"Are you Jewish?" I asked him.

"I am grafted in through the grace of God," he said. I am paraphrasing his answer. I do not remember it fully, because, quite frankly, at the time I wrote him off as being a missionary out to trap Jewish girls into his way of thinking.

He went on to tell me that believing in Yeshua was the best way he knew how to be Jewish, after I pressed the point? He had told me he did not come from a Jewish background originally, so I assumed he had converted somewhere along the way.

With the Jewish Roots movement taking hold in congregations all over the world, some Believers are studying the Feasts and Torah, wondering where they fit in with it all. Some of them choose to convert to Judaism.

Others, not necessarily Believers, but people searching for something spiritual in their lives, also beging a quest in Judaism. Sometimes they are romantically involved with someone who is Jewish, the incentive being having a household with one faith and appeasing the in-laws. Or, in the process of going through the various "-isms," Judaism is one more step along the way.

To convert, as a verb, means to change from what you are into something else. Is this even possible? In some ways yes, in other ways, no. The established Jewish community often accuses Messianic Jews of having "converted" to another religion. This is not true, because the vast majority of Messianic Jews continue to have a Jewish identity and live a Jewish lifestyle. What has changed is their perspective and relationship with God. A heart transplant, if you like. But they have not suddenly changed into a new person, in the physical or ethnic sense.

After all, Judaism is as much an ethnic and cultural group as it is a religious one. Try as one might, you can't convert to an ethnic group. As much as I enjoy Chinese food, culture and music, I will never be Chinese. I could even spend some time in China and learn the language. However, I'm still a Jewish woman who can barely handle chopsticks.

A Gentile person can strive to keep the Torah, and this is a positive thing. The Torah is God's letter to His people, instructing them in their lifestyle. But this does not make a Gentile Jewish. Even the contemporary Rabbis would agree that the mere following of the Torah makes a non-Jew Jewish.

No, in fact the Rabbis have their own interpretation of what contitutes a "proper" conversion. Not only does one have to become an adherent to the Torah, but also of the Oral Law (Talmud). The Oral Law was passed down by Rabbis through the centuries, and eventually codified in writing. These Laws elaborate and add to the Torah, with the intent of making sure that one does not accidentally break one of the 613 mitzvot (Laws). They especially expound on permitted activities on Shabbat (Sabbath) and kashrut (dietary laws). The idea of kosher meat needing to be salted for 90 minutes comes from the Talmud. So does not combining meat and dairy products, which expounds on a Levitical commandment not to boil a calf in its mother's milk. Even wearing a kippah (yamulke), one of the most culturally-identifying traits of Jewish men, is not a Biblical commandment, but a Talmudic one.

So, the potential convert to Judaism must religiously (pardon the pun) follow the 613 Laws in the Torah and the multitude of man-made ones in the Talmud. This is especially true for those converting under Orthodox auspices. The more liberal denominations of Judaism have their own requirements.

Not that the Talmud is a bad thing -- many of the Talmudic writings have become integral parts of Jewish culture (such as wearing a kippah). As long as what one is following in the Talmud does not contradict the Torah or other Biblical books, God's inspired Word, then there is nothing wrong with following what, in fact, should not be looked upon as more than customs. The problem begins when the Talmud is elevated to the level of God's Word, or even higher, which it has been in some Jewish congregations and denominations. Jewish yeshivas (seminaries) often put more emphasis on teaching the Talmud than the Torah itself! More than one yeshiva student has said that he has never read Isaiah 53 or the Book of Daniel.

But even practising the Torah and Talmud does not make one inherently Jewish. This begs the question: What is a Jew? Biblically speaking, a Jew is a descendent of the line of Abraham. Anyone with Jewish blood is therefore a Jew. Contemporary Judaism says that a Jew is one whose mother was Jewish (or who has converted), but in Biblical days the line generally was transferred through the father. And, of course, you can't control your blood heritage.

Before Messiah came, there were those who becamse part of Israel through allegiance. Ruth was probably the most famous of these. Some have called her Judaism's first convert. But she never went through a formal process of conversion. She stood with Israel and the Jewish people out of her own desire to follow God. She was a Believer. She became part of the House of Israel, but she did not become a Jew. A Moabite woman, she married a Jewish man. Her descendents, most notably King David, were Jews. She did not have to convert in order for her children to be considered Jewish or to gain righteousness with God.

To non-Jewish Believers who wish to stand with Israel and the Jewish people: God bless you! But you don't have to become Jewish to remain in favor with God. If you are married to a Jewish spouse, your children are part of Israel. And you are also part of Israel by your allegiance, grafted in through the blood of Messiah. To God, it does not matter that you are not culturally Jewish. After all, He made you!

I have yet to mention one more important aspect of converting to Judaism: you have to deny Yeshua as Messiah. Regardless of which branch of Judaism through which you convert, you will most likely be asked if you view Yeshua as Lord and Messiah. If you answer in the affirmative, the Rabbi will show you the door. If you answer in the negative, you are in danger of committing the one unforgivable sin -- the blaspheming of the Holy Spirit. We all come to the LORD in different ways, but most of us can say that the Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit) led and guided us. So if are to publically deny the most important revelation given to us by the Holy Spirit, then you are quite simply turning your back on the LORD.

If one is not a Believer to begin with, many of the issues raised here are probably not relevant. You have to decide for yourself what your motivations are to convert to Judaism, including coming to terms with who God really is. This may be one of the first times in your life you have actually sought a relationship with God. Please prayerfully consider your actions.

To the Believers: you don't have to be Jewish to believe in the Jewish messiah. As it says in Romans, Yeshua came first for the Jews and then for the Gentiles -- but it does not say the Gentiles must become Jewish!

"Everyone who calls upon the name of the LORD will be Saved" - Joel 2:32, as quoted in Romans 10:13, NIV.

"For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile -- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him." - Romans 10:12, NIV

Do not try to change the person who God made. We are all One in Messiah, standing together, Jew and Gentile.

Copyright 2002