Jewish Festivals And Their Laws
2007-10-01 09:24:54 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
yes, of course!!
in jewdaism, everyone is welcome to (almost) everything (some jews say that they shouldn't be invited to "high-holy things" such as yom kippur services, etc), but no one could argue having a non-jew eating in a sukkah... quite one the contrary!! jewdaism has always been big on welcoming a stranger into the home and sharing bread and wine, etc.
2007-10-01 11:54:40 · answer #1 · answered by cast.no.shadow 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
This is not a simplistic question and invokes a lot of discussion in the Rishonim and Acharonim.
In essence- the answer is actually no. A non-Jew cannot be part of Jewish religious activities and may not participate in them. In some cases this is completely disallowed (a non-Jew CANNOT eat from the Pesach sacrifice or participate in the Seder even as an observer). Additionally, a non-Jew is not commanded to observe the Shabbos and the halachah is that a non-Jew is NOT allowed to fully observe the shabbos (people in conversion programmes starting to do the mitzvot are told to keep everything- and then deliberately break one commandment to follow this ruling).
Sukkot is less of a problem today than in temple times- since a non-Jew could not enter even the Temple courtyard. There is no real issue with them being in Shul and pbserving proceedings- and since we are commanded to live in Sukkot as we would in our houses, if we would have non-Jews to eat in our house, there is no reason for them not to eat with us in a Sukkah. They are forbidden from taking the Lulav and Etrog to shake though.
Over all- Judaism says non-Jews should focus on their pbligations and not on Jewish obligations as we have different obligations and rules pertaining to us to achieve rihteousness, and a non-Jew adhering to jewish law does NOT achieve any additional holiness as the laws do not pertain to them.
A non-Jew trying to observe jewish laws with the intent of fraudently pretending to be Jewish in order to entice jews to convert (As the Messianic "Jews" and "Jews" for Jesus do) are guilty of a huge sin of enticing Jews to forsake the Torah- compounded by their fraudulent usage of halachah to achieve their aims!
2007-10-01 21:00:03 · answer #2 · answered by allonyoav 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I took part in a Jewish Seder and I am not jewish. We were teaching our Sunday School Kids about the different faiths in our community and we had a Rabbi come to talk to the children as well.
2007-10-01 09:31:26 · answer #3 · answered by London Catlover 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
to clarify, yes its ok to visit and see and stuff..
but theres a difference between that and celebrating it.
like some christians try to christianize jewish holidays, and thats NOT ok. thats offensive and wrong.
this is offense is especially perpetrated by the deceptive christians who lie and all themselves jewish, under the guise of "Jews for Jesus" and "Messianic Jews". these "observances" are offensive, deceptive and destructive.
but stuff like visiting a jewish friend's family for passover or hannukah or whatever is extremely common and entirely ok.
2007-10-01 09:39:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Definitely. If you have a jewish friend-- ask to do it with them.
I think most Reformed synagogues enjoy having people come and learn about the tradtitions
2007-10-01 09:28:12 · answer #5 · answered by maybe 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most of them are OK, but completely observing Shabbos is for Jews only- but as long as you turn on one light a Shabbos, it's OK. But why?
2007-10-01 10:29:47 · answer #6 · answered by ysk 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure....I have Jewish relatives and often take part in those feasts...although I have never (yet) slept in a sukkah!
2007-10-01 09:28:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
its probly ok I think
I have been to some Passover services
I'm only like 25% Jewish, I was allowed to be there
2007-10-01 09:30:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes it is, but as for shabat the halakhah says it's forbidden for them to rest in same manner as the Jews. They are, however welcome to synagogue and even at Pesakh.
2007-10-01 11:25:11 · answer #9 · answered by neshama 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Amongst messianic congregations yes !!!
2007-10-02 05:52:29 · answer #10 · answered by rapturefuture 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