Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 13

Yom Taruah Hatarat Nedarim (The Release Of Vows)

An English version created by Reb Zalman:

Traditionally, right before Rosh Hashanah one performs this simple ritual with three friends, each in turn becoming the petitioner, while the other three act as the beit din, (the judges in a court). The ritual is a wonderful way to enter the holidays as well as to prepare oneself for what will happen on Yom Kippur.

Petitioner:
My friends, I ask the three of you to serve as judges in the court that is empowered to release one from vows. Will you please serve for me in this capacity?

The judges:
Yes, we are prepared to hear you.

Petitioner: 

What follows is not intended to void promises I made to other people from which only they can release me.

In the last year I have from time to time made vows, sometimes speaking them out loud or had an intention, a resolution to change something in my actions, behavior and attitude in my mind. Some of these are in relation to myself, my body, my mind, and my soul. Some of these deal with the way in which I conduct myself in relation to other people. And most of all, there are those that deal with my relation to God.

Sometimes I took on a practice or a custom and did it at least three times and have since either willingly or unwillingly abandoned it and I know that this, too, has the power of a vow.

Many times when I ask for prayers for some people whether they are prayers for healing, for blessing or for the repose of souls departed, in which the formula includes "Because I shall contribute to tzedakah" and I may have forgotten to do that or not been aware, I ask you to release me from that, too.

All these I regret and I ask you to recognize my regret and release me from all those vows.

The judges:
Hearing your regret, we release you. All is forgiven, all is released, and may it be that in the same way that we here below release you from theses vows and obligations, so may you be released from the court above from the same.

Petitioner:
As I stand here and I am aware of my fickle nature in matters of vows, promises and resolutions, I hereby declare that for the coming year, should I again offer such vows, promises and resolutions, they should have no effect and not become binding on me. At this moment I regret any of these and do not wish them to be valid.

The judges:
We have heard your declaration and consider it licit and legal.

May you be blessed with a good year, inscribed in the book of life and sealed for good.

----------------------------------------------

Obviously this is symbolic. But the Spiritual truth in this is very real, and this is why it is good for Believers in Yeshuah (Jesus) as well. He is the Righteous Judge, and one day we will stand before Him with the very heavens and earth as witnesses and give an account for ourselves.

May we be inscribed in the Book of Life, but His grace and mercy, and through His sacrifice.

#yomtaruah
#roshhashanah

Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 12

How Yom Taruah is celebrated

-Hearing the sounding of the ram’s horn (shofar)
-Lighting candles at sunset (should be a woman or girl doing this)
-Eating festive meals with sweet delicacies during the night and day, which include:
Kiddush (blessing( over wine or grape juice
Round, raisin challah bread dipped in honey
Apples dipped in honey
The head of a fish, pomegranates, and other foods symbolizing our wishes for the coming year (on the first night)
A new fruit
-Performing Tashlich, a brief prayer said at a body of fresh water
-Attending services in synagogue (church building)
-Desisting from work

The service consists of

-Special selichot services before the morning prayers.
-The annulment of vows (“hatarat nedarim”) after the morning services.
-Women and girls light holiday candles tonight to usher in the holiday.
-The SOUNDING OF TH SHOFAR

After reciting the holiday kiddush benediction over wine (or grape juice), we eat the challah bread dipped in honey. It is then customary to eat a sweet apple dipped in honey; the head of a fish, ram, or other kosher animal; and a pomegranate. In different communities there are other traditional foods eaten at this meal.

The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is hearing the sounding of the shofar,the ram’s horn. It is a mitzvah (command) to hear the shofar on the morning of the holiday

The first 30 blasts of the shofar are blown following the Torah-reading during morning services, and as many as 70 are then blown during (and immediately after) the Musaf service. For someone who cannot come to synagogue, the shofar may be blown the rest of the day. If you cannot make it to a congregation, many rabbis and Messianic pastors are willing to come to you for a "house call" if you let them know ahead of time.

