Just in time for the holiday...here's a free 56-page Hanukkah E-book. Whether this is your first time celebrating this joyous festival or your 50th, this book is sure to be a blessing! My family has used it for years.
This is our table one Friday evening before we ushered in the Shabbat.
Hey folks, high holiday season is a doozy isn't it? Whew! Well, I'm headed out to our congregation's opening service for the Feast of Tabernacles, but I wanted to give you a few links to click through while I'm gone.
First of all, read Leviticus 23. Tonight (Oct. 13) at sundown is the first day of Sukkot (Tabernacles).
Here's the links:
Introduction to Sukkot (Messianic Jewish Musings)
Gimme Shelter (Searching for Bright Light)
Camping Out (Tammy's Recipes)
Sukkot: A Feast of the Lord (Femininity in a Feminist World)
Download a Free Torah Reading Schedule for 5769
Be back soon!
Picture courtesy of Yeshuat Yisrael.
"Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."This past week we celebrated Yom Teruah (the Biblical name for Rosh Hashanah in Leviticus 23). One of the traditions of this day is to hold a "Tashlich" service, which is based on the scripture from the prophet Micah (7:18 -19) above. In this service, the participants throw stones or bread into a body of water to remember that God does essentially the same as He forgives our sin. It's usually a very short service (at least the ones I've attended) and is usually not belabored because there is a traditionally a mouth-watering holiday dinner waiting at home.
This year something a little unique happened at our service, and I thought I would share it with my precious readers. Usually on Shabbat (Saturday) we have bagels for oneg. Tons of bagels. So on the Shabbat preceding the holiday, I decided to save some of the bags of leftover bagels for the Tashlich service. When Tuesday came around, those bagels were quite hard. So I thought they would be a good mix of rocks and/or bread!
When I got to the water, I started handing out the bagels to the people who hadn't brought anything to throw. Now, it had never entered my mind that people would throw the entire bagel into the water. But alas, that's what everyone did. When I got to the water's edge, I couldn't believe my eyes...about a dozen bagels floating on the water! I wish I could have taken a picture to share with you; it was quite a sight!
Of course, there is some spiritual application to this story. Sometimes I pray and repent of a certain sin, but I don't forgive myself. I accept God's forgiveness of my sin, but I leave it floating there on the top of the water. The sight I saw this Rosh Hashanah was one that will stay with me for some time to come. We have to remember that when God forgives us...it's over! Let it go! The Scripture says He throws into the DEPTHS of the sea. Don't allow the enemy to trick you into "floating your sins" so that you can live in guilt. God has forgiven us much, so we must do for others...including ourselves!
Ahh, the Feast of Trumpets, also known as Yom Teruah, also known as Rosh HaShanah, also known as the Jewish New Year, also known as the Day of the Blowing of the Shofar, also known as the Birthday of the World, also known as the first of the "High Holy Days"...well, I think you get the point. A day known by any other name will still be as sweet!
Yes, this Biblical holiday is known by many names. From that perspective, one might draw the conclusion that this is a holiday that the Bible has a lot to speak. Actually, that is not the case. Yom Teruah, as it is called in Leviticus 23 (God's calendar), is spoken of only briefly throughout the entire Bible.
Here's what we do know about this holy day from Leviticus 23:
- It is to be celebrated on the 1st day of the 7th month (Tishri 1).
- It is to be a "day of complete rest."
- You are to have a "holy convocation."
- You are to sound the shofar, a ram's horn.
- You are to present an offering made by fire.
Sounds like a party, right? No work? Blowing horns? I'm there!
Here's how we celebrate Yom Teruah, 21st century style:
- Taking off a day or two from our occupations. Yes, people that follow the Biblical holidays do end up using quite a bit of PTO on these holidays.
- Going to synagogue or meeting with fellow believers (our version of a "holy convocation"). This is the time when people that you never see at synagogue decide to show up and have their annual rendezvous with God. Which is better than never, in my opinion. When God makes a few dates with you, at least keep one or two.
- Praying special prayers and singing special songs. The prayers and songs of this day focus on God as King, beautified by rich melodies.
