Am I allowed?

  • Thread starter Thread starter NorthTexan88
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
N

NorthTexan88

Guest
I have always been interested in Judaism and Jewish worship, not because I want to join (proud Catholic), but more as a “it’s our heritage” kind of thing, and I have always been interested in our Jewish roots. Afterall Catholicism is the fulfillment of Messianic Judaism right? I was wondering if its allowed for us Catholics to atten a Jewish service, I would really like to see what an orthodox synagogue is like?
 
Yes you can, just don’t do this at the expense of not fulfiling you obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and the Holy Days of Obligation.

If this is a Messianic Jewish service do not take their communion at all.
 
Anathama_Sit said:
Yes you can, just don’t do this at the expense of not fulfiling you obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and the Holy Days of Obligation.

If this is a Messianic Jewish service do not take their communion at all.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks! No it won’t be interfering with my Sunday obligation. I dont know if it will be a messianic synagogue, is it the same as an actual synogogue?
 
Yes, you’re allowed to visit a synagogue and observe. Before they got thrown out, the first followers of Jesus still considered themselves Jews. They attended the synagogue for the readings then went to someone’s home for the breaking of the bread.

Messianic Jews are really more like evangelical Christians, real Jews don’t have anything to do with them.
 
I’ve attended shabbat services in my area and found them quite beautiful and the congregation welcoming of non-Jews. It might be worth a phone call to the synagogue to make sure you would be welcome and to find out if there’s anything you should know in advance. The services I’ve gone to are Reform and I don’t know if there’s anything different about Orthodox services other than separating men and women.
 
Messianic Jews are mostly Southern Baptists who have returned to the old Judaizing heresy denounced in the New Testament itself.

As for going to an actual Jewish (as in, Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform) service, as long as it doesn’t interfere with Mass, yes (I don’t see how it could, as it’s on a different day).

For a very rough comparison, know that Orthodox are more like the Eastern Orthodox or conservative Catholics, and likewise have a different service in ways, much more traditional, no womyn lectors, etc.: Conservative Jews are kind of like Methodists or more liberal Lutherans: not traditional, but not super-liberal either. Reform Jews are like the most liberal Episcopalians: many of them identify as atheists, some practice other religions like Buddhism, etc. Haredim are kind of like Old-Calendarist Eastern Orthodox.

Orthodox Judaism is probably what you’re interested in, if you’re looking for the closest spiritual successor to actual Judaism as practiced when the Temple was still around (modern Judaism is more Rabbinism, than actual Judaism, seeing as how it doesn’t have sacrifices or priests or levites any more).
 
Within the bounds of prudential good judgement, you’re free to observe most, if not all, other religions’ ceremonies.

Obviously what you shouldn’t do is attend to such an extent that you give the impression that you’re a member of these faiths.

Just remember that if you you visit a synagogue you will almost certainly be expected to wear a head-covering if you’re male: they should have spare yarmulkes (the skullcap otherwise known as a Kippah) for visitors. Stricter Jews will have separate sections of the synagogue for men and women. And dress modestly.

jewfaq.org/shul.htm has useful information.
 
DexUK said:
Within the bounds of prudential good judgement, you’re free to observe most, if not all, other religions’ ceremonies.

Obviously what you shouldn’t do is attend to such an extent that you give the impression that you’re a member of these faiths.

Just remember that if you you visit a synagogue you will almost certainly be expected to wear a head-covering if you’re male: they should have spare yarmulkes (the skullcap otherwise known as a Kippah) for visitors. Stricter Jews will have separate sections of the synagogue for men and women. And dress modestly.

jewfaq.org/shul.htm has useful information.
Click to expand...
Is it ok to wear one??

Also, do Jews have communion?
 
NorthTexan88 said:
Is it ok to wear one??
Click to expand...
If a man goes to a Jewish service he covers his head. Not only is it OK, it is what is required.
Also, do Jews have communion?
Click to expand...
Think about what you’re asking. What is communion? Do you think Jews would distribute the body and blood of Christ in any way?
 
Actually, it’s not THAT silly a question.

jewfaq.org/liturgy.htm might be useful in reading this.

