Sukkot day 8 (and 9 outside Israel) - Shemini Atzaret & Simchat Torah

Feather, J.Stahl

Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17
Numbers 29:35-30:1
1 Kings 8:54:66
Matthew 17:1-9
Mark 12:28-33

V'zot Haberakah

Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12
Genesis 1
Mark 12:28 - 33
Luke 22:44-53
Romans 7:21 – 25
Revelation 22:1-5

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are preceded by Sukkot, again seven days followed by one day, but here there is no intervening period as there is between Pesach and Shavuot. Shemini Atzeret is the eighth day--that is, the day after seven. Seven, being a perfect number in Judaism, signifies a complete unit of time--each week ends with the seventh day, Shabbat. Thus, the eighth day is the day after time. It is the end of both kinds of time. It is thus not just the promise of redemption but the actual moment of it. God said, "Remain with me [atzeret] an extra day," a time beyond time.
Shemini Atzeret is a taste of the messianic, of the time when Torah, the Holy One, and Israel will be one. This comes to a climax with Simchat Torah. Instead of circling around the Torah scrolls as we did on Sukkot, during hoshanot we circle with the Torah scrolls. We take the connecting link between us and God--our ketubah [marriage contract], as it were--and circle around an apparently; empty space that is filled with the One who fills everything.
My Jewish Learning

 The Hakafot of Simchat Torah

More on Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah songs

NJOP: Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
Virtual Jerusalem: Rejoicing in Simchat Torah
News Piece on the Vatikain Prayer service
"What is Simchat Torah?" from Holy Land Moments
Hebrew4Christians
Vzot HaBrachah from Kehilat Tenuvah

On Shemini Atzeret, Jews no longer wave the Four Species that included the etrog (citron) and lulav (palm frond, myrtle and willow branches), and Sukkot is no longer mentioned in the day’s prayers. Outside of Israel, Jews still eat in the Sukkah, (without a blessing) until the evening, when Simchat Torah begins.
Candles are lit with the blessings “Ner Shel Yom Tov” (the candle of the Holiday) and “Shehechiyanu” (who has granted us life). Outside Israel, candles on the second day, Simchat Torah, are lit from an existing flame. Sabbath candles are lit on Friday 18 minutes before sundown, with the usual blessing, “Ner shel Shabbat” (the Sabbath candles).
IsraelNN

If Yeshua was born on the first day of Sukkot then he would have been circumcised on the "eighth great day" a festival following Sukkot. This day was the original "Simchat Torah" (Rejoicing in the Torah), which is now held the following day in Rabbinic Judaism. So Yeshua would have entered the covenant on the day of "rejoicing in the Torah."

The year I realised that Y'shua was lifted up, wearing swaddling clothes after his brit milah, before everyone, carried around, quite possibly danced with - and the blessing of both Anna and Simeon, I was overwhelmed. The story never seemed more real, as I watched the Torah being brought out, rewound, wrapped up and re-dressed, marched and danced with by the men of my home congregation.

 Lyrics here

Sukkot day 7 - Hoshanah Rabbah

Feather, J.Stahl

Numbers 29:26-34

The seventh (and last) day of Sukkot is called Hoshana Rabbah (the Great Salvation), a climactic day of praise to [HaShem] that was viewed by the rabbis as following the sequence of Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah judgement is presented, Yom Kippur judgement is sealed, Hoshana Rabbah judgement is delivered.

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Fall_Holidays/Hoshana_Rabbah/hoshana_rabbah.html

   

On the seventh day of the feast, the Temple water-pouring ceremony, which is performed each morning throughout the week, takes on great importance. Jewish tradition holds that it is on this day that G-d decides whether there will be rain for the next year’s crops. Instead of three silver-trumpet blasts, there are seven sets of three blasts.

Rather than one circuit around the altar, the priests make seven  circuits. It is during this ceremony that Yeshua stands up and  shouts, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink!..."

