| | They differ from other Jews over their beliefs about the Messiah. Messianic Congregations are made up of people of Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds, and are distinctly Jewish in [[culture]]. All celebrate Jewish [[Holy Days]] and support the State of [[Israel]], and most have their main service on the seventh day [[Sabbath]]. They believe that all of the [[Bible]], both the Tanakh and the [[New Testament]], is inspired by [[God]], and that the New Testament was written by Jewish writers to announce to the world the arrival of the long awaited Jewish Messiah. | | They differ from other Jews over their beliefs about the Messiah. Messianic Congregations are made up of people of Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds, and are distinctly Jewish in [[culture]]. All celebrate Jewish [[Holy Days]] and support the State of [[Israel]], and most have their main service on the seventh day [[Sabbath]]. They believe that all of the [[Bible]], both the Tanakh and the [[New Testament]], is inspired by [[God]], and that the New Testament was written by Jewish writers to announce to the world the arrival of the long awaited Jewish Messiah. |
| − | Virtually all other Jewish [[denomination]]s reject Messianic Judaism on the principle that belief in Messiah Yeshua automatically makes them [[Christianity|Christian]], and therefore outside of the Jewish community. (<small>''See [[Jewish opposition]] below.''</small>) Many view Messianic Judaism as a dangerous and subversive form of [[apostasy]]. However, Reform [[rabbi]] [[Dan Cohn-Sherbok]], Professor of Jewish Theology at the University of Wales, has pointed out that the Jewish community, and Judaism itself, no longer holds to a single authority to determine correct belief and practice, and as such Messianic Judaism is as valid a form of Judaism as any other.<ref>Cohn-Sherbok, Rabbi Dan. "Messianic Judaism" (Continuum International, 2000) ISBN 0-8264-5458-5</ref> David M. Hargis stated: "Since the first Jewish followers of Yeshua never left the faith of the God of Israel, YHWH, but rather came into a more personal covenant with Him through trust in Messiah Yeshua, their faith was and is the only complete Biblical Judaism and thus a superior Judaism."<ref>Hargis, David M. [http://www.messianic.com/articles/basics.htm ''Basics of Messianic Judaism''] Messianic Bureau International. Accessed 21 February 2008</ref> | + | Virtually all other Jewish [[denomination]]s reject Messianic Judaism on the principle that belief in Messiah Yeshua automatically makes them [[Christianity|Christian]], and therefore outside of the Jewish community. (<small>''See [[#Jewish opposition|Jewish opposition]] below.''</small>) Many view Messianic Judaism as a dangerous and subversive form of [[apostasy]]. However, Reform [[rabbi]] [[Dan Cohn-Sherbok]], Professor of Jewish Theology at the University of Wales, has pointed out that the Jewish community, and Judaism itself, no longer holds to a single authority to determine correct belief and practice, and as such Messianic Judaism is as valid a form of Judaism as any other.<ref>Cohn-Sherbok, Rabbi Dan. "Messianic Judaism" (Continuum International, 2000) ISBN 0-8264-5458-5</ref> David M. Hargis stated: "Since the first Jewish followers of Yeshua never left the faith of the God of Israel, YHWH, but rather came into a more personal covenant with Him through trust in Messiah Yeshua, their faith was and is the only complete Biblical Judaism and thus a superior Judaism."<ref>Hargis, David M. [http://www.messianic.com/articles/basics.htm ''Basics of Messianic Judaism''] Messianic Bureau International. Accessed 21 February 2008</ref> |