Scripture commands we blow the Shofar on this day, however it does not specify why we are to blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. However, Rabbi Saadia Gaon compiled a list of 10 reasons for this special mitzvah:

-On Rosh Hashanah we coronate God as King of the world. -The shofar’s trumpeting call heralds this exciting event.
-Its piercing wail serves to awaken slumbering souls that have grown complacent.
-It evokes the shofar blasts that were heard when God descended on Mount Sinai and gave us the Torah.
-It echoes the cries of the prophets who urged Israel to mend their ways and return to God and His commandments.
-It reminds us of the war cries of our enemies as they broke into the Temple in Jerusalem and destroyed it.
-Made of a ram’s horn, the shofar recalls the near-sacrifice of Isaac, who was saved when God showed Abraham a ram to bring as an offering in his stead.
-Its loud piercing sound humbles us and fills us with awe before God.
-It foreshadows the day of judgment at the end of days, which the prophet describes as “a day of shofar and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers.”
-It gives us hope, mirroring the sound of the “great shofar” that will call together the Jewish people who are scattered to the corners of the earth at the time of the coming of Mashiach.
-It reminds us of the Revival of the Dead, about which we read, “dwellers of the earth ... a shofar is sounded you shall hear.”

Shofar Blast Procedure:

The shofar blower stands at the bimah (platform at the front of the synagogue), and begins by reciting a collection of verses from the Psalms followed by two blessings: The first blesses YHWH, “who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded to hear the voice of the shofar.” The second is the blessing of Shehecheyanu, thanking YHWH for granting us yet another year of life, allowing us to blow the shofar once again.

The shofar blowing contains a series of three types of blasts: tekiah, a long sob-like blast; shevarim, a series of three short wails; and teruah, at least nine piercing staccato bursts.

The primary shofar blowing consists of the following 30 blasts:

Tekiah-shevarim-teruah-tekiah
Tekiah-shevarim-teruah-tekiah
Tekiah-shevarim-teruah-tekiah

Tekiah-shevarim-tekiah
Tekiah-shevarim-tekiah
Tekiah-shevarim- tekiah

Tekiah-teruah-tekiah
Tekiah-teruah-tekiah
Tekiah-teruah-tekiah gedolah (extra long blast)

During the Musaf prayer, we have 7 more opportunities to blow the shofar, producing the following 10 blasts each time:

Tekiah-shevarim-teruah-tekiah
Tekiah-shevarim-tekiah
Tekiah-teruah-tekiah

Add all that up and you’ll arrive at exactly 100 blasts. Many have a custom of an additional 30 blast after the Musaf has concluded.

#yomtaruah
#roshhashanah

Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 11

Tashlich

Tashlich comes from the Hebrew word meaning "to cast," referring to the intent to cast away our sins via this meaningful and ancient Jewish custom that I found helpful for us as Messianic Believers as well. I will explain why with a testimony on this tradition at the end.

Tashlich is usually performed on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. Special verses are recited next to a body of water, such as a sea, river, stream, lake or pond, preferably one that has fish (though when no such body of water was available, some rabbis were known to do Tashlich next to a well, even one that dried up, or next to a bucket of water). Upon concluding the verses, the corners of one's clothes are shaken out; for males, this is usually done with the corners of the tallit katan (tzitzit garment).

Tashlich's earliest reference appears to be in the book of the Prophet Nehemiah (8:1) which states, "All the Jews gathered as one in the street that is in front of the gate of water." This gathering is known to have taken place on Rosh Hashanah, and for this purpose.

Many reasons are given for this custom:

One reason for saying Tashlich next to water goes back to Abraham's trip to sacrifice his son, Isaac (which took place on Rosh Hashanah). On the way to the designated location, the Satan tried several times to undermine Abraham's progress. One of the Satan's tricks was to have a river materialize and block Abraham's path. Undeterred, Abraham forged on straight into the river followed by his small entourage. Upon reaching the middle of the river when the water reached his neck, Abraham prayed to YHWH and the river dried up. We commemorate the self-sacrifice of Abraham by going to a river bank.

Another reason for saying Tashlich next to a river is because Rosh Hashanah is the day when we coronate YHWH as King of the Universe. Jewish kings are always anointed next to rivers, and so it is appropriate that we crown YHWH as our King next to a river, as well.

Going to a river bank or sea shore is also awe inspiring as we contemplate YHWH's mercy in preventing the waters from flooding the dry land. The realization of YHWH's omnipotence inspires us to repent.

