Jews for Judaism

Jews for Judaism International Inc
FoundedAugust 2, 1985; 39 years ago (1985-08-02)[1]
FounderRabbi Bentzion Kravitz
95-4040781[2]
Legal status501(c)(3) non-profit organization
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, United States
Location
ServicesCounseling for hundreds of primary clients and family members; preventative education programs to thousands of students and adults; publication and distribution.[2]
David Rifkind[2]
Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz[2]
Julius Ciss[3]
Revenue (2014)
$1,255,989[2]
Expenses (2014)$841,892[2]
Employees (2014)
0[2]
Volunteers (2014)
10[2]
Websitewww.jewsforjudaism.org

Jews for Judaism is an international organization that focuses on preventing Jews from converting to other faiths and reclaiming those who have already converted. It provides counseling services, education, and outreach programs to all Jewish denominations. It was established in 1985 by Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz.[1]

The name Jews for Judaism was developed from "Jews for Jesus", one of the principal missionary organizations it was founded to counteract. One of its prominent early members, Larry Levey, was a Jewish convert to Christianity who then converted back to Judaism and led the Baltimore office of Jews for Judaism for a number of years.[4][5] In addition to its activities in response to Christian missionaries, Jews for Judaism has also been noted for its critiques of the Kabbalah Centre.[6][7][8]

  1. ^ a b "Jews for Judaism International, Inc. Archived 2015-03-15 at the Wayback Machine". Business Entity Detail. California Secretary of State. Accessed on March 23, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Tax". Jews for Judaism International Inc. December 31, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Centers Archived 2016-03-20 at the Wayback Machine". Jews for Judaism. Accessed on March 23, 2016.
  4. ^ Carol Brzozowski, "Former Convert Fights Christians Who Convert Jews", South Florida Sun-Sentinel, March 04, 1988.
  5. ^ Jan Hoffman, "Inside Jews for Jesus", New York, April 28, 1986.
  6. ^ Tom Tugend, "Fraud Arrest at Kabbalah Centre", The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, November 10, 2005.
  7. ^ Gaby Wenig, "Against the Stream", The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, July 25, 2002.
  8. ^ Nadya Labi, "What Profits the Kabbalah?", TIME, November 24, 1997.