SOME JEWS NOT FOR JESUS
(Image: Chabad Rabbis)
CHABAD CONSPIRACY
Chabad and Messianism
Chabad-Lubavitch, often simply called Chabad, is a major Hasidic movement within Orthodox Judaism. The question of whether Chabad is "messianic" is complex and depends on how one defines the term and which segment of the movement is being discussed.
The Messianic Belief in Chabad
A significant portion of Chabad adherents, especially in the years leading up to and following the death of their seventh Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, have held the belief that he is the Messiah (Moshiach) awaited by Jews1,5,6. This belief is known as Chabad messianism.
During Schneerson's lifetime, many hoped he would reveal himself as the Messiah. In the years before his death, some followers openly declared him the Messiah, and this sentiment intensified after his passing in 19941,5,6.
Those who explicitly maintain that Schneerson is the Messiah are known as Meshichists (messianists)5.
Messianist symbols, slogans, and even rabbinic rulings declaring Schneerson as Messiah can be found in Chabad communities, particularly in places like Crown Heights, Brooklyn1,2,5.
Diversity of Views Within Chabad
Chabad is not monolithic in its messianic beliefs:
Messianist Faction: A vocal minority, especially in Israel and among certain groups worldwide, continues to believe Schneerson is the Messiah and will be revealed as such, despite his death1,4,5.
Non-Messianist Faction: Many Chabad members either downplay or reject the messianic claims about Schneerson, focusing instead on his teachings and outreach work. Officially, Chabad leadership avoids endorsing the belief that Schneerson is the Messiah, but they also rarely condemn those who do4,5.
The movement as a whole maintains a strong emphasis on the imminent arrival of the Messiah, a core tenet of Judaism, but the identification of Schneerson as that Messiah is not universal within Chabad4,5.
How Chabad Messianism Differs from Other Messianic Movements
Chabad's messianism is rooted in traditional Jewish concepts of the Messiah, not in Christian or "Jews for Jesus" beliefs, which identify Jesus as the Messiah. Chabad's messianists see Schneerson as fulfilling the Jewish criteria for Messiah, not as a divine figure or as a founder of a new religion4,7.
The belief that a deceased leader could still be the Messiah is controversial in Judaism, as traditional Jewish sources generally reject the idea that the Messiah could die before completing his mission1,7. This has led to criticism from other Jewish groups, who sometimes label Chabad messianism as heretical7.
TRUMP’S DAUGHTER
President Trump’s daughter’s husband, Jared Kushner, is not a "Chabadist" in the sense of being a formal member of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement or adhering exclusively to its religious practices. However, he has had a long and close relationship with Chabad, both personally and philanthropically.
During his time at Harvard, Kushner was a regular attendee at Chabad events, participated in prayers and Shabbat dinners, and was described by the campus Chabad rabbi as "like a part of the family" to the Zarchis, the Chabad emissaries at Harvard6,4,3.
He has remained connected to Chabad since college, helping organize alumni events and even purchasing a home near a Chabad house in Washington, D.C.4,6.
Kushner and his family have made significant donations to Chabad institutions, most recently pledging $1 million to Chabad of the UAE following the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, with his brother Joshua matching the donation1,2,5.
While Kushner is an observant Jew and a strong supporter and donor to Chabad, there is no evidence he is a "Chabadist" in the sense of being an official member of the movement or exclusively following Chabad religious philosophy. His relationship is best described as that of a close supporter, regular participant, and major benefactor, rather than a formal adherent6,4,3.
In Orthodox Judaism, it is a core belief that Jesus is not the Messiah. While Kushner has not made a public statement specifically about Jesus, his religious upbringing, practices, and community all firmly hold that the Messiah has not yet come and that Jesus does not fulfill the Jewish criteria for the Messiah2,5,7,8. Therefore, as a practicing Orthodox Jew, it is overwhelmingly likely that Kushner does not believe Jesus is the Messiah.
TRUMP HIMSELF
Donald Trump is not Jewish. He was born to a father of German descent and a mother of Scottish descent, and was raised in a Christian household—his father was a Lutheran and his mother was a Presbyterian. Trump himself has publicly identified as a Presbyterian and attended services at Christian churches3,4,7.
There is no credible evidence or genealogical documentation indicating that Trump has Jewish ancestry or that he identifies as Jewish3,4,6,7. Some stories have circulated about the Trump family's connections to Jewish communities in New York, but these reflect personal and business relationships rather than heritage or religious identity1,6. Therefore, Donald Trump is not a Jew.
Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, Jared Kushner's wife, is Jewish. She was raised as a Presbyterian Christian but converted to Orthodox Judaism in 2009 before marrying Kushner. Ivanka studied with Rabbi Elie Weinstock from the Modern Orthodox Ramaz School and took the Hebrew name "Yael" upon her conversion. She and Kushner keep a kosher diet, observe the Jewish Sabbath, and describe themselves as "pretty observant" Orthodox Jews1,2,5,7.
