Just like the first Christians, the founders of modern Messianic organizations were raised Jewish, most of them well-versed as children, performing all ritual and adhering to doctrine. Even if their parents were breaking away from traditions, their grandparents forced compliance on important holidays and solemn days. People were also increasingly discouraged by the hypocrisy of financial status in most synagogues, and judgments were harsh against personal involvement with Gentiles and their advancing technologies.
The 1960’s were times of change, and many young Jews left their faith completely, intermingling with Gentiles, particularly targeted by the very popular “Jesus Freak” movement. (My former rabbi, Russell Resnick, and his wife Jane were “saved” in this way.) Many Christians told them that Jesus came to throw off the religion of his fathers and establish a new religion, but the converted Jews of the 1970’s realized that Jesus constantly quoted Torah, the Prophets and Songs, that he practiced the traditions of his faith, and they remembered that G-D is the same — yesterday, today and tomorrow.
As a Jewish Rabbi, ordained by G-D, Messiah Yeshua was in constant prayer, having “ka-vah-nah” — purposeful connection to the Presence of H-S Shekinah (Glory) with a humble heart, open to G-D’s Will — for Yeshua was G-D incarnate. Although prayer is required 3 to 5 times daily, the Shemah is sung or spoken as many times a day as possible, “when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Preparing one’s heart can be continuous in the Human Soul’s Conscious Awareness.
The Order of Service in Messianic Judaism follows ancient tradition as the people of a desert tribe gathered first outside the mishkan, the Tabernacle containing the Ark of the Covenant, rejoicing in song and dance. The Bar’khoo is a Call to Prayer — “Bless Adonai, Who is blessed. Blessed be Adonai, Who is blessed forever and ever.” Sung in Hebrew, my first visit to Adat Yeshua in Albuquerque proved spine-chilling (in a good way), opening my heart to the beauty of words my Messiah sang.
Traditional prayers are often sung in Hebrew, but the most beautiful, representing the Children of Isra’el moving closer to the Inner Court where the Holy of Holies was stored, is called the Ameedah: We sanctify Your NAME in the world just as They sanctify IT in the HIghest Heavens, as it’s written by the Hands of the Prophets — They call out to one another and say “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts. The Earth is filled with H-S Glory!” Those opposite Them say, “Blessed be the Glory of the Lord from H-S Place!”
The Ameedah continues on “from generation to generation” in praise, petition, and thanksgiving with beautiful Hebrew melody and meaning, and the Torah service is uplifting, reaching out to others in the joy and brotherly love of Messiah Yeshua. The Torah is carried through the congregation as in desert days, and the reader is usually someone performing Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah or celebrating their yearly anniversary of such.
Torah is read in the original Hebrew, and in Messianic synagogues an English translation is given. After the Torah is ceremoniously replaced, lessons are given (I hesitate calling them sermons.) highlighting the words and actions of Yeshua HaMashiakh. Somewhere in the Order of Service, often before Torah is read, mourners stand in remembrance and solidarity for those who’ve crossed over, and sing the Mourner’s Kaddish, a prayer of soulful rejoicing.
At the end of every service, arms and prayer shawls open up to all nearby, the rabbi or congregational leader sings in Hebrew, then recites in English, the Aaronic Blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord shine down H-S Countenance upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift H-S Face upon you and give you peace.
Some Messianic Jewish congregations who were part of Unions have broken away, mostly because the emphasis has changed from converting actual Jews to satisfying the desires of the Christians who’ve joined them, although there were desertions for doctrinal reasons. Some leaders promote ideas that are not part of Messianic Jewish doctrine, and many take an alternate approach and accept every theory and opinion as a possibility. As one of my leaders said when I asked a question about the Book of Revelation, “I don’t know if that’s correct or not, but it could be. We’ll find out when we get There.”
I wholeheartedly recommend that people attend service at a Messianic Jewish synagogue. As I said before, since childhood I longed to find out who Jesus really was, his teachings and traditions, and I found my answers there. It’s sad that people who are real Jews have a tendency to hate us more than other Christians, who hated and persecuted them for centuries, but they will recognize the G-D of their fathers when Yeshua returns for us, if not now, then in T’shuvah ( Repent and Return), the Tribulation to come.
THE SHEMAH: Hear, O’ Isra’el, the Lord our G-D, the Lord is ONE. Blessed be HE Whose Glorious Kingdom is forever and ever. You shall love the Lord your G-D with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength. These words that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. Bind them as reminders on your hands and your foreheads between your eyes. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9