Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrew Roots

Hebrew Roots FAQ's and Myths

Sacrifices, Feasts, Celebrations

Myth. We need to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets-Yom Teruah-Rosh Hashana, as it ties into The Rapture and return of Christ.

A. There are so many variables within Judaism, Messicianicism, and Christianity regarding The Feast of Trumpets [Yom Terah/Rosh Hashana], that they need to be compared with Scripture, especially the connection to the rapture.

Here is what the Law of Moses [Torah] has to say concerning this feast. Please note that a sacrifice for sin was required.

Lev 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.
Lev 23:25 Ye shall do no servile work; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

Num 29:1 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing of trumpets unto you.
Num 29:2 And ye shall offer a burnt-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah: one young bullock, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old without blemish;
Num 29:3 and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, three tenth parts for the bullock, two tenth parts for the ram,
Num 29:4 and one tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs;
Num 29:5 and one he-goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you;
Num 29:6 besides the burnt-offering of the new moon, and the meal-offering thereof, and the continual burnt-offering and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings, according unto their ordinance, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

The name "Rosh Hashanah" is not used in the Bible. Instead, the Bible refers to it as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar).

What many are not aware of is that the actual day commanded by God for the Biblical head of the year is in March or April (Nisan/Aviv). Yom Teruah (the day of trumpets) is on the first day of the seventh month, but not Rosh Hashanah (New Year) according to the Bible. Rosh Hashanah should be celebrated the first of aviv (when the barley is ripe) which has been changed to Nisan -generally falling in March or April. It is a rabbinical addition and tradition that has changed Rosh Hashanah to being the beginning of the year celebrated in the seventh month (tishrei).

Exo 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

It is called the first month in

Lev 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover.

Num 28:16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.

As stated Nisan /aviv usually falls around March/April on our western calendars. It is the month that Passover was commanded to be observed and the month Christ was crucified and rose from the grave in. The significance of these events cannot be overlooked. Christ fulfilled the feasts, and when He rose, it was the new beginning of the new covenant, and all who believed being new creations in Him. He was the firstfuit and it is no wonder that Rosh Hashanah needed to be changed from the Biblical commandments according to rabbinic traditions. That is, by the Talmud which contains much against Christ. To have Rosh Hashanah fall when the focus is on the recognized time for Christ, with focus on sin and repentance, which is what the Passover signifies and the Passover Lamb--and Christ who is our Passover Lamb once for all. That would explain why it has to be part of something being waited for, versus the new beginning and new life in Christ. Instead of focusing on days of repentance which could lead to Passover with Rosh Hashanah, the focus is on more celebrations and festivities.

Rosh Hashanah, which is now celebrated in the 7th month, which means “New Year”, according to Jewish tradition commemorates creation and is the imminent arrival of God’s judgment  in Judaism.  On this day, it is said that God inspects the books of judgment for every person.  It is advantageous, then, for Jews to repent of their sin, and excise sin as well before that day [the month prior, called Elul]. It is a time of reviewing the past year to see if they owe anyone money or favors, as well as returning borrowed items.  The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur [Day of Atonement] are considered the “Days of Awe” in which tradition teaches that the things one does during that time will guarantee how the year will go for them in regard to the judgment of God.  It is believed this is also the time that God decides who will live or die in the coming year.

There is not much information in the Bible on the The Feast of Trumpets. We do know that it required a sacrifice for sin and therefore, for Christians we know that final sacrifice was made by Christ and is fulfilled completely in Christ.. As noted above, Leviticus 23:24-25 proclaim the time, and Numbers 29:1-6 expands on what was to be done. Please note again verse 5.

Num 29:5 and one he-goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you;

Messianics and those who call themselves Torah keepers say we have to obey the Law and keep these feasts. That would mean they are required to make the offerings by fire. Do they? and to whom do they take the animals mentioned in that passage? And what of the he-goat for a sin offering to make atonement for sin? Forgotten are these truths about Jesus Christ, who died once for all.

Hebrews 9:11-15 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 10:1-12 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Some are proclaiming that the Days of Awe (Days of Repentance) begin September 19, 2009 with Rosh HaShannah, the Feast of Trumpets, and with the climax on the Day of Atonement, which they claim is the only Biblically required Fast Day. That being, Yom Kippur which falls on September 26, 2009. They posit that those who have been born again should have a much stronger desire to 'Biblically observe' the Day of Atonement Feast of the Lord, because of being forgiven and having repentance and faith. That desire is viewed as being much greater than those who don't know God through repentance and faith in 'Messiah.'  It is stated how important it is to find the "Grace of God" evidenced in repentance in the Days of Awe."

