Tonight at Sunset Rosh Hashanah begins in Israel.

The Feast of Trumpets

Again Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a sabbath rest, a memorial by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall bring an offering by fire near to Yahweh.’” - Leviticus 23:23-25 (LSB)

In the Bible called, ‘The Feast of Trumpets’. This lasts, 2 days outside Israel, and marks the beginning of what is called the "10 Days of Awe", which concludes with Yom Kippur. ‘The Feast of Trumpets’ is instituted by God, and one of the most important events in the Jewish year with stong connections to the Messiah. Jews celebrate the creation of the World and have a chance to ask for forgiveness and start fresh. They have spent a month in fasting and prayer for this most important Holy Day. “Selichot”, prayers and poems of repentance, were added to their daily liturgy before Rosh Hashanah and continue until Yom Kippur, with special emphasis on God’s traditional “Thirteen Attributes.” Most Christians don't even know about this. It is an important day to God, so there are special prayers with the Vigil readings, we use before a Holy Day. One of God's Holidays starts at Sunset!

The heart of the celebration is the blowing of the shofar. But this year, the feast falls on the regular Sabbath a Saturday so the shofar will be silent. It will instead be sounded by traditional Jews likely on Saturday night after dark, which is when Saturday has ended and Sunday has begun for the Jews. One author writes, “the sound of the shofar was the call to arms, the alarm for any disaster, the signal to assemble for community business. It calls up the remembrance of Sinai when the sound issued from a thick cloud and the people trembled….It is that sound which will announce the time of the "Great Day of the Lord.” What we call "the Rapture." If you have ever heard a shofar blown in person and not just on a video, you will understand - in its actual presence the sound reverberates through the air and is not just heard but felt, up through your heels and your body.

Traditionally a festive meal is made involving apples and honey. Wine or grape juice and Round, raisin challah bread, dipped in honey, with foods symbolizing your wishes for the New Year. Many eat pomegranates, giving voice to a wish that “our merits be many like the [seeds of the] pomegranate.” (so a sweet fruit with lots of seeds). Another common food is tzimmes, a sweet, carrot-based dish eaten because of its Yiddish name, merren, which means both “carrot” and “increase,” symbolizing a wish for a year of abundance. Honeyed carrots are a favorite in my household. Avoid nuts and anything bitter. Happy Rosh Hashanah!