Messianic Judaism Essay

The meaning of Messianic Judaism is explained by Rabbi David Chernoff as “a movement of Jewish people who believe that Yeshua (Jesus Hebrew) is the promised savior (Chernoff 1).” The messianic movement welcomes the gentile or Christians and Jews alike to join together for worship. The rituals of the Messianic Congregation are the same as Judaism, including the observing of the traditions and holidays of the Jewish people with one main difference in belief. The difference being, in Rabbinic Judaism Jesus is not considered to be the “anointed one” and Rabbis are to be still looking for the Messiah. The Messianic movement has been around for over two thousand years. (Parson) Every morning on my route to work, I pass by Congregation Beth Shalom …show more content…
During the service, many different blessings and prayers were recited. There was the procession of the Torah. One of the leaders opened the Ark and the blessing was recited, then he walked around the hall once with everyone turning and keeping their eyes on the Torah as a sign of respect. After the Torah was carried once around the hall, everyone lined up behind the Torah, making noise, clapping hands and dancing in a procession in the “Davidic” worship and praise as it was the way in King David’s time. After the blessing was recited the Torah was put back in the Ark. Several songs were sung in English and Hebrew as were the prayers and blessings. Once the service was over, the congregation met in the community hall for Kiddush to be recited. The head Rabbi gives the blessing and broke the bread or Challah, a braided or double-bread made from whole-wheat, “which is symbolic of the double portion of manna that fell for the Jewish people on the day before Sabbath during their forty years in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. (Parson)” and it is customary for quests to eat