of youth and
young adults to notify directly.
•M
 ake an extra effort to communicate with teens/
young adults in Canada who aren’t as connected to
the US Messianic Jewish community, and who tend
not to attend conferences.
  Recommendations to Congregations
• L eaders need to communicate often and early to
teens and young adults about conferences, camps,
and events and use all sorts of social media.
• C onnect young adults with the MJ United FB group.
• If you are a Canadian leader, make an effort to con-
nect your teens/young adults with events in the US.
•U
 se welcoming language in promotional materials.
Community/Relationships: Community and
relationships ranked highest in our surveys among
values for teens/young adults, whether it be with the
rabbi, peers, or mentors. Fostering community requires
hospitality. You can’t be too welcoming or hospitable—
and it’s not just the rabbi’s job—leaders should
encourage all congregants to become a welcoming
community. Several young adults were very impressed
by those who greeted them regularly at the door of the
congregation. Calling people is just as important as
programming and fostering ministries. In the teen
survey, 76% find oneg/social gatherings important as
do 64% of young adults.
  Recommendations to the Union
•H
 ire a Youth and Young Adult Director (YYAD) to
regularly keep in touch with youth and young adults
and establish a contact database.
• T he YYAD would arrange social activities at the
conferences for youth and young adults.
• T he Union could produce a Teen and Young Adult
newsletter that updates congregations about events,
social activities, and profiles various young people’s
lives (could be called “What are they up to?” or
“Where in the world is…?”). A number of young
adults (especially college-age students) expressed
desire to know the whereabouts of previous
Messianic Jewish friends.
• S et up a Union Youth Instagram account.
• S et up a Union Young Adults FB account.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
•  ongregations need to greet people, call them outside
C adults at the Shavuot online conference. Have teens/
of Shabbat, have oneg, invite people for meals, and
visit the sick.
116
• Y oung adults want to grow relationships also
outsides of services (72% of YA in survey found it
important or very important to also have a
communal life outside of shabbat services), so have
younger leadership organize events, hangouts, coffee
time, games, concerts, movies, trips, picnics, hiking,
campouts, bowling, etc. for younger people and
young families (be mindful of bedtimes for couples
with kids).
• S ome congregations have cafes, which can open
Saturday night (if they charge) or before services, if
they offer free treats, as ways to get together outside
of services and as places to build relationships.
Teens could be the baristas.
•H
 ave a babysitting list for couples who want to go to
events without the kids.
• S et up a welcoming committee (made up of teens/
young adults).
Conferences: Attending conferences correlates with
participation and engagement in congregational life. In
the young adult survey, 67% said conferences deepen
their engagement in their congregation.
  Recommendations to the Union
• S end out timely communication to teens and young
adults, especially by text and email, but also on FB/
Instagram. Don’t rely on the congregational rabbi to
communicate about conferences.
•H
 ave a Youth and Young Adult Director contact
their youth/young adult contact list. Create a contact
database if there isn’t one.
• T he main Union conference might consider
separating college-age single young adult events from
those with families.
• L ower the conference costs or subsidize young
adults/teens/families, or have some online options/
events for those who can’t afford or aren’t able
to attend.
• C ontinue the Shavuot conference online. Have at
least one interesting talk for teens and one for young
young adults run the technology for the conference.

