This video is a separate presentation of the same basic material. It contains some material not found in the printed version and the printed version presents some information not included in the video.
Seeker Lesson 9 A: Holidays and Practices
With Messianic Rabbi Yochanan Levine
Holidays
This lesson is an overview of Jewish holidays. Ours is an historic religion and there is much important history and wisdom contained within the holidays we observe. Studying the symbols and remembrances of these events will advance ones understanding of and full acculturation into Judaism. The "grafting in" is only the beginning. Our holidays recount our experiences with HaShem and remind us of our rightful place in the grand scheme of things.
We highly recommend that all serious talmidim purchase a copy of the Orthodox Artscroll Transliterated Linear Siddur as it is the established source of information on Jewish observances. This important volume presents the Orthodox prayers and observances and is not Messianic. Still our beliefs and practices are in the main harmonious with Rabbinic Orthodoxy in these areas.
This lesson contains a basic overview of our holidays.
Our Jewish Holidays
* Shabbat *
Queen of HolidaysThe High Holy Days
Rosh Hashanah
Yamim Noraim
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
Shemini Atzeret
Simchat Torah
Chanukkah
Tu B'Shevat
Purim
Welcome to Yeshiva Beth HaShem!
Holidays to Observe
Shabbat: Sabbath:
When:
- Every Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
Biblical:
Instituted at:
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified [qadash means to "appoint for observance" compare Strong's H6942] it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.Exodus 31:12 And Adonai spake unto Moses, saying,
31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily [above all] my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Adonai that doth sanctify you.
31:14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
31:15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to Adonai: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.Shabbat is the weekly day of rest in honor of HaShem. First commanded at Genesis 2:1-3 (above). Reaffirmed in both versions of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:2–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21) and at numerous places in the Tanakh.
Rebbe Y'shua and his talmidim observed Shabbat as did the early Messianic Jews. The Catholic Church outlawed Shabbat observance and replaced it with the day of Sol Invictus, the sun god worshiped by Emperor Constantine. As Messianic Jews Shabbat observance is among our most sacred obligations.
Shabbat is the only weekly observance set apart in Scripture and it is the most important holiday of all those established by HaShem.Greetings: Shabbat Shalom, Good Sabbath, Good Shabbos.
Note: * To determine the following Hebrew dates on modern calendars go Here (to Chabad.org).
Rosh Hashanah: New Year:
When:
- Tishri 1,2 *.
Biblical:
- Biblical names: Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) and Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar: "ram's horn").
Instituted at:
Leviticus 23:23 ADONAI said to Moshe,
24 "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'In the seventh month, the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar.
25 Do not do any kind of ordinary work, and bring an offering made by fire to ADONAI.'"Rosh Hashanah begins the High Holidays. According to Tradition it marks (remembers) the day of creation. A time for festive meals and prayer services.
Greetings:
- L'shanah tovah ("Have a good year") or "L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" ("May you be inscribed and sealed [in the Book of Life] for a good year.")
Yamim Noraim: Days of Awe or Days of Repentance:
When:
- The 10 days of repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur *.
Extra-biblical, Tradition:
- During this period one should do serious introspection and repentance in preparation for Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). One should especially practice the following kinds of actions to demonstrate ones repentance to HaShem as He prepares the "books of life and death" of our lives:
Teshuvah: repentance
The "books of life and death" metaphorically kept by HaShem are sealed on Yom Kippur for the following year. Sins that have not been repented of may have negative repercussions in the upcoming year. As talmidim of Y'shua we understand that he is our Cohen Gadol (Mediator/High Priest) and yet it behooves us to be especially mindful of our sins during this period so we that may experience more of the goodness of HaShem and better serve Him in the new year (II Chronicles 7:14, I John 1:9).
Tefilah: prayer
Tzedakah: good deeds (usually, charity but any act of kindness).
Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement:
When:
- Tishri 10 *.
Biblical:
Instituted at:
- Leviticus 23:26 ADONAI said to Moshe,
27 "The tenth day of this seventh month is Yom-Kippur; you are to have a holy convocation, you are to deny yourselves, and you are to bring an offering made by fire to ADONAI.
28 You are not to do any kind of work on that day, because it is Yom-Kippur, to make atonement for you before ADONAI your God.
29 Anyone who does not deny himself on that day is to be cut off from his people;
30 and anyone who does any kind of work on that day, I will destroy from among his people.
31 You are not to do any kind of work; it is a permanent regulation through all your generations, no matter where you live.
