Leviticus 23:23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.
Rosh HaShanah (the Head of the Year) is the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish religious year; 1Tishri. In the American calendar, it is usually in mid September or occasionally October. It is called the first month of the civil year; the Jewish New Year. It is also called the Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teru’ah.
Rosh HaShanah is a Sabbath-rest; meaning that you are not supposed do any customary or normal work on this day. It is a Holy Day (holiday).
It is called Yom HaZikkaron, the Day of Remembrance; a memorial day. It is a day to remember God’s goodness and His mercies toward us. It is a time to remember (Genesis 22:1-14). This is the story of Abraham and he putting Isaac on the altar at the command of the Lord to slay his only son. Then God stopped him and Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.
It is called the Feast of Trumpets for you shall sound a shofar. The Shofar is usually a ram’s horn (Abraham’s ram). It is also called Yom Teru’ah means the Day of the Sounding; the day of the sounding of the shofar or the ram’s horn.
The shofars were blown every day in the sixth of religious year Elul, except on the 30th day there was the silence. Why? It was to hide it from satan of that day and hour referring to the Second Coming;
Mathew 24:36 But of that day and hour no knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed–52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
On Rosh HaShanah the trumpet is played 100 times in different sounds:
1. Tekiah = long single blast from low to high (sound King’s coronation)
2. Shevarim = 3 short wail-like blasts low to high (repentance)
3. Teru’ah = 9 staccato rapid succession blasts of alarm (to awaken soul)
4. Tekiah Ha-Gadolah = the Great long blast – long as one can blow. It is called the Last Trump.
Rosh HaShanah marks the beginning of the ten day period from 1-10 Tisheri. This period involves self-examination, confession and repentance to the Lord God through prayer. According to Jewish tradition, on Rosh HaShanah, the destiny of everyone is decided by God. This is when the righteous names are written in the Book of Life; or Sefer Ha Chayim (Revelations 13:8) and the wicked is written in Book of Death. Each person’s fate is sealed for a year ten days later on Yom Kippur (10 Tisheri).
It is also called Yom HaKosh which is the Hidden Day or the Day of Hiding because it is the first day of the month of Tishri. The day did NOT start until there was three stars spotted in Jerusalem. That is why lots of times it is celebrated for two days instead of one.
Rosh HaShanah is also called Yom Adonai; the Day of the Lord. This is considered the time of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ; the Rapture; or both.
Joel 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the Lord is coming, For it is at hand: …11…For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immorality.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. and thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Rosh HaShanah is also called Ha Kiddushin; the wedding of the Messiah Jesus.
Joel 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the Bridegroom go out from His chamber, and the bride from her dressing room.
A Jewish wedding contract or ketubah discusses the bridal price, the bridegroom’s promises, and the bride’s rights.
The Church’s bridal price is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross and His Blood
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made know to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
The promises of the Bridegroom and rights of the Bride (the Church) are in the Tanakh and the Brit Chadashah. The Tanakh is the Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings); together are the Old Testament. The Brit Chadashah is the New Testament.
The Wedding Ceremony includes:
1. The Bride has a “water immersion” signifying that she was going a different way now than before.
Ezekiel 16:8 When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore and oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord God. 9 Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil……12…crown on your head…
2. Bridegroom goes to prepare a place for the Bride
John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
The Father tells the Bridegroom when the house is done and tells him when to go get the Bride.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
3. Bridegroom comes with a shout to get the Bride.
Matthew 25:6 And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold, the Bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him!
4. Wedding Supper
Revelations 19:9 Then he said to me, Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!
Rosh HaShanah is also called HaMelech; meaning the coronation of Messiah.
Psalm 47:1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.
3 He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet.
4 He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves.
5 God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.
8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.
9 The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.
What can the Christian learn from The Feast of Trumpets?
1.) The Lord God is indeed the King of all the earth.
Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!
2.) Jesus is the Redeemer and Creator.
Colossians 1:13 He (God) has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
3.) The forty days of Teshuvah or Repentance (1Elul to 10 Tisheri) is linked with confession and repentance.
Mark 1:14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, 15 and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. …13 For whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.
James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteousness man avails much.
4.) We have anticipation of the fulfillment of the Lord’s Day. This is where the Lord Jesus comes to get His Bride (the Church) and we are taken up into the air to meet with Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. and thus we shall always be with the Lord.
A Home Ceremony
The ceremony should start at sundown, just before the start of 1 Tisheri; when there are 3 stars in the sky. Eighteen minutes before sundown, one should light candles and say a blessing:
Blessed are You, Lord Our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies us with His commandments
and commanded us to kindle the lights of the Sabbath and of Yom Zikkaron.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season. Amen.
Bless your children: May each of you be inscribed and sealed immediately for a good and sweet year, a good life, to receive God’s favor and prosperity, have divine health, and for peace.
Kiddush: Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the true fruit of the vine – Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ).
HaMotzi blessing over round loaves of challah (resembling a crown; the kingship of God):
Blessed art Thou, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth the Living Bread from heaven.
Thanking God: Blessed art You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has given to us holidays, customs, and seasons of happiness, for the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ), the Light of the world.
Symbolic Foods: (Order is not important)
1.) Apples and Honey. The apples are a fall fruit therefore a “first fruit”.
Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the trees. May it be your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that you renew for us a good and sweet year in our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ). Eat the apples dipped in honey.
2.) Eating Carrots. We eat carrots as a play on the word rubya, a word that resembles the Hebrew word for increase.
Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the earth. May it be your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that our merits (virtues; value) increase.
3.) Eating Fish. The fish symbolizes that we teem and multiply. If you do not like fish, eat gummy fish.
Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who by His Word brings about all things. May it be your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that we be fruitful and multiply like fish. May it be your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that we be the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13)
4.) Eating Pomegranate. If you use the Sweet variety of the pomegranate, it has a sweet fruit and juice with many seeds.
May it be your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that our merits be numerous as the seeds of a pomegranate.
It is time to enjoy the festive Rosh HaShanah meal. Do not eat any sour foods during the two days of this Feast or you will have a sour year. My family has Barbecue Brisket, Pinto Beans, and Potato Salad each year. I have recipes to these Texas foods at my other website (http://www.cheftexasrose.com).
Grace After the Meal: Blessed are you Lord, our God, Master of the Univers, Who nourishes the whole world in goodness, with grace, kindness, and compassion. Blessed are You, Lord, who nourishes all. Amen. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!
At the close of the ceremony, you say L’Shanah Tovah (Have a Sweet Year!) or the shorter version Shana Tov (Happy New Year)
Until next time,
Shana