Chabad-Affiliated Jewish Group Complains about Messianic Jewish Chaplains in U.S. Armed Forces
For more than a century, U.S. military chaplains have worn insignia identifying their faith — a cross for Christians and tablets with a Star of David for Jews. Now Jewish chaplaincy groups are asking the Pentagon to intervene after chaplains from Messianic Judaism, a Christian movement that blends Jewish practices with belief in Jesus, began wearing the Jewish symbol. . .
In a view shared by many Jews, Aleph [a Chabad-affiliated organization that endorses Jewish chaplains for the U.S. military] suspects that the Messianic movement is a facade — a deceitful tactic aimed at proselytization.
“They have engaged in heavily deceptive behavior, all for the purpose of trapping unsuspecting Jews into the belief that Jesus is part of Jewish theology,” Aleph’s letter [to the Armed Forces Chaplains Board] said. “Due to persecution, forced conversion, and extreme tactics employed by many Christian countries over the millennia proselytization of Jews is considered an antisemitic tactic” . . .
Burling pointed to a San Diego rabbi, Yoram Dahan, as someone familiar with his Jewish learning and involvement in the community. But Dahan said that while Burling had studied Torah with him, he never understood Burling to be Jewish.
“[A Messianic Jewish chaplain] studied Torah with us and he was very serious about it. He loves Israel. But of course he is Christian,” [a San Diego rabbi] said. “If he says he is Jewish, it is not true and it’s not good. . . . The Messianics are a very dangerous group.” (Read more from “Chabad-Affiliated Jewish Group Complains about Messianic Jewish Chaplains in U.S. Armed Forces” HERE)
