As a Christian from Scotland, shaped by Calvary Chapel’s grace-focused teachings and now part of a Reformed community, I watched Wandering Emma’s YouTube video about Mea Shearim, an Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jewish neighbourhood in Jerusalem.
The practices, such as women covering their hair for modesty, men speaking Yiddish as a daily language, avoiding military service to prioritise spiritual study, and the community's reaction to Emma despite her modest dress and discreet questions, all carry deep religious and cultural significance. These practices felt intense and even unsettling to me, a Christian from a different cultural background.
It led me to ask: How would I, inspired by Chuck Smith’s evangelistic heart, share Jesus with Haredi Jews in Mea Shearim, Har Nof, or Ge’ula?
And what would I say about head covering, seen among Haredi women and a few in my church, which stirs my discernment that it’s “not right”? This reflects my approach, rooted in my outreach to Scotland’s deprived communities and a biblical call to love, as exemplified in the teachings of Jesus to love our neighbours as ourselves and to show compassion to those in need.
Mea Shearim’s World
Haredi neighbourhoods like Mea Shearim, Har Nof, and Ge’ula, home to 13% of Israel’s population, live by strict Jewish law. They speak Yiddish daily, using Hebrew for worship and Torah study, and many avoid military service, prioritising spiritual study. This is a divisive issue, as per 2024 court rulings, due to the differing perspectives on the role of military service in the context of religious devotion and national duty.
Women cover their hair for modesty (tzniut), as Emma likely did, dressing appropriately with long skirts and sleeves. Yet, men hid their eyes or walked away, likely due to shmirat einayim (guarding the eyes) or wariness of her discreet filming, despite her polite questions about a wine shop.
Some men tried to help, showing kindness. A pro-Palestinian, anti-Zionist faction, like Neturei Karta, displays flags, believing Israel awaits the Messiah, which challenges my view of Israel’s biblical role (Romans 11:25-26). Still, Jesus calls me to reach them (Matthew 28:19-20).
My Approach.
I share the Gospel with Scotland’s deprived, those facing poverty or addiction in underserved areas. At bornagainchristians.org, I support Jewish Ministries and Rock Harbor Church’s ‘Bless Israel Fundraiser’, showing practical love for Israel while praying for its people. Like Emma’s respectful approach, here’s how I’d engage Haredi Jews:
Leading with Love: I’d build trust through kindness, respecting their modesty norms, and avoiding confrontation (1 Corinthians 13:1). This emphasis on love in my approach is not just a strategy, but a source of inspiration and motivation for my evangelism.
Share the Tanakh: Haredi Jews study the Old Testament in Hebrew or Yiddish. I’d point to Messianic prophecies, such as Isaiah 53, which show Jesus as their fulfilment (Acts 17:11).
Respect for their Culture: I’d learn Yiddish phrases and honour their Hebrew worship, presenting Jesus as the law’s fulfilment (Matthew 5:17). This respect for their culture is a key part of my approach, ensuring they feel valued and understood.
Praying Fervently: Trusting the Holy Spirit, I’d pray for open hearts, believing God’s Word works (Isaiah 55:11). This reliance on prayer is not just a practice, but a source of hope and reassurance in my evangelism.
Head Covering: My View
Haredi women cover their hair as devotion, like Emma likely did, but it feels legalistic. In my church, a few women cover, per 1 Corinthians 11:5-16, but it’s inconsistent, sparking unease.
Based on my past studies, I see Haredi head covering as a sincere act of faith, but its rigidity feels legalistic, pointing me to Jesus’ gift of freedom from such obligations (Galatians 5:1).
I’d teach 1 Corinthians 11 as a cultural passage, emphasising unity (Romans 14:1-6). Jesus’ finished work (John 19:30) is central.
I’d teach 1 Corinthians 11 as cultural, urging unity (Romans 14:1-6). Jesus’ finished work (John 19:30) is central.
Moving Forward
Reaching Mea Shearim’s insular community is challenging, but my work in Scotland and support for Jewish causes fuel hope that flames by burden.
For bornagainchristians.org, I’ll share Jesus’ love boldly yet gently, keeping the Gospel first.
Here is Emma's video https://youtu.be/UTHO9hP0b0w?si=5vbvgePsr9XL29kx
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