This is also when the Torah Scrolls are "rewound" to Genesis

Sukkot day 6

Feather, J.Stahl

Numbers 29:26-31

Sukkot day 5

Feather, J.Stahl

Numbers 29:23-28

 

Sukkot day 4

Feather, J.Stahl

Numbers 29:20-25

 

An Ashkenazic Look at Sephardic Sukkot Customs  - Jews for Jesus
This does not mean I am endorsing J4J - I just really liked this article and cannot find it elsewhere.

Sukkot day 3

Feather, J.Stahl

Exodus 33:12-34:26

Ezekiel 38:18-39:16
Ecclesiastes (whole book)

I know it is a little late, but the rocker Bono has released a PDF about Sukkot as well, trying to build up some support for some charity efforts in the Horn of Africa. Remember, that this time of year is one of the biggest times to give Tzedakah for those who cannot celebrate the feast, or those who have simple needs we can provide!!!  I may not agree with Bono on many, many things - but this is one thing I can stand behind that he is doing.

Chag Sameach!

Sukkot day 2

Feather, J.Stahl

Leviticus 22:26-23:44
Numbers 29:12-16
1 Kings 8:2-21
John 1:10-14
Revelation 7:1-10; 21:1-4

Sukkot day 1

Feather, J.Stahl

 

Leviticus 22:26-23;44

Numbers 29:12-29:16

Zecheriah 14:1-21

John 1:10-14

Revelation 7:1-10, 21:1-4

  Psalms 113-118 (all week)

The four species are also held and waved during the Hallel prayer in religious services, and are held during processions around the bimah (the pedestal where the Torah is read) called hakafot each day during the holiday. These processions commemorate similar processions around the altar of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. This part of the service is known as Hoshanot, because while the procession is made, we recite a prayer with the refrain, "Hosha na!" (please save us!). On the seventh day of Sukkot, seven circuits are made. For this reason, the seventh day of Sukkot is known as Hoshanah Rabbah (the great Hoshanah).
From Judaism 101

The sukkah is called by our sages, "refuge of faith." As is the shelter that comes from faith and trust in G-d, and every Israelite may be entitled to this by dwelling in the sukkah.
-Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov

Congregation Etz Hayim - Sukkot

The Ushpizin

Feather, J.Stahl

אושפיזין

The Ushpizin (Holy Guests)

The Ushpizin are the seven hidden hosts who, according to Jewish lore, visit each succah during the seven-day festival. This refers to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David. The origin of this visitation can be found in a verse of Zohar,

    "When a person is seated in his succah, Abraham and six distinguished visitors partake of his company." (Zohar 5:103b)

Each in turn ushers the others into the succah during the subsequent days of the holiday. Source

"When a person sits in his Sukkah the Shechina (G-d's Divine Presence) spreads its wings (metaphor) over it from above and then Avraham together with the other five Tzadikim (Yitzchak, Yaakov, Yosef, Moshe and Aharon) and King David dwell together with him." - Zohar - Parshat Emor.
Ohr Somayach

Recently, it has become popular in some circles to invite matriarchs and other important women of Israel--Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, Leah, Miriam, Abigail, and Esther--either paired with the men or on their own.


It is tradition to either invite less fortunate guests to your sukkah, or to give tzedakah in the name of the Ushpizin. The sages explain, the only true joy is shared joy. "And you shall rejoice in your festival --you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, who are within your cities." (Deuteronomy 12:12)

  The Zohar (Emor 103a), after explaining the Ushpizin, continues:

"One must also gladden the poor, and the portion [that would otherwise have been set aside for these Ushpizin] guests should go to the poor. For if a person sits in the shadow of faith and invites those guests and does not give their portion [to the poor], they all remain distant from him...One should not say "I will first satisfy myself with food and drink, and I shall give the leftovers to the poor." Rather, the first of everything must be for one's guests. If one gladdens his guests and satisfies them, God rejoices over him. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the others shower him..."

We are to invite not only the guests, but the quality of those guests into our lives during Sukkot.

