Jews for Judaism...please advice needed...

[Rachel :)]

I have been reading this board for a while but don't post much, mostly because I am just so confused. I am home for spring break and I was talking to my sister, and she found out that I had been going to a messianic congregation. She freaked out and told my parents, who then sat me down and yelled at me for a while. They contacted Jews for Judaism and I am just so nervous and scared right now. I have heard from my congregation that I shouldn't talk to these people, but if I don't I just think it would get worse with my family. They want me to meet with a rabbi from there. I tried to say no, but they aren't taking that answer.
What should I do? I know I am an adult but my parents ARE paying for my college and everything else. I think if I don't go along with this they might drop all of that and then where would I be? I really need some advice. Help!

Thank you!
Rachel

 

[simchat_torah]

I can't really answer how you should handle your parents, and no one can answer that but you. However, I can tell you that Jews for Judaism is an equal (if not more so) and opposite reaction to christianity. Many of the proofs J4J uses are not accurate in the slightest, but are rather convincing. I have spoken with a few of the rabbis over there from time to time and I have pointedly asked them why they lie. Their reply? "Doesn't matter as long as it stops a Jew from believeing in Jesus"

Just keep in mind that while many of their presentations may be rather powerful, they most likely won't be accurate. You can always verify what they have to say by checking the sources, etc.... but this can be quite a task and difficult to swallow.

Explain to your parents that you feel pressured and you'd rather make these decisions on your own terms... to decide the messiahship of Y'shua on your own grounds. You decide whether you accept him or not. Quite often its easy to break down and go against one's own convictions when pressured by older and more influential people. Just decide for yourself what you believe and stick to your guns.

Sometimes it may also be more beneficial to remain silent. I have found this to be the case several times in my own life.

Shalom,
yafet

 

[Hix]

Shalom Rachel,

This is what your parents want so I think you should go ahead with it, keeping Shalom in the family is important in Judaism. Another thing that is important in Judaism is to question your faith each day, you will eventually come up against something like this at some point, you may as well face it now and have both sides of the story presented. At that point you study for yourself, and ask HaShem to show you truth.

Shalom and G-d bless
~Hix~

 

[simchat_torah]

I'm not telling you to stay away from J4J, that really is up to you. Nor am I telling you what to believe. But I don't want you to feel pressured into changing your beliefs.

That's all.
-Yafet.

 

[simchat_torah]

Which also reminds me Rachel... I never knew that you ended up deciding that Y'shua is HaMoshiach.

Where do you attend while at school?

Do you enjoy it?


shalom,
yafet

 

[Henaynei]

I suggest that call your rabbi from your shul before and after you talk with the J4J representitive. Also set your own limits - explain that you are willing to listen humbly for a specified period of time - say one hour - and that after than you wish to end the appointment and go and seek G-d yourself.

Once alone write out what you have questions about and pray about them, G-d is not weak and He will help you find answers, He admonishes us to petition Him for wisdom. Then talk to your Rabbi about the things that the J4J representitive brought up.

There are also some "answers to the anti-missionaries" sites on the web.
Here's one: http://www.hadavar.org/antimissionary.html

We will be praying for you dear achoti The love of HaShem is your shield and buckler!!

 

[Rachel :)]

Thanks for the advice. Hopefully I will get some more before tomorrow, when we meet. I have to say they work rather fast.

Which also reminds me Rachel... I never knew that you ended up deciding that Y'shua is HaMoshiach.

Where do you attend while at school?

Do you enjoy it?



shalom,
yafet

Ummmm... I am still not really sure what I believe. I do go to a messianic place, and because this is the net, and there can be hundreds of strangers reading this I don't feel confortable saying where. I felt unconfortable when I first started going but I like it now. I guess in a way I felt like I had been sneaking around my family, and now I am caught. It is not a good feeling. All I can do is go and listen right?

 

[Mr.Cheese]

Hey girlie!
I'm Mr.Cheese.
It looks like you could use one of these *hug*

 

[Rachel :)]

Well I survived. I basically took simchat_torah's advice and stayed quiet. The Rabbi seemed really nice. I thought he was going to yell at me or something, but instead he told me to make sure to study both sides of the story before I jump. He also invited me to an Orthodox home for Shabbat, so my sister and I might go in a few weeks, I don't know yet. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support.
Rachel

 

[iitb]

Well I survived. I basically took simchat_torah's advice and stayed quiet. The Rabbi seemed really nice. I thought he was going to yell at me or something, but instead he told me to make sure to study both sides of the story before I jump. He also invited me to an Orthodox home for Shabbat, so my sister and I might go in a few weeks, I don't know yet. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support.
Rachel

It is definitely a good idea to get both sides before making a choice of your own. I'll probably catch a lot of heat for this, but I've always felt that refusal to hear opposing views is a sign of weakness. You need to be able to decide for yourself what you believe, and hearing both sides is the best way to do that.

Anyway, I'm glad it went well. Hopefully there isn't too much strain on your relationship with your parents as a result.

 

[simchat_torah]

I'm somewhat surprised... Jews for Judaism is notoriously known for being rather overwhelming. However, I am quite glad you made it out alive.

shalom 2 u,
yafet

 

[YatzivPatgam]

I'm somewhat surprised... Jews for Judaism is notoriously known for being rather overwhelming. However, I am quite glad you made it out alive.

shalom 2 u,
yafet

Odd, I made similar comments about Jews for J-man.

Still, will I agree with Jews for Judaism and their efforts, I don't like their manner nor their articles. They could better explain, just about everything.

I often encourage the curious to bring their messianic matireal and their messianic leaders/teachers if possible. Honest, frank discussion goes so much farther then "He said, she said"

 

[simchat_torah]

Odd, I made similar comments about Jews for J-man.

I would too.