Honoring Our Past, Rebuilding Our Community, and Carrying the Vision of Netzarim Judaism into the Future

The International Assembly for Netzarim Judaism (IANJ) is entering a new chapter in its history. After a difficult period of organizational decline, the loss of much of our founding leadership, and the eventual dissolution of our original assembly, we are beginning the process of rebuilding.

For those who have followed our work over the years, studied with our rabbis, or maintained relationships with our community, the past year has undoubtedly raised questions about the future of the IANJ. Our public presence has been limited, communication has been inconsistent, and many of the programs and relationships that once characterized our organization have been interrupted.

We want to begin by offering our sincere apologies for that silence and for any confusion or uncertainty it may have caused.

We also want to share what has happened, explain where we stand today, and offer a glimpse of the direction we hope to take in the years ahead.

The End of an Era

The International Assembly for Netzarim Judaism was established as a fellowship of Jewish religious leaders and teachers united by a shared commitment to the principles of Netzarim Judaism. Our founders envisioned an international community dedicated to the study and observance of the Written Torah, the preservation of Jewish identity and tradition, and the development of a thoughtful, independent approach to Jewish religious life.

For many years, the IANJ served as a point of connection for rabbis, students, congregations, and individuals seeking guidance within the Netzarim tradition.

Like many smaller religious organizations, however, the IANJ depended heavily upon the dedication and personal involvement of its founding members.

Over the years, most of those original members passed away, including many who had occupied the principal positions of leadership. Their passing represented more than the loss of individual colleagues and teachers. With them went an enormous amount of institutional knowledge, experience, and the personal relationships that had sustained the assembly for so long.

Unfortunately, the organization had never developed the formal structure or succession procedures necessary to ensure an orderly transition to a new generation of leadership.

As our founding generation grew smaller, the assembly became increasingly difficult to maintain. Many of the rabbis who had been affiliated with the IANJ eventually moved on to other organizations or independent religious work, and the international network that had once connected our community gradually diminished.

Ultimately, the last remaining members of the original leadership made the decision to disband the IANJ.

It was a difficult conclusion to a chapter of our history, but it also reflected an unavoidable reality: the original organization could no longer continue in the manner in which it had operated.

We remember those who built the IANJ with gratitude and respect. Their dedication to Torah, Jewish learning, and the Netzarim community laid a foundation upon which we hope to build once again.

Rebuilding Under New Leadership

Today, we are pleased to announce that the International Assembly for Netzarim Judaism is being reestablished under new leadership.

Rabbi Ian Adams, who previously served as the United States Coordinator for the IANJ, has assumed responsibility for rebuilding the assembly and will serve as its Acting CEO during this transitional period.

This effort represents a new organizational beginning under the historic IANJ name. We are not simply attempting to resume the activities of the former assembly as though nothing has changed. Rather, we are working to establish a new organizational foundation that will preserve the history and essential religious principles of the IANJ while addressing the structural weaknesses that contributed to its dissolution.

That means developing appropriate governance, establishing clear standards for rabbinical affiliation and education, rebuilding our international network, and creating the administrative framework necessary to support our work well into the future.

It also means rebuilding our public presence, including updating our website, reviewing our educational materials, clarifying our theological positions, and making it easier for those interested in Netzarim Judaism to find accurate information about our beliefs and practices.

This will be a gradual process.

There is much work to be done, and we intend to approach that work thoughtfully, responsibly, and with a clear understanding that a lasting organization must be built upon something more substantial than the efforts of a handful of dedicated individuals.

Preserving the Heart of Netzarim Judaism

Although our organizational structure is changing, our fundamental religious convictions remain firmly rooted in the Torah and the historic principles of Netzarim Judaism.

We continue to affirm the Written Torah, the Five Books of Moses, as the binding foundation of Jewish religious law and practice. We recognize the Prophets and Writings as the inspired literature and sacred history of Israel, illuminating our understanding of God’s relationship with the Jewish people while maintaining the primacy of the Torah.

We remain committed to the study of Scripture in its plain meaning, understood through careful consideration of its language, historical setting, and ethical context.

We honor the long and diverse history of Jewish thought and tradition while maintaining that no human institution, commentary, or inherited custom possesses the authority to supersede the commandments of the Written Torah.

We also believe that Jewish religious life must be more than an exercise in legal interpretation. Torah calls us to lives of justice, compassion, integrity, humility, and responsibility toward one another.

Netzarim Judaism seeks to maintain that balance: faithfulness to the covenant of Israel alongside the thoughtful application of Torah to the realities of contemporary life.

Our renewed assembly will continue to emphasize these principles while encouraging respectful scholarship, sincere questioning, and the development of strong Jewish communities.

Just as importantly, we remain committed to our identity as a Jewish religious movement. Netzarim Judaism is not Messianic Judaism or a form of Christianity. Our religious identity is grounded in the covenant of Israel, the authority of the Written Torah, and the worship of the One God of Israel.

These commitments will remain central to our work as we move forward.

Renewing Our Rabbinical Assembly

One of the most important aspects of our rebuilding effort will be the restoration of the IANJ’s original purpose as an international fellowship of Netzarim rabbis.

Our renewed organization will place particular emphasis upon the development of an international rabbinical assembly dedicated to religious leadership, scholarship, education, and the support of Netzarim Jewish communities.

