Editing Messianic Judaism (section)

==Religious practices==
[[File:Messianic synagogue.jpg|thumb|Baruch Hashem Messianic Synagogue in Dallas, Texas]]

===Torah observance===
{{See also|Christian views on the Old Covenant#Torah observance}}
There is a variety of practice within Messianic Judaism regarding the strictness of [[Torah observance]]. Generally, Torah observant congregations observe Jewish prayers, biblical feasts, and the Sabbath.<ref name=CTOMC_SoF/> While most traditional Christians deny that the ritual laws and specific civil laws of the Torah apply to gentiles, some Messianic believers say certain passages regarding Torah observance in the [[New Testament]] are cited by as proof that the Torah was not abolished for Jews. They say that in {{bibleverse|Acts|21:17-36}}, Jewish believers in Jerusalem are described as "zealous for the Law".

===Sabbath and holiday observances===
Some Messianic Jews observe [[Shabbat]] on Saturdays.<ref name="Spector2008"/> Worship services are generally held on Friday evenings ({{transliteration|he|Erev Shabbat}}) or Saturday mornings.{{sfn|Burgess|2006|p=308}} According to the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship (SBMF), services are held on Saturday to "open the doors to Jewish people who also wish to keep the Sabbath".<ref name="Worshill2008"/> The liturgy used is similar to that of a Jewish {{transliteration|he|[[siddur]]}} with some important differences including the omission of "salvation by works" as the Messianic belief is salvation through Jesus.<ref name="Worshill2008"/> Other branches of the movement have attempted to "eliminate the elements of Christian worship [such as frequent [[communion rite|communion]]{{efn|Communion in Messianic Judaism is often celebrated as a fully [[wikt:re-enact|reenacted]] [[Passover Seder]] meal, in accordance with its description in the Synoptic Gospels, making it slightly more difficult to setup and more lengthy.}}] that cannot be directly linked to their Jewish roots".{{sfn|Feher|1998|p=20|ps=: "The Messianic movement has eliminated the elements of Christian worship that cannot be directly linked to their Jewish roots. Communion is therefore associated with Passover, since the Eucharist originated during Ushua's Last Supper, held at Passover. In this way, Passover is given a new, Yshua-centered meaning."}} Almost all such congregations in Israel observe Jewish holidays, which they understand to have their fulfillment in Jesus."<ref name="Spector2008"/>

The Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council recommends the observance of Jewish holidays.<ref name = MJRC_Holidays /> Most larger Messianic Jewish congregations follow Jewish custom in celebrating the three biblical feasts ([[Pesach]], [[Shavuot]], and [[Sukkot]]), as well as [[Yom Kippur]] and [[Rosh Hashanah]].{{sfn|Burgess|2006|p=308}}

===Dietary laws===
The observance of the {{transliteration|he|[[kashrut]]}} dietary laws is a subject of continued debate among Messianic Jews.<ref name="Rein"/><ref name = "MJRC_Kashrut" /> Some Messianic believers keep kosher purely for the purposes of evangelism to Jewish people.<ref name="Rein"/> Most avoid pork and shellfish, but there is disagreement on more strict adherence to kosher dietary laws.

===Conversion to Messianic Judaism===
Large numbers of those calling themselves Messianic Jews are not of Jewish descent,{{sfn|Harris-Shapiro|1999|p=15|ps=: "However, not all Messianic believers ''are'' Jews. Nothing is as problematic as the large numbers of Messianic Gentiles in the movement. To claim Jewish identity when one is not Jewish oneself adds another layer of struggle: "We are ''Jews''!" "We are ''Messianic'' Jews!" "We are Messianic ''Gentiles/spiritual'' Jews!"}} but join the movement as they "enjoy the Messianic Jewish style of worship".{{sfn|Brown|2000|p=12}} Messianic perspectives on "[[Who is a Jew?]]" vary. The Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council says a Jew is one born to a Jewish mother or who has converted to Judaism. Copying from the Reform stream of Judaism, the council also says a Jew is one who was born to a Jewish father but not a Jewish mother on the condition that the family of the child, or the individual as an adult, has undertaken public and formal acts of identification of the individual with the Jewish faith and people.<ref name="MJRC_Status"/> The MJAA accepts gentiles into their congregations, but views gentiles and Jews as spiritually distinct and conversion as an "unbiblical practice".{{sfn|Reason|2005|ps=: "The official stance is that Gentiles and Jews are spiritually equal but distinct, and that Jews should be proud of being Jews, and Gentiles proud of being Gentiles. Nevertheless, the Jewish identity is clearly valorized, causing many Gentiles to strive for greater Jewishness through Jewish observance and search for Jewish roots. Since conversion for Gentiles is deemed unbiblical within the MJAA, these are the main options for Gentiles seeking a more Jewish identity."}}

====Baptism====
Messianic Jews practice [[baptism]], calling it a {{transliteration|he|[[mikveh]]}} ("cistern", from {{bibleverse|Leviticus|11:36}}) rather than the term {{transliteration|he|tvila}} ("baptism" ({{lang|he|טבילה}}) in the [[Bible translations by language|Hebrew New Testament]]).{{sfn|Cohn-Sherbok|2000|p=161|ps=: "For Gentile Christians, baptism is perceived as a means of entering into the body of Christ. Within Messianic Judaism, however, immersion is understood as a religious act symbolizing the believer's commitment to Yeshua: the faithful are to immerse in a ''mikveh'' as a sign of their acceptance of Messiah Yeshuah and the coming of the Kingdom."}}<ref name="JeC1"/>

====Circumcision====
{{Main|Religious male circumcision}}
{{See also|Brit milah|Circumcision controversy in early Christianity|Christian views on the Old Covenant}}
Some within the [[Tribe of Ephraim|Ephraimite]] movement seek to convert themselves for identification with Israel, but most Messianic governing bodies acknowledge the presence of gentiles in the congregations, and do not see a need for them to convert to worship in the Messianic style and understanding. When conversion is sincerely desired by a gentile Messianic believer, Messianic Jewish halachic standards (including [[Religious male circumcision|circumcision]]) are imposed to maintain integrity among the world Messianic Jewish community.<ref name="JeC1"/><ref name="JeC3"/>

===Use of Hebrew names and vocabulary in English===
The movement generally avoids common Christian terms, such as Jesus, Christ, or cross and prefers to use Hebrew or Aramaic terms.{{sfn|Ariel|2006|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=oZiScvbS6-cC&q=%22Hebrew+terms%22&pg=RA1-PA200 200]}}