Though we do Tashlich beside an earthly river or sea, this watery entity actually represents its Heavenly counterpart. Jewish traidition teaches that water corresponds to the attribute of kindness. On Rosh Hashanah, we beseech YHWH to treat us with kindness during the new year.
Water with fish is optimal since fish are not subject to the "evil eye" and are also known to have many offspring. Fish do not have eyelids, so their eyes are always open. This is likened to YHWH's constant supervision over us, and we pray that He mercifully care for us. Also, just as fish may be caught in a fisherman's net, so, too, we are caught in the net of judgment. This awareness helps awaken us to repent.

While there are different versions and verses of the Tashlich liturgy depending upon community, what are common to all are the verses from the book of Micah (7:18-19) "Who is a god like You..." These words correspond to YHWH's thirteen attributes of mercy which we seek to arouse on Rosh Hashanah as we are being judged; the allusion to these thirteen attributes is known to always be beneficial.

The goal of Tashlich is to cast both our sins and the Heavenly prosecutor (a.k.a. the Satan) into the Heavenly sea. And when we shake our clothes after the Tashlich prayer, this is a tangible act to achieve the spiritual goal of shaking sins from our soul.

Needless to say, the physical motions near the water and fish of Tashlich are not what grant us atonement. But if we pay attention to the symbolism and apply the sincere desire to heal our relationship with YHWH as portrayed in the physical demonstrations of Tashlich, then it serves as a crucial part in the process of repenting and returning to YHWH in purity.

Tashlich:

                            (YHWH, Adonai, benevolent God,)
1) Who is a God like You,
                            (compassionate)
2) who pardons iniquity
                            (and gracious,)
3) and forgives transgression
                            (slow)
4) for the remnant of His heritage?
                            (to anger)
5) He does not maintain His wrath forever,
                            (and abounding in kindness)
6) for He desires [to do] kindness.
                            (and truth;)
7) He will again show us mercy,
                            (He preserves kindness)
8) He will suppress our iniquities;
                            (for two thousand generations,)
9) and You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
                            (pardoning iniquity,)
10) Show faithfulness to Jacob,
                            (transgression)
11) kindness to Abraham,
                            (and sin,)
12) which You have sworn to our fathers
                            (and He cleanses.)
13) from the days of yore.

                            (YHWH is slow)
1) in From out of distress I called to YHWH;
                            (to anger)
2) with abounding relief, YHWH answered me.
                            (and abounding in kindness,)
3) Adonai is with me,
                            (pardoning iniquity)
4) I do not fear
                            (and transgression,)
5) what can man do to me?
                            (acquitting [the penitent])
6) YHWH is with me among my helpers,
                            (and not acquitting the impenitent],)
7) and I will see [the downfall of] my enemies.
                            (remembering the iniquity of the fathers for the children,)
8) It is better to rely on YHWH than to trust in man.
                            (for the third and for the fourth generation.)
9) It is better to rely on YHWH than to trust in nobles.

Sing joyously to YHWH, you righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to offer praise. Extol YHWH with a harp; sing to Him with a ten-stringed lyre. Sing to Him a new song; skillfully play sounds of jubilation. For the word of YHWH is just; all His deeds are done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the kindness of YHWH fills the earth. By the word of YHWH the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their hosts.

He gathers the waters of the sea like a mound; He stows away the deeps in vaults. Let all the earth fear YHWH; let all the inhabitants of the world tremble before Him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it endured. YHWH has annulled the counsel of nations; He has foiled the schemes of peoples. The counsel of YHWH stands forever, the thoughts of His heart throughout all generations. Fortunate is the nation whose God is YHWH, the people He chose as a heritage for Himself. YHWH looks down from heaven; He beholds all mankind. From His dwelling-place He watches intently all the inhabitants of the earth. It is He who fashions the hearts of them all, who perceives all their actions. A king is not saved through a large army; a warrior is not rescued by means of great strength. A horse is a false guarantee for victory; with all its great strength it offers no escape. But the eye of YHWH is directed toward those who fear Him, toward those who hope for His kindness, to save their soul from death and to sustain them during famine. Our soul yearns for YHWH; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, for we have put our trust in His holy Name. May Your kindness, Adoanai, be upon us, as we have placed our hope in You.

They shall do no evil nor shall they destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of YHWH, as the waters cover the sea.

