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Proclaiming Yeshua as Messiah
Who we are
The Messianic Jewish Alliance of Switzerland (SMJA) is a member of the International Messianic Jewish Alliance (IMJA), a worldwide family of Messianic Jews committed to this same vision.
Our mission is to bring together Jewish believers in Yeshua (Jesus), alongside Gentile believers.
We seek to foster unity and mutual support among all who share faith in the Messiah Yeshua. We desire to strengthen the bond between Jews and Gentiles in Messiah, to serve as a living witness to our people, by walking together in love and unity. Our calling includes passing on our Jewish heritage to our children and future generations.
We encourage all Messianic believers to stand together, support one another, and grow in fellowship. If you share this vision and feel called to join us, we warmly invite you to apply for membership.
Shalom in Yeshua,
The SMJA Committee
Our history in Switzerland
The Swiss Messianic Jewish Alliance (SMJA) was founded in 1955 in Zurich by Harry Herz-Hablützel, who served as President until 2013. Having survived the war years, Herz carried a strong conviction to share Yeshua as the Messiah with the Jewish people and laid the foundation for the Messianic movement in Switzerland.
In 2013, leadership passed to David Singer, who served as President until 2024. Under his guidance, the SMJA was officially registered as a non-profit recognized in Bern and Geneva. The Alliance became known for its gatherings that combined fellowship, music from Israel, Jewish traditions, and teaching about the Messiah.
Since 2025, the SMJA has been led by its current President, Stephen Pacht, continuing the vision of uniting Jewish and Gentile believers in Switzerland around their shared faith in Yeshua.
We believe
The Bible, consisting of the תנך ( TENACH: Holy Scriptures) and the later writings commonly known as the ברית חדשה ( B’RIT HADASHA: New Covenant ), is the only in infallible and authoritative word of God. We recognize its divine inspiration, and accept its teachings as our final authority in all matters of faith and practice (Deut. 6:4-9; Prov.3:1-6; Ps.119:89, 105;Isa.48:12-16; Rom.8:14-17;II Tim-2:15,3:16-17).
We believe that the Shema, שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל: יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְהוָה אֶחָד — “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One” (Deut. 6:4), teaches that God is אחד (Echad), a united one, a composite unity, eternally existent in plural oneness (Gen. 1:1 Elohim “God”; Gen. 1:26 “Let us make man in our image”; Gen. 2:24 Adam and Eve created to be one flesh [בשר אחד, basar echad]). He is a personal God who created us (Gen. 1–2), and He exists forever as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as written in Rom. 8:14–17 (Father, Spirit, and Messiah-Son) and Matt. 28:18–20 (immersing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
A. GOD THE FATHER (אבא, Abba)
Jn. 6:27; 1 Cor. 1:3; Gal. 1:1; Rev. 3:5, 21; Jer. 3:4, 19; 31:9; Mal. 1:6; Matt. 6:9, 32; Lk. 10:21–22; Jn. 1:14; 4:23; 5:17–26; 6:28–46; Rom. 8:14–15.B. THE SON (הבן, Ha’Ben)
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God does have a Son [Ps. 2; Prov. 30:4–6; Heb. 1; Lk. 12:35–37; Jn. 1:29–34, 49; 3:14–18].
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The Son, called ישוע (Yeshua, Jesus – meaning “salvation”), came into this world through a virgin [Isa. 7:14; Lk. 1:30–35].
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The Son is God (Deity) and is worshiped as God, having existed eternally [Ps. 110:1; Heb. 1:13; Isa. 9:6–7; Matt. 28:18–20; Phil. 2:5–11; Col. 1:15–19; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 1:6 (worshiped by angels); Rev. 4:8; 5:5–14].
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He is the promised משיח (Mashiach, Messiah) of Israel [Isa. 9:6–7; 11:1; Dan. 9:20–26; Isa. 53; Jn. 1:17, 40–41, 45, 49; Mk. 8:29].
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He is the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star (Num. 24:17; Rev. 22:16).
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He is our Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God (1 Cor. 5:7; Rev. 5; Jn. 1:29).
C. THE HOLY SPIRIT (רוח הקודש, Ruach HaKodesh)
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Introduced in Gen. 1:2.
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In the Tanakh, the Spirit of God came upon individuals such as Moses, David (2 Sam. 23:1–3), and the Prophets for specific purposes.
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In the New Covenant, Messiah Yeshua promised His disciples that the Comforter would come after He was gone, described as the Spirit of Truth (Jn. 14:17, 26), who was with them and would be in them. Yeshua further declared that the Spirit of Truth would guide us into all truth and glorify Him the Messiah, not Himself (Jn. 16:13–15).
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He empowers us (Acts 1:8).
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He seals us (Eph. 1:13; 4:30).
