A Few Things about Rosh Hashana

"Sound the Shofar in Zion and sound the alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the Land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, it is nigh at hand"
(Joel 2:1)

Rosh Hashana, or Feast of Trumpets, is the Jewish New Year. It is also said to be the birthday of the world. This year it occurs on September 19, 2009 on the Gregorian calendar (1st of Tishrei, 5770 Jewish Calendar).

The Feast of Trumpets and Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) are the holiest days of the Jewish year. These ten days are called the Days of Awe or High Holy Days. Unlike other holy days, they do not celebrate a season or historical event. This season is a time for looking inward to spiritual growth.

-Rosh HaShanah
http://www.bibleprophesy.org/trumpets.htm

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which follows 10 days later, will be on September 28 this year (10th of Tishrei, 5770). This day is also called the Day of Judgment and the Sabbath of Sabbaths in the Bible. It is one of the Lord’s holy days which He says will remain “a statute forever” (see Leviticus 23).

The ten days between (and including) the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement are preceded by a time of fasting, and are called the Days of Awe or Days of Repentance. Some say that this time may represent or reflect the 7 year tribulation (Jacob’s Trouble - Jer. 30:7).

One theory divides the days as follows:

* The thirty days of the month of Elul —the Church
* The Day of the Feast of Trumpets—the Rapture
* The days between the Feast of Trumpets and Day of Atonement—Tribulation
* The Day of Atonement—the Second Coming

-biblicalholidays.com

Since I'm not the brightest bulb on the string, every year I have to remind myself of what these things are all about. I know so little, but there is so much more very interesting info here:

Rosh Hashanah -
Awakening to Judgment
www.hebrew4christians.com

Feast of Trumpets / Rosh Hashana
biblicalholidays.com

Day of Atonement / Yom Kippur
biblicalholidays.com

The Meaning Behind the Sounding of the Shofar
by Rabbi Chaim Richman

The Fall Feasts of Israel
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
gracethrufaith.com

Meanwhile, isn't it ironic that right smack in the middle of these days of the Lord (on Sept. 25), the leaders of the great U.S. of A. have chosen to give honor to the farthest thing away from this nation's Judeo Christian roots - in their nation's capitol (see here)? Not to mention the path that some in the emerging church are continuing on this fall (see here). The way things are going, I think that we as the church would do well not only to listen for the sound of the Shofar, but to also study these days and take to heart their theme of repentance.