Sometimes I want to be Jewish

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No. Catholicism is definitely not as rule-bound as the Jewish faith. You find that throughout the NT. Take a couple of trips through the NT, and record how many times you see a dichotomy between law and spirit, particularly when one has to make an ethical decision which is contrary to the codified Jewish law. Take notes on book, chapter, and verse. You will find it throughout.

Then, if you are ambitious, go through the CCC, and note the emphasis on ethical behavior, and lack of emphasis on rules which are irrelevant to ethics. One third of the numbered statements in the CCC have to do with the development of an ethical system.

Do the same with Deuteronomy of the OT. (Remember that there are many other works in the Jewish religion which further delineate what is required.)

Simply put, people of the time of Jesus were developing a fascination and interest in Judaism. It was nearly impossible for an adult to adapt to the rules of Judaism. Early Christianity was therefore a way of becoming Jewish without the rules. Of course, we know that the whole picture is more than that, this was just one factor.
 
Hi Patty. I want to assure you that you are not the only one who feels this way. This time of year with the Jewish High holidays around the corner I feel the same way.
I see don’t know my ancestry. I felt pulled towards judaism from a young age. I was baptized in the episcopal church, but when it came time to be confirmed I had a panic attack because I felt you are supposed to be jewish or catholic. I didn’t know who to talk to because I was young. Anyhow, I minored in religion at college and studied the old testament, but didn’t really learn how the Jewish faith is practiced.
I had stopped going to church and didn’t go back until I was in my 40’s.
I started at the episcopal church which still didn’t feel right and then I took a wonderful discovering judaism class. I finally got to enter a synagogue and see how the Jewish people worship.
I loved the rosh hashanah service and yom kippur.
My hebrew teacher said people who feel jewish were standing at the bottom of the mountain when Moses came down with the 10 commandments. It was a wonderful experience but since I had been bsptized in the name of the father, Son and Holy Spirit I didn’t convert.
There was something missing. I think it is the grace and knowledge Jesus died for our sins. We are forgiven. Also Mary is not in the Jewish faith. I ended up converting to Catholicism and I still receive spiritual newsletters from a good jewish website, but it made me see catholicism is the fulfillment of judaism. You should check with a local synagogue and see if they offer any classes for you to learn more.
There is a good book written by a hebrew catholic called Salvation is from the Jews. I wanted to learn about the faith of Jesus and Mary during their lives in Nazareth.
 
TrueChurch said:
There are some Catholics who celebrate Passover, and Rosh-Hossanah. There are even some Catholics who keep kosher. The Church has nothing to say about members expressing some of our Jewish roots.
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A word of caution. St. Paul said, “if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.” (Gal. 5:2). St. Thomas Aquinas explains that because Christ fulfilled the old law and abolished the old ceremonial observances, it would be a mortal sin to continue to observe the old ceremonial law as such (S.T. IIa, Q103, a4). I do not say that the practices mentioned above are necessarily sinful (not being a moral theologian), and I know this is a touchy and complex issue, but it is something to consider.

That said, in addition to the fulfillment of Old Law figures, the Church has seen fit to incorporate into her life and worship many other elements that hearken back to that of the Old Testament: such as facing East to worship, the liturgical vestments (alb and chasuble resemble robes of high priest), the layout of a traditional church (tabernacle = holy of holies; sanctuary = holy place), the six candles on the altar at a Traditional Mass, and so on. Sadly many of these elements have been discontinued in a large part of the Church, but they still live on if you know where to find them.
 
I also should look into celebrating the Catholic Holy Days more personally. Anyone know of good websites to do that?
 
I have seen somewhere the statement that an early stage in conversion to Catholicism is a desire to become Jewish. It is clearly valid for many.

May all your research lead you closer to Jesus.
 
PattyPryor said:
I also should look into celebrating the Catholic Holy Days more personally. Anyone know of good websites to do that?
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EWTN has a program called “Feast and Seasons”, which is a cooking show. It focuses on the feasts that are close at hand and the hostess cooks up traditional English foods associated to the feast. Along the way, she explains how the food and the feast are tied together.

