The Christian Online Magazine -
Email Randy
What’s in a name?
Within our modern Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah begins the Jewish Days of Awe - - Yomim Noroim. The term rosh means, “head” and Hashanah means “the year.” This blessed celebration occurs at the beginning of the Jewish month of Tishri (7th month of the Jewish calendar) that generally falls in September. This season, the Jewish year 57?? begins September ?th at sundown.
Another term used to describe this celebration is Yom ha-Zikkaron – the Day of Remembering. Perhaps the closest biblical name for the holiday is the one which describes the event. It is the Day of Sounding the Shofar – Yom Teruah.
Our New Year’s Eve is not celebrated as other cultures with partying and revelry, but rather soberness and reflection. Many Jews believe that the Book of Life is opened on Rosh Hashanah. God then begins going over His checklist. In many ways Rosh Hashanah has been celebrated with little change since the first century of the Common Era following the Roman destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70AD.
“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: in the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns, holy convocation. Ye shall do no manner of servile work; and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the Lord." (XXXX:??)
In modern practice, three principal sections of the liturgy have been developed which make our lovely Rosh Hashanah services distinctive.
Malchiyot – kingship
Zichronet – remembrance
Shofarot – the sounding of ram’s horn
The first of these important concepts, malchiyot, teaches Jewish worshippers about the majesty and oneness of our God – King of the Universe.
The second, zichronos – remembrance, reminds us of God as creator and judge who is in covenant relationship with us.
Shofarot, gives the blessed hope of our Deliverer, who will come and redeem us as promised. Hence, the Messiah is a very important aspect of our celebration. When we hear the sound of the Shofar – a ram’s horn, we think of the great trumpet blast that will usher in the Messiah.
The season begins with our New Year and climaxes in Yom Kippur – our Day of Atonement.
The rabbis teach that we must obey the regular Sabbath prohibitions, and in addition, observant Jews must follow five basic restrictions to avoid profaning the somber occasion. We must fulfill the biblical injunction, “And you shall afflict your souls” (Numbers 29:7). The “afflictions” are as follows:
It is a fast day, therefore, no eating or drinking is allowed from sundown on the night prior to the festival – Erev Yom Kippur until sundown the following evening. This is to be adhered to by all healthy folk.
There is to be no bathing.
No one should anoint their bodies with oil.
Sexual intimacy is forbidden.
It is forbidden to wear leather shoes and some suggest going barefoot on that day.
The Un’saneh Tokef is generally recited during our Days of Awe. This famous prayer was developed during the Christian persecution of Jews during the Crusades. This poetic prayer speaks of the sanctity of God’s Day of Judgment. We read “The great shofar is sounded. A still, small voice is heard. This day even angels are alarmed, seized with fear and trembling as they declare: ‘the Day of Judgment is here!’” Then a mournful dirge is sung: “B’Rosh Hashanah, yi-ka-say-vun, yi-ka-say-vun, uv yom tzom kippur yay-cha-say-moon, yay-cha-say-moon.” The translation is as follows: “On Rosh Hashanah it is written and on Yom Kippur it is sealed.”
Yes, these are the “Days of Awe” and this is why Jews fast and afflict their souls on Yom Kippur. They beat their breasts and cry out for forgiveness.
During the days of penitence between these two solemn assemblies, observant Jews think about their sins and go to one another seeking forgiveness. There is a sense in which Jews understand the need to forgive one another if they are to find forgiveness. Certainly, this belief is one of many which the early Church imported into the faith of our forefathers.
“It is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any manner of work in that same day, that soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work; it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest, and ye shall afflict your souls” (Leviticus 23:28b-32).
One primary difference that can be readily identified between the Sabbath and the Day of Atonement relates to the punishment for disobeying the biblical injunctions. The violation of the Sabbath laws is punishable by execution by an earthly court, while the violation of the Yom Kippur laws is punishable by excision.
My favorite moment during the High Holidays is always on Rosh Hashanah during Shoforos.
As previously explained, the shofar is the horn of a ram. It is a tool of the season to call us to teshuvah – repentance. Jewish people hear this sound on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The blast is to stir them. Just as you wake up in the morning to the familiar sound of an alarm clock. When we hear the sound of the shofar, we should come to repentance. The correct usage of the instrument requires three basic notes.
Tekia, is on long blast. Shevarim is three short blasts, and teruah is nine staccato blasts. When the shofar is heard we are called to repentance. We are called to reflect on the condition of our souls.
Maimonides a great medieval Jewish sage, philosopher, and undoubtedly, one of our greatest teachers said the following regarding the shofar:
“You who are asleep wake up. Search your deeds and repent. Look into your souls you who indulge all year in trifles, amend your ways. Let each one of you give up his evil course and purpose.”
Brokeness is the Key
The “Days of Awe” are filled with reflection and solemnity. The Bible presents a truth about the need for a broken spirit and a contrite heart. Judaism accepts this view and vividly paints the picture that can teach all of us to humbly approach God. Being broken before God is more than the key to humility. It is a very special language that the God of Israel understands and hears with compassion. He desires to listen often and carefully to His repentant children.
For a Happy New Year: Repent!
