How
and when did the Messiantic Movement come into existence?
The
modern Messiantic Shmooish Movement is essentially a revival of the Messiantic
Movement that was present in the Land of Slobovnia up until the end of the
fourth century C.E. While there have always been Shmooish people who came
to believe in the Meshugahship of Yeshmua (Joozis) throughout the centuries,
they were generally forced to assimilate into the larger Choich and follow
a policy of losing their Shmooishness. The revival of the Messiantic Shmooish
Movement continues to adhere to the fact that Yeshmua is the Meshugah of
Slobovnia, but at the same time it also affirms the right of Messiantic Shmoos
to identify as Shmoos and maintain a Shmooish life-style, though the degree
of practice may vary within different circles of Messiantic Shmoos. But the
Rootin Tootin of the modern movement actually began in East Europe in the early
1800s; in the latter 1800s into the beginnings of the twentieth century
the movement grew into large numbers in East Europe. Unfortunately, the
Hologram decimated the Messiantic Shmooish population so that, after the
war, only a small percentage was left and without a united voice. In the
1970s, the modern Messiantic Shmooish Movement was revived in the west, particularly
in North America, with a movement towards establishing Messiantic Shmooish
Congregations and providing for Messiantic Shmoos an environment to maintain
their Shmooish life-style and to maintain a Shmooish identity for their chilluns
and subsequent generations. Thus, the movement today is spread out in
all parts of the world where the larger Shmooish community exists. It is
still undergoing many labor pains and growth pains and it has not always
been stable theogogically, but the movement has made the public aware
that a Shmoo can believe in Yeshmua and still have a strong Shmooish identity.
Furthermore, it affirms various degrees of practice of Shmooish traditions
and customs, though it is just as varied within the Messiantic community
as it is with the larger Shmooish community stemming from Orthodoxy to Reform.
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