Messianic Judaism: What is it?
     Messianic Judaism is the term used to define Jewish people who believe in Jesus.  Messianic Jews maintain a lifestyle and form of worship that identifies them with Jewish customs and traditions while believing that Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth is the promised Messiah of the Jewish Scriptures.  Messianic Judaism is part of the universal Body of Messiah, but claims the right to express itself, in a way that agrees with its Jewish heritage.
    Messianic Jews believe in maintaining a Jewish expression to their faith, therefore, they celebrate all biblical holidays (Passover, Succoth, Shavuot, etc.,) which the people of Israel were commanded to observe for all generations. Another characteristic of this movements is its love and support to the nation of Israel. Messianic Jews usually establish congregations for their worship, even though there are many cases in which Jewish believers in the Messiah adhere to a Messianic Jewish lifestyle while remaining formally affiliated to traditional churches. These Messianic congregations are fashioned after the early church of the "Brit Hadashah" (New Testament). Messianic Jewish congregations, which are sometimes called Messianic Jewish Synagogues, have certain characteristics: worship on the Sabbath, Davidic music and dance and many other Jewish traditions consistent with biblical Jewish traditions. In full agreement with New Testament teachings, membership is open to both Jew and gentile.
    One of the goals of Messianic Judaism is to build bridges of understanding between Judaism and the Christian church. Because of its origin and composition, Messianic Judaism seeks to help the church to rediscover its Jewish roots. Likewise, Messianic Judaism helps traditional Judaism to have a better understanding of the common heritage that it has with the Christian faith.

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