Also, your parish and diocese will have things planned for every Holy day. Just show up. Volunteer at your parish to help with Holy day observances. Decorating the sanctuary, organizing potlucks, etc.

There are prayers, fasts and novenas associated to many feast days. To participate, pay attention to what feasts are coming up far in advance. Some as far as 40 days. You can incorporate the Eastern fasts, which Latin Catholics have stopped for the most part.

Pay attention to the spirituality forum at CAF. People post regarding upcoming novenas and fasts.
 
I think many of us feel a great deal of kinship with Judaism. And why wouldn’t we? Jesus was Jewish.

Catholicism oddly, is another religion with a strong degree of identity.

One way for me, that I like to explore this kinship is in the liturgy. By praying the Liturgy of the Hours I’m really extending a custom established by the Jews in praying the psalms at different times of the day.

I also love the parallels between Passover and the Paschal Lamb with Christ and His resurrection. I love the OT, especially the historical books with their fantastic stories of how God revealed Himself to His Chosen People.

By studying the Bible, and seeking early manifestations of the Word made Flesh in the many prophetic stories, I can deepen that sense of kinship without abandoning what is my own Catholic identity. Particularly reading the early Church fathers in the Office of Readings, we can often see comments about surprising elements of prophecy about Christ in OT readings, where sometimes we never would have guessed. These fathers clearly were pros at lectio divina!

So there are ways of showing our attachment and kinship with Judaism without sacrificing our Catholic identity.
 
OraLabora;12364050]
So there are ways of showing our attachment and kinship with Judaism without sacrificing our Catholic identity.
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The Master revealed it all here to the Church;

Luke 24:25…"Oh foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself "

Later the Master before all the disciples in the upper room appeared to them and revealed this;

Luke 24:44 Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures…

After I read these words from the Master, while contemplating the Jewish faith, my spirit became at rest in the Master’s own words.

I too practice the Liturgy of hours in community with the Oblates of St. Joseph. Upon contemplating the prophetic psalms quenches my thirst in God, who reveals Himself through ancient Israel’s historical prophecies to their fulfillment in our Master.

It is praying the daily liturgy of hours, where I find the Catholic Church (New Testament) is hidden in the Jewish faith (Old Testament), and the Jewish faith (Old Testament) is revealed and fulfilled in the Catholic Church (New Testament) when the two become One in our Messiah Jesus Christ. Where the waters (nations) are absorbed (grafted) into the Land (Mount Zion the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem) see Hebrews 12:22-24

Peace be with you
 
It is praying the daily liturgy of hours, where I find the Catholic Church (New Testament) is hidden in the Jewish faith (Old Testament), and the Jewish faith (Old Testament) is revealed and fulfilled in the Catholic Church (New Testament) when the two become One in our Messiah Jesus Christ. Where the waters (nations) are absorbed (grafted) into the Land (Mount Zion the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem) see Hebrews 12:22-24
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Yes, this is all very true. I think that what the original poster is trying to convey - difficult though it may be to explain via this forum - is a calling to Judaism, to live as Christ did, to celebrate the feast days, to celebrate the Sabbath as Christ did - to live an authentic Jewish life. To pray to the Lord directly, without intercession. To build a tabernacle or “booth” once a year. To celebrate Passover. To follow what seem to be counter-intuitive rituals, such as washing one’s hands every morning. To read daily the wisdom of the Jewish sages. To wrap tefillin. To wear a prayer shawl. To be part of a larger, cohesive religious community.

It is all very appealing to an outsider with a “Jewish soul”.

Judaism proscribes a very specific manner of living, from the time you wake up, until the time you go to sleep. Rules are laid out very clearly. Some personalities are drawn to this structure.

But the best is to have both worlds - the daily structure of living along with the higher spiritual side of Christ. Carthusian monks and some Benedictines probably come closest to reaching this ideal.
 
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