Prayer Focus
September-October always begins a new year for the Jewish people, but the Bible never calls these special days “Jewish ” feasts. in Leviticus 23 they are called the “Feasts of the Lord”. So they are feasts for anyone that believes in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob and as well anyone who also believes in Jesus Christ, the Messiah. So I thought it would be a neat idea to look a bit as to what these feasts are all about and join in celebrating.
The fall holidays begin with the celebration of Rosh Hashannah. It means the “head of the Year”. It is also known as the “Feast of trumpets” and the “Day of blowing“…the shofar… which is blown all over Israel and anywhere else that these days are remembered.
Today, marks the beginning of the holiest time of year in the Jewish Calendar. The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (the day of atonement) are called the 10 days of Awe. These 10 days are a time to ask God to search your hearts and to make everything right between you and God as well as your brothers and sisters and friends. Are there relationships that need fixing? Do I need to apologize to someone? What is God speaking to me about? The good and bad times of the previous year are remembered, much like at our New Years where we think about the good things of the past year and the ones that are not so good and make New years resolutions. It is a time when God “Judges”.
The passage of the Bible that is read on the first day of Rosh Hashanah illustrates the idea that God is in control and answers prayer and also is a God of Justice.
It tells the story of Samuel’s mother Hannah who couldn’t have children and how her husband’s other wife Penina tormented her about this fact. And then it tells how her prayers were finally answered on Rosh Hashanah when she was informed by the prophet Eli that she would be blessed with her first child. (1 Samuel 1)
As with all holidays there are special food eaten that day. Like at Thanksgiving many people in North America eat turkey right? What kinds of special foods do you eat on special holidays?
The foods eaten on Rosh Hashannah are symbolic or have a meaning..Sweet foods are eaten, usually apples dipped in honey, to indicate the wish that the next year be sweet. Round foods are eaten to symbolize the cycle of the year, and there is always LOTS of food to symbolize the hope for a good harvest and prosperity in the following year. Fish cooked with the head left on is often the main course, symbolizing the head of the year. Hmmm.
This week set aside time in your secret place to ask God to search your hearts and get things right between you and God and your friends. Follow through on what He shows you.
ACTIVITY:
Take some apples and cut them up and dip them in honey. Greet each other with L’shannh tovah tichatevu (may you have a good year and your name be inscribed in the book of life) Pretty neat greeting hey? That is in Hebrew, and what Jewish people say to each other all over the world. If you know a Jewish person, surprise them and give them this greeting today. When you greet someone that way, let them know what it means too.
*Material taken from “Bridges For Peace magazine Oct 2008
