Tovia Singer
Encyclopedia
Tovia Singer is a rabbi
, and founder and director of Outreach Judaism.
organization. It describes itself as "an international organization that responds directly to the issues raised by missionaries and cults, by exploring Judaism in contradistinction to fundamentalist Christianity." Singer cautions regarding congregations that "are designed to appear Jewish, but are actually fundamentalist Christian churches, which use traditional Jewish symbols to lure the most vulnerable of our Jewish people into their ranks". Singer brought Guma Aguiar
to Judaism; Aguiar was born to a Jewish mother, but raised as a Christian. Outreach Judaism was described by J. Gordon Melton
in 2002 as an example of "the current state of Jewish counter-cult activity".
's Israel National Radio. When Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ
was released, Singer stated on his 25 September 2003 show that "by the time the first nail is hammered into the cross, viewers in Germany will be passing around knife sharpeners in the theater." Following the movie's debut, J. Shawn Landres and Michael Berenbaum
wrote, "not only was [Singer's prediction] inappropriate but also proved itself entirely wrong, as Germany was the only country in which leaders of the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish communities cooperated to issue a joint statement criticizing The Passion."
In 2006, Singer interviewed Wafa Sultan
on the show.
Singer is also a public speaker and the author of the book and audio series Let's Get Biblical. According to David Brickner
it has "grabbed the attention of many evangelicals simply because it has been so widely distributed."
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, and founder and director of Outreach Judaism.
Outreach Judaism
Singer is the founder and director of Outreach Judaism, a Jewish counter-missionaryCounter-Missionary
A number of, particularly Christian and Muslim, religious groups are involved in proselytization of Jews, attempts to recruit, or "missionize" Jews to abandon Judaism...
organization. It describes itself as "an international organization that responds directly to the issues raised by missionaries and cults, by exploring Judaism in contradistinction to fundamentalist Christianity." Singer cautions regarding congregations that "are designed to appear Jewish, but are actually fundamentalist Christian churches, which use traditional Jewish symbols to lure the most vulnerable of our Jewish people into their ranks". Singer brought Guma Aguiar
Guma Aguiar
Guma L. Aguiar is a Brazilian-born energy industrialist and millionaire businessperson who splits his time living between the United States and Israel. Guma Aguiar is recognized as a leading philanthropist who has supported a variety of Jewish causes including Nefesh B'Nefesh and the March of the...
to Judaism; Aguiar was born to a Jewish mother, but raised as a Christian. Outreach Judaism was described by J. Gordon Melton
J. Gordon Melton
John Gordon Melton is an American religious scholar who was the founding director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion and is currently a research specialist in religion and New Religious Movements with the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara...
in 2002 as an example of "the current state of Jewish counter-cult activity".
Other activities
From 2002 to 2010 Singer hosted The Tovia Singer Show on Arutz ShevaArutz Sheva
Arutz Sheva is an Israeli media network identifying with Religious Zionism. It offers online news in English, Hebrew, French, Spanish and Russian. Arutz Sheva offers free podcasts, live streaming radio, a daily email news update, streaming video and 24 hour updated text news...
's Israel National Radio. When Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 American drama film directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus. It depicts the Passion of Jesus largely according to the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John...
was released, Singer stated on his 25 September 2003 show that "by the time the first nail is hammered into the cross, viewers in Germany will be passing around knife sharpeners in the theater." Following the movie's debut, J. Shawn Landres and Michael Berenbaum
Michael Berenbaum
Michael Berenbaum is an American scholar, professor, rabbi, writer, and film-maker, who specializes in the study of the memorialization of the Holocaust...
wrote, "not only was [Singer's prediction] inappropriate but also proved itself entirely wrong, as Germany was the only country in which leaders of the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish communities cooperated to issue a joint statement criticizing The Passion."
In 2006, Singer interviewed Wafa Sultan
Wafa Sultan
Wafa Sultan is a medical doctor who trained as a psychiatrist in Syria, and an American author and critic of Muslim society and Islam.-Life and career:Sultan was born into a large traditional Alawite Muslim family in Baniyas, Syria....
on the show.
Singer is also a public speaker and the author of the book and audio series Let's Get Biblical. According to David Brickner
David Brickner
David Brickner is an ordained Christian Baptist minister who has been head of the Christian missionary group Jews for Jesus since 1996...
it has "grabbed the attention of many evangelicals simply because it has been so widely distributed."
Works
- “Lets Get Biblical” 24-part audio series. Includes issues raised by missionaries and cults, by exploring Judaism in contradistinction to fundamentalist Christianity.
- “Lets Get Biblical” Additional 5 CD Audio Series
- “Lets Get Biblical” Hardcover book - Why Doesn't Judaism Accept the Christian Messiah? .