Messianic JudaismToday I was working in a cafe, when the “after church” rush appeared. A group of six individuals sat behind me. They appeared to be members of the Assemblies of G-d and heavily referenced a number of Pentecostal terminology.
It was interesting to me because so much of their discussion focused on “historic” Pentecostal events. That is, they spoke enthusiastically and excitedly on a number of events Pentecostals consider to be critical in the rise of modern Pentecostalism.
So what relevance does this have for Messianic Jews and non-Jews? What is interesting is that events are absolutely critical in the life of Judaism. In fact the importance of the siddur can be understood by understanding that in Judaism, ritual is the articulation of a memory, of a historic event. These events which are highlighted are the foundational and ongoing events of the Jewish people.
In the siddur we find constant reference to the Yetziat Mitzraim (the Exodus from Egypt).
The Exodus from
As Abraham Joshua Heschel noted that “faith is memory.” Judaism does not retain a faith proposition in the form of a creed. Instead Judaism affirms faith through memory. The ritual attached to that event is the enactment of that faith.
If there is no understanding of a memory of an event, there can be no belief and practice. Hence those who do not see the Exodus from Egypt, the Revelation at Sinai, and the ongoing manifestations of G-d’s interaction with Israel (through tragedy as well as in triumph) as central to G-d’s intervention in history, see little relevance in Judaism or the continued distinction of the Jewish people.
While the discussion of the 6 individuals behind included various passages of the Hebrew Scripture as well as the New Testament in their conversation, none were interpreted via the context of Israel’s history, nor its prerogative. The lines of communication are therefore limited. While the same “Bible” might exist in commonality, the means through which it is interpreted, remembered, and expressed remains in many ways unintelligible to either party.
Tags: Abraham Joshua Heschel, Christianity, Hebrew Scripture, Israel, Jewish faith, Judaism, Messianic Jews, Messianic Judaism, Near Eastern Religion, New Testament, Ten Commandments
4 responses so far ↓
1 daniel // Mar 17, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Should memory in “messianic” circles be expressed with the understanding that there was a time when Jews could follow Yeshua and still be considered Jewish? Is that how the NT can be incorporated into Jewish practice without us being considered fake or disingenuous (speaking from personal experience)?
2 admin // Mar 17, 2008 at 6:22 pm
To the overwhelming majority of non-Messianic Jews, this will not address their disgust with us. My comments regarding memory have more to do with the view that certain events and their memory should be central to our identity. Ritually speaking, embracing the siddur connotes an understanding of the foundational events of Jewish history. As followers of Yeshua, the prayer you noted (of which I was surprised to hear anyone else using it) is an attempt to recall the memory of Yeshua and retell or describe his impact among Israel. While the merits of this particular prayer can be discussed (e.g liturgically ), having a service without incorporating any mention of Yeshua or the New Testament does not solve the problem of authenticity or accusation of being disingenuous. It could potentially simply increase it. We must recognize that Yeshua and Judaism are to most individuals exclusive ideas, that are simply incompatible. Our task is to be true to the experiences of Judaism by understanding classical Jewish texts, Jewish history, Hebrew, etc and realizing that the message of the Messiah is present (I believe) and woven there even in the midst of its seeming absence and estrangement.
3 admin // Mar 17, 2008 at 6:24 pm
This is why the abandonment of the siddur by most messianic congregations is so problematic.
It painfully reveals that they have little understanding of memory and hence have little faith with regards to the ultimate issue of the Torah, in either written or oral form. Whatever memory is not articulated, is forgotten, and hence faith in that memory is lost.
4 slevi // Mar 18, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I believe part of the issue is that most of the so called experts in the messianic movements would have to admit that they do not know very much at all.
If messianic congregations used siddurs in services, then you would have to have a chazzan that knows his stuff rather than some ignorant schmuck who barely knows the shema.
I went to a messianic congregration some number of years ago and had to keep from laughing when they waited until well after sunset to light shabbos candles.
I believe a significant issue is pride and the desire to be able to tell a congregation that you have it all figured out as christian doctrinal statements and creeds have been doing for the past 1700 or so years.
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