They are united in the belief that Jesus is the Messiah, and they hold steadfastly to the conviction that they are Jewish. Yet many titles have emerged for these people. Among them are "Born again Jewish Believers," "Messianic Jews," "Completed Jews," and "Jews For Jesus."

Ira Michaelson was raised as an Orthodox Jew. Yet for Michaelson, a native of Fort Lauderdale, the mere observance of rituals and traditions did not suffice. Something was missing.

"There was always a search for me," he said. "I didn’t feel the presence of God in my life. Everything was based on rituals and festivals." Hence his decision to leave Orthodox Judaism at age 14. It wouldn’t be long however before Michaelson’s business partner’s aunt introduced him to the New Testament. In 1989, Michaelson came to a realization of Jesus as the messiah. Today he refers to himself as a "Born Again Jewish Believer." Michaelson belongs to Harvest Fellowship Church, a non denominational, full gospel Christian Church in Davie. Many of the church’s members are Born Again Jewish Believers, and the church tries to accommodate them. Michaelson said that for example, during bible study the "Jewishness" of the gospel is emphasized. In Romans:12 it says that "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Michaelson said that pouring hot coals on someone’s head refers to giving of one’s best. During biblical times, fire was very important, and so if someone poured hot coals on someone’s head it was as if they were giving of their best. Michaelson said this verse denotes the giving of charity, something that Judaism holds in high esteem.

Personally, Michaelson said that he recognizes the importance of the People of Israel and the Judaic Culture, as the basis for Christianity. The New Testament, Michaelson points out, is a continuation of the Old Testament. Michaelson does not however believe that the New Testament supercedes the Old Testament. Jesus, he points out said of the Old Testament "I did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it."

Although he does not observe the Sabbath on Saturday, Michaelson observes the high holy days as "days of awe," and at a Passover Seder, refers to Jesus as the Messiah. In addition, Michaelson recognizes that the miracle of Chanukah took place. He said that the Hebrew word "Shamash," which refers to the head candle means "servant" in English, and because Jesus was a servant of God, he is representative of the Shamash.

Basically Michaelson said that he practices Biblical Judaism by searching out the biblical roots of the religion. While he follows many Jewish laws written in the bible, he tends not to observe the rabbinic laws, those written in the Talmud.

"It’s more important to honor God in our lives than (through) the rituals," he said.

Because of his belief in Jesus as the messiah, Michaelson said that he celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and takes Communion. He said that the birthplace of Jesus, Beth Lehem, means "House of Bread" in English, which he believes is interesting symbolism.

When Michaelson’s father questioned his beliefs, he opened the bible to Isaiah: 53, where it talks about Jesus’ suffering. After reading this, Michaelson’s father also came to the realization of Jesus as the Messiah.

If his beliefs were challenged, Michaelson said he would simply ask the challenger to "Define Judaism." He also said that his beliefs came about as the result of a lot of study and inquiry.

"When you have a thirst for knowledge you have to sit down and take everything into account," said Michaelson.

Michaelson said that the difference between a Born Again Jewish Believer and a Messianic Jew is subtle, but a Messianic Jew follows more laws than he does. Jews for Jesus, he said, is a para church ministry dedicated to seeing Jews come to a realization of Jesus as the Messiah.

Steve Solomon remembers his shoulders feeling 500 pounds lighter. Solomon, who grew up in New York, had just incurred a debt, his wife left him, and his Jewish faith wasn’t providing him with any answers. He met with a friend, Dave Roberts and told him about his troubles. Roberts, a Presbyterian, told Solomon that his soul is troubled. Roberts explained to Solomon how he let Christ in his life. Tears trickled down Solomon’s face as he prayed with Roberts, and he too let Christ in his life. Solomon said at that moment he was born again.

"It was like 500 pounds of weight off my shoulders," recalls Solomon.

Like Michaelson, Solomon refers to himself as a Born Again Jewish Believer. His father was an Orthodox Jew who married a Catholic Woman whom he met in World War II. Solomon, in addition to his two other siblings were allowed to follow any religion they wished. Although he celebrated both Christmas and the Jewish Holidays, Solomon said that he never went to church. In addition, most of his friends were Jewish, while his siblings hung out with non-Jews. Solomon had his Bar Mitzvah, a Jewish "coming of age" ritual at an Orthodox synagogue, where he went during his youth. After his Bar Mitzvah however, Solomon concedes that he just didn’t feel a sense of fulfillment. He observed Judaism just for the sake of tradition. In 1979 at age 19, his sister gave him a copy of "The Living Bible." Solomon read it and became impressed.

"It made sense to me," he said. "The stories of Jesus were beautiful stories."

In 1977, two years before his first marriage, a co-worker of his gave him a tract about Jesus. After reading a page and a half, Solomon was not yet ready to accept Jesus as his savior. Ten years later however, with his marriage going astray, Solomon started to read the New Testament.

"I was comforted," he said. "I felt real peace." Four years later in 1990, he started to make new friends, many of whom were Christian, including Roberts.

"He just had a peace about him," said Solomon. "I said I gotta have what he has. I wasn’t getting it from the Jewish religion." After witnessing to him, Roberts bought Solomon a bible and told him that he could write in it, something that had been foreign to Solomon’s ears during his youth.

In addition to reading the bible, Solomon listened to Christian radio. Three weeks after he was born again, Solomon’s second wife had a baby that was born three months early and weighed two pounds, four ounces. Solomon however was not worried.

"I knew that it was in God’s hands," he said. "I had a peace about me like you couldn’t believe."

Six months later, Solomon recalled all he had been through.

"If you go with God’s plan, you will be blessed," he said.

Solomon, who worships at Calvary Chapel in Pompano Beach, a non denominational Christian Church, said that he still believes in cultural Judaism and that the Jews are the chosen people. He also believes however that the only way to get to salvation is by loving Jesus.

