My first trip to Israel in 1977 was life-changing. I had come to learn in a yeshiva, but the experience ignited something much deeper. The land, the history, and the spiritual depth of Israel sparked a passion that I would carry with me for the rest of my life. Although I settled in Los Angeles the following year to work with Rabbi Shlomo (Schwartie) Schwartz on college campuses, that first trip to the Holy Land planted the seed for a future I never could have predicted—one that would eventually lead me to make Israel my home.
In 1984, I took a significant step in my personal and professional journey by founding Jews for Judaism. It was in response to a growing threat: the rise of cults and missionary groups, particularly “Jews for Jesus,” which were aggressively targeting Jews for conversion. These groups, by distorting the Bible and masquerading Christianity in the guise of Judaism, were convincing Jewish individuals to abandon their faith. I knew something had to be done to reconnect Jews with their heritage and their families. Through Jews for Judaism, I set out to counter these efforts by providing educational resources and counseling for those at risk of being led astray.
Over the next forty years, I traveled extensively, speaking to communities around the world, offering spiritual guidance, and helping individuals regain their connection to Judaism. This was a profound source of fulfillment. However, the work I had undertaken was not without its challenges. While successful in many cases, assimilation, intermarriage, and the allure of “Messianic Judaism” made me feel as if I were David fighting Goliath. But we pressed on.
Then, as the internet and social media revolutionized communication, a new wave of challenges emerged. Missionaries, who had operated on street corners and college campuses, quickly adapted to the digital age. They were no longer speaking with one hundred people a day; now, they could reach thousands every hour, infiltrating Jewish homes and dormitory rooms with their persuasive messages. This era of digital outreach required a new approach.
I worked tirelessly to ensure that Jews for Judaism had an internet presence. We launched a highly acclaimed website, created hundreds of YouTube videos, and produced downloadable materials in multiple languages to spread our message worldwide. Nevertheless, well-funded missionaries inundated social media with their deceptive propaganda.
Most disturbing was the explosion of missionary activities targeting Israeli Jews. The tip of the iceberg was the Hebrew ads on Egged buses and preaching on the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Now, according to a Jerusalem Post article, “Jews for Jesus” has sixty staff members operating in Israel. Along with numerous other missionary Christian groups, they flood the internet with testimonials of Israelis who have accepted Jesus.
Shockingly, Israeli Channel 2 News claims that more than 20,000 Israelis identify themselves as “messianic Jews” who accept Christian theology in the guise of Judaism. How is this possible?
The missionary challenge in Israel is particularly subtle and it takes advantage of an Israeli society that is highly segmented: one extremely religious and the other secular, sometimes even anti-religious. Additionally, many Israelis have little exposure to Christian theology and see Evangelical Christians as friends who support Israel politically and financially.
The missionaries’ success made it clear: Jews for Judaism needed to expand its activities in Israel. I therefore decided to move to Israel—not just as a personal choice, but as a commitment to the mission that had shaped my life for over four decades.
Moving to Israel is a natural next step in this journey. It’s not just about the land; it’s about being at the forefront of the ongoing battle to preserve Jewish identity. I am here to continue the work that began in 1984. I am providing counseling and education, and I am using social media to spread a positive, spiritual, and uplifting message about Judaism and its timeless values that have sustained our people for millennia.
Israel, for me, is not just a place to live—it’s a place to inspire and to ensure that the future of Judaism is as vibrant as the past that has shaped it.
Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz can be reached at [email protected]
