Messianic synagogue
embattled again
Jews for Judaism plans move next door
By Denyse O’Leary • Special to ChristianWeek
THORNHILL, ON–City of David, the Messianic synagogue located in a shopping plaza in a heavily Jewish district north of Toronto, will soon have a new neighbor--Jews for Judaism.
Julius Ciss, the founder of Jews for Judaism, has announced that his organization has rented the storefront beside City of David in the Main Exchange at Bathurst and Steeles.
Ciss, who was formerly a Messianic Jew, has been quite active and vocal in opposition to City of David, both at the Bathurst and Steeles location and at the former location in the Barbara Frum Library.
His group’s tactics have included confronting people attending the Friday evening prayer service, which is the synagogue’s main service.
Jeff Forman, the Messianic rabbi, says that about half of his congregation of about 70 adults are Jewish Christians. Numbers have grown about 20% since they moved to their more visible location.