- Having a big meal. This, of course, is the Biblical way to celebrate anything. Ok, maybe not Biblical. But the People of the Book sure do enjoy a good feast! Hey, they aren't called the Feasts of the LORD for nothing! We eat things like roast chicken or turkey, kugel, that stuff I'll never like called gefilte fish, tzimmes (think honey glazed carrots with prunes and other yummy stuff), honey cake and of course APPLES AND HONEY. I cannot overemphasize how important apples and honey are to the modern Rosh HaShanah festivities. You see, the theme of the day is "Have a SWEET New Year."
L'Shana Tovah! For a good new year!
For more on Rosh HaShanah, go here.
*Congratulations to our winners for the Rosh HaShanah giveaway:
1st prize = babybeth07
2nd prize = wendymom
Thanks for participating ladies!
Have a frugal Biblical holiday...with a little help from our friends at Publix! Here are the deals you can get this week that relate to traditional Rosh HaShanah foods:
Streit's Matzo Ball Soup Mix - BOGO (2 for $2.59)
Empire Kosher Turkey - $1.89/lb.
Manichewitz Noodles - 2 for $3.00 Perfect for noodle kugel!
Manichewitz Wine - 2 for $7.00
Publix Baby Cut and Peeled Carrots - BOGO (1, 2 or 3 lb. bags) Perfect for tzimmes!
Royal Gala Apples - $1.29/lb. Gotta have apples and honey!
Round Challah Bread - $2.49
Chinet Classic White Plates - BOGO (2 for $6.39) My Publix also has 75 cent off blinkies for the Chinet...use 2 coupons and get 2 for $4.89!
For more Rosh HaShanah recipes, see Allrecipes.com
For more great Frugal Friday ideas, see Biblical Womanhood Blog.
*For a New Year, how about a "new do"? Leave a comment on this post by 8 pm EST on Sunday, September 28th, for a chance to win a $10 coupon for any salon service at Regis Hair Salon. I'll do a random drawing that evening and post the winner on Monday morning. You must live in the continental US to win.
Well, I finally think Blogger is going to let me publish a post, and just in time for the fall feasts too!
As the fall feasts are less than a week away, there's no time like the present on starting with an introduction. For those of you that were reading during the spring feasts, you've got a head start so feel free to skip the next paragraph.
God's Biblical Calendar
Did you know that God has a calendar, and it's not the one that has January through December on it? God's calendar is (of course) in His Word; specifically, Leviticus 23. As you read this chapter, you will find that there are four feasts in the spring (Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits and Pentecost - Pesach, Matzah, HaBikkurim and Shavu'ot) and three in the fall (Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Tabernacles - Yom Teruah or Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot). Additionally, Leviticus 23 discusses one more special day, but this one comes every week. Shabbat, or the Sabbath, is a day of rest that God's people are to observe every seventh day.
God's Calendar = Messianic Prophetic Timeline
The Messiah Yeshua is the living Torah. That means that everything (EVERYTHING) that He said and did was in accordance and in fulfillment of the Torah, including the feasts of the LORD. With the spring feasts it is very evident how Yeshua fulfilled them. He died on Passover and arose on Yom HaBikkurim, the Feast of Firstfruits. Fifty days later on Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks (also called Pentecost), the Ruach Kodesh (Holy Spirit) came down and filled the believers. For more on the spring feasts, see here and here.
As for the fall feasts, we know that Messiah Yeshua will be fulfilling them as well. Rosh HaShanah (known Biblically as Yom Teruah, the Day of Trumpets) will be the day that the great shofar is sounded, and Yeshua will be revealed. On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will be a day of judgment. Finally, on Sukkot (a seven day festival), God Himself will dwell with His people. We do not know the day (which year) or the hour (what time on that day), but we do know if Yeshua fulfilled all of the spring feasts on the exact day, then it's pretty clear that if He is who He said He was, then all the fall feasts will be fulfilled as well.
A Quick Note on the Meaning of Fulfillment
When I say that Yeshua "fulfilled" the feasts, please do not read "ended" or "stopped." Just like on my wedding day, my husband "fulfilled" his role as my husband but did not stop being my husband after that day. I am using the word "fulfill" as in "to make complete" or "to bring to fullness", as I believe it was used in Matthew 5.
Fall Feast Schedule for 2008
Days that are a Biblical "day of rest."
Rosh HaShanah - Begins at sundown on Monday, September 29.
Yom Kippur - Begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 8.
First Day of Sukkot - Begins at sundown on Monday, October 13.
