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It has been suggested that this article be merged into Messianic Judaism. (Discuss)

This article describes certain religious practices common in Messianic Judaism.

Common Messianic practices

According to theologist Yohanna Chernoff (1996) the practices listed below are common in Messianic Judaism. They reflect an effort to express faith in Jesus in a "culturally Jewish" way as contrasted to "culturally Christian" ways found in Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Chernoff discusses how many of these practices came to be associated with the Messianic faith.

Practice-related theological points

Jewish conversion isn't possible

Messianics believe that it isn't possible for a Jew who believes in the God of the Tanakh to convert to Messianic Judaism because accepting Yeshua as Messiah simply brings Jews into a closer and deeper relationship with the same God they have already been worshipping.

God's Testament isn't "old"

Messianic Jewish believers generally recognise the Bible as a continuum, not a book divided into two sections, one of which is "old", while the other is "new". Rather, the "new" is seen as a fulfillment of the “old” by its hundreds of messianic prophetic scriptures being fulfilled by Yeshua (Jesus). The “new “is seen as the foretold “new covenant” of Jeremiah 31:31. The whole book is seen as vibrant and relevant to modern life.

Changes in covenants

Messianics consider the Abrahamic Covenant to still be fully in force, as it was a permanent covenant.

On the basis of certain New Covenant writings, particularly the book of Hebrews, a few Messianics believe that the Mosaic Covenant was superseded by the New Covenant, as foretold in Jeremiah 31:31. However, Yeshua brought large portions of the Mosaic Covenant into the New Covenant and expanded it, and it is not possible to properly understand the New Covenant and the New Covenant Scriptures without a proper understanding of the Torah.

According to Chernoff many Messianics believe that the Mosaic covenant is still in force. A new organization -- the Coalition of Torah Observant Messianic Congregations -- was formed in 2006 to provide a more Torah-observant forum for Messianic Judaism.

Same Bible as Protestants

Many, if not most, Messianics consider the Bible to include the same books that Protestants accept as divinely inspired, although this is a matter of great debate in the Messianic community.

Apocrypha not canonical

Like Protestants, Messianics consider the additional books referred to as the Apocrypha or the Deuterocannonical texts to be of historical value but not divinely inspired, as Roman Catholicism and the Eastern Orthodox Church do.

Oral Torah

Most Messianics do not consider the Oral Torah divinely inspired or binding, although some do.

Believers-only immersion baptism

Unlike Catholicism and some Protestant denominations, Messianic Judaism practices credo-baptism, or "believers only" baptism conducted only on adults belivers and only by immersion, not sprinkling or pouring. It does recognize a prior Christian immersion baptism if the person was a believer when baptized. Baptism is called "mikveh," and it is an identification with Messiah, as in the anabaptistic tradition, rather than an impartation of God's grace. They view it as an outward sign of an inward change.

Circumcision of Jewish men

Views about the need of circumcision in order for Jewish men to join are varied from congregation to congregation.

Liturgy

Torah reading

Hebrew Torah scrolls are used in shabbat services if the congregation has a scroll. Like Jewish synagogues, most Messianic congregations hope to obtain a Torah scroll at some point. However, many Messianic congregations are small and cannot afford one.

Torah and Haftorah reading cycle

Messianics observe the traditional Jewish annual reading cycle for Torah and Haftorah portions, but also read accompanying readings from the Ketuvei HaShelichim (The Apostolic Writings or New Testament, called by some congregations the "B'rit Chadasha" or Renewed Covenant).

Traditional Jewish liturgical prayers and songs

Messianics recite or cant (see cantillation) traditional Jewish prayers such as:

• Shema
• V'shamroo
• Amidah
• Aleinu
• Kaddish
• Kiddush
• Motzi
• Shehecheyanu
• Adon Olam
• Avinu Malkenu
• Birkhat-HaKohanim, also called the Priestly Blessing or the Aaronic Benediction.

• They perform bar mitzvahs for boys and bat mitzvahs for girls.

• They perform the brit milah (covenant of circumcision) for Jewish male babies.

Observance of holidays

Shabbat

Worship services are generally held on Friday evenings (Erev Shabbat) and Saturday mornings, rather than Sunday, as Messianics recognize that the sabbath is an eternal covenant between YHVH Elohim and the children of Israel (Exodus 31:16).

Jewish holidays

Messianics observe Jewish festivals and other days of significance to Jews, including:

• Pesach (Passover)
• Hanukkah
• Purim
• Rosh Hashanah
• Yom Kippur
• Simchat Torah
• Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles)
• Yom HaShoah

Christian holidays

Although individual Messianics who have Christian relatives may celebrate Christmas, Easter, etc., to preserve family harmony, holidays added by the gentile Church are not officially recognized by Messianic Judaism. The main problem with the Christian Holidays is that Jewish holidays are considered G-d's appointed times to meet with His People per Torah. As such many Messianic Jews feel that other holidays are "man made" and do not carry the same importance or worse are simply wrong. The same argument applies to Sabbath vs Sunday worship. Those that practice non-Jewish holidays do so in a secular manner.

Kosher observance

Observance by Messianic Jews

Many Messianic Jews observe the Jewish kosher dietary laws for a variety of reasons.

Among some Messianic groups (but not all), this is obligatory; it is held that the kosher dietary laws are still God's will for today for all people, and that Jesus did not come to abolish them.

Some groups believe only the Jews are meant to keep kosher, whereas the laws are not applicable to gentiles. In such groups, kosher is kept for the sake of the Jews in their midst.

Other groups believe that that faith in Jesus should make them more Jewish, not less, and thus use this as a reasoning for keeping kosher. Other Messianic groups, however, are less dogmatic about this.

Often, the minority of Messianic Jews who believe the dietary laws were abolished by Jesus still follow the laws through personal choice because if they say they believe in Jesus but they are Jewish usually the first thing an Orthodox or Conservative Jew will ask is, "Do you keep kosher?"

Biblical versus kashrut rules

Many adherents draw a distinction between the kosher laws outlined in the Torah and the kashrut dietary laws of Orthodox Judaism. Among Messianics observance of the former is much more common than observance of the latter. For instance, chicken parmigian would violate the kashrut law against mixing dairy and meat products. However, the kashrut rule involved "building a fence around the Torah" to avoid accidentally violating a biblical prohibition. In this case the prohibition was, "You shall not boil a kid (goat or sheep) in its mother's milk." Since chickens don't give milk, obviously chicken parmigian could not violate the biblical rule.

Messianic Gentiles

The practice of gentiles keeping kosher is usually dependent upon the prevailing view of the Messianic congregation they attend. Those belonging to Messianic congregations that believe the dietary laws were not abolished by Jesus, do in fact keep kosher. Those that believe that the laws are only for the Jews, usually follow the Apostle Paul's guidance of not "causing your brother to stumble" and keep kosher at gatherings, for the sake of unity.

However, some Messianic congregations believe the kosher laws were discontinued, based on various New Testament verses they claim allude to their abolishment, and as such, both Jews and gentiles are not obligated to keep kosher, nor are the dietary laws enforced in congregational gatherings.

General Jewish religious practices

Menorah, Star of David, etc.

Messiancs display Menorahs and Stars of David rather than crosses.

Jewish clothing

Many wear kippot (Jewish head coverings), fringes on their clothing (tzitzit) and, during sabbath worship a tallit (prayer shawl). In the past, gentile Messianics have not worn tallit or tzitzit, but this is changing.

Terminology

Clergy

Clergy are called rabbis, teachers or "Congregational Leaders". In some congregations with gentile co-leaders, the gentile clergy are referred to as "pastor."

Biblical personages

Biblical personages are often referred to by their Hebrew names, e.g.:

• Yeshua - Jesus
• Yochanan - John
• Sha'ul - Paul/Saul of Tarsis
• Shimon Kefa - Simon Peter (Cefas)
• Moshe - Moses
• Miryam - Mary

Use of term "Christian"

Most messianics do not refer to themselves as "Christian". Some make this choice because the term Christian has negative connotations to many in the Jewish community and some because they prefer to label themselves in a manner that reflects their Jewish identity. Still others reject this label because their worship, practices, and observances bear little resemblance to those of mainstream Christianity, which places little special significance in Torah.

Congregation

Messianic Jews call their places of worship congregations, fellowships, ke-hi-lot (Hebrew for congregations), synagogues, shuls, or Beit Knessets rather than churches.

Scriptures

Instead of using the name "New Testament", many use the term "Apostolic Writings" or the Hebrew term Brit Chadasha (meaning "New Covenant").

Substitutes for Christian terminology viewed as objectionable

Some Messianic congregations scrupulously avoid many traditional Christian terms that often evoke strong negative emotional reactions among Jews and substitute neutral terms. Other congregations use both Christian and Messianic terminology in roughly equal amounts. These are common substitutions done for this reason.

• baptism - immersion, going into the mikvah
• baptize - immerse, go into the mikvah
• Christ - Messiah, Mashiach
• Christians - believers
• church (building) - synagogue (if the group does not literally meet at a church, which is not unusual)
• church (people) - congregation, ke-hi-lah (Hebrew for "congregation"), body of Messiah, body of believers, followers of Messiah, believers, "the saints"
• church (services) - shul (Yiddish for "school"), worship services
• Cross - tree, execution stake
• crucified - executed, put to death, nailed to the tree, hanged on a tree
• crucifixion - death, execution
• evangelize - tell the good news
• gospel - good news, or Besorah.
• Holy Spirit - Ruach HaKodesh
• Jehovah - HaShem, Adonai(among non-Yahwists)
• Jesus - Yeshua *
• Jesus Christ - Yeshua haMashiach, Messiah Yeshua
• John the Baptist - Yochanan haMachbil, John the Immerser
• New Testament - Brit Chadashah
• Old Testament - Tanakh
• Trinity - triunity

References

Books

• Brown, Michael (2000). Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: General and Historical Objections. Baker Books. ISBN 0-8010-6063-X.

• Brown, Michael (2000). Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: Theological Objections. Baker Books. ISBN 0-8010-6334-5.

• Brown, Michael (2003). Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: Messianic Prophecy Objections. Baker Books. ISBN 0-8010-6423-6.

(Per Brown, a fourth Answering Jewish Objections volume is in preparation)

• Chernoff, Yohanna (1996). Born a Jew ... Die a Jew. The Story of Martin Chernoff, A Pioneer in Messianic Judaism. Miller, Jimi (1st ed. ed.). MD, USA: EBED Publications. ISBN 1-884369-39-1. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); |format= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |origmonth= and |origdate= (help)

• Cohn-Sherbock, Rabbi Dan, ed.; Voices of Messianic Judaism: Confronting Critical Issues Facing a Maturing Movement pub. Messianic Jewish Resources International (June, 2001); ISBN 1-880226-93-6

• Feher, Shoshanah "Passing Over Easter: Constructing the Boundaries of Messianic Judaism" pub. AltaMira Press (1998); ISBN 0-7619-8953-6; ISBN 0-7619-8952-8

• Fischer*, Rabbi John, ed.; The Enduring Paradox: Exploratory Essays in Messianic Judaism pub. Messianic Jewish Resources International (July, 2000); ISBN 1-880226-90-1

(* Earned degrees: B.S. in Bible, M.S. in Communications, M.A. in New Testament, B.J.S. in Jewish Thought, Ph.D. in Education/Religion--Dissertation: The Development of a Core Curriculum for a Messianic Jewish Yeshiva, Th.D. In Judaic Studies--Dissertation: Messianic Services for Festivals and Holy Days)

• Juster, Daniel, Th.D.; Growing to Maturity: A Messianic Jewish Guide pub. Union of Messianic Congregations; 3rd ed. (1987); ISBN 0-9614555-0-0

• Kinzer, Mark Ph.D. (publisher: Brazos) Postmissionary Messianic Judaism (November 2005), ISBN 1-58743-152-1

• Stern, David H., Ph.D., M.Div. (publisher: Messianic Jewish Resources International)

1. Messianic Jewish Manifesto (May, 1988), ISBN 965-359-002-2
2. Jewish New Testament Commentary (October, 1992), ISBN 965-359-011-1
3. Complete Jewish Bible (June, 1998), ISBN 965-359-015-4

On-line

• www.MessianicWorship.com Free video clips of a Messianic worship service
• The Coalition of Torah Observant Messianic Congregations
• www.MessianicJews.Info FAQ
• Did God Lie? FAQ
• Description of Messianic Sabbath Service
• Juster, Daniel (December 8, 2001). "Understanding New Covenant Kingdom Order (transcription)" (PDF). Understanding New Covenant Kingdom Order. Retrieved 2006-04-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)

Video

• Video of Saturday morning worship service (DVD, CD or audio cassette). Dallas, Texas, USA. New release weekly. {{cite AV media}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |distributor= (help); Unknown parameter |crew= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |distributor= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)  (see Notes)

• Messianic Apologetics (DVD (recorded course)). Dallas, Texas, USA. 2003. {{cite AV media}}: External link in |distributor= (help); Unknown parameter |crew= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |distributor= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)  (see Notes)

• Messianic Jewish Theology (DVD (recorded course)). Dallas, Texas, USA. 2005. {{cite AV media}}: External link in |distributor= (help); Unknown parameter |crew= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |distributor= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)  (see Notes)

• Israel in Jesus' Time (DVD (recorded course)). Dallas, Texas, USA. 2004. {{cite AV media}}: External link in |distributor= (help); Unknown parameter |crew= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |distributor= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)  (see Notes)

• Messianic View of the B'rit Chadashah (DVD (recorded course)). Dallas, Texas, USA. 2004. {{cite AV media}}: External link in |distributor= (help); Unknown parameter |crew= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |distributor= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)  (see Notes)

• Messianic Overview of the Tanakh] (DVD (recorded course)). 2005. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |crew= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |distributors= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |kocation= ignored (help)  (see Notes)

Notes

1. The "prayer over the children" excerpt is a bit atypical. The person who excerpted the videos indicates that since December 1999 when he started attending, this is the only time the prayer was done by a child rather than one of the congregation elders.
2. Michael L. Brown, Ph.D. in Semitic Languages, evangelist, Messianic apologist, author
3. Seth Klayman, M.A., Ph.D. candidate in Judaic Studies, Duke University; Congregational Leader, Sha'arei Shalom Messianic Congregation, Cary, NC
4. Daniel C. Juster, Th.D., Executive Director, Tikkun Ministries International; author; former Congregation Leader, Beth Messiah Congregation, Gaithersburg, MD
5. Russell Resnick, past president, Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations
6. Martin Waldman, Congregation Leader, Baruch HaShem Messianic Synagogue, past president, Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations
7. Baruch HaShem Messianic Synagogue may be contacted by phone or mail or by email through its website but it does not sell the DVD sets through the website. Courses are 20 class hours, seminary level and require books not included with the course materials.

• Religious behaviour and experience
• New religious movements
• Messianic Judaism