Messianic Judaism

Both a modern and an ancient movement that go by the same name.

In antiquity, Messianic Judaism refers to a sort of meta-faith formed of various sub-sects of judaism at the end of the Hellenistic period and in the early christian period who were characterized by their belief that the messiah predicted in the latter part of the Tanach had come to restore Israel.

In modern times, Messianic Judaism refers to a group of Jews who believe that Jesus Christ was the messiah. It is a very controversial group, to say the least, and they are often accused by mainstream jews of being the victims of Anti-Semitic Christian missionaries. Such critics often make the point that the difference between Judaism and Christianity is the Christian acceptance of Jesus as the messiah, and that therefore Messianic Judaism is not Judaism at all. (TODO: A defense of Mainstream Judaism to its critics would be much desired here.)