AN EPHRAIMITES ACCOUNT OF MISSIONIZING A JEW ON THE FLIGHT TO ISRAEL

B"H

David Altman represented the messianic/two-house organization Alliance of Redeemed Israel at the ephraimite congress at the Eshel HaShomron Hotel last year.  He writes a report of events of his travels to Israel.  Every person that a xian meets is an opportunity for missionizing.  They wouldn't call this missionizing but "planting a seed" which will at some point "bear fruit" that will be "harvested".  He gives three scenarios, and in each one he acts and speaks in a different way, specifically catered to what will work best with each individual.  At the end he gives his card for follow up.  It is interesting to me that the only one he actually mentions yeshu to, is the religious Jew.  Altman has a jewish father and a xian mother.  This is just one of thousands, if not more, "ephraimites" that want to be accepted as brothers into the hearts of Jews and the land of Israel.  Of course the xian makes sure to 1. Tell the Jew I don’t want to convert you (that way he will keep listening) and 2. Pour on the love.

 Here is just the part about the religious Jew;

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Transition to EL AL

 

    An international airport in New York is a large place. Having a three hour layover, I had time to get from point A to B. But following my natural proclivities, I hurried to wait. Straight to the passport processing at EL AL I went. Focused on getting a new boarding pass, I hardy noticed the time alone. Being my first time out of the country, I was expecting questions over my passport, but I was surprised at the detail in which the processors delved. I produced a letter from the hotel where I was going to be staying and explained that it was a pro-Israel conference. Unbeknownst to me, one of my fellow passengers overheard me from the row beside me. He was intrigued and, after he was let through, he waited for me in order to inquire about this pro-Israel conference. He was clearly orthodox but modern. A young man with a clean-cut red goatee and plain business-like attire. Upon asking what type of pro-Israel conference, I informed him that it was a bit unique. It was a conference about mutual respect and brotherly unity. This confused him and my vague statements only seemed to make him more interested. I informed him of my lineage (having a Jewish father and a Southern Baptist mother). I clearly stated that I believed in Yeshua and that I believed that the last tribes in the nations were finding their identity and this convention was an effort to unify the Ephraim subset in support for our older brother. This piqued his confusion. He seemed a little shocked that I was Christian and asked a few pointed questions that were a bit defensive and seemingly resentful, even though I doubt it was intended. I quickly rerouted the conversation when it got to the point of "Why does Jesus have to die for my sins?" I responded with a statement that was not aimed at answering that very important question but rather clarifying my motivation and position. I told him that I don't want to espouse my position or covert him. I believe that Yeshua is my Savior and that the Torah are God's commands. I also believe that Judah has been faithfully and diligently following Torah for over 3 thousand years. I love Judah and have no interest in changing Judah. I respect Judah and hope that Judah will in kind respect me, Ephraim, with the same respect that does not demand change. I then stated that if he wanted to know about my belief because he was interested, I would be happy to share. Just as I hoped that he would faithfully share with me his belief if I was interested. I told him that mutual respect was imperative and did he want to know the answers to his questions because he was interested or because he felt he had to defend his faith. He didn't answer. He rerouted to a more personal topic and asked about me. It seemed he had become interested in the man in front of him and I answered the questions openly. I did the same in kind and it was clear that he was a good and thoughtful man. It appeared that he thought the same of me. The next two to two and a half hours passed like a jackrabbit and we found that we had a tremendous amount in common, including our devotion to God. Our particular beliefs did not interfere with each other and considering that he believed in the coming Messiah as much as I did. We didn't clash once in our understanding of Torah or the appropriate way in which to serve Yahweh through implementation of Torah. We parted a bit hastily and a few details spilled that he probably avoided at the beginning but was happy to share now. He said he was in the IDF for 2 years. I stopped his sentence and thanked him for his service. He was a bit taken aback and I am still unclear as to why. He asked why I thanked him. I told him that Israel needs to be protected and I am proud and thankful of anyone that does. He stood silent for a moment. We were in the tunnel at this point and he dropped a surprise as he put his hand on his shoulder as he accompanied me down the ramp. He told me he was going to marry an Israeli girl on Thursday and that was the reason why he was coming. He stopped short of the door to the plane and asked me if I would come to his wedding in Jerusalem. I was surprised to say the least. The openness and hospitality was just one of the many things I admire about Judah. In front of me stood a shining example of why I am right to love my brother. I told him how appreciative I was to be invited and that if I was able, I would love to attend. At this point we were holding up traffic and we assured one another we would try to find one another when we got off the plane. We were quite distant with regard to our seats and because of time I failed to give him my card. He went to the Israeli section and I to the foreign section and he must have picked up his bags before I was able to get to baggage claim. I never got to exchange information and I will regret that until the day I am blessed to meet my new found brother again. I prayed that he have a joyful wedding and that he finds fulfillment in his new and promising marriage.  I hope to see him again.