I need to post a message I received from an Israeli Jewish gal. She is a brand new believer in Yeshua HaMaschiach–Jesus the Messiah. She asked some questions many new Jewish believers ask me. I will edit her message to remove personal details and keep her identity private.
“Shalom,
I’ve been watching you on cable TV and thought you’ll probably be able to provide me with some insight on the following questions: I am Jewish and recently (about a month ago) came to believe in Ye’shuah as the Messiah.
. . . Since I have found my self drawn to learn about Jesus and since I have accepted Him as the Messiah, I’ve been going to a local church where I was received with much love and support and very much enjoy the services.
I’ve been also going to the local Synagogue on occasions…. Now, that I have accepted Ye’shua, I feel that I do not belong in the Synagogue any more. I feel that I can’t talk about Ye’shua in there and that everything I now believe does not go along with the teachings and sets of beliefs in the synagogue.
I’m conflicted.. I feel that I now have a new relationship with God (through Ye’shuah) and I am not sure what is expected of me as a Jewish person that also believe in Ye’shuah? Am I supposed to start/continue to celebrate Jewish holidays, rituals and prayer in a Jewish orthodox way?? Should I go to church, synagogue, both? Observe the Sabbath? or should I observe Christian holidays? Basically, what exactly am I expected (by GOD) to observe if anything? What should I do to strengthen my Jewishness now that I have accepted Ye’shuah into my life?
Hope this is not too confusing…
Looking forward to get some direction…
Thank you for your ministry!”
I will also post portions of my response in hope this will prove to be of help to others in similar circumstances.
“Let me begin by saying, BARUCH HASHEM! Praise the Name of our Lord. You are a new creation in the Messiah.
The correct answer is simple, living it out is a bit more complex. In essence, I think you are asking, what do you need to do to be like the early Jewish believers in Yeshua Ha Mashiach–Jesus the Messiah? I think you are already like them. You are asking some of the same questions they asked.
Let me suggest that you read my blog from awhile ago, “Show me a man who says he truly keeps the Sabbath and I will show you a liar!” I posted it on our website. It is not long and will probably get you to think about some of these things. While you’re there, take a look at “THIS IS HARD.” I think between those 2 short ideas, you might find a few answers. You might also consider this:
My family and I do continue to celebrate Jewish festivals and I remain fully Jewish. Knowing the Jewish Messiah does not make me any less Jewish than the most observant Jew. It simply makes me less observant. As a Christian, I will never be sufficiently frum * to pacify a Jew who rejects the divinity of Jesus. So trying to live up to their standards is not a worthwhile goal. Perhaps that is why I am generally more comfortable in Church than in synagogue. This is not because I do not enjoy Jewish worship or Hebrew liturgy. I do enjoy it. In fact, it fills me with joy. However, since Jesus is not mentioned, and the worship experience is not as enthusiastic as I prefer, many synagogues do have certain limitations. Additionally, since some Jewish people do not accept me or my family, I try and avoid rejection when it is avoidable.
After having been kicked out of one traditional synagogue, my 6 children tossed from Hebrew school, and rejected in other synagogues, I have tried to steer clear of unnecessary confrontations. It must be said that my rabbi and our congregation (near my hometown) have been extraordinary!!!!!!! I love my rabbi and I appreciate his desire to help us be as Jewish as we desire. During the last 2 decades, he taught my 4 sons and enabled each to celebrate a wonderful Bar Mitzvah.* He has allowed all 4 of my married sons to have Jewish weddings and he signed each ketubah * under the chuppah * with each new bride in our family. My rabbi is a true mensch!* Some rabbis will not treat you with that much love and wisdom.
Now another alternative you might enjoy would be to find a Messianic Jewish congregation. In that setting the rabbi would be a believer in Jesus and the congregation would certainly welcome you and help you enjoy your Jewish heritage.
But by all means, my encouragement would be to find a good church, Messianic Jewish or otherwise. You need to grow in the grace of God, the knowledge of His Word, and the love of Yeshua.
I do hope this is of some help. If I can be of additional assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Shalom–my precious new sister in the Lord!
Randy Weiss”
*frum = pious, religiously observant according to strict rabbinic standards; Bar Mitzvah =a Jewish rite of passage for a Jewish boy at 13 years of age; ketubah = a Jewish marriage contract; chuppa=the canopy under which a Jewish wedding takes place; mensch =a gentleman who always does the right thing.
3 responses so far ↓
1 sheryl // Mar 7, 2010 at 1:28 pm
I am so glad, Dr. Weiss, that you stated being more comfortable in a church than in synagogue. I am a Jewish believer in Jesus. I found the Lord at a Baptist church, after my non-Jewish husband accepted Jesus there and when a Messianic Jewish lady came to sing Messianic music during a revival.
Since I was a little girl, I was the only one in my Jewish family that really believed the stories in the Torah were true. Everyone else just celebrated the Jewish holidays because it was “the thing to do,” and made fun of things like the Red Sea parting (it was a “coincidence”). We lived in a 95% Christian neighborhood due to my dad’s job, and I always wanted to know more about this Jesus my school friends talked about.
When I finally met Him, I visited the two Messianic synagogues in our area. Both spoke a lot of Hebrew (I wasn’t raised speaking hebrew – just learned it phonetically for my Bat Mitzvah at our Conservative temple). So I was uncomfortable there. I felt more like a fish out of water than in the Baptist Church!
So my husband and I have stayed in that denomination (altho’ we’ve explored others). Sometimes when I meet other Messianic Jews, they are judgmental of me that I go to church and not a Messianic synagogue. I still celebrate Hanukkah, Passover etc – in fact being in a Christian church has allowed me to teach the Christians about the Jewish Holidays, how to witness to Jewish people, and why Jewish people are so hesitant to accept Jesus!
So, thanks.
2 admin // Mar 7, 2010 at 5:08 pm
It is wonderful that God is able to place us where He makes us comfortable. Sometimes it might not make sense in the natural. But God knows what He is doing in each of our lives. It is clear that your background equips you to help others become sensitive to issues that might otherwise seem foreign. And therein lies an important blessing to be shared with many brothers & sisters He brings into your sphere of influence.
Thanks for writing and praise the Lord!
Shalom Sister,
Randy
3 Paul // Mar 27, 2010 at 8:06 am
“If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do”? he asked me.
I wept, then pulled myself up off the floor in 1977 and never looked back.
His spoken words to me were similar to a fire that purifies silver & gold the soul.
This same question I would ask of myself over the course of 33 years, all the while its’ study answered his question for me.
Her inquire is truly sincere.
The issue at hand, yet again, is the same question we all ask of ourselves daily – “what do I do” ?
I answered it for myself, I pray she/you all can see it as well.
Be blessed, as this very special passover season has come.
Paul.
http://nephos.com/publications.htm
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