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What is Rosh Hashanah anyway?
Contributed by: Michael Gonzales on 9/11/2007

September 11, 2007

"...In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest,
a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation."
- Lev 23:23-24

Every year in September or October the words Rosh Hashanah can be found on most planning calendars. Non-Jewish people usually overlook this holiday because it is not relevant to their traditions and beliefs. However, observant Jews can be found in synagogues on Rosh Hashanah for special services because this is a very significant day in Judaism. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a new year for Jews and it is the first of three Fall Festivals listed in the Torah.

Rosh Hashanah literally means Head of the Year and is considered the 'Jewish New Year' even though it falls on the first day of the seventh Biblical month known as Tishrei. The Biblical calendar actually begins in the spring with the month of Nisan, which corresponds with March or April. Starting with the first month of the Biblical calendar the Jewish people can track the seven annual festivals set for that year. Rosh Hashanah is the fifth festival in this series. It is called a new year because on this day it is believed that God created the Earth. In a sense, Rosh Hashanah is a birthday celebration for the Earth. Today on the Hebrew calendar it is the year 5767. At sundown on Wednesday, September 12th, Rosh Hashanah will begin. It will be New Years Day for the Hebrew year 5768 and the start of a new year for the world.

Another name for the fifth Biblical festival is Yom Teruah, which can be translated as The Day of Shofar Blowing. A shofar is a trumpet-like instrument made from the horn of a ram or another Biblically 'clean' animal. Shofars and trumpets were used in Biblical times as a signal to call the people to assemble and as an alarm during times of war. Silver trumpets were sounded to announce the beginning of each month but on the first day of the seventh month, which is Yom Teruah, shofars were also sounded. Yom Teruah is the first of the ten Days of Awe that conclude on Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement. The shofar is blown on Yom Teruah as a call to repentance during these ten solemn days. It is believed that Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) will return on Yom Teruah and the sound of the shofar will herald His entrance to Jerusalem. As He takes His throne many will repent during the Days of Awe and return to Him and His commandments. At the conclusion of the ten days, on that final Day of Judgment or Yom Kippur, King Messiah will administer justice to all.

Be sure to mark this day on your calendar and join us as we usher in the Fall Festivals with Yom Teruah, The Day of Shofar Blowing. All are welcome; Jews, Gentiles, Christians and others. Bring a picnic dinner for your family and your favorite alcohol-free beverage. The charcoal and grill will be provided.

The Harvest Messianic Congregation
Yom Teruah Celebration
at
E.B. Rains Park, Ponderosa Pavilion ( Get Map)
on
Thursday, September 13th

Service:
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Food, Fun and Fellowship:
3:30 pm - 8:00 pm

The Harvest is a Messianic Charismatic Congregation in Thornton, Colorado, just north of downtown Denver.



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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Michael Gonzales has posted 71 stories and 4 comments since joining on 6/16/2006. Michael Gonzales's average story rating is 4.17.
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