Tikvat Yisrael

Tikvat Yisrael Messianic Synagogue gathers in Chesterland, Ohio, every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. for Shabbat worship, in person and by livestream. Its roots go back to 1975, when a small group of Messianic Jews met weekly in home groups in Cleveland. The congregation was incorporated in Ohio on April 4, 1978. Rabbi Eric David Lakatos leads the community. He came as a candidate in early 2008.

Tikvat Yisrael describes itself as a community of Jewish and Gentile believers committed to faith in Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah. It teaches that Jewish people who believe in Yeshua remain Jewish and are called to keep Shabbat as a covenant sign. Gentile believers are understood as grafted into the olive tree. They join as full members without converting, and may keep Jewish customs and holidays without being required to. The congregation holds that salvation has always been by faith, and it affirms the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel. It categorically rejects Hebrew Roots, Two-House and Ephraimite theology.

Services run about an hour and a half. They include Messianic worship music, Davidic dance, an abbreviated Torah service and a 30-minute shiur from the rabbi. Children may join the Torah procession. A nursery serves ages 0 to 4, and Shabbat School meets during the shiur. Every other week, teens ages 13 to 18 gather for an afternoon Youth Shabbaton. Challah and coffee follow the service, and beginner's classes are offered in 10-week sessions.