May it be Your will, Adonai our God and God of our fathers, exalted God, crowned with thirteen attributes, qualities of mercy, that this shall be a propitious time before You; and may You consider the recitation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy in the verses "Who is a God like You..." which correspond to the thirteen attributes "benevolent God, compassionate and gracious...," that we recited before You, as if we had comprehended all the esoteric meanings and the combinations of the holy Names that are formed from them, and the joining of their attributes, which, one by one, shall approach to "sweeten" the severe judgments. And so, cast all our sins into the depths of the sea, and bestow upon us from them the bounty of deliverance and mercy. Remember us for life, King who desires life; inscribe us in the Book of Life for Your sake, O living God. May we merit to attain teshuvah ila'ah ("higher level repentance"), for Your right hand is stretched forth to receive penitents. Rend the evil [aspect] of the verdict decreed against us; may our merits be stated before You, and may You have forbearance for us for good. Amen.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, L-rd, my Strength and my Redeemer.

(Throw the stone into the water and shake off your garments. over the water)

TESTIMONY:

Many years ago, when I was in prison, we discovered this tradition when preparing to celebrate YHWH Appointed Days. We obviously did not have rocks or rivers or lakes in prison. So we took a piece of paper and wrote on it the words "PAST INIQUITIES". Remembering Micah 9:17 (I will cast your sin into the sea of forgetfulness), we confessed all of out sins before YHWH, said the Tashlich, then took the paper, wrinkled it up, threw it into the toilet and flushed it.

It was a reminder to us that our sins are gone. Once YHWH forgave them, they were forgotten by Him, never to be remembered again - thanks to our Redeemer, His Son Yeshuah (Jesus), who took our sins upon Himself. This symbolic tradition is an important reminder to all of just what YHWH has done for us.

May we all shake ourselves from sin and be signed and sealed in the Book of Life for a good and sweet new year!

#yomtaruah
#roshhashanah

Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 10

Foods for Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah

There is a tradition at Yom Taruah to eat symbolic foods (simanim) meant to help ensure a good new year. Traditions include recipe suggestions for integrating symbolic foods throughout your yom tov (holiday) menus.

Another option is to incorporate lots of simanim into a single dish -- think salads, grain pilafs, or sweet stews called tzimmes.

Honey
How better to wish for a Shana Tova U'Metukah (a good and sweet new year) than to eat one of nature's sweetest foods? For Ashkenazim in particular, apples are the iconic accompaniment to honey.

100% pure honey, without added flavors or additives, is kosher. In honor of the holiday, seek out a special varietal honey. Better yet, offer a tasting flight of several intriguing kinds of honey.

Pomogranites
The rimon, or pomegranate, is special for many reasons. It is one of the Seven Species of Israel and has traditionally been used as a "new fruit" for the Shehechiyanu blessing (celebrating new and unusual experiences) on Rosh Hashanah.

There's another link between pomegranates and the Festival New Year -- just as the fruits are full of seeds, we hope we'll be similarly full of merits in the coming year.

Carrots
Gezer, the Hebrew word for carrot, sounds very much like g'zar, the Hebrew word for decree. Eating them on Yom Taruah is meant to express our desire that YHWH will nullify any negative decrees against us. Interestingly, the Yiddish words for "carrots" and "more" -- mern and mer, respectively -- are strikingly similar. So among Yiddish speakers, carrots symbolize the desire for increased blessings in the new year.

Please your vegetarian guests with a Moroccan vegetarian carrot and chickpea tagine, and finish the meal with a delicious carrot cake with cream cheese frosting (pareve).

Beets or Spinach
The Hebrew word for beets, selek, is similar to the word for "remove." They're eaten to express the hope that our enemies will depart. In Aramaic, the language of the Gemara, silka referred to a leafy green vegetable akin to spinach. Some maintain that this leafy green is the original symbolic food for Rosh Hashanah and that beets are a more recent development.

If you'd like to feature beets on your holiday menu try roasted sweet potatoes and beets or Moroccan sweet beet salad.

Black-Eyed Peas, Green Beans or Fenugreek
Rubia, which may refer to several different types of small beans, or even fenugreek, is reminiscent of the word yirbu, "to increase." These foods symbolize the hope for a fruitful year filled with merit.

Bring some exotic flavors to your Rosh Hashanah table with recipes such as Moroccan black-eyed peas (cowpeas), sesame green beans and methi paratha (fenugreek paratha).