• E nsure women are teaching at conferences.
• E ncourage leaders to attend non-Union MJ
conferences.
  Recommendations to Congregations
• E ncourage younger congregants to attend
conferences and financially support them to do so.
• S end young people as delegates to the conference.
• S end out timely communication about conferences
to your congregation so families can plan.
• S chedule more regional conferences.
• C onsider attending MJAA, CPM, and other MJ
conferences.
COVID-19/Pandemics: While attendance went down
during COVID-19, Messianic congregations advanced
their technology such as Zoom and YouTube
livestreaming, which have become permanent tools for
hybrid services, Bible studies, meetings, etc. Many
teens and young adults prefer in-person services,
however, this technology can remain tools to reach
college students and those who live far from a
Messianic congregation. Consider calling virtual
members “mixed presence” so they feel like they are
part of the community. See the technology recommen-
dation. The Union and congregational leaders should
encourage de-politicizing public health initiatives.
Conversion: In the young adult survey, 31% found it
important to recognize a conversion process. People
who are converting through the MJRC are not feeling
welcome at all congregations and are having to seek out
conversion-friendly Messianic synagogues.
  Recommendations to Union
• T he Union needs to establish policy for congrega-
tions about Messianic Jewish conversion, if it
doesn’t already. Or, it could provide a list of
congregations on its website that accept Messianic
Jewish conversion.
Recommendations to Congregations
• C ongregations need to develop official policies about
Messianic Jewish conversion, undergirded by a
developed theology (connect with the MJRC).
117
Culturally Relevant Issues (racial justice, gender
and sexual identity, disability, mental health):
Most survey respondents said that they believe that
leaders are doing a good job at discussing culturally
relevant issues. Those leaning liberal were less likely to
think that leaders were doing a good job. In the young
adult survey, 75% of respondents thought leaders were
doing a good job at discussing culturally relevant issues
(31% said yes, 43% somewhat). In the teen survey,
87% thought leaders were doing a good job at
communicating about these issues.
  Recommendations to the Union
•D
 evelop material that can help leaders understand
how to discuss culturally relevant issues: LGBTQ+,
environmentalism, social and racial justice, and
politics, mental health, and people with disabilities.
•D  evelop policy suggestions for these issues.
• E stablish a “Cultural Issues” Committee that could
research, develop theology, and make
recommendations for congregations. Work together
with the MJRC on these issues.
•H
 ave conferences dedicated to culturally rele-
vant issues.
• E nsure conferences are disability friendly (ADA
compliant, events should be sensitive to people
with disabilities).
  Recommendations to Congregations
•R
 ead Paul Saal’s article on LGBTQ in Kesher
Journal (see Literature Reviews).
•D
 evelop policies that are welcoming and respectful.
•H
 ave discussions with congregants on these issues.
•R
 ead the Union’s policies on how to discuss
politics, etc.
• E nsure events and your congregation are sensitive to
people with disabilities (i.e., during services say,
“Please stand if you are able”).
Education (see also Mentoring/Discipleship
recommendations): Young adults like to study the
Torah/Bible (80% on YA; and 67% of teens), but only
40% of young adults surveyed said they want to study
traditional Jewish texts. Interview participants
expressed more interest in Jewish texts. Often leaders
themselves are not familiar with Talmud, Midrash,
mystical, and Jewish medieval commentators. Studying
traditional texts will help cultivate a Jewish
environment and Jewish literacy—which respondents
said they wanted, so leaders and congregants should
consider classes and furthering their education in
Jewish texts. Young adults also want to learn core
values/doctrines, such as the divinity of Yeshua.
  Recommendations to the Union
  Adult Education:
• T he Union can offer online Bible studies/Jewish text
studies (Midrash/Talmud/Kabbalah/Medieval
commentators etc.) with a rotation of teachers.
• T he national conference can offer Jewish text study
sessions, including before Shabbat morning services.
Kids’ Education (A national kids’ curriculum):
• T he Union can contact the congregations who have
excelled at kids’ curriculum and update them and
select/create one major kids’ curriculum for Shabbat
school (Saturday would offer brief parashah lessons
during services) as well as for Hebrew School
(Sundays/possibly also on another day of the week).
•H
 ebrew school should offer an overall Jewish
education as well as b’nai mitzvah training. As
recommended, there should be a Youth and Young
Adult Director that oversees the director and the
volunteers of the Hebrew School.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
•W
 ork with the Union to create one curriculum that
can be used nationally.
•D
 uring Bible studies, teachers could supplement
with traditional texts such as Jewish medieval
commentators, Midrash, Talmud, and Jewish
mystical texts, in addition to learning the Bible
in Hebrew.
• C onsider meeting for Bible/text study at fun coffee
houses, in parks, public library modern study rooms,
and other locations that they might choose or might
be close to where young adults live.
• S et up classes on core Messianic teachings (i.e.,
divinity of Yeshua).
118
Experiences: Israel Trips and Camp: According to
the teen survey, only 28% of teens have been to Israel,
74% to MJ overnight camp, and 42% of young adults
said that an Israel trip helped deepen their engagement
in their congregations. Only 35% of young adults said
that camp deepens their engagement in their
congregation. Dorot found that conferences, b’nai
mitzvah, Israel trips, and camp correlate with weekly
attendance (or more). Levels of weekly attendance
dropped from 90% to 69% if they had not participated
in any of these experiences. A recent American Jewish
Committee (AJC) poll found that most Jews ages 25-40
think Israel is necessary to the survival of the Jewish
people (69.6%), and that it’s important for American
Jews to maintain close ties with Israel (72.8%).
A majority, 64.7%, said they took pride in Israel’s
accomplishments. (See the Literature Review chapter for
more on the survey.) But according to the Barna study,
only 11% of Millennials described an affinity to the
State of Israel (31% have traveled there).
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union can help fund and link congregations to
Israel trips and summer camps or develop its own
Birthright type trip. HaDerekh Youth has an Israel
trip for 17-22 year olds. CPM also has an Experience
Israel trip (see the Missions chapter) and YMJA.
• T he Union should send out information to
congregations on all affiliated camps and Israel trips.
There are several Messianic camps—kids can
actually go to several different ones during the
summer when the dates don’t overlap, and teens/
young adults can become counselors at several
camps as well.
• C PM has a YA trip/conference called Muchan in
various cities.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
• E ncourage young people to go on Israel trips, to
camp, and to attend conferences.
•O
 ffer scholarships, rides, and information about
Israel trips, camps, conferences.
• T each congregants about Israel, its politics, and history
(be sensitive to Palestinian issues). Offer a reading list
to all congregants. Messianic leaders should consider
how the language of Christian Zionism in Messianic
 congregations might attract or alienate younger Jews
who may not be as galvanized as older generations
(see Barna study in Literature Reviews).
• T ake congregational trips to Israel.
• P rovide support for college students to understand
Israel’s politics and BDS on campus.
• E ncourage college students to connect with Hillel
and Jewish studies centers on campus to help with
discrimination against Israel. See Hillel under
“College” in this section.
• E ncourage youth and young adults to participate in
existing Israel trips (CPM, YMJA, HaDerekh, JFJ).
 Messianic Jewish Summer Camps:
CPM: Camp Kesher East (July 10-17, 2022) (PA),
Ages 8-16, and West (CA)
JFJ: Camp Gilgal East (July 3-16, 2022) (June 26–
July 8, 2022), Teen camp in Yosemite (July 17-23),
Adventure Camp: (July 31-Aug 6, CA).
HaDerekh: Camp HaDerekh (July 24-July 31),
Reading, MI
Camp Or L’Dor: (July 5-17, 2022) Poconos, PA
Camp Shoshannah: Messianic Bible School and
family camp in the Adirondacks
Camp Tzadi: (July 6-17, 2022), St. Louis, Missouri
Families with Children: Young adult families
appreciate children’s programming. In the YA survey,
86% said children’s programs are important/very
important. Be creative; programs can go beyond
Shabbat school. Most non-Messianic synagogues offer
Hebrew School on Sundays and one other day of the
week (see the Education recommendation)
  Recommendations to Union:
•H
 ave a separate online kids track at the Shavuot
conference.
•D
 evelop a national Hebrew School curriculum.
  Recommendations to Congregations
•M
 ake sure events for families don’t run late or are at
inappropriate times for young children.
•H
 ave a Shavuot event just for families, with ice
cream, cheesecake, and learning.
119
• E stablish a separate Tot Shabbat service with music
(ages 0-6).
• C onsider separate teen or family services for high
holidays if you have a very large congregation.
•U
 se a national Hebrew School curriculum developed
by the Union.
•H
 ave Hebrew School on Sundays and another day of
the week (includes b’nai mitzvah training). Shabbat
school can be limited to weekly parashah teaching.
• If you only meet on Friday nights, consider a
Saturday morning option so that you can begin
drawing families.
• P ublicize Messianic camps and conferences with
kids programming in a timely manner to give busy
families time to plan.
•O
 ffer programming for parents with kids at times
that work for them (ask the parents what are the
best times for Bible studies, prayer groups, services,
events, etc.). Ask teens to babysit for couples with
kids who want to attend young adult events.
Female Leadership Roles/Egalitarianism: As the
young adult survey and interviews showed, Messianic
Jewish young people desire more opportunities for
women to partake in leadership roles, including
receiving rabbinic ordination. Union-affiliated re-
spondents (80%) fully or somewhat supported women
in non-rabbinic leadership (overall was 84%) and 61%
Union-affiliated respondents fully or somewhat
supported women receiving ordination. Women rabbis
aren’t as important for teens (22%) as for young adults
(55%). Those interviewed thought there should be
more teaching opportunities for women.
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union could grant scholarships for women to
study and have congregational internships.
• F or women who already have graduate degrees
in Jewish Studies/Theology/New Testament,
consider fast-tracking them for rabbinic ordination/
leadership roles.
• T he Union could consider electing a female
president (encourage women to run). Change the
 constitution so that the president’s role doesn’t only
have to be filled by a rabbi.
• E ncourage leaders to send female young adult
(or older) delegates to the Union conference.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
•  egin to proactively encourage female teens and
B interfaith work with other non-Messianic Jewish
young adults to engage in leadership activities
(other than teaching children/leading oneg/
dance/worship).
•O
 ffer scholarships for women to MJTI, other MJ
institutions of Jewish learning, seminaries, as
well as secular universities, and offer internships
for women in a variety of leadership areas.
• C onsider female bi-vocational rabbis.
• S end female young adult (or older) delegates to the
Union conference.
Jewish Community Connection: Many young adults
expressed interest in their congregations having more
connection to the broader Jewish community (73% of
young adults). It’s important for congregations as a
unit as well as for individual congregants to connect to
the broader Jewish world. Congregational leaders
should model that connection so that congregants don’t
feel isolated from the broader Jewish community and
so they understand it’s a priority to be part of the larger
Jewish community.
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union can send out resources about key Jewish
online/in-person community events, museums,
classes, etc.
• T he Union can pick one Jewish organization to
support annually.
• C onferences can include outings to Jewish cultural
places or engagement in a Jewish social justice issue.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
• Congregations as a community can communicate
with other non-Messianic synagogues in their area,
or attend Jewish community events, or encourage
congregants to become members of the local JCC, or
support organizations, like JNF or ADL.
120
• C ongregations can encourage their college kids to
attend Hillel (see College recommendations).
•M
 essianic Jewish rabbis or rabbinic interns can have
coffee with other local rabbis.
• L eaders and congregants can get involved in
and Christian leaders.
Jewish/Gentile Distinctions: In the teen survey,
respondents said they think it’s more important to have
Jewish teens (72%) than non-Jewish teens (50%). In
the young adult survey, having a diverse (Jews/
Gentiles) vs a predominantly Jewish community was
evenly split: 52% found it important/very important to
have a diverse community and 48% supported a
predominantly Jewish congregation. Leaders should
teach about Jew/Gentile distinctions and identity since
in the young adult survey, 16 respondents identified as
Messianic Jewish even though they had no Jewish
background (23 identified as Messianic Gentile) and
about 4% of Gentile teens identified as Messianic Jews
as well. Young adults expressed that educating about
Jewish/Gentile distinctions seems to be lacking in
Messianic Jewish congregations (which includes
understanding why Gentiles feel like second-class
citizens). Young adults, particularly in interviews,
expressed their desire to have more Jewish people in
their congregations so that congregations can be places
to grow their Jewish identity and not simply places to
educate Gentiles. Some young adult interview
participants complained about how some Gentiles
engage in religious ritual without prior education about
these rituals. More than half (54%) of respondents
fully or somewhat support that certain Jewish rituals
should be for Jewish members only. Some Gentile
young adults are feeling like second-class citizens.
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union could develop policies/recommendations
for congregations to adopt regarding the roles of
Jews and Gentiles in congregations, membership,
and halakhah for Gentiles (including b’nai mitzvah
and circumcision).
• T he Union could put forward policies on conversion
(check with the MJRC).
  Recommendations to Congregations:
• C ongregations should establish policy on the roles of
Gentiles in their congregation and offer education
for those becoming members, which would include
whether Gentiles should wear traditional Jewish
ritual clothing, partake in b’nai mitzvah,
circumcision, etc.
•A
 number of Gentile young adults interviewed felt
like second-class citizens. All policies should be clear
about the value of each individual and clarify the
reasons for a predominantly Jewish membership
(except intermarrieds). If Gentiles are only allowed
associate membership/no membership, policy
reasons should be clearly and sensitively explained.
• C ongregations could consider Jewish-only
membership (with exception of intermarrieds and
those who have been part of the congregation for
many years) if Messianic Jewish congregations are
to maintain a distinctly Jewish identity.
Jewish Tradition/Standards: Many young adults are
asking for halakhic consistency from one congregation
to another so that they are recognizable as Messianic
Jewish congregations. In the young adult survey, 56%
thought it important to have communal standards of
Jewish practice. According to the Literature Reviews
(see Wertheimer’s book), “There [for young adults] is a
renewed interest in traditional rituals and embodied
experiences,” even if there is a decline in synagogue
attendance in the broader Jewish community; having
Messianic Jewish congregations with standard rituals
will contribute to attracting non-Messianic Jewish
young adults.
  Recommendations to the Union:
•D
 evelop halakhic guidelines for congregations (either
through the MJRC or a Union Halakhic standards
committee). Union members could join the MJRC
or establish a committee (if there isn’t one already)
to create some basic coherent standards (a guidebook)
for all the congregations (beyond conversion).
• T he Union can create one siddur for all congre-
gations by building on the ones that exist already.
• T he Union can set up an online national Friday
Shabbat dinner night for those disconnected from
congregations. The Union could send out a kit that
121
includes Kabbalat Shabbat service, a challah
recipe, a challah cover, a Friday night bencher,
etc. and people could prepare their table to eat
together virtually.
•R
 abbi Aaron Allsbrook should continue to offer
cantorial classes for those that need to advance their
liturgical skills.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
•M
 essianic Jewish congregations should develop a
baseline of Jewish tradition, which includes a Torah
service, Hebrew liturgy, holiday celebrations and life
cycle events, clarification of roles of Gentiles,
Shabbat meals, a basic level of kashrut, and Jewish
textual studies. Sermons can be cut back to between
15-30 minutes to allow for more traditional prayers
(since young adults prefer shorter sermons).
• Jewish holiday celebrations are something that many
survey respondents and interview participants grew
up with and they are viewed as central to Jewish
life. Congregations should go all out on holiday
celebrations, be creative, and consider second-
day celebrations for high holidays such as Rosh
Hashanah, ending Passover with a Messianic meal,
camping on Sukkot together, or even trips to Israel
for Sukkot.
•N
 ot a lot of congregations offer daily prayer; if
individual congregations cannot do this, perhaps a
national online prayer time can be offered, or at least
regional so that daily minyan can occur in the same
time zone.
•K
 abbalat Shabbat services are replete with messianic
elements (Psalms/Lecha Dodi). Many young adults/
teens are not aware of that and their support for
Friday night services is low (YA 37%, teens 33%)—
teaching them about such services (which are
usually an-hour long) can inspire new creative
options for ritual.
• T he Jewish community has created “OneTable,”
which brings Jews in their 20s/30s together for
Shabbat dinners at people’s homes. People in that
age range can apply online to host, and it’s
subsidized from Jewish foundations (in 2019,
OneTable funded 9,000 Shabbat dinners in more
than 400 cities across the US). Since Messianic Jews
want to experience Jewish life outside of services,
 and many have grown up with Friday night dinners,
it’s a good idea for congregations to set up a signup
list for young adults either to host or to attend
Shabbat dinners with each other. Heritage LA is
experimenting with this.
• In the broader Jewish community, the prayer for
healing (misheberach) during the Torah service now
involves inviting members to stand and have a rabbi
or elder lay hands on the member as they recite it.
It’s done at IKAR in Los Angeles and Open Temple.
The laying on of hands during the misheberach
would be a great element to incorporate as part of
Messianic Jewish Shabbat services.
•H
 ave an all-night Shavuot learning for teens, with
dairy dinner, basketball or yoga, and learning.
•H
 ave a Shavuot families with kids hangout with a
Shavuot program, ice cream bar, cheesecake, open
gym, coffee for adults.
• C onsider pop-up Shabbats as in the non-Messianic
community: The pop-up events or pop-up Shabbats
try to meet outside of the home (e.g., a bar, park,
beach) where members can bring guests. The
service is brief followed by a meal or oneg. The
Open Temple in Venice does this on the beach.
They’ve done yoga on the beach and a mikveh in
the ocean. These can be adopted by Messianic
Jewish congregations.
Leadership Roles/Transition: Young adults and
teens really want to be enabled, given ownership, given
roles, and empowered. Leadership transition is a big
concern for young people because they feel there’s a lot
of roadblocks to them leading (including women). In
the young adult survey, 95% fully or somewhat
supported teens/young adults serving on committees
and receiving leadership training. And teens think it’s
important/very important for them to serve in
leadership roles (61%). Yet, only 11% of teens and
25% of young adults serve on congregational
committees, according to the surveys. Only 32% of
young adults said they serve in leadership roles. In the
young adult survey, more than half of respondents
support women training to be rabbis (even more for
the Union—61%) and 84% support women in non-
rabbinic leadership roles.
122
More than half of respondents
support women training to
be rabbis…
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union can organize an annual leadership
summit to train/mentor those interested in
leadership opportunities (men/women). Consider an
intensive weekend leadership summit such as that of
the MJAA/IAMCS/YMJA—possibly co-sponsored
with MJAA/IAMCS/YMJA; all can put funding
toward it. The MJAA offers an intensive weekend
(MLK), Friday-Monday, that teach the basics of MJ
theology, general leadership, and then offers specific
tracks for congregational ministry leadership, youth
leadership, apologetics, prayer and the gifts of the
spirit, worship leading, and outreach.
• T he Union should encourage teens to write drashot
for their weekly parashah online and take cantorial
courses with Aaron Allsbrook.
• Info about K-20 should go out to all teens and
young adults.
• C onsider working with Jewish missions and other
Messianic Jewish organizations (Yachad BeYeshua)
to look for leaders from outside Union circles. Thirty
percent of CPM staff are young adults.
• C onsider setting up a centralized job database and
work with others in the MJ community on this so
that all positions can be posted in one place (the
King’s University is working on this. MJ United FB
group and the Messianic Times also posts MJ jobs).
• C onsider other models of leadership transition that
involves mentoring a team of possible candidates or
having bi-vocational rabbis. Add this idea to the
Union’s leadership transition manual.
• E ncourage congregations to hire several bi-
vocational rabbis (female/male).
• E ncourage smaller (sometimes struggling) congrega-
tions to possibly merge with larger congregations
once the leadership is older and there’s no obvious
 new leader. Or consider shifting to a chavurah model
(see Literature Reviews chapter).
•D
 o not overlook GenXers. Millennials are not the
next generation after Boomers.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
• E ncourage male and female teens and young adults
to sit on committees and boards of congregations as
well as participate in Shabbat services, event
planning, life cycle events, etc.
• E mpower them in a variety of congregational tasks
and positions.
• P rovide women opportunities to speak, teach, and
serve on committees.
•M  entor a team of possible leadership candidates.
• C onsider a leadership team of bi-vocational rabbis.
Consider male and female leaders working together
to offset opposition to female leadership.
•  peak to Jewish missions about their transition
S attended by young people.
models and ask them if they have any staff members
interested in leading congregations.
• E ngender a sense of ownership (let young adults
create and plan own events, create leadership
positions, create lay-led committees).
Location of Congregation: Young adults value living
close to a congregation, which increases their
involvement and may also correlate with their long-
term commitment (more than 10 years). Most teens are
dependent on their parents for their attendance.
  Recommendations to the Union:
•  he Union could assess the current status of their
T accessible to all MJ congregations, with a rotation of
congregations’ locations to see if they are in an
ideal location
• T he Union could evaluate which major cities do not
have a congregation and help plant new
congregations/chavurot in those locations, e.g.,
NYC. (Rabbi Stuart Dauermann is planning a new
chavurot model in NYC).
  Recommendations to Congregations:
•O
 ffer car rides to teens when their families can’t
make it to services/events.
123
• T here isn’t always a choice in the location of a
congregation, but try to find locations that are at
least along public transportation routes, and are
centrally located. If you can’t do that, establish
smaller chavurot/groups connected to the
congregation that are located in various areas near
young adults/teens or rotate various events/studies
in a variety of locations around town.
• V irtual gatherings can help with this issue, but it has
its limitations as people prefer personal gatherings
and develop online fatigue.
Matchmaking: Conferences, including missions
conferences such as Muchan, are great places to meet
people outside of local congregations.
  Recommendations to Union and Congregations:
• P romote Messianic matchmaking services such
as the Messianic matchmaker:
https://www.themessianicmatchmaker.com/
• P rovide information on conferences that are well
Mentoring/Discipleship: Young adults want mentoring
in all areas, including in career, romantic relationships,
and health and wellness. Teens (81%) and young adults
(80%) in their surveys found mentoring a very im-
portant/important aspect of congregational life. (See also
Education recommendations.)
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union, through a Youth and Young Adult
Director, could oversee a chevrutah program where
mentors are paired with newer believers in Messiah.
• T he Union can set up monthly online Bible studies
teachers, or provide a list of existing online Bible
studies offered by various congregations. The Union
can create a master calendar of online studies for
people to access.
• T he Union could develop/sponsor Bible study
resources—such as a short NT commentary series
that could be used for discipling.
•H
 ave certain tracks that would appeal to young
adults/teens at the national conference: health
and wellness, career guidance, romantic relation-
ship guidance.
•H
 old regional youth and young adult mentoring
shabbatons.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
• S tart a one-on-one chevrutah discipleship/mentoring • C ongregational leaders should ask themselves
program with congregations in your area or
nationally (in-person/virtually). Ask Congregation
Ruach Israel for an example of a chevrutah program
and their Maturing in Messiah class.
•R
 egularly call teens and young adults to stay
in touch.
• Jewish missions have discipleship programs, as does
Camp Shoshannah (an adult Bible study camp).
• Join MJ United private FB group to find out about
discipleship classes, events, etc. globally.
•H
 ave an evening with career and wellness
counselors.
Normalcy/Professionalism/Financial Account-
ability: Despite the subjectivity of these areas, Messianic
Jewish congregations can do things to attract a variety of
people. Most young people are repelled by the lack of
professionalism, the lack of financial accountability,
and weird cultural expressions in Messianic Jewish
congregations. While Messianic congregations aren’t
trying to win a popularity contest, there are structures
and policies that can be put in place by hiring profes-
sionals (or engaging professionals in our midst). Profes-
sionalism in all aspects of con-gregational life will con-
tribute to reaching and retaining Jewish professionals.
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union can provide guidelines for financial
accountability.
• T he Union could encourage and guide large
congregations to set up counseling services (as
churches sometimes have).
• T he national conference could offer a fiscal
responsibility/ethics class.
• T he Union should encourage its congregations to be
audited every few years.
• C onferences should limit “weird” cultural ex-
pressions (waving banners, blowing shofars at
inappropriate times).
124
  Recommendations to Congregations:
• L arge congregations could set up counseling centers
(as churches sometimes have).
whether their congregations are creating in some
way a non-Jewish weird subculture that’s not
even biblical.
•M
 essianic leaders need to be above board in terms of
financial accountability and role models for honesty
and transparency. According to Pew 2020, some
synagogues have eliminated membership dues.
While most Messianic congregations have tithes
rather than dues, they can think of other ways to
raise money like the new models in the Jewish
community: major donors, asking visitors to pay for
arts and cultural events, social activities, religious
classes, and meals after Shabbat services.
Outreach: Sometimes congregations think their
existence is outreach in itself. But it seems that young
people want a more proactive outreach—to the world,
to Jews, and to church Jews. Some of them miss their
friends who they meet at camps but who attend
churches, and they’d like to see them attend Messianic
Jewish congregations. In the young adult survey, 56%
found outreach/evangelism important/very important.
Non-Messianic Jews also express their Jewishness
outside of synagogue services, and Messianic Jews need
to engage them in other ways. According to a recent
Barna/JFJ study, 23% of Jewish millennials believe
Jesus was God in human form; outreach can include
follow-up to this survey. Secular Jews and inter-
marrieds are more open to discussion and to visiting
services. Jewish young adults/Millennials are more
willing to discuss religious faith than older Jewish
generations. Among Jewish Boomers, religion was
often considered a private matter, and it is not uncom-
mon for many to experience defensiveness when the
topic of Jesus is raised. Most of Dorot’s interview
participants and possibly survey respondents as well
were raised Messianic, brought by their parents, or
came from the church world; very few young adult
interview participants, and likely survey respondents,
were attracted from the broader Jewish world. Most
teens (61%) have attended their congregations their
whole life, and only 28% between 1-5 years (2% less
than a year). In the young adult survey, 42% have
attended their current congregation for more than a
decade, 28% between 1-5 years, 3% less than a year,
15% 6-10 years. These numbers imply that most young
adults as well have been involved for a good part of
their lives (and that growth may be mostly based on
moving from one congregation to another) and that
Messianic Jewish congregations may not be attracting
teens and young adults from the broader Jewish
community (whether secular/religious).
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union can develop an outreach program to
help congregations introduce Messiah to non-
Messianic Jews.
• T he Union can connect congregations to Jewish
missions’ outreach programs.
• T he Union can connect with churches to promote
national conferences, holiday services, camps, Israel
trips to their Jewish constituencies (also talk with Ya-
chad BeYeshua to reach church Jews for programs).
  Recommendations to Congregations:
• Invite young church Jews to Jewish holiday
celebrations, Bible studies/mentoring program,
Shabbat dinners, and MJ camps.
• E ncourage young adults/teens to invite their Jewish
friends to holiday celebrations, online services,
special events, or Shabbat dinners. High holidays
and Passover, as well as life cycle events are the
most important celebrations for non-Messianic Jews,
thus it’s important to invite Jews to a Passover Seder
or a b’nai mitzvah, or break the fast together (YK).
• If your congregation is in a large city near
universities, consider campus ministry together with
the university’s Christian groups.
•W
 ork with Jewish missions outreach programs and
get training from them.
• C onsider reaching parents with children since being
raised in the Messianic Jewish community helps with
retention. Have congregants with families reach out
to their friends with children for special events,
holidays, camps, Israel trips, and Shabbat dinners.
• If you want to reach liberal Jews, then Hebrew
liturgy, studying Jewish texts, and Kabbalat Shabbat
service, was slightly more important to them. Less
125
important to them were sermons, organized Shabbat
dinners, and Bible study.
•A
 ccording to what was relevant in the 2020 Pew
survey, Messianic leaders should not curb
congregational commitments to social justice, film,
and literary events, or use of social media. However,
these means of engagement are not as attractive as
food, interfaith cultural events, and events that focus
on local history such as Jewish walks or tours. Some
possible outreach events might include cooking
classes, challah bakes, and walking tours of
historical Jewish neighborhoods.
•N
 on-Messianic Jewish young adults relate to tactile
objects such as mezuzzot, menorot, and a siddur—
these can be given as gifts as part of outreach.
•A
 ccording to Pew 2020, 46% of the youngest Jewish
adults have one non-Jewish parent as do 37% of
Jews in their 30s and 40s, which suggests
opportunities for outreach to children of
intermarried couples.
•A
 ccording to Pew, Reform Jews (and those who
don’t identify with any denomination—30%) are
more likely to say they have at least some in
common with mainline Protestants (44%) than with
Orthodox Jews. This is an opportunity for Messianic
Jews to share common ideals with Reform Jews.
•A
 ccording to S3K report, young Jews need multiple
points of entry to a congregation, therefore offering
something other than Shabbat services is helpful
(local chavurot, meetings outsides of services,
holiday events outdoors, etc). S3K reported that the
majority of 20s/30s are not affiliated with a
congregation, so extra-congregational events is key
to drawing this age group. Some Jewish communities
hold Torah studies at a local bar (Torah on Tap).
Trybe (YA of Ikar) has events at a trendy café in
West L.A. Messianic Jews can meet at JFJ cafes in
NYC/LA. Also explore nature or have outdoor
events for holiday celebrations.
• T he Jewish community is much more progressive in
its politics, and Millennials tend to be more liberal,
than Messianic Jewish congregations, so making MJ
congregations more balanced politically will help
with outreach and allow progressive Jews to feel at
home. According to the Pew 2020 Survey, 7 in 10
 Jews identify with or lean toward the Democratic
Party, including 68% of Jews by religion and 77% of
Jews with no religion. Just 26% of US Jews overall,
identify with the Republican party. More Orthodox
Jews lean Republican and 60% of them describe
their political views as conservative.
• C onsider bots on your website that contact you
when a person is inquiring. Jewish missions use
this technology.
•M
 essianic leaders should anticipate an openness to
spiritual conversations rather than approach
conversations expecting defensiveness. The
expectation of defensiveness may create a self-
fulfilling prophecy among those ready to discuss
spirituality. (See Barna study in the Literature
Reviews chapter.)
Peer Groups: While some young adults and teens value
an intergenerational congregation, they really appreciate
having peers in their congregation. In the teen survey,
78% of teens thought it important/very important to
have other teens present and a vibrant youth group
(70%). In the young adult survey, 79% thought it im-
portant/very important to have other young adults and
organized young adult activities (74%).
  Recommendations to the Union:
•H
 ire a Youth and Young Adult Director that helps
train youth leaders/young adult leaders at Messianic
congregations.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
•H
 ave a separate youth leader and a young adult
leader (possibly keep college students separate from
older married young adults/families). Keep
connected to the Union’s youth/young adult leaders
and programming.
•  ave a separate college-age group.
H that there isn’t only one political belief that
• L earn from the Jewish community’s young adult
activities (Torah on Tap, Outdoor events, holidays
in nature, social nights, Shabbat dinners)—see the
Literature Review chapter.
Politics: Politics is a hot button issue within Messianic
Jewish congregations. Messianic Jewish leaders and
congregants often expect Messianic Jews to be conserva-
tive politically. Messianic Jewish congregations have
126
lost, according to Dorot’s surveys, a good number of
young liberal Jews. In the surveys, teens (33%) and
young adults (20%) do not think it’s very important to
share similar political views (liberal respondents found
it a little more important to share similar political views),
yet this still seems to be a point of contention and a
cause for Jews leaving. Young people do want to have
strategic conversations about politics.
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union can provide and promote their guide-
lines for political discussions, and possibly offer a
video series on how to have political discussions
in congregations.
•G
 uidelines for political discussions could be a track
at the national conference.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
• E xplain to congregants that “conservative political
values” are not the default value system for Messi-
anic congregations. Due to a large percentage of
Jewish young adults who have left Messianic
Jewish congregations, the future might see mono-
lithic congregations made up of conservative young
Gentiles, which would hamper attracting young
Jewish people. Leaders and congregants will need
to think about how to discuss politics and faith and
how to ensure that congregations don’t default to
one political position but allow for a spectrum
of views.
•D
 iscuss politics and faith, preferably not during
sermons, but have special separate events around
topics of faith and politics.
•W
 elcome people of all political persuasions and
encourage congregants to do the same.
• L eaders and congregants have to remind themselves
represents the biblical perspective. Look at the
reasons why congregants left. Take those reasons
seriously without blaming the people who have left.
Analyze whether those reasons persist in your
congregation and make changes.
• T ry to reconnect with those who left. According to
the Pew 2020 Survey, 7 in 10 Jews identify with or
lean toward the Democratic Party, including 68% of
Jews by religion and 77% of Jews with no religion.
 Just 26% of US Jews overall, identify with the
Republican party. More Orthodox Jews lean
Republican and 60% of them describe their political
views as conservative.
Serving/Volunteering: The words serving and
volunteering came up a lot among teens and young
adults. But watch out for burnout.
  Recommendations to the Union:
• E ncourage teens and young adults to volunteer at
the national and regional conferences.
• E ncourage teens and young adults to volunteer on
committees.
• E ncourage leaders to send young adult delegates to
the national conference.
• E ncourage teens/young adults to write the parashah
commentary for the Union.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
• Young people love serving in many capacities from
putting up chairs to worship to leadership. Instead of
asking the usual older volunteers to set up at
services, or participate in oneg, consider asking teens
or young adults to get involved.
•M
 any teens would love to be part of the music/
worship group and would love to lead liturgy, which
might be a challenge for some, but also a learning
experience—consider encouraging teens to take
cantorial classes.
•  ave a rotation of volunteers to avoid burnout.
H
Shared Values—Jewish life in Yeshua:
Congregations need to make sure that Yeshua and
Judaism are naturally integrated, and that congregants
recognize and revel in the fact that Messianic Judaism
is unique—not found in the church world or the
broader Jewish communities. Yeshua as the Jewish
Messiah and New Testament readings are central to
Messianic Jewish tradition for young people and they
value sharing that unique faith. Some young adults
commented that Yeshua was missing from congre-
gational life.
127
  Recommendations to the Union and Congregations:
• Celebrate the unique faith of Yeshua and Jewish
identity/life.
• E nsure that there’s a baseline of Jewish tradition at
your congregation.
• T ry to cultivate Jewish membership.
•M  ake sure that the New Testament is part of
Shabbat services and part of Bible studies.
• Incorporate unique Messianic prayers in liturgy.
•H  ave a Messianic meal at the end of Passover.
• Incorporate Zichron Mashiach at services
(Communion).
• E ncourage Tevilah (baptism) in Yeshua.
• T each core beliefs (i.e., divinity of Yeshua).
Social/Racial Justice: Congregations can never do too
much good in the world, as so many people are
suffering. Survey respondents were more likely to
support the concept of community service projects
(76% of young adults, 54% of teens) than the concept
of social justice initiatives (41% of young adults),
however social justice had support in the open-ended
survey questions and in the interviews. Taking on
social justice or Tikkun Olam projects can overlap with
outreach. See also the recommendation for culturally
relevant issues.
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union can choose an annual social justice/
humanitarian project in which all congregations can
partake at the local level.
• T he Union can provide a list of global Messianic
Jewish humanitarian projects to congregations
to support.
  Recommendations for Congregations:
•A
 sk young adults and teens to select a community
service/social justice issue and/or Tikkun Olam
project and have them create an action plan and
bring it to completion.

