Surely eating kosher food is not a sin! And what about reading and practicing some Jewish customs? The trend in the Vatican has been very pro-judaism. Pope Francis, while still a Cardinal, declared that the Jews are God’s chosen people, which makes me believe partaking in some Jewish customs, and holding Judaism in high esteem is wise.**Under what circumstances, can I practice Judaism while remaining largely Catholic? **
None.
the church actually has a lot of Jewish customesSurely eating kosher food is not a sin! And what about reading and practicing some Jewish customs? The trend in the Vatican has been very pro-judaism. Pope Francis, while still a Cardinal, declared that the Jews are God’s chosen people, which makes me believe partaking in some Jewish customs, and holding Judaism in high esteem is wise.
The Jews are God’s chosen people because the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity was to take place in them…and did.Surely eating kosher food is not a sin! And what about reading and practicing some Jewish customs? The trend in the Vatican has been very pro-judaism. Pope Francis, while still a Cardinal, declared that the Jews are God’s chosen people, which makes me believe partaking in some Jewish customs, and holding Judaism in high esteem is wise.
At any point that Jesus is not your Way, your Truth and your Life I think would present a problem.I’m aware of the contradictions that would result if I became a fully fledged Jew, for example, whether Christ was the Messiah, but I seem perfectly able to put these contradictions aside while fully worshiping God. I often feel 49% Jewish and 51% Catholic. Am I sinning, or would God approve such an endeavor?
Yes! BTW: My entire church was invited to a Jewish service, and even our Catholic priests took part.I think there are a lot of Jewish things you can participate in as a practicing Catholic. Do you have Jewish friends? Ask to be invited to Shabbat dinner. Go to services on Friday night or Saturday morning. Learn how Jews pray, how they read and honor the Torah, how they keep Shabbat the way the Bible tells us to.
I fell in love with Judaism reading novels. Chaim Potok’s ‘The Chosen’ was my favorite. It was a glimpse into Orthodox Judaism of the 1940’s.
Judaism has a tradition of serious scholarship. Learn about its history. I can give you some good beginner’s references if you’d like.
I commend you for this. It’s exciting to find someone out there who loves Judaism too.
I write this post in response to the original question posed, and in indirect response to some of the responses thus far. I choose not to pick a fight, but will say what I have to say and let the chips fall where they may. I will be happy to engage in friendly dialogue, but really don’t want to get into a contentious debate.I’m aware of the contradictions that would result if I became a fully fledged Jew, for example, whether Christ was the Messiah, but I seem perfectly able to put these contradictions aside while fully worshiping God. I often feel 49% Jewish and 51% Catholic. Am I sinning, or would God approve such an endeavor?
Robert Sock:I think there are a lot of Jewish things you can participate in as a practicing Catholic. Do you have Jewish friends? Ask to be invited to Shabbat dinner. Go to services on Friday night or Saturday morning. Learn how Jews pray, how they read and honor the Torah, how they keep Shabbat the way the Bible tells us to.
No, eating kosher food, or going to a shabbat or synagogue, is not a sin, per se.Surely eating kosher food is not a sin! And what about reading and practicing some Jewish customs?
Yes, and this seems to be the track that the Vatican is taking.I write this post in response to the original question posed, and in indirect response to some of the responses thus far. I choose not to pick a fight, but will say what I have to say and let the chips fall where they may. I will be happy to engage in friendly dialogue, but really don’t want to get into a contentious debate.
First, Judaism is a wonderful, wonderful religion. If practiced with sincerity and devotion, Judaism is just an incredible religion that we, as Catholics, should admire and respect despite our differences. Most devout Jews are very holy people, love their family, and are good neighbors and citizens. We can learn a lot from our Jewish elders in the faith.
Secondly, Christ was a Jew. Mary and Joseph were Jews. Most of the earliest disciples and Christians were all Jewish. The earliest Christians kept the Sabbath. They followed the Ten Commandments. On the day after the Sabbath, they celebrated what would be the earliest form of the Mass.
Christ didn’t throw out the Ten Commandments. He didn’t abolish a belief in the Creator.
Jesus loved Israel and the Jewish people. Christ didn’t believe in hatred against the Jews. He had strong disagreements with the Jewish leaders at the time - a time of great contention, turmoil, confusion, and distress while under Roman occupation. But Christ loved the Jewish people.
I can appreciate as Catholics asserting our faith, and advocating for Catholic tradition. I draw the line at the point of crossing into hatred and anti-semitism, which is neither Catholic, nor charitable, nor Christ-like.
Jews who actively practice their faith and are deeply committed to prayer, good deeds, and helping others are to be admired and respected. We may have theological and even cultural differences, but let’s not forget about the Golden Rule. We have far more in common than differences.
It is entirely possible that people who feel drawn to Judaism are, in fact, ethnically Jewish. They may feel drawn to Judaism because it resonates with their values, culture, and family traditions. Many Jews, over many centuries, had to hide their faith and faced oppression from both secular and religious authorities. You may have Jewish ancestry or long lost family ties to Judaism.
The lost tribes of Israel will one day reunited, and as people are drawn closer to their faith, this may be one way in which the Creator is working in our lives to make this come to fruition.
I take no issue with any individual that is sincerely drawn to a closer relationship with their Creator through prayer, good deeds, and helping make this world a better place to live. God bless the Jews, and God bless those that do their best to build bridges between our two faiths.
To follow up… that Lecture Series 16: Heritage: Civilization and the Jews is worth the time and small fee (it goes for a pretty stiff price on Amazon) to borrow the DVDs. A relative of mine who was a priest gave me the whole series before he passed away and it is excellent. I am reminded to find it and watch it again.At any point that Jesus is not your Way, your Truth and your Life I think would present a problem.
Here is an excellent series of lectures from the Association of Hebrew Catholics…
hebrewcatholic.net/studies/mystery-of-israel-church/
You will find both Jews and Catholics who advise you that the two religions, for all their links and similarities, are essentially incompatible with regard to the most basic dogma and many other elements which derive from the fundamentals.I’m aware of the contradictions that would result if I became a fully fledged Jew, for example, whether Christ was the Messiah, but I seem perfectly able to put these contradictions aside while fully worshiping God. I often feel 49% Jewish and 51% Catholic. Am I sinning, or would God approve such an endeavor?
Lol…very true.Keeping one foot on the pier and one in the boat is not a good idea. You’d get wet and not go anyplace.
ICXC NIKA.
A Rabbi once said something similar; that you should not mix religions. To do so, he said, is like having one leg in one boat and the other leg in another boat, spelling disaster. I disagree!Keeping one foot on the pier and one in the boat is not a good idea. You’d get wet and not go anyplace.
ICXC NIKA.