Ministry Moments - 3/27
Squirrel Hill Pittsburgh, PA
Judah was walking past us with his two young children when I asked him “Who or what do you think would bring true Shalom?” To my surprise instead of ignoring us and moving on he stopped to talk. When he answered with just one word—“Love”—I responded that I was surprised that he did not mention the Mashiach. He said that he did not want to give the typical Jewish answer.
That led to a wonderful discussion about the Messiah. I asked him if he had a clue of what I believe. Judah said, “I think so but go ahead and share it with me.” I told Judah that we believe that the Messiah came two-thousand years ago to give us inner peace, He is coming back soon to bring the world peace and if you have a relationship with Him, you will have eternal peace when this life is over. Judah responded that it was a beautiful sentiment. I asked him why he didn’t believe that Yeshua is the Messiah. Judah shared that he grew up believing that Jesus was only for the Gentiles but definitely not the Messiah of the Jewish people. I asked Judah if he was willing to read some materials if I gave them to him. He hedged a little but gave in and took three tracts, my card, and a Messianic New Testament in Hebrew. Yay!
Judah said he would read the materials and contact me. I told him that I am here every Tuesday, same time, same place, and I would love to take him out to coffee. Please pray for Judah and his family, that the Holy Spirit would speak to him through his honest seeking for his Messiah, and that he would contact me!
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Lauren and Stephanie responded immediately to my questions about Shalom. They were not only happy to share their opinions but were also happy to hear ours. As we shared back and forth we found out that Lauren and Stephanie were both attendees at The Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill until that fateful day on October 27, 2018 where eleven Jewish people attending a service were fatally shot at a by a madman shouting ‘All Jews must die!’. No one knows if the Tree of Life will ever open up again but it is obvious that Squirrel Hill will never be the same.
I asked the two women if they continue to go to synagogue? They said that they were going to Beth Shalom, where two of the four congregations from Squirrel Hill were meeting but have not since the pandemic started. They weren’t sure if they would ever feel comfortable going to synagogue again.
I must admit that this was one of the most refreshing conversations I have ever had on the streets of Squirrel Hill. It caused me not only to hurt for Lauren, Stephanie, the community of Squirrel Hill, but for all the Jewish communities in the world that have been affected not just by this tragedy but all the anti-Semitism experienced by Jewish people in the world over the centuries.
Lauren and Stephanie are not much different than many other Jewish people in the world. They want community, they want answers to the issues that are pressing, they want to believe that there is a God that is listening to their prayers, but most of all they want to believe in a Messiah that Ha’Shem (The Name) promised to send them thousands of years ago. Pray that Lauren, Stephanie, Judah, as well as many other Jewish people in the world come to know their Messiah is Jesus, just as He has revealed Himself to us who know Him!
-Mitch Tepper, CWINA Missionary
