A: Thank you for your question. Frankly, it is one we get fairly often.

I am encouraged that you have indicated you already have a commitment and love for Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ). It is one thing to want to know and understand the customs of the Jewish people,  but if you have trusted in Yeshua as your Savior you have no need for any further conversion. You are already “grafted in” to the Olive Tree (Romans 11:17) of Israel as the Bible puts it.  According to the Bible, the only conversion that means anything is not conversion from Christian to Jew or from Jew to Christian, but from unbeliever to believer. In 1 Cor 7:18, the apostle Paul tells the uncircumcised not to seek to become circumcised. This is way of saying that non-Jewish believers should not convert to Judaism: "Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts." -- 1 Corinthians 7:18b-19:

Even a Jew by birth is not a "Jew" in the truest sense unless his heart is converted. The Apostle Paul wrote, "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision (ie., real Judaism) merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.” Romans 2:28-29. Formal conversion through a rabbi would obligate the convert to undergo the ritual of circumcision and adhere to strict religious rules, many of which have only the most tenuous basis in actual Biblical commandments.

The New Testament shows that Paul (born a Jew) remained an observant Jew even after coming to faith in Messiah, but did not encourage, and in fact discouraged, new Gentile believers from embracing Judaism.

·        Acts 15 we read some of the Jewish believers thought Gentile believers should become full converts to Judaism, but the final determination in Acts 15:28 boils down to basic morality. Absent are all special covenant signs such as special days, circumcision and dietary laws

·        Acts 21:20- Having been accused of teaching Jews to abandon the Torah, Paul takes some other men with him to the temple to observe purification rites, in order to prove that he is “living in obedience to the Torah.”

·        Acts 24:17-18 – Paul testifies that his intent was to present offerings, and that he was ceremonially clean (in accordance with the Torah) 

• 1 Cor 9:18-23 -- Paul became as one under the law (Torah) to win those under the law. Paul repeatedly made it clear, however, that Torah-observance is not a means of salvation, and should not be imposed on Gentile believers at all:
• Galatians – (The whole book!)  Is a warning against falling back into bondage to the old legalistic system.
• Romans 3:20 – No one will be declared righteous by observing the law (Torah).
• Gal 2:14 – Paul confronts Peter for forcing Gentiles to follow Jewish customs. (See also Acts 15:1-21)
• Acts 21:25 – James agrees that Gentile believers should not be compelled to observe the Torah, at the same time as he urges Paul to demonstrate to the Jews of Jerusalem that he (as a Jew) is observant.
• Col. 2:16-17 – Don’t let Sabbaths and feast days become an issue. Paul does not advocate that Jewish believers should abandon their observance:
• 1 Cor 7:18 – Paul tells the circumcised not to seek to become uncircumcised. This could be construed as meaning that those brought up as observant Jews should not abandon it. At the same time, non-Jewish believers should not convert to Judaism.
• 1 Cor 9:21 – Paul considers himself to be under the Law (Torah) of Messiah (rather than the Law of Moses)
• Gal 2:25 – “we are no longer under the supervision of the law (Torah)”
• Col 2:14 – God has canceled the written code
• Gal 3:10 – All who rely on observing the law are under a curse.
• Gal. 5:2 – If you let yourselves be circumcised (i.e., convert) Christ will be of no value to you at all.

The bottom line seems to be that Observing the Torah is not wrong, but thinking it can buy salvation is wrong. There is no benefit in subjecting oneself to the legal code after embracing the Grace of God through Messiah. It should probably also be pointed out the Torah Paul kept is not the same as Rabbinic Judaism today. Rabbinic Judaism is Torah plus endless “traditions of men,” and I doubt Paul had much concern for these.

Paul continued to keep the Temple rites which God had prescribed through Moses and had not specifically said to stop. Since the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, however, it has not been possible for even the strictest Jew to keep these observances. This seems evidence enough that God is finished with the sacrificial system and does not expect anyone to observe it.

Now, having understood all of this if you just want to celebrate the Biblical feasts and see what it’s like to worship the Lord in the Jewish way, you might want to seek out a Messianic Jewish Congregation. In some cities you may find one listed in the Yellow pages under “Churches – Messianic” or “Synagogues – Messianic”  Another source is www.yashanet.org Be careful though that you don’t fall in with a group that will get you “burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1).  In fact, I recommend becoming very familiar with the book of Galatians before becoming very involved with any such congregation.