COMPARING JEWISH MESSIAHS
Here is an objective comparison of Sabbatai Zevi and Menachem Mendel Schneerson, focusing on their messianic claims, movements, and legacies:
Key Similarities
Messianic Focus: Both inspired intense messianic fervor among their followers, with public declarations, songs, and rituals centered on their messianic role1,2,5,7.
Controversy: Both were and remain controversial figures within Judaism, provoking strong opposition from mainstream Jewish authorities3,6,8.
Afterlife of the Movement: After their deaths (or, for Zevi, apostasy), both left behind groups that continued to believe in their messianic status, though the scale and secrecy of these groups differ5,7.
Key Differences
Personal Claims: Zevi openly declared himself the messiah; Schneerson never did so explicitly, though he encouraged messianic anticipation and did not discourage followers' beliefs4,5,6.
Response to Crisis: Zevi converted to Islam under duress, leading to mass disillusionment; Schneerson’s death led to a split within Chabad, with some maintaining belief in his messianic role3,5,7.
Movement’s Legacy: Sabbateanism mostly faded or went underground; Chabad remains a vibrant, influential Jewish movement, though messianism remains a divisive issue4,7.
Visual Reference
In summary, both Sabbatai Zevi and Menachem Mendel Schneerson became the focus of major Jewish messianic movements, but their approaches, the aftermath of their lives, and their impact on Jewish history and identity are markedly different. Schneerson’s legacy is especially notable for transforming Chabad into a global force, while Zevi’s legacy is remembered as a cautionary tale in Jewish messianism.
REJECTION OF JESUS
Orthodox Jews, along with the broader Jewish community, reject Jesus as the messiah for several core reasons rooted in Jewish theology, scripture, and historical experience:
Unfulfilled Messianic Prophecies: According to Jewish tradition, the messiah is expected to fulfill specific prophecies, including rebuilding the Third Temple in Jerusalem, gathering all Jews back to the Land of Israel, ushering in an era of world peace, and bringing universal knowledge of God. Jews point out that these events did not occur during Jesus’s lifetime or since1,2,3,4,6.
Genealogical Requirements: Jewish sources state that the messiah must be a direct male-line descendant of King David and King Solomon. Traditional Jewish readings of the New Testament and genealogies question whether Jesus meets this requirement, especially given the doctrine of the virgin birth4.
Monotheism and Divinity: Judaism maintains a strict, indivisible monotheism. The Christian belief in Jesus as divine or as the “Son of God” is seen as incompatible with Jewish monotheism, and worship of a person is viewed as idolatrous in Jewish law1.
Interpretation of Prophecy: Jews do not accept Christian interpretations that Jesus fulfilled messianic prophecies. Many passages Christians cite are read differently in Jewish tradition, and Jews do not see these as referring to Jesus1,2,3,6.
Historical Experience: The messianic age, as described in Jewish texts, is characterized by global peace and the end of suffering. Jews note that suffering, war, and injustice continued after Jesus’s death, which they see as evidence that the messianic era has not yet arrived2,3,5,6.
Relationship to Jewish Law: Jesus is seen by Christians as having fulfilled or superseded the Mosaic law, but traditional Judaism holds that the Torah’s commandments remain eternally binding. This theological difference further separates Jewish and Christian understandings of the messiah2.
In summary, Orthodox Jews reject Jesus as the messiah because he did not fulfill the messianic prophecies as understood in Jewish tradition, does not meet the required lineage, and the Christian conception of his divinity conflicts with Jewish monotheism1,2,3,4,6.
COUNTER-ARGUMENTS
Here are the main counter-arguments presented by Christians and Messianic Jews in response to traditional Jewish objections to Jesus as the Messiah:
1. Fulfillment of Prophecy—But in Two Stages
First Coming and Second Coming: Christians argue that Jesus fulfilled many messianic prophecies in his first coming (such as being born in Bethlehem, performing miracles, suffering, and dying), and that the remaining prophecies—like universal peace, the ingathering of exiles, and rebuilding the Temple—will be fulfilled at his Second Coming7.
Spiritual Fulfillment: Some prophecies are understood as being fulfilled in a spiritual sense, such as bringing salvation and knowledge of God to the nations, rather than literal political or military achievements7.
2. Genealogy and Virgin Birth
Legal Descent: Christians maintain that Jesus is a descendant of King David through his earthly (legal) father Joseph, as described in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The virgin birth, they argue, does not negate his right to Davidic lineage because Joseph was his legal father5.
