PART 1: THE MYTH OF THE HISTORICAL JESUS Much concern has been
expressed in the Jewish media regarding the activity of "Jews
for Jesus" and other missionary organizations who go out of
their way to convert Jews to Christianity. Unfortunately, many
Jews are ill-equipped to deal with Christian missionaries and
their arguments. Hopefully this article will contribute to
remedying this situation. When countering Christian missionaries
it is important to base one's arguments on correct facts.
Arguments based on incorrect facts can easily backfire and end
up strengthening the arguments of the missionaries. It is rather
unfortunate that many well meaning Jewish Studies teachers have
unwittingly aided missionaries by teaching Jewish pupils
incorrect information about the origins of Christianity. I can
recall being taught the following story about Jesus at the
Jewish day school which I attended: "Jesus was a famous first
century rabbi whose Hebrew name was Rabbi Yehoshua. His father
was a carpenter named Joseph and his