Thank you for the extensive article devoted to Hope in Messiah Congregation and to our Rosh Hashanah service that appeared in the Daily News on Sept. 30.

While we are pleased that a good number of people from various backgrounds visit our congregation, their views do not always reflect our values. This is the case with some of the views quoted in the article.

For example, the last section expressed the view that God is a “partier.” While we celebrate joyous occasions, such as Hanukkah and Purim, we would not describe God as “a partier,” especially during the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur). That time is very reflective, dealing with the serious issues of sin, judgment and the need for repentance and atonement.

The article stated that our congregation includes Jewish people who have “converted.” To some, this implies that a Jewish believer in Jesus has stopped being Jewish. Nothing can be further from the truth. Like the first followers of Jesus who were Jewish, Jewish people today also remain Jewish after embracing him. (e.g. Acts 21:39, 22:3).

Jewish believers in Jesus are not generally referred to as “Jews for Jesus,” which is the name of a particular organization based in San Francisco.

However, the ultimate issue is not what Jewish believers are called. The real issue is who Jesus is. If he really is the Jewish Messiah foretold by the Jewish prophets in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), then the most Jewish thing a Jewish person can do is to embrace him.

We encourage everyone to explore this, the ultimate issue.

Jonathan Sacks

Bowling Green

Editor’s note: Sacks is the congregational leader for the Hope in Messiah congregation in Bowling Green.