What is the difference between Messianic Judaism and Rabbinic Judaism?
Rabbinic Judaism is a Judaism centered around the teachings and writings of Rabbis. Its formation began over 1,900 years ago when the second temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. Before then, Judaism, or the faith of the Jewish people, was centered around the Temple and the sacrificial system according to the Torah (the Law or the five books of Moses). After the destruction of the temple the Rabbis reorganized Judaism, adding many new laws, rules and traditions. Today, their writings and commentaries (the Talmud, etc) form the foundation of Rabbinic Judaism. Rabbinic Judaism consists of several branches: Orthodox (very traditional), Chasidic (Ultra-Orthodox), Reform (liberal) Conservative, and Reconstructionist. Some within Rabbinic Judaism are still looking for the Messiah, but they are the exceptions. Messianic Judaism differs in that we rely totally on the Scriptures. Our faith is the Judaism of the Bible (Biblical Judaism) and is centered around the Messiah and the worldwide salvation He
