"It is for you a day for sounding the shofar." -Numbers 29:1
Yom Teruah – The Feast of Trumpets
On the evening of September 9th through the evening of September 11th many in Israel and around the world will celebrate the Jewish New Year—Rosh HaShanah (rosh Hah-SHAH-nah)! It is a celebration rich in the history of our faith and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate oneness with your Israeli pastor.
According to The Fall Feasts & Chanukah booklet published by Jewish Voice Ministries International (JVMI), “the Bible says less about Yom Teruah (yom tare-RU-ah), or the Feast of Trumpets, than any other Feast. The Scriptures describe it simply as a day for blowing the shofar (SHO-far), which is the meaning of the name Yom Teruah.” However, I personally find it to be one of great opportunity and spiritual significance—not only because it “ushers in the start of a new year and the beginning of the holiest season for Jewish people,” but also because there is a beautiful element in the Jewish tradition that I find fascinating and inspiring—an element that I believe is key for every follower of Messiah (p. 14).
“Rosh HaShanah is a time to reflect on the previous year and look ahead at the one to come” (p. 14). You may be thinking, what is so fascinating and inspiring about that, or how is that any different from New Year celebrations and traditions of Gentiles? They, too, are rich with festivities, food, reflection and new year resolutions. Yes, in some ways they are very similar, but what I find remarkable and inspiring about the traditions of Rosh HaShanah is the devotion to not only reflect on one’s personal successes and significant events over the past year but to purposefully contemplate one’s spiritual journey over the past year with the desire to foment that journey to new levels in the year to come! “Yom Teruah is [not only] a holy day of both reflection and celebration [of one’s personal journey over the previous year, but it is also a holy day of reflection and celebration of one’s spiritual journey]” (p.21). I envision Abba smiling proudly as His sons and daughters contemplate a New Year’s resolution such as that—wow!
This remarkable tradition can easily be seen in the ancient celebration led by Nehemiah. “It was on the first of Tishrei that Ezra called the returned exiles of Israel together in [Yerushalayim’s] plaza. Nehemiah had rebuilt the walls of the sacked city and brought the Jewish people back to again inhabit their Holy City and outlying towns. Once they had gathered at the Water Gate, Ezra opened the Torah scroll and read God’s Word to the people who had not heard it in decades. They stood for hours listening. They grieved that they had experienced such distance from God and not obeyed the Torah during their exile. But Nehemiah told them, ‘Today is kadosh [holy] to Adonai your God. Do not mourn or weep!…Go! Eat choice food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who have nothing ready. For today is kadosh to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of Adonai is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:9-10). In ancient Israel, it was observed with a day of rest, gathering together, making required sacrifices, and hearing the impressive blasts of multiple shofars. Today, Rosh HaShanah often begins at home by lighting candles and reciting a holiday blessing. Then participants sit down for a festive meal [which includes] dipping apples in honey—a tradition that signifies the hopes for a good and sweet year to come. Challah (CHAH-lah), a sweet bread served on Shabbat, [is] also enjoyed [during the] Rosh HaShanah [meal]. However, rather than the customary braided loaf, the holiday challah is round, symbolizing the circle of life as one year ends and another begins. After the Rosh HaShanah meal, many families go to the synagogue where 100 shofar blasts celebrate the Feast of Trumpets. [These] services include special prayers of repentance and Torah readings [which] emphasize God’s sovereignty and judgment. Celebrants attend services again the following day and, according to the Torah’s command, refrain from work on Rosh HaShanah” (p. 21).
Whether you celebrate the head of the year in January or in Tishrei, we hope that you are blessed by this beautiful Jewish tradition that inspires participants to draw closer to God and glorify Him in the year ahead. Will you join us in wishing our Israeli pastors L’Shanah Tovah! (le-SHAH-nah toh-VAH)—For a good year!
For His Glory and Honor,
DaVel Walker
Director of One in Messiah Events & Tours
The Road to Jerusalem