Heads: Fish, Sheep, Cabbage or Garlic
Including some sort of head on the menu is representative of our hope that we are likened to a head, and not a tail. In other words, we should move forward and make progress in the coming year, rather than follow or linger in the rear. Vegetarians may opt for a head of cabbage or garlic in place of the traditional fish or sheep's head.

A simple--and delicious--way to incorporate a head at your table is with roasted garlic (pareve) and rainbow slaw (pareve) including cabbage. If you are ok with a fish head, try porgy baked in salt (pareve), or any other baked whole fish you prefer. For those who are of the more adventurous kind, a steamed sheep's head (meat) will do the trick.

Fish
The ancient belief that fish don't sleep has been discredited, but the notion that fish are ever vigilant and swim constantly is linked to this symbol and reflects the desire to be constantly aware of YHWH and of opportunities to do good.

There are so many fish recipes to choose from, but here are a few ideas to get you started. How about lemon-garlic baked salmon, lemon herb baked halibut (parve) or a garlic-flavored baked sea bass? For something a bit exotic, try Indian-spiced salmon.

Leeks, Chard or Spinach
The word for leek is related to the word kareyt, meaning to cut. This symbol is linked to the prayer that those who wish to hurt us will instead be cut off.

Gourds
The Hebrew word for gourd is related to the Hebrew homonyms pronounced k'ra. One word means "to rip," the other "to announce." We ask that the Lord rip up any evil decree against us and that our merits be announced before Him.

Fall is the perfect time to serve gourds as they are in peak season. Start the meal with Moroccan pumpkin and chickpea soup.

Dates:
The Hebrew word for dates, t'marim, evokes the word tam, "to end," and the hope that our enemies will be finished. On a more positive note, dates, like pomegranates, are one of the Seven Species of Israel. While archaeological evidence now shows that beekeeping was practiced in ancient Israel, it is generally agreed that when Israel is called "a land flowing with milk and honey," the Torah is referring to date honey.

#yomtaruah
#roshhashanah

Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 9

Shalom Yom Taruah!
Happy Day of Blasts (Trumpets/Shouting/Shofars)!

Leading up to Yom Taryah (also called Rosh Hashana), and throughout the holiday, the idea is stressed of judgment and repentance, encouraging us to make amends for the wrongs we may have committed over the course of the previous year and set our ethical and spiritual path for the coming year.

Yom Taruah is observed both in the community and at home. Those who go by Scripture (including Reform Jews) celebrate the holiday for one day, while Conservative and Orthodox Jews observe Rosh Hashanah for two days. Services are held in synagogues (church buildings), with a special liturgy that emphasizes the themes of the holiday. In the midst of the liturgy you hear blasts from the shofar, made from a ram’s horn. The call of the shofar sounds like a person or an animal wailing, and serves to remind us to cry out to the Divine and change our lives for the better.

Many people have the tradition, on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, of throwing a rock into a flowing body of water. The bread represents the sins, which we (hopefully) cast away on Rosh Hashanah. This ritual is called Tashlich (to cast), and comes with a short prayer. I will post specifically on Tashlich later today.

Many people gather for large family or communal meals on Yom Taruah. A round challah (a type of loaf) replaces the normally braided bread, the circular shape symbolizing the eternal circle of life. The challah is traditionally dipped in honey, representing hopes for a sweet new year, and already-sweet apples are also dipped in honey for the same reason. Honey cake and apple cake are common desserts at the end of this festive meal. Some Sephardic and Messianic families sometimes observe a seder-like ritual, with even more special foods that symbolize blessings for the new year.

#yomtaruah
#roshhashanah

Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 8

This Day is also known as "The Day No One Knows the Day Or The Hour".
Here is why:

After the Babylonian dispersal, there arose a dispute among the Jews about WHEN the New Moon is. This dispute still exists among Jews to this day. It used to be that two witnesses watched for the new crescent moon and separately reported it to Jerusalem via signal fire. But then the question arose - what about the day before the crescent moon - the day of no moon? Is that not the day after the month, and therefore the new moon?

Personally, I go by what Scripture says - a new moon - when it appears, and one Day.

However, how the Jews resolved this dispute is to celebrate Yom Taruah for 2 days instead of 1 day, however to consider that 48 hour period AS IF it was one actual day. This way the New year started off no matter which school of thought you were in.