Last Day of Sukkot - Begins at sundown on Monday, October 20.
More To Come...
Check back in the next few days for specific posts on how we celebrate each holiday. I'd LOVE to hear how you celebrate the feasts, or if you are new, if you have any questions. Maybe you'd like to share your favorite holiday recipe or another idea?
This week (tomorrow actually) we observe Shabbat Nachamu ("Sabbath of Comfort"). The name comes from Isaiah 40:1 - 26, beginning with the double entreaty to nachamu:
This year is the first that I can remember a 4th of July coinciding with Shabbat (I'm sure it's happened...I just can't remember!). Of course, that poses a problem for Shabbat-keeping families. What's more important - G-d's holy Sabbath or America's birthday? I read a great post about this at First Fruits of Zion.
Have a happy and safe Fourth of July and Shabbat Shalom!
So we've been counting the days from Passover to God's feast of Shavu'ot (also called Pentecost). Like all of the Biblical holy days, this feast can be found in Leviticus 23, as well as Acts 2. I am super, super busy this week, but I wanted to a least give my readers some links to learn about this awesomely spiritual, as well as fun festival.
Here are some links to learn more about how to celebrate:
Prepare Yourself for Shavuot
Shavu'ot by First Fruits of Zion
Feast of Weeks by Biblical Holidays.com
The Fulfillment of the Covenant by Hebrew4Christians.com
Also, here's a little giveaway: If you leave a comment by midnight (EST) Tuesday, June 10th on this post with your name and either your blog link or an e-mail address PLUS one fact that you learned about Shavu'ot that you did not previously know, I'll randomly select a winner to send a free copy of one of my favorite First Fruits of Zion books! Comment away!
Image available from Flickr.
I'm a little under the weather, so this won't be the in-depth post I had planned but I had to say something. Today is the modern state of Israel's 60th birthday!
There are many lessons and stories that I could tell now. For sake of time I will end with this quote by Tzvi Freeman:
You ask me, "Why did G-d* allow it to happen?"
You recognize that everything in this world has purpose and meaning. Examine any aspect of His vast Creation, from the cosmos to the workings of the atom and you will see there must be a plan.
And so you ask, where does this fit into the plan? How could it?
I can only answer, painfully, G-d alone knows.
But what I cannot know, I need not know.
I need not know in order to fulfill that which my Creator has created me to do.
And that is, to change the world so this could never happen again.
From Jenny M: It's hard for me to remember my life before my family started celebrating Passover. So sometimes I forget that many of my readers may have not enjoyed this wonderful "feast of the LORD" before! If you are new to the feasts, please read this "Beginner's Guide" I put together. As always, feel free to ask any questions you may have. There's no such thing as a "dumb" question!What is Passover?
Passover is one of the “Feasts of the LORD,” as found in Leviticus 23:5-8. Actually, Pesach (Passover) is a feast that is literally only a few hours long (between sundown and complete darkness) on the 14th day of the month of Nissan on the Hebrew calendar. Chag HaMatzah, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is observed for seven days following Passover, from the 15th day of Nissan through the 21st of Nissan.
What are we celebrating?
There’s a children’s song that goes, “On Passover we remember, we remember, we remember what the LORD has done…” That’s exactly right. Passover is a time of remembrance. But what are we remembering?
The festival of Passover recalls the story of how the LORD delivered His people from the slavery of Egypt, as written in Exodus 1-15. The commandment was actually given in Exodus 12:1-20 for the Hebrew people in Egypt to observe this festival, even as they were still in Egypt. For four hundred years the Hebrew people had been in Egypt, and a new Pharaoh arose that did not remember Joseph (Exodus 1:8). However, God had a plan; He always does!
He raised up a young Hebrew boy named Moshe (Moses’ Hebrew name). Moshe was told to go before Pharaoh and plead on behalf of the Hebrew people. “Let my people go,” he cried to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh, as we know, was stubborn and ten times, including ten plagues that were visited upon Egypt, he wouldn’t be persuaded.
Most people recall watching the Ten Commandments film, especially the part that shows that as the LORD passed through Egypt, only those who had obeyed His command to smear the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts did not experience any death in their household that night. That is the part of the film I remember most from watching it as a child!