Solomon said that Calvary Chapel has at least 150 Jewish believers, and has an Israeli flag. He believes that part of the problem with being a born again Jewish believer is that it is hard to fit into churches, as a lot of them are insensitive to Jewish believers. Nevertheless, Solomon is comfortable at Calvary chapel, and his wife was born again in 1995.

In the 1980’ Phil Wordman, raised a Conservative Jew, became curious as to who controlled the cataclysmic events in the universe. During several trips to publix, he noticed a book called "The Late Great Planet Earth," by Hal Lindsay. After about three weeks he picked it up and became engrossed with it. The book explained that all events are God ordained. In addition, Wordman’s cousin gave him a bible. He read it and became convinced that Jesus was the messiah. This was in the summer of 1982. In December of the same year, Wordman went to Israel where he met Lindsay, who had a hand in influencing his religious beliefs. Six months later, back in the U.S., Lindsay asked him to go back to Israel with him and help with the photography for a book he was writing called "A Prophetical Walk Through The Holy Land." Wordman said yes, and in Christmas 1983, the book came out and won an award from the Christian Booksellers Association.

Wordman soon joined a Messianic Temple called Beth Yeshua, and went there up until about four years ago when he joined Calvary Chapel in Pompano Beach. At Calvary, Wordman got certified in biblical counseling and is now a Deacon.

Wordman does not observe Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement, because he believes he was already saved in Jesus. He also doesn’t observe Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, because he has learned that Passover is the first day of the Jewish New Year.

"I love Passover with a passion," he said adding that at his Seder he tries to bring out Jesus.

Wordman also said that he doesn’t observe the Jewish Sabbath, but he is committed to God.

"In my life I’ll put God before anything," he said. "I try to exude Jesus Christ in any way I can."

Wordman raised his daughter as a Messianic Jew. She had her Bat Mitzvah in 1982, and was born again six months before.

Wordman said that in the beginning it was hard for his mother to accept his beliefs, but he witnessed to her from the time he was born again at age 40 till he was 53. In 1995 his mother became gravely ill and was hospitalized. After she had surgery, Wordman was afraid that she might die. In addition to his love for her, Wordman wanted his mother to acknowledge his belief in Jesus as the messiah. He prayed for a miracle. His wish came true. His mother went into coma for 11 hours. During that time he tried to explain his beliefs to her, even though she was unconscious. Wordman believes that before his mother died, she too accepted Jesus as her Lord.

To this day, Lori Ciporkin recalls the night when a spirit entered her bedroom and gave her what she called an "injection." She also saw her co-worker in the vision together with the spirit. To understand what was going on in Lori’s life it is necessary to go back in time.

Ciporkin was raised as a Conservative Jew who would primarily go to Temple during the high holy days. As a teenager she became reform. During this time she met many people who were born again Christians. Every once in a while they would discuss the bible with her. One such discussion would soon prove to be instrumental in reshaping her religious beliefs.

Ciporkin got married, but started encountering difficulties with her spouse. He even threatened to kill her. She ran into the bathroom one night, sat on the floor, and prayed that she be kept alive. She also prayed that God would keep her heart warm, preserving her ability to love her husband. She then told God that if he did those things for her, among other things, she would never pull herself away from him.

Six years later, in 1994, Ciporkin was in a conference room at work when a co-worker asked to pray with her.

"He said ‘in the name of Yeshua’," recalls Ciporkin, adding that she felt like she was worshiping another God. Ciporkin got upset and the man told her that she didn’t know what it meant to be Jewish. Furious, Ciporkin stormed out of the office and went into her car. There she asked God if people have to accept Christ as his son in order to be looked upon with favor in God’s eyes. Immediately she recalled that night in the bathroom when she told God "I’ll never pull myself away from you." Ciporkin believes that in essence God told her in the car that she does have to accept Jesus as his son.

Having heard this, Ciporkin called a doctor she knew in Pennsylvania who told her about a Messianic temple in Ft. Lauderdale called Temple Aron Kodesh. The doctor also read Jeremiah 31:31 to her which says The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.This offered her more proof of God’s answer to her in the car.

Six weeks after the conversation with God in her car, she saw the spirit who gave her the injection in her bedroom. In the vision her body was illuminated in white light. She grabbed her knees, pulled them close to her chest, rocked back and forth, and yelled "Abba! Abba! Abba!," several times (the Hebrew word for father). The spirit rocked with her. A younger version of the man in the conference room also appeared. The spirit told the man "Thank you for bringing me this child."

Ciporkin called her co-worker and told him what happened. He took her to his pastor who read to her the eighth chapter of Romans, which begins So now there is no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Today, Ciporkin still worships at Temple Aron Kodesh, and refers to herself as a Messianic Jew.

"I don’t choose to call myself anything but if I was pressed to choose a denomination, I’d call myself a Messianic Jew," she said. "I would never call myself anything but a Jew." Ciporkin said that about 35% of the members at her Temple are Christians who recognize their Jewish roots.

Ciporkin keeps the majority of Jewish laws and customs but she said she does not go by the Talmud.

"The Messianic Jewish movement has allowed Jews to stay in their own belief system," she said. "I wouldn’t appreciate going to a church." At her temple, Ciporkin said that the congregants pray in a biblical manner with a lot of dancing, like King David. The only difference between Ciporkin’s beliefs and other Jews beliefs is that Ciporkin accepts Jesus as the messiah, she said.

Ciporkin said that although her father saw her change of beliefs as a move closer to Judaism, her mother initially saw it as a betrayal. Ciporkin said that her mother tries to suspend her feelings so that they can have a good relationship. She said her prayer today is that all of humanity have harmony and pray in the body of the Lord.