As a result, a common Jewish idiom for this Day is "the Day No One Knows The Day Or The Hour". This is how most Jews referred to this Day when talking about it at other times of the year, almost tongue in cheek about the silliness of the dispute, yet each holding fast to whichever side of the dispute they happened to be on.

Because of this, many believe that, although no one knows the year or time it will happen, that Yeshuah actually was referring to this Day when He answered by saying, "No one knows the day or the hour". He also told them what signs to watch for first and warned them NOT to believe He is here, there or coming until after all of the tribulation days finish and the sun turns dark and the moon no longer gives off its light (See Mark 13). But He also warned that anyone NOT ready after those signs is like a caretaker who was not ready when the master returned to the vineyard, or like a fig tree that was out of season.

This Festival celebrates the creation of Man by YHWH. It celebrates His promise to come and bring justice to the world. It celebrates the beginning of a new year of hopes. It celebrates a day when a war horn and warning will be heard worldwide and He will come and do away with war altogether. It celebrates that Yeshuah will come and rule the world under YHWH and show us what life with true peace is like.

But in the end, its simply a great God-given reason to celebrate Him!

#YomTaruah
#RoshHashanah

Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 7

Isaiah 2:2-4
In the last days the mountain of YHWH’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. All nations will stream to it, and many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of YHWH, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For instruction will go out of Zion and the Word of YHWH from Jerusalem. He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war.

Micah 4:1-7
In the last days the mountain of YHWH’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. Peoples will stream to it, and many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of YHWH, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so we may walk in His paths.” For instruction will go out of Zion and the Word of YHWH from Jerusalem. He will settle disputes among many peoples and provide arbitration for strong nations that are far away. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war. But each person will sit under his grapevine and under his fig tree with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of Adonai of Armies has spoken. Though all the peoples each walk in the name of their gods, we will walk in the Name of YHWH our God forever and ever.

On that day— this is YHWH’s declaration— I will assemble the lame and gather the scattered, those I have injured. I will make the lame into a remnant, those far removed into a strong nation. Then YHWH will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time on and forever.

Acts 3:19-21
Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of YHWH, and that He may send Yeshuah, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah. Heaven must receive Him until the time of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about through His holy prophets from the beginning.

#yomtaruah
#Roshhashanah

Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 6

Revelation 20:1-6
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time.

Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Yeshuah and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.

This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah, and they will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Amos 3:6-8
If a ram’s horn is blown in a city, aren’t people afraid? If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn’t YHWH done it? Indeed, YHWH God does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared; who will not fear? YHWH God has spoken; who will not prophesy?

Zephaniah 1:14-16
The great Day of YHWH is near, near and rapidly approaching. Listen, the Day of YHWH— then the warrior’s cry is bitter. That Day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and total darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.

Exodus 20:18-20
All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance. “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”

Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear him and will not sin.” And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the total darkness where God was.

Revelation 10:1-7
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, his legs were like pillars of fire, and he held a little scroll opened in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea, his left on the land, and he called out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders raised their voices. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down!”

Then the angel that I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. He swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: “There will no longer be a delay, but in the days when the seventh angel will blow his trumpet, then the mystery of God will be completed, as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

#yomtaruah
#roshhashanah

Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 5

Joel 2
Blow the horn in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the residents of the land tremble, for the Day of YHWH is coming; in fact, it is near— a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and total darkness, like the dawn spreading over the mountains; a great and strong people appears, such as never existed in ages past and never will again in all the generations to come.

A fire devours in front of them, and behind them a flame blazes. The land in front of them is like the garden of Eden,
but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland; there is no escape from them. Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like war horses. They bound on the tops of the mountains. Their sound is like the sound of chariots, like the sound of fiery flames consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for war.

Nations writhe in horror before them; all faces turn pale. They attack as warriors attack; they scale walls as men of war do. Each goes on his own path, and they do not change their course. They do not push each other; each proceeds on his own path. They dodge the arrows, never stopping. They storm the city; they run on the wall; they climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like thieves.

The earth quakes before them; the sky shakes. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars cease their shining. YHWH makes His voice heard in the presence of His army. His camp is very large; those who carry out His command are powerful. Indeed, the day of YHWH is terrible and dreadful— who can endure it?

