Interview with a Messianic Rabbi

Rabbi David Wein is Rabbi at Tikvat Israel, a messianic congregation in Richmond, VA. In our conversation, Rabbi David discusses replacement theology or supersessionism, the prevalent salvation history found in churches today. Seen in these four stages- Creation; Fall; Cross; Consummation- it leaves a gap between the Fall and the Cross, God's dealings with the Jews. This gap in the story creates a hole in our understanding of God's faithfulness, as well as a common misunderstanding that the Old Testament God and the New Testament God are different in character. Rabbi David also delves into how the messianic community can be a bridge between the Gentile Church and the traditional Jewish community in Ephesians 2 style. It serves as a reminder to the church that God is still calling out a remnant of faithful Jews and at the same time is a witness to the Jewish community that following Jesus doesn't negate our Jewish life. A final point of discussion is how the Church can best "provoke Jewish people to jealousy" as Paul suggests in Romans 11- by our love; our love for one another in community and our love for the Jewish people.