Hebrew Catholics

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Hebrew Catholics (in Hebrew עברים קתולים Ivrim Qatholim) are Christians of Jewish or Hebrew derivation who are members of the Catholic Church and keep their Jewish traditions in light of the Gospel and the Church's Magisterium. Many are resident in Israel.

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[edit] Beliefs

Hebrew Catholics subscribe to the doctrines of the Catholic faith and are in full communion with the Vatican. The main point of differentiation lies not in dogmatic beliefs but in liturgical practices. For example, their liturgical calendar differs from Latin Catholics in their use of Jewish holidays. Hebrew Catholics celebrate Passover, Rosh Hashana, Shavuot, etc. Some Hebrew Catholics wear traditional ritual wear like Kippahs, Tallits, Tefillin, use Mezuzahs and keep many commandments in the Torah as a sign of their heritage.

The movement is not a sectarian nor a schismatic group inside the Catholic Church. Their identification as both Hebrew and Catholic derives from their spiritual background as belonging to the Hebrew People and to the Catholic faith as stated by the founder of the Association of Hebrew Catholics (AHC) Fr. Elias Friedman,O.C.D.

They do not respond to any other "catholic" denominations but only to the "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" at the Vatican See. Their Masses are held principally in the Latin Rite (and in fact in the Roman Rite) but in the Hebrew Language. In Israel they are under the pastoral care of Monsignor Michel Sabbah, current Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

[edit] History

Hebrew Catholics is a worldwide ecumenical movement and voluntary movement of Catholics of both Jewish and non-Jewish origins. The main associations of the movement are the Association of Hebrew Catholics (AHC), Remnant Of Israel (ROI), Miriam Bat Tzion and B'nei Tzion.

According to David Moss (2000), the current president of the AHC, their number is around 10,000 people. The countries with the largest membership are the USA and Israel, but members are also found in Canada, France, Italy, Australia, Spain, England, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico and Germany.

Hebrew Catholics should not be confused with Messianic Jews, who are independent Hebrew Christian denominations, many of them sabbatarian Protestants some of whom follow Calvninist doctrine but celebrate Jewish holy days and emphasize Jewish elements of Christianity. Hebrew Catholics are in full communion with the Vatican and are not an independent movement.

[edit] Notable Catholics of Jewish origin

[edit] Notable Hebrew Catholics

  • Fr. Elias Friedman, O.C.D. (Founder of the Association of Hebrew Catholics)
  • Fr. Arthur Klyber (Founder of ROI)
  • Fr. Cyril Axelrod
  • David Goldstein
  • Fr. Bruno Hussar (Founder of NSWAS, Neve Shalom - Wahat al Salam, Oasis of Peace)
  • Msgr. Jean-Baptiste Gourion (Former Auxiliar Bishop of Jerusalem)

[edit] See also

  • "Toward Jerusalem II" for a parallel Christian effort.

[edit] Further reading

  • B'nei Tzion: Confederación de Kehilot Católicas de Tradición Hebrea
  • Christendom Awake (Mark Alder)
  • Rakhem Adonay
  • Saint James Youth Group - Israel

[edit] External links

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