Home
About Us
Upcoming Events
Programs/Seminars
Leaders' Comments
Women's Ministries
Ministry Reports

Resources
Audio by Sam
Articles by Sam
Messianic Answers
Jewish Believers
E-Mail Q & A's

Shmooze Blogger
FREE Resource Catalogue
Links

New Series on CD!
"The Maturing of Moses"

Rosh Hashana:
A New Year, A New Heart, A New Life!

More about
Sam Nadler

New Year, New Heart, New Life
A Biblical Look at Rosh Hashanah
by Sam Nadler

This year Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown September 18*. However, according to the Scriptures, the Jewish New Year actually begins at Passover, in the spring. Seven months later, the Feast of Trumpets is observed (Lev. 23).

So, how did the Jewish people come up with a New Year in the seventh month?

Tradition!
Well, we are creative. A more serious answer is that the idea developed around 2400 years ago when we came out of the Babylonian captivity in the month of Tishrei, and had adopted the Babylonian civil New Year as our own (including the name of the month itself, which means “beginning”). Over the centuries, tradition accepted it as one of four “new years” and the Rabbis developed various explanations surrounding the day (see B. Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 1a, 8a-18a). Rosh Hashanah (lit. “the head of the year”) became the most prominent, especially because, according to tradition, the world was created on this day.

The Jewish people have inherited various customs for this special day. We eat apples dipped in honey, and greet one another with “Leshana tovah tikateivu,” which means “May you be inscribed for good year,” that is, inscribed in the Book of Life. Many also observe the custom of tashlich, wherein participants toss breadcrumbs into the waters of the sea shore or river bank, as prayers are recited for God’s forgiveness. The central aspect of Rosh Hashanah services is the sounding of the shofar, or ram’s horn. The shofar brings to memory God’s provision of the ram that Abraham sacrificed in place of his only son, Isaac.

Rosh Hashanah introduces the most serious season on the Jewish calendar known as the Days of Awe, a ten-day period that leads to the Day of Atonement. Traditionally, this period is time of soul searching, a time to make things right with God and one’s neighbors, with the hope that one’s name will be written in the “Book of Life” for the coming year.

What’s New?
The Scriptures, however, require more than ritual to be forgiven by God. As meaningful as tradition may be, a New Year celebration may only update last year’s problems and pain.

The Bible teaches that the Lord will give the free gift of new life at any time to all who will come to Him. God says that Israel will nationally receive this new life when they look upon “Me whom they have pierced” (Zech. 12:10). But individually we may receive this new life now by faith in Him. The prophet Ezekiel reveals the gift of new life that God wants us to have.

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you [Israel], and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. And, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances” (Ezekiel 36:25-27).

It is estimated that 93% of recorded human history is comprised of warfare. That means that on average, less than three days out of the month men have not been trying to kill one another through war. What is wrong with us humans? To simply say “You have your own view of reality, and I have mine,” is an attempt to avoid humanity’s desperate, wretched condition. We have left a trail of broken promises, hearts, and lives down through the ages:

“For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” (Isaiah 64:6).

If one person has a crippling disease, it should concern us. But if all have that disease, we call it a plague. We are compelled to find a solution.

Flesh Heart, Spirit Birth
This is why the Lord promised through Ezekiel “I will give you a [new] heart of flesh.” In this context “heart” refers to a person’s nature. A hard-hearted person is insensitive to others, and to God. A tenderhearted person will be sensitive to God's concerns, and care for those around him. Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) will empower your life and keep you sensitive to the things which matter most to Him. The New Covenant declares that the Spirit of the Living God is available to all who will believe in Messiah, as seen when a Pharisee named Nicodemus came to Yeshua.

“Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

Yeshua answered, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

“How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:3-5). 

Messiah came to bring us cleansing, forgiveness and a new heart: the reality of being ‘born again’ that only God offers. God’s Spirit has always been the way God enables His people, and the New Covenant declares that the Spirit of the Living God is available to all who will believe in Messiah.

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Yeshua from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11).

If you haven’t already, come to Messiah today, and begin a New Life in the New Year! Y

*If you are in the Charlotte area, be sure to attend High Holy Day services at Hope of Israel Congregation. For more info click here.
 

More Word from the Word

Previous Month

Home