Controversial Efforts of Jewish Conversion During High Holy Days

September 18, 1999

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On September 18, 1999, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution published an article on the expanded efforts of Hebrew Christians and Southern Baptists to convert Jews to Christianity during the High Holy Days. David Brickner, executive director of Jews for Jesus, stated: "We feel the High Holy Days are an important time in the Jewish calendar when many of my people are thinking about spiritual things...This year we're hoping the Jewish people will look at Jesus in a new way." Jews for Jesus has stepped up its exposure by printing ads about a new book entitled, Future Hope: A Jewish Christian Look at the End of the World, in TV Guide, U.S. News and World Report, and on the Internet. They also sent postcards to 250,000 families in the United States with Jewish surnames. The Southern Baptist convention has produced a prayer guide for members to pray for the conversion of Jews to Christianity during the High Holy Days. Many Jews are outraged by the efforts of these Christians. Jay Kaiman, Southeast director of the Anti-Defamation League, stated: "It is pure arrogance for any one religion to assume that they hold the truth, especially on the eve of the holiest day for the Jewish faith." Rabbi Efraim Davidson, who is at the Atlanta office of Torah Life and Living, a "counter-missionary movement," stated: "The Hebrew Christians prey on Jews who have not had a Jewish educational background and who are not identifying strongly with Judaism. Once Jews learn about Judaism and the beauty that is there, they are less open to the work of missionaries."