32 It will be for you a Shabbat of complete rest, and you are to deny yourselves; you are to rest on your Shabbat from evening the ninth day of the month until the following evening."- This is the oldest of the Jewish holidays. Yom-Kippur is considered to be the most important day of the year. One should refrain from all work, all pleasures (such as wearing leather, washing, wearing perfumes, sexual relations etc.), observe a complete fast, seek forgiveness for all wrongs done during the previous year. This concludes the repentance of Yamim Noraim.
As talmidim of Y'shua our trust is in his mediation with HaShem on our behalf and yet HaShem does not account as blameless those who fail to repent. On Yom Kippur we are therefore especially mindful to seek and show mercy, to ponder Y'shua's ministry on our behalf and to humble ourselves before HaShem.Greeting:
- "Chatima tovah" )"Good Sealing"), G'mar Hatimah Tovah ("May You Be Sealed for a Good Year: in the Book of Life).
Sukkot: Festival of Tabernacles, Festival of Booths:
When:
- Tishri 15: five days after Yom Kippur *
Biblical:
Instituted at:
- Leviticus 23:33 ADONAI said to Moshe,
34 "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of Sukkot for seven days to ADONAI.
35 On the first day there is to be a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work.
36 For seven days you are to bring an offering made by fire to ADONAI; on the eighth day you are to have a holy convocation and bring an offering made by fire to ADONAI; it is a day of public assembly; do not do any kind of ordinary work.
37 "'These are the designated times of ADONAI that you are to proclaim as holy convocations and bring an offering made by fire to ADONAI -a burnt offering, a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, each on its own day
38 besides the Shabbats of ADONAI, your gifts, all your vows and all your voluntary offerings that you give to ADONAI.
39 "'But on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered the produce of the land, you are to observe the festival of ADONAI seven days; the first day is to be a complete rest and the eighth day is to be a complete rest.
40 On the first day you are to take choice fruit, palm fronds, thick branches and river-willows, and celebrate in the presence of ADONAI your God for seven days.
41 You are to observe it as a feast to ADONAI seven days in the year; it is a permanent regulation, generation after generation; keep it in the seventh month.
42 You are to live in sukkot for seven days; every citizen of Isra'el is to live in a sukkah,
43 so that generation after generation of you will know that I made the people of Isra'el live in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am ADONAI your God.'"
44 Thus Moshe announced to the people of Isra'el the designated times of ADONAI.During these eight days Messianic Jews should observe the tradition of living in a sukkah to remind us of the sojourn in the wilderness. While dwelling in the sukkah is the directive, one should at least build a sukkah and take meals in it. Your sukkah can be built anywhere, a back yard, a balcony, with others at your shul etc. Special blessings are offered for inviting guests into the sukkah. There are many instructions to building a sukkah that we discuss elsewhere.
We also wave the lulav and etrog :
- Lulav: Consists of three myrtle twigs: hadassim, two willow twigs: aravot and a palm frond: lulav. Because the palm frond is the largest of these plants, the myrtle and willow are wrapped around it.
- Etrog: A type of citron, related to a lemon.
For an entertaining and informative look at this wonderful holiday we recommend the movie Ushpizin. Here is a taste:
Ushpizin Greeting:
- Chag Sameach: joyous festival
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah:
When:
- Tishri 22 * (the eighth day after entering the sukkah).
Extra-biblical, tradition:
- Completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings. Beginning of the annual cycle of Parsha (Torah readings). A day of celebration and dancing with the Torah scrolls. Often viewed as part of Sukkot, but that is technically incorrect as it occurs on the day after.
Greetings:
- Chag Sameach: joyous festival
Chanukah: Festival of Lights:
When:
- Eight days beginning on Kislev 25 *
Biblical with tradition:
- Remembers the re-dedication of the Temple after it was defiled by the Greek Antiochus IV (who sacrificing a pig on the alter!). Two groups opposed Antiochus, the (Hasmonean) Maccabees and a group known as the Chasidim (no relation to the present Chasidim movements) from whom the P'rushim (Pharisees and modern Rabbis) emerged. Chanukkah (Hanukkah) recalls their re-dedication of the Holy Temple (I Maccabees 4:56–59). All Jews should observe Chanukah and contemplate its significance.
Rebbe Y'shua observed the Chanukah:John 10:22 Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter,
23 and Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlomo's Colonnade.According to tradition (recorded in the Babylonian Talmud: Shabbat 21b) at the time of the re-dedication there was not enough oil left to keep the Temple menorah lit as required. There was only enough oil to burn for one day. Miraculously the oil lasted for eight days (the time needed to prepare a fresh supply). To remember this miracle an eight day festival was declared known as the Festival of Lights. Each night a flame is lit in memory of this miracle. It is also traditional to give gifts, especially to children, and play dreidel games.
