Jewish Republican nominee invites Jews for Jesus ‘rabbi’ to mark massacre
WASHINGTON (JTA) – Lena Epstein, a Jewish Republican nominee for Congress in Michigan, defended inviting a Messianic Jew to an event to say a prayer marking the massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue. The event featured US Vice President Mike Pence.
“I invited him to the prayer because we must unite as a nation – while embracing our religious differences – in the aftermath of Pennsylvania,” Epstein said in a statement she posted on Twitter Monday after news of the event prompted Jewish outrage, and she noted her deep roots to the Detroit Jewish community.
“Any media or political competitor who is attacking me or the vice president is guilty of nothing short of religious intolerance and should be ashamed,” she said.
Loren Jacobs, wearing a prayer shawl, appeared at the campaign event in suburban Detroit headlined by Pence, two days after a gunman who said all Jews should be killed shot dead 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue, the worst attack on Jews in US history.
“God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, God and Father of my Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah,” Jacobs said, opening the prayer.
“Our nation is so divided right now,” said Jacobs, who was ordained at an Evangelical seminary and who uses the title “rabbi.” “The hate-inspired shooting in the synagogue in Pittsburgh is the latest evidence of this. Lord, please work so that instead of division in our nation there is unity and peace.”
Media quoted a spokesman for Pence as saying the vice president did not invite Jacobs.
“He was invited by Lena Epstein to offer a prayer at the event, which he did early in the program,” said the statement. “The vice president invited him back on stage to deliver a message of unity. He was not invited by the vice president’s office to speak on behalf of the Jewish community.”
Jews across the religious spectrum reject Messianic Judaism as peddling Christianity to Jews, using some of the superficial trappings of Judaism.
Many Jews expressed outrage online at Jacobs’ appearance. “There are over 60 rabbis in Michigan and yet the only rabbi the Michigan [Republican Party] could find to offer a prayer for the 11 Jewish victims in Pittsburgh at the Mike Pence rally was a local Jews for Jesus rabbi?” Rabbi Jason Miller, a Detroit area rabbi, said on Twitter. “That’s pathetic!”
Epstein is running to replace incumbent Republican Dave Trott in the state’s 11th district, comprising parts of suburban Detroit. Her Democratic opponent, Haley Stevens, is favored to win.