It’s Rosh Hashanah, also known as The Feast of Trumpets and Yom HaTeruah!!! It is the Head of the Jewish New Year, the beginning of the Hebrew month Tishri, and the beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance.

1 TISHRI (TISHREI), 5784 (Hebrew calendar); Friday evening, September 15, 2023.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for the first 2 days during this time of repentance also known as the Ten Days of Awe.

During this time, it is a recognition, celebration, coronation of God being King, the Sovereign Ruler (The Great Judge) over the universe. It is also a celebration of God being the creator and ultimate parent for humankind! In short, it is the celebration of God, the Creator, as the Sovereign God of humanity, and Father of humanity, and the anniversary of creation.

So although God is the One Who Judges creation as the SOVEREIGN GOD (King of the Universe)…

He is also the One who is Merciful and Loving during His judgment of creation as our PARENT AND FATHER.

The common prayer at this time is “Avinu Malkenu” which is Hebrew for…”Our Father, Our King.”

The shofar, also known as the Ram’s horn, is used as a symbol as a call to repentance and return during this time. The shofar is also blown 100 times in the synagogue morning services in recognition of the following:

*Malkiyut: God being Sovereign
*Zikhronot: Rememberance of God’s covenant and promises to Israel
*Shofarot: shofar blowing (remembering the ram’s horn in Joshua 6 and Genesis 22, God being revealed at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19, the voice of the prophets, and the return of the Messiah)

The Feast of Trumpets can be found in Leviticus 23:23-25. This feast is not only a reference of an event of the past, but also the celebration of the prophetic message that awakens and motivates us to be prepared for what is to come.

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.’” (Leviticus 23:23-25)

During Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish custom is to eat slices of apples dipped in honey symbolizing God’s provision and the sweetness to come for the New Year.

May the Lord bless you greatly during this time as we celebrate with Israel, during the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah)!!! May your year be sweet and prosperous!