Messianic Jewish Prisoners Denied Access to Kosher Meals
isr...@jerusalemcouncil.org
4 local inmates allege discrimination, want kosher meals
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080719/NEWS01/807190310
Please contact the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction by
visiting their website for contact information and please explain to
them the Torah-observant Messianic Jewish position on keeping kosher:
http://www.drc.state.oh.us/
We have sent them an letter already. Please explain to them that Torah
observant Messianic Jews keep the Torah, so as not to sin against God,
which includes keeping kosher as well, and that if they serve kosher
meals to non-believing Jews, they should not discriminate against
Messianic Jews who too are convicted to keep the Torah, and thus keep
kosher.
The issue seems to be certain individuals making the decision on what
Messianic Jews should be believing, rather than what they actually
believe. It stems from a misunderstanding of what Messianic Judaism
is, and especially ignores Torah-observant Messianic Jewish
convictions and identity.
There shouldn't be unequal treatment in any prison program that offers
kosher food to inmates based on what a warden, or chaplain thinks an
inmate should believe concerning these things.
Refusing to serve kosher meals to Messianic Jews because some who
claim to be Messianic Jews don't keep kosher, is the equivalent to
refusing to serve kosher meals to any Jew just because some other Jews
don't keep kosher. This form of religious discrimination is a double
standard, and ODRC should be made aware of this.
Israel
Israel ben Bezalel
An Open Letter to Rev. Gary Sims, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction:
It has come to our attention that Messianic Jews in ODRC as reported in the Mansfield News Journal are being denied the right of access to kosher foods when all other Jews are granted access to kosher foods. This is appalling, since Messianic Jews are those who keep the Covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as written by Moses in the Torah. This includes keeping a kosher diet. One who breaks the commandments concerning clean and unclean foods, commits sin, since it is a transgression against the literal commandment of God as it is written:
Leviticus 11:43-44
43 Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them.
44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground.
Due to a misinformed understanding of Torah-observant Messianic Judaism, it appears the opposite stance was taken after some "Messianic rabbis" were consulted concerning the requirements for diet for Messianic Jews within ORDC. The scripture above should be absolutely clear that Messianic Jews who profess obedience to the Torah, are required by God to "not defile yourselves by any of these creatures" as outlined in the entire chapter of Leviticus 11.
The issue is not whether or not Messianic Jews are Jews for purpose of ODRC dietary classifications - although the majority of Messianic Jews consider themselves fully Jewish, and we at the Jerusalem Council, and other organizations would be more than happy to make the case for such a classification; however the issue is that Messianic Jews who believe they are responsible for keeping the commandments of God in the Torah, should be allowed to do so within any fair application of dietary menus provided by ODRC if others enjoy that same privilege. The issue is over the fact that some prisoners within ORDC are in fact privileged to exercise their obedience to God in the matter of keeping kosher, by claiming to be Jewish, and believing Jesus is not the Messiah; whereas those who desire to keep the commandments of God concerning diet, who believe Jesus is the Messiah, should be allowed the same treatment.
If you want the theological reasons for keeping kosher as a beliver in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, please feel free to contact us and we will be more than happy to provide all the material you need in making a fair decision, but we will be happy to share one here:
Revelation 14:12
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.
Please register this compliant with the appropriate authorities within ODRC, and please reconsider allowing Messianic Jews who profess obedience to the Torah as a way of obedience to God, the means to meet their convictions concerning the matter, and thus end this unfair religious discrimination against Messianic Jewish prisoners within ODRC.
Signed,
Israel ben-Betzalel
Messianic Jewish Apologist
JerusalemCouncil.org
and the global Torah-observant Messianic Jewish community