Even now— this is YHWH's declaration— turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to YHWH your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, so you can offer grain and wine to YHWH your God.

Blow the horn in Zion! Announce a sacred fast; proclaim an assembly. Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the infants, even babies nursing at the breast. Let the groom leave his bedroom, and the bride her honeymoon chamber. Let the priests, YHWH’s ministers, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say: “Have pity on Your people, Adonai, and do not make Your inheritance a disgrace, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

Then YHWH became jealous for His land and spared His people. YHWH answered his people:

Look, I am about to send you grain, new wine, and fresh oil. You will be satiated with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations.

I will drive the northerner far from you and banish him to a dry and desolate land, his front ranks into the Dead Sea, and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea. His stench will rise; yes, his rotten smell will rise, for he has done astonishing things.

Don’t be afraid, land; rejoice and be glad, for YHWH has done astonishing things. Don’t be afraid, wild animals, for the wilderness pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and grapevine yield their riches. Children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in YHWH your God, because He gives you the autumn rain for your vindication. He sends showers for you, both autumn and spring rain as before. The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and fresh oil.

I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust ate, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust— My great army that I sent against you. You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied. You will praise the name of YHWH your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. My people will never again be put to shame. You will know that I am present in Israel and that I am YHWH your God, and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame.

After this I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. I will even pour out My Spirit on the male and female slaves in those days. I will display wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible Day of YHWH comes. Then everyone who calls on the Name of YHWH will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as YHWH promised, among the survivors YHWH calls.

#yomtaruah
#Roshhashanah

Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 4

Ezekiel 33
The word of YHWH came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and tell them, ‘Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land select a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman. And suppose he sees the sword coming against the land and blows his trumpet to warn the people. Then, if anyone hears the sound of the trumpet but ignores the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his death will be his own fault. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but ignored the warning, his death is his own fault. If he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. However, suppose the watchman sees the sword coming but doesn’t blow the trumpet, so that the people aren’t warned, and the sword comes and takes away their lives. Then they have been taken away because of their iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’

“As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked one, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to warn him about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn a wicked person to turn from his way and he doesn’t turn from it, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself.

“Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘You have said this: “Our transgressions and our sins are heavy on us, and we are wasting away because of them! How then can we survive?”’ Tell them, ‘As I live—this is the declaration of YHWH God—I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?’

“Now, son of man, say to your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous person will not save him on the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked person cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. The righteous person won’t be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins. When I tell the righteous person that he will surely live, but he trusts in his righteousness and acts unjustly, then none of his righteousness will be remembered, and he will die because of the injustice he has committed.

“‘So when I tell the wicked person, “You will surely die,” but he repents of his sin and does what is just and right— he returns collateral, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing injustice—he will certainly live; he will not die. None of the sins he committed will be held against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.

“‘But your people say, “YHWH's way isn’t fair,” even though it is their own way that isn’t fair. When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, he will die for it. But if a wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of it. Yet you say, “YHWH’s way isn’t fair.” I will judge each of you according to his ways, house of Israel.’”

In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and reported, “The city has been taken!” Now the hand of YHWH had been on me the evening before the fugitive arrived, and he opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer mute.

Then the word of YHWH came to me: “Son of man, those who live in the ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one person, yet he received possession of the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’ Therefore say to them, ‘This is what YHWH God says: You eat meat with blood in it, look to your idols, and shed blood. Should you then receive possession of the land? You have relied on your swords, you have committed detestable acts, and each of you has defiled his neighbor’s wife. Should you then receive possession of the land?’

“Tell them this: ‘This is what YHWH God says: As surely as I live, those who are in the ruins will fall by the sword, those in the open field I have given to wild animals to be devoured, and those in the strongholds and caves will die by plague. I will make the land a desolate waste, and its proud strength will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will become desolate, with no one passing through. They will know that I am YHWH when I make the land a desolate waste because of all the detestable acts they have committed.’

“As for you, son of man, your people are talking about you near the city walls and in the doorways of their houses. One person speaks to another, each saying to his brother, ‘Come and hear what the message is that comes from YHWH!’ So My people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Their mouths go on passionately, but their hearts pursue dishonest profit. Yes, to them you are like a singer of passionate songs who has a beautiful voice and plays skillfully on an instrument. They hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Yet when all this comes true—and it definitely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

#yomtaruah
#roshhashanah

Rosh Hashanah / Yom Taruah 3

Psalm 118:24
This is the day YHWH has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

John 10:30
"I and the Father are one.”

