Dear Family in the Messiah Yeshua! Greetings and blessings to you from your brothers and sisters at “Holy Land Ministries”, Israel!
The Season of Fall Holidays has began in Israel! The Fall Festivals are appointed in the Jewish month of Tishrei, which is the seventh month of Jewish Biblical Calendar.
The month Tishrei has come quite early this time, it mainly covers the month of September this year by the Gregorian calendar. The weather in September is still very hot and only a gentle nightly breeze reminds us that the main summer heat is over and we are now in a new season.
There are four great Biblical Festivals which are appointed in Hebrew month of Tishrei. All four teach and communicate the major prophetic Truth and point to the crucial events that are still to come which will change human history.
The first appointed time is Rosh Hashanah ( Jewish “New Year”), called in the Scripture the Day of Sounding (of the Trumpet). It comes on the first day of the month Tishrei, which has fallen on September 7 – 8 this year by the secular calendar.
Rosh Hashanah (literally, “Head of the Year”) marks the beginning of a 10-day period of self-examination, repentance and prayer. This period is known as the “Yamim Noraim” (Days of Awe or High Holy Days).
There are also several holiday rituals observed at this time including the Biblical Command of listening the sound of the shofar (trumpet).
Yom Kippur is the second Moed (Appointed Time) commemorated on the tenth day of the same Jewish month Tishrei and culminates the ten day period of repentance. (This year it corresponds to September 16th on the Gregorian calendar).
Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement” and refers to the annual observance of fasting, prayer and repentance. Part of the High Holidays, which also includes Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. In three separate passages in the Torah, the Jewish people are told, “the tenth day of the seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for you: You shall practice self-denial.”(Leviticus 23:27). Fasting is seen as fulfilling this biblical commandment.
We are commanded to turn to those whom we have wronged first, acknowledging our sins and the pain we might have caused. At the same time, we must be willing to forgive and to let go of certain offences and the feelings of resentment they provoked in us. On this journey we are both seekers and givers of forgiveness. “Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors”. Matthew 6:12.
Only then can we turn to God and ask: “And for all these, God of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, and grant us atonement.”
Sukkot is the third Fall Festival, a weeklong celebration that comes five days after Yom Kippur on the 15th of Tishrei , which falls on the September 20 – 27 by the secular calendar this year.
Sukkot, an Hebrew word meaning “booths” or “huts,” refers to the Jewish festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest. It also commemorates the 40 years of wandering in the desert after the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Sukkot is observed by several distinct traditions. One, which takes the commandment to dwell in booths literally, is to erect a sukkah, a small, temporary booth or hut. Sukkot (in this case, the plural of sukkah) are commonly used during the seven-day festival for eating, entertaining, and even for sleeping. Sukkot is also called “Z’man Simchateinu” (Season of Our Rejoicing), and is the only festival associated with an explicit commandment to rejoice.
The fourth and the last Biblical Festival is called “Shemini Atzeret” (Eight Day Assembly) and follows immediately after the Sukkot Festival, which falls on September 28th this year by the Gregorian calendar..
As part of this celebration, the Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried or danced around the synagogue seven times. During the Torah service, the concluding section of the fifth book of the Torah, D’varim (Deuteronomy), is read, and immediately following, the opening section of Genesis, or B’reishit as it is called in Hebrew, is read. This practice represents the cyclical nature of the relationship between the Jewish people and the reading of the Torah.
As usual, we would like to share with you a teaching on this exciting season by our friend, a rabbi in Israel and our dear brother in the Messiah Yeshua:
בס״ד
The Festivals of the Seventh Month
Despite what many assume, the months of the Biblical calendar were never changed. I hear all the time people saying that although the first month is in the Spring according to the Bible, Judaism has changed it to the Fall. This simply is not true. The first month remains in the Spring and the seventh month is still in the Fall. It was simply decided that the new year for such things as preparing legal documents and the accounting of time, would now be according to the first day of the seventh month. Previously, when there were Kings in Israel, it was the first day of first month when the king was given an additional year and people would reckon time according to the year of the king.
Despite this issue, the Festival which is on the first day of the seventh month is known as the Day of Sounding (of the Trumpet) or the Day of Remembering the Sounding (of the Trumpet), according to the Bible. There is no Scriptural verse that relates to this festival with the concept of New Year (Rosh HaShanah). Although one of the primary messages of the shofar (the ram’s horn) is remembering what G-d has provided for victory, there also is the concept of judgment associated with this festival. In several places in the section known in the Bible as the Prophets, judgment is linked to the sounding of the shofar (trumpet). It would seem that the announcing of judgment which is related to this festival is a call to respond to what is approaching just nine days after, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). In other words, it is the message of judgment which motivates people to seek forgiveness from their sins.
