Messianic Jews and their Holiday Practice

Celebrating Biblical and Jewish holidays is most characteristic of the Messianic Jewish movement, and it arouses much interest among Gentile Christians. This practice arose in the struggle of Hebrew Christians against «Christian assimilation». From the 1970s onwards, Messianic Jews identified strongly with their people’s socio-cultural heritage.

Evert W. van de Poll teaches Religious studies and Missiology at the Evangelical Theological Faculty in Leuven (Belgium). He is a pastor working in the Federation of Evangelical Baptist Churches in France. His recent research has resulted in the publication of . All the while, he has taken and still takes a special interest in the Jewish Christian relations, especially in the movement of Jesus-believing Jews of which he is a keen observer.

Contents: Hebrew Christians – Messianic Jewish believers – Practice of Biblical and «Jewish» holidays – Analysis of calendars, reinterpretations, observances and motives – A novel Christian-Judaic practice – Christian Gentiles interest in and practice of Biblical holidays – Return to Jewish roots? – Contextualisation of the Gospel in today’s Jewish culture.