Congregation Shema Yisraelicon

International Federation of Sephardim and Ashkenazim Jews

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Our Affiliation

As of June 2009, the International Federation of Messianic Jews (IFMJ) has formally changed its name to the International Federation of Sephardim and Ashkenazim Jews (IFSAJ). After a "year of prayer, exchange of ideas, and reassurance from the Lord", our parent organization determined to change their name and branding due to the misuse of the term "Messianic". The following is the formal announcement of the IFSAJ:

During the past few years, it has come to my attention that the term "Messianic" is being used in a derogatory manner and is being used by some Church Organizations as a forum to force the gentalizing of Jews. Since then, I have made many trips to Latin America and was shocked to see the truth of what was happening. The following are only a few outlandish examples:

  • Messianics for the sacred heart of Jesus.
  • Messianics for the queen of heaven and earth.
  • One blasphemous Messianic group headed by a man who called himself by the name of the Lord: "Adonai".
  • Messianics free from the law or Torah.

We cannot continue to appear as though we are part of such organizations because this draws our people away from our G-d given roots and duties as a light to all the nations of the world. As it says in Nehemiah 9:2 that we are to be separated from all foreigners. In Exodus 19:5-6, "...then out of the nations you will be my treasured possessions, be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

We cannot continue to appear as though we are part of these or similar organizations. Israel is watching us and has commended us on not being associated with any Church organization. Our calling is first to the household of Israel. We are separated, like the Lord commanded. We are an international ministry that is a Torah observant organization focusing on, yet not limited to, Sephardic Jews returning to their Jewish roots with the belief in Yeshua as the Messiah.

Please understand that this announcement is not a pejorative statement against our Christian brethern in the Church or against non-Jews who have been called to worship Messiah Yeshua in a Hebraic and Torah consistent manner. It is a response to how the term "Messianic" has been perceived by some, both within and outside the Church. The mission and intent of our parent organization has not changed from that which has been set by God Himself. Congregation Shema Yisrael has always had and continues to have fellowship with other Hebraic faith communities and with the Church. We also acknowledge that we are "set apart" for a very specific purpose, as defined by The Way; the 1st Century CE community of Jewish and non-Jewish believers in the Messiah that we see in so many of Paul's letters.

As of mid-June 2009, the IFMJ/IFSAJ's official website does not reflect any of these changes nor display their new logo or branding. The following is our original announcement of affiliation. You will also find a link to the IFMJ/IFSAJ website. This information will be updated once the IFSAJ has updated their website and identifying information.

Congregation Shema Yisrael is affiliated with the International Federation of Messianic Jews (IFMJ) located in Tampa, Florida. The IFMJ is the only organization of Messianic Sephardic Jews in the world.

From the IFMJ site:

"We're a Torah-submissive international ministry which the Lord placed in Rabbi Haim Levi's heart in early 1978. In that year, one of the earliest Messianic Jewish synagogues in America, as well as Etz Chayim Messianic Jewish Institute, where Messianic rabbis from other countries could be brought to America for training, was pioneered. The IFMJ ministry has ordained numerous Messianic Jewish rabbis from Argentina, Brazil, France, Israel, Mexico, and the USA. We continue to support synagogues and congregations around the world."

Find out more by going to http://www.ifmj.org/