confused about the feasts

[Dave]

Etherea,



I think the main problems (and I face them as well) are culture and community.



Culture - unless you come from a practicing Jewish background the biblical festivals are not part of your culture. We are brought up celebrating christmas and easter, and so the Jewish holidays are outside our experience and understanding.



Community - we don't celebrate these festivals on our own, but with a bunch of like-minded people. Many of us are not part of such a community, often because one doesn't exist where we live.



I would tend to say that Christians should celebrate them in as similar a way as possible to the Jewish way.



Helena's suggestions are sensible as always; I would add that you could see if there is a messianic jewish congregation near you that you could join with. If you are feeling really brave you could get in touch with your local (non-messianic) synagogue and ask if you could learn from them. I've no idea what the response would be, but if you can convince them you're not a missionary they might welcome you. There is a desire in the Jewish world to promote understanding between faiths. In my country there's an organisation called the Council of Christians and Jews, and I know that they have sometimes arranged educational visits to synagogues, etc.