What is most significant about Yom Kippur is that the children of Israel did not do the work of atonement for themselves, but it was the one who was anointed, i.e. the high priest, who performed all the work which was required for atonement to be made available to all the people. All the people had to do was to receive the work of the anointed one with a repentant heart. In the same way that the Feast of Sounding and the Day of Atonement work together to prepare one to receive G-d’s mercy in light of His judgment, so too is there a connection between the first two festivals and the final two.
The last two festivals of the seventh month are the Feast of Tabernacles and the Eighth Day Assembly. Much is known and discussed about the Feast of Tabernacles and observing it for seven days; but many people, both Jews and Gentiles, do not even know that there is another Festival called the Eighth Day Assembly. The primary message of the Feast of Tabernacles is dependence upon G-d. It is not enough to remember that one is dependent upon G-d for all things, but also to demonstrate this dependence in one’s decisions and actions. This fact is frequently ignored by many believers. We put such an emphasis on believing that often times we forget that true faith produces results. Again, one is not saved by these results, but these results demonstrate our faith to others.
One of the primary observances of the Feast of Tabernacles is taking the lulav and etrog and waving them in six directions. This symbolizes the L-rd’s call upon Israel to proclaim His grace and lovingkindness to the nations. The lulav and etrog are related to the Biblical commandment found in Leviticus 26:40,
“And you shall take on the first day, the fruit of a beautiful tree, palm branches, and branch of a leafy tree and of willow tree and you shall be glad before the L-rd your G-d seven days.”
When one takes this vegetation it serves as a reminder that it is G-d Who provides the Land and what grows upon it. Without this produce, life could not be supported; therefore, it is incumbent upon all people to recognize G-d as not only the Creator, but the Sustainer of life. This is not only necessary in this world and for this life, but all the more so concerning the Kingdom. Judaism properly teaches that all the Biblical Festivals have a Kingdom connection. This means that one can learn about the Kingdom of G-d by studying the L-rd’s appointed times.
We have seen that the first festival relates to G-d’s judgment and the second expresses the G-d Who will make forgiveness possible to His people. After receiving G-d’s provision, one is expected to proclaim and demonstrate the forgiveness through faith in a gracious loving G-d. This is a brief summary of how the first three festivals work together to express a very important message to humanity. The final festival, the Eighth Day Assembly, also has great significance. Very little is stated in the Bible concerning this festival, but what is revealed does provide the reader with some important clues in assisting one to comprehend its primary message. In the Bible it is called שמיני עצרת Shemini Atzeret , which translates to (the) eighth (day) assembly.
The number eight has a meaning of newness, kingdom, redemption, and because a male infant is circumcised on the eight day and circumcision relates to a covenant, the concept of covenant also relates to the number eight. Hence, this special assembly will consist of a new experience for the people of G-d, which will relate to the outcome of Messiah’s work of redemption which is the establishment of the Kingdom of G-d. It is when one enters into the Kingdom that he can expect to receive the promises of G-d which are contained in His Covenant with those who experience redemption through the grace of G-d. It is the forgiveness which grace provides that removes G-d’s judgment from falling upon those who have been redeemed. The word assembly in Hebrew is עצרת and it relates to a stopping that brings about a change or in response to a change which has just occurred.
The idea here is that those who have truly been recipients of G-d’s provision for Kingdom life will demonstrate this by walking in dependence upon the L-rd until G-d’s judgment comes. Those who are true believers in Messiah by His Name (Yeshua, Jesus, Yesus, etc.) will not experience G-d’s wrath and will not be present on earth when HIs wrath begins. With the end of G-d’s judgment upon the earth, there will be a significant stopping of the world as is. This stopping of the world will be the beginning of a great assembly of Israel.
This is the Israel of G-d that Paul wrote about in Galatians 6:16. This is also to whom Paul was referring in Romans 11:26 when he stated, ”…and thus all Israel will be saved…” It is very important that one understands what Paul is teaching. He is not saying that every Jewish person will be saved. If one reads this passage in context, he will learn that Paul is speaking about the time immediately after the fullness of the Gentiles have all come to faith. Then G-d will turn His attention to saving a remnant of the Jewish people. It is when the Kingdom people (Israel) consisting of the fullness of the Gentiles and the remnant of the Jewish people have all been saved, then the Eighth Day Assembly will begin.
The more one studies about these four fall festivals, the more this person can learn about the Messiah’s work in the end times. It is most unfortunate that many believers ignore the Biblical festivals, as these are the L-rd’s appointed times and are revealed in the Scriptures for a reason. As Paul says,
“All Scripture is inspired by G-d and profitable for instruction, for conviction, for correction, for training in righteousness. In order that the man of G-d should be complete for every good work, having been fully equipped.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Encourage a friend or have a small group in your home for the expressed purpose of studying these important Biblical holidays. Observe them upon the proper date for special times of worship. It is most proper to inquire from the Holy Spirit on how one should celebrate these festivals of faith.