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Without the Spirit (Ruach), we are not His (Rom. 8:9).
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He leads us and teaches us (Rom. 8:14–17).
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His indwelling enables us to live a godly life.
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Acts 2:38 declares: “Repent, be immersed, and receive the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh).”
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A. Created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26–27), but:
B. Through disobedience, man fell from his first state and became separated from God (Gen. 2:17; 3:22–24). Therefore, according to the Scriptures, all men are born with a sinful nature (Ps. 14:1–3; 49:7; 53:1–3; Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:9–12, 23; 5:12).
C. Man’s only hope for redemption (salvation) is through the atonement made by the Messiah (Lev. 17:11; Isa. 53; Dan. 9:24–26; 1 Cor. 15:22; Heb. 9:11–14, 28; Jn. 1:12; 3:36), resulting in regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5), which is the new birth (Jn. 3:3–8). For by grace we are saved through faith; it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8–9).
We believe in the resurrection of both the redeemed and the lost: the former to everlasting life, and the latter to eternal separation from God, a state of everlasting punishment (Job 14:14; 19:25–27; Dan. 12:2–3; Jn. 3:36; 11:25–26; Rev. 20:5–6, 10–15; 21:7–8).
A. First Coming
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Promised in Dan. 9:24–26.
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Its purpose was to make atonement for sin (Isa. 53; Rom. 3:21–31; Heb. 9–10; Jn. 3:16–17).
B. Second Coming
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Promised coming in the air to receive believers to Himself (1 Thess. 4:13–18; Jn. 14:1–6; 1 Cor. 15:51–57).
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Messiah’s return to the earth:
a. The Redeemer shall come to Zion (Isa. 59:20–21; Zech. 14:4).
b. Israel’s spiritual redemption (Zech. 12:8–13; Rom. 11:25–27; Heb. 9:28; Jer. 31:31–40; the New Covenant).
c. Israel’s national restoration: to recover the remnant of His people Israel from the four corners of the earth and restore the Davidic Kingdom (Isa. 11), to re-establish the throne and Kingdom of David, which will last forever (Isa. 9:6–7; Lk. 1:30–33; Jer. 23:3–8).
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We believe in God’s end-time plan for the nation of Israel and for the world. A central part of Messianic Judaism is the belief in the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel, as taught in the Scriptures. The greatest miracle of our day has been the reestablishment, or rebirth, of the State of Israel according to prophecy (Ezek. 34:11–31; 36–39; Hos. 3; Amos 9:11–15; Zech. 12–14; Isa. 11; 43; 54; 60–62; 66; Rom. 11:1–34). See also the Scriptures under V. The Messiah.
A. We recognize that Jewish people (physical descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, whether through the mother’s or the father’s bloodline), who place their faith in Israel’s Messiah—Yeshua, continue to be Jewish according to the Scriptures (Rom. 2:28–29). Gentiles who place their faith in Yeshua are grafted into the Jewish olive tree of faith (Rom. 11:17–25), becoming spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham (Gal. 3:28–29).
B. We observe and celebrate the Jewish Holy Days given by God to Israel, with their fulfillment in and through the Messiah Yeshua. We believe that “Biblical Judaism” is the faith of the first-century believers, which we seek to practice. It acknowledges the continuity of faith in the one true God, revealed throughout the Scriptures and ultimately manifested in God’s Son, Yeshua the Messiah. We believe that salvation has always been by faith, and that works of the Law or righteous acts have never saved anyone (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 2:6; Eph. 2:8–9; Heb. 11:6, 39).
C. We acknowledge that the New Covenant body of believers is composed of both Jews and Gentiles who have received Yeshua the Messiah as the promised Redeemer. The “middle wall of partition” has been broken down, and now we worship the God of Israel together (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:13–14).
Meet the SMJA Committee
Stephen Pacht
President
Lionel Gimelfarb
Vice-President
Serge Mercerat
Finance
Meet the SMJA Founders
David Singer
Vice-President 2012-2013
President 2013-2024
Harry Herz-Hablützel
SMJA Founder in 1955
President 1955-2013
Stand with us and make a difference today
Send us an email at contact@smja.ch for more info
Prayer Support
Your prayers sustain and strengthen this work. By interceding regularly, you help open doors, protect the team, and prepare hearts to receive.
Financial Support
Your financial gifts make this ministry possible, from covering essential costs to enabling outreach, events, and resources. Every contribution, big or small, helps advance the mission.
Volunteering
Offer your time, talents, or skills to help with events, communication, logistics, or creative projects. Serving together builds community and multiplies impact.
Sharing & Advocacy
Spread the word! Share our vision with your friends, church, or community, and invite others to get involved. Your voice helps extend the reach far beyond what we could do alone.
Thank you for your financial support
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