My Decision to Bring Yeshua into Traditional Jewish Prayers

When a Jewish person becomes a believer, everything changes. Suddenly, you're not hoping for the Messiah, you know Him: Yeshua.

The holidays take on new meaning. Bible stories grow in symbolism and depth. Holidays take on a prophetic dimension.

Depending on how they lived when they came to faith, Jewish believers have choices to make: Will you still separate milk and meat? Will you be shomer shabbos (keep shabbat traditionally & strictly) or find your own degree of observance? What level of kashrut (kosher) will you keep? Will you send your children to Hebrew school?

There is much figure out. One area where many messianic Jews find themselves at a crossroads is in the traditional prayers and blessings. I did.

On Shabbat, as we light the candles, the traditional prayer is:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik neir shel Shabbat.

Blessed are You, Lord, Our God, King of the Universe, Who makes us holy by His commandments and commands us to kindle the Sabbath lights.

When I first became messianic, I had no problem with the blessing I'd always said as we lit shabbos candles, but as time went on, I began to feel a bit of conviction.

These aren't just empty words, they are real prayers to the living God.

Something began to trouble me.

"Asher kidshanu b'mitzvatov" means "Who makes us holy by His commandments."

I no longer believed the commandments were what made me holy. I believed faith in Yeshua made me holy.

I tried to rationalize: the word "holy" also means "separate" or "set apart." The commandments being given at Sinai are what set the Jews apart, but what was that truly the intent of my prayer?

A few more shabbats passed where I said the traditional prayer. I continued to say: "Asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav" and try not to think about it.

And then there was "v'itzivanu l'hadlik ner, shel Shabbat."

"Who commands us to light the Shabbat candles." I knew God never commanded us to light Shabbat candles. He commanded us to observe Shabbat, but why was a commandment concerning Shabbat candles included in the prayer?

It's known that the rabbis of old- the sages who we love and respect- taught that it's a mitzvah, a good deed, to light candles on Shabbat. But it's not a commandment from God. Why do we say it is?

Why do we put our sages' commands on the level of God's commands?

In Judaism we have fences around fences to keep us from sin.

We know the cost of straying: exile, slavery, a people broken and thoroughly chastised, so one can understand why we have these. But at what point is too far?

It took many months, but eventually, I became uncomfortable saying I was sanctified by the commandments and that God had commanded the lighting of the Shabbat candles every week.

These were personal convictions because I came out of a very religious community and the extra mitzvot were a comfort to me. It took me a while to not feel like they were what saved me. Only Yeshua saves.

I began to say my own blessing.

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheini Melech, ha olam, asher kidshanu b'Yeshua, vitzivanu shomer shabbat

Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctified us by Yeshua, and commanded us to observe/guard/keep Shabbat

It was not an easy decision to make. Being messianic already puts you outside of the larger Jewish community in so many areas.

To change the blessings Jews around the world say in almost unison every Friday- the ones that bind us together- initially felt like another loss in connection and the tradition that keeps us warm.

But to me, truth mattered more, especially since it is a prayer, not just a string of words. I wanted God to see that I was trying. Growing. That I knew He was listening as I lit Shabbat candles and that I was honoring Him and Yeshua.

Many messianic Jews have other versions of shabbat and festival blessings that they've changed to reflect their new faith.

Beth Yeshua congregation says:

"Blessed art Thou, oh Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us by Thy commandments and has commanded us to be a light unto the nations and has given us Yeshua, the Messiah, as the Light of the World."

You find their Erev Shabbat booklet here: https://www.bethyeshuainternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Erev-Shabbat-5.5x8.5-Booklet.pdf

Shoresh David congregation says:

"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us by His Word, Has given us Yeshua, our Messiah, And has commanded us to be a light to the world."

You can find their blessings here: https://www.shoreshdavid.org/liturgy/

No one ever said being a messianic Jew is easy. As you walk toward Yeshua, there are things you have to walk away from and that goes for each and every believer who makes the decision to take up their cross and follow Him, Jewish or not.

It was very difficult for me to leave some of the traditions behind. I don't believe they are inherently sinful, but they were a stumbling block and idol to me.

I use the Bible now to decide what we adhere to and what we do not to the best of my ability and understanding. Each person has to decide for themselves.

In Philippians 2:12, Sha'aul, Paul, says we should work out our own salvation with fear and trembling."

Meaning that while God is indeed the Author and Finisher of our faith, we have a responsibility to walk toward Him. To, with reverence, try to honor Him with our lives, deeds, and words.

I encourage you to read the Word and let the Holy Spirit guide you. Don't get discouraged. Take heart.

You're still Jewish and have a much bigger family now than you realize. Keep your eyes on Yeshua knowing He has a plan for your life.

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works."

Mattityahu (Matthew)16:25-27

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