Yom Kippur 2018

The Western Wall on Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur concludes the Ten Days of Awe or the High Holiday Days.  Annually, the Jewish people are commanded to observe the Day of Atonement:

26 The Lord said to Moses, 27 “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves,[d] and present a food offering to the Lord. 28 Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. 29 Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people. 30 I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day. 31 You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 32 It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”

At the heart of the observances tonight and tomorrow will be fasting and prayer.  The worshiper denies himself food, drink, sexual intimacy and the pleasures of life.  Before the Book of Life is closed again tomorrow evening, Jewish people seek to draw near to the Lord for forgiveness and the renewal of their relationship with God.

As Christians, the themes of these days must not be lost to us.  With gratitude to our Lord Jesus, we are forgiven and reconciled to the Lord who made heaven and earth.

  

Happy Hanukkah!

 

Hanukkah begins this evening at sundown.  This "Festival of Lights" will be celebrated for eight days.  The celebration of this season is not commanded by God through Moses.  It is the result of a much later event in Jewish history, the triumph of the few and the weak over the many and the strong.  In particular, the season commemorates the victory of God through the Maccabees over the forces of Antiochus Epiphanes.

Under the leadership of Judas (the Hammer), the Temple was reclaimed and purified.  An even smaller miracle occurred when the lone cruse of oil lasted the entire eight nights of the Feast of Dedication.  Since that glorious time, the focus of worship is around the successive lighting of candles for eight evenings.

In John 10:22-39, Jesus is in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication.  He is questioned vigorously by the authorities while in Solomon's courts.  They demand of Him a straight answer as to His identity.  He declares that His works (miracles) testify plainly. 

On this night and subsequent evenings, let us ponder the miracles wrought by God across the centuries.  God continues His defense of the few, the weak and the pure in Jesus.

Today is St. Nicholas' Day



St. Nicholas


 

Today many Christians are observing St. Nicholas' Day on their journey to Christmas.  Nicholas lived in Asia Minor during the fourth century.  He became a model for gift-giving and subsequently the beloved Santa Claus.

Stories abound as to his sensitivity to human need and his abundant generosity.  Among the more famous is the time that he provided dowries for three daughters of an extremely poor family.

Therefore, the bishop of Myra became the patron saint of such varied groups as sailors, children, pawnbrokers and nations.  Here in the land, St. Nicholas is beloved as the patron saint of Beit Jala, one of the towns that make up the greater Bethlehem area.  It is believed that during his four-year pilgrimage to the Holy Land he lived in a cave in Beit Jala.  A church has stood over the cave for centuries now.  On December 19, the feast day of St. Nicholas for Greek Orthodox, Beit Jala celebrates its patron saint with some of the more joyous observances of the Advent season.


St. Nicholas Church in Beit Jala

Countdown to Christmas

The countdown to Christmas has begun.  For merchants, it began a few days before Halloween.  It intensified with Black Friday or even Gray Thursday as it is now called. 

However, for the community of faith, the countdown begins today with the First Sunday of Advent.  Advent is a season of expectation.  That anticipation grows through the four Sundays of Advent.  For many celebrants, the Advent wreath with four candles catches up the growing expectation.  Each Sunday a new candle burns and prayers and scriptures are read to sharpen our expectation and devotion.

Advent means "coming."  The affirmation of the Advent season is "Jesus came, He comes and Jesus will come again."  Therefore, the holy season of Advent is intended to help us remember Jesus' birth long ago.  It serves to prepare us for a fresh coming of His Spirit this Christmas.  And in all our present festivities, we yearn and pray for His coming again as He promised.

Let the Advent-ure begin! 

The Jewish Holidays

Having just observed Rosh Hashanah, the Ten Days of Awe, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, let's consider the remainder of Jewish holidays and calendar.  The appointed festivals are found in Leviticus 23.

As Sunday or the Lord's Day is the recurring holiday for Christians, so is Sabbath for  the Jewish people.  Weekly, the faithful call to remembrance the great tenets of their faith. 

