A Kentucky congregation that practices a controversial faith combining Judaism with Christianity is moving its home base to Nashville.
Beit Simcha, a messianic Jewish group whose name means ''house of joy,'' will start meeting at 23rd Psalm Cafe, 2203 Buena Vista Pike, next Saturday. Steven Bogach, a leader of the congregation now based in Scottsville, Ky., said the group will gather for teachings at 9:30 a.m. and services at 10:30.
''God's been leading us to Nashville,'' said Bogach, adding that several of the congregation's 10 members have been commuting an hour from here to Scottsville.
Bogach said he and his fellow worshippers believe Yeshua, whom Christians know as Jesus Christ, is the messiah and will return to Earth as a Jew. They also believe the Apostles were Jewish and lived Jewish lifestyles, which they emulate by keeping the Sabbath on Saturdays and eating kosher foods.
Their central tenet puts messianic Jews well outside the mainstream of Jewish thought, which holds that Jesus was an important teacher and historical figure but was not the messiah.
While Christians are awaiting the Second Coming of Christ, most Jews believe the messiah has not yet come.
Bogach acknowledges the difference and the controversy it causes. But he holds fast to the beliefs of messianic Jews.
''Most Jews can agree on one thing: When you accept Yeshua as the messiah, you're no longer a Jew,'' he said. ''We're standing as a banner saying that's not correct. If you live as a Jew, you're going to die as a Jew.''
Rabbi Ronald Roth of West End Synagogue says that misses the point. He calls messianic Jews ''Christians whose purpose is to try to convert Jews to Christianity.''
''The Jewish community finds these groups to be totally deceptive,'' Roth said. ''One can be a Jew. One can be a Christian. One cannot be both.''
Roth added that ''there's a difference between being a Jew and keeping a Jewish lifestyle.''
''I know of no Buddhists for Jesus,'' he said. ''I know of no Hindus for Jesus. I know of no Jews for Mohammed.''
Bogach said his congregation is about evenly split between Jews and gentiles, or non-Jews. He said the messianic Jewish movement, whose origins he places around 1967 (Roth believes it's a bit older), ranges across ''everything from evangelical Pentecostalism to strict Torah observance.''
He also believes the movement is working effectively, reaching people who have felt conflicted about their faith.
''Many, many Jews are coming to faith knowing Yeshua as the messiah,'' he said. ''The problem comes in when they try to be something they're not: a gentile.''
Bogach said the congregation is excited about coming to Nashville.
Members believed God was directing them there for some time, he said.