An Ethnically-Patrilineal and/or -Matrilineal Jew who believes that the historical Jesus of Nazareth (Yeshua HaNotzri) is the Messiah and that the New Testament is a part of TaNaKH(i.e., Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim, Hadashah-- literally "New" or "News").
A Messianic Jew does not necessarily keep all 613 mitzvot in the Torah, may not hold the Talmud as part of the Jewish Bible, and may be a member of a church as opposed to a Messianic shul or synagogue. Also called "Jews for Jesus", Messianic Jews are often targeted for persecution by Antimissionaries such as the Antimissionary organization Jews for Judaism.
by Nickidewbear August 19, 2011