• T he Messianic community has a number of projects
already in the works that may need volunteers:
Chevra, the Joseph Project, Jewish Missions, JFJ/
Jewish Voice’s Mekomi/Warm House, which helps
serve trafficked women in Tel Aviv. Congregations
can select one or more of these to support financially
and with volunteers.
Technology: Teens and young adults are fairly tech
savvy and communicate through social media. Online
services and events should be considered part of the
future. See also “the Rise of the Online Synagogue”
(Tablet Magazine) in our Literature Review chapter.
Post-COVID-19, 34% of young adults plan to attend
services virtually/hybrid.
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union should have a few volunteers that help
congregations set up for livestreaming and other
technological needs.
• S et up a tech helpline one day/month with volunteer
tech people from various congregations.
• E ncourage congregations to include virtual attendees • T hose interested in outreach can partake in missions
as official members. Develop policy around this.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
•U
 se as much social media as possible to
communicate about events.
•H
 old online events outside of services, including
Shabbat dinners, holiday services, daily minyan,
b’nai mitzvah, shiva.
• Z oom and livestream (YouTube) Shabbat services.
See the JFJ section for more ideas—perhaps connect
with JFJ for training in this area as they have
developed their own propriety technology.
• C onsider bots on your website that contact you
when a person is inquiring—Jewish missions use
this technology for outreach.
• C onsider virtual attendees as official congregational
members (call members “mixed presence” as some
synagogues do rather than virtual members.
Unity: There’s too much duplication of ministries,
camps, seminaries, etc., in the Messianic Jewish
community. Surely some can either merge or do things
128
together. In the young adult survey, 89% of re-
spondents support Messianic Jewish of different
affiliations building and maintaining relationships
with one another.
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union could coordinate working together with
other MJ organizations, even one workshop at the
summer conference, particularly with the youth.
The director of the YMJA could work with a new
Union position called the Director of Youth and
Young Adults at the Union (see next section).
• T he Union could pair up one congregation with
another outside of its region—a sister congregation
(perhaps matching one with fewer resources to one
with greater resources)—they could work together
on joint events, online studies, mentoring, etc.
• T he Union executive should attend other MJ
conferences (MJAA, CPM, etc) and should invite
missions people to their annual conference.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
outreach trips. According to Glaser (CPM) and
Brickner (JFJ), congregations can do some of the
things that missions do, but not all. For example, the
kind of space you need to have a café isn’t always
possible with a synagogue property—usually you
need to be where there is a lot of foot traffic. Please
review the Jewish missions chapter to see all the
missions programmatic options. Messianic Jewish
congregants can take advantage of existing missions’
programs like Muchan or work at the JFJ cafés in Los
Angeles and NYC, if they are interested in outreach.
• T he Union and MJAA (and other organizations) can
make renewed attempts at having joint conferences,
joint mentorship programs, joint camps, joint Israel
trips, etc.
• T he YMJA director and those heading Union youth/
young adults can work together for special events.
• E ncourage more regional conferences, regional gather-
ings, hangouts, outdoor hikes for teens/young adults.
•U
 nion members can join the MJRC or establish a
committee (if there isn’t one already) to create some
 basic coherent standards for all the congregations.
One siddur could be used for all MJ congregations.
•U
 nity-building endeavors such as the Fireside Chat
and Borough Park Symposium should make an effort
to invite teens and young adults.
• Y oung people in congregations should consider
having another “Grassroots” conference.
• In some of the Jewish reports, young adults reported
disinterest in institutional programming. Overly
promoting denominational programs and
institutional identification may dampen some young
adults’ enthusiasm rather than engage it. Consider
seeing the Messianic Jewish community as one
rather than a series of organizations.
• Join MJ United FB group to find out about all
Messianic happenings.
Welcoming: It can’t be overstated that it’s very im-
portant for Messianic congregations to be warm and
welcoming environments.
  Recommendations to the Union:
•H
 ave young greeters welcome teens/young adults at
the national conference.
•D
 esignate certain extroverted people to introduce
people to one another throughout the conference.
• C reate small welcome packages for teens/young
adults at conferences.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
• Set up a welcoming committee to discuss ways to
welcome young people, not just at services, but in
other ways.
•U
 se language in written communication (bulletins,
websites, emails) that offer terms such as “a wel-
coming community.”
• L eaders and congregants should be encouraged to
connect with teens and young adults after services.
•O
 neg/kiddush is a perfect time to foster a welcoming
environment.
• L eaders and congregants can call teens and young
adults regularly.
129
•H
 ave a youth leader/youth group that welcomes and
communicates with young people.
Worship/Liturgy: In the surveys, 54% of teens and
58% of young adults find worship music important.
Regarding liturgy, 46% of teens and 64% of young
adults find liturgy important. Many expressed the
desire to learn the liturgy better and to understand
its history.
  Recommendations to the Union:
• T he Union can provide music resources to
congregations from the broader Jewish and Christian
community that are trending.
• T he Union can continue to offer its cantorial
program, but promote it to teens as well.
• T he Union can offer Siddur Hebrew reading classes
online with a rotation of teachers or direct people
to MJTI, etc. through its website and other promo-
tional materials.
• S ome young adults expressed interest in a class on
the history of liturgy—this can be done through
MJTI and the cantorial class.
• E ncourage youth leaders to have MJ music festivals.
  Recommendations to Congregations:
•A
 lternate between acapella and full music
ensembles.
• C onsider songs from the broader Jewish community,
such as from independent minyanim (Hadar, etc).
• L isten to songs from the Christian world (Lauren
Daigle, Hillsong, Bethel) to incorporate in Shabbat
services or hold additional music nights or festivals.
•A
 number of young adults mentioned liking the
weaving of contemporary music with liturgy during
Shabbat services, rather than having clear
distinctions between the two.
• T ry to involve teens and young adults in all forms of
worship, whether liturgical or modern music. Have
teen-led services and allow teens to lead liturgy.
Allow female teens to be cantors and lead liturgy.
• S ome non-Messianic synagogues are experimenting
with more middle eastern and Asian instruments.
 Consider the Cajon, Sitar, and more exotic
instruments in worship.
• S et up a music festival with other regional
congregations.
These recommendations are only a starting point for
Messianic Jewish congregations. Dorot recommends
that the Union add a page on their website with these
recommendations, which can be updated regularly with
new ideas. Some of these recommendations are broad
These recommendations are only
a starting point for
Messianic Jewish congregations.
130
and others are specific; each congregation will have to
decide what best fits its identity. Please also see the
Literature Review chapter for more recommen-dations
based on reports from the Jewish community. A
centralized person(s), like a Youth and Young Adult
Director, can help facilitate and work with leaders to
implement many of Dorot’s recommendations.
(See the next section for our recommendations for a Youth
and Young Adult Director [YYAD]).
 Chapter 7 • Part 2 Recommendation for a
Union Youth and Young Adult Director (YYAD)
History of the Union’s Youth and
Young Adult Leaders/Committees
 
D
orot has included this section in our report because
we feel that, after all our research, there is a need
for a salaried national youth and young adult
leader, that we’re calling a Youth and Young Adult
Director (YYAD). Youth and young adult volunteer
committee leadership is limited by people who work full
time and cannot give their full attention to the many
needs of youth and young adults in the Union of
Messianic Jewish Congregations. We will first look at a
brief history of Union youth and young adult initiatives.
Then we will provide recommendations from a former
20s chair and a YMJA leader, and finally Dorot will
suggest that the Union hire a paid Youth and Young
Adult Director (YYAD) who would have direct
oversight and accountability from the executive director
or an executive youth committee, similar to the YMJA
structure. Organizations in the broader Jewish
community often have a Young Adult Division (YAD).
So perhaps, the Youth and Young Adult Director
(YYAD), could oversee a Youth and Young Adult
Division (YYAD) of the Union.
  1 
Dor L’Dor
Dor L’Dor was an ad hoc advisory effort that
resulted in reformulating the twenties committee
to increase attention on young adults as distinct
from youth. It also developed some
recommendations about mentoring which were
not directly implemented but became part of
Twenties Committee policy and probably
influenced K-20 as well. Their duties included: a
plan to help develop youth groups at   3 Union Youth Committee
congregations, mentoring and develop a work-
study program for college-age kids (hadrakhah in a
local congregation), developed in 2001 the idea of
the Twenties Committee, came up with pamphlets
with tools for growth for congregations, wanted to
find someone to connect with Israeli Messianic
youth, and they recommended to ask all
committee chairs to enlist younger members,
131
involve youth in fundraising, send packets to
congregations with youth pamphlet.
2 The Twenties Committee
The Twenties Committee (2004). This has been a
long-term committee, under a couple of different
names in the past. Their duties included to
connect, educate, empower, and maintain a
database of 20s in local congregations, publish 20s
newsletters 3x/year, 20s section of UMJC website
oversight, resources for congregations to nurture
20s groups, regional activities/conferences:
Kabbetz conference, 20s program at national
conference, oversee hadrakhah program, and
encourage involvement in steering committees.
Former executive director Russ Resnik’s
evaluation: “In its present form it grew out of
recommendations by Dor L’Dor, and was quite
successful for a number of years in terms of
sponsoring events for young adults and increasing
communications between them. The goals were to
create a Union-wide young adult community and
also to simply keep young adults engaged through
the critical period between youth (still living
directly under parental authority) and marriage,
family, and career. I don’t believe anyone has done
a formal study, but anecdotal evidence suggests
some limited success in both regards. Twenties
Committee efforts varied greatly depending on
leadership. I’d say that involvement of a tuned-in
adult leader is critical. The current Young
Professionals Committee appears to be a simple
re-labeling of the twenties committee, but it’s hard
to tell with all the disruption from the pandemic.”
The recent committee was David and Sonya Wein,
and Daniela Martinez.
Their goals were to meet needs of youth in the
Union (13-18 year olds in Union congregations),
build up the committee—youth leaders, parents,
partner with Task Force and youth leaders and
camps (Or L’Dor, Haderekh, Dor Segulah), partner
 with younger kids and twenties committee. Used
Flocknote for communication with youth and
parents. David has 25 or so cell phone of youth and
parents. Events: Q and A forum with Rabbi Russ
Resnik about recent experiences (depression,
anxiety, and feeling stuck etc.), Jamie Cowen: How
to navigate faith and politics (youtube channel),
Shayna Goldman—anti-racism bookclub.
  4. Kehilah 20 (K-20) Program
K-20 grew out of the old Planter’s Committee
when the Union realized that it wasn’t raising up
adequate numbers of leaders for existing
congregations. Ten years ago, the Union realized
that 75% of congregational leaders would be
hitting retirement age within 15 years and with no
plan for replacement leaders. This led to K-20
program, which has provided scholarships,
education, and internships. Twenty-four people
have gone through the program with 14 achieving
rabbinic ordination. K-20 interns now provide
significant leadership. Tony Eaton was long-term
chair (2010-2020). According to Rabbi Tony
Eaton, two main obstacles to success: recruiting
and funding (no funds from Union’s general fund).
There was success where congregations planned
for leadership succession. There’s a need for an
active pipeline of leaders (training needs to start
when people are very young), and a need for older
leaders to step down. The Union is currently
re-envision K-20.
  5  Young Adult Liaison (YAL)
Evaluation by former executive director Russ
Resnik: “This position was initially envisioned as a
recruiter for our scholarship and internship
programs, about the time they were coming under
K-20. We found we had more funds than
applicants for those funds—although not much of
either. Our initial Young Adult Liaison started in
2006, who felt the recruiting model was limited,
especially since the Union would be competing for
the same young potential leaders being wooed by
Jewish Missions who had a lot more resources. He
favored sponsoring events and connections, similar
to the twenties committee focus, and there was a
lot of overlap. This position was unique in that it
was salaried through the Garfield Family Trust,
with the YAL serving on staff under the executive
director. The idea of a staff member focused on
132
reaching and serving young adults and being a
resource to the twenties committee and K-20 was
sound, but I don’t feel we executed it well (when I
was serving as executive director). There were
three subsequent YALs. The new executive
director reformulated this position as Leadership
Development Program Manager for a couple of
years.” The duties for this position included
developing programs to attract younger people
(under 30/35) to the Union and internship
program, MJTI, developing a pool of leaders,
piloting service/learning trips to Israel, developing
a family camp, having young leaders shabbatons,
linking youth, 20s and general UMJC activities,
primary K-20 recruiter/promoter, developing social
media/online community, developing a twenties
database, reaching out to congregational leaders,
working with twenties chair and K-20 chair, acting
as a link to wider MJ, Jewish, Christian
communities, expanding networking between
UMJC and CPM, and creating a network hub in
NYC. The YAL’s programs, projects, publications:
Young Messianic Jewish Scholars Conference,
Young Messianic Jewish Leaders Shabbaton,
UMJC twenties and youth regional and national
events, the Set Table: A young Messianic Shabbat
table guide.
Founding Twenties Chair Recommendation for Youth
and Young Adult Director (Rabbi Jonathan Kaplan)
I served as the founding chair of the UMJC Twenties
Committee (what is now college and career) from
2001–5. In that role, I helped spearhead a number of
initiatives for the Union including regional and national
retreats for twenty-somethings, specialized
programming at the annual conference, internship
programs for college students (Hadrachah Program),
and the Young Adult Advisory Delegate.
Toward the end of that period, the Union moved to hire
a program staff member to work with both the Youth
and Twenties Committees. While that role morphed in
the intervening period and is now no longer filled, I
think an important component of the Union’s future
would be to relaunch this position and to hire a qualified
individual for this position. Here are a few observations
about certain aspects of this position that I think we
would be important if this position were revived:
  1 The position should have the title “Assistant
Director for…” The specifics of what comes at the
end are not as important as making sure that the
person has the title “Assistant Director.” Previous
iterations of this position have had the title Young
Adult Liaison, which is a weak title that connotes
little authority on the part of the person occupying
the position. A new title would also say to the
Union’s membership that this role was important.
  2 The person occupying this position should not
only have experience in youth and young adult
work but also should have some professional
training in the field as well as continue pursuing
credentialing in the field at the graduate level.
  3 The Assistant Director… would be responsible for:
A 
Serving as the staff liaison and resource for
the Youth and College and Career
committees. In this role, the person would
resource these committees and work with
the chairs to give longer-term and more
strategic vision to their programming. For
example, while we had great success as a
committee, when I chaired the Twenties
Committee, the work of the committee
gradually receded until it had to be re-
started. Having a permanent staff position
would provide greater continuity to the
Union’s operations in this area.
B 
As a trained professional, this person would
be able to provide training to rabbis and lay
leaders in the Union’s congregations at
mid-year meetings and annual conferences.
This responsibility was not a component of
previous iterations of this position, but it is
important to the position’s success.
C In addition, the AD could serve as a
consultant to congregations in helping to
launch and increase their youth and college
and career programming.
Young Messianic Jewish Alliance (YMJA) Exec Member
Recommendations for a Youth and Young Adult Director
Historically the YMJA has served ages 13-30, but there
were certain decades where they only focused on young
adults and others where they mostly focused on teens.
133
In the past few years, the MJAA created the Bridge
Program to focus on young professionals.
Analysis of youth and college ministry (Christian and
Messianic) seem to indicate that full-time staff usually
work in direct ministry to these age groups for up to
eight years. Originally there was one full-time staff
person, but the workload has increased. Today the
YMJA has two full-time staff (Director of Operations
and Ministries Coordinator) who have the following
responsibilities
•O
 versees the Following Events:
  Leadership Training Summits (Young Adult)
  Overseas Ministry Trips (Young Adult)
  Israel
  Eastern Europe/ Holocaust-related
  National Conference Programming (Young Adult
and Teens)
  Regional Conference Programming (Teens)
  Regional Retreats (Teens)
•O
 versees the Following Programs
  College Freshman Mentorship (Young Adult)
•G
 raduating high school seniors are paired
with vetted mentors. Together they go
through a curriculum for about one hour a
week during an academic year. They cover
topics related to Jewish life, spiritual growth,
and difficult issues for believers in college.
    Conference Leadership Training (Young Adult)
•R
 egional Representative Leadership Training
(Teens)
• S ocial Media Content and Virtual Events
(Young Adult and Teens)
• P rovide Coaching and Support to Congregational
Youth and Young Adult Leaders
• L eadership Training Weekends
• Online Events
Similarity to Union Programming
Union seems more decentralized in its youth ministry
than YMJA. Different Union congregations host Israel
trips and camps for Messianic Jewish young people.
Recommendations from YMJA Exec
He recommends leveraging a decentralized structure
(limiting administrative costs). Full-time employees
running a year-round youth and young adult ministry
organization by default must spend a considerable
amount of time on bookkeeping, fundraising, and
administration. A national ministry focused on helping
young people grow as disciples and leaders tends to track Dorot Recommendation for a Youth and Young
metrics related to individuals. Afterall, national ministry Adult Director (YYAD) to Oversee a Youth and
staff cannot guarantee and control outcomes in local
congregations. Still, if someone were focused on helping
congregations engage more young people, develop them
into leaders, and retain this talent pool, doing these
would require a different set of metrics and activities.
Ideas for Leveraging Decentralized Structures
If the primary goal is to have more teens and young
adults attracted/engaged/invested in a local Messianic
community, then it might be best to have several part-
time people who serve for 1-3 years (perhaps $2,000-
$10,000/year) rather than full-time employees who are
expected to serve long-term).
  1 Youth Leader Coach/Counsel (like Russ
Resnik is to rabbis): This would be a person who and Twenties Committees would need clear goals
is seasoned in leading groups of teens and young
adults. The individual would provide coaching to
teens/youth leaders and congregational leadership
on how to build up more teens in local congre-
gations and help youth leaders collaborate. They
could facilitate collaboration among local congre-
gations (e.g., five congregations plan a youth re-
treat). They might also curate/create a curriculum
and system for mentorship and leadership training. (i.e., Hebrew School, Birthright trip, mentoring
  2 Fellows: This could be a position for a person
recently out of college. It would not promise
lucrative pay or a long-term career path. But
serving as a Fellow would be an opportunity to
travel the country, make connections, and gain a
track record for producing results while serving
the Messianic Community. A Fellow could work
with five to ten congregations in a region, helping
leaders and young adult groups organize events
that are designed to build community for Mes-
sianic professionals and attract/ engage unaf-
filiated Jewish young professionals. Supplies could   3  Develops national mentoring/chevrutah programs
be shipped to different congregations for use in
other cities.
  3 Lastly, there may be opportunities for the Union
and YMJA to collaborate. The current YMJA
134
Director of Operations happens to be the second
leader of the UMJCY and UMJC 20s.
Young Adult Division (YYAD) of the Union
Dorot recommends that the Union re-establish a paid
Youth and Young Adult Director position (or two
part-time people as recommended by YMJA exec: one
experienced/one out of college) to oversee the Youth
and Young Adult Division of the Union (the Jewish
community calls their young adult division YAD). The
Youth and Young Adult Division could include this
new director, plus the Union Youth Committee and the
Twenties Committee (and any committee related to
youth and young adults). The YYAD would report to
the executive director and the YYAD would be a liaison
to the Youth and Twenties Committees, or could even
replace them. If they worked together, then the Youth
separate from the YYAD’s work (e.g., committees could
oversee conference events only). The committees would
report to the YYAD. This position(s) would connect
Union youth and young adults to Messianic Jewish
organizations that offer youth programming (camps,
Israel trips) as well as create their own programming in
certain areas. This director would recruit volunteers to
help on the national level with many of the programs
programs). A centralized director would help establish
and promote programming and allow for a continuity of
such programming.
Duties of a salaried Youth and Young Adult Director
(YYAD) would include:
  1  Communicates with, and trains congregational
youth leaders.
  2  Plans national conference youth activities with
20s/youth committees (or delegates this to
youth/20s committees).
for youth/young adults, helps pair high school
seniors with mentors (see YMJA recommen-
dation). Keeps in touch with college students
(through a college mentorship program) and helps
 them become aware of local congregations or Reaches out to MJ youth/young adults for
  10 
online chavurot near their campuses. promotion of conferences, events, programs,
camps. Coordinates national social/educational
  4  Oversees and recruits a national Hebrew School
programs that can be done at the local level: like
director (volunteer or paid), who develops a
Apples n’Honey—a Jewish New Year Celebra-
national Hebrew School curriculum (including a
tion, Torah on Tap, Matzo Ball—a party for
b’nai mitzvah curriculum).
young professionals on Christmas Eve, a youth/
  5  Advertises camps to youth and helps recruit young adult Purim party, and a youth/young
counselors for Or L’Dor/HaDerekh camps. adult Passover Seder.
  6  Organizes youth Israel trips or coordinates with Develops online programs/social media content/
  11 
HaDerekh Israel trip/CPM Israel trips (or helps Union website related to youth/young adults.
create a Union Birthright trip). Keeps rabbis up to date on Jewish young
  12 
  7  Coordinates joint events with YMJA and the adult trends.
Bridge (MJAA young adults). Communicates with Jewish missions and makes
  13 
  8  Helps youth leaders participate in wider Jewish congregations aware of their young adult
community events. programming.

