LEWISTON – In the words, rituals and symbols of Judaism, Richard Perron Jr.’s understanding of God deepens.

The 46-year-old man studies Hebrew and Jewish writings. He recognizes Jewish holidays, and in his Sabattus home, a Star of David decorates a wall.

“I am not Jewish,” Perron said. “I am a Christian.” And he wants to share what he’s learned with other Christians.

Beginning this Friday evening, Perron plans to lead a weekly service at Lewiston’s Good News Chapel, where he is a member.

Perron won’t lead Jewish ceremonies. Instead, it will be a weekly gathering to learn and talk about the links between the religions.

It’s something that Perron has studied for about 30 years.

The work began with a very simple realization. He shares many of his beliefs – and much of his Bible – with Jews.

“I had this feeling that I was missing something,” said Perron.

So in the early 1970s, he started taking lessons in Hebrew. He learned to speak the language a bit. And by the early 1980s, he was enthralled.

When his church sponsored a trip to Israel in 1983, he went along. It was a life-changing experience.

He was struck by the intensity of the people he met and by actually visiting places he read about.

“Think about living in a place where the Bible is your history book,” Perron said. Then add the heightened security that comes with terrorist bombings and several costly wars.

“Remember the way things felt after 9/11?” he asked. “They feel like that every day. They know that life is precious to them every moment.”

He visited a kibbutz, an Israeli collective farm, and met with many people. “The whole 15 days we were there, I felt like I was home.”

And when he returned to Maine, he re-examined everything he learned.

It’s a kind of exploration that Rabbi Hillel Katzir supports.

Katzir, who leads Temple Shalom Synagogue-Center in Auburn, hasn’t met Perron. However, he has helped many Christians understand Judaism.

He periodically teaches classes that introduce people to the Jewish faith. Typically, they include one or two Christians who are merely looking to understand the religion better.

“They recognize that Jesus was a Jew,” Katzir said, “an observant Jew, as far as we know.”

The religions share histories that have led to parallels, he said.

For instance, seasonal holidays such as Hanukkah and Christmas share similar themes in the faith that life will return. Likewise, Easter and Passover, both in the spring, share themes of rebirth. These observances, and others, have helped shape Western culture.

“The more we learn, the more we recognize that we have a lot in common,” Katzir said.

They are not interchangeable, however. Katzir said he is uncomfortable with groups such as Jews for Jesus. The conflict there is simple, he said.

Someone who believes in Christ is a Christian, he said, not a Jew.

Perron said he is merely trying to examine the common roots of both faiths.

After Rosh Hashana this fall, he held a potluck supper at his church. When Hanukkah begins next week, he’ll light a menorah.

And every Friday evening – the start of the Jewish Sabbath – he’ll gather with other Christians.

“People can worship God on any day,” Perron said. “But without understanding where we came from, we really are missing something.”

For more information, call the Good News Chapel at 784-6390.