• 1st Day: The attribute of "Benevolence" and "Love" -- personified in Abraham.
• 2nd Day: The attribute of "Restraint," and "Discipline" -- personified in Isaac.
• 3rd Day: The attribute of "Beauty", "Harmony" and "Truth" -- personified in Jacob.
• 4th Day: "Victory" and "Endurance" -- personified in Moses.
• 5th Day: "Splendor" and "Humility" -- personified in Aaron.
• 6th Day: "Foundation" and "Connection" -- personified in Joseph.
• 7th Day: "Sovereignty", "Receptiveness" and "Leadership" -- personified in David.

A great movie was made several years ago about the practice of inviting in Ushpizin (regardless of how well off you are) called "Ushpizin" and made by Shuli Rand and his wife Mechal Bat Sheva Rand. If you have not seen it already - definitely check it out! It's in Hebrew, but has English subtitles.

Mark chapter 9
² Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, ³ and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. ⁴ Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.
   ⁵ Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶ He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.
   ⁷ Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” ⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.
   ⁹ As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”
--New Living Translation

 The Midrash Rabbah anticipates Moses and Elijah to herald the advent of Messiah:

    The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, "Moses, by your life, just as you have given your soul for Israel in This World, so in the Future to Come, when I bring them the prophet Elijah, the two of you will come as one... In that hour [Moses] will come and comfort Israel... (Deuteronomy Rabbah 3:17)

Sukkot is also known as the Festival of the Clouds:
R. Eliezer said, "It has been taught: 'I had the Israelites live in Sukkot,' These Sukkot were clouds of glory." (Sukkah 11b)

Isaiah 4

² But in that day, the branch of the Lord
      will be beautiful and glorious;
   the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory
      of all who survive in Israel.
    ³ All who remain in Zion
      will be a holy people—
   those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem
      and are recorded among the living.
    ⁴ The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion
      and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains
      with the hot breath of fiery judgment.
    ⁵ Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion
      and all who assemble there.
   He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day
      and smoke and flaming fire at night,
      covering the glorious land.
    ⁶ It will be a shelter from daytime heat
      and a hiding place from storms and rain.

Zecheriah 14

 ⁸ On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter.

   ⁹ And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped.

¹⁶ In the end, the enemies of Jerusalem who survive the plague will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters. ¹⁷ Any nation in the world that refuses to come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, will have no rain. ¹⁸ If the people of Egypt refuse to attend the festival, the Lord will punish them with the same plague that he sends on the other nations who refuse to go. ¹⁹ Egypt and the other nations will all be punished if they don’t go to celebrate the Festival of Shelters.

Make sure you check out Firstfruits of Zion's "In the Shadow of the Almighty" article, as well as Hebrew4Christian's pages on Sukkot.

For those of us with children, there are some kids' crafts that can be done. Since I have toddlers, this one from ChallahCrumbs looks like one we will do this year.

Chag Sameach!

Sukkot

Flower, photo by J.Stahl

Chag Sameach! Have a joyous feast of tabernacles!

Sukkot

“33 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 34 Speak unto the children of Israel , saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. 35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.”
(See Leviticus 23:33 – 44)


This seven day feast of Sukkot / Booths / Tabernacles ... is a memorial of the time when the children of Israel lived in booths in the wilderness while coming from Egypt to Canaan . This symbolizes that our lives are transitory, lived in the tabernacles of our bodies for a short span of years before we stand before Yahweh in judgment. Those who have received Yeshua as Saviour will enter into His rest / Shabbat (Ivrim / Hebrews 4:1-11). It also pictures the 1,000 year reign of Yeshua haMashiach over the earth after His second coming (Revelation 20:4). Mankind will at last be restored to a right relationship with Yahweh Elohim (Yesha’yahu / Isaiah 11:9-10).

Sukkot is called the "Season of Our Joy." One reason Sukkot was a time of joy was that after the season of repentance and the redemption of Yom Kippur came the joy of knowing your sins were forgiven and the joy of walking with Yahweh, knowing Yahweh, and being obedient to Yahweh.

Sukkot has two prophetic fulfillments. The first is at Yeshua’s first coming, as we see in Yochanan / John 1:14

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Yeshua came to earth the first time during Sukkot. This was the time of His birth. Let’s consider the following brief outline:

1. Yochanan the Immerser / John the Baptizer was conceived – Luke 1:5 – 25. It was during the ministration of Abiyah (Abia). This order of priests ministered in the Temple the eighth week of the Hebrew year according to the ordinance of 1 Chronicles 24:10 (and according to the Talmud). The eighth week spans the last week of the second Hebrew month of Iyar and the first week of the third Hebrew month of Sivan, which culminates at Shavuot (Pentecost). This is date is essential for knowing the time of Yeshua’s birth.

2. Yeshua was conceived – Luke 1:26 – 55. It was during the sixth month of Elizabeth ’s pregnancy that the angel, Gabriel appeared unto Mary and revealed her own near pregnancy. This would be the last of the ninth Hebrew month called Kislev at the time of Chanukah. There are 27 weeks between the end of the course of Abiyah and the start of Chanukah (Dedication), which is celebrated eight days, from Kislev 25 to Tevet. Thus we see Yeshua was conceived during the celebration of Chanukah, for He is the Light of the World.

3. The Birth of Yochanan – Luke1:56-80 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months, which was until the birth of Yochanan. Since a full pregnancy term is 41 weeks, and 27 weeks makes up the first six months (two trimesters), which is exactly the time from the discourse of Abiyah to Chanukah, that leaves 14 weeks to accomplish the last trimester and bring the pregnancy to full term. There are exactly 14 weeks from Chanukah to Passover (Nisan 14-22). Therefore, Yochanan the Immerser was born at Passover. He was circumcised on the eighth day, which would be the last day of Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread. Gabriel had said that John would “go forth” in the strength and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Traditional Judaism tells us that Elijah will come at Passover.

4. The Birth of Yeshua – Luke 2. Yochanan was born in Nisan which is the first month of the Hebrew year. As we have shown, Mary conceived six months after Elizabeth ’s conception, which means Yeshua’s birth would have to come six months after Yochanan’s birth, during the seventh Hebrew month of Tishri. Since we know that Yochanan was born at Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread, we learn the time of Yeshua’s birth by counting six Hebrew months from Passover. The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on Nisan 15 and six months later Tabernacles begins on Tishri 15. Therefore, Yeshua was born on the first day of Sukkot.
(Above outline adapted from a study by Rabbi Avner Solomon)

The second prophetic fulfillment of Sukkot is the 1,000 year reign of Yeshua at the end of the Tribulation Period, when Yeshua once again tabernacles with man. This forms a complete circle of prophetic fulfillment found in the festivals, a picture of eternity.

Now there is one more point that needs to be added before our conclusion: The Hebraic or Biblical day begins in the evening, as can be seen from the days of creation in B’reisheet chapter 1. Likewise, prophetically these days will also begin in the evening. The evening for the long day of Mashiach, the 1,000 year reign begins with the evening, or Tribulation period. At the end of the 1.000 year reign of Mashiach we have another evening portrayed, and it is found in Revelation 20:7 – 10.

“7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

This evening, which is hasatan’s final rebellion before he is cast into the Lake of Fire to be tormented forever and ever, and precedes the eighth day which Yahweh has set apart in Vayikra / Leviticus 23:36.

“Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.”

This additional day is a festival day unto itself, called Shemini Atzeret, which literally means “assembly of the eighth day.” It is because our host during Sukkot is Yahweh Elohim, Himself, and He desires that we stay another day, the “eighth day” which represents eternity. It is this day that we step into eternity with Yahweh, and there is no going back. The events of Revelation 21 and 22 take place during this time, and we are finally wedded to Yahweh in the Person of Yeshua haMashiach.

In conclusion I want to sum all things up. Just as Yeshua literally fulfilled the Spring festivals at His first coming: i.e. He was crucified on Passover, and at the time of His death (6th – 9th hour, Mattiyahu / Matthew 27:45, 46) was the time when the Passover lambs were to be sacrificed it grew dark early, for Yeshua is the Passover. Chag haMatzah / Festival of Unleaven Bread represents Yeshua’s death. This festival is seven days long. Seven is the number of completion, and as such represents that Yeshua’s death was the complete sacrifice needed, “one died for all ……” (II Corinthians 5:14) About halfway though this festival is Yom Bikkerim (Day of First Fruits) is the day Yeshua rose from the dead. This tells us that Yeshua is the first fruits of those who are asleep / dead and believe (I Corinthians 15:20 – 23). After the counting of the omer / fifty days later, we come to Shavuot, the day when Yahweh gave Torah to mankind. The church now calls it Pentecost, but it is the same day. The giving of Torah was the giving of a Ketubah / Wedding Contract, and all Israel became betrothed unto Yahweh. The giving of Ruach haKodesh / the Holy Spirit is the earnest (II Corinthians 1:22, 5:5) or engagement ring of that Ketubah / Wedding Contract.

In the same manner that Yeshua literally fulfilled the Spring Festivals, He will also fulfill the Fall festivals. The Rapture will occur on Yom Teruah (the day of the awakening blast, day of shouting and the last trumpet). At this time all believers, living and dead will join Mashiach and be with Him forevermore. This is the beginning of the Fall festivals. He does not return to Heaven, but stays to continue His mission. He pours out six of the bowl judgments of Revelation, and on Yom Kippur, after those remaining on earth have judgment passed upon them, because there are none who will repent, Yahweh will pour out the remaining bowl judgment. Then at Sukkot Yeshua will set up His Kingdom and dwell with men for 1,000 years.
These festivals, called chagim in the Hebrew, also have another Hebrew name. They are called mo’edim, which means rehearsals. In these last days, the Fall festivals are especially to be remembered, because they are rehearsals for the times which are about upon us.
-- Pastor Rick Taylor, zt"l

From Ariel Ben Lyman -
Sukkot Feast of Tabernacles Lev 23:33-36a
(Pt. A) 14.4 MB
(Pt. B) 9.8 MB

  

The Temple Institute on Sukkot

Chabad on Sukkot and Simchat Torah
 

Prayers for the Sukkah/Sukkot

Silly Sukkot Songs

Simchat Torah Songs

There is a theory on the Biblical dates for Messiah's Conception and Birth in this timeframe. See this blog article:  www.messianic.com/articles/dates.htm

There are several clues that Yeshua was born at Sukkot:
1. Bethlehem was "booked solid." This would not have been due census which would have taken place over the period of a year. Every Jew was required to come to Jerusalem for Sukkot (Dt. 16:16) this would have over run Jerusalem as well as Bethlehem just five miles away.
2. Yeshua was born in a stable. The Hebrew word for "stable" is "sukkah" (as in Gen. 33:17) so it is likely that Yeshua was born in a Sukkah/booth.
3. If Yeshua was born on the first day of Sukkot then he would have been circumcised on the "eighth great day" a festival following Sukkot. This day was the original "Simchat Torah" (Rejoicing in the Torah), which is now held the following day in Rabbinic Judaism. So Yeshua would have entered the covenant on the day of "rejoicing in the Torah."
4. When the angels appeared to the shepherds they made a statement which closely echoes the ancient Sukkot liturgy "...behold, we have come to declare to you glad tidings of great joy." (Lk. 2:10-11)
5. Sukkot is symbolic of God dwelling in a "tabernacle" (body?) with us...
Source

Since Miriam conceived when Elizabeth was six months pregnant, Yeshua was born six months after the birth of John. This brings us to the middle of Tishrei, the time of Sukkot. We cannot be 100% sure, but Tishrei 15, the first day of Sukkot, is the most likely birth date. Even the wording of John 1:14, confirms this. "The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us." The word "tabernacle" is the same word that the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Tenakh) uses to describe the booths that we are commanded to build on Sukkot (Leviticus 23:42).
Source

We know that when Yeshua was born, that there were shepherds tending to their flocks. The particular area where these shepherds were was for the flocks of lambs that would be used for the Passover sacrifices - a point that some might find interesting. These flocks were not out in the open fields during the winter. We know from the Mishna that they were taken into a protective corral from November through February. So that narrows the timing of His birth down a bit for us.
Source

First, we need to understand "the division of Abijah." We find in 1 Chronicles 24:1-19 that the descendants of Aaron's 24 grandsons (the sons of Eleazer and Ithamar) were divided into 24 divisions or courses for the purpose of serving at the Temple. 1 Chronicles 24:10 tells us that the 8th division of service was assigned to Abijah's descendants.
Each of these divisions served at the Temple for an eight-day period (1 Chr. 9:25). The service began and ended on the weekly Sabbath (2 Chr. 23:8). In addition to their normal service, all 24 courses served at the Temple during the three holy seasons every year. The Jewish Mishnah indicates that each course served a week during the first half of the year, the three annual festival weeks, and a week during the last half of the year, for a total of five weeks during a normal year.
Source

 Religious Information on Building a Sukkah
Building a Sukkah
My Jewish Learning: How to build a Sukkah
Building the Sukkah by Chabad
Hilchot Sukkah
OU - Sukkot Central
Hanefesh - Sukkot
Beth HaDerech (Messianic) - A quick survey of Sukkot
Aish.com - Building a Sukkah
Torah.org - "Leishev baSukkah," To Sit in the Sukkah - A Halachik Discussion
BiblicalHolidays.com - Information on Sukkot from a Messianic POV


Diagrams or videos
How to make a Sukkah (PDF)
Sukkah plans
Sukkah construction diagram from Ritual Well

Yom Kippur

Purple Tea Roses - Photo by J. Stahl

Leviticus 16:1-16:34 & Numbers 29:7-29:11
The Book of Jonah, Isaiah 57:14-58:14; Micah 7:18-20
Matthew 25

Yom Kippur

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God."
(See: Leviticus 23:26 – 32)


After Yom Teruah there is a fifteen day period during which one more festivals is celebrated, Yom Kippur...

According to traditional Judaism, the Ten Days of Awe between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur are for the people to have a final chance at repentance before the books are closed and the gates of Heaven are sealed...

Yom Kippur / Day of Atonement symbolizes the reconciliation of Yahweh and all mankind. Both the Passover and the Day of Atonement teach us about the forgiveness of sin and our reconciliation with Yahweh through Mashiach Yeshua’s sacrifice. However, although the Passover is applied personally for all whom trust in Yeshua for salvation, Yom Kippur carries universal implications. Even though it speaks nationally of Israel who were delivered from Egyptian bondage (being a slave to the world system), it was appropriated personally through each household having make preparation of the Pesach Lamb. Moreover, the Day of Atonement pictures an essential additional step in .

God's salvation plan is not to be found in the symbolism of the Passover. All people suffer the tragic consequences of sin, and in Passover we see that the judgment is removed from us. However, this doesn’t take care of sin. Yom Kippur involves not only the forgiveness of sin; it pictures the removal of sin. We see this in the ceremony that was followed by Israel for centuries during Yom Kippur, and outlined in Vayikra / Leviticus 16:1 – 28. Without recounting the whole passage, I will just outline the ceremony in part.

Two goats were brought before cohen hagadol / the high priest, and by the process of lots, one was chosen to be a sacrifice and the other for a scapegoat. The sacrificial goat was offered for the sins of all Israel and pictures the death of Yeshua haMashiach for our sin. The scapegoat had the hands of cohen hagadol laid upon him, thus symbolically transferring the sins of the people of Israel to its head, then it was lead outside of the camp into and area where no man dwelt, and released. Tradition says it was pushed off a cliff, but there is no Scriptural backing for this. Also, many have tried to make hasatan a co-redeemer, by claiming the scapegoat was a type of hasatan who would bear our sins into the Lake of Fire when he was cast there in Revelation 20. Again there is no Scriptural support for this view. What it really represents is the secondary purpose of Mashiach. While Yeshua haMashiach died in our place, He also bore our sins and carried them away. Let’s look at a couple of references to substantiate this:

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Ivrim / Hebrews 9:28)

“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” (Yochanan Alef / I John 3:5)