The principal rabbinical governing body will be known as the International Council of Netzarim Rabbis (Mo’etzet Rabanei HaNetzarim).

Through this council and the broader work of the IANJ, we hope to establish a sustainable foundation for rabbinical cooperation, training, religious guidance, and the development of future generations of Netzarim leadership.

The IANJ will also continue to serve as a religious association supporting affiliated congregations and the wider Netzarim Jewish community.

Our formal membership will remain focused upon recognized Netzarim rabbis and individuals accepted into our rabbinical training programs, rather than functioning as an open-membership organization for the general public.

Nevertheless, our educational resources, religious teachings, and commitment to fostering Jewish community are intended to benefit a much wider audience.

We believe that strong Jewish communities require dedicated and knowledgeable leadership, but we also recognize that the purpose of such leadership is to serve the Jewish people, not simply to maintain an institution.

Reconnecting With Our Community

We understand that the dissolution of the former IANJ affected more than its organizational leadership.

Some individuals were engaged in rabbinical studies or other educational programs. Others were working with a rabbi in preparation for conversion, seeking religious guidance, or participating in local communities associated with the IANJ.

Many of those relationships were interrupted when individual rabbis departed or when the organization ceased operating.

If you were previously working with an IANJ-affiliated rabbi and have since lost contact, we encourage you to reach out to us.

Although we cannot guarantee that every previous relationship or educational program can be restored, we will make a sincere effort to assist wherever possible. This may include helping individuals reconnect with their former teachers or identifying another qualified rabbi who may be able to provide guidance, preferably within their geographic area.

We also welcome inquiries from established Netzarim rabbis who may be interested in participating in the renewed assembly, as well as sincere prospective students seeking information about future rabbinical training opportunities.

We ask that those seeking admission to rabbinical studies provide a detailed introduction describing their religious background, Jewish education, previous studies, and reasons for pursuing the rabbinate.

Please understand that our administrative and educational programs are still being reorganized. Responses may take longer than usual, and some services may not be immediately available.

We appreciate your understanding as we work to restore the resources necessary to serve our community responsibly.

Building Something That Will Endure

Perhaps the greatest lesson of the past year has been the importance of organizational continuity.

The original IANJ was built upon the dedication of individuals who believed deeply in its mission. Their contributions were considerable, but an organization that depends entirely upon its founders will inevitably face difficulties when those founders are no longer able to lead.

We owe it to their memory, and to those who will come after us, to create something capable of enduring beyond any single generation.

That requires more than enthusiasm and good intentions. It requires responsible leadership, defined procedures, accountability, careful planning, and a willingness to prepare future leaders to assume responsibilities when the time comes.

We are beginning that work now.

Our immediate priorities include renewing our public presence, establishing a sound organizational and governing structure, reconnecting with our rabbinical community, and reviewing the educational resources and programs that have historically been associated with the IANJ.

Some of these efforts will become visible in the near future. Others will require considerably more time.

We do not intend to rush the process merely to create the appearance of a fully functioning international organization. It is far more important to establish a stable and responsible foundation upon which genuine growth can take place.

We believe that the future of the IANJ deserves that care.

A Request for Patience, Prayer, and Understanding

The past year has been a difficult period for those of us who have remained committed to the IANJ and its mission.

There has been loss, uncertainty, disappointment, and the considerable challenge of determining how best to preserve something that has meant so much to so many people.

We recognize that some of you may have experienced frustration or disappointment with the organization during this period. We understand those feelings, and we acknowledge that our communication should have been better.

As we begin again, we ask for your patience, your understanding, and your prayers.

We cannot promise that every program will be restored immediately or that every challenge will be resolved quickly. We can, however, promise that our intention is to approach this rebuilding effort with sincerity, transparency, and a genuine commitment to the religious principles that brought our community together in the first place.

For those who have remained connected to the IANJ through the years, we offer our heartfelt thanks.

For those who have lost contact, we hope this announcement will be an invitation to reconnect.

And for those who are only now discovering Netzarim Judaism, we welcome you to learn more about our tradition, our beliefs, and the work we hope to accomplish.

From Our Roots, New Growth

There is something particularly meaningful about the name Netzarim at this moment in our history.

The Hebrew word netzer means a branch or shoot, recalling the image found in Isaiah 11:1:

“And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”

It is an image of renewal, continuity, and life emerging from roots that remain even when the visible tree has been cut down.

In many ways, that image reflects where the IANJ stands today.

Our original organization has come to an end, and much of the generation that established it is no longer with us. Yet the principles, teachings, and commitments that inspired its creation have not disappeared.

Those roots remain.

Our task now is to cultivate new growth from them, preserving what was valuable in the past while building a stronger foundation for the future.

We are not beginning without a history. We are beginning again because that history deserves to continue.

The International Assembly for Netzarim Judaism has an opportunity to enter a new generation of service to the Jewish people. It is an opportunity that we intend to approach with humility, determination, and faith.

With God’s help, may this new chapter be one of renewal, learning, fellowship, and lasting service to Torah and the people of Israel.

Ken yehi ratzon — May it be God’s will.

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Rabbi Ian Adams
Acting CEO
International Assembly for Netzarim Judaism (IANJ)

netzarimjudaism.org