Rosh HaShanah: Various Names, Themes, and Idioms
- Teshuvah (repentance)
- Rosh HaShanah (Head of the Year, Birthday of the World) (Revelation tells us that a New Heaven and a New Earth would come down in Jerusalem. Y’shua told us that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand because of His arrival!)
- Yom Teruah (the Day of the Awakening Blast) (Man gains the ability to be Born of the Spirit of God!)
- Yom HaDin (the Day of Judgment) (This arrival of the Messiah brought the fullness of grace and the New and Everlasting Covenant at His death and resurrection.)
- HaMelech (the Coronation of the Messiah) (Fuliflled when Y’shua sat on a donkey and rode into Jerusalem hailed as Son of David!)
- Yom HaZikkaron (the Day of Remembrance or memorial) (Believers should take communion to celebrate and remember Him as He says.)
- The time of Jacob’s (Ya’akov) trouble (the birthpangs of the Messiah, Chevlai shel Mashiach) (March 2001, at Pesach, the Judaic Council convened at the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) and announced that this year began the year of Jacob’s trouble and proclaimed that the Diaspora was ended-all Jews from all over the world were to return to Israel before it is too late to do so in peace…
- The opening of the gates (the gates of hell were opened to release the prisoners and the Gates of Heaven were opened for the first time since creation to receive man…WOW!
- The resurrection of the dead (rapture, natza1) (many souls were seen in Jerusalem on the day of Y’shua’s death at the cross because He fulfilled this by releasing the captives in Sheol)
- The last trump (shofar) (This will happen at the fullness of time. We will be united with Y’shua in the air which will be the manifestation of our spirits IN Him…then the Father will take from His side the rib of the last Adam and form the Bride of Christ!)
- Kiddushin/Nesu’in (the wedding ceremony) (happens after the above)
- Yom Hakeseh (the hidden day) (no one knows the day or the hour when Y’shua will come again, just as they didn’t know it the first time and many missed His coming.)
Names are recorded in the Book of Life! (This was made possible for the first time because of the ministry of Y’shua in the Earth!) Jews all over the world say, “Chatima Tova!” — which means, Good Signing in the Book of Life!
Rosh HaShanah: The Head of the Year (Birthday of the World)
Rosh HaShanah marks the Jewish New Year and is a part of the season of repentance. Rosh in Hebrew means “chief or head” and shanah means “year.” Rosh HaShanah is the head of the year on the civil calendar, and is also known as the birthday of the world since the world was created on this day (Talmud, Rosh HaShanah 11a).
Jewish tradition believes that Adam was created on this day (Mishnah, San Hedrin 38b). We know that Y’shua is the Second Adam or the Last Adam and fulfilled this by His birth being born the Lamb of God –His birth taking place in a manger where lambs are born…HalleluYaH !!!
How did they decide that this was the day of the year the world was created? Because the first words of the Book of Genesis (Bereishit), “in the beginning,” when changed around, read, Aleph b’Tishrei, or “on the first of Tishrei.” Therefore, Rosh HaShanah is known as the birthday of the world, for tradition tells us that the world was created then.
Note: There are four new years in the Jewish calendar. Nisan 1 is the New Year’s day of kings (the date for determining how many years a king has ruled) and for months (Nisan is the first month). Elul 1 is the new year for the tithing of animals. Shevat 15 (Tu Bishvat) is the new year for the trees, and Tishrei 1 is the new year of years. It also marks the anniversary of the creation of the world.
Time of Observance —Rosh HaShanah is observed for two days. It comes on the first and second days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei (usually in September or October), which is the first month of the biblical civil calendar.
The month of Tishrei is the seventh month in the biblical religious calendar. This may seem strange that Rosh HaShanah, the New Year, is on the first and second day of Tishrei, the seventh month on the biblical religious calendar. The reason that Rosh HaShanah is the seventh month in the biblical religious calendar is that God made the month of Nisan the first month of the year in remembrance of Israel’s divine liberation from Egypt (Exodus [Shemot] 12:2; 13:4).
However, according to tradition, the world was created on Tishrei, or more exactly, Adam and Eve were created on the first day of Tishrei and it is from Tishrei that the annual cycle began. Hence, Rosh HaShanah is celebrated at this time.
We as Messianic believers can celebrate the fact that the New Heaven and the New Earth were created at the Birth of Messiah!
Why Is Rosh HaShanah Two Days Long?
Rosh HaShanah is the only holiday celebrated for two days in Israel.
Unlike other festivals that are celebrated in the Diaspora (the dispersion, referring to Jews who live outside of the Holy Land of Israel) Rosh HaShanah is celebrated for two days because of uncertainty about observing the festivals on the correct calendar day.
As with all other festivals, the uncertainty was involved in a calendar that depended on when the new moon was promulgated, designating the beginning of each new month by the rabbinical court in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) in ancient times.
The problem of Rosh HaShanah is heightened by the fact that it falls on Rosh Chodesh, the new moon itself. Therefore, even in Yerushalayim, it would have been difficult to let everyone know in time that the New Year had begun. To solve this problem, a two-day Rosh HaShanah was practiced even in Israel.
Creating a two-day Rosh HaShanah was also intended to strengthen observance of each day; in the rabbinic view, the two days are regarded as a yoma arikhta, one long day.
Blessing over the Candles: Baruch atah YaHoVaH, Elohaynu melech Ha-olam, asher Kideshanu b’mitz v otav v’tzier vanu l’hadlik ver shel Yom Tov.
(all say)→ Blessed are You, YaHoVaH, our Elohim, ruler of the Universe, who sanctified us through His commandments and commanded us to kindle the lights of the Holy Day.
There is a blessing that the Jews say because they feel so privileged to experience this High Holy Day! It is called:
Shehechiyanu Blessing: Baruch atah YaHoVaH, Elohaynu melech Ha-olam, shehecheyanu v’keemanu, v’hee gee’ anu la’ zman ha’zeh.
(all say)→ Blessed are You YaHoVaH, our Elohim, ruler of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.
Blessing over the wine: Baruch atah Adonai, Elohaynu melech Ha-olam, borei priy ha-ga fen
(all say)→ Blessed are You Lord our God, ruler of the Universe, for You have brought forth the fruit of the vine.
Blessing over the Challah: Baruch atah YaHoVaH, Elohaynu melech Ha-olam, ha motzi lechem min ha- aretz.
(all say)→ Blessed are You, YaHoVaH, our Elohim, ruler of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the Earth.
Bless the Apples and Honey: Baruch atah YaHoVaH, Elohaynu melech Ha-olam, borai p’ree ha’aitz.
(all say)→ Blessed are You, YaHoVaH, our Elohim, ruler of the Universe, creator of the fruit of the tree.
Take a bite of an apple with honey and say; y’hee ratzon mee-l’fanekha, YaHoVaH Elohaynu v’elohey avotiyanu sh’tichadeish aleinu shanah tovah um’tuqah.
(all say)→ May it be Your will YaHoVaH our God and the God of our forefathers, that You renew us for a good and sweet year.
(all say)→ Chatima Tova! Good Signing in the Book of Life!
