Messianic Jewish and Christian

Anyone can see the difference between Christian and Messianic Jewish because there are so many differing traits to choose from. It would be easier to state what is in common, the Messiah. Beyond that, the differences are vast primarily our Customs and heritage.

See our customs and traditions below for more information on this subject.

Customs and Traditions

Some of our customs and traditions that mark us as Jewish are listed below. It is not required that Gentiles keep our customs and traditions to participate in Zion. We believe that G-d's house should be "a house of prayer for all people." Isaiah 56:6-8

(Customs) Day of Worship

The Sabbath is observed from Friday evening through Saturday evening. We do no work during that time. Most of our energy is focused on studying the Bible, enjoying family members, eating or attending synagogue.

We do not hold "Sunday" as sacred. Work is permitted on Sunday as on any other regular day of the week. We do not attend religious meetings on a regular basis on Sunday other than to learn things not permitted on the Sabbath.

More will be added to this topic soon so check frequently.

(Customs) Holidays

We observe traditional Jewish Holidays and festivals including Purim and Chanukah. We do not observe the traditional Christian holidays, especially Easter, Halloween and Christmas.

For a complete list of our observances and Holy Days see Holidays.

(Customs) Circumcision

One of the earliest established customs of Judaism is brit milah also known as bris and circumcision. Circumcision is required for Jews but not for Gentiles. (Acts 21:20-25)

Bris is and will forever be a part of our Jewish heritage. It is as important to us as eating. Circumcision is not required to participate in Zion. See Messianic Jewish

(Customs) Talmud / Khalikah

Traditional Jews observe laws which originate in Torah and are expounded upon in the Talmud by our rabbis of old. Khalikah means law or fence. It was originally given to teach us how to do what the Torah left out. For example, the earliest writings of the Torah are called Mishnaoth. These gave us the procedures for sacrificial offerings and temple order which would have been lost otherwise. Eye witnesses described in the Mishnaoth the details of various temple related procedures. How to sacrifice the two goats at Yom Kippur are just one interesting example.

(Customs) Kosher Dietary Laws

Torah Kosher is simply following what is written in the Bible. Messianic Jews are divided concerning kosher laws. We all agree that Torah kosher is the minimum requirement of a Jew. Orthodox and most Conservative Jews follow much tighter standards.

Kosher Laws are developed from the Torah and have been given to help prevent accidental breaking of G-d's laws.

Eating blood is an abomination. We know that it is impossible to avoid eating minute amounts of blood no matter how diligent we are in processing the food. This is why the rabbis have created standards which insure removal of as much of the blood as possible in the processing of animal meats.

Milk and Meat are not to be mixed because the Bible says, do not cook the kid in it's mother's milk. To prevent accidentally breaking Torah, cooking meat in the same cookware where milk has been cooked and vice versa is prohibited. Eating meat on a plate that has had foods containing dairy products in them and vice versa are prohibited. The purpose is to follow as precisely as possible G-d's commandments.

Biblical Laws (Lev 11 and Deut 14) tell us which kinds of meat are good for food and which are not. Pork, because it does not chew the cud. Clams, do not have either fins or scales. Catfish, does not have scales. Eagles hawks vultures and ravens are specifically listed as not to be eaten.