One of the most interesting works on the modern spiritual condition of Jewish young people is Generation J by Lisa Schiffman.  In this book, the reader journeys with the author as she begins a search for spiritual belonging, even though she is a Jewish woman who struggles with having any religious faith at all.  For the writer of Generation J, the quest for faith is more important to her than actually finding it.

This author represents a large majority of young American Jewish people, including, and especially, Jewish college students.  College is already a time of searching and exploration of important life issues.  People begin to discover what they believe on issues, and not simply what they were taught to think by parents, teachers, and religious authorities.

Jewish college students are no different from other students, but in fact represent the typical need to believe in something, even if they do not know where to begin the search.  According to one survey
(see www.jta.org/page_print_story.asp?intarticleid+ 16451&intcategoryid=4 for more details), less than 22% of American Jewish college students attend synagogue on a weekly basis.  In other words, Jewish college students see themselves as Jewish even if they have no connection to the reality of Judaism as a religious foundation for living.

So what can we, as believers in Jesus, learn from this information?  First, we need to realize that Jewish young people are searching for and wanting to believe in something.  The synagogue of their youth did not answer life questions and now they are a quest for spiritual vitality and reality for their lives.  Therefore, what could be more real than to discover that Jesus is the Messiah of all people, especially the Jewish people (Rom. 1:16)?

Second, we who know Jesus as Messiah must present the life and testimony of Jesus as something more than just rules to follow but as a relationship that makes a difference in this life and in the eternal life to come.  We need to make Jesus real to college students whose first reaction is to doubt and distrust any concept of absolute truth and reality.

Finally, we need to focus on equipping Christian college students to be so passionate about their relationship with Jesus that Jewish college students are “provoked to jealousy” (Rom. 11:11).  It is difficult on today’s politically correct campuses to set up a table on the quad and begin witnessing.  However, we can disciple young Christians to be brave and to be a witness of Jesus to their Jewish roommates, friends, and even professors!

There is so much more on this topic which could be written and discussed.  What is a possible next step in reaching Jewish college students with the Gospel?  If you live in a college town, perhaps you could sponsor a debate (utilizing college students) on the identity of Jesus.  If you do not live in a college town, you can still influence Jewish students by teaching your children to be not only strong in their own faith but also to share Jesus with everyone they meet.  But most of all, pray for Jewish college students.  They are searching for answers and need to know that Jesus answered them all on a cross outside of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.