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PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Your Chance to Get Involved

Rosh Yeshiva       

We’d love to see you at conference...
Register here and pay through the donate page. 
How will you attend?

  email: info@umja.net

Is this your first time attending?

Thanks for registering. See you there!

Synagogue 3

Annual Conference 2023
"Identity in Yeshua"

We are looking forward to the next UMJA Conference! We're planning on the weekend of July 23, '23, at the lovely Courtyard Marriott on White Water Drive in Phenix City, Alabama. You can fly into Columbus, GA, and come a day early if you'd like to take advantage of the White Water area. 

 

Mark your calendars now and check back here for room rates, and event schedules. This is going to be a wonderful time!

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Synagogue 1

Shalom All!

There is no Phenix City Airport.  Fly in to the Columbus Georgia Airport (we're a twin city), which is only 10 minutes from the hotel.  Either I or a member of my congregation can pick you up in Columbus.  For anyone who prefers flying into Atlanta, you can take a "Groome" transportation service or rent a car. 

With love in Messiah Yeshua, Rabbi Greg

Rabban Gamaliel Yeshiva

We are excited to announce the opening of the UMJA Yeshiva in late spring!  Please go to the Resources and Education tab to learn more about the many courses being offered and a registration form for enrollment.

 

 

Synagogue 2

Charters & Ceremonies

Learn more about s'micha (ordination) to become a Moreh, Mashia, a Messianic Jewish Ro'eh (Pastor) or a Rabbi. This is a service offered to members only.  See below for complete descriptions of our certifications and an application form on the attached link. 

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We offer our Members

SOME OF THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE
 

Moreh/Morah

“Teacher of lessons”

Unlike an ordination (s’micha) this certificate confers no sacred power and is not a license. It is a testimonial of the ability of the holder, male/moreh or female/morah, to act as a teacher of Torah in progression to further certifications.

 

This certificate is a formal document proclaiming that the person named is fit to teach Torah.  This certification is for those desiring accountability and credibility in their ministry and could apply to those without a congregation to represent.

Roeh

“(Messianic) Pastor”

 

 

The Biblical basis for this title derives from Jeremiah 23:4. "I will appoint shepherds over them who will shepherd them; then they will no longer be afraid or disgraced; and none will be missing," says Adonai. This title is to be held in high esteem.

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This certificate is for those whose spiritual longings and gifts draw them to serve in ministry associated with rabbinic work, such as pastoring a small synagogue (a Congregation/Assembly) or home study group, pastoral counseling, and can serve as an assistant to a Head Rabbi (Congregational Leader, Assistant or Associate to a Lead Messianic Pastor or Messianic Rabbi if do so called to perform his spiritual gifts.  

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The Roeh certificate is for those who have a sincere willingness to serve the Jewish people in spiritual leadership. Yet, their life circumstances and callings do not reflect the need for the caliber of text competence and depth of traditional learning to be called rabbis. 

 

Duties associated with this certification include: Officiating at life cycle events: (e.g., weddings, funerals, baby naming’s, shiva minyanim, and unveilings), comforting the bereaved, visiting the sick and those in need, offering spiritual direction and counseling, leading weekday and Shabbat services. This certification is for those desiring accountability and credibility in their ministry and for those with a congregation to represent.

 

The UMJA Messianic Roeh (Pastor) and the Messianic Rabbi are equal peer level ordinations. Any differences are primarily cultural.

Mashpia

“Person of influence”

This title is for the person who serves as a spiritual mentor, whose main influence and teachings are in matters of the worship of God, the correction of virtues and spiritual elevation.  They offer guidance and support on matters of faith and practice, and on a personal relationship with Adonai. This is someone that is multi-disciplinary and can teach (d’rash/d’var) on Torah as well as offer religious counseling and advice.  This certification allows the holder to act as teacher of Torah and service as a congregational leader.  This person is fit to teach and render decisions from Torah. Upon recommendation, candidates receive a s’micha certificate as as Masphia (Mashgiach) Ruchani (Spiritual mentor).

 

This certification is for those desiring accountability and credibility in their ministry and for those without a congregation to represent; those representing a home study group or online ministry.

Click on the yellow box to download

an application for Charter with the UMJA, complete and submit with the fee of $100  for consideration by the Beit Din.

info@umja.net

I'Prior to any S'micha application or Charter a person must become an associate member of the UMJA.  If applying for S'micha it must be accompanied by a synagogue/congregation charter application.  To maintain your charter status the congregational leader must have S'micha with the UMJA within a year of becoming a charter.

Rabbi

"My Teacher”
The calling of a person to the Rabbinate is a serious and humbling experience.  No one should enter into this calling lightly, or for selfish gain.  Due to the preponderance and proliferation of many self-proclaimed "rabbis," it is important that a firm definition and qualifications be established.  In Jewish culture the rabbi has completed rabbinic yeshiva, and/or has spent many years in regular discipleship under a competent rabbi.  The UMJA certifies rabbis with a known ability for their scholarship, spiritual depth, passion, and ability to teach and render decisions from Torah and counsel and advise on matters of Jewish Halakha.  Candidates for this certificate be able to be called upon to answer religious and spiritual questions on the Torah and other Jewish texts and be experienced and/or versed on traditional modalities of weekly services, liturgies and prayer. The Messianic Rabbi should be able to fluidly read and write Biblical Hebrew. One must be fluent in reading and saying the traditional Hebrew prayers and should have a grasp of Jewish history and traditional Jewish writings (i.e. Mishnah, Talmud, etc.).  Candidates are expected to demonstrate a high-level of Jewish literacy and personal integrity, textual skills and interpersonal skills, and to demonstrate a capacity to work as a rabbi for a synagogue. The candidate should be able to present both academic coursework and the full range of experiences that prepared them for spiritual leadership.  Rabbis should be able to discourse on a wide range of subjects within the realm of Torah and Jewish life – the myriad commentaries, the Hebrew language, Jewish history, holidays, customs, traditions, and politics. A Messianic Jewish rabbi must confess to his own Jewishness (whether he was born Jewish or later converted to Judaism).  He is expected to be intimately familiar and comfortable with Jewish culture, faith and practice, deeply involved in Jewish life.  
 
The candidate will be tested on these important points.  If one does not possess these skills and qualities, an application for Messianic Rabbi should not be submitted, and instead an application for Messianic Ro'eh would be considered.

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