Tu B'Shevat:
When:
- Shevat 15 *
Biblical
Instituted at:
- Leviticus 19:23 When you enter the land and plant various kinds of fruit trees, you are to regard its fruit as forbidden - for three years it will be forbidden to you and not eaten.
24 In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, for praising ADONAI.
25 But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, so that it will produce even more for you; I am ADONAI your God.The "new year" for calculating the age of trees
Purim:
When:
- Adar 14 *
Biblical
Instituted at:
- Esther 9:20 Mordekhai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Achashverosh, both near and far,
21 instructing them to observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and the fifteenth day, every yearPurim remembers how Esther saved the Jews of Persia from annihilation, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. Its a day to affirm Jewish survival against all odds. Purim customs include food baskets (mishloach manot, shlach manos), hamantashen pastries (oznay haman), a festive meal (seudat Purim), charity (matanot l'evyonim), Purim parades (adloyada), Purim plays (shpiels), carnivals (shuk Purim), costumes and noisemakers. The festive celebration makes Purim a favorite Jewish holiday for children and adults alike.
Pesach (Passover), Feast of Unleavened Bread::
When:
- 8 days beginning on Abib/Nisan 15 (sunset 14th) *
Feast day (Exodus 13:6)
"Why is this night different from all other nights?"Biblical
Instituted at:
- Exodus 12:14 "'This will be a day for you to remember and celebrate as a festival to ADONAI; from generation to generation you are to celebrate it by a perpetual regulation.
15 "'For seven days you are to eat matzah - on the first day remove the leaven from your houses. For whoever eats hametz [leavened bread] from the first to the seventh day is to be cut off from Isra'el.
16 On the first and seventh days, you are to have an assembly set aside for God. On these days no work is to be done, except what each must do to prepare his food; you may do only that.
17 You are to observe the festival of matzah, for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, you are to observe this day from generation to generation by a perpetual regulation.Represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel, however much more importantly Pesach remembers (reminds us of) the Exodus from Egypt. As talmidim of Rebbe Y'shua we have been grafted into the significance of these events and we do well to observe Pesach.
The Passover history is recorded in Exodus Chapters 1-15. Many of the specific Pesach observances are instituted in Chapters 12-15 other aspects come from Jewish tradition.
During Pesach all chametz (leaven: anything made from the five major grains -- wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt) -- are removed from the home and strictly avoided. Ashkenazi Orthodox Jews also consider rice, corn, peanuts, and legumes (beans) to be of this category by tradition. Everything regarded as chametz is removed from the home in memory of the fact that the Israelites fled Egypt in a hurry -- not leaving time to even let their bread rise. This tradition is also symbolic of our desire to remove the "puffiness" of arrogance and pride from our souls. This is a time to take stock of what really matters in life realizing that in a moment our lives could be drastically overturned by circumstances beyond our control. Our only hope is in Adonai.
Talmidim of Y'shua also include details from the Pesach seder conducted by Rebbe Y'shua and his talmidim shortly before his betrayal, arrest and execution. This seder was conducted in the Upper Room (Matthew 26). As an example of these added symbols, we understand that the traditional "Elijah Cup" references Y'shua's death on the stake, his burial and resurrection. While many Believers practice the rite of communion ("the Lord's Supper") weekly, it is directly referenced in Scripture as an element of our Pesach observances. Regardless of when one partakes of the Lord's Supper, one should partake as part of the annual Pesach seder.
Greetings:
- Chag Sameach: joyous festival
Lag B'Omer:
When:
- Connects Pesach (Exodus from slavery) to Shavu'ot (freedom by the giving of Torah).
Biblical
Instituted at:
- Leviticus 23:15 "'From the day after the day of rest -that is, from the day you bring the sheaf for waving -you are to count seven full weeks,
16 until the day after the seventh week; you are to count fifty days; and then you are to present a new grain offering to ADONAI.The Torah commands counting the days from Pasach to Shavu'ot. This period is known as "the Counting of the Omer." The Orthodox Union has a chart showing how this is done Here. There are several traditions surrounding this period of partial mourning (weddings, celebrations, parties etc. are forbidden as are haircuts and other optional elements of grooming.
Shavu'ot: Pentecost: the Festival of Weeks, Hag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of First Fruits), Hag Matan Torateinu (Festival of the Giving of Our Torah).