  9  Recommends technology to communicate with Oversees K-20/leadership summits to train

  14 
youth/young adults (contact JFJ). Perhaps helps new leaders.
develop one app that all youth leaders can use to Develops a database of youth and young
  15 
communicate with each other (like JFJ app). adult contacts.

135
 Chapter 8  Conclusion
Conclusion 30 minutes contributes to attendance frequency and
long-term involvement.

T
his report is written for the Union of Messianic
Many young adults and teens were excited by the
Jewish Congregations and for Messianic Jewish and
opportunity to live out their Messianic faith in a Jewish
Messianic Gentile leaders more broadly, as well as
context with others who share the same views. Sharing
for Messianic congregants, so that together everyone
the unique expression of Jewish life in Messiah includes
can participate in the growth of congregational life, in
support for Jewish traditions such as vibrant holiday
the maturing of the Messianic Jewish community, and
celebrations, Jewish life cycle events, Shabbat services,
in the attempt to make Messianic Jewish congregations
which include a Torah service (reading from the Torah/
more relevant to a younger constituency. Dorot’s report
New Testament), Hebrew liturgy as well as modern
on what attracts young adults and teens to Messianic
worship music, learning about and combatting anti-
Jewish congregations contains a lot of information, but
semitism, engaging in community service projects
not all will be pertinent to each Messianic Jewish con-
(Tikkun Olam), and having some consistent halakhic
gregation, so please browse each chapter and see what
standards that make Messianic Jewish congregations
relates to your individual congregation. Please see the
recognizable throughout North America. Thus, a strong
appendix for the survey results to deduce your own
focus on relationships with young people and culti-
conclusions, however, do keep in mind the open-ended
vating faith in Yeshua within Jewish space are key to
survey questions and the interview results when
growing a relevant Messianic Jewish community.
formulating a complete picture. We will not repeat our
recommendations here, so please see our extensive Teen and young adults are not involved in all areas of
Recommendations chapter, our Discussion chapter, as congregational life, especially in leadership roles. Teens
well as recommendations from the broader Jewish are less involved in worship/music, helping with
community in the Literature Reviews chapter. services, reading from the Torah, organizing holiday
events, serving on committees, and teaching children.
What Attracts/Engages Teens and Young Adults?
Young adults are also not as involved in leading weekly
According to our surveys, teens and young adults valued
services, serving on committees, teaching kids and adult
a number of elements that fall into two main categories:
education, and helping organize special events. Support
relationships/community and the shared unique ex-
for women in non-rabbinic leadership exceeded that of
pression of Jewish life in Messiah Yeshua. Important
women rabbis, although a majority in the young adult
relationships for teens and young adults include with
surveys fully/somewhat supported rabbinic ordination
the rabbi, their peers, congregants of all ages, their
for women. Additionally, Jewish young adult survey
mentors, and with the broader Messianic Jewish, Jewish,
respondents who left congregations sometimes ex-
and Christian communities. Teens and young adults
pressed their disappointment with the lack of egali-
want their leaders to be authentic, vulnerable, and hum-
tarian roles and opportunities for women. Messianic
ble and for Jewish expression in congregations to be
Jewish leaders can think about encouraging their teens
authentic as well. They value a close-knit and wel-
and young adults to participate and lead in these areas
coming community, as well as experiencing a family feel
of congregational life and encourage women to train/
in congregations. Those surveyed claim that attending
lead in both non-rabbinic and rabbinic roles. A vibrant
conferences, having b’nai mitzvah, and going to Israel,
community and leadership transition depends on pro-
and overnight Messianic Jewish camps all help deepen
actively engaging these cohorts. Like Jewish missions,
engagement in their congregations and also contribute to
congregations should think about a pipeline to leader-
frequency of attendance. Young adults feel that living
ship and engaging people in all aspects of congregational
closer to their congregations helps foster deeper
life from a young age. Congregations might also consult
relationships. Our research also shows that living within
Jewish missions to help with filling leadership positions.

136
Teens and young adults may leave or not attend
congregations for a variety of reasons, such as moving,
distance, college, lack of peers, lack of spiritual growth,
or if they consider their congregations to be politically
and culturally irrelevant—this is particularly accurate
for liberal-leaning Jewish young people. In the young
adult survey, 12.5% of respondents did not attend or
left congregations and the majority were Jewish. They
spoke about lack of spiritual growth or about their
disdain for congregational affiliation with right-wing
politics and the lack of acceptance of left-leaning
political views in the congregation. Leaders and
congregants need to cultivate an environment that
welcomes all political and cultural views, especially if
they want to attract and retain young Jewish people.
Young adults would like to see congregations and
organizations in the Messianic Jewish community
improve in their connection to one another. Regional
and national conferences offer an opportunity to do so.
Congregants can also take advantage of Jewish
missions’ programs, especially if they feel their
congregation’s outreach programs are limited or if they
desire to meet other Messianic Jews/Gentiles
throughout the globe (this includes conferences, Israel
trips, cafes, outreach internships, and camps). The
Union and MJAA could collaborate in joint program-
ming, which would allow young adults/teens to sense
the greater purpose of the Messianic Jewish community.
The Union would benefit from some kind of salaried
youth and young adult director (YYAD) to help
coordinate all things related to young people (a Youth
and Young Adult Division—YYAD).
Since it seems that likely that many of our survey and
interview participants have been part of the Messianic
Jewish community for a large part of their lives, then
by implication, Messianic Jewish congregations may
not be attracting new people from the broader Jewish
community. Efforts will not only need to be made to
retain those in congregations through offering a distinct
and healthy Jewish space for growth in Jewish identity in
Yeshua, but renewed outreach strategies will need to be
enacted, as described in our Recommendations chapter.
Future Research
Future research can include revisiting Dorot’s data
from different angles, or perhaps reworking and
refining our surveys and resending them out in a few
years. Future research on how to make Messianic
137
Jewish congregations more relevant should include a
more global picture (not just North America),
researching other age groups, as well as asking
questions about the diversity of Jews in the Messianic
Jewish community; it would be helpful to know how
many Jews of color attend and how many Ashkenazi
and Sephardic/Mizrahi Jews make up our
congregations, so that we can better serve all Messianic
Jewish populations. While most likely the majority of
Jews in Messianic congregations are Ashkenazi, it
would be helpful to know how to tailor our services for
Sephardic populations. In the 2020 Pew survey of the
Jewish community, 85% of Jews under 30 identified as
White, while 7% identified as Hispanic, 2% as black,
and 6% were other or multiple races. Pew also found
this age group more ethnically diverse than Jews over
age 50. The Messianic Jewish community most likely
mirrors the Pew survey results.
Future research should also include interviews/surveys
with Messianic Jewish rabbis to compare their perspect-
ive with that of the younger generation. Future research
should delve more deeply into Messianic Jewish views
about Israel, which could compare with a recent
American Jewish Committee survey of Millennial views
about Israel. Regarding Jewish tradition, we left out a
specific question about levels of kashrut (although
keeping kosher came up in the interviews). Future
surveys should inquire about how Messianic Jews/
Gentiles keep kosher to determine the extent of obser-
vance in the Messianic Jewish community and ask what
people expect in this regard. Kashrut throughout time
has been a distinctive marker of the Jewish community;
Messianic Jews who are interested in developing
distinctly Jewish congregations will need to ponder this
matter more.
We will also need to more thoroughly inquire how
many young adults were raised in the Messianic Jewish
community in order to understand whether congre-
gational outreach efforts are successful compared with
Messianic Jewish missions efforts (who keep records).
It would also be interesting to do a study on how many
Jews churches are attracting. Dorot did not study why
young people are attracted to churches or trends in
Christian churches (see Synagogue 3000 in the
Literature Reviews chapter). It would be helpful for
Messianic Jews to study these trends in the Christian
world and ascertain what might be helpful to the
Messianic community.
 Dorot hopes that this report will help Messianic Jewish
leaders and congregants grow their congregations into
relevant communities for the next generation…
In future studies, Messianic Jewish congregations also
need to reflect on why Gentiles are attracted to Mes-
sianic Jewish congregations, other than inter-marriage,
and determine if the role of Messianic Jewish congre-
gations is to serve as a place to help grow Jewish
believers in Messianic faith through distinctly Jewish
spaces, with a majority Jewish membership, or to serve
Gentile populations in their spiritual search and
development—the latter can also be accomplished
through church lectures and intentional meetings with
Gentile Christians. From our brief research it seems
that it is challenging to do both if Messianic Jewish
congregations are to be places that stay relevant,
distinctly Jewish, and attract the younger generation of
Jewish people. Messianic Jewish leaders and congre-
gants will have to reflect on what it will take to create
distinctly Jewish environments that are relevant to
Messianic Jews and that draw non-Messianic Jews.
Leaders might have to make certain decisions within
congregations to keep spaces Jewish and to retain Jews
(including politically liberal ones) so that Messianic
Jewish congregations remain as Jewish spaces and offer
their unique identity of supporting Jewish life in
138
Messiah. Messianic Jews in congregations have made it
clear that they want their congregations to provide the
opportunity for growth in their Jewish identity. It
would also be crucial to do a more extensive study,
beyond what we have found, that examines how many
and for what reasons Jewish and Gentile teens and
young adults are leaving Messianic Jewish congre-
gations; and to see if culturally relevant issues and
politics continue to play an important role in pushing
out Jewish young adults.
Dorot hopes that this report will help Messianic Jewish
leaders and congregants grow their congregations into
relevant communities for the next generation by
understanding the values of its younger people. We
hope for a more cohesive vision of Messianic Judaism
guided by the appreciation of similar values—that of
honoring the unique place of shared beliefs in Yeshua
in the context of Jewish life and tradition combined
with healthy and authentic relationships and com-
munity within congregations and through the congre-
gation’s meaningful connection to the larger Messianic
Jewish, and broader Jewish and Christian worlds.
 Notes
Books
Wertheimer, Jack. The New American Judaism. New
Jersey: (Princeton University Press, 2018).
Journal Articles:
Cohen, S., and A. Kelman. Beyond Distancing: Young
Adult American Jews and Their Alienation from Israel.
The Jewish Identity Project of Reboot. (New York, NY:
Rebooters.net, 2007).
Dauermann, Stuart. “Thriving, Not Just Surviving:
Community for a Better Tomorrow.” Kesher Journal
(January 20, 2022).
Kaell, Hillary. “Born-again seeking: explaining the
Gentile majority in Messianic Judaism,” Religion
(2014).
Nichol, Rich. Messianic Jewish Synagogue: Coping
with COVID-19. Kesher Journal (January 21, 2022).
Reason, Gabriela. “Competing trends in Messianic
Judaism: the debate over evangelicalism.” Kesher
Journal, (January 2, 2005).
Saal, Paul. “Queer for Jesus: A Messianic Jewish
Perspective.” Kesher Journal (July 5, 2016).
Wolfson, Ron, and Steven Windmueller,. “The Rise of
the Online Synagogue.” Tablet Magazine (April 6, 2022).
Online sites
https://www.interfaithfulness.org/chai/
139
Surveys/Reports
Barna. Jewish Millennials: The Beliefs and Behaviors
Shaping Young Jews in America. (Ventura, CA: Barna
Research Group, 2017).
Pew Research Center. Jewish Americans in 2020.
(Washington, D.C.: Pew, May 11, 2021.)
S3K:
Tobin Belzer and Donald Miller. Synagogues That Get
It: How Jewish Congregations Are Engaging Young
Adults. S3K Reports. (New York, NY: S3K Synagogue
Studies Institute, Spring 2007).
Steven Cohen., J. S. Landres, E. Kaunfer, and M. Shain.
Emergent Jewish Communities and Their Participants.
S3K Reports. (New York, NY: The S3K Synagogue
Studies Institute, November 2007. Accessed May 15,
2017, http://jewishemergent.org/survey/documents/
NatSpirComStudyReport_S3K_Hadar.pdf
21/64 (Jewish philanthropy Organization)
Steven Cohen and Ari Kelman, The Continuity of
Discontinuity: How Young Jews are Connecting, Creating,
and Organizing their own Jewish Lives (21/64, 2005),
https://2164.net/about-us/
United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York.
Insights and Strategies for Engaging Millennials (New
York: UJA, 2016).
 Appendix

Click on one of the icons

to the right to be taken
to the online document.

140
 • Not affiliated, but considering eventual affiliation
Young Adult Survey Open-Ended Question: with UMJC.
“Other” Congregational Affiliation
• Ariel Ministries
We asked young adult respondents about their congre-
• My congregation is not officially affiliated with any
gational affiliation. For those that chose “other,” we
network or organization. However, members have
asked them to describe their congregation or chavurah’s
relationships in UMJC circles and send their kids to
affiliation. The following answers are by different
FFOZ youth events.
individual respondents in the young adult survey.
• Don’t know
• Not affiliated
• Independent
• Ymja is a big one
• No affiliation
• Heritage LA—independent Open-Ended Young Adult Survey Question about
Congregational Involvement
• Unaffiliated
• Unknown We first asked young adults the question: “Thinking
about now or pre-COVID-19 times, how were/are you
• Tikkun
involved in your Messianic Jewish congregation or
• Tikkun chavurah (choose any that apply).” We then followed
• Tikkun (as well as the UMJC) up with the question: “If you chose “other” ways you
• Tikkun America were/are involved in your Messianic Jewish congre-
gation/chavurah, please list them here.” Each of the
• “AMC” at one point, but a mostly independent following lines represents an individual response.
network.
• Long distance
• Independent
• I’ve helped out with the children’s program from time
• Tikkun to time, as well as babysitting at congregational
• Unaffiliated at this time, but was in the past with events outside of official services.
UMJC and MJAA. • I.T., Social Media, Risk Assessment
• Chosen People Ministries • Community
• CPM • I have written a Bar Mitzvah curriculum which I
• Assemblies of God deliver online and in person to students both locally
• Or David in Brazil and across the world, drawing on the knowledge I
gained whilst in mainstream Judaism and my
• I’m not sure
experience as a primary and secondary teacher.
• Beit sar shalom
• Assisting with media at social events.
• Independent
• coordination/assistance with bible studies.
• Tikkun America
• I give suggestions lol. But seriously, yes.
• Independent
• N/a
• Tikkun and UMJC
• I work there.
• Tikkun International
• I have been in leadership, worship leader, gabbi,
• I attend a local Conservative synagogue; occasionally, shamash, occasional shabbat School Teacher, and I
an IAMCS 2+h away (where I used to live); a have organized youth events. I stepped out of leader-
number of UMJC virtually. ship a number of years ago for family/personal
• Independent healing but I would like to be more involved.
• Facilities, Prayer and Welcome Team