With the conclusion of the Festival of Booths on October 7, the next holiday to be observed is Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, December 8 - 16.  In February 2013, Purim will be celebrated.  These holidays are not found among those commanded in Leviticus 23.  They are latecomers to the calendar.

Then in March the Passover (Pesach) and the Festival of Unleavened Bread will be observed again in faithful obedience to Torah.  Finally, in May after seven weeks, Shavuot will be celebrated.  Christians observe the command in Leviticus with Pentecost.

While there were only three major festivals (Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot) commanded for Jewish males in the first century, daily life for the pious was prescribed and defined.  Today, the calendar offers countless teaching moments for the story of the Lord's interaction with His people.

  

The Joyous Feast of Tabernacles

Pool of Siloam

The Jewish people are in the midst of their observances of Sukkot, the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles.  It is described by many as the most joyous of feasts prescribed by the Lord in Leviticus 23.

The mood of these days are the result of harvest ended and the remembrance of God's deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage and his provision for the people while in the wilderness.

In order to get in touch with the sojourn in the wilderness, families eat, if not live, in outdoor booths.  What fun this must be for all, especially children!

In the time of Jesus, a priest would descend from the Temple precincts to the Pool of Siloam for the drawing of a pitcher of water.  The priest would return and pour the water in the altar area.  Prayers would be offered for much-needed rain during the upcoming season.  While this custom is missing today, any visit to the Pool of Siloam brings to mind the words of Jesus.  Jesus seized this important moment in the celebrations to declare that he is the water source for the spiritually thirsty.

May these days be doubly joyous for all God's children! 

The Days of Repentance Continue

As the "Ten Days of Repentance" continue, the worshiper seeks the Lord.  The words of the prophet Isaiah encourage us still: "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6-7)

Somber are these Days of Repentance.  Yet joyous is the good news of the Lord's mercy and willingness to welcome our return and abundantly pardon.

A New Year!

A New Year!  Yes, tonight is the beginning of a new year for our Jewish friends.  Rosh Hashanah launches the observance of the High Holy Days in Judaism.

The blasts of the shofar sound throughout the season.  Some estimate than one hundred blasts of the shofar will be heard across these days.

While Rosh Hashanah lasts for two days, the holy days commence ten days of repentance.  The culmination of these days is Yom Kippur.  Rosh Hashanah remembers the creation of Adam and Eve, and it soberly recalls humankind's first sin.  Thus, we have the continuing call to repentance over these days.

The shofar, which is a ram's horn, serves as a symbol of God's mercy in dealing with humankind.  The ram horn is a detail found in the story of the Binding of Isaac.  God provides a sacrifice offering in the place of Isaac.

Torah readings for these two days come from Genesis, chapters 21 and 22.  A favorite food is apple dipped in honey as the faithful ask for the gift of sweetness in the new year.

May we all hear the call of Rosh Hashanah!  We pray for forgiveness and sweetness from the Lord and King of the universe tonight and throughout the new year.

Ramadan Begins Today

Ramadan begins today for Muslims and continues through August 19.  It is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar and commemorates the gift of the Quran (Koran).

Able-bodied Muslims are called upon to fast from sunrise to sunset for the entire thirty days.  Evenings are given to community, family, and feasting.  Other observances are the reading of the Quran, prayers, and giving to the needy.

Ramadan is without a doubt the most important observance in Islam.  

Pentecost Begins This Evening

The Festival of Shavout or Weeks begins at sundown.  Christians know the observance as Pentecost.   

For seven days, the faithful give thanks for the harvest.  It is the season to celebrate the Lord's abundance and goodness.  In response, one brings the "first fruits" in gratitude.

In addition, the festival remembers the gift of the Torah.  Appropriately, the Ten Commandments take center stage among the many readings.  In keeping with the harvest theme, the Book of Ruth is read.

For Christians at Pentecost, the gift of God is the Holy Spirit.  Since Pentecost is somewhat less of an observance for the Church, it might serve us to explore the customs and observances of Shavout in biblical and modern Israel.

