Communal Halakhah

Beit B’rachot Messianic Fellowship Welcomes Visitors

We here at Beit B’rachot use the full counsel of God to govern us, from B’reshit – Revelation.

While you are here visiting Beit B’rachot we ask that you look over the following Halakhah. Although you may not agree personally with some of the things stated herein, and we can understand this as we were all “fed” differently growing-up in the Lord, we do kindly ask that you would please consider adhering to our Halakhah for the benefit of all while with us.

What is Halakhah, you ask? ~The “Way” One is directed to behave or better said, the way one should walk; Halakhah encompasses many Toroth related rulings. Our Halakhah was established by the Beit B’rachot Community of 2015., and, though occasionally revised over the years, it still stands as “Tov”!

Beit B’rachot Messianic Fellowship’s Halakhah For Dress

We do not have a formal dress code. However, modesty and humility are valued in our community, and so we encourage conservative dress for Services.

Men can wear a suit, slacks, jeans that are in good condition or appropriate shorts, weather permitting. Long or short sleeve shirts, no tank tops please.

Kippot (yarmulkes) are optional and are provided in the foyer.

Tallit are optional and are likewise provided in the foyer to borrow.

Tzitziot are a biblical command (Num. 15:37-41) and we encourage them to be worn. Regarding Tzitziot: Being there is some controversy regarding women wearing tzitziot, we encourage the women when wearing them, that they not look exactly like the men, it can be very offensive to certain individuals.

Women can wear a dress, skirt, dressy slacks, jeans in good condition with a suitable top. In warmer weather longer shorts (just above the knee) are certainly permissible. We ask that women dress modestly, that is, not with short skirts, low tops, exposed mid sections or tight clothing that form-fits your body. When wearing jeans or leggings please make sure to wear an appropriate longer top to cover your buttocks.

For wives, Mitpachat (head coverings) are optional; biblically speaking, they were an indication that a woman was married so hands off!

VERY IMPORTANT!! – Please, for the sake of the health and sensitive of other, we ask if you would refrain from wearing body sprays, perfumes, and/or colognes, as there are a many of your brothers and sisters who are quite sensitive to fragrances and scents. — In a congregational setting – in a house that is meant for holy purposes, we must ask ourselves why is there a need to flaunt one’s body or wear alluring fragrances or colognes? This is the house of God.

Guidelines for Our Community regarding Prayer

Regarding prayer, we follow the biblical pattern set forth for us in Ya’akov (James) 5:13-15:
Ya’akov 5:13-15 – “13 Is someone among you in trouble? He should pray. Is someone feeling good? He should sing songs of praise. 14 Is someone among you ill? He should call for the elders of the congregation. They will pray for him and rub olive oil on him in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer offered with trust will heal the one who is ill – the Lord will restore his health; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

Regarding prayer and the laying on of hands: We would ask that whether you are a visitor or are already a part of the Beit B’rachot Community, that you would please refrain from “laying on of hands to pray for one
another”, but would instead consider, as the Scriptures direct, to go to the elders who will pray for you. This is for the protection of all. In regards to the aforementioned -what you are comfortable with outside of Beit B’rachot is completely up to you.

Guidelines for Our Community regarding Children

If you have children – we love them and welcome them and want them to be with us during service so they can see and experience firsthand everything going on. We understand that Services are long, however, we do ask that you, as the parent, keep eye on your children so as not to have them be a challenging disturbance during Services.

Please remember that you are responsible for your children. It is wise that, regarding the children, no one person is to ever be alone with a child except their parent – This is for everyone’s protection. Also, as the parent, it is your responsibility to please cleanup after your children; we have no janitorial services here. We would appreciate that.

Guidelines for Our Community regarding Foods

If a snack is needed before Oneg (light lunch) there are snack baskets provided in the foyer. Please remember, these are for snacking, not a meal. Therefore, moderate consumption is appreciated. There is also a water cooler for water, as well as hot tea or coffee. Also, eating in the Sanctuary is strictly prohibited. The Sanctuary is not to be used as a ‘common’ place; it is meant to be a holy place.

Regarding our Oneg – we keep biblically clean (see Lev. 11), certified organic as much as possible or at least NON-GMO verified. (GMO’s [genetically modified organisms] are a violation of Torah)

Guidelines for Our Community regarding Shabbat

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 58:13 states: “If you hold back your foot on Shabbat from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call Shabbat a delight, ADONAI’s holy day, worth honoring; then honor it by not doing your usual things or pursuing your interests or speaking about them. 14 If you do, you will find delight in ADONAI – I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Ya’akov, for the mouth of ADONAI has spoken.”

We here at Beit B’rachot delight in HaShem’s gift of Shabbat. It is a day Holy unto Him where we put our own interests aside. It is a day all about Him. As we come together to meet with Him on His day, please join us in keeping an attitude and atmosphere of reverence. It would be an inappropriate time to discuss business or worldly affairs; having your own interests on Shabbat.

Gifts of Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit) – If you are new to Beit B’rachot we ask that you would refrain from vocalizing what some might call ‘tongues’; as our Biblical Hebraic Perspective might differ from what some have been taught to understand.

If you have any questions regarding the gifts of the Ruach (Spirit) please feel free to ask leadership after services and we would be more than happy to set a time to discuss.

Interacting with others – Male /Female relations:

In this close-knit Community, we feel there is safety in establishing good healthy guidelines for how people of the opposite gender interact with one another. When it comes to greeting one another, it might be advisable that sisters only give sisterly hugs to other sisters, and men only give brotherly hugs to other brothers. While occasionally the opposite may happen, circumstantially based, it is preferred that a handshake or ‘high-five’ to greet someone of the opposite gender be the standard.

When needing to contact someone of the opposite gender, if it is a married woman, it is recommended that you contact her husband as he is her headship; and vice versa, if a woman needs to contact a married man, please go through his wife. We believe there’s godly wisdom in this kind of interacting, it is not that we love anyone any less, please understand that.

We would also recommend that any man and woman who are not married to each other, and not courting one another for the purposes of marriage, not be alone together – 1 Thes 5:22 – “Abstain from any appearance of evil”.

If you are not sure what proper protocol might be in Our Community at Beit B’rachot, please do not hesitate to ask Leadership.

Todah Rabba (Thank you very much) for joining us at
Beit B’rachot Messianic Fellowship
and for your understanding of our Halakhah = “the way one should walk”.

Download a copy of the Halakhah here