--- title: "What Is Messianic Judaism? | Upper Room NYC" description: "What Messianic Judaism is, how a Messianic synagogue differs from a mainstream synagogue and a church, and why ancient rhythms meet modern worship." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": [ "Church", "Synagogue", "PlaceOfWorship" ], "@id": "https://www.upperroom.nyc/#organization", "name": "Upper Room NYC", "alternateName": [ "Upper Room Messianic Jewish Synagogue", "Kehillat Revival", "Upper Room NYC Messianic Congregation" ], "description": "Upper Room NYC is a Messianic Jewish Synagogue in Manhattan, New York City, where modern worship meets ancient Jewish liturgy. 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Theology and Roots", "description": "What Messianic Judaism is, how a Messianic synagogue differs from a mainstream synagogue and a church, and why Upper Room NYC keeps ancient Jewish rhythms alongside modern worship.", "about": "Messianic Judaism, Messianic Jewish worship, Torah observance, Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah, and how a Messianic synagogue differs from a mainstream synagogue and a church.", "keywords": "Messianic Judaism, Messianic synagogue, Messianic Jewish congregation, Yeshua, Torah, Shabbat, New York City", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Upper Room NYC", "url": "https://www.upperroom.nyc" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Upper Room NYC", "url": "https://www.upperroom.nyc", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.upperroom.nyc/favicon-512.png" } }, "image": "https://www.upperroom.nyc/og-image.jpg", "datePublished": "2026-08-16", "dateModified": "2026-08-16", "inLanguage": "en", "isAccessibleForFree": true, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.upperroom.nyc/messianic-judaism" }, "url": "https://www.upperroom.nyc/messianic-judaism" }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is this a synagogue or a church?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A synagogue. We gather on Shabbat, read the weekly Torah portion, keep the biblical feasts, and pray in Hebrew and English. What distinguishes us from most synagogues is that we hold Yeshua of Nazareth to be the Messiah promised in the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings — and we read the New Testament as Scripture alongside them." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I have to be Jewish to belong here?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. We are a community of Jewish people and people from the nations. Our statement of faith puts it plainly: the Body of Messiah is one spiritual family of Jewish and non-Jewish followers of Yeshua, united through Him while honouring the distinct identities and callings of each. Gentiles are not asked to become Jewish, and Jewish people are not asked to stop being Jewish." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does believing in Yeshua mean giving up Jewish identity?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "We do not believe so, and this is close to the centre of why this congregation exists. We hold that God's covenant purposes for Israel remain in effect and that His calling of the Jewish people has not been revoked. A Jewish person who comes to faith in Yeshua has not left anything — Yeshua is a Jewish Messiah, and the first community that followed Him was entirely Jewish." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What do you do with the Torah?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "We treat it as God's covenant instruction to Israel, revealing His holiness, wisdom, justice and love — not as a burden set aside, and not as a ladder to climb toward acceptance. We understand its purpose through the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Yeshua, who brings it to its intended fullness. Salvation is by grace through faith; obedience is the response to that, never the price of it." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do you treat Jewish tradition that isn't in the Bible?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "With respect, and beneath Scripture. The Oral Torah — the traditions, interpretations and practices developed by the Jewish people over centuries — is not placed above the written Word. But we honour the traditions that strengthen Jewish identity, community, and faith in Yeshua rather than discarding two thousand years of Jewish life as though it never happened." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Why modern worship music in a synagogue?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Because the ancient rhythm and the modern song are not in competition. The Psalms were the worship music of their own moment — written, sung, and meant to be sung again. Keeping the shape of Shabbat while singing in the language of this city is not a compromise between two things; it is one thing." } } ] } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://www.upperroom.nyc/messianic-judaism#breadcrumbs", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.upperroom.nyc/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Theology & Roots", "item": "https://www.upperroom.nyc/messianic-judaism" } ] } ] --- [ ![Upper Room NYC Messianic Synagogue logo](/assets/urnyc-logo-opt-DHkJIriH.webp) ](/) HomeWho We AreWhat We BelievePlan Your VisitCalendar & ZoomGivingFirst Time?FAQContact Menu 1. [Home](/) 2. Theology & Roots ![An open Torah scroll](/assets/torah-scroll-CdlS-oqk.webp) ( Theology & Roots ) # What Is Messianic Judaism? Where the ancient rhythms come from, why we sing modern anthems over them, and how this is different from the synagogue down the street and the church across town. ( Where the Name Comes From ) ## Modern Anthems. Ancient Rhythms. Most people hear those four words as a description of our music. They are really a description of our theology. The **ancient rhythms** are the ones God gave Israel and never withdrew — a week that ends in rest, a year that turns through the feasts, a Scripture read straight through and begun again. They are older than the church, older than the synagogue, older than the exile. They were keeping time long before anyone thought to argue about them. The **modern anthems** are what it sounds like when people who live in this city, now, sing into that rhythm. Not a performance of the past. Not a museum. The oldest thing we do and the newest thing we do are the same thing. We are not a church that has borrowed some Jewish decoration, and we are not a synagogue that quietly reads the New Testament. We are a Messianic Jewish congregation, and both halves of that are load-bearing. ( The Short Answer ) ## Messianic Judaism, Defined Messianic Judaism is the faith of Jewish people — and those from the nations who join them — who live a recognisably Jewish life while holding that Yeshua of Nazareth is the Messiah promised in the Hebrew Scriptures. It is not a new religion, and it is not a bridge built between two older ones. The first followers of Yeshua were Jews who kept Shabbat, went up to the Temple, and read the same Torah portion their neighbours read. For most of the last two thousand years that combination has been treated as impossible. Messianic congregations exist because it never actually was. ( Side by Side ) ## How This Differs The question we are asked most often, answered plainly. Nothing here is a criticism of anyone — it is simply what each holds.   A traditional synagogue Upper Room NYC A typical church When is the main gathering? Friday evening and Saturday morning Friday evening and Saturday morning Sunday morning Is the Torah read on the annual cycle? Yes — the same portion worldwide Yes — the same portion worldwide Rarely, and not on a fixed cycle Is Hebrew used in the service? Yes Yes, alongside English Rarely Are the biblical feasts kept? Yes Yes Usually Christmas and Easter instead Is Yeshua (Jesus) held to be the Messiah? No Yes Yes Is the New Testament read as Scripture? No Yes Yes Traditions vary widely within both columns either side of us, and plenty of synagogues and churches would describe themselves differently. This is a general picture, not a verdict. ( In Practice ) ## The Rhythms We Keep ### Shabbat The week ends in rest, not in collapse. We gather Friday evening as it begins and Saturday morning within it — the same two moments Jewish communities have kept for millennia. [Shabbat services →](/shabbat-services) ### The Torah Cycle The five books are read straight through across a year, a portion each week, finishing and beginning again on the same day. Synagogues worldwide are reading what we are reading. [This week's portion →](/word-on-wednesday) ### The Feasts Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah. Appointed times given in Leviticus 23 and kept since — not holidays we adopted, but the calendar itself. [Holy days →](/calendar) ### Hebrew and English Ancient prayers in the language they were written in, and teaching in the language of the room. Nobody is expected to arrive already knowing the Hebrew. [What to expect →](/plan-your-visit) ( Asked Honestly ) ## The Hard Questions Is this a synagogue or a church? A synagogue. We gather on Shabbat, read the weekly Torah portion, keep the biblical feasts, and pray in Hebrew and English. What distinguishes us from most synagogues is that we hold Yeshua of Nazareth to be the Messiah promised in the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings — and we read the New Testament as Scripture alongside them. Do I have to be Jewish to belong here? No. We are a community of Jewish people and people from the nations. Our statement of faith puts it plainly: the Body of Messiah is one spiritual family of Jewish and non-Jewish followers of Yeshua, united through Him while honouring the distinct identities and callings of each. Gentiles are not asked to become Jewish, and Jewish people are not asked to stop being Jewish. Does believing in Yeshua mean giving up Jewish identity? We do not believe so, and this is close to the centre of why this congregation exists. We hold that God's covenant purposes for Israel remain in effect and that His calling of the Jewish people has not been revoked. A Jewish person who comes to faith in Yeshua has not left anything — Yeshua is a Jewish Messiah, and the first community that followed Him was entirely Jewish. What do you do with the Torah? We treat it as God's covenant instruction to Israel, revealing His holiness, wisdom, justice and love — not as a burden set aside, and not as a ladder to climb toward acceptance. We understand its purpose through the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Yeshua, who brings it to its intended fullness. Salvation is by grace through faith; obedience is the response to that, never the price of it. How do you treat Jewish tradition that isn't in the Bible? With respect, and beneath Scripture. The Oral Torah — the traditions, interpretations and practices developed by the Jewish people over centuries — is not placed above the written Word. But we honour the traditions that strengthen Jewish identity, community, and faith in Yeshua rather than discarding two thousand years of Jewish life as though it never happened. Why modern worship music in a synagogue? Because the ancient rhythm and the modern song are not in competition. The Psalms were the worship music of their own moment — written, sung, and meant to be sung again. Keeping the shape of Shabbat while singing in the language of this city is not a compromise between two things; it is one thing. ## This is the short version Everything above is drawn from what we actually hold. The full account — thirteen convictions, written out — is on our statement of faith. And if you would rather see it than read about it, the door is open on Friday evening and Saturday morning. [What We Believe](/statement-of-faith)[Plan Your Visit](/plan-your-visit) ![Upper Room NYC Messianic Synagogue logo](/assets/urnyc-logo-opt-DHkJIriH.webp) A Messianic Jewish Synagogue rooted in resurrection, revelation, and revival. [](https://www.youtube.com/@upperroom_nyc?sub_confirmation=1)[](https://open.spotify.com/show/1Q03bzCCGwQuQaZy15JHwa)[](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/upper-room-nyc-a-messianic-synagogue/id6805609604)[](https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a742d1ab-1040-4ae5-83a6-8e4e1482a433/upper-room-nyc-a-messianic-synagogue)[](https://www.instagram.com/upperroom_nyc)[](https://www.tiktok.com/@upperroom_nyc)[](https://www.facebook.com/UpperRoomNYC) ### Connect - [Statement of Faith](/statement-of-faith) - [Theology & Roots](/messianic-judaism) - [Wind and Fire](/blog) - [Calendar & Zoom](/calendar) - [Plan Your Visit](/plan-your-visit) - [Shabbat Services](/shabbat-services) - [Bible and Bites](/bible-and-bites) - [Word on Wednesday](/word-on-wednesday) - [Remnant Hour of Prayer](/remnant-hour-of-prayer) - [Membership Class](/membership-class) - [Giving](/giving) - [Contact](/contact) - [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy) ### Contact - [info@upperroom.nyc](mailto:info@upperroom.nyc) - Meeting location: 250 E 61st St, New York, NY 10065 - Mailing address (no visits): PO Box 1850, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010-5850 ### Weekly Gatherings - [Shabbat Night — Fridays at 7 PM](/shabbat-services) - [Shabbat Morning — Saturdays at 11 AM](/shabbat-services) Meeting Location © 2026 Upper Room NYC — A Messianic Synagogue This site uses cookies to deliver our services and to improve your experience. 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