Rosh HaShanah/

Feast of Trumpets...

This feast is better known as "Rosh HaShanah," which means "head of the year." Traditionally, this holiday is celebrated as the Jewish New Year. The Biblical name for this feast, Yom T'ruah, means "Day of Blowing." Biblically speaking, this feast does not mark the New Year. The Scriptures tell us that Yom T'ruah is to be celebrated on the first day of the seventh month (Lev 23:24)*. On Yom T'ruah, the shofar (ram's horn trumpet) is blown as a reminder (Lev 23:24) and alert to take stock of one's heart in anticipation of the important holidays that are coming (Yom Kippur and Sukkot). Biblically and traditionally, Yom T'ruah is a call to repentance over sin. The New Covenant Scriptures assign great significance to the blowing of the shofar. 1 Cor 15:52 and 1 Thes 4:16 connect the return of Yeshua with the sound of the trumpet (shofar).

Ways to celebrate:

Come together in a home or congregation to blow the shofar and discuss what God means that we should "take stock" of our hearts. Look to all the ways in the Scriptures that God uses the shofar to get the attention of people. Also read, discuss, and look forward to the fact that one day Yeshua will return "with the sound of the trumpet." Discuss how we should live in light of the fact that His shofar could blow at any time. It is also common to have a special meal with your best dinnerware on Yom T'ruah. White is a common color for both Yom T'ruah and Yom Kippur based on the promise that "though your sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18).

* The Biblical "New Year" begins in the spring. It is referred to in the Scriptures as "the first month." The first month is also referred to by its Babylonian name, which is Nisan. The first day of the first month occurs two weeks before Passover (Lev 23:5).

A Shofar