Mashiach was to bear our sins, and He was to take them away.  Furthermore in Micah 7:19 we read: “He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”

And in a similar vein in Tehillim / Psalm 103:12 we read: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Thus we see that Mashiach fulfills the position of both goats, the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat. In the future Yom Kippur, not only will we have full realization of the removal of our sins, but it will also be the time when the rest of the word who has not repented be judged as guilty. Then will come the final bowl judgments.
--Torah Teacher Rick Taylor zt"l

Parents customarily bless their children with the priestly benediction and often with an additional special blessing... “May it be the will of our Father in Heaven to put into your heart love and reverence for Him. May the reverence for God accompany you all the days of your life that you may not commit sin. May your longing be for the Bible and God's commandments. May your eyes be directed straight, your mouth speak wisdom, your heart strive for holiness. May your hands be occupied with good deeds and your feet hasten to do the will of your Father in Heaven. May He give you pious sons and daughters who will occupy themselves with Torah and good deeds all the days of their lives; may your womb be blessed. May He grant you sustenance through legitimate means, without stress and with profit, out of His hand that is wide open and not through the handouts of other human beings. May this sustenance direct you toward the service of God. May you be inscribed and sealed unto a good, long life, you and all the righteous of Israel. Amen.”  -International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

The Jewish people believe that on this day God enters his verdict in books which are sealed. This day is, essentially, according to "Judaism 101," your last appeal, your last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate your repentance and to make amends. At the beginning of Yom Kippur in the synagogues the cantors sing the Kol Nidrei ( "All vows"), which is a fascinating disclaimer, with its touching melodic phrases:

"All personal vows we are likely to make, all personal oaths and pledges we are likely to take between this Yom Kippur and the next Yom Kippur, we publicly renounce. . . . Let our personal vows, pledges and oaths be considered neither vows nor pledges nor oaths."

The leader and the congregation then say together three times, "May all the people of Israel be forgiven, including all the strangers who live in their midst, for all the people are in fault." 

In the synagague services as Yom Kippur ends, there will be a long shofar blast. Ten days ago, Yom Teruah, the "day of alarm/shouting," is also called the Feast of Trumpets, but the word trumpet (shofar) is not mentioned in the Bible concerning Yom Teruah. Now think about this: Leviticus actually stipulates that today a shofar is to sound on Yom Kippur.

"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." (Hebrews 3: 15)

The service at the end of Yom Kippur is often called THE CLOSING OF THE GATES.

It is said that "Yom Kippur is the happiest day of the year, for on this day the Holy One, Blessed be He, atones for Israel." The feeling of joyful anticipation is palpable. After many arduous weeks of intensive soul-searching and reflection, stock-taking and personal assessment, we arrive at this most solemn of days, ready to stand before our Creator in judgment.
 -The Temple Institute

Additional reading:
Ariel Ben Lyman's PDF on Yom Kippur


National Jewish Outreach on Yom Kippur
The Temple Institute: Yom Kippur in The Holy Temple
One Torah For All's PDF teaching on Yom Kippur 2010
Rabbi Jonathan Cahn's (of "Hope of the World" radio program) congregation Beth Israel Yom Kippur service on Youtube
All about Yom Kippurim
The Fear of Yom Kippur
The Torah Tablets of Yom Kippur (PDF)
A Yom Kippur Lifestyle (PDF)
Virtual Jerusalem's Ask the Rabbi: The Shofar on Yom Kippur

Jonah

"Jonah Cast Forth By the Whale" by Gustave Dore (d. 1883)
Wikipedia Commons

Jonah the Prophet is generally read on Yom Kippur. I think in a way, we all can identify with this prophet. According to tradition Jonah was the boy brought back to life by Elijah the prophet.   Something I never noticed before this year, is that when Jonah was praying, he repeats the 13 attributes of G-d failing to say the last one which is "Truthful", and changed it to "...who is willing to forgive the bad". You will find reference to the 13 attributes in my post on Rosh Hashanah.

You can read the book of Jonah in the New Living Translation here. Chapter 1, 2, 3 and 4.