Kehilat Ben David

Kehilat Ben David is a Messianic Jewish congregation in Oceanport, New Jersey, made up of Jewish and Gentile believers in Yeshua. Founded in 2015, it takes its name from the meaning "Congregation of the Son of David." The name points to Yeshua, the promised Son of David and Messiah of Israel. Rabbi Rich Cohen leads the community.

The congregation holds that Yeshua is the Son of God and Israel's promised Messiah, and it affirms one God in three persons. Salvation, it teaches, comes by grace through faith in Yeshua alone. Torah observance, feast-keeping and ethnicity do not earn right standing with God. Torah, Shabbat, the feasts and Hebrew prayer are understood as the soil from which the Gospel grew, fulfilled in Yeshua. In Messiah, the community believes, the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile has been broken down. In its own words, Jewish and Gentile believers "are not identical, but they are one." Gentile believers are described as branches grafted into the olive tree of Israel.

Shabbat services are held on the first and third Saturday of each month at 12:30 PM. Worship is mostly in English, with Hebrew in prayers, songs, Scripture readings and blessings. Services draw on traditional liturgy, including the Shema and the Amidah. The weekly Torah portion is read and taught. Each service closes with the Aaronic Blessing spoken in Hebrew. Children attend with their families, and a shared meal follows every service.