Alternative Interpretations: Messianic Jews and Christians sometimes point to the maternal line (through Mary) as also being from David’s lineage, thus fulfilling the requirement in a different way.
3. Messianic Role and Torah Observance
New Covenant: Christians believe Jesus established a New Covenant, as foretold in Jeremiah 31:31, which supersedes the Mosaic covenant. They interpret Jesus’ teachings as fulfilling, not abolishing, the Torah5.
Miracles and Divine Authority: Jesus’ miracles and teachings are seen as evidence of his authority and messianic identity, even if he interpreted the Torah differently than the rabbis of his time7.
4. Divinity of the Messiah
Scriptural Basis: Christians argue that the Hebrew Scriptures contain hints of a divine or exalted messianic figure (e.g., Isaiah 9:6, Daniel 7:13–14, Psalm 110:1), and that Jesus’ divinity is not incompatible with Jewish monotheism but a deeper revelation of God’s nature6.
Sacral Kingship: Some Christian scholars argue that ancient Jewish concepts of kingship and messianism allow for a messiah with divine attributes6.
5. Interpretation of Hebrew Bible
Messianic Prophecies: Christians and Messianic Jews claim that traditional Jewish readings overlook or reinterpret passages that, in their view, clearly point to Jesus (e.g., Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Micah 5:2)7.
Septuagint and Translation: They often rely on the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible, which sometimes differs from the Masoretic Text used in Judaism, leading to different interpretations of key verses1,5.
6. Rejection by Jewish Leaders
Historical Context: Christians argue that Jesus was rejected by the Jewish religious authorities of his time due to political concerns, misunderstanding of his mission, or spiritual blindness, rather than a lack of messianic credentials7.
MOST JEWS EXPECT A MESSIAH
Most religious Jews, especially within Orthodox and many Conservative communities, continue to look forward to the coming of a personal Messiah—a future descendant of King David who will restore Israel, rebuild the Temple, and bring an era of peace and divine knowledge. Hasidic groups often emphasize this belief strongly, sometimes identifying a “Righteous One” in each generation. In contrast, Reform and Reconstructionist Jews generally interpret messianic hopes more symbolically, anticipating a future age of peace and justice achieved through human effort rather than a specific messianic figure.
Jewish eschatology teaches that the true Messiah will fulfill very specific prophecies—such as rebuilding the Temple, gathering all Jews to Israel, and ushering in an era of global peace and divine knowledge—which they believe Jesus did not accomplish during his lifetime1,3,5. Because of this, even if Jesus were to appear again, mainstream Jewish thought would not recognize him as the awaited Messiah unless those prophecies were unmistakably fulfilled in accordance with Jewish expectations1,2,3,5,6. Thus, unless these criteria are met, most Jews would not be glad or accept Jesus as the Messiah at a Second Coming.
AND ARMAGEDDON
Judaism does not have a doctrine of "Armageddon" in the same sense as Christianity, but traditional Jewish eschatology does anticipate a period of great turmoil and a final battle before the coming of the Messiah and the Messianic Age. Jewish sources describe a future conflict involving the nations of the world—often called the "War of Gog and Magog"—which will take place near Jerusalem and lead to the ultimate redemption of Israel and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth2,5,6. While the term "Armageddon" itself originates from Christian scripture, the idea of an apocalyptic struggle and dramatic events preceding the Messianic era is a significant part of Jewish belief, especially in Orthodox and traditional circles4,5. However, Jewish teachings generally focus more on the hope for redemption, peace, and resurrection than on destruction or doom1.
Throughout history, the groups most likely to attempt to "fake" or stage an Armageddon scenario have been apocalyptic religious movements, doomsday cults, and charismatic leaders seeking influence or control. Examples include:
Apocalyptic Religious Sects: Groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Worldwide Church of God have repeatedly predicted specific dates for Armageddon or the end times, sometimes prompting followers to change their lives dramatically in anticipation, though these predictions have always failed to materialize1,2,3,4,7,8.
Charismatic or Cult Leaders: Individuals such as William Miller (Millerites), Jim Jones (Peoples Temple), and Harold Camping have convinced followers that the end was imminent, occasionally orchestrating dramatic events or communal actions to coincide with their predictions4,8.
Motivations: Such attempts are often driven by a desire for power, control, or notoriety, and sometimes to divert attention from real-world crises or to push particular political or religious agendas2.
While mainstream religious communities generally reject such manipulations, history shows that small, insular, or extreme groups—especially those centered around a single charismatic leader—are the most likely to try to "fake" or stage an Armageddon-like event2,3,4,8.
I hope Chabad won’t try to fake Armageddon. At any rate, I look forward to the world peace that is to come, without a literal Armageddon. I greatly distrust Zionism and Christians who promote it. Zionism seems like a conspiracy.