In the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City, there is a Messianic Jewish woman named Oriel Moran a shining light and witness for Jesus (Yeshua) with a simple boldness. This morning, I watched her interview on the Insightful Nomad’s video, which came on my home feed on YouTube, “Can a Jew in Israel Believe in Jesus? ,” her passion for Yeshua as the Messiah grabbed my heart.
As a born-again Christian with a love for sharing the Gospel, I see Oriel as a “lioness” whose faith bridges her Jewish roots with the truth of Jesus, showing us how to proclaim Christ with courage and clarity.
As I write this article, it isn’t just about Oriel, but using her words as a tool to help you witness like her.
Boldness in a Challenging Land
Oriel, a citizen of Israel, lives among 20,000 Messianic Jews who face misunderstanding and rejection for believing in Yeshua.
What shocked me was that in Israel, some Israelis call her faith a “cult” or deny her Jewish identity. What surprised me even more was the law introduced by the Supreme Court in 1989 called “Law of Return” that restricts Messianic Jews. This seems so much out-of-date ruling and out of touch, which blocks Messianic Jews from making aliyah (immigration) despite their heritage.
Since October 7th, Christians worldwide have gone to great lengths to support Israel. Even briefly, our support included a small financial contribution through Rock Harbor Church.
With this, I will write to the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, who I think is still the current ambassador.
Despite this, Oriel stands firm, declaring Yeshua as the Savior who forgives sins and reconciles us to God (John 3:16). Her courage reminds me of Peter and John, who boldly preached Jesus despite opposition (Acts 4:20). She does not shy away from sharing her faith, even when it’s unpopular, inspiring us to speak the Gospel with the same fire.
A Simple Jewish-Gospel Connection
What makes Oriel’s witness so powerful is her simple connection between her Jewish heritage and the Gospel. She explains that Messianic Jews see Yeshua as the fulfilment of Jewish prophecies, like Isaiah 53, which describes a suffering servant who bears our sins.
Oriel says Yeshua is “fully man and fully God,” whose sinless life and sacrificial death provide forgiveness, replacing the need for a temple (Hebrews 10:10). She points to 4,000 cross-references between the Old and New Testaments, showing how Yeshua completes Judaism, not contradicts it (Matthew 5:17).
Her message is clear: Yeshua came to save hearts, not just restore a physical kingdom, with a promise to return one day (John 18:36, Titus 2:13). This resonates with our ministry's belief that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
What caught me was Oriel’s simple message of the Gospel made it easy to understand and accessible, whether you’re Jewish, Christian, or seeking, inviting everyone to know Yeshua’s love.
A Faith of Love and Freedom
Oriel’s testimony is not just bold, it is loving. Despite facing rejection as all Christians will face, she speaks with grace, saying, “Messianic Judaism is a faith of love,” allowing her to connect with others, even those who disagree (John 13:35).
Though we are Christians with no Jewish heritage, we have been "grafted in" to the olive tree, as Romans 11:11–24 describes, signifying our incorporation into God's covenant. This covenant, which was primarily held by the Jewish people, now includes us as Gentiles. We become part of God's chosen people and share in the blessings and promises of the covenant, emphasising the incredible grace and inclusion offered through Christ.
Oriel prays directly to God through Yeshua, rejecting Catholic practices like praying to Mary or saints, which aligns with our focus on Jesus alone as our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). Oriel feels God’s Spirit within her, so she can pray anywhere, whether at the Western Wall or the Mount of Olives, where Yeshua prayed (Luke 22:39-46).
This personal relationship with Yeshua echoes our born-again faith, where the Holy Spirit dwells in us (Romans 8:9-11).
A Call to Share Jesus
Oriel’s witness challenges us at Born Again Christians to share Yeshua with boldness and simplicity. Like her, we can root our faith in Scripture, showing how Jesus fulfils God’s promises to all people—Jew and Gentile (Galatians 3:28).
Her courage in Israel, where faith in Yeshua can cost you, she inspires us to proclaim the Gospel without fear, trusting God’s Spirit to guide us (1 Peter 3:15). Whether we are in Scotland or Jerusalem, we can be lionesses and lions for Jesus, sharing His love with a world that needs Him.
Let us embrace Oriel’s love for Yeshua in our hearts. By immersing ourselves in the Bible and studying it, we can share Yeshua’s forgiveness and love others, regardless of the sacrifice.
As she stands firm in Jerusalem, let’s stand firm wherever God calls us, pointing to the Savior who saves (Acts 4:12). Have you shared Jesus today? Let’s do it with boldness and love!
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