A video of a similar ceremony with Eddie Long has infuriated Jewish leaders around the country, and resulted in an apology from Long. Not only is Messer not a rabbi by any Jewish standards, these ceremonies have no relation to Jewish practice and show disrespect to both the Torah and to Judaism.  

Ralph Messer's ceremonies are one example of the widespread co-opting of Jewish sacred symbols and holidays taking place in many Charismatic ministries, and particularly throughout the apostolic and prophetic movement or New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). Everything from shofars (ram's horn) to the High Holidays has been adopted as part of an end times fascination with "Hebrew Roots."

Until the controversy over the Eddie Long video, this growing phenomenon had largely gone unnoticed or dismissed as benign by Jewish leaders.  The same Charismatics co-opting Jewish symbolism and practice are also fervent Christian Zionists.

White is the "Apostolic Overseer" of New Destiny Christian Center and Without Walls International Church in Florida. Eddie Long heads his own extensive apostolic network, but was also one of the early members of the elite group of apostles convened by C. Peter Wagner as the International Coalition of Apostles.

Messer's ceremony is more outrageous than some (not all) of the other Hebrew Roots spectacles that I've seen, but the co-opting of Judaism's sacred symbols and practice is now widespread.  Perhaps Jewish leaders will now take a closer look at some of the things taking place behind the scenes in Charismatic Christian Zionism.

Also see Ralph Messer's ministry website to see their reaction to the nationally publicized controversy. They could not be happier!