There seems to be no paschal meal during a service at a synagogue. That’s not to say that Jewish liturgical customs don’t include the eating of bread and drinking of wine… you may have heard of a Seder Meal? This takes place in a family environment though, rather than in a synagogue.

jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm#Seder tells you more.

But no, there isn’t a ‘communion’ as we would understand it.
 
It’s true that they eat bread and drink wine; they offer blessings over them that we have incorporated into the Mass. But it’s not communion, not even in the symbolic way that many Protestants understand it.
 
NorthTexan88 said:
I have always been interested in Judaism and Jewish worship, not because I want to join (proud Catholic), but more as a “it’s our heritage” kind of thing, and I have always been interested in our Jewish roots. Afterall Catholicism is the fulfillment of Messianic Judaism right? I was wondering if its allowed for us Catholics to atten a Jewish service, I would really like to see what an orthodox synagogue is like?
Click to expand...
One clarification first: we are not a fulfillment of “messianic” judaism, but rather the fulfillment of judaism itself. Messianic judaism is just a misnomer for a group of protestants who cling to saturday worship (misnomer because the first messianic jews ARE the catholics). Interestinly enough, messianic judaism is eating the baptist church up right now (getting a lot of conversions).

To answer your question, yes you may attend synagogue. Caveats: you must still attend mass that weekend and you may not participate in the synagogue’s activities (aka, when they bring around the torah, don’t go kissing your fingers and touching it like the other participants… just bow your head and stand prayerfully).
 
NorthTexan88 said:
I have always been interested in Judaism and Jewish worship, not because I want to join (proud Catholic), but more as a “it’s our heritage” kind of thing, and I have always been interested in our Jewish roots. Afterall Catholicism is the fulfillment of Messianic Judaism right? I was wondering if its allowed for us Catholics to atten a Jewish service, I would really like to see what an orthodox synagogue is like?
Click to expand...
Sure you can

But I don’t think Orthodox Jews allow non Orthodox in their synagogues
 
Think about what you’re asking. What is communion? Do you think Jews would distribute the body and blood of Christ in any way?

No bread and wine. But there is terrific salmon and chopped egg sandwiches after service 👍
 
NorthTexan88 said:
I have always been interested in Judaism and Jewish worship, not because I want to join (proud Catholic), but more as a “it’s our heritage” kind of thing, and I have always been interested in our Jewish roots. Afterall Catholicism is the fulfillment of Messianic Judaism right? I was wondering if its allowed for us Catholics to atten a Jewish service, I would really like to see what an orthodox synagogue is like?
Click to expand...
My answer is a little different. I think you should know your faith very well and, if you decide to go, only go once in a great while. The reason is that these faiths have a way of looking right and appealing, even more than ours. It’s dangerous. It’s for the same reason that we shouldn’t go to a schismatic church - you will pick up the mentality of that church. By attending other churches often, you will start picking up their understanding of doctrines without realizing it. I’ve seen this in bible study. I’ve heard people give a Calvinist view of some scripture and when I ask them where they got that idea I find out that they attended other churches. Also, I don’t go to other churches (except for weddings and funerals) because, to those who see you, you’re giving your witness. You’re implying that all churches are the same. I’m 56 and I’ve always stuck to this. When I was growing up, it wasn’t allowed but I think it is now. Also, I don’t read books by other denominations for the same reason. I’ve read hundreds of Catholic books and they all fit together but if you read books of other denominations, they don’t always fit. This is just food for thought.
 
I am a cradle Catholic that was also Bar Mitzvahed. Catholicism is most definitely the fullness of Judaism. We are the branches and Judaism is the trunk. I will make one recommendation which is when you go to Temple, go early and explain your situation to some people there or find a Jewish friend if you have one before you go to take you. The best part of Judaism is the people. Also, it will be helpful to avoid some confusion during the Amidah and to have explained to you what is going on.
B’HATZlacha!
 
No bread and wine. But there is terrific salmon and chopped egg sandwiches after service 👍
Click to expand...
Smoked salmon as in lox? Lox are good. But egg goes better with ham, and I doubt there’s going to be much ham around Jews. Like some rapper sang: “There’s no pigs around me like a Jewish feast”.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top