בית אור החיים
קהילה משיחית
BEIT OR HA'CHAIM
MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATION VIENNA
Order of Service
SHABBAT SERVICE IN VIENNA
Our Shabbat service in Vienna is centered around prayer, worship, Jewish liturgy, readings from the Torah, the Prophets, and the Brit Chadasha, as well as biblical teaching and fellowship.
We seek to observe Shabbat within its biblical and Jewish context while affirming Yeshua HaMashiach as the promised Messiah of Israel. Traditional forms of Jewish communal life are combined with the study of the whole of Scripture.
Those attending a Messianic Jewish service in Vienna for the first time do not need to be familiar with the prayers or order of service. Visitors are welcome to listen, follow along, and experience Shabbat with us.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
Exodus 20:8
SHACHARIT – MORNING PRAYER & WORSHIP
Prayer and worship are an essential part of our Shabbat service. We pray from a Messianic Jewish siddur and combine Jewish forms of prayer with our faith in Yeshua HaMashiach, the Messiah of Israel.
Our service includes the Shema Yisrael, the Amidah, Kaddish, Psalms, blessings, and other prayers. Some parts are recited or sung in Hebrew and English. Messianic worship also has an important and established place in our service.
Of particular importance is the Shema Yisrael, the foundational biblical declaration of the oneness of the God of Israel:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!”
Deuteronomy 6:4
The Shema connects us with the biblical faith of Israel and reminds us that we are to love the one God of Israel and serve Him alone. For us, faith in Yeshua HaMashiach does not stand in opposition to this declaration: we confess him as the Messiah promised by God and the Son of God.
Those who have no previous experience with Jewish liturgy or a siddur can also follow our service without difficulty. Jews and people from the nations are invited to discover God’s Word together and experience Shabbat in faith in Yeshua the Messiah.
TORAH READING & PARASHAT HASHAVUA
The Torah reading is a central part of our Shabbat service. Together, we study the weekly Torah portion, the Parashat HaShavua, and read from the Five Books of Moses.
For us, the Torah is not merely a historical text, but God’s living instruction and the foundation for understanding the whole of Scripture. It reveals God’s work with Israel, His covenant, His commandments, and His will for a holy life.
As a Messianic Jewish congregation, we also read the Torah in the context of the Prophets and the Brit Chadasha. In doing so, we consider how Scripture points to God’s plan of redemption and to Yeshua HaMashiach, the Messiah of Israel.
The weekly Torah reading connects us with the ongoing Jewish annual cycle and enables us to study God’s Word together, section by section, to understand it, and to put it into practice in our daily lives.
“For the commandment is a lamp, and the Torah is light.”
Proverbs 6:23
HAFTARAH – THE PROPHETS
Alongside the Torah, the reading from the Prophets—the Haftarah—is also part of our Shabbat service. It is thematically connected to the weekly Torah portion, the Parashat HaShavua, and helps us understand the message of the Torah within the broader context of the Holy Scriptures.
The Prophets testify to God’s faithfulness to Israel, call people to repentance, and speak of His promises, His coming Kingdom, and the hope of redemption.
As a Messianic Jewish congregation, we also consider the prophetic promises concerning the Messiah. We believe that many of these promises find their fulfillment in Yeshua HaMashiach, while others are connected with God’s future work.
Therefore, we do not read the Torah and the Prophets separately, but as interconnected testimonies of the God of Israel and His plan of redemption.
“Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7
BRIT CHADASHA –
THE NEW TESTAMENT
Alongside the Torah and the Prophets, we also read and study the Brit Chadasha—the New Testament—during our Shabbat service. For us, these Scriptures belong together and form an interconnected testimony of the Holy Scriptures.
We understand the Brit Chadasha within its Jewish and biblical context. Yeshua and his first disciples were Jews, lived among the people of Israel, and continually referred to the Torah and the Prophets in their teaching.
At the center is Yeshua HaMashiach, whom we confess as the promised Messiah of Israel and the Son of God. We understand his life, teaching, death, and resurrection in the context of the promises that God had previously given in the Scriptures of Israel.
Therefore, we do not regard the Brit Chadasha as a replacement for the Torah, but read the Torah, the Prophets, and the Brit Chadasha together in order to gain a deeper understanding of God’s Word and His plan of redemption.
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”
Matthew 5:17
DRASHA – INTERPRETATION & MESSIANIC TEACHING
After the Scripture readings comes the Drasha, a time of interpretation and teaching. We study the weekly Torah portion, the Parashat HaShavua, and consider its connections with the Prophets and the Brit Chadasha.
At the heart of the teaching is the question of what the Holy Scriptures reveal about God, Israel, His covenant, His instructions, and Yeshua HaMashiach. We seek not only to study God’s Word theoretically, but also to understand how it should shape our faith and daily lives.
Jewish interpretations and traditions may also be included in our study. We respect them and examine them in the light of the whole of Scripture. Our ultimate standard remains the Torah, the Prophets, and the Brit Chadasha.
The Drasha is intended to encourage us to grow in faith, deepen our understanding of God’s Word, and come to know Yeshua HaMashiach within the context of his Jewish and biblical roots.
“Test all things; hold fast what is good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21
BRIT CHADASHA –
THE NEW TESTAMENT
Kiddush is an integral part of our Shabbat gathering. Through the blessing over wine or grape juice, we express our gratitude to God and remember that He blessed and sanctified the seventh day.
Together, we recite the traditional blessings and thank the God of Israel for Shabbat, His provision, and His faithfulness. The blessing over the bread is also part of our shared Shabbat celebration.
For us, Kiddush is not merely a tradition, but a visible expression of the joy and holiness of Shabbat. It brings together Jewish heritage, biblical remembrance, and fellowship.
Afterward, we take time to share a meal and enjoy fellowship together.
“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’”
Luke 22:19
SHARED SHABBAT MEAL & FELLOWSHIP
After Kiddush and the service, we take time to share a Shabbat meal together. Fellowship is an essential part of Shabbat for us: we eat together, talk with one another, and enjoy the joy and rest of this special day.
The shared meal provides an opportunity to get to know one another, have conversations, and reflect more deeply together on what we have learned from the Torah, the Prophets, and the Brit Chadasha. In this way, our Shabbat service does not end with the final reading but continues through vibrant fellowship.
At our shared meals, we observe the biblical dietary laws and seek to honor God’s instructions in this area as well.
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Acts 2:42
SHIUR – BIBLE STUDY & FELLOWSHIP
Another important part of our Shabbat is the Shiur—a time of shared study and deeper exploration of the Holy Scriptures. We take time to examine biblical topics in greater depth, ask questions, and engage in discussion together.
We study the Torah, the Prophets, and the Brit Chadasha while also considering Jewish backgrounds, interpretations, and traditions. Our central focus is on what God’s Word teaches and how we can put it into practice in our daily lives.
We also seek to understand Yeshua HaMashiach within his Jewish and biblical context. Our goal is to learn together, grow in faith, and deepen our understanding of God’s Word.
“They received the word with all readiness and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
Acts 17:11
YOUR FIRST SHABBAT WITH US – VISITING & PARTICIPATION
Even if you have never attended a Messianic Jewish Shabbat service before, you are welcome to join us. You do not need to speak Hebrew or be familiar with the siddur, the prayers, or the order of service.
People from Jewish and Christian backgrounds can experience Shabbat together with us, study the Holy Scriptures, and enjoy fellowship. At the heart of our community are the God of Israel, His Word, and Yeshua HaMashiach, the Messiah of Israel.
To help us prepare for new visitors and ensure an orderly and secure environment, attendance is possible only with prior contact and confirmation.