Penina Taylor
Encyclopedia
Penina Taylor is a countermissionary speaker, counselor and author. She is the Executive Director of the Shomrei Emet Institute for Counter-Missionary Studies and the founder of Torah Life Strategies. Shomrei Emet was briefly affiliated with the counter-missionary organization, Jews for Judaism
, Jerusalem during 2008.
. After a traumatic childhood, Penina embraced Christianity
in High School, and then went on to Miami Christian College (Now Trinity University
) where she obtained a Bible Certificate. In college Penina became certified in the Evangelism Explosion (EE) program, was trained and served as a counselor with the Billy Graham Crusade
several times and was certified as a crisis pregnancy counselor.
Shortly after leaving Miami Christian College, Penina married Paul Taylor, who had attended Moody Bible Institute
and the two of them continued to serve in lay leadership positions in a variety of churches.
movement and in 1994 Paul and Penina, along with Penina's parents, started the Messianic congregation, Knesset Hashuvim in Bowie
, Maryland
. During this time, Penina began reading books about Orthodox Judaism and the four leaders adopted the concept of "Torah Observant Messianic Judaism." Penina's father, Yeshayahu Heiliczer, established the "Association of Torah Observant Messianics" or ATOM.
in 2000 - while still Messianic Jews
, Paul and Penina began to attend an Orthodox synagogue where they were introduced by the Rabbi to the (then) Director of Jews for Judaism
, Mark Powers. As a result of their discussion with Mark, Penina rejected all forms of Christian belief, including Messianic Judaism, and adopted Orthodox Judaism
.
Since publishing her book, Penina lectures and teaches around the world at centers for traditional Jewish seminaries and yeshiva
s, discusses her religious conversions at synagogues and youth groups, engages in Jewish polemics against Messianic-Christian interpretations of the Hebrew Bible, and opines on the nature of the relationship between Israel
and Evangelical Christianity
.
Jews for Judaism
Jews for Judaism, established by Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz in 1985, is an international organization designed to counter Christian missionaries whose evangelistic efforts are directed toward Jews. They aim to help Jews strengthen and rediscover their Judaism. It is the largest counter-missionary...
, Jerusalem during 2008.
Conversion to Christianity
Penina was born into a secular Jewish home in Lakewood Township, New JerseyLakewood Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 60,352 people, 19,876 households, and 13,356 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,431.8 people per square mile . There were 21,214 housing units at an average density of 854.8 per square mile...
. After a traumatic childhood, Penina embraced Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in High School, and then went on to Miami Christian College (Now Trinity University
Trinity International University
Trinity International University is an evangelical Christian institution of higher education headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. It comprises an undergraduate college, a graduate school, a theological seminary , and a law school--together with nearly 3,000 students...
) where she obtained a Bible Certificate. In college Penina became certified in the Evangelism Explosion (EE) program, was trained and served as a counselor with the Billy Graham Crusade
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
several times and was certified as a crisis pregnancy counselor.
Shortly after leaving Miami Christian College, Penina married Paul Taylor, who had attended Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute is a Christian institution of higher education and related ministries that was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Since its founding, MBI's main campus has been located in the Near North Side of Chicago. MBI's primary ministries are education,...
and the two of them continued to serve in lay leadership positions in a variety of churches.
Messianic Judaism
In 1991 Paul and Penina became involved in the MessianicMessianic Judaism
Messianic Judaism is a syncretic religious movement that arose in the 1960s and 70s. It blends evangelical Christian theology with elements of Jewish terminology and ritual....
movement and in 1994 Paul and Penina, along with Penina's parents, started the Messianic congregation, Knesset Hashuvim in Bowie
Bowie, Maryland
Bowie is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 54,727 at the 2010 census. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fifth most populous city and third largest city by area in the state of...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. During this time, Penina began reading books about Orthodox Judaism and the four leaders adopted the concept of "Torah Observant Messianic Judaism." Penina's father, Yeshayahu Heiliczer, established the "Association of Torah Observant Messianics" or ATOM.
From Messianic Judaism to Orthodox Judaism
After moving to Baltimore, MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 2000 - while still Messianic Jews
Messianic Judaism
Messianic Judaism is a syncretic religious movement that arose in the 1960s and 70s. It blends evangelical Christian theology with elements of Jewish terminology and ritual....
, Paul and Penina began to attend an Orthodox synagogue where they were introduced by the Rabbi to the (then) Director of Jews for Judaism
Jews for Judaism
Jews for Judaism, established by Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz in 1985, is an international organization designed to counter Christian missionaries whose evangelistic efforts are directed toward Jews. They aim to help Jews strengthen and rediscover their Judaism. It is the largest counter-missionary...
, Mark Powers. As a result of their discussion with Mark, Penina rejected all forms of Christian belief, including Messianic Judaism, and adopted Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
.
Later career
In 2009 Penina published her first book, Coming Full Circle: A Jewish Woman's Journey through Christianity and Back, which narrates her spiritual journey through Evangelical Christianity, Messianic Judaism and finally Orthodox Judaism.Since publishing her book, Penina lectures and teaches around the world at centers for traditional Jewish seminaries and yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s, discusses her religious conversions at synagogues and youth groups, engages in Jewish polemics against Messianic-Christian interpretations of the Hebrew Bible, and opines on the nature of the relationship between Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Evangelical Christianity
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
.
See also
- Baal TeshuvaBaal teshuvaBaal teshuva or ba'al teshuvah , sometimes abbreviated to BT, is a term referring to a Jew who turns to embrace Orthodox Judaism. Baal teshuva literally means, "repentant", i.e., one who has repented or "returned" to God...
- Jews for JudaismJews for JudaismJews for Judaism, established by Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz in 1985, is an international organization designed to counter Christian missionaries whose evangelistic efforts are directed toward Jews. They aim to help Jews strengthen and rediscover their Judaism. It is the largest counter-missionary...
- Outreach Judaism
- Yad L'AchimYad L'AchimYad L'Achim is an Orthodox Jewish organization operating in Israel focusing on outreach, counter-missionary and anti-religious intermarriage activity...
- David KlinghofferDavid KlinghofferDavid Klinghoffer is an author and essayist, and a proponent of intelligent design. He is a Senior Fellow of the Discovery Institute, the organization that is the driving force behind the intelligent design movement...
- Tovia SingerTovia SingerTovia Singer is a rabbi, and founder and director of Outreach Judaism.-Outreach Judaism:Singer is the founder and director of Outreach Judaism, a Jewish counter-missionary organization...
Website
- Penina Taylor.com
- Shomrei Emet Institute for Counter-Missionary Studies
- Coming Full Circle on Amazon
Articles
- Are missionaries targeting the elderly? - The Jerusalem Post (7/28/2009)
- - SA Jewish Report (8/15/2008)
- Jehovah's Witnesses grow by 'devious' methods, charge anti-missionaries - Ha'aretz (3/28/2008)
- Thank You, Ann Coulter - Israel National News (10/14/2007)
Lectures
- Jews for Judaism- TorahAnytime.org (3/1/2009)
- recent Missionary overtures to the government of Israel - Gavriel Sanders (3/14/2007)