Letâs take a deeper dive into the time leading up to and surrounding that first Hanukkah. What does that era have to do with the texts known as The Apocrypha? What contributed to the rise of âapocalypticâ literature and its effect on Jewish culture? Join us as we prepare to celebrate Hanukkah and the arrival of the Light of the World!
Many ask each year: What are the Jewish Fall Holidays or Biblical Holidays? Here is an overview from a messianic perspective:
In Leviticus 23, we read about three holidays, commonly referred to as the âfall feasts.â The underlying fact that we should always keep in mind is that Scripture clarifies that these special seasons are not merely âJewishâ holidaysâthey are the Lordâs! In the opening of that chapter, Adonai clearly states: âSpeak to Bnei-Yisrael, and tell them: These are the appointed moadim of Adonai, which you are to proclaim to be holy convocationsâMy moadimâ (Lev 23:3/TLV).
Starting from the second night of Passover, the Bible encourages us to all become âPentecostalsâ by initiating a forty-nine-day minor festival culminating on the Day of PentecostââPentecost,â meaning âfifty.â The first fruits festival, known as âThe Counting of the Omerâ or simply âThe Omer,â marks a culmination of three unique historical events and has enormous significance in the life of a disciple of Yeshua – Jesus.
Each year, as we approach Passover and Easter, we start receiving questions about whether âThe Last Supperâ was a Passover Seder. Many Christians are surprised to learn that interpretations and theories vary widely about the nature of the meal Jesus shared with his disciples the night before His death.
What is the saddest day in Jewish History?
The most solemn day on the Jewish calendar is Tisha BâAvâthe ninth day of Av. It is a time for mourning as a community. On (or around) this day throughout history, many calamities have befallen the Jewish people. Consider some of these dark episodes…
The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 as the âbirth of the Church.â This language ostensibly implies the start of something new. However, we should be cautious of such terminology lest we fall into the trap of âreplacement theology.â The Pentecost event in Acts was not a replacement of Israel but rather the renewal of covenantal relationship and purpose with a radical expansion.
A Fire that Will Not Die “You will receive power… and you will be my witnesses…Acts 1:4,5,8 – The Resurrected Lord spent forty days with His disciples, preparing them to set the world on fire and carry out the Great Commission. However, He did not immediately send them out. Instead, He told them that they needed to wait and pray. While they knew the Father and spent years getting to know Yeshua, they would now need to receive and get to know the Ruach (the Hebrew word for âSpiritâ).
Shavuot / The Sinai event was several things wrapped in one; perhaps most significantly, the âWord became flesh and dwelt among usâ. In recounting the giving of the Law at Pentecost, Moses said, âAdonai came from Sinai and dawned on Bnei-Yisrael from Seir. He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came from the holy myriadsâ blazing fire for them from His right hand.â (Deuteronomy 33:2). Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks), also known as Pentecost, is the traditional Jewish celebration of the reception of the Torah. It occurs seven weeks or fifty days after the feast of Passover, hence its name (the Greek word ΠΔΜÏηÎșÎżÏÏÎź â PentÄkostÄ, meaning âfiftiethâ)
Firstfruits in the Bible holds significant spiritual and symbolic meaning for Followers of Yeshua – Jesus. The concept of firstfruits refers to the practice of dedicating the first and best portion of one’s harvest or income to God as an act of worship and gratitude. It is a way of acknowledging that all blessings come from God and expressing trust and reliance on His provision.
We see Passoverâs “core purpose” in Exodus 13:8, “You are to tell your son on that day saying, ‘It is because of what Adonai did for me when I came out of Egypt.'” In a previous “Holiday Mirrors” article, we briefly discussed how communal storytelling finds its zenith in Passover. We can say the same regarding the traditional liturgies of Easter (and the lead-up to it).
