Editing Messianic Judaism (section)

===Conversion to Messianic Judaism===
Large numbers of those calling themselves Messianic Jews are not of Jewish descent,{{sfn|Harris-Shapiro|1999|p=15|ps=: "However, not all Messianic believers ''are'' Jews. Nothing is as problematic as the large numbers of Messianic Gentiles in the movement. To claim Jewish identity when one is not Jewish oneself adds another layer of struggle: "We are ''Jews''!" "We are ''Messianic'' Jews!" "We are Messianic ''Gentiles/spiritual'' Jews!"}} but join the movement as they "enjoy the Messianic Jewish style of worship".{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=12}} Messianic perspectives on "[[Who is a Jew?]]" vary. The Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council says a Jew is one born to a Jewish mother or who has converted to Judaism. Copying from the Reform stream of Judaism, the council also says a Jew is one who was born to a Jewish father but not a Jewish mother on the condition that the family of the child, or the individual as an adult, has undertaken public and formal acts of identification of the individual with the Jewish faith and people.<ref name="MJRC_Status"/> The MJAA accepts gentiles into their congregations, but views gentiles and Jews as spiritually distinct and conversion as an "unbiblical practice".{{sfn|Reason|2005|ps=: "The official stance is that Gentiles and Jews are spiritually equal but distinct, and that Jews should be proud of being Jews, and Gentiles proud of being Gentiles. Nevertheless, the Jewish identity is clearly valorized, causing many Gentiles to strive for greater Jewishness through Jewish observance and search for Jewish roots. Since conversion for Gentiles is deemed unbiblical within the MJAA, these are the main options for Gentiles seeking a more Jewish identity."}}

====Baptism====
Messianic Jews practice [[baptism]], calling it a {{transliteration|he|[[mikveh]]}} ("cistern", from {{bibleverse|Leviticus|11:36}}) rather than the term {{transliteration|he|tvila}} ("baptism" ({{lang|he|טבילה}}) in the [[Bible translations by language|Hebrew New Testament]]).{{sfn|Cohn-Sherbok|2000|p=161|ps=: "For Gentile Christians, baptism is perceived as a means of entering into the body of Christ. Within Messianic Judaism, however, immersion is understood as a religious act symbolizing the believer's commitment to Yeshua: the faithful are to immerse in a ''mikveh'' as a sign of their acceptance of Messiah Yeshuah and the coming of the Kingdom."}}<ref name="JeC1"/>

====Circumcision====
{{Main|Religious male circumcision}}
{{See also|Brit milah|Circumcision controversy in early Christianity|Christian views on the Old Covenant}}
Some within the [[Tribe of Ephraim|Ephraimite]] movement seek to convert themselves for identification with Israel, but most Messianic governing bodies acknowledge the presence of gentiles in the congregations, and do not see a need for them to convert to worship in the Messianic style and understanding. When conversion is sincerely desired by a gentile Messianic believer, Messianic Jewish halachic standards (including [[Religious male circumcision|circumcision]]) are imposed to maintain integrity among the world Messianic Jewish community.<ref name="JeC1"/><ref name="JeC3"/>