Congregation Ruach Israel — Local services in Needham

Shalom! My name is Stacey, but friends here call me ‘Stacele’! I was raised in a ‘conserv-a-dox’ synagogue. In my twenty-something quest to know HaShem more personally, I simultaneously attended both a synagogue and a church. I had never heard of Ruach Israel, nor Messianic Judaism for that matter, until the late 1980’s. (Small wonder that Ruach Israel is often called ‘the best-kept secret in greater-Boston’!) When I first began attending in 1990, the congregation did not yet have an actual building. Despite overwhelming odds and many challenging obstacles, The Greendale Avenue Worship Center was erected in 1992, a tribute to the cooperative efforts of multiple faith groups – a uniquely beautiful and amazing miracle! Throughout my thirty-plus years with the congregation, I have witnessed much evolution (for lack of a better term) in the format of our worship service, music and liturgy, yet the congregation has always remained true to its original vision: to be a place where folks who affirm Yeshua (Jesus) as Israel’s Moschiach ben David can worship on Shabbat in Jewish space.

Rather than echo others’ previously-posted sentiments about the food and the music, etc., I’ll mention a few of my own favorite aspects of congregational life here at Ruach Israel (in no particular order): 1.) The muppets! Before the kids are blessed under the tallit, our rabbi emeritus does an hilariously entertaining teaching segment using muppets, reflective of the week’s parashah and the kids’ upcoming Shabbat School lesson 2.) The feeling of visiting with one’s aunts, uncles and cousins every Shabbat. I love seeing the kids sitting on the laps of adults who are not their actual parents or relatives. It is a testimony to the loving, trusting atmosphere of mishpocheh that underpins our congregational life. 3.) The fact that attendees come from as far away as Western Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and even Maine, to be part of our community. (With the recent advent of Zoom, of course, our virtual community now extends across not only the country, but also around the globe!) We have sister congregations in Connecticut and New York, as well as in other parts of the country, with whom we look forward to getting together at set times during the year. A highlight is Camp Or L’Dor, a Messianic Jewish summer camp experience for our youth. 4.) Augmenting our regular Shabbat observance is our exuberant celebration of holidays and milestones, as well as our deeply meaningful commemorations of the more sombre events that are part and parcel of the fabric of Jewish existence. Baruch Hashem, and todah rabbah for taking the time to read this review. Better still, come...

There are clearly so called "anti missionaries" that have an axe to grind against anything associated with Messianic Judaism. The thing is, anti-missionaries aren't the representative voice for all Jewish opinions on Messianic Judaism. To be clear, Ruach Israel is not trying to deceive anyone. They authentically and unashamedly uphold and promote adhering to Jewish life and practice (for Jewish people, as most but not all members are Jewish through at least maternal or paternal descent) and faith in Yeshua (Jesus as the promised Jewish Messiah) in an intellectually honest and sincere way. This is why I, a Jewish man who came to follow Yeshua in my 20's found a faith home/family at Ruach Israel where I could genuinely uphold and live out these complementary imperatives of my spiritual life in community--Yeshua centered Jewish life and practice. I encourage you to put any a priori biases aside and to visit and judge for yourself whether Ruach Israel is a fraud or an authentic spiritual expression of a coherent reality or at least be open to an honest conversation of mutual understanding. Clearly, the unstated goal of the anti-missionaries is to paint a caricature of what they want you to think about us and drive you away through fear. But "Fear not!" for "Love casts out fear." And there is lots of...

As Ruach Israel's Rabbi Emeritus I look back on my 40 years of service as the congregation's first Senior Rabbi with gratitude and deep satisfaction. Of curse, all human endeavors have their "Oy vey" moments. But, I can honestly say that my experience has been one of great joy. Why? Three reasons stand out. First, our members and friends tend to share a passion for spiritual truth which creates an ethos of great hope and optimism. Second, the Ruach community is wonderfully warm and caring. Visitors continually comment about this. Third, the mix of singles, Seniors, people with multiple children and teens attending Shabbat and Holy Day services speak to the relational health, attractiveness and the dynamism of our community. May God grant me many for years to serve this wonderful Messianic Jewish synagogue...