Quantcast

Jews For Jesus Founder Passes Away

2010_05_jewsforjesus.jpg Moishe Rosen, the founder of Jews of Jesus, passed away last Wednesday at age 78. The Daily News notes Rosen "gained thousands of followers while antagonizing the Jewish establishment" by asking "Jews to embrace Jesus as their savior without ditching their Jewish culture." The Jewish Community Relations Council of NY said in 1995, "What they are attempting is spiritual genocide. They want to see Judaism destroyed as an entity." A posthumous message from Rosen, posted on the website, says, "I hope I can count on you to show love and respect for the Jewish people, but Jewishness never saved anybody. Judaism never saved anybody no matter how sincere."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

Comments [rss]

  • glen glenn

    "Judaism never saved anybody no matter how sincere."

    He then added, "of course, the same could be said of EVERY RELIGION EVER."

  • virgilstarkwell

    In honor of his passing, I'm thinking about starting a similar organization - "Vegetarians for Meat".

  • oinonio

    Atheists for Allah?

  • S.K.

    For 3 days after Rosen's death, his family refused to mourn, expecting his return. But Jesus chose to keep his servant Rosen, refusing to let him return to this world.

  • jt10000
  • whirlybird

    is this the guy that sings in the cars for kids commercials?

  • FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

    HIs handouts were quite witty and funny

  • gawkthis

    no need to explain the ravings of some who hated himself so much that he needed to continue attacking himself and his heritage after death.

  • AspieSociologist

    Judaism never saved anyone because the concept of "saving" as it is known in Christianity is antithetical to Jewish theology. The concept of a messiah is radically different between the two religions, with the Jewish sense emphasizing a leader of peoples and the Christian sense emphasizing a personal savior. The fact of the matter is it is impossible to believe in a savior-figure and remain religiously Jewish.

    Jews for Jesus aren't Jews, they are Christians. The majority of their followers weren't even born Jewish, or are of any form of Jewish descent, culturally or religiously. Most are, as Rosen became, Southern Baptists.

  • airtech1

    Depends what you mean by *Jewish* -- ethnic identification? political identification, or religious? Can all be intertwined when many Jews identify themselves as secular, non-religious? Also, the Christ was a Jewish male, not a Southern Baptist. go figure.

  • angry_pickle

    Woah, the majority of his followers were not *born* Jewish? Shame on them for not being pure blood.

blog comments powered by Disqus

send a tip

tips@gothamist.com