When:
- 2 days beginning with the conclusion of 49 days or 7 full weeks, as calculated from the second day of Pasach (Passover) until the day before Shavu'ot according to the Lag B'Omer (the Counting of the Omer). Pasach reminds us of the slavery the Jews left with the Exodus and Shavu'ot reminds us of the freedom received by the giving of Torah.
Pentecost further reminds the talmidim of Rebbe Y'shua of the outpouring of the Ruach of HaShem on the emerging Messianic Movement.
It is an ancient tradition to stay up all night on the first night of Shavu'ot and give oneself to Torah study. As the morning dawns one should be engaged in Torah and prayer. It is also a tradition to read the Book of Ruth during the night. Dairy meals are also part of the traditional observance. Work is not permitted on Shavu'ot.Biblical
Instituted at:
- Leviticus 23:15 From the day after the day of rest -that is, from the day you bring the sheaf for waving -you are to count seven full weeks,
16 until the day after the seventh week; you are to count fifty days; and then you are to present a new grain offering to ADONAI
21 On the same day, you are to call a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations, no matter where you live.Greetings:
- Chag Sameach: joyous festival.
Tisha B'Av: the Fast of the Ninth of Av
When:
- Av 9 *, for 25 hours
Biblical
Instituted at:
A day for remembering diverse major Israelite tragedies. Tisha B'Av primarily (especially) commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples (both were destroyed on the ninth of Av: the first by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E.; the second by the Romans in 70 C.E.). On this day the Torah cabinets are draped in black cloth.- Zechariah 7:3, II Kings 25:8-9, Mishnah Ta'anit 4:6, etc.
Begins with the fast of the 17th of Tammuz (commemorating the first breach in the walls of Jerusalem, before the First Temple was destroyed).
During this period worldly pleasures are increasingly avoided, parties, cutting of the hair etc are not permitted. From the first to the ninth of Av tradition says to refrain from eating meat or drinking wine (except on Shabbat) and from wearing new clothing.
Go to the Yeshiva Home PageNotes:
All Bible quotes are from the Complete Jewish Bible unless otherwise noted.
Glossary and terms for this study (our ever expanding Glossary of Jewish and Christian Terms):
Adonai: Generally pronounced Adonoy: The LORD -- Lord of lords. Used, along with HaShem, instead of speaking the Tetragrammaton.
Cohen Gadol: "High Priest."
Etrog: A type of citron, related to a lemon.
HaShem: The KING/the Name -- King of kings. Used, along with Adonai, instead of speaking the Tetragrammaton.
Lulav: Consists of three myrtle twigs: hadassim, two willow twigs: aravot and a palm frond: lulav. Because the palm frond is the largest of these plants, the myrtle and willow are wrapped around it.
Messianic: Inspired by Messiah/Moshiach.
Messianic Jews: Jews who accept the Messiah/Moshiach Y'shua.
Moshe: Moses the Law Giver: Most important figure in Judaism. Second only to Y'shua according to Messianic Judaism.
Moshiach: Anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king or priest); specifically the Messiah.
P'rushim: The Pharisee sect of Judaism. Today known as Rabbinic Judaism ("the Judaism of the rabbis).
Parush: See: P'rushim
Rabbi: A teacher of the Written and Oral Torah; a leader of a Jewish congregation or other ministry.
Rebbe: Used in different ways, from the same root as rabbi: An especially honored rabbi, a teacher of rabbis, the spiritual leader of a Hasidic fellowship.
Skype: Video chat. See our How To guide here. It is preferable that all students of the yeshiva have this program.
Talmid: (plural Talmidim): learner, student
Torah: The "Mind of HaShem". Torah is revealed in many ways:
- Oral Torah: Timeless oral traditions later codified as the Talmud and Mishna
- Written Torah: The Five Books of Moshe (Genesis - Deuteronomy)
- The Tanakh ("Old Testament") is sometimes called the Torah as well.
- Torah Observant: One who obeys Torah and its commandments.
Ushpizin: (Aramaic אושפיזין 'guests'): "to accommodate." During Sukkot Jews are especially encouraged to welcome strangers and guests into the sukkah. Such guests are the ushpizin.
More specifically, during Sukkot we pray the ushpizin prayer to welcome the seven "exalted guests" into the sukkah. These ushpizin are the seven shepherds of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David. According to tradition, each night a different guest enters the sukkah followed by the other six. Each of the ushpizin has a unique lesson to impart.
Y'shua: the real name of "Jesus"
Y'shua HaMoshiach: Y'shua the Moshiach (Messiah).
Yeshiva: school
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