Congregation Lion of Judah

Congregation Lion of Judah gathers in Olympia, Washington, for a Shabbat worship service every Saturday at 11 am. On Tuesday evenings at 7, a Bible study meets on Zoom. Prayer for one another sits beside worship and the study of Scripture in its common life.

Formed in October 1994, the congregation became independent in 2000 under the umbrella of the American Missionary Fellowship. In May 2004 it moved its worship from Friday evening to Shabbat morning. Rabbi Herb Opalek served as consulting rabbi from July 2010 until his death in April 2011. The liturgies used today are his work. Since 2016 the congregation has belonged to the International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues. Its Torah scroll came from Turkey and is written in Royal Ashkenazi script from the 1800s.

The community affirms Yeshua as the Son of God and the Messiah, in whom the fullness of deity dwells. It holds that salvation is by faith through grace alone. Both the Tanakh and the Apostolic Writings are received as the Word of God. It believes in the continuity of God's covenants with the physical people of Israel, including their return to the Land. Gentiles who trust in Yeshua are understood as grafted into the olive tree, which "does not make them Jewish." The biblical feasts are kept as appointed times, the Moedim, that point to Messiah. Igor Kurlianov, whose title is Pastor, has led the congregation since 2025.