Dear Friends, we would love to give you a praise report on one of our former shelter guests. Thank you for praying for Baruch Stolkiner!
Baruch stayed with us last year and we described his story in detail in our previous updates.
Just to remind you briefly, he was diagnosed with fourth stage cancer when he first came to our shelter from Ukraine. We asked your urgent prayers for Baruch back then, as he was indeed in a desperate situation both physically and spiritually, when he arrived to us, as a new Jewish emigrant.
While the cancer had viciously attacked Baruch’s physical body, his soul and mind were completely paralyzed by the unbelief and atheist dogmas with which he was brought up in his country of origin, the former Soviet Union.
Today, more than a year later, we can definitely see the answer to your prayers and the Lord’s abundant grace in Baruch’s life.
Baruch visited us again recently for our Shabbat celebration and brought the latest update on his life that we would like to share with you.
His physical condition has improved immeasurably after the successful surgery he underwent last year. He also looks well and healthy today, a direct opposite to the pale and haggard man that first appeared to us in our shelter. Baruch is actually planning to get married in the near future and was gladly showing us the picture of his dear fiancée.
Though his physical recovery is indeed a great blessing and testimony of the Lord’s grace in his life, we are seeking even more for the fruits of spiritual change in the Baruch’s mind and heart, which alone bring eternal life and real lasting healing.
There is an obvious change in Baruch’s heart today, he truly is grateful to the Lord for His healing and for the kindness from G-d’s people that he has received since his arrival in Israel. We see this as a beginning of Baruch’s spiritual journey in Israel, as it is so exciting to see the Lord’s loving hand in the life of this dear Jewish man.
Please continue to pray for the further revelation of the Messiah in the life of Baruch Stolkiner.
Please pray for the fullness and completion of Messiah’s work in Baruch’s life, for the precious gift of faith and repentance that Baruch still needs for the entering Messiah’s Kingdom.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Messiah (Christ) may dwell in your hearts through faith”…. Ephesians 3 : 16, 17a (NIV)
Dear Family, in the same manner we are asking your prayers for Julia, a new Jewish immigrant who came to Israel about a month ago. She is also a new resident in our shelter and, unfortunately, just like Boris she was diagnosed with advanced cancer.
In Julia’s case it is a thyroid cancer and she also needs to start the medical treatment as soon as possible.
The bright side in this matter is that Julia is a believer in Yeshua and we can see the joy of the Lord in all her being even as she is going through such a challenging situation. She is full of plans and high expectations about her new beginning in Israel, and we are trying to help her with the various practicalities that she is facing now like any other new immigrant coming here.
To our great joy, Julia is not only asking for help in the practical matters, but she also is seeking spiritual blessing and guidance, as she is building a new life in the Land of her fathers.
Interestingly enough, in her early youth, Julia was even attending a Jewish religious school for girls and did learn there at that time many ancient prayers in Hebrew, that she still remembers today and some Biblical concepts. So for a Rosh haShana present Julia has asked us to get her a Bible in Hebrew with the Russian translation, to help her with her studies. Needless to say, we were more than happy to bless her with this gift!
Please pray for this precious Jewish lady, who has opened her heart for Messiah Yeshua and is seeking His guidance and blessing for her new life in Israel. Please pray for Julia’s complete healing and for the will of G-d be clearly manifested and fulfilled in Julia’s life.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in the Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Dear Friends, we are also asking your prayers for another sweet couple who have arrived at our shelter recently.
Please meet Anna and Stanislav, a new Jewish family from Ukraine.
We were delighted to learn that they are believers in Yeshua and fully realize their call of coming to Israel.
This couple have been making their “Alijah” to Israel with much prayer, responsibility and “trembling” considering all the challenges and possible pitfalls encountered along the way. They have shared with us their various doubts and fears that they have been struggling with before making the decision to come to Israel.
In fact, many from their Christian friends in Ukraine warned them about the persecution of believers in Israel and all kinds of difficulties associated with it. Some of these concerns might be reasonable, some of them are groundless.
But in any case, we believe that Stanislav and Anna have made the right decision and the L-rd will indeed direct their path in Israel, using them for His glory and purposes. He has already send them to us, as a sure sign of His personal guidance and supervision :))!
Besides that, regardless of where we live, until Messiah’s return, we shall constantly expect these kind of challenges in this life: ” In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. 2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV)
Dear Friends, please pray with us, for the Lord’s guidance and protection for Stanislav and Anna, for the provision of a job and an easy absorption for them in their new home.
May the light of our Messiah shine forth through the life of this dear couple, as they have joined His family in Israel.
May all of us His disciples have a wonderful renewal of Messiah’s strength and joy at this special Season, enabling us to serve and continue with Messiah’s work through another year that has just began…
Holy Land Ministries 