CNN: Jewish groups from both parties slam ‘offensive’ decision to have Messianic Jewish minister at Pence event
Washington (CNN) – Jewish leaders from both political parties said Tuesday that it was “offensive” and “disappointing” to have a Messianic Jewish minister open a campaign event attended by Vice President Mike Pence on Monday.
Pence called Rabbi Loren Jacobs a “leader in the Jewish community,” but many Jewish people consider Messianic Judaism to be a form of Christianity and reject the conflation of the two religions. At the rally, Jacobs prayed in the name of “Jesus the Messiah,” but mainstream Judaism does not believe that Jesus was the long-awaited Jewish messiah.
The invitation of Jacobs, in the wake of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that took the lives of 11 people, has drawn criticism from American Jewish leaders — both Democratic and Republican. The decision to invite Jacobs offended some Jewish people who were already wary about the Trump administration’s commitment to defending Jewish interests and safety amid a rising tide of anti-Semitism.
An official in Pence’s office said in a statement: “The speaker was invited by Lena Epstein, the candidate the VP was there supporting. We often have ecumenical prayers at the beginning of events that aren’t an endorsement of any particular faith.” Epstein, who is Jewish, is running to represent Michigan’s 11th Congressional District.
Matt Brooks, the executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, called it “an unfortunate and disappointing mistake”.
“Any kind of elevation or legitimization or profile for Messianic Jews or Jews for Jesus is unacceptable,” Brooks said. “There is no circumstance where that is an acceptable speaker to represent the Jewish community”.
“This was an unfortunate decision that was made by one of the campaign staffers, and quite frankly I wish that a different decision had been made,” Brooks added.
Halie Soifer, the executive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, condemned the decision as a “failure of leadership”.
She said in a statement, “So-called Messianic Jews are not a part of the Jewish community, and espouse views considered deeply offensive”.
“In choosing this individual to give a ‘unity prayer’ at the Pence campaign rally, Epstein demonstrated that she lacks both the judgment and understanding to lead Michigan’s 11th Congressional District,” the statement reads.