The fast is connected with the Day of Atonement [Yom Kippur] and the days of awe [the 10 days between The feast of Trumpets and Yom Kippur]. There is no fast in the scriptures relating to any of the feasts. It is a Rabbinical addition, as are the Days of Awe. There is a great deal of emphasis on repentance and a change of heart during this time. However, for the Christian, this season of repentance is not necessary or ever instructed in the NT. All we need do is confess our sins and they are forgiven. It is sad that Messianics feel the need to take on a tradition that is unnecessary for atonement. It is has already been accomplished in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, alone. Any other practice denigrates and overturns the sacrifice of Christ.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Romans 3:23-26 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

What's it about?

The Jewish New Year falls on the Feast of Trumpets which is actually in the 7th month of the year, according to the Jewish calendar, not the Biblical.  Why do Messianics and those in Hebrew Roots observe this holiday when there is nothing in Scripture to support it?  Why have Christians now embraced this holiday and prophetically promote Rosh Hashanah as when the Rapture will happen or others, who time the second return of Christ with the Feast of Trumpets?

As part of the Feast of Trumpets [Yom Terah], tradition in Judaism has the blowing of trumpets in the synagogues, heralding the New Year.

Here's some further discussion concerning what those in Judaism teach regarding these events.

“The month of Elul is the final month in the Jewish year. This month is a particularly propitious time for prayer, self introspection, and repentance. It is a time of intense spiritual preparation for the coming year and the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashanah. This year (2009/5770) the month of Elul begins on Friday August 21, 2009 and lasts through September 18, 2009.

Rosh Hashanah is the first and second days of the first Jewish month of Tishrei. It marks the beginning of the Jewish new year. The celebration of this holiday is marked with solemnity, as it is the day on which the whole world is judged for the coming year. Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of the world, as it was on this day that G-d created Man on the 6th day of creation. Every year, on this day, we proclaim G-d as our one and true King.” 1

“In particular, the first festival of the year, Rosh Hashanah, seems to fit no familiar mold. It is the day on which we tremulously submit to the divine sovereignty and crown G-d as our king, but as the Chassidic masters point out, a coronation is always a festive event, with bands playing in the streets and crowds picnicking in the parks and fields. It is the day on which we stand in judgment before G-d, the day on which the Heavenly Court rules "who shall live and who shall die...who shall be impoverished and who shall be enriched... who shall fall and who shall rise"; but also the day on which we "eat lush foods and drink sweets... for the joy of the Eternal is your strength." The Talmud offers the image of a person coming to court where a life-or-death verdict will be handed down on him, but he is dressed in white and has a feast awaiting him at home, confident that he will triumph in his trial.” 2

“Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year ... the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year. More on this concept at Days of Awe.

The name "Rosh Hashanah" is not used in the Bible to discuss this holiday. The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). The holiday is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25.” 3

“The ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur are commonly known as the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim) or the Days of Repentance. This is a time for serious introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent before Yom Kippur.

One of the ongoing themes of the Days of Awe is the concept that G-d has "books" that he writes our names in, writing down who will live and who will die, who will have a good life and who will have a bad life, for the next year. These books are written in on Rosh Hashanah, but our actions during the Days of Awe can alter G-d's decree. The actions that change the decree are "teshuvah, tefilah and tzedakah," repentance, prayer, good deeds (usually, charity). These "books" are sealed on Yom Kippur. This concept of writing in books is the source of the common greeting during this time is "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."

Among the customs of this time, it is common to seek reconciliation with people you may have wronged during the course of the year. The Talmud maintains that Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and G-d. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible.” 4  

“The beginning of the month of Elul marks the one month notice until the "Divine audit" on Rosh Hashana. Throughout the month of Elul, Jews search for every receipt and credit slip left by their behavior. "Did I belittle the secretary who couldn't remember my name?" "Did I borrow $20 and forget to return it?" "Did I...?"