Finally after Pharaoh himself experienced the loss of his firstborn (Exodus 12:29), he sent Moshe and the Hebrew people out of the land, only to change his mind and send his armies after them. Then, of course, God uses Moshe to split the sea, and the Hebrew people walked to the other side on dry ground, while the armies of Egypt are swallowed up into a watery grave! Talk about deliverance!
There’s another deliverance we are celebrating, that of our spiritual deliverance! We all have had our own experience of being “slaves to Egypt,” that is, this world we live in. We can choose to allow our worldly existence to consume our lives with nothing but slavery from beginning to end, which is the road that most people choose. The good news is that we have an alternative – God sent the Messiah Yeshua of Nazareth to come and be our Passover sacrifice. How do we smear his blood on our spiritual doorposts? By faith, just the same way that the Hebrews did! They had to have faith that that lamb’s blood was going to “save” them, or else they wouldn’t have done it. Hebrews 11:28 says, “By faith, he [Moses] obeyed the requirements for the Passover, including the smearing of the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.” All the observances and traditions surrounding this feast, as with the other feasts of the LORD, are given to us to teach us about God’s special plan of salvation, both in the past and in the future!
But what if I'm not Jewish?
Direct quote from Exodus 12:48-49, "If a foreigner living among you wants to observe the LORD's Passover, all his males must be circumcised. Then he may take part and observe it; he will be like a citizen of the land. But no uncircumcised person is to eat it [the Passover lamb]. The same teaching is to apply equally to the citizen and to the foreigner living among you."
Remember, it wasn't only the physical descendants that came out of Egypt, but a "mixed multitude" (Exodus 12:38) went out. There were people from "the nations" as it were, that decided that this God of Israel was the one true God, as they had seen his power and might displayed in their land. This was Israel living out her calling to be a "light to the nations." Today, we must also have a "circumcised heart" (Romans 2:26-29) as we are grafted in to the olive tree of Israel (Romans 11:17-24). Therefore, any who has believed in the God of Israel has an invitation to celebrate HIS feasts!
How is Passover observed today?
Today, Passover is commenced by a meal, called a seder. Seder means “order” in Hebrew, and refers to the order of the meal. This is not an eat-and-run meal like the very first Passover meal, back in Egypt. As the saying goes, “Once we were slaves, now we are free!” And what do free people do? Take their time, relax, and recline…and that’s exactly what we do at the seder meal. There is a book that each participant will use at the meal, called a HaGaddah. HaGaddah means “the telling.” As we read through the HaGaddah together, we learn not only about the story in Exodus but also about the special ceremonial foods you see on the seder plate in front of you. If you will be attending your first seder sometime soon, don’t forget to eat something beforehand! The actual meal can come hours after you have started reading the HaGaddah and explaining the seder plate.
Another observance for Passover, and the main observance for Chag HaMatzah (seven days following Passover evening), is to abstain from things that are leavened. Not only do many people not eat regular leavened products (bread, pasta, cereal, cookies, cake, etc.), but the commandment in Exodus says to remove it from one’s dwelling. For the weeks preceding Passover, many families begin cleaning their homes of even the smallest crumbs! Talk about spring cleaning!
What are the ceremonial elements on the seder table and what do they mean?
Seder Plate:
Zeroah (A Shankbone) – Usually a roasted chicken leg is used, although sometimes people do use a lamb bone. This is obviously to remember the Passover sacrifice, the lamb that was slain. Lamb is not eaten during the seder, as the temple has not yet been rebuilt.
Maror (Bitter Herbs) – Usually a fresh horseradish root on the plate or some prepared horseradish to give a painful reminder of the bitterness of slavery.
Karpas (A Vegetable) – Usually a crunchy vegetable such as parsley, lettuce, a potato or an onion, alluding to the back-breaking labor endured by the Hebrew people in Egypt. If using parsely it can symbolize the hyssop that was used to smear the lamb's blood on the doorposts and lintel of the Hebrew's homes.
Charoset (A Sweet Paste) – This is everyone’s favorite element! It is a sweet paste made of chopped fruit and nuts (apples, dates, raisins, walnuts, and little wine or grape juice). It is a reminder of the mortar used for the bricks laid by the Hebrew slaves. As we scoop it up on to a piece of matzah with some of the bitter herbs, it is a reminder that God turns our mourning into joy!
