After the destruction of the Temple in 70CE, both Rabbinical Judaism and Messianic Judaism coexisted together as Jews while maintaining their different beliefs. Only two differences separated these two groups. They were:

• Observant Jews accepted the “Oral Law” (Talmud) equal with the Torah, Messianic Judaism did not.
• Messianic Judaism accepted Yeshua as their promised Messiah, Observant Jews did not.

Today, these are still the two main differences that separate both groups. Today, traditional Rabbinical Judaism still does not believe that Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah, and they place the Talmud equal or greater than the written Torah.

Observant Jews are still waiting faithfully in accordance with the Rambam’s (Rabbi Moses Maimonides, 1134-1204) “Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith,” which states in Principle 12, “I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah. However long it takes, I will await His coming every day.”

Most secular Jews do not believe in the physical coming of a personal Messiah, but some still look forward to a general Messianic concept or Messianic Age.

Messianic Jews continue to celebrate the Jewish festivals and feast days as prescribed in the Hebrew Scriptures (i.e., Passover, Day of Atonement, etc.) but they do it in a way that demonstrates how Yeshua has already fulfilled these Holy Days. Most Messianic believers do not celebrate Christmas or Easter, since neither holiday is mentioned in the total Scriptures – the Tanakh and the Brit Hadashah