The Jewish New Year


This festival is a very unique one because it is generally known as the Jewish New Year or the Feast of Trumpets. It is also the only holiday that falls on the first day of the 7th month (Tishri) celebrated along with the monthly festival of Rosh Chodesh (head of the month, also known as celebration of the new moon).

In Leviticus 23:24 in the NKJV it states:
"...In the seventh month [Tishri], on the first day of the month you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing trumpets, a holy convocation."   Numbers 29:1 calls it a "...day of blowing the trumpets.”  Yet, how can the author state this when the word trumpets does not exist in the Hebrew?  The Hebrew word t’ruah means an acclamation of joy, or a battle cry especially with trumpets as an alarm. The basic idea is to be noisy, and the root word for this means to be ear splitting loud, or excessively noisy.

History of Rosh Hashanah
On the same day in 70 A.D. when the 2nd temple was destroyed, it was also when the civil celebration of the Jewish New Year known as as Rosh Hashanah (Head of the Year).   After the destruction of the temple the two feasts become one.  That is why there is more than one name for this feast.

In Leviticus and Numbers it mentions that it is to be a holy (kodesh) convocation (mikrah), a calling together for a meeting as an assembly. The root meaning is to call together for an event or a reading such as from a scroll, or as the KJV describes it, a dress rehearsal.  It also states in both books that it is to be a Sabbath-rest, a memorial (remembrance) of blowing the trumpets a day for no customary work.

According to rabbinic tradition this feast is to last for two days rather than one day as mentioned in the scriptures. The purpose of this was so that those living in the outlying areas (diaspora) they could have a chance to celebrate it as well.

So what is the big deal about this festival?  On this special day the shofar is blown 100 times.  Some of the reasons as to why it is blown:
  1. Symbol of revelation (Exodus 19:16, 19) – we are reminded of the awesome power of God and the shofar blasts on Mt. Sinai
  2. Symbol of God’s coronation (Psalm 98:6) – It is a reaffirming and sovereignty of God’s kingship over us
  3. Symbol of the binding of Isaac (Genesis 22) – when the ram became the sacrifice for Jacob
  4. Symbol of humankind’s need for repentance (Genesis 3:9) – it is to remind us to confront the sin within us, just as God confronted Adam
  5. Symbol of the Messianic Age (Isaiah 27:13) – when the Messiah will redeem us and the “…great trumpet will be blown.”
The rabbi's claim that if the shofar is not blown that evil will befall us throughout the year.  How much more should we as believers understand the power behind the shofar. 

Traditions
Something very common during this holiday is called tashlich (tah-sh-leech) which means to "to cast." It refers to the casting away of our sins. Jewish people will fill their pockets with bread and take it to a nearby flowing body of water. Then cast their bread upon it as if to cast their sins away and hopefully start the new year with a clean slate.

On the evening of the first night the candles are lit and some family members will take a piece of challah, or apple and dip it in honey and say a short pray asking God for a “good and sweet year.”  With the challot (plural for challah) it is either made as a round loaf to represent a “good well rounded year”, or in the shape of a ladder to represent one’s year toward God.

The most common greeting said to one another is l'shanah tovah (for a good year). This is short for l'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem which means May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.

In Closing
In scripture it states that when Yeshua (Jesus) returns it will be with a trumpet blast to signal us of His return. I believe that based on Numbers 29:1 that it will have to be extremely loud in order for everyone all over the world to hear it.

I once heard of a vision someone had where they saw God blowing a shofar 18 miles long.  Can you imagine how loud that will be and how far it could be heard.

Is your name inscribed in the Book of Life that when the great shofar is blown you will know without a shadow of a doubt where you stand?

 Until next time... Shalom!

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