Messianic Literature
Is Not A Big Problem
SUSAN GRANT
Staff Writer
A
small white pamphlet
is stuck behind a car's
windshield wiper. On
the outside it reads "Israel:
The Son of God" and
features a blue Magen
David.
Out of curiosity you open it
and discover the author is
using Torah verses to argue
that Jesus is the messiah.
This particular piece of
messianic literature was
written by the late Louis
Paul Goldstein, a Rumanian
Jew who converted to Chris-
tianity. Goldstein and his
wife, Margaret, traveled the
country spreading the
Gospel to Jews.
TOday, Margaret Golds-
tein, a Seventh Day Adven-
tist who lives in Brighton,
continues her husband's
work by making pamphlets,
a biography of her husband
and Bibles available to mes-
sianic Jewish groups.
"I love the Jewish people. I
want people to know there is
a messiah and his name is
Yeshuah," she said.
"They (Jews) either get
mad or they get glad. Some
people tear it up and throw it
to the ground. It's a free
country."
Ronnie Schrieber, who
leads the Detroit chapter of
Jews for Judaism, said about
eight different groups who
believe in Jesus but follow
Jewish traditions exist in
the area. Jews for Judaism
monitors messianic Jewish
groups throughout the coun-
try.
Until recently, Schrieber
had never heard of Golds-
tein.
Most of these groups use
pamphlets and mailings to
spread their beliefs.
Occasionally, Schrieber
hears complaints from peo-
ple who have received the
pamphlets, but usually these
writings are more of a nui-
sance than a threat, he said.
Temple Beth El Rabbi
Daniel Polish said in the
past year he has found Mes-
sianic Jewish literature at
the temple two or three
times, including an incident
a few weeks ago.
Mainline Christian chur-
ches condemn the messianic
Jewish practice, Rabbi
Polish said. "It certainly is
as offensive to them as it is
to us."
Many of the Messianic
Jews are from intermar-
riages, he said. "It's a way to
be Jewish and still be close
to your spouses' religion.
These children often grow up
to be Christians. It is a
gateway to Christianity."
Usually when the literature
is dropped off he does not see
it happen, Rabbi Polish said.
However, earlier this year
he caught one individual.
Although it could be con-
sidered trespassing, he just
told the man he was being
discourteous and to stop.
Although Rabbi Polish
said he is slightly disgusted
by the pamphlet, "I just
crumple it up and throw it
away."
Richard Lobenthal,
Michigan director of the An-
ti-Defamation League (ADL)
of B'nai B'rith, said that
response is common.
"Most Jews just wrinkle
their noses and throw it
away," he said.
The ADL receives about
six calls a year about this
kind of literature. Callers
want to know if the pam-
phlets are legal and how
effective they are, Lobenthal
said.
Individuals may distribute
literature if they do not
break trespassing laws, he
said.
"I would say it is not effec-
tive. Only people who are al-
ready questioning their
religious identity may listen
to it."
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