The joy of being a Jewish Catholic!

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My Mama is Jewish. I’m proud of that. I’m proud that I have the background knowledge to appreciate the Catholic Church in full! I have met people who have no clue what the significance of the Last Supper as a Passover meal is, who don’t understand why Abraham is so important to the New Testament. I’m proud that my Mama gave me her religion. My love of Jesus would not be complete without a love of our Jewish heritidge.

So why in the blue blazes do some Protestants assume that the Catholic Church is anti-Jewish? I’ve been a visitor at occasional Protestant church gatherings that focus only on the New Testament, without tying anything in to the Old. And yet the Catholic Mass always has a reading from both halves of The Book.

Bah. I always find it amusing when people accuse me of being anti-Semetic. They usually do a double-take when I point out that I am, by Jewish Law, a Jew, and allowed by Jewish Law to partake in the ceremonies. They also do a double-take when I point out it says in the Bible that Jesus celebrated Chanukkah.

I love my Church. I love the Mass, the Holy Communion, the Mysteries, the Rosery, asking saints to interceed for us, and prayers for the dead. All these things feel totally natural and right to me. And I have my Jewish Mama to thank for that.

One last thing - my priest once was talking about the dedication of Mary to God, and how she was the perfect servant, willing to do whatever God asked of her. He then paused and said, “Y’know, I always wondered, why do our Protestant brothers and sisters have a problem with a little old Jewish lady?” Which is exactly the way the rest of us feel!

So, here’s the real point of this post - does anybody else out there think that all Catholics should have a deeper understanding of the Jewish faith? I know that Paul insisted that gentiles were perfectly welcome into the Church without having to first be Jews, and I’m totally there - however you get into the Church is perfect, if it brings you home and closer to God.

But this is me as a history minor (English major) talking. How many people out there think that there should be more extensive teachings on the Jewish religion for Catholics?
😃
I’m just so happy. Hope everyone else is, too.
 
Many hold that Catholics are anti-Jewish because at times in the past, Catholics have been. There are many examples and many reasons. What is important is that we understand now that violence is not how to spread the faith. Why that was not understood from day one is beyond me. I would hold that from a theological perspective, many non-Catholics are more anti-semetic than we are. After all, we do not hold that 100% of Jews are going to hell.

Now, I do agree 100% that Catholics need to learn of the Jewish roots of the Church. It opens up Scriptures in amazing ways, and it helps us understand the first 200 years of the faith.
 
Well someone’s happy today 🙂

Yes I agree that us Catholics and Christians should know about the Jewish faith and its history, quoting Pius XI (1938):
“Mark well that in the Catholic Mass, Abraham is our Patriarch and forefather. Anti-Semitism is incompatible with the lofty thought which that fact expresses. It is a movement with which we Christians can have nothing to do. No, no, I say to you it is impossible for a Christian to take part in anti-Semitism. It is inadmissible. Through Christ and in Christ we are the spiritual progeny of Abraham. Spiritually, we [Christians] are all Semites”
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I misspelled anti-Semitism! I’m a bad English major! :eek:

Hee. But yeah, I’m happy. Anyway, getting inside the Old Testament is a fun way of learning all about what was going on at the time of Christ. His Mama was Jewish, so was his step-Daddy, and he was, too. It brings the New Testament to life when you can look at both Books and say, “Hey! I see where all that’s going!” 🙂
 
tabsie3210 said:
I misspelled anti-Semitism! I’m a bad English major! :eek:

Hee. But yeah, I’m happy. Anyway, getting inside the Old Testament is a fun way of learning all about what was going on at the time of Christ. His Mama was Jewish, so was his step-Daddy, and he was, too. It brings the New Testament to life when you can look at both Books and say, “Hey! I see where all that’s going!” 🙂
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Don’t forget that he was Jewish, too. Had it not been for some strange events, Christianity would be a branch of Judaism today.
 
Agree 100%. without the understanding of judaism one cannot understand the CC. and there is why we are so misunderstood by many.
 
Bob Fishman calls himself a fulfilled Jew…He has done some wonderful DVD’s about the Jewish roots of Catholicism
 
Fulfillment comes from living in the present dance of life. That means understanding the past and using our knowledge to shape the future, and then doing something about it! :extrahappy:

I love history. I love Jewish history. It helps me grow.

:signofcross:
 
tabsie3210 said:
How many people out there think that there should be more extensive teachings on the Jewish religion for Catholics?
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I do, andI always enjoy listening to Rosalind Moss’ insights on the Catholic Answers radio shows.
 
I’ve been blessed to have taken the first two years of the Denver Catholic Biblical School. The first year is the Historical Books, and we were beautifully grounded in Jewish traditions and history, So when we got to the Gospels the next year, it really added depth and meaning.

I also took another class about Rabbinical methods of teaching, especially around the time of Jesus, which also led to deeper understanding of the Gospels. Wonderful!

Without an understanding of Jewish history and tradition, we lose so much meaning!

Ruthie
 
Not only did Jesus celebrate all the Jewish holidays and their traditions…his mother & step-father were Jews. God bless all of our Jewish cousins.
 
Hello, I was reading about “festival of shelters” can you help me get more information on it? I think its really interesting!🙂

I think Catholics and all Christians would love it!
 
I’ve often had Catholics say to me that Jesus must be the Jewish messiah because he was Jewish.

I’d like to point out that being Jewish is not the only qualification for being the messiah. Many other requirements had to be fulfilled as well, and we who are religious Jews feel that Jesus did not fulfill those requirements.

If the OP is actually of Jewish background, I am shocked that she/he would need to ask why Protestants (actually, Jews too) feel the Catholic church historically has been anti-Jewish…esp. after saying in a later post that he/she “loves Jewish history”.

Those who “love Jewish history”, more than anyone, know why Jews have a very long history of distrust of the historical Catholic church.
 
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