*Please note that I will not be blogging in June due to a heavy schedule of meetings and an upcoming move.  

Three Christmases in This Land

Merry Christmas from Bethlehem! Today is the Orthodox Christmas which follows the Latin Christmas by twelve days. A third Christmas is yet to be celebrated by the Armenians on January 17.

If you enjoy Christmas, as I do, then this land is the place to be.
Once upon a time, Christmas amounted to a one day celebration for me and my family. Then we discovered the twelve days of Christmas. But now my wife and I are in the land with thirty-six days of Christmas.

So let me invite you to come to the land and Christmas, not year-round, but for an extended duration. So again, Merry Christmas from Bethlehem!

Happy Hannukah!

Happy Hannukah (Chanukah)! The "Festival of Lights" 2011 commenced last evening at sunset and will conclude December 28. This festival commemorates the triumph of light over darkness, especially during the rule of the Seleucids over God's people.

After delivering the land from the evildoers, the faithful cleansed the Temple and rededicated it to the service of Israel's God. The return of God's light was symbolized by the lighting of the Temple's menorah. In order to accomplish this feat, the priests took a single cruse of oil and acted as if it were enough. Miraculously for eight nights, the lights burned until a "clean" supply of oil could be secured.

Worshippers have continued to celebrate that miracle by lighting a nine-branched candelabrum over successive nights. Other holy day customs include playing with the dreidel. This spinning top or toy with its Hebrew lettering reminds the faithful: "a great miracle happened there."

Holiday foods include potato pancakes and donuts. Gifts for the children are referred to as Chanukah gelt (money)

At the heart of the observances is the reading of the Hallel. Psalms 113-118 cheer the heart of the faithful now as then.

Happy Hannukah!

The Feast of Tabernacles

Tonight, the celebration of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, begins and continues through October 20. Since the conclusion of Yom Kippur, the observant Jew has prepared the outdoor tabernacle for use throughout the week.

Although little or nothing of Sukkot is celebrated by Christians, I have always felt that we miss out on a rare opportunity especially for teaching our children. What child does not love an evening outdoors or "camping out." Add to this the telling of stories from the desert wanderings of the people of Israel and you have a ready-made teaching laboratory.

Among the rituals of great interest is the blessing over the "four species:" the myrtle, the willow, the citron, and the date palm. The daily waving of four branches and a fruit accompanies the blessing:

Blessed are You, our God, Creator of time and space who enriches our lives with holiness, commanding us to dwell in the sukkah.

Such prayer and practice remembers the God who provides an abundant harvest.

The mood of the observance is one of great joy. May you know the joy of Sukkot!

Happy New Year!

Yes, a new year begins this evening for our Jewish neighbors. As Christians, we do not have a corresponding holiday until January 1, but we wish them a happy new year. It's 5772!

Rosh Hashana means "Head of the Year" and commemorates the creation of Adam and Eve. While the new year celebrations continue for two days, Rosh Hashana commences the ten days leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

The new year will be ushered in by blasts of the shofar. The ram's horn plays a prominent role across the holiday announcing the coronation of God as King and calling the descendants of Adam and Eve to action.

Repentance is the dominant theme of Rosh Hashanah. The faithful will find an available body of water and ask God to cast their sin into the sea.

As with all holidays, food is prominent and symbolic. Apples and bread are dipped in honey and eaten to the wishes and prayers for a "sweet" year.

May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year!

Shavout and Pentecost

At sunset today, the celebration of Shavuot begins. Shavuot is one the three pilgrim festivals mandated by the scriptures. The Festival of Weeks, as it is also called, follows the observance of Passover by fifty days.

The gifts of God remembered in the celebrations of Shavuot are Torah and the wheat harvest. Christians remember as well the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In ancient times as well as today, the mood of the worshipper was one of extreme joy. Meals were festive whenever possible. Torah study lasted through the night. The Book of Ruth is still read for it's themes which parallel the interpretation given the holiday.

Christians will gather on Sunday (June 12) to observe Pentecost, the name given to Shavuