Journeys of Faith: Crystal Buchhalter Feature

Crystal Buchhalter was born in Lansing, Michigan, and was raised in a Jewish home by her mother. She was singing before she could talk, so it is no wonder that when Crystal began Hebrew school at nine years of age, she joined the children's choir. The cantor (the individual who sings all the prayers and liturgy for synagogue services) began to train her personally. As his apprentice, Crystal learned much about music and particularly about Jewish liturgy. At age thirteen she went to Interlochen Arts Camp, and continued to do so for five consecutive summers.

Crystal's father (who is not Jewish) and brother became born again believers in Jesus around the time of Crystal's bat mitzvah. Even her Jewish mother began going to church . . . and Crystal learned that her mom had started believing in Jesus years earlier, through the witness of one of Crystal's babysitters. Crystal had always felt a sense of God's reality through the Bible stories she'd read, and when her aunt and uncle (on her father's side) invited her to a Christian concert, she attended and responded to the altar call. A year later she was baptized and became active in her church, while at the same time working in the synagogue as a cantorial soloist. Eventually, the synagogue felt they had to let her go, because some felt that Crystal's religious convictions disqualified her as a synagogue employee.

Crystal graduated from Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan with a bachelor's in classical voice performance. She and Shaun met, as mentioned, through a Jews for Jesus evangelistic campaign and were married in June of 2005. In addition to her vocal performance, Crystal served as the music director for the Liberated Wailing Wall in 2009-2010.

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[mRwhite298]

Blessed are people who follow HOLY ETERNAL GOD YHWH primary when Elect hebrew People accept GOD HOLY FREE GIFT IN LAMB OF GOD YESHUA MESSIACHA !!! haleluYAHWEH FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT

[samuel45]

Cool beans. 

[BornInTzyon]

5:20- 5:31 Jesus was who she were praying to all those years?

[beneveche]

we are still in exile!!!!

the REbbe of lubavitch is the true KING MESSIAH!!!!!!!!!

[ok5971]

hi dear crystal you are so amazing you are good from your brother

[obywan12]

I call this New life in Jesus!!!!!

[brother234]

@hesedken Everyone but you understands why they call themselves Jews for Jesus. The question remains the same: Was Jesus not the epitome of a Jew who kept the entire law and the prophets to his death by the Jews? And what prevents you from testing to see if he could come into your heart, thereby proving his messiahship? Eh, for the snobbery of the Pharisees seems to persist 2000 years to you, assuming you are simply defending your own Jewish clan's reputation.

[hesedken]

That compliment was as to a little sister.

[hesedken]

Woo! You are so beautiful.

[hesedken]

I believe you are a believer in Messiah Y'shua, but not a Jew (Nu. 36: 5-13). Blessings! Actually, you can't be Jewish (connoting an antiChristian, religious culture) and a Christian at the same time--directly opposite thoughts. I wish JFJ (I really can't accept that name as genuine) would change their concept of being Jews if they can't prove Torah-acceptable, Hebrew identity. It would be better to call themselves Jewish converts—implying a religious change, not confusing genetic identity.