Our History
The British Alliance came into being in 1866 in response to a need that had been felt as far back as 1813 when Benei Abraham was founded at the Jew's Chapel in Palestine Place, London.
These Jewish believers in Yeshua could not accept the tacit assumption of both Synagogue and Church that they were 'outsiders'. Because their new-found faith made them 'true Israelite', they emphasised their essential unity with the Jewish people and sought to demonstrate that Jews in Yeshua were vital to the healthy growth of the Church. Membership of an Alliance, they believed, could strengthen their impact on both Synagogue and Church.
A similar Alliance came into being in America in 1915, followed in
1925 by the birth of The International Jewish Hebrew Christian Alliance. The number of Alliances quickly grew to fifteen. The Shoah
(Holocaust) reduced the number to five.
The rebirth if the State of Israel in 1948 gave an enormous boost to the self-confidence of Jews and Jewish believers alike. At the outset of the 21st century there are18 national Alliances.
The world has changed radically over the years. So has the Messianic movement.
In the UK, the British Messianic Jewish Alliance of Fellowships (BMJAF) was created to help leaders and members of Messianic Fellowships. It aims to establish credibility for these groups and to generate a culture of accountability within them.
The largest number of Jewish believers remains within the churches, but the challenge for all of us is to be His witnesses to the world and to fulfil our historic calling in Yeshua, which joins us both- the Jewish People and His Body, to the Church.
Tel: +44-7753527738 office@bmja.net © 2008 British Messianic Jewish Alliance