Elul is the time to look back over the past year, sort out our strengths and weaknesses, and see what impact our deeds have had. Like sorting the receipts, we can put our actions into little piles: wrong to G-d, our fellow humans or even ourselves, and good to G-d, our fellow humans or ourselves. Sometimes an action may fall into several categories. Reviewing our behavior is, according to the Medieval scholar Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides), the beginning of the first step in teshuva, repentance. The Jewish view of repentance goes much farther than mere regret. Teshuva is a pro-active process that recognizes our fallibility and our ability to change.

On Rosh Hashana G-d holds each man and woman accountable for his or her actions over the last year ... While people should strive to improve themselves throughout the year, as the month of Elul begins and the Shofar is sounded, we are reminded that there is just one month left. Thirty days remain to check one's balance and settle old accounts. By using Elul to prepare, one is able to face the Divine audit on Rosh Hashana with clarity and confidence, knowing that one has moved towards his/her spiritual goal and has made a better connection with the power of the day, and with G-d.” 5   

One of the Jewish traditions of Rosh Hashanah is Tashlich.  This is the practice of bringing pieces of bread in one’s pockets and then going to a fast moving stream or river and casting the bread on the water.  The bread represents sin being cast and swept away by the current. 

For those who follow Christ, this practice is completely contradictory to salvation and the full remission of sins that we have in Christ. Upon confession and repentance to God for sin, He forgives immediately. It is a simple, beautiful thing that we have the assurance of this forgiveness and do not need to spend days preparing and then casting our sins in free flowing water, represented by bread. God is the one who has cast our sins as far as the east is from the west, and as deep as the sea.

Psalm 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Psa 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
Mic 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Mic 7:20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Observing Rosh Hashanah, which was developed by the sages/Rabbis of Judaism who do not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah - and as Rosh Hashanah is Judaism's tradition and practice, cannot have a place in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ. Rosh Hashanah denies the finished work of Christ and is a man-made system that has no merit in one’s relationship with the Lord.

For those who advocate, teach, and promote that Rosh Hashanah or the Feast of Trumpets will be fulfilled at a future date in either the rapture or the 2nd coming of Christ, I would ask how this can be? The Feast of Trumpets required the blowing of many trumpets. When Christ returns, He will descend with *one* trump and a shout, once – not for a rapture and then later at His second coming.

Some say in Hebrew Roots that they must “practice” the Lord’s return by blowing the trumpets. I cannot imagine anything quite so blatantly sacrilegious and contrary to Scripture as that.

In the Hebrew, “teruah” is not the word trumpet – it is a signal, shout, or blast. It is implied in Lev 23 because the word “blow” is used as well.

Lev 23:24 Speak1696 unto413 the children1121 of Israel,3478 saying,559 In the seventh7637 month,2320 in the first259 day of the month,2320 shall ye have1961 a sabbath,7677 a memorial2146 of blowing of trumpets,8643 a holy6944 convocation.4744

^{H8643
תּרוּעה
terû‛âh
BDB Definition:
1) alarm, signal, sound of tempest, shout, shout or blast of war or alarm or joy
1a) alarm of war, war-cry, battle-cry
1b) blast (for march)
1c) shout of joy (with religious impulse)
1d) shout of joy (in general)     .6}

The word “trumpet” itself is not used in either text. The word “teruah” [H8643] is used 36 times in the OT and associated with trumpets about 9 times – that is only 25% of the usage. Here is the breakdown:

shout 11, shouting 8, alarm 6, sound 3, blowing 2, joy 2, miscellaneous 4 [sounded, sounding, shouted]

Another wonderful example of how “teruah” is used indicating shouting and joy is found in Ezra [each of the bolded underlined words are "teruah".]

Ezra 3:10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
Ezr 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
Ezr 3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
Ezr 3:13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

With that in mind, think about the birth of Christ. Gabriel announced His birth to Mary – a remarkable wondrous occasion in which a miracle was manifested in a virgin – she conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit fulfilling Isaiah 7:14 as well. AWESOME!

The angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds with radiating glory all around, and a multitude of angels heralded His coming and sang for joy as it resounded in the Heavens. Amazing how that all fits together so well when you look at the meaning of “teruah”. This really indicates fulfillment in Christ’s coming as well as His sacrifice for sin.

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Footnotes:

1.  http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/roshhashanah/

2. http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/427147/jewish/Introduction.htm

3. http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday2.htm

4.  http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday3.htm  

5.   http://www.njop.org/html/Roshessay.html 

6.  Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions

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