At the Alliance’s annual conference in Dunedin, Florida, on 24 April 1975, a motion carried—by the votes of a new, younger constituency—that the Hebrew Christian Alliance of America (founded 1915) officially change its name to the “Messianic Jewish Alliance of America.” That renaming signaled more than a cosmetic shift: it marked the movement’s turn from an ethnic-mission mindset toward an assertive, Torah-observant Jewish identity in Yeshua. In the wake of the vote, older leaders departed, new congregational associations formed (UMJC in 1979; IAMCS in 1986), and the terms “Messianic Jew” and “Messianic Judaism” became standard self-designations across North America and globally.

This significant moment was not without controversy, and the debate between “Hebrew Christians” and “Messianic Jews” has continued. But today, fifty years later, most Jewish disciples of Yeshua are happy to call themselves by a variety of terms, without the polemics and false antitheses of the past. The impetus to maker the change also brought with it some misunderstanding and lack of respect, especially by those of us in the younger generation to our Hebrew Christian forerunners. This has hopefully now been resolved and we are reconciled, whilst agreeing to differ.

Looking back over the last fifty years, it is clear that the modern Messianic Jewish movement has matured since the days when it first emerged. But there is much work still to be done, especially in the complex circumstances of today. Jewish disciples of Yeshua are often divided on other grounds. The war in Israel-Gaza, the resurgence of global antisemitism, the demographic and social changes affecting the Jewish people in Israel and diaspora, the multigenerational changes in Jewish life from the post-Holocaust era to the present, and the changing patterns of global Christianity, all present opportunities for Jewish disciples of Yeshua to fulfil their prophetic calling to be a light to the nations and a faithful remnant within Israel.

Reflection
We give thanks for the faithful trailblazers who, in 1975, reclaimed a distinct Jewish identity in Yeshua by renaming the Hebrew Christian Alliance of America as the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America. Their courage to embrace a more Torah-observant Jewish life in Messiah has borne fruit across decades—new congregations, ministries, and a deeper understanding of our calling to be both authentically Jewish and truly Messianic. Looking forward, may we steward this legacy with humility and boldness. May our communities continue to grow in love and unity, shining as living witnesses that the God of Israel remains at work through Yeshua among Israel and all nations. Let us enter the future confident that the same Spirit who indwelt our pioneers empowers us still, enabling us to proclaim the hope of Yeshua with fresh zeal and steadfast devotion.

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Prayer

English
Lord of Hosts, our God and God of our fathers, we thank You for Your mighty works and steadfast love across many generations. You have been our faithful rock in times past; in the days to come be our guide and strength. Empower us to bear witness with boldness to the hope we have in Yeshua, and establish Your unity among Your people. Amen.

Hebrew

אָדוֹן צְבָאוֹת, אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ,
מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לְךָ עַל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים וְעַל חַסְדְּךָ הָאֵיתָן בִּדְרוֹר דּוֹר וָדוֹר.
אַתָּה הָיִיתָ לָנוּ צוּר אֱמוּנִי בַּעֲבָרוֹתֵינוּ;
בַּיָּמִים הָבָאִים הְיֵה לָנוּ מַנְהִיג וּמֹעֵז.
עֲזֹר לָנוּ לְהִתְמַלֵּא בְּגוֹרָה וּבְחֶסֶד,
לְהַעֲדִיר שִׁמְךָ וּלְקַבֵּץ בְּאַחְדוּת אֶת עַמֶּךָ,
לְתוֹדָעַת מְלֹא הַתִּקְוָה שֶׁבִּישׁוּעַ. אָמֵן.

Transliteration

Adon Tzeva’ot, Eloheinu v’Elohei avoteinu,
Modim anachnu lecha al ma‘asecha hag’dolim v’al chasdecha ha’eitan bid’ror dor va-dor.
Attah hayita lanu tzur emuni ba’avaroteinu;
Bayamim haba’im, h’yeh lanu manhig u-mo‘ez.
Azor l’nu l’hitmalle’ b’gora u-v’chesed,
l’ha‘adir shimcha u-l’kabetz b’achdut et ammecha,
l’to’de’at m’lo hatikvah she-b’Yeshua. Amen.