141
• Maintenance, audio/visual, Librarian
• Security team committee, general maintenance,
virtual service tech team.
• I do outreach
• Several things I do in my local shul I would hope to
do in a local MJ congregation; I do sometimes play
music in a MJ synagogue where I used to live and
attend regularly.
• I have a paid job at my congregation.
• I only go to high holy holiday services with famil.
• I am being trained in administrative processes along
with my husband. I make the weekly slides for our
service, proof the bulletin and send it for printing,
and prepare and print the pages to go on the bema for
the Torah/liturgical portion of the Shabbat service.
Among many other things. I am co-head of the
Children’s Ministry, and a consultant on the
Ladies Ministry.
• I am training to be the executive pastor.
• Meals ministry, and hosting women’s group.
• Website and marketing
• I help you with Oneg.
• It depended on the allowances given to me by the
congregation I was attending. In congregations where
women are allowed to lead services and read from the
Torah, I assisted in those ways.
Responses from Open-Ended Young Adult Survey
Question about What’s Missing
• “What is something you feel is missing from your local
Messianic Jewish congregation or chavurah or from the
wider Messianic Jewish community? Be as broad or
specific as you would like (No word limit).” Each
response was written by a different individual in the
YA survey (we did not fix grammar/punctuation).
• Discipleship.
• I think chanting (or at least reading) from the Torah
portion from the Torah scroll is missing in my local
congregation (and others). From the Messianic
community at large, I think rabbis (specifically in the
IAMCS/MJAA) should have a more robust education
requirement for rabbinic ordination. I think they
should match (or be similar to) the UMJC’s require-
ments. In my view, this would help add more exegesis
to sermons, a more robust liturgy, and the rabbi’s
involvement in the Torah service. I think too many
Gentiles in the Messianic movement are here for the
wrong reasons. Many join because they embrace One
Law theology or believe that the Messianic synagogue
is the best church in town. I value and am grateful to
have Jew and Gentiles worshipping together in the
Messianic community; my concern is that many are
here for the wrong reasons (though many are here for
the right reasons). I think there should be more
opportunities for congregants to have access to
education that would deepen their understanding of
Messianic Jewish theology, history, and apologetics.
• Maybe more fellowship with other churches and
non-Messianic synagogues?
• I believe the messianic community at large needs to
focus on the youth far more, especially those that
wish to be leaders and serve within their congre-
gation in the future. I believe we do have ways for
events and activities with the youth, but I believe we
lack proper pouring into of the youth and encour-
agement needed to allow for growth and aid in their
lives. We also in many ways should encourage dif-
ferent ways to reach out such as with social media
and other opportunities to grow our community and
encourage participation and community.
• Being open to connecting with groups of people who
share different beliefs.
• I can’t think of anything at this moment.
• I would love there to be more opportunities to learn
about Jewish liturgy and how it has developed over
time, specifically relating to how it has helped to keep
alive a foundation for Hebrew when it had tech-
nically been a dead language for centuries.
• Community involvement and betterment.
• In my own congregation, as well as the wider Mes-
sianic movement, I feel that we are missing opportu-
nities to help our own people because not many of us
are certified therapists and counselors who could
offer services for little to no cost. I’ve observed so
many people within my own community that could
stand to benefit from spiritual and psychological and
emotional therapy, but they either can’t afford it, or
they don’t have a counselor who understands their
beliefs and can relate with them in that way.
• Education! Being Messianic can be challenging and I
wish we offered more Education. Not only do we
142
 need education on Judaism but also discipleship and
walking out our faith in the day to day.
• I’m not exactly sure. I’d love to branch out more and
invite people a little more but there’s not much I’d
change of “the body.”
• Being relevant to younger generations of Jewish and
non-Jewish believers.
• What’s Missing from my local Messianic Congrega-
tion? Answer: Drummers. What’s Missing from
the wider Messianic Jewish community? Answer:
Transparency and authenticity. It would be easier
for the community to unify over a single online
streaming service when you compare the difficulties
of a self-identified messianic Jew having an online
identity in today’s geopolitical fueled internet and
social media platforms.
• I would like for my congregation to read from the
Torah each week; provide more education in
Judaism; discuss halakhah more; discuss Jew/gentile
relationships and roles more in depth.
• Looking for involvement from other congregants on
days to have more gathering that would allow a
growing of Faith. Messianic Jewish Evangelism,
social/round table gatherings for discourse on
responding to societal changes as the community of
Messiah, and classes of the like.
• More social justice and less being hidebound by
reform udaismism. More connection to the rest of the
Jewish community.
• G
 ood music.
• The broader messianic community seems to largely
think of themselves as no different then evangelical
right, and repeats the statements found there despite
these statements having no basis in the scripture they
claim to follow.
• Involvement with young adults and tackling
issues within.
• More organized service, list of babysitters, handy
people, cooks, music
• Set fellowship time/oneg has ended and not resumed
yet since COVID-19 began and we have no children’s
program. Both will be remedied once it is fully safe to
do so.
• Youth program, we only have Shabbat school
right now. A prayer team and an outreach /
evangelism program.
143
• More involvement with outreach to the greater
community both Jewish and non.
• The broader messianic community has a lot of work
to do in the social justice space. I find many many
leaders and broader organizations to be very out of
touch. There seems to be a huge disconnect between
the teachings of the Torah and the conduct of some
organizations/ individuals. It has caused me to
disassociate with the MJAA unfortunately. Growing
up in the community I experienced the negative
affects of purity culture and witnessed the affect on
my peers as well. I believe the way purity is spoken
about needs to be reevaluated and the double
standards for men and women need to be eliminated.
• Topical sermons/lessons. I love the Torah portion but
it should be a portion, not the whole of the teaching.
• Jesus
• I feel we are in a pretty good place as of right now.
We are truly getting into the major themes of the
Gospel, and the worship and Torah studies are easily
lining up with the drash.
• More trips
• outside of morning shabbat services, more chances to
congregate.
• Biblical literacy—there is such a plethora of con-
tradictory teachings in contemporary Messianic
Judaism, more than can be accounted for by diversity
alone, and I am concerned that until we as individ-
uals have a solid systematic understanding of the-
ology and Scripture, we are vulnerable to a variety
of false teachers who appeal to “Hebraic roots,” often
falsely so, in order to gain followers.
• Outreach
• Fluency in Jewish texts and tradition among the
leaders.
• I think the volunteer basis is small. We lack people
willing to serve and end up with many tasks being
assigned to few people. We need a way to encourage
people to volunteer in different roles.
• Definitely talking about racial justice. We’ve have
miserably dropped the ball on that. Also I wish
we’d connect more with the non-messianic Jewish
com-munity in a way that’s edifying to both parties.
There’s a lot of fear associated with connecting to the
wider Jewish world but I feel that that separation
makes us seem a lot more “fringey” (from the per-
 spective of non-messianic people) than we need to be.
• Specifically addressing questions that will be asked by
people of other faith
• I’m not sure.
• Younger groups. We’ve lost many members over the
past 5 years and struggle to recruit new members,
especially younger populations.
• Not enough connection with the wider community
(UMJC, Messianic Jewish, and wider Jewish
community). Even though the community is quite
strong, it is small and insular. Because the com-
munity is aging, there is a noticeable lack of
younger people even in my age group, let alone
20-somethings and teens.
• It could use more focus on praise and worship.
• Community with each other within the congregation.
Community with other Messianic congregations in
our area. I wish that we would get together with other
messi. Congregations to build a bigger and stronger
community. We also don’t have a youth group/ lack
kids between the ages of 12-18. we have about 4 kids
and so it is hard to engage that age range.
• Locally, my temple does not have mentorship for
young adults. Mentorship is usually focused on young
couples who are raising kids (there’s an emphasis on
supporting young families at my temple) or middle-
aged couples (kids in high school/college, etc.) who
are encouraged to become involved in serving in
different capacities at the temple (children’s
education, planning events, etc.). As a young adult
attending my temple first as a college student, now as
a young professional, it would be extremely helpful to
have access to mentorship. At this point, I’m in my
early 20s, want to keep growing spiritually + need
advice/guidance (about life, growing spiritually,
finding a spouse someday, etc.). I don’t know how to
ask for mentorship or who to turn to. The lack of
mentorship/building up young leaders is a broader
problem within the Messianic Jewish community.
• Support for women to be in leadership.
• I don’t feel that we lack anything.
• Talking about Jesus and the New Testament equally
as much as the Old Testament.
• Wider MJ community: Jewish observance by mes-
sianic Jews and not simply a Jew who is a Christian
and removed himself from the observances and
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community that has sustained the Jewish people for
millennia. Get rid of the shallow new age charismatic
junk, replace it with traditional Jewish observance.
Teach biblical ecclesiology and identity for Jews and
non-Jews. “But will their children be Jews?”
• In my local community: greater ownership of
identity, especially among the Jewish parents.
In the wider community: greater openness to Holy
Spirit encounters.
• Normal people.
• My congregation is so small that it cannot facili-
tate programing greater than shabbat services
and holidays. I would love to have more com-
munal events.
• A matchmaker program! (And the Union / Messianic
movement in general really lacks here… what better
way to carry our vision into the future?? What are
we waiting for!?
• Since COVID-19, honestly, connection. I know of a
couple online services I can occasionally call into, but
aside from a call (still not really a service), I haven’t
been connected to my home congregation much. I
understand that meeting puts some of the leaders at
risk, but I wish there was some way to still do things
for Shabbat together (I would have to look elsewhere
for this). I will also have to be less involved soon
since I travel to and from college—the closest to a
messianic Jewish community I have there is a Jewish
roots community. They love God and the Jewish
people, I can still follow a torah-oriented lifestyle
there, and they have treated me as family, but it is
still not the same.
• I think that the movement is in dire need of new
leaders to take over congregations that have aging
leaders. I fear that a vision for how to hand what has
already been created to the next generation is severely
lacking across the movement and I’m concerned about
the possible negative consequences as a result in
congregations over the next few decades.
• Interaction with non believing Jews. Lack of training
and structured transition to younger leaders. Lack of
oversight/accountability, and vulnerability when it
comes to monetary and operational decision making
• I would like to see a greater social balance to where
gentiles don’t need to feel less than or somehow
become “better Jews” in knowledge and practice of
Judaism to gain a space a value. I don’t know the
 answer to the issue. But I would like for all children
growing up in the movement to know they are loved
by God for who they are. Regardless, if they came
from a special people group or not. Yeshua died for
them and that is key. They need to know they are
loved by God and nothing can make them be more
loved or less loved. If they were made part of the
people of Israel, that’s great. If they were made to be
part of the Nations. That is great. They matter and
they are special to their Father God just the same.
• Keeping traditional values, practice and recite prayers
accordingly, maintain a Jewish lifestyle that is not
just from the outside.
• Outreach to community; however, there is an in-
process plan to change this.
• Defined protocols for interacting across Tikkun-
MJRC faction lines among local congregations.
The mutual alienation is a big problem.
• One that comes to mind is a lack of a good framework
for obtaining new members and a way to
“missionize” to Jews that are in churches in the
community but feel something is missing.
• Growth, security and stability—Further engagement
with Jewish vs Gentile identity and how to develop
both under Messianic Judaism—Clarifying and
activating the vision and goals of the Messianic
Movement from a scale, community scale and
individual scale
• Local youth gatherings outside of the synagogue
setting (teens, 20s 30s)—Fun activities—Bible study/
discussion groups—Mentorship programs although
this is challenging as people have different
understandings and beliefs.—Events teaching people
about Jewish identity. Also challenging as people
have different perspectives on what it means to be a
Jew—Togetherness—Getting together to sing songs
• Where do I even start? Our movement by-and-large
lacks relevance (socially, politically, religiously),
education and Jewish literacy, money, profess-
ionalism, structure, and healthy identity norms.
We lack attraction for Jews to engage us. We lack
roles and opportunities for woman. We lack a healthy
identity paradigm for Gentiles who are already in our
congregations to engage in. I think we lack evolution
of ideology and practice in positive directions. We are
missing whole segments of age demographics, and the
145
resulting healthy generations turn over is missing.
We lack spaces for politically non-conservative Jews
to voice their values. We lack spaces for anyone who
wants to engage and approach Judaism in a more
traditional religious manner. We lack strong,
standard halachic tradition, and strong theological
traditions that are coherent. There are so many
things missing that I didn’t list here.
• Spirit-filled worship and compelling, solid teaching
• Discipleship/Mentorship, Havurot, Jewish life like
Shabbat dinners
• The conservative ideology of our community—
grounded in the very evangelical Christian roots of
our institutions—have grown increasingly toxic in
the last year. I feel our communities are lacking the
willpower to address these issues directly, even if it
comes at a cost to the size of our community. There
are many other hard conversations that our
communities are unwilling to address, such as the
many Gentiles in our community who don’t even
know what our community is meant for, and so on.
• They have problems engaging people under the age of
40, but then that age group doesn’t seem to be
interested in being involved in anything that expects
them to give back.
• Mentioned before. Wider MJ movement: A heart of
Abraham To the Jew first but also to the Gentile.
Focus less on Division, more on inclusion. How is the
MJ going to impact the world by bringing the Good
News of Messiah to the Nations? In Israel there is
less focus on Jewish Identity because everyone is
Jewish or Israeli etc. Also, the religious in Israel are
considered fanatics. Some things from Judaism are
very good but the Judaism of today is ~2000 yrs of
anti Yeshua practices and mindset, so we need to be
careful how much we rely on the current Jewish
World for our influence.
• No
• My age group is missing! Both singles and young
families. Participation by more than a small
percentage in serving and leading would be a nice
change. We could also stand to be a bit closer to
Judaism than Christianity in terms of service/music/
liturgy/lifestyle.
• More developed oneg
• Our youth ministry needs to be rebuilt
• The gospel being more clear and important than
our Judaism.
• My congregation does a great job at making the
gospel the focus of everything, too often I have seen
that neglected in other places. Also the passing of the
baton to the next generation as well as outreach to
the Jewish people.
• Tikkun Olam is rarely ever discussed at the local
congregation. Justice conversation is also lacking.
We still need to find more ways to honor and
celebrate women.
• We actually are quite detached from the Jewish
world… But then again, Jews of different denomina-
tions are very segregated from each other. What we
lack is vibrant art, dance, and young life.
• Messianic Judaism overall can offer better resources—
musical and educational—to congregations in order to
make it easier on lay leaders. Also, we need more
leadership development for lay leaders, ie how to
organize a worship team, how to chose music, etc—
opportunities to connect and learn from each other.
• Support. We have something very unique to offer, but
it is my personal perspective that due to our geo-
graphical location (we are not coastal), that we are
not taken as serious or as respected as we would be
were we to be on a coast.
• I don’t know yet because I’ve only started attending
regularly for the past month.
• My congregation is really small. Sometimes we don’t
officially celebrate the Feasts of the Lord. We just
gather for Erev Shabbat, but that’s it. I feel like
sometimes there is no honoring of the Feasts of the
Lord. I wished I could go to another Messianic Con-
gregation to complement and be able to celebrate all
the Feasts, but all are far away.
• I would like to see more engagement between
congregations, especially given the newfound power
of Zoom. I’d also like to see more opportunities for
united engagement on social issues—most likely
super-congregational to avoid intra-congregational
tension with more conservative members. I’d love to
see some serious, dedicated effort to have the difficult
conversations around social and political issues so
that said conservative members can understand why
I am doing what I’m doing, even if they still aren’t
inclined to help. I’d also love to see the Messianic
community more intentionally develop a core of
146
halakhic discussion, whether it is through the MJRC
or through some other method.
• Action for promoting end of police violence on
citizens, equity between Jews and non-Jews (in the
same manner as done by the Apostles), support for
Pro-Life narratives (end abortion, end death penalty,
end police killings, end euthanasia, promote life
saving medical services for all), support of traditional
family values (Male and female, Father-Mother-
Children) while helping those struggling with these
issues without condoning sinful lifestyles.
• I am actually very satisfied with the Messianic con-
gregation that I attend. I don’t currently feel anything
is missing from the congregation or community.
• Jewish Evangelism
• More people my age
• We need more Jews. We also need better support for
single men and women for finding spouses.
• More normalize Jewish traditions
• They could talk more about issues that are more of a
concern to a younger audience like myself.
• Too much emphasis on replacement theology-most
of the teachings can be very impactful without
mentioning Replacement theology. Most Christians
are very defensive, guilty and repulsed by udaism
that they have some replacement theology. In my
opinion, the fact that people have come to a Jewish
congre-gation means they are receptive to the
message—so just focusing on the message is ideal.
Things will fall in place.
• Honestly, I don’t think there is anything missing
other than the impact which has been made by
COVID-19. As I stated before, my congregation is
really more of a family, and it is exactly how I believe
it should be. I absolutely love our group, and I wish
we could be together more (hopefully that will
improve as COVID-19 fades off).
• I would like to see us engage more with the Jewish
community. My congregation is about 30/70 gentile/
Jewish, so I think sometimes we get apprehensive
about being part of the bigger Jewish community.
• Being able to attend in person services is what it
is missing.
• In person meetings
• Building more of a community. I sadly feel that we
limit ourselves in fear of change, but change is
 needed! Incorporating more modern factors like
social media, shorter services or even different topics,
catering to the youth, more events, more
vulnerability, etc.
• More of a connection and deeper content that can • I would be more interested in hearing about social
apply especially to the young adults. There needs to
be a more sense that the next generation is being
poured into and brought up to be ready for the future. • Deeper understanding of Jewish culture and better
• A more dynamic style of worship
• I feel like there should be more youth representation; • Kids
whether it is a youth giving a sermon or just playing
some bigger part in representing the Messianic Jewish
community
• Talking about real life relevant issues/ being real. I
think our leaders are to afraid of rocking the boat that
they sometimes miss talking about deeply rooted
issues or talking about what is going on personally in
their lives
• An adequate young adult program
• There are multiple things: I think Messianic Syna-
gogues have a certain “mold” to them. We sing the
same music, same songs, etc. Pretty much a same
format—a Friday night or Saturday morning service
(with a few exceptions). Why not switch the formatting
up? Why not try to do Kiruv in a different way? Why
not plant congregations where there are more young
people? I’ve found it almost frustrating that messianic
communities have more of a “shtetl” mindset of. “This
is how we’ve been doing it, and this is how we’re going
to continue doing it.” I think we live in a post-shtetl
world where we need to engage more.
• Younger Jewish men to facilitate services and assume
leadership from the previous generation.
• We need more Jewish people, specifically Jewish
men, who can help lead the congregation and assist
our Rabbi.
• Regular Shabbat dinners in community
• Offering a theologically robust conservative
alternative to theological liberalism.
• An integrated theology that recognizes the value of,
and draws from, Christian teaching. We are very
good at drawing from the Jewish community, but
when it comes to Christian wisdom and practice we
shy away. Christians have been reading, praying
through, and applying the Scriptures, including the
Brit Chadasha, for 2000 years, and have been led by
147
the Holy Spirit in their interpretation. We as
Messianic Jews should immerse ourselves in, and
identify with, the wider church, while maintaining
our distinctiveness as a community.
justice issues as they relate to faith and current
events.
connection between congregational communities.
• Programs geared toward young adults
• The large geographic area that congregations have to
serve because of small number of messianic believers
makes being involved in community very difficult
• Teachings on Social Justice and Tikkun Olam from a
scriptural perspective needs to to strengthened and
needs to increase. To clarify I don’t just mean what
the Bible says on these topics, I am asking for a
Jewish scriptural understanding.
• Both messianic congregations I’ve attended are
dominated by gentile believers and increasingly
model after a church more than a Synagogue. I find
them sometimes lacking in real “Jewishness,” because
of the obvious and reasonable need to be accessible to
the non-Jews for whom a more traditional service of
mostly Hebrew liturgy out of a siddur would be both
foreign and not very spiritual. I’m just in the
minority in that regard. I also find myself spending
more time doing things like explaining what teffilin
are or what Pesach is about than actually using
tefillin or peacefully keeping Pesach. Being a Jew in a
messianic body that’s like 90% gentile in our area
often feels like being an explainer more than just
being able to live like a Jew.
• It’s not missing, but—given the times we live in, I
think there is room doe more: more engagement with
Jewish communities and Christian communities.
More opportunities for training, education, and
ministry involvement.
• Furthered ways to incorporate Christian/ non-Jewish
brothers and sisters to worship.
• I would love to see more young families and see
long-term retaining future generations.
• Identity and belonging. Knowledge of and discussion
of Jewish traditions and cultures (note the plural). A
shared conversation about a broad Messianic vision,
 and contexts that nourish healthy conversation and,
necessarily, debate about that vision. Generosity and
curiosity toward a broader Jewish “us” that frees us
to find and know Yeshua in and with that “us”
(rather than treating non-Messianic Jews as “them,”
or “unbelievers,” or worse words that so casually
undermine the claim to be any kind of Judaism, let
alone worthy to call it MJ). During COVID-19,
thanks to Zoom services, I have been delighted to
become acquainted with a few established congre-
gations that are developing a healthy, thoughtful,
nurturing life together in Yeshua; they didn’t develop
overnight, and many long-time congregants and
senior leaders have changed and grown in their own
understandings of and visions for MJ over years. I
dream of an experiment: small, multigenerational
communities with a core who pray and learn and live
together (here in a single block, or there on a farm),
with additional congregants who are fully part of the
group but don’t necessarily live quite as communally,
and a place for hosting classes, conferences, concerts,
and events for broader Messianic and non-Messianic
Jewish community as well as Christians and other
neighbors. Alongside the intensity of conferences and
the existing havurot and congregations where even
the most involved people see each other maybe two or
three times a week, these would serve as something
in between—and something more. Imagine such
communities as laboratories for MJ community life,
education, liturgy, advocacy, arts, foodways, com-
munity engagement, Judaism… Their purpose is
more than a start-up incubator for MJ (important and
necessary as MJ’s entrepreneurial phase has been:
this one’s ministry, that one’s website, etc.); varying
by each one’s local context, resources, needs, and
gifts, they nevertheless would supply coordinated and
thoughtful hospitality for developing a Messianic
future—one that serves the wider Jewish world and
others, even as it learns from the wider Jewish world
and others how to become what we are called to be.
• The movement often strikes me as narcissistic (overly
self-absorbed which I don’t like). Creation care is
really lacking, which is important to me. Engagement • I would love to see a fraction of the “church Jews” in
with world issues (social justice) is really lacking,
which is important to me. Deep relationships are
lacking. Authenticity and kavanah in our Judaism is
lacking at times (often feels like a Jewish church).
We don’t do much for outreach. We have some ren-
148
dition of the 80/20 principle at play where a small
group does the majority of the work (many people
aren’t engaged and willing to help/serve).
• Community
• I think our congregation is very sensitive to various
issues, and as they come up, are addressed as quickly
as possible, and as sensitively as possible.
• Connection with the wider MJ community.
• Ways to engage that aren’t specifically religious. Gen-
eral community building would be great so I can feel
more connected and in turn start rebuilding my faith
• The transition between YMJA and MJAA seems to
be weak. Not sure how but ushering in younger
people into roles would help.
• People my age
• My local messianic community is very segregated
from the wider Body of believers. In an effort to be
more “Jewish” there is a push toward orthopraxy and
rejection of things appearing to be remotely
“Christian.” I am very troubled that there are hardly
any Gentiles or deep connections and bonds with
local churches. Messianic Judaism should not just be
a Judaism but an expression of Jews and Gentiles
worshipping together in Messiah while remaining in
their respective callings.
• To not jump to making new messianic traditions
without recognizing that the traditional Jewish
prayers/traditions that help disciple more Jews into
the messianic movement.
• The bridge between the singles and the newlyweds
and the older generations
• The acceptance that specific faith/religious beliefs are
not equal to all specific politics/societal views
• More modern updated music?
• Stronger sense of hospitality and community on a
local and individual-to-individual level that is
accessible for everyone. We need to have more
access points into community for everyone.
• Nothing
my neighborhood attend our community. It could
double our numbers!! I would also love to see
Messianic leaders travel and speak at fellow UMJC
congregations to give us a sense of togetherness and
encouragement. In all my years of UMJC conferences,
 I felt like real issues or theological disagreements
who hidden. For example—why marrying a fellow
Jew is important; what the Scriptures say about
women in leadership actually; the dark, sinful reality
of divorce in our own small MJ world; challenges of
parenting godly children and where people have
failed to do this; challenges of walking out the faith
long term, why it is important to prioritize
community not commuting.
• We need to do outreach in our general area…
fill needs of the less fortunate
• I feel that often we are often too detached from both
the broader Jewish community around us who are
not Messianic, and from a great deal of the broader
Church outside of a few Messianic-friendly groups,
when we should instead be more closely connected
with both. Sometimes, this obviously won’t be
possible due to negative reaction from the other end,
but I think that too often we close the door ourselves
before even trying.
• More knowledge on rabbinic texts
• Sense of community among all. There are small
groups needs to spread
• Justice. Real generational transition. Millennials are
25-40. We don’t need chaperones anymore. Ask us
our opinions, because they matter. Let us do things
our way without having to pacify boomers. We talk
about revival ad nauseum and people are quick to
condemn “that sin over there” (see: homosexuality,
abortion, “cancel culture”) but I hear crickets about
pride and gluttony and rampant idolatry. I will
acknowledge that Jamie Cowen I shy away from
these topics but he gets social media backlash, so if a
respected congregational leader can’t have a theology
that’s not in lockstep with the Christian right, how
could I as a young single person think I could get
away with saying anything indicating a contrasting
opinion? I also get no help with things I’m struggling
with like bitterness after seeing people in the com-
munity say and do terrible and morally indefensible
things this past year.
• I believe that there is a lack of depth in spiritual
teaching. The teaching is superficial, about how we
can help our congregation, or about something
related to Judaism. There isn’t enough Yeshua. How-
ever, I don’t want a church either. At Messianic
conferences, there were not many young people, and
149
I felt like the ones who were there were only looking
for a spouse. Messianic Jews don’t seem very unified.
We are all over the place theologically. It’s a problem.
Everyone makes their own congregations when they
disagree, or join a church. It seems like many of the
leaders became believers during the hippie move-
ment, which means we will be in trouble soon.
We need a spiritual revival, or else we will not
have enough leaders in the future. We need to pray
for revival.
• Lack of application and conversation about current
day issues.
• Younger people
• I have always thought that it is important for
Messianic Jews to regularly, quietly, humbly take a
seat in our local synagogues—even if only occasion-
ally, but for the long run—with an agenda of being
with our people, watching, listening, and learning.
• Honestly, it’s hard to say! I think about this a lot.
• My congregation is not very Jewish in its makeup. It’s
also filled with a lot of hurting people who need a lot
of grace, but we provide it. I am very happy my
congregation provides this and I am very in favor of
every individual congregation supporting whoever
needs it. However, the fact that so many of them are
not Jewish and so many others have problems scares
away a lot of neurotypical people, including all of my
still-believing, still very Jewish-identifying siblings.
• I think the theology of messianic Judaism is very
confusing and conflicting, especially in our
connection to rabbinic belief and practice and
Christian belief and practice. I don’t think it’s
necessarily a problem, but it feels like every individual
messianic Jew is a denomi-nation unto him/herself!
• Stronger relationships with both Jewish synagogues
and Christian Churches.
• I wish my congregation was more “art-positive.” It
bothers me that movies and songs with profanity are
considered anathema and if I were open with my
pastor about the fact that I partake would result in
me being rebuked.
• I support both “gentile inclusive” and less in-clusive
expressions of Messianic Judaism, but I wish there
were more clarity. I have non-Jewish friends friends
 who were bar mitzvahed and now feel weird about
the whole experience.
•M
 ore inclusive of diverse expressions of Jewish-ness.
In my view, Larry David is as Jewish as Rabbi
Schneerson and I want to preserve that identity as
much as the religious one.
•S
 pirit-oriented without being chaotic.
•L
 ess focused on the end times!
• Right now it’s getting together outside of services but
I think that’s because of COVID-19. But I crave
community outside of the synagogue where we can
do life together as a community.
• I wish my local congregation was more widely
connected across the MJ community. I think it is
important to feel connected to something bigger than
our one congregation. In the wider Messianic Jewish
world I wish there was more consistency and fluency
with Jewish tradition. Going from one congregation
to another you never know what you are going to see,
and it is often hard to feel like we are on the same
page as a larger community. What is expected Jewish
practice in one community, is exceptional or even
looked down upon in another community.
• We don’t have a huge mix of ages in our congre-
gation. It’s always been very young people and very
old l, but hardly anyone between.
• Local: More musical worship outside of Shabbat
services Wider: More unity and recognition (a lot of
• MJ stuff seems like a cult.
• Greater involvement in the wider Jewish community
• What’s missing—any sense of relevance to the wider
culture. We say we want other Jewish people to join
us, but we’ve created this weird subculture that’s
very alien to the average mainstream Jewish person.
Most of the older members of our congregations seem
to really enjoy dancing in circles, blowing horns,
wearing capes, and pretending to sing in Hebrew, but
it feels pretty inauthentic to younger Jewish people.
What’s missing is a place that’s relatively normal, full
of spiritually mature people who are welcoming to
secular types who are just beginning to explore this
Jesus thing.
• Being apart of a wider community period. My whole
life I have been with congregations that do things
150
with other messianic communities. We just live in a
very closed off area to those types of things.
• Public outreach
• An amazing children’s program—and in gatherings
as we had in the past.
• Critical thinking. Nearly everyone at my congre-
gation espouses wild conspiracy theories. Meanwhile,
everyone is skeptical of subject matter expert so,
especially scientific or medical. We are also too rigid
and fundamentalist in our approach to the Scripture.
• Concerted engagement with moral issues by leaders
and communities; field trips and social events
relevant to a range of demographics; positive
relationships and partnerships with the wider world
(especially mainstream Judaism and Christianity and
local communities); support for the arts; strong
emphasis on Jewish continuity to be practically
reflected in community visions and leader strategies
• Only men are in leadership which can be a problem
• Outreach
• Issues discussed concern fundamentalist Christian
community, not mainstream Protestant or Jewish
community
• My local congregation has no young adult focused
ministry and I don’t think any of the congregations
I’ve attended in person have.
• Women speakers
• Deep, exegetical engagement with the text. Explana-
tion for why Messianic Jews still do Torah. Expla-
nation of challenging verses in New Testament that
could be read as abolishing Torah. Explanation for
what the Gentile role within the Messianic Jewish
movement is. What our relationship to the wider
Jewish community and Church is.
• I occasionally attempt to host a hangout or event but
I feel defeated by the lack of interest among my age
cohort (despite verbal indications of the opposite).
I think congregational communities can be pretty
cliquish. I do feel I’m given the space to lead a project
or host an event if I would like to, which is wonder-
ful, but I don’t exactly feel I have the support I need
to sustainably take on the work. There’s a lot behind
that—people felt they did it without support so they
want others to be tough or experience what they
went through, people don’t believe in new ideas,
people are so glad that others are willing to take on
 the work that they want to fully step back, there’s
burnout so people aren’t willing to support even a
little. Something I’ve had on my mind for a while,
since being inspired by the graphic design work of
AMF, is to create a magazine series that shares the
voices of the MJ community and provides guidance to
teens, college students, newlyweds, new parents,
singles in their 40s, etc. Just a beautiful book that
doesn’t give a solution, rather, voices of advice and
“case studies” that help you feel less alone.
• Discipleship, service in the community
• An acknowledgment that you don’t have to embrace
far right, borderline fascist, politics in order to be a
faithful messianic Jew
• New York City is missing a vibrant Messianic
congregation
• I’d personally like to see my current one include more
of a Torah service.
• Jewish literacy, depth of communal engagement,
geographical proximity
Young Adult Open-Ended Survey Question:
Reasons Not Currently Involved
The first young adult open-ended question was: “Please
briefly explain why you are not currently involved in a
Messianic Jewish congregation or chavurah?” Each an-
swer represents a different respondent.
• I grew up and spent most of my life being involved in
the same messianic congregations. I found that I was
plateauing in my growth there after many years. And
God also clearly led me to the church where I
currently attend and serve. I wasn’t looking for a new
congregation at the time, but God’s leading was clear.
• Moved across country to a new city
• Haven’t found a good messianic congregation near
me in Colorado.
• There are none.
• I’m not religious.
• Raised in a messianic congregation, when my wife
and I started to have kids, we felt a church with
a growing kids ministry was the place to raise
our family.
• I go to a nondenominational church on Sunday
151
• Not much for me, either spiritually in my growth as a
believer or socially. Seems more interested in “trying
to be more Jewish.’”
• I moved country
• Raising children and differences of values with
leadership
• I was always a member of another church, Journey II,
and during the pandemic; once the synagogue started
doing services in person—it didn’t feel the same and
felt like the Holy Spirit, or the Raurch (sic) was being
quenched. I don’t blame this on anybody from the
Messianic Synagogue I was a part of. It just felt like I
needed to focus more on fellow shipping with my
church family, who were doing services outside and
not rushing to get done.
• I knew no Jewish.
• They honor mask exemptions in businesses but not
at shul—sad to not have a spiritual home anymore
b/c they follow gestapo rules.
• Too difficult with a small child
• In a city without a Messianic Jewish congregation
that I prefer
• Because I’m involved in a conservative synagogue
• There does not exist one that I know of that is overtly
queer friendly, diasporic, and anti-colonial / anti-
missionary. My values don’t align with the core
values of Messianic Judaism—I discovered in my
time in MJ spaces that beneath its veneers of
Jewishness, that community mostly cared about jesus
and converting more people to jesus, from an evan-
gelical perspective. That was the central driving
force. My central driving force is living a good Jewish
life. It’s different.
• We believe the Lord told us our time ended at our
18 year messianic congregation and the leadership
seemed to not really want to change/adapt for growth
and times
• We left Messianic Judaism because we know longer
felt at home there theologically, socially, culturally, or
politically.
• The culture of the community did/does not reflect
what I believe is important as a Jew, Messianic Jew,
and a Believer
• Long story… but aside from that, I don’t feel like any
community fits with me
• Not one close
• The climate at the congregation became further and
further polarized along political lines until anyone
centrist/moderate or further left felt completely
unwelcome. I stayed (as the Youth Leader) for as
long as I could for the teens. When they graduated
out of my group I resigned and told the leadership the
environment had become fiercely political, the con-
gregation prone to conspiracy, and the environment
too toxic to enable spiritual growth or discipleship. I
attended for 14 years.
• I was heavily involved in my congregation until about
a year ago. I had been involved in this congregation
since I was 2 years old and the rabbi married me just
last year. I still occasionally attend and consider it my
congregation and consider some members my
community, but no longer can align myself with a
congregation mostly filled with folks who explicitly
spew hate, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia,
islamophobia, xenophobia, and more. This became
much more apparent after the murder of George
Floyd, as many congregants took that murder as a
platform to publicly vocalize their hateful viewpoints
which DO NOT align with Jewish cultural norms.
This then prompted me to start digging into some of
the antisemitic beliefs prevalent in these statements
and came to realize many of the people around me
who I thought were Jewish were appropriating and
warping traditional Jewish traditions and calling
themselves Jewish without taking the time and effort
to understand what being Jewish means and what it
is to be Jewish. Jesus was a Jew, but that doesn’t
mean all people who believe in Jesus are Jewish
(unless they convert or are actually Jewish). Jewish is
ethnicity, culture, blood, and practice. Calling
yourself a Jew (messianic or not) while hating and
working against populations subjugated in the same
way the Jewish people are, that’s not Jewish either.
Much of my congregation turned out to be evangelical
Christians hiding behind a thin veil of appropriated,
incorrectly practiced, Jewish practices. I’m now doing
the work to separate what is Jewish and what is
appropriative Jewish practices warped to fit a
Christian belief system/ideology within what I was
taught since I was young. I’m proudly Jewish, by
blood and practice, and I look forward to educating
myself on my Jewishness further and join truly
Jewish community spaces post-pandemic.
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• Denigration of political opponents, spreading fake
and incendiary news, lack of action for hurting
communities, public name-calling from leaders to
contestants who think differently.
Teen Survey Open-Ended Question
Our teen open-ended survey question asked respondents
to answer the following two-part question: “Tell us the
main reason you want to be involved or don’t want to be
involved in your congregation (or wider messianic communi-
ty).” Each quote represents a separate respondent.
• I want to be more involved with my congregation, but
since moving from the south to the north it has been
hard. Everything is very stretched out and discon-
nected. So it’s hard to be involved and if you compare
that to what I use to do it’s a major difference. I use
to attend 3-4 times a week back south because we
were local, they had Bible studies, dance practices,
and community outreaches. Now we have to travel
1hr+ to the nearest congregation, minus the studies,
dance, and outreach we use to do because this con-
gregation doesn’t really do anything. I call the North
“Lost Land” because it really is super lost. You barely
have a messianic presence and there is so much
wicked stuff that’s celebrated and out in the open
compared to the south. The South I never really saw
that. Definitely a lot of spiritual warfare. So not
having the community anymore and battling spiritual
warfare because of the location has been very hard
and lonely. Online events within the messianic
community worldwide has helped me tremendously
and was one of the pluses of Corona shutting
everything down.
• Cuz it’s lit that’s all I got to say.
• I do not currently attend the congregation that my
parents do. I stopped attending a year and a half ago.
I was going through a hard time while the
congregation was going through changes. I was not
getting spiritually fed enough as there was no one my
age or gender in the youth group, not to mention the
youth leaders were new and my third leaders I had
while in the youth group. This ultimately was a good
decision for me but has made my faith have a slower
progression/ growth. I just started a discipleship with
a family friend who is now working with DEMJO. As
I am moving to college this fall I am not sure what my
plans are for finding or attending a messianic Jewish
 community. I am fine with attending a church. I love
my Jewish heritage and celebrating this, however I
simply want to be spiritually fed and have a great
community around me as I never had this as a teen. If
I do attend a church I would still keep a Jewish
lifestyle. I do love to participate in the YMJA as they
have always given me a stable and welcoming
community. The main problem I have with actually
calling myself a messianic Jew is the fact that this can
mean so many things. The way you can go to 3
different messianic congregations and they all do
service 3 different ways. Some people see this as a
good thing, to me it just doesn’t make sense as I’ve
not found this to be true in the non believing Jewish
community. I can’t even tell you how sick I am of
hearing “well doing it this way is traditional”!
Everything is to wishy washy for anything to go
down in messianic Jewish history as traditional for
the 21 century.
• I attend Sunday church service over Saturday or
Friday service
• I want to be involved in my community because I
love serving and my dad is a Rabbi
• I do not want to be involved in my congregation
because I am an atheist and being apart of a
congregation has always been more religious than
cultural. But sometimes I am involved because my
family is there.
• I would like to be involved more in my congregation
because I think it would benefit both myself and
others in our congregation.
• I don’t know where I will end up in 5 years, so it’s
possible that I end up on the other side of the country
or something. I also don’t know where all the
Messianic congregations in America are, so it’s
possible that there may not be one where I end up.
• Well I would like to be involved but I don’t drive and
it’s far away from my house, so it’s all depends on
whether my whole family goes
• I want to be involved because going to my
congregation each week helps me feel closer to G-d
and the community, when I help out and get involved
it keeps me busy in things like helping set up chairs
and helping with the Torah it helps me realise that
I’m working with something important. When
participating in Youth events I learn a lot not just
about G-d’s word but life in general and how to live.
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• I like being with the other kids, just wish there were
more of them. I like the group activities. Our leaders
are good!
• I really enjoy learning about the Torah
• I want to be involved in this community because they
match my religious beliefs and I want to grow in
fellowship with people like me.
• I want to be involved in my congregation because I
want to feel like I have a group that I belong to and
feel like I am helping others and making the world a
better place by doing so.
• It’s hard to connect with other teens like me so it is
hard to have friends I am comfortable around. Also I
don’t really feel comfortable talking about certain
things with people in my community that I really
NEED to talk to them about.
• Even though I’m not technically Jewish, I’ve been
raised going to a messianic synagogue, so it’s
important to me to follow traditions and things I
grew up with
• I wish to be involved in my congregation because I
feel surrounded by very godly people who have
poured their entire lives into our congregation and
the messianic Jewish movement and I wish to not
only do the same, but I wish to reward the older
leaders with the knowledge that their congregation is
going into good hands. I also wish to be more
involved in the movement because I truly believe that
God smiles upon the messianic Jewish people and we
can retain our closeness with him with cooperation
and constant lifelong learning together in this
growing community.
• To have a different type of crowd to hang around
with besides school related friends.
• I don’t attend a congregation at the moment
• Having being hurt and bullied at my former
congregation as a tween and teen, because I was not
as observant or inclined towards rabbinic Judaism.
• Going to a messianic congregation on Shabbat and a
church on Sundays, I feel like my messianic
congregation provides fewer opportunities and less
motivation for youth serving/interaction/fellowship.
My theology and methods of exegesis do seem closer
to my messianic congregation, but there simply isn’t
too much opportunity to interact with other like-
minded individuals. Most of the other youth at my
 congregation seem more interested in other activities
than in studying and/or discussing Torah, and
despite valiant efforts by some of the leaders to
cultivate this, nothing really stuck, especially during
COVID-19. It’s not that I don’t want to be involved,
but the lack of opportunity simply precludes the
possibility of more involvement, and I have many
other activities and opportunities for fellowship and
for serving others elsewhere.
• I want to be surrounded by like minded people who
believe in the importance of Torah and the Jewish
people, and all the beliefs I have been raised on.
• I choose to support and do things that jews don’t
support or do.
• The main reason I want to be involved in my
congregation is because I feel it’s important that
everyone does something in their community, and
since I am a part of that community, I should help in
any way I possibly can.
• I want to be involved in my congregation because I
love the people and community. I also love having a
place to come and worship G-d.
• We have recently moved so I haven’t been going to
a messianic congregation, but a church. We still
celebrate holidays and once in a while visit our
old congregation.
• I want to have a community of people who share the
same beliefs and keep me accountable for them.
• I want to be involved in my congregation because I
feel at home there.
• I like to be involved because it gives me something to
do and I am helping my congregation. I would be
more involved if there was other teens that go there
but I am like the only teen so it feels weird. If there
were other teens there that help out I would help out
more and be a little bit more involved.
• Since COVID-19 started the group at our congrega-
tion has significantly shrunk and most of the people
left are much older than me.
• I love being involved simply because it connects me
to my history and other people with shared
experiences. I’ve struggled to find a place of worship
mainly due to a difference in moral ideology. Social
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justice and the fight for equality are very important
to me, and I want my place of worship to share those
values with the same passion that I have.
• It’s important for me to establish my faith at my age
so I can grow up to be even stronger since I have a
strong background at a younger age.
• I feel it is important to be engaged at your congre-
gation to have a better spiritual relationship, and it is
a good opportunity to serve others and God.
• Because Is part of my life
• My main reason is culture. The Jewish culture must
be preserved. Religiously, protestant Christianity has
a similar ideal content.
• Because we are here to serve others
• I personally don’t enjoy my congregation much, but
that’s just me. The youth group is extremely unorga-
nized and no one takes responsibility for the teens.
And being a teenager, the way the youth group is set
up makes up for a good amount of my experience in
my congregation. After going there for about 3-4
years now. There are still only about less than 5
different people that I look forward to seeing after
service. I personally wouldn’t feel like I’m missing
out on much if I didn’t attend my congregation.
• I enjoy being there and I see potential that it can
be more.
• Worship God in a Messianic setting.
• Following Scripture and serving The Most High is a
priority before any religious affiliation.
• Since our congregation is lacking in other volunteers
the people who do volunteer (including me) are
usually asked to do multiple things and it becomes
very tiring to juggle these things with responsibilities
in everyday life.
• I absolutely love being in the community. My only issues
are feuds between organizations and synagogues, and
some people being a little too sheltered with how we do
things. I enjoy growing up as a messianic teen however!
• I want to be involved because I love connecting with
other people and I find it important for everyone to
get along.

