We are legally chartered with WMEK (#21065) as Theology of the Body Synagogue.

What is the meaning of the Way?

Salvation in the Way (aka Messianic Judaism) is achieved only through the acceptance of Yeshua as one's Saviour, and not through adherence to Jewish rabbinical law. After the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, the form of Judaism that has been passed on to us is known as Rabbinical Judaism, with its four traditions: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Messianic. Samaritans are considered an authentic Jewish tradition, although they have their temple and high priest from the age of division between Southern and Northern kingdoms. As followers of the Way, we Messianic Jews await a new age of peace relating to Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) based on the salvation he is believed to have brought. Some Gentile Christians also join us in fellowship, and we accurately refer to them as Gentile followers of Yeshua (aka proselytes), which constitutes part of Protestantism. 

Can a Gentile Christian become a Messianic Jew?

Yes. Conversion to the Way is about discovering the reality of a God who is alive and who can change your life forever. Our formation course is ongoing and carried out systematically each Shabbat Erev. After some time of Torah formation and fellowship in our synagogue, as you are being mentored by our rabbi and honor our Lev 23 moadim, you will organically become a member. As you grow in your relationship with Yeshua and in the knowledge of the Torah, you will be assessed for Bar/Bat Mitzvah and/or tevilah (baptism by immersion). You can worship with us as a Gentile Christian each Shabbat or choose to become a Messianic Jew if you feel led to it. The choice is yours, but whichever way you choose, we form a united fellowship in Yeshua, our heavenly Bridegroom, who has removed the wall of division between Israel and Gentile nations.

Is the Way part of Gentile Christianity?

No. The term Way has always been attributed to Messianic Jews, and the first time the word Christian was used was in Antioch, referring to Gentile believers in Yeshua, who were not required to adhere to the Torah as from the Jerusalem Council directives. That principle still stands. But a Gentile believer in Yeshua can also become a Messianic Jew (aka a Jewish follower of the Way).

What is the difference between Gentile Christianity and the Way?

The primary difference between Christianity and the Way is our approach to the Torah and the Trinity. A Messianic Jew is expected to follow the Torah, including circumcision and Lev 23 moadim (appointed holidays, including Shabbat), though not as a means to salvation, since salvation is achieved only by faith in Yeshua. The majority of Messianic Jews accept the Trinity, while other Messianic Jews profess a strict view of monotheism, rejecting typical Christian theological formulations. But this is not common. The explicit doctrinal formulation of the Trinity is viewed by a portion of Messianic Jews as limiting to the power of God, who can manifest himself in many ways, and at the same time problematic in seeking unity with other Jewish traditions. Overall, this is a theological concept that is left to the rabbi of each congregation or ministry within the Way. All Messianic Jews baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As part of TURN, we embrace the Trinitarian approach without limiting the power of God to self-manifest. An example would be the Tree of Life (one God in ten sefirot) in the Kabbalistic mystical tradition. 

Hagia Sophia

Wisdom literature is a prominent theme within the Jewish Tanakh. This emphasis on the idea of Wisdom details the presence in the Torah of a personified Lady Wisdom that helped God create the heavens and earth. Also known as Sophia in Greek, she appears in many passages of the Bible as the motherly personification of God. She is also celebrated in Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism, as the motherly expression of God, most notably in the book of Proverbs and other Jewish texts. Chokmah is the Biblical Hebrew word for Wisdom. This divine character, referring to the Spirit of Chokmah about the pre-incarnate Torah, is shown not only in traditional roles of women as a mother and housekeeper but also as a prophetess and a source of counsel. The oldest patristic testimonies of this concept of holy mother Wisdom, or Hagia Sophia, expanded within Gentile Christendom, are the texts from Origen and Jerome.

What is Bar/Bat Mitzvah?

Once a Jew comes of age, they begin to be held accountable for their actions. Traditionally, we call this celebration Bar Mitzvah for men and Bat Mitzvah for women. The rite of circumcision is increasingly recognized and expected as an important aspect of becoming a full member of the Jewish community. When an adult man, who is already circumcised, converts to Judaism, it is not necessary to undergo the procedure. Circumcision of the heart is the basic requirement, but circumcision via National Health services is encouraged. On the other hand, participation in Shabbat services and Lev 23 moadim are mandatory for a minimum of one year before receiving Bar/Bat Mitzvah, at the end of which Gentile Christians of our congregation will receive a certificate of conversion to Judaism, and be given a Hebrew name with their new membership into the Israelite family of God (normally we say "the name chooses you"). 

What is Tevilah?

While circumcision is encouraged, tevilah is a mandatory requirement for Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Both men and women must undergo baptism by immersion before Bar/Bat Mitzvah to be purified for their entrance into the Church (the Third and Final Temple) and fully become adult Messianic Jews unless they have already been immersed in a Christian church within the age of reason. While honoring infant baptism as part of some Gentile Christian traditions, in line with the Tanakh and Brit Chadashah, we require believer's baptism. 

The 144,000 and the Great Revival

Before the final seal of judgment day is opened, God is about to do something amazing involving the symbolic number of 144,000 Jewish believers and the greatest revival the world will ever see. We read in Revelation that these 144,000 are of all the tribes of the children of Israel. In other words, they're Jewish followers of Yeshua taken from all tribes, including the ten lost tribes, that will lead the way for Israel and all Gentiles into the Messianic Kingdom and the worship of YHWH.

Veganism & Messianic Jews

Eating meat in Exodus is associated with the cravings of the nations. All throughout the Torah we see a cleansing in dietary prescriptions regarding meat and milk consumption, as well as the injunction to abstain from blood. The mixture of milk with meat instills in it the undesirable characteristics of blood. If meat and milk together were not forbidden, then the Jews would be unknowingly transgressing the prohibition of consumption of blood and exposing themselves to the damaging effects of blood. Many Jews believe that in the Messianic Age things will return to the way they were in the Garden of Eden. If this is true, it follows that in the Messianic Age we'll all be vegan! This view is supported by several different scholars in our Jewish tradition.  In summary, there is no contradiction between Judaism (and its dietary laws) and veganism. In fact, veganism appears to be the diet most consistent with the highest Jewish values.