The greeting offered to one another during the holiday season is l’shanah tovah tikohtavu. “May you be inscribed for a good year.” This is a very real blessing to offer. The Rosh Hashanah prayer service focuses on s’lichos – the penitential prayers. During this segment of the service we make confession to God for our sins. We ask monumental questions during our High Holiday liturgy.
Who shall live and who shall die? Who will perish by fire, and who by water? Who by the sword, and who by wild beasts? Who by hunger and who by thirst? Who by earthquake and who by the plague? Who shall become rich and who shall become poor?
We ask many of these things of God and after each section of this somber prayer we speak with faith, “Penitence, prayer, and charity can avert the evil decree.”
The specialized services celebrated during Yom Kippur are of particular importance and beauty. This unique liturgy is geared to help each Jewish person come to grips with their needs before God. The special fast from food and water also involves a lengthy time of prayer, worship, and fellowship in the synagogue. One finds himself surrounded by family, friends, and members of the Jewish community. The spirit of repentance often dwells in the sweetness of the synagogue. Repentance must first be horizontal and only then can it be vertical. In essence, we must first make peace with our fellow man before we can satisfy God’s requirements and then find peace with Him. We must seek forgiveness from those whom we have wronged if we are to find forgiveness from God.
While Rosh Hashanah represents the opening of the Book of Life, Yom Kippur represents the time when God is closing the Book of Judgments or the account books for the year. We focus on God during this precious season of prayer.
On Erev Yom Kippur we hear Kol Nidrei chanted. It is from this prayer that the Kol Nidre service gets its name. It is intoned with a solemn melody and the intensity of the moment echoes in the soul. This famous prayer is actually an Aramaic legal formula that annuls all unresolved vows that were made during the year. It is a protection against rash or coerced oaths that cannot or should not be fulfilled.
Another element to this season focuses attention on a very interesting character--Azazel: our Scapegoat.
Azazel is often identified as a demonic figure to whom the sin-laden scapegoat was sent on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:8, 10, 26). The Hebrew word has been traditionally understood as a phrase meaning “the goat that escapes,” giving us the word “scapegoat.” But the light of modern research, both this interpretation and those that understand it as a place name are incorrect. The word is a proper name and means something like “angry god.” Leviticus 16 informs us that two goats were chosen by Aaron. After casting lots, one goat was presented to the Lord and sacrificed as a sin-offering. The other goat, Azazel, was released into the wilderness as an atonement. In essence, our sins were placed on another.
Considering the sanctity of this season, one urgent question must be asked. Is Fasting Enough?
In case you wondered how Jewish people understand forgiveness, rabbinic Judaism rests primarily on fasting to afflict the soul, and forgiveness to cleanse the soul.
Within the famous eighteen blessings of the amidah, the fifth blessing calls for teshuvah, which means “repentance.” This is followed by the sixth blessing of selihah, which is “forgiveness.”
I must say that I believe in fasting and repentance. I also believe in forgiveness. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the Bible offers little support for atonement resting upon these actions alone. The Bible suggests that repentance, fasting, and forgiveness, must typically be accompanied by a sacrifice for sins. The Hebrew prophet Isaiah warned the children of Israel not to waste time fasting for religious satisfaction. He said: “Is such the fast that I have chosen? The day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?” (Isa. 58:5).
God wants more than religious formality. God answered his own question with this exhortation: “is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the fetters of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and that ye break every yoke? (Isa 58:6).”
He wants us to set the captives free, feed the hungry and live in the service of compassion! God had His mind set on mitzvoth.
Mitzvoth – good deeds, are very important, but make no mistake about true kippur (atonement). Only Jesus can pay the price to atone for your sins. Fasting or praying without a sacrifice is not enough. Both Jews and non-Jews need forgiveness. This can be found in our Jewish Messiah. I believe that Jesus is Messiah! As such, I believe that He paid the price for my sins. Do you? Would you like to know more? Call today.
Copyright 2002 by Randy Weiss, Ph.D
Randy Weiss, Ph.D., is a Jewish believer in Jesus serving in ministry since 1973. He is the host of CrossTalk, a weekly TV show nominated for National Religious Broadcasters TV Program of the Year 2000. His program focuses attention on the Jewish festivals, Israel, the Jewish origins of the Church. Through CrossTalk, Randy boldly reaches out to change lives with the radical truth of his Jewish Savior! Dr. Weiss is Dean of Jewish Studies at Columbia Evangelical Seminary and an adjunct faculty member of Global University. Randy serves on the TV Committee of the NRB. He is the American representative of the Australian Christian Channel serving U.S. ministries and Christian TV networks in their international syndication efforts. Randy is a prolific song-writer and author. Randy is married with 6 children and 3 grandchildren.
As a devoted friend of Israel leading tours to the Holyland, Randy gladly invites you to join him on his next Holy Land tour. If you are interested in visiting Israel, call 1-800-688-3422 for a tour brochure. He has also prepared an insightful 4-part series of articles about the “Myths of Islam” that he would like to send you if you are interested. There is no obligation and the printed series is FREE. To receive your copy, please contact Randy at CrossTalk, P.O. Box 2528, Cedar Hill, Texas 75106-2528. Send e-mail to him at randy@crosstalk.org. Please send Randy your comments on this article and remember to pray for the ministry of Dr. Weiss.