Chazeret (Romaine Lettuce) – This is a remembrance that the exile of the children of Israel in Egypt began well (pleasant tasting leaves), but turned sour (the bitter stalk of the romaine lettuce).
A Roasted Egg – This is a tradition that begun after the destruction of Herod’s temple (the Second Temple) in 70 AD. The roasted hard-boiled egg is meant to symbolize the festival offering that was brought to the temple by the worshippers. It is dipped in salt water during the meal to symbolize the tears that were shed by those who witnessed the destruction of the temple, but the “new life” of the egg is a symbol of our hope to see Messiah rebuild the temple and rightfully reign from Jerusalem. Note: not all seders include the egg.
Other elements:
Matzah – Unleavened bread is made with no yeast, and therefore is flat. It is a symbol for many things. It is a reminder that the Hebrews had no time to allow their bread to rise during their flight from Egypt. Matzah’s greatest symbolization, however, is that of “sin” or “pride.” As we clean our homes of leavened products, we should even more so be introspective of our spirits. It’s a time of renewal and repentance before God, our deliverer. Also, as believers in Yeshua the Messiah, the matzah is a reminder of His sinless sacrifice. As you look at a piece of matzah, read Isaiah 53. The matzah is bruised (“He was bruised for our transgressions”), and it is pierced (“…pierced for our iniquities”).
Salt Water – As we dip the karpas in the salt water, we remember the tears of slavery. How great is the Father’s love that He will one day wipe away every tear!
The Four Glasses of Wine or Juice – Each glass of wine or grape juice represents one of the promises that God gives His people in Exodus 6:6-7.
They are: the Cup of Sanctification (I am ADONAI. I will free you from the forced labor of the Egyptians,), the Cup of Deliverance (…rescue you from their oppression...), the Cup of Redemption (…and redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.) and the Cup of Praise (I will take you as my people, and I will be your God).
*When Yeshua took the cup and said, "Do this in remembrance of me," He did so at the last seder with His disciples. He was saying, "When you observe the Passover, remember how my sacrifice has sancitifed you, delivered you, redeemed you, so that you could praise the Father in Heaven!"
The Cup of Elijah – But wait…one more cup! This cup is actually not one that we enjoy at the seder, but one that is set in case Elijah himself arrives as the guest of honor to herald the coming of Messiah. It is a reminder that Messiah can come at any moment, even in the middle of our Passover seder! Even so, come Lord Yeshua!
Ok, you've been asking and I know it's high time for my Ten Most Favorite Passover Recipes.
Today, I will feature one of the easiest, but also one of the most-treasured: "Matzah Pizza."
Keep checking back for more Passover recipes. Remember, if you have not yet done so, to go here and get your FREE 36-page Passover resource. Check here for Publix matzah deals to get make your Passover even more frugal! Check out Biblical Womanhood for even more frugal ideas!
Thanks to Mediabistro.com for the above picture!
And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’” So the people bowed their heads and worshiped. Who asks the Four Questions at the Passover seder?
What are the Four Questions?
Answers to the Four Questions
Coloring Activity/Song
I've been asked this question many times. "Well, weren't those things (meaning the Biblical feasts, diet, Sabbath, etc.) only for the Jews?"
My answer is always the same - "Read Leviticus 23."
That chapter is God's calendar, as it were, for His people. But if you read it (which I highly recommend), He never says "the feasts of the Jews" or even "the feasts of Israel." He specifically calls His appointed times "the feasts of the LORD."
Therefore, if you are not of Jewish descent, but have joined yourself to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then these are your feasts too! The Messiah that you have placed your faith in is the same one who is the "substance" of all these feasts!
For more Scriptures on this check out the following:
- Exodus 12:15-20 "It doesn't matter whether he is a foreigner or a citizen of the land..."
-Numbers 9:14 "...you shall have one statute, both for the alien and for the native of the land."
-Deuteronomy 16:10-11 "...and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst..."
- Zechariah 14:16-19 (prophecy that ALL NATIONS will go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles)
If you have never celebrated any of the Feasts of the LORD, I invite you to join in! The next one of His appointed times is Passover, which begins on the evening of April 19th. Here's a free Passover guide to get you started! I pray that you will be blessed beyond belief as you "take hold" of your Biblical heritage.
If you have any questions, feel free to comment or send me an e-mail (located on the sidebar). I'd love to help!
