YOM TERUAH – FEAST of TRUMPETS / commonly known as Rosh Hashanah (head of the year)
The Mo’edim: Yom Teruah
These are the holy days (Leviticus 23:23-25) that Adonai gave us to celebrate Him, commemorate His works, and set times and seasons for life and redemption. The Fall Holy Days include Yom Teruah; Day of Trumpets, Yom Kippur; Day of Atonement, and Sukkot – Feast of Booths or Tabernacles. Each Holy Day is to be observed by all who choose to enjoin themselves to YHWH and choose to do His commandments.
This teaching is designed to look at this mo’ed of YHWH, Yom Teruah in a very brief and concise way. The questions we will address in this teaching are What is Yom Teruah?, Who commanded that we observe it? Who is required to observe it? and What does it signal or points to in terms of redemption?
What is Yom Teruah? Who commanded us to observe this festival?
Sounding the alarm. It is a call to teshuvah, which is repentance and turning.
Simply put, Yom Teruah is translated Day of Trumpets. We can refer to Leviticus 23; 23-25 which reads as follows:
Fall Holy Days
23 Adonai spoke to Moses saying: 24 “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a Shabbat rest, a memorial of blowing (shofarot),[e] a holy convocation. 25 You are to do no regular work, and you are to present an offering made by fire to Adonai.” (TLV)
From the above reference, we learn that 1. Yom Teruah is a Shabbat, 2. It is a day of rest. 3. It is a holy day. 4. On this day we are to do no regular work and 5. we are to present an offering.
Who is to observe this holy day? B’nei Yisrael.
And we, Bnei- Yisrael; The Children of Israel, followers of YHWH, are to observe this mo’edim. However, we also learn that all those who connect themselves to YHWH through Bnei Yisrael are to observe this mo’edim. This instruction includes gentiles who enjoin themselves to YHWH.
Numbers 15:15-16
The community is to have the same rules for you and the alien living among you; this is a lasting
ordinance for generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before (YHWH) the
LORD: The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among
you.’” (TLV)
Most Important. Who commanded that we observe this Holy Day annually? God Almighty! Himself requires that we observe this Holy Day .
23 Adonai spoke to Moses saying: 24 “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a Shabbat rest, a memorial of blowing (shofarot),[e] a holy convocation.’ This is HASHEM’s command to and for us.
Yom Teruah is the first of the Fall Holy Days or Mo’edim. It is not a feast day, but it is an appointed day. It marks the beginning of the Yamim Nora’im; 10 Days of Awe, that leads to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. On the day of Yom Teruah we sound the shofars. The sounding of the trumpets/shofars warn of a call to battle, the signal to march, or the shout of triumphant joy.
Yom Teruah is not just a time to renew our resolve to lose another fifteen pounds. It’s the time when we are to seriously reflect on our actions and the intent of our hearts. During this time, when our fate stands in the balance, as G‑d reviews our past year and decides whether or not to renew our lease on His planet, we are to judge ourselves by Adonai’s standards and requirements and repent; and do teshuvah. Judge ourselves lest we be judged.
In the latter days, the sound of the trumpet will signal the final redemption and the arrival of the Messiah. May it happen soon and in our days.
How do we observe Yom Teruah?
We light candles and worship with prayers, blessings, songs, Davidic dance, and sounding of the shofar. We conclude our service with Oneg; which is a fellowship with food consisting of rounded challah bread, apple desserts, apples dipped in honey, as well as other foods.
There you have it, in a nutshell. Should you have any questions or would like more information about Yom Teruah and its observance, please feel free to contact us. Our contact information is on the Contact page. Again we extend the invitation to join us for Yom Teruah and if this teaching has been or is a blessing to you please consider subscribing and supporting our mission to teach Torah to all who desire to learn of YHWH and walk in His Ways.
Shalom and Blessings
“Ketivah v’chatima tovah”(כתיבה וחתימה טובה) “A good inscription and sealing [in the Book of Life].”
Reference Links
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+15%3A+15-16&version=TLV
https://www.nehemiahswall.com/yom-teruah-2015
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4644/jewish/Rosh-Hashanah.htm