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Rosh Hashanah and the Fall Feasts
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Jewish New Year or the Feast of Trumpets, is a time of repentance and resolutions for the coming year. This celebration is both solemn and joyful, and is marked by prayers and by the making of a special meal. Rosh Hashanah occurs on a different calendar date each year, but it is celebrated on the first and second days of the Hebrew month "Tishrei".
How to celebrate Rosh Hashanah
Foods are cooked as much ahead as possible. Avoid bitter or sour foods. You don't want THOSE symbols of the new year!) You might like to have an earth cake. We are celebrating the birthday of the world! Use candles in it to represent the Light of the world. Or a crown to show that He is King over all the earth!
Job 38:
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Maybe read the creation account in Narnia while eating the cake.
Set the table with your best signifying the importance of the festival. Include flowers if you like. The table should also be set with 2 candles, matches, a goblet of wine, 2 round challah loaves, a nearby bowl and towel.
Choose a song or songs to sing before dinner.
When dinner is ready (at sundown) on the evening Rosh Hashanah begins, blow a horn to gather the family together to eat.
While everyone is still standing, read:
Isa 60:1
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
Rom 13:11-12 Another reason for right living is this: you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed.
1 Thess 5:6-7 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Watch for his return and stay sober.
Eph 5:14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
Sing a song if you like!
Mom prays and lights the candles as the sun is setting. Before the candles are lit, she prays:
Blessed is the Lord, who is our Sabbath rest; grant us rest on this Sabbath day (as Rosh Hashanah falls on the Sabbath this year!), send Your blessing that we may walk in the ways of Your Word and Your light. We rejoice in Your creation! It is from You that we receive every good and perfect gift. Giver of life and love, grant us our peace, thru Jesus Christ our Lord.
Then she lights the first candle, and prays, "This candle represents creation. "Blessed is the Lord who brings forth light out of darkness."
Then Mom lights the second candle and prays: "This candle represents redemption. Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world.' He also told us that 'We are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.' Father, Light our lives with the great love of Your Son, Jesus, in whose name we pray."
Then, Dad prays as he leads in the communion ceremony. (Two white candles, matches, cup of wine, bowl of water and a towel, 2 loaves of bread (or two rolls) covered by a napkin.)
Everyone should search their heart and ask God's forgiveness for their sins.
The cup is passed and everyone takes a sip. Hands are washed and blessed. The knives on the table should be covered before blessing the bread. (Use round loaves for this special occasion.) The challah is blessed and broken, each person tearing off their own piece to eat.
Next, hands are laid on each child and a blessing prayed over them individually for their special gifts.
After this, everyone is seated and the meal is served. Fish and carrots are traditional, as well as harvest foods. Have special foods and make your own traditions! Apples dipped in honey! (Read verses about His words being sweet as honey.)
After the meal, grace is said.
Deut 8:10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.
Read Gen 22:1-14. Talk about how it was a picture of how Christ would come to be our sacrifice.
Have an enjoyable evening of relaxing and being together.
The Ceremony of Tashlikh
A custom still widely observed is the ceremony of Tashlikh, consisting of the symbolic casting of one's sins into a river, lake, or other body of water on the afternoon of the first day of the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) OR the second day if the first coincides with a Sabbath. (This is possibly taken from Micah 7:19, but is only a more recent tradition.)
We have used bread, but stones picked up along the way are also used. Walk to the body of water and throw your "sins" as far from you as you can. Picture them being washed away and determine to keep yourself clean before the Lord.
Fall Feasts
Feast of the Trumpets
Rosh Hashanah
Day of Atonement
Yom Kippur
Feast of Tabernacles
Succot
Passover
These are the Fall Feasts. Passover is the most well known of the 7 feasts and Passover includes the Feast of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Firstfruits. Those are the Spring feasts. There is a feast in the middle of the Spring and Fall feasts that we know as Pentecost Sunday. It is the Feast of Weeks. (It's confusing because these all have alternative names!) Probably the least well known of all the feasts are the fall feasts.
More information about Jewish festivals:
Yeshua's Light
Precious Holidays - A site of Messianic-Christian holidays!
