BETH SHALOM

What is Messianic Judaism?

Messianic Judaism is not a new movement, but the resurgence of a very old movement. 

Messianic Judaism is a movement of Jewish congregations and groups committed to Yeshua the Messiah that embrace the covenantal responsibility of Jewish life and identity rooted in Torah, expressed in tradition, and renewed and applied in the context of the New Covenant.

Messianic Judaism is regarded by its followers as the latest stage in the development of authentic Biblical Judaism.  It is the faith and "the form of worship" followed by Moshe (Moses), David, and the Nevi'im (Prophets).  It has been brought to fulfillment through the coming of Yeshua the Messiah.

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Do you believe in Jesus?

Yes, except we call Him by His Hebrew name, Yeshua (pronounced Ye-SHOO-ah), which was the name He heard while He walked on earth. To us He is the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world.

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Are you Christians or Jews?

Both, with qualifications. We are Jews and non-Jews who follow and love Yeshua, but our faith is built on the foundation of the Hebrew holy Scriptures, not historical church traditions or Jewish rabbinical determinations.  The term Christian comes from the Greek word Christos, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Mashiach, or Messiah.  We refer to ourselves as Messianic Believers.

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Do you accept the Scriptures as inspired of G-d including the New Testament?

Yes.

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Do you believe the Law of Moses is valid today?

Yes, as a standard for righteousness. All Holy Scripture remains valid for practice if the circumstances remain available. For instance, Temple laws cannot be performed without a Temple in place. However, the principles and shadows found in these remain useful. The Law is for protection, not perfection.  Salvation does not come from observance, but from justification. But the Torah is for sanctification in which we choose to observe as a way to honor the One who created the universe and dictated in the Scriptures how we are to live.

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Do you observe the Seventh Day Sabbath?

Yes. We proclaim that from the time of creation the Lord set aside sundown Friday to sundown Saturday as a gift of physical rest to us. We accept the holy gift gladly.

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Do you follow the biblical kosher laws?

Yes, according to what is the plain Scriptural instruction of what animals may be consumed. We do not believe that it is required or even necessarily helpful to be restricted to a rabbinical approved kosher diet.

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Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

Yes. In Hebrew He is Ruach HaKodesh. Ruach means "Breath" and HaKodesh means "The Holy".  G-d is spirit, which is breath in Hebrew. Breath is life. G-d is life. The Holy Spirit is G-d continuing daily to perform the miracles of bestowing holy life upon the hearts of receptive people.

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Do you keep all the Feasts of Israel?

Yes, we celebrate the holy feasts as a "memorial throughout your generations forever." But of course, without the practice of Temple commandments.