Matthew 24:29-39
“Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

“Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near—at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son —except the Father alone. As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be.

Mark 13:28-37
“Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near—at the door.

“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

“Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son —but only the Father.

“Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.

“It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”

#yomtaruah
#roshhashanah

Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 2

Leviticus 23:23-25
YHWH spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a day of complete rest, commemoration, and trumpet blasts—a sacred assembly. You must not do any daily work, but you must present a fire offering to YHWH.”

Numbers 29:1
“You are to hold a sacred assembly in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, and you are not to do any daily work. This will be a day of trumpet blasts for you.

Isaiah 55:1-56:8
“Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the water; and you without silver, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without silver and without cost! Why do you spend silver on what is not food, and your wages on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and you will enjoy the choicest of foods. Pay attention and come to Me; listen, so that you will live. I will make a permanent covenant with you on the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David. Since I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples, so you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For YHWH your God, even the Holy One of Israel, has glorified you.”

Seek YHWH while He may be found; call to Him while He is near. Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to YHWH, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is YHWH’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that comes from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”

You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided; the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will come up and instead of the brier, a myrtle will come up; this will stand as a monument forYHWH, an everlasting sign that will not be destroyed.

This is what YHWH says:

Preserve justice and do what is right, for My salvation (Yeshuah) is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed. Happy is the person who does this, the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.

No foreigner who has joined himself to YHWH should say, “YHWH will exclude me from his people,” and the eunuch should not say, “Look, I am a dried-up tree.” For YHWH says this: “For the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold firmly to My covenant, I will give them, in My house and within my walls, a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give each of them an everlasting name that will never be cut off. As for the foreigners who join themselves to YHWH to minister to Him, to love the Name of YHWH, and to become His servants—
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold firmly to My covenant— I will bring them to My holy mountain and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” This is the declaration of YHWH God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”

#yomturuah
#roshhashanah

Yom Taruah / Rosh Hashanah 1

Tonight is Yom Turuah (also known as Rosh Hashanah).  The next several posts will all be about this Appointed Day of YHWH.  It is NOT a Day for the Jews.  It is a Day of YHWH appointed for all time.  Bear this in mind as I share about it and why we should honor it.

This year, it is sunset Monday 9/10/2018 to sunset Tuesday 9/11/2018 this year.

Yom Turuah (Literally translated Day of Blasting / Shouting; commonly translated Day of Trumpets) is commanded for all generations for all of Israel (anyone who worships the Creator), along with any foreigner present, celebrate this Day for all time.

This is also called "The New Year of Festivals" - thus Rosh Hashanah (meaning literally Year Beginning).

It is taught through the Oral Torah that this was THE Day that YHWH created Adam and Eve.

It is also taught that this will someday be the Day that a mighty shout will be heard worldwide, and the Messiah will come and establish the throne of David in a peaceful reign over the entire earth.

Its customs include sounding the shofar (a hollowed-out ram's horn), as prescribed in the Torah, following the prescription of the Scripture to "raise a noise" on Yom Teruah. Its rabbinical customs include attending synagogue (church) services and reciting special liturgy about teshuva, as well as enjoying festive meals. Eating symbolic foods is now a tradition, such as apples dipped in honey, hoping for a sweet coming year.

This will be year 5778 by the Mosaic calendar, and significantly, the year 6,000 by the Biblical Numeric Calendar, which makes some people believe that it (being the 7th Day) is time for the Messianic Kingdom to come.

I will be posting some of the traditional liturgies in the next couple of days and on the Day itself. It is a High Sabbath, so I will not be working or doing business of any kind on that Day.

It also kicks off the Ten Days of Awe - a time of reflection and repentance leading up to Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement. More on that in the coming days as well.

But today I will be posting Scripture on the matter, so that those of you who have not yet experienced the joy of celebrating as YHWH instructs can plan to do so, should you choose. It is an incredible blessing and very liberating to do so. After all, who doesn't enjoy tooting horns and shouting in revelry, all the while celebrating our Creator, His wonders, and our future with His promised peace!

#yomtaruah
#roshhashanah