Young Adult Open-ended Survey Question:
Reasons for Attending
The second question in the young adult survey was
“What are your main reason(s) for attending your
Messianic congregation or chavurah?” Each response
represents different respondents.
• I am Jewish (both parents) and believe in Yeshua. I
feel like I can express my identity at my Messianic
congregation and that is important to me.
• My Messianic congregation is a place of worship where
I can live out much of my Jewish life, observing the
Torah’s commandments God has called me as a Jew
to obey. It is the place where I learn and grow in my
relationship with God and my Messianic community.
• I was raised in my congregation: I grew up there, and
the community is like family. My parents, though
primarily Hispanic, discovered some Jewish ancestry
on my father’s side after doing some research. My
father was always interested in Judaism, the Pass-
over, and Yeshua’s Jewish identity. They started
looking for Messianic Jewish congregations (they
didn’t really know what it was about) and found
Shuvah Yisrael in Long Island, New York. They
loved it, and we have been there ever since.
• I believe it is important to remember my Jewish roots
and allow them to reflect on my beliefs in Yeshua,
who was Jewish and is the Jewish messiah. I believe
my messianic congregation is the closest I have get to
understanding and growing in my faith.
• Being connected to a spiritual and religious
community.
• I have been going here my whole life and love the
community and I am a Messiah follower.
• Community is huge to me, especially for Messianic
Jews who don’t quite feel as comfortable attending
churches or the like. There’s just a much deeper
connection to a Messianic congregational community
that continues throughout one’s life. I also love serving
my congregation because it makes me feel good to give
back to a community that has done so much for me.
• To be in G-d’s presence and honor Him
• I want to worship with and develop healthy relation-
ships with likeminded followers of Messiah. I believe
I am where Hashem wants me to be.
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• It’s my home!
• Parents have been doing it before I was born and as I
grew I stuck with it and its created good connections
with fellow believers for me. And also has provided
good thoughts and ideas of spirituality.
• Friends with the leaders; as a non-Jewish believer in
Jesus, I feel called to be a part of the Jewish people
and community and my congregation is one
expression of that; the biblical calendar is a part of
my personal life rhythm and I enjoy connecting as a
community. I appreciate the focused prayers for
Israel and desire to participate in Jewish outreach.
• Producing live audio.
• I was raised at my Messianic congregation and I
think Jewish followers of Yeshua have a
responsibility to observe Torah and maintain their
Jewish identity.
• God’s calling to me. Not neglecting the need to be
around people of the same faith to be encouraged and
as well allowing God to encourage me through my
community.
• Messianic Judaism is home. Being in a traditional
synagogue can be stressful because I sometimes feel
inadequately Jewish, and also I’m really spiritually
attuned so the darker aspects of the traditional
community are very apparent to me. Being in a
church feels disingenuous and makes me sick. Being
in a Messianic Jewish community feels like home.
• To worship the Lord with my Jewish roots and
traditions, and to reach Jewish people.
• They are the only one within a reasonable distance
for me to attend.
• Weekly attendance to a synagogue is a must for me.
Being a messianic synagogue is a big plus.
• I want to be in a community that I can support and
be supported by that has messianic Jewish ideals. I
want my kids to grow up in a messianic community.
• Hebrews 10:22-25 TLV It’s an important part of
staying encouraged, hopeful, loving, and inspired to
do good deeds for the difficult days to come.
• God’s word tells us to not neglect meeting together.
I go to be encouraged as well as to encourage
my mishpocha.
• God called me to go there. I love the indepth
teachings. I feel called to come alongside the jewish
people in God’s plan for a restored community.
• It is the community I feel most comfortable
worshiping in.
• A deeply-held belief that it is the most inline with my
theological beliefs.
• It is my home. I have gone to Beth Messiah my entire
life and it is where I feel I am led to be.a month ago
• The location and the people
• F
 amily attends
• To celebrate Sabbath
• Proximity of location and familiarity with
congregation.
• My calling is reaching the Jewish people with the
gospel. The Lord lead me to my current congregation
and it’s become a family to me. I love that we engage
with the entire Bible not just the New Testament. I
have a place to bring Jewish people that I share the
gospel with.
• I attended a mainstream Shul for years before
becoming convinced Jesus was the Messiah (spent far
chunk of that time in conversion classes), and my
pre-Rabbinic experience of church was negative, so
Church was an uncomfortable space for me and
Messianic congregations were at least a little bit like
Shul and therefore more natural place to go
• It is a Jewish congregation that believes in Yeshua.
• I believe that the best context in which to pray is in
communities that share my commitments to Yeshua
and to Judaism.
• A place to seek truth and be connected with the
Father and with like-minded believers
• I grew up there but I also feel called to messianic
Judaism
• Challenges me to think critically about my faith
• Its where I’ve grown up. It has helped shape my faith
and given me a deep appreciation for community.
Our congregation is like family.
• To worship in a congregational setting in a Jewish
manor with traditional liturgical prayers. And to
learn/ study Torah through teachings and rabbinical
d’rashim.
• UMJC congregation in the vicinity of my work
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• They uphold the same values in the word of G-d that
I do.
• Bridging the gap between my husband (Israeli Jew)
and my upbringing as a non-denominational going
family
• Community; building up faith; mentorship
• Being able to worship and pray with other believers
and to support one another
• I find it to be the best expression of faith and most
orthodoxical and orthopraxical in liturgy and lifestyle
as it related to Yeshua.
• Keeping Torah
• Acts 15
• Love of Yeshua, personal conviction, community
• I don’t really
• To be part of the family of G-d—to be in concert with
established holidays and life cycles. We believe that
Shabbat is still standing and we cannot attend both
Church and MJ synagogue to accommodate family
needs; plus we want to raise our children in non
replacement theology context.
• We are Jewish believers. It allows us to participate in
a way that is uniquely messianic.
• Religious community is very important to me
• To network with others in the movement. To
potentially meet someone I could consider marrying.
• A chance to be connected to the messianic Jewish
community, to hear Torah, and to worship God/grow
with a community.
• To be in fellowship with other Jewish believers. To
have a palace to observe G-d’s commandments, which
can only be done in community with others. Also,
to have a place that challenges me to grow in my
relationship with G-d through studying and sharing
life with others.
• It’s the congregation we can acknowledge Yeshua as
Messiah and live a Jewish life. The leaders are very
good people
• I am a Jewish believer in Yeshua, and I want to
worship and walk out my Jewish faith alongside other
Jewish believers, and Gentile believers who under-
stand the role of the Jewish people theologically.
• To worship the Lord with fellow brothers and sisters
in Messiah
• A place to pray and meet people, a place to practice
rituals and traditions
• Excellent community; eager to find depth to the Word
• Messianic Judaism that is closer to mainline Judaism
and free of drama/strange doctrines/toxic leaders.
• Congregational life and interacting with friends and
like-minded people. Praying via traditional liturgy/
siddur. Aligning life to the cycles and flow of a torah
schedule. Leading children in this way
• We feel strongly called to participate and support
creating a Jewish space for Jewish believers. It’s also
one of the few options available of being in commu-
nity with like-minded individuals with similar the-
ology and belief systems and allows us to raise our
children understanding Jew vs Gentile identity and
hopefully not confuse them with the churches
replacement theology.
• Fellowship Learning from teachings/sermons Prayer
Keeping Shabbat Holy Grow spiritually Hang out
with family
• To live out my Jewish religious obligations with other
Jews who also believe in Yeshua, where we can all
openly embrace and grow in Yeshua faith. To build a
Jewish religious community for my children and for
Messianic Jewish continuity more generally.
• To be connected to the MJ community and to live as
a Jew.
• Collective assertion that it’s ok to be Jewish and
follow Yeshua, community, relationship,
encouragement, worshiping Hashem
• In order to practice Jewish community life and
observe Jewish life cycle events with other Jews who
accept me as a member of the community
• It’s my home, and it is the place that meets my
spiritual needs
• I was raised Messianic, my parents believe there is
Jewish ancestry on one side of my family but no
proof. My parents were leaders in the movement. I
believe that MJ is a bridge between Jews and
Christians to reach the Lost of the House of Israel, to
connect with Christians to share the Jewishness of
the belief in Jesus/Yeshua. I believe MJ is a key roll in
the Return of Yeshua to this earth. I believe that MJ
needs to have a heart of Abraham for the Nations and
for the Arabs. MJ needs to embrace the one new man
and to have less division amongst ourselves and
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between MJ and Christians. MJ also needs to see their
role is reaching all Nations to the Jew first. Israel’s
calling is to reach all nations through Yeshua. The MJ
has gained strength in the last 20 years and it needs
to start taking an active role in that. There needs to
be less Judgement and more inclusion. Too often MJ
is trying to copy orthodox Judaism for identity
reasons. Culturally it is fine if that is who you are but
how do we reach the nations to include your non-
jewish friend or your orthodox Jewish Friend? I
attend a MJ Congregation because it is a fuller
understanding and practice of a life devoted to
Yeshua and the Father’s calling to all mankind to
repent and be saved.
• My husband is Jewish and this is a good place for
both of us.
• I felt G-d led me to serve, live, and worship in a
Messianic way. It also has drawn me closer to Him
and given me a better understanding of his character
and Yeshua’s sacrifice.
• I believe that Messianic congregations express the
faithfulness of the Messiah of Israel to the people
of Israel
• To be in community of fellow believers who are like
minded for fellowship, growth and life.
• To study the Bible, hear a drash and have community
with fellow believers.
• Fellowship with like-minded believers, a love for the
Jewish people, honoring Shabbat, worship and
discipleship, service opportunities
• I’m Jewish
• Calling to the Jewish people and messianic
congregational leadership, my husband is a Messianic
Jew and we agree this is the best way to manifest our
walk with Yeshua.
• I find great significance and meaning in worshipping
Yeshua in a Jewish context. Also have a deep desire
to see Jewish people come to faith.
• There wasn’t really an option to explain this, but I
have stopped attending the congregation in person
and only watch online. I stay connected that way bc I
feel like the local Messianic congregation is not that
relevant but I want to still ‘feel Jewish’ considering I
double-dip at the local Christian church where I feel
totally lost.
• To worship God, through Christ, and to participate
in His calendar and prescribed rituals, festivals,
and sabbaths
• This is where G-d called me to worship and to raise
my family.
• I was raised in the congregation since I was 8 years
old. It is home.
• I don’t feel at home anywhere else. I have a calling to
make a place for Jewish people to have a “place to call
home” when they come to know their Messiah. I
want to see Jews be Jews among Jews when they
come under the Messiah. I want to see others from
the nations come alongside the Jewish people in
deference to their identity and calling without trying
to usurp Israel’s covenantal calling and identity. Only
in a UMJC congregation can I live this out.
• I believe I’m following the guidance of The Holy Spirit
that has been leading me to the Messianic Jewish
Congregation throughout the past few years as I’ve
been studying the Bible and theology and learning
about my Jewish heritage. I didn’t grow up Jewish and
Judaism was taken away from my father’s ancestors
by force when they were exiled to Mexico from Spain
in 1492 and forcibly converted to Catholicism.
• I was Catholic, attended Catholic school since
childhood and was affiliated with Opus Dei.
However, I was always conflicted with the
commandment of “You shall not have carved images
or idols.” Sadly, I started to discover that the Catholic
Church teaches false doctrines. There are amazing
people in the Catholic church, however, as an
institution is far away from teaching truth. It’s sad
that sometimes even Messianic leaders agree with
some of the teachings or even encourage reading
Catholic documents. Maybe I need more discern-
ment? I was looking for truth, and ADONAI showed
me the Truth. I started to read the Bible and to look
for pastors/rabbis that teach based on Biblical
Foundation. I don’t need religion, I had that for 40
years. I want to do the will of God. I’m not interested
in pleasing men or following men traditions, or
rabbinic teachings either. However, I do appreciate
and can see that the Messianic movement is much
closer to the truth. I’m not a Jew, I have my own
cultural identity, but I surrender to the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He has an order, and I
must follow. I love my older brother, the first born. I
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pray that all nations turn to Messiah and surrender
to Him with perfect love and obedience. By the way, I
love the Shavuot event. Thank you!
• My congregation is a place where I can pursue an
authentic Jewish life engaged in the traditional
practices of our people while believing in Yeshua.
• Jewish ancestry
I grew up in a Christian church, and now realize that I
missed out on so much. Following the Appointed
Feasts/Festivals/Shabbat’s, learning more about Torah
and how it points to the New Testament and the New
Testament points back to the Torah. HaShem gave us
His Mitzvot for a reason, and I feel that the Messianic
congregation I attend has a fullness of following the
whole Word, not just the convenient parts.
• Love and support Jewish people
• My parents do
• It is a community with a clear vision, one that I find
myself on a path towards fulfilling that vision.
• It is the only local messianic synagogue.
• I like Rabbi Joshua and I think he brings a depth of
understanding to the scripture, unlike most Christian
pastors, and that he brings in other Jewish sources to
help explain the contexts of the passage being spoken
about. As for the community, it’s good but it’s the
teachings keep me coming back.
• To learn about Yeshua and his roots—to understand
how traditions influenced what the master said. I am
also a skeptic of the exclusion of Jewish traditions
and books i.e Talmud from informing the teachings
• I am Jewish, Messianic Judaism is exactly the way I
believe, and my congregation is really a body of
extended family.
• I grew up in a Jewish friendly home attending a
Lutheran church. We knew my mom’s side had been
Jewish at one point but had assimilated. From
childhood on, I loved all things Jewish. Thankfully,
the Lutheran church I attended fully supported this. I
had a surrogate grandparent at the church who was
Jewish and taught me and my family how to live
Jewishly (my mom also loved that many of the things
he taught us, her grandmother still did, even though
she had assimilated). I always wanted to attend a
Messianic Jewish temple, because I wanted to do the
Jewish things Yeshua did and affirm part of my heri-
 tage, but we didn’t know of any. I couldn’t go to a
mainstream temple b/c I couldn’t give up Yeshua. G-d
is so faithful that in college He sent a believer of Arab
descent my way and she told me about Beth Messiah!!
Talk about Yeshua uniting Jew and Gentile, right?!? I
walked the through the doors and knew I was home.
• It was a place both my husband and I could worship
together. After attending for a bit, he became a
believer in Yeshua.
• Strong education and unwavering faith being taught
to my children. It is not a “ religion”… God is part of
your life. He is a part of everyday.
• The acknowledgment of Judaism and its roots in the
church. The events that unite the congregation
(including chavurahs).
• Fellowship with like-minded Messiah followers, solid
teaching.
• I am a Jewish believer and to experience my roots
while also growing in my faith in Yeshua is a blessing
to be able to attend.
• To strengthen my Jewish roots and to nourish my
relationship with yeshua
• I want to understand Judaism to its full extent as well
as strengthen my relationship with Messiah.
• I feel most comfortable worshiping in an messianic
jewish environment. Yeshua was Jewish and I think
worshiping in this context deepens your relationship
with Him/ makes the bible come to life.
• To be closer to God
• People and community
• I was born and raised in a Messianic Community. I
love the Messianic community. I got a degree in
Messianic Studies from an accredited seminary. I do
have many qualms about where our Movement is
headed, but I believe that there is great power in
what we are doing. I feel like Peter speaking to
Yeshua, “Lord, where else can we go?” at this point,
even though I’m not sure where my current com-
munity is right now.
• The teach the entirety of the TaNaKh and Second
Testament as a part of the same story of HaShem’s
revelation to His people.
• Only congregation who distinguishes between Jews
and Gentiles whilst creating a safe space for both to
observe the traditions of the Jewish people under the
159
authority of Israel as a people and covenant, all the
while maintaining hope in our Messiah, Yeshua.
• Mom is Jewish, exploring covenantal responsibility to
live out Jewishness in the body of the Messiah
• Fellowship with likeminded believers. Messiah-
centered, Torah-positive preaching.
• Desire to worship with fellow Jews and experience
Jewish culture and traditions. Close friends and mentors.
• I don’t believe one can live an authentic Jewish life
apart from community. I also feel God’s presence
most within community.
• I grew up in the messianic world as my father is a lead-
er of a messianic congregation. It is part of my identity
and who I am and I don’t ever want to lose that.
• Covenant calling, Beliefs, traditions
• Jewish spouse
• To better understand the Scriptures from a Jewish lens
• my current congregation was instrumental in my
surrender to Messiah as well as my understanding
who I am as a person. (2) since the 1990s I knew my
current congregation was my home community of
faith (3) there was a deep draw to attend my
congregation that I have always believed was from
the Rauch. [sic]
• Connection to personal and corporate faith in
Yeshuah as a Jewish messiah, and connection to
tradition, liturgy and a Jewish way of life. And
connection to a strong and supportive community
in general.
• Staying connected to the community. Raising my kids
as Jews who love Messiah Yeshua
• Adonai sent me there. I don’t want to receive Yeshua
and reject the benefits of Shabbat. I don’t want to
receive Yeshua and reject His Jewish identity. I don’t
want to receive relationship with Adonai and reject
His people. The love my congregation has for one
another is unparalleled.
• Deeper connection to Yeshua, continued learnings of
Jewish observances, enriching community of young
people from similar backgrounds
• Fellowship and community, worship with others,
liturgical services
• ‫( אהבה‬Love)
• I see it as the best option for me as a Messianic Jew
• It’s the only congregation for Messianic Judaism that
we feel is true to Judaism in the immediate area
• Deepening understanding of faith in God and Yeshua
from a Jewish perspective and culturally approp-
riate context.
• Fellowship and Worship
• Involvement in both wider MJ community and in local
community are very important to me. Both my hus-
band and I have been involved in volunteer and leader-
ship activities in the MJ community since youth.
• I grew up in my synagogue. It’s a part of my family
identity.
• I was born into the community and my friend groups
and relationships I have made have kept me around
as I double dip while going to church.
• My parents do it.
• My wife and I are committed to Messianic udaism. We
were both disciples by our Rabbi as well as married.
We are also in close proximity to both the synagogue
and other young couples in our community.
• To follow Yeshua with other Jewish believers
• I have Jewish ancestors and see the beauty of the
Jewish heritage and culture. Where I am there is only
one congregation, but ones that learn and follow both
of the Covenants giving both equal weight.
• The community, leadership, serving opportunities,
worship, teaching, and Torah reading all blend
together to feed and grow every aspect of my faith
• My husband and I are gentile, raised Christian. We
became frustrated with the protestant church and
started looking for other options. Found messianic
Judaism in 2012, joined a congregation in 2013 and
continue on. I don’t think we could switch back to a
church. We love our Rabbi and our congregation. Also,
we went to Israel in 2019 which solidified our choice.
• A Messianic Jewish Congregation is the only place
where I can fully live out my identity as both a Jew
and a believer in Yeshua as Messiah. When I was
single, I hoped to find a partner that shared my
identity and values (which eventually happened!),
and my partner and I know invest in this community
both for ourselves and for our children and the
children of other families like ours.
• Raised in the congregation
160
• I and my spouse are Jewish (with all four grand-
parents being Jewish) and believe in Yeshua as the
Jewish Messiah. It is important for us to be faithful to
who G-d has called us to be, and also raise our
children in an environment where who they are
historically and culturally is integrated into who they
are spiritually. I am so grateful to have a community
albeit small where nearly everyone my children
interact with on a weekly basis is Jewish (actually),
and together practice the traditions of our people
(Liturgy, Torah service, kippot and tallisin, blessings
after oneg), and simultaneously learn from G-d’s
word about how to become more like His Son. Our
synagogue is one of our favorite places to be at, and
we can walk there because we prioritized living that
close, even though it costs more (higher taxes, smaller
house). We are there whenever the doors are open,
serve and interact, celebrate and mourn together. All
walks of life are represented—it is a Messianic Jewish
family. My parents ingrained in me who I was, and
that I would only develop more into who God made
me to be by being a committed member of a
community. I have therefore been a member of my
synagogue since being bat mitzvahed. No community
is perfect, but by sticking through conflict I have had
the benefit of deeper relationships and also having
learned much humility in the process.
• I attend the Congregation to learn the prayers and
teachings Messiah Yeshua took part of and get
knowledge and in the process deepen my relationship
with the Messiah. I also want my children to learn
and teach other generations to come.
• I care deeply about my Jewish heritage and my Mes-
sianic faith in Yeshua. I also grew up in the community
I am still in, and experience has led me to trust the
congregational leadership’s intentions and con-
sideration even when I disagree with the actions taken.
• Feel called there by the Lord
• Great Grand mother was Jewish. Was brought up in a
messianic like fashion in a small church. Felt at home
in the first congregation I attended and been
attending ever since. 30 year
• God made me do it. Although I’m increasingly
unhappy with the right-wing politics implicit and
explicit in Messianic Jewish spaces, giving up Yeshua
to go into a traditional Jewish community or giving
 up my Jewishness to enter a progressive Christian
community aren’t great options.
• I attend a Messianic congregation because I was
raised in the Messianic Jewish movement. Attending
a church is somewhat strange, because I believe
services should be on Shabbat. Despite that, I have
recently been attending a church’s events as well,
because the sermons have more meaningful content. I
love liturgy, but feel like Jewishness has become too
much of a focus among Messianic Jews sometimes.
The intention in the liturgy seems to turn from God
to just doing it because we are supposed to. I base
these thoughts on my observations on how the liturgy
is often done quickly like a chore. However, I
definitely do believe that it is still important for Jews
to retain their Jewish identity. Since I am not
halachically Jewish, sometimes I feel like I am an
imposter, even though I was raised Messianic Jewish.
My mom is not Jewish but from an ethnic group that
is dying out, so sometimes that makes me feel
conflicted. I must mention that I have also been
attending a church’s events lately, in addition to my
congregation, because I don’t know where else to find
a spouse. Many people at that church are part of my
mom’s ethnicity, so if a Messianic Jew doesn’t work
out, that’s my next best option. Back to why I attend
my congregation. I believe that the Jewish holidays
are still relevant, the Shabbat still relevant, and
Kosher laws still relevant. God won’t judge us dif-
ferently if we don’t follow them, but He gave them to
us because they’re the best ways to live.
• C
 ommunity
• My family and I were having Shabbat at home, and
knew we needed fellowship. We prayed, and Adonai
led us to our congregation. At the time, we were
traveling 3 hours one way every Shabbat!
Thankfully, He moved us closer so we were 1 hour
away, then we moved again and we were 1 hour 15
minutes away. Now we are only 20 minutes away.
• I believe that G-D called me to do so. I was raised
Messianic and participated in both a Messianic
congregation and the wider Jewish community, and
continue to do so.
• The first is that they love me and ask me to serve.
The second is that I am Jewish, and in spite of all the
weirdness that can arise in messianic congregations,
it’s still the one place where I can worship Yeshua in
a Jewish way.
161
• I attend my Messianic congregation because of the
sense of understanding and belonging that I get when
I’m there. I also enjoy the fellowship with other
young believers.
• I love the Messianic Jewish community. It is my main
community of identity, and I have life long
friendships across the larger Messianic world. I am
very committed to my religious convictions, and my
synagogue and local community is where I pray and
live out my faith with others who share those
commitments.
• I grew up there and feel at home with the
congregation. And it is close by and one of three
congregations nearby but definitely the closest.
• Values: strong Yeshua-faith, community, and
traditional Judaism
• Worship and fellowship
• My Jewish husband.
• It’s important for my kids to see that we’re not doing
this alone, they’re part of a larger community of other
Jews who also follow Yeshua.
• Only on near me without traveling 2 hours to LA
• It seems to be the most Biblical option from the
standpoint of a clear reading of scripture. It also
seems to be the most historically accurate way of life.
• I feel more connected to the sermons. I’d love my
daughter to grow up understanding her Jewish roots
and faith.
• Connection with my heritage. A more authentic
Christianity.
• For me, attendance, involvement, and leadership at a
Messianic Jewish congregation is an extension,
implication, and responsibility of my identity as a
Messianic Jew.
• It is where I belong!
• Maturation in faith
• been involved in this movement 25 years
• I have a strong commitment to the Messianic
Movement despite the problems and frustrations I
may have with the movement’s leaders. I am
currently attending 2 messianic congregations as I
have one I used to attend in person (I travel about 1.5
hours) that will begin in person again. During
COVID-19 they didn’t have an online service so I
 started attending another congregation’s services
since I was already a part of their young adult Bible
study on Zoom. My in person Rabbi is someone that I
agree with on a lot of things and takes things I view
as important seriously unlike previous Rabbis I have
had. My Rabbi from the congregation I attend
virtually as an incredible heart for young adults and
has called me more than any rabbi I have had before
to check in on me and pray for me. Despite having a
somewhat small congregation, it had a thriving young
adult community that I am blessed to be a part of as
my in person congregation doesn’t have many young
adults despite being much larger.
• It’s the fullest way for me to worship Adonai as a
Jewish believer
• I think the claims of Messianic Judaism are true.
I grew up there.
162
• I believe actively walking in faith with community is
important.
• I am in leadership and I feel called to Messianic
Movement ministry
• I’m a Jew who believes in Jesus and a messianic
synagogue exists to create a space for people in that
demographic (at least I hope it does)
• We have community relationships and COVID-19-
related accessibility made it possible for us to attend
in this last year where that wasn’t possible before.
• It just felt right and like home.
• This is where I believe Jewish believers belong. And I
love my rabbi’s teaching. And his wife has been an
excellent friend and mentor to me.
• For community, religious life. Because my family
is there.
Interview Guide Questions for Young Adults 8.  In what ways are you involved or engaged in this
congregation now?
(18–35) in Messianic Jewish Congregations
What keeps you engaged/committed to your

T
hese questions are for DTF’s qualitative study of congregation?
Messianic Jewish congregations (not our surveys);
Do you have reservations about deeper involvement in
the young adults will be congregants. The inter-
this congregation? If so, describe them.
viewer describes the Dorot Taskforce goals and de-
scribes nature and purpose of this interview, including 9.  Describe what your congregation is offering young
reviewing highlights of disclosure and protections adults (18-35)?
of anonymity. Encourage openness of participants,
okay to come back to a question later, take breaks and Describe your involvement.
pauses, etc. 10.  What personal relationships, if any, factor into
Central Research Question your involvement in this congregation?
What leads Jewish young adults/youth to be attracted
11.  How has COVID-19 affected your relationship/
to, engaged in, and invested in Messianic Jewish
involvement with your Messianic Jewish congregation?
congregations or communities?
12.  Have you ever left a Messianic congregation and
Religious Identity Questions for what reason?
1. 
What is your age? (note gender)
13.  Where do you see yourself in the next five years in
2. 
Describe your religious identity.
relation to the Messianic Jewish community?
Possible prompt: What led you to identify in this way?
3. 
How were you raised? 14.  What would your ideal Messianic Jewish
What was your religious practice like growing up? community look like?
4. 
Describe your personal Jewish practices today. 15.  What are your hopes for the wider Messianic
Messianic Jewish Community Engagement Jewish community?
5. 
When did you become involved in your current 16.  Describe any involvement you have with the
Messianic Jewish congregation? wider Jewish community.
a. How did you become involved in this
congregation? 17.  Describe any involvement you have with the
Christian community.
6.  What about this congregation initially attracted
you? (follow up on any answers to this question) 18.  Is there anything you would like to add, especially
relating to what attracts young adults?
7.  What are some things that you value most about
your congregation?

163

Statistical Significance Evaluation
Statistically Significant and Insignificant Issues
in Scale Questions
Likert (Type A) Questions
These are the variables that asked for respondents to
respond 1-5 on importance (in order of most im-
portant): We can see that most questions had an
imputed average of 3.79 with a 95% confidence
interval between 3.570 and 4.010. Deviation from the
mean is listed in parentheses.
Statistically Significant—Least important
• S haring similar political views with others in your
community (2.50)
•M
 essianic Israeli dance (2.51)
•R
 ecognizing a Messianic Jewish conversion
process (2.65)
•  ocus on spiritual gifts, prophecy, miracles, healing
F • Non liturgical worship music (3.59)
(2.94)
• S ocial justice action or participation in social justice
initiatives (3.06)
• F riday night Kabbalat shabbat service (3.06)
• Studying traditional Jewish texts Talmud, midrash,
medieval commentators (3.13)
• Organized shabbat dinners (3.26)
• Having a predominantly Jewish community (3.32)
• Outreach and evangelistic efforts (3.45)
• Having an ethnically diverse community Jews and
Gentiles (3.50)
Statistically Significant—Most important
•  oliday services communal celebration of holidays
H • Increased female leadership: 2.37 (most important)
(4.7)
• Reading of the Torah during Shabbat services (4.57)
• Welcoming, family like environment (4.57)
• Observing Jewish life cycle events bris bar bat
mitzvah weddings funerals (4.50)
• Children’s programs Hebrew school, b’nai mitzvah
training (4.40)
• Having a Shabbat morning service (4.39)
• Sermon d’rash (4.31)
• Reading of the Besorah during shabbat services (4.29)
• Having mentors (4.26)
164
• Having friends in your age group (4.22)
• Having a generationally diverse community (4.19)
• Torah Bible study groups (4.19)
• Your congregation participates or affiliates with the
wider Messianic Jewish community (4.13)
• Sponsoring community service projects feeding the
hungry, clothing the poor (4.13)
• Close relationship with the rabbi or congregational
leader (4.01)
Statistically Insignificant
• Organized activities for young adults (mean: 4.00)
• Having communal standards of observance for
Jewish laws and traditions (mean: 3.58)
• Having a communal life outside of shabbat services
mid-week studies, small groups, etc. (mean: 3.99)
• Building relationships with the non-Messianic
Jewish community (3.99)
• Oneg Shabbat social gathering eating time after
services (3.75)
• Praying from a siddur in Hebrew (3.79)
Type B: Other Ordinal Questions:
We can see that most questions had an imputed
average of 2.203 with a 95% confidence interval
between 1.727 and 2.679.
Statistically Insignificant:
• Increased antisemitism education: 2.57
(most important)
• Interorganizational Relationships: 2.52
(most important)
• Jewish only Rituals: 1.45 (least important)
• Female Rabbinic Ordination: 1.57 (least important)
Statistically Significant:
• Increased youth leadership: 2.70
The young adult survey had two types of questions:
Type A were Likert Scale questions (rating importance
from 1-5) and Type B were “other ordinal style
questions” (rating fully/somewhat support/against/no
opinion). It is commonplace for respondents of surveys
to default to a particular selection (for example always
4 on a scale of 1-5). This is why we varied the style of
response. Since the style of response was different,
testing for significance required two independent
analyses with two separate imputed overall averages:
one for each type of question. Significance was
determined based on the imputed average of each
question compared to the imputed average of each type
of question utilizing ordinal logistic regression. Seven
of the Type A questions were statistically insignificant
(they didn’t deviate much from the mean of 3.79).
For the six Type B questions, four of them had results
that, when compared with the respondents’ answers,
were not significantly different. Three deviated from
the imputed average (2.203); two questions resulted in
significantly “less” support and one question had
significantly “more” support than the average support.
Most respondents fell between “no opinion” and
“somewhat support” for each question and “women in
non-rabbinic leadership” did not deviate from this
range. However, two questions resulted in significantly
more “opposition” (“women should have opportunities
for rabbinic ordination,” and “ritual life cycle events
are for Jewish community members only”) and one
question had significantly more “support” (“there
should be leadership opportunities for teens and young
adults to serve on committees and receive leadership
training”) than the imputed average support. In other
words, despite having more than 50% full/somewhat
support for women’s ordination and ritual life cycle
events for Jewish community members only, the
numbers of those that chose “against” were higher in
these questions than in “other ordinal style questions.”
The clearest example of this is to compare the
distribution between “women in non-rabbinic
leadership” with “women’s ordination.” A future
improvement to this survey would be to have both more
types of questions asked but also with more questions
for each type. Also, Type B questions were inherently
(but unknowingly) designed with bias towards “more”
support: bias may have been reduced by including a fifth
category of “somewhat against.”
(See chart next page.)
Type A—Likert Scale Questions ranked 1 to 5
The overall imputed average was 3.79 with a 95%
confidence interval ranging from 3.570 and 4.010.
Respondents had a 95% confidence interval from 3.728
to 3.851. (See previuos page.)
Type B—Other Ordinal Questions Ranked
OTHER ORDINAL QUESTIONS RANKED
The mapping was:
0 Against
1 No Opinion
2 Somewhat Support
3 Fully Support
Overall imputed average was 2.203 with a 95%
confidence interval between 1.727 and 2.679. This
translates to an overall response between “No opinion”
and “Somewhat support.”
The respondents had a 95% confidence interval be-
tween 2.137 and 2.268 which means that respondents
tended to respond with “somewhat support.” (See the
chart at bottom and following page.)

CHART SHOWING OVERALL IMPUTED AVERAGE

Statistically Significant
Im- Distance Difference from Overall
puted to Overall Imputed Average at 5%
Variable Av. Imputed Average Threshold
Jewish Only Rituals Ord 1.46 -0.75 Yes
Female Rabbinic Ordination Ord 1.58 -0.63 Yes
Increased Female Leadership Opportunities Ord 2.38 0.17 No
Interorganizational Congregational Relationships Ord 2.52 0.32 No
Increased Antisemitism Education Ord 2.58 0.37 No
Increased Youth Leadership Opportunities Ord 2.70 0.50 Yes

165
 FIRST CHART SHOWING OVERALL IMPUTED AVERAGE
Distance Statistically Significant
Im- to Overall Difference from Overall
puted Imputed Imputed Average at 5%
Variable Av. Average Threshold
Importance of Sharing Similar Political Views With Others in Your Community 2.50 -1.29 Yes
Importance of Messianic Israeli Dance 2.51 -1.28 Yes
Importance of Recognizing a Messianic Jewish Conversion Process 2.65 -1.14 Yes
Importance of a Focus on Spiritual Gifts Prophecy, Miracles, Healing 2.94 -0.85 Yes
Importance of Social Justice Action or Participation in Social Justice Initiatives 3.06 -0.73 Yes
Importance of Having a Friday Night Kabbalat Shabbat Service 3.06 -0.73 Yes
Importance of Studying Traditional Jewish Texts Talmud, Midrash,
Medieval Commentators
3.13 -0.66 Yes
Importance of Organized Shabbat Dinners 3.26 -0.53 Yes
Importance of Having a Predominantly Jewish Community 3.32 -0.47 Yes
Importance of Outreach and Evangelistic Efforts 3.46 -0.33 Yes
Importance of Having an Ethnically Diverse Community Jews and Gentiles 3.51 -0.28 Yes
Importance of Having Communal Standards of Observance For Jewish Laws
and Traditions 3.58 -0.20 No
Importance of Non Liturgical Worship Music 3.60 -0.19 No
Importance of Oneg Shabbat Social Gathering Eating Time After Services 3.76 0.03 No
Importance of Praying From a Siddur in Hebrew 3.80 0.01 No
Importance of Building Relationships With the Non Messianic Jewish Community 3.99 0.20 No
Importance of Having a Communal Life Outside of Shabbat Services Mid-Week
Studies, Small Groups, Social, Etc 3.99 0.20 No
Importance of Organized Activities For Young Adults 18 to 35 4.00 0.21 No
Importance of a Close Relationship With the Rabbi or Congregational Leader 4.02 0.23 Yes
Importance of Sponsoring Community Service Projects Feeding the Hungry,
Clothing the Poor 4.13 0.34 Yes
Importance of Your Congregations Participates or Affiliates With the Wider
Messianic Jewish Community
4.14 0.35 Yes
Importance of Torah Bible Study Groups 4.19 0.40 Yes
Importance of Having a Generationally Diverse Community 4.20 0.41 Yes
Importance of Having Friends in Your Age Group 4.23 0.44 Yes
Importance of Having Mentors 4.26 0.47 Yes
Importance of Reading of the Besorah Brit Chadashah NT During Shabbat Services 4.29 0.50 Yes
Importance of a Sermon Drash 4.31 0.52 Yes
Importance of Having a Shabbat Morning Service 4.39 0.60 Yes
Importance of Childrens Programs Hebrew School, Bnei Mitzvah Training 4.40 0.61 Yes
Importance of Observing Jewish Life Cycle Events Bris, Bar Bat Mitzvah,
4.50 0.71 Yes
Weddings, Funerals
Importance of a Welcoming, Family Like Environment 4.57 0.78 Yes
Importance of the Reading of the Torah During Shabbat Services 4.58 0.79 Yes
Importance of Holiday Services Communal Celebration of Holidays 4.70 0.91 Yes

166