This week, Joe Miterko, graduate of Berklee College of Music and Talbot School of Theology, explains the importance of our Jewish heritage as Christians. He is a key leader at CityRuach, a new intentional Believing community in Brighton with Messianic Jewish Followers of Yeshua (Jesus). Read below to learn from our Messianic brothers and sisters about the roots of Judaism within Christianity.

The secret is out! Almost everyone knows about Jesus’ Jewishness. But have you considered:

• …that His Twelve Disciples were all Jewish?
• …that His later Followers were also Jewish? In fact, did you know His brother James’ real name is Jacob according to the Greek?
• …that His mother Mary was really named Miriam, also 100% Jewish?
• …that Peter and John still prayed at the Temple according to Jewish customs after His Ascension into Heaven (see Acts 3:1)?  
• …that the New Testament was written primarily as a book by Jewish people for Jewish people? It’s so Jewish!

As a result, when someone asks, ‘Can you be Jewish and believe in Jesus at the same time?” the answer is a confident and hearty  “Yes!” This is what CityRuach is all about. (Ruach, pronounced Roo-ahk, in Hebrew means “Spirit”).

CityRuach is a new ministry based in the Boston area, desiring to promote an authentic encounter where the love of Messiah Yeshua (Hebrew name for Jesus – literally meaning “Salvation”) and Jewish life unite. In short, Messianic Judaism is defined as Jewish people who believe that Jesus-Yeshua is the promised Jewish Messiah. We are building a Messianic Jewish presence in Boston as a safe space where all people can come, no matter what. 

Many people move to Boston and have a hard time being away from family. In a completely new environment, finding new friends in an unfamiliar city can be challenging. Also, for college students, constant stresses and pressures of projects, papers, and academia can be daunting. We want to be a place where people can come and be supported with a warm, Yeshua-centered community. For Messianic Jewish college students within the Boston area, we will be a familiar face for their home practices. For Yeshua-Believers in the Church, we serve as a place where they can explore their Jewish heritage and faith more. And for non-Yeshua believing Jewish people, we provide a safe place where their questions can be answered and views can be expressed.

Jewish Life and Yeshua Faith go hand-in-hand. Through Shabbat (Sabbath) dinners, Holiday events, Bible Studies, Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) initiatives, fun social gatherings in the city, and much more, we are trying to build a vibrant atmosphere where the gospel can be heard and people can feel at home.

Our ministry is birthed out of Congregation Ruach Israel in Needham. a longstanding Messianic Jewish Congregation (founded and established in 1979). For the average college student, it is a schlep (long way) to get out to the suburbs, with little to no public transportation, so we are taking the congregation to them as a satellite campus! Our home base is the Ruach House, a communal house located in Brighton, where our residents are the lead coordinators of the CityRuach team. Residents are also covenant members of the Synagogue and in good standing with Ruach Israel leadership.

We welcome non-Jewish people to come and see what we are about. Jesus was Jewish. As stated, He lived as a Jew and died as a Jew. By having those from the  nations  participating with us, we see Kingdom realities break loose. The prophet Isaiah not only says, “So all nations will flow to it (The House of the Lord)” (Is. 2:2) in the Last Days, but he also says, “For My House will be called a House of Prayer for all nations” (Is. 56:7). Jesus is One Man Israel and is the Light to the Nations. By joining with us, you can understand these realities in a deeper way.

Additionally, one of our team members can come present a Jewish Roots seminar for your Church or small group, such as Messiah in the Passover, Healing Prayer: A Jewish Approach, Messiah in the Fall Feasts, etc. It is important to remember that we are one body in Messiah and that Jews and Christians need to work together (Ephesians 2:11-22).

We encourage you to connect with us! If you are simply curious about what we do, have a question about modern Messianic Judaism, want to have one of our team members speak at your congregation or small group, or just want to discuss more, please send a note to cityruach@gmail.com or connect with us on our CityRuach Facebook page. We would love to help and collaborate with you! Yeshua simply said “Come and See” (John 1:39), so come and experience a new light to the Jewish people in Boston for Messiah’s glory!

Joe Miterko is a graduate of Berklee College of Music (B.M. Contemporary Writing & Production) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div Jewish Studies). Born and raised in Connecticut, Joe is passionate about music, travel, and much more!