Question for Jews or people with knowledge of Judaism......?

Question

Shalom! Some questions for you sisters and brothers.

live alone. I am converting to Messianic Judaism. How can I practice and observe the Holy Days and Shabbat alone? Should I have people over to help? Will people from the synagogue have me over or come to my house? Is it proper to ask?

I get alot of info from here, the Bible, wikipedia....but I want things to be done right.....

And...how to I get to synagogue If I cant drive on Shabbat? I live 25 miles away.

Bless you all
David

Answer 1

Hey David,

I hate to break this to you (though I see I'm not the first), but "Messianic Judaism" is in fact an evangelical branch of Protestant Christianity, whose primary purpose is to make Christianity more palatable to Jews.

While it's true that many Messianics celebrate the Jewish holidays, these external trappings of Judaism do not change the fact that Judaism and Christianity are in complete opposition to each other on a number of issues (the assumption that Judaism + Jesus = Christianity or "Messianic Judaism", or that Christianity - Jesus = Judaism, is a gross oversimplification, and does a grave disservice to adherents of both religions).

To get a better idea of why Judaism and Christianity are not interchangeable, I would recommend reading "Judaism and Christianity: The Differences," by Trude Weiss-Rosmarin. While the book may not have been written with the Messianics in mind (and all Judaism is "messianic," by the way, in that we await the coming of the Messiah), the various points of doctrine and theology that she raises about Christianity are every bit as applicable to "Messianic Judaism".

If you want to be a Torah-observant Jew, go convert, and be a Torah-observant Jew. If you want to be a Christian, be a Christian. But don't kid yourself. I once saw a program on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting - one of those international evangelical networks) called "The Jewish Voice," where they showed how Jewish they were by playing klezmer theme music, and when quoting the Christian Gospels, displaying the book, chapter, and verse (like Luke 1:1) on the bottom of the screen, atop a picture of a scroll. Forgive me for blunt, but listening to klezmer and lighting a menorah on Chanukah does not make your religion Jewish if everything else about it is an anathema to Torah.

I mean no disrespect to Christianity as a whole by these remarks. However, I have nothing but contempt for groups like Jews for Jesus who see fit to spread their religion through disingenuous and outright fraudulent means. They tell their missionaries things like not to say "cross" to a Jew - rather, Jesus was hanged on a tree. And don't see "Jesus," either, use the Hebrew name "Yeshua". Basically, the job of the missionary is to sell a product (in this case, a religion), and I think that in a free and open society, they have that right. But if they truly believe that theirs is the best product out there, then why resort to blatant false advertising, to repackaging the product as something else? Again, this is nothing against Christianity. Mainstream Protestant leaders have similarly come out against groups like Jews for Jesus, protesting their deceptive practices. I'm with them.

True conversion to Judaism is a long, arduous, and intellectually difficult process. There's a lot of study involved, as well as, for men, a bris milah (if the man was already circumcised, then a symbolic drop of blood is drawn from the glans in what is called a "hatafat dam brit"). There are a lot of people out there (and their numbers are growing), who believe that the Torah is true, but do not wish to convert to Judaism. And according to Judaism, they don't have to. We don't condemn to eternal hellfire and agony all other nations. These Torah-observant Gentiles have taken to calling themselves "B'nei Noach" or "Noachides," as they keep the covenant G-d established with Noach, and the Seven Noachide Commandments (the Jews have 613 - and those are just the scriptural ones - but we're grateful for so many opportunities, seeing as the performance of mitzvos is really the very purpose for our existence). More on the Noachide Mitzvos can be found here: http://www.aish.com/literacy/judaism123/The_7_Noachide_Laws.asp

For more information as to why Messianic Judaism cannot rightly be called Judaism, see the following websites (note that some of them include contact information for individuals who you can speak with, experts who could explain this a lot better than I):

http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/
http://www.messiahtruth.com/response.html
http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/index.htm

Again, do what's right for you. If Christianity speaks to you, go, be a Christian. If you find yourself drawn to Messianic Judaism because you like the idea of keeping G-d's law, but perhaps are afraid to abandon Christian doctrine (because you know, that's a one way ticket to Hell by them), maybe try to hear the argument for Judaism. I assure you it's far more logically compelling (I say this coming from a Christian background myself). And if you agree with the fundamentals of Judaism but don't want that kind of responsibility (believe me, it's a big one - affecting every waking moment of your life...of course, the reward is commensurate with the work), well, those Noachides are pretty cool. But don't add to the spiritual confusion in the world by joining a religion that is a contradiction of itself, and that was invented as a means to perpetuate the spiritual persecution of the Jewish people. No one outside of the Messianic community (not even the Reform Jews!) would accept you as Jewish, because you wouldn't be.

Again, if you want to be a Christian, more power to you. If you want to be a Jew, good luck. If you want to be a Ben Noach, I think this is a pretty good option, and not as well known as it should be (in my opinion, religious Jews should be more active in promoting the Noachide mitzvot). But don't bother with this Messianic Judaism narishkeit. And if you don't believe me, stop to think whether this is an intellectual, or an emotional response. Study the issue for yourself, and draw your own conclusions. Obviously, spirituality is important to you, so don't sell yourself short by not analyzing this issue from all possible angles.

Best of luck to you in your search.

Answer 2

Messianic Judaism is actually christianity, but with the jewish customs, but just in case you are intrested in judaism altogether, the best way to go to a synagogue is to find a jewish community near where you live, or move to a house near a synagogue. I am sure that if you find a rabbi, he will be able to help you.

There are 3 main types of judaism. Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative. Orthodox follows all the rules and times, which is strict. Reform is the least strict, letting you drive to synagogues on shabbat/yom kippur, while conservative keeps up with the laws, but in more modern times (You cannot drive on shabbat etc).

If you want more information on judaism, go here http://www.jewfaq.org/ . If you want more info on Messianic Judaism, go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messianic_Judaism . I'm sorry i can't find better links.

Shalom to you and good luck in your search, whichever religion that may be.

Answer 3

Probably move to a Jewish community if you want to follow all the rules. Especially distance restrictive ones.

I think you are only supposed to walk 2/3 of a mile on the Shabbat, however I think if you drank water it supposedly reset the counter. So you could walk another 2/3 of a mile. Still you would have to live pretty close to the synagogue.

Answer 4

could i bypass to shul for awhile each Shabbos formerly I communicate with the rabbi approximately changing to coach that i'm severe? confident Will I be refrained from till they understand that i'm severe approximately it? No, you is normally taken care of ok, and somebody will probably step forward and variety of take you below his/her wing. How long will the conversion take? Orthodox? approximately 2 years (I even have some previous wisdom because of the fact i'm reading Judaic examine in college, so i understand lots approximately Judaism and Jewish history). nonetheless approximately 2 years. i myself choose to try this yet i've got been variety of frightened approximately how they'll react to me and what the rabbi will do, and afraid that i could get tongue tied and unable to place across my message nicely adequate as quickly as I communicate with them. that may not a various planet, and there is not something to worry. This community i choose to be a area of is rather close knit and black hat. Cool. Any ideas you have approximately a thank you to be much less frightened would be favored too. in basic terms watch what others do and shop on with. Ask questions yet not too many all of sudden. ask approximately what books they propose.

Answer 5

you do realize that Messianic Judaism is a form of Protestant Christianity right?

Why would you want to go to a Synagogue??? Find a Messianic church and drive to it.

and why would you need to convert? Its the same religion.

I dont mean to be rude but I think a Messianic Church could help you out a lot more than a Jewish Synagogue, there is tipicly one in every major city with like minded people just like you.

Answer 6

if your going to convert to messianic judeism then you might as well become a christian,messianic is unacceptable.

Answer 7

I second gratvols words.

Answer 8

David e-mail me I will help you ignore gratvol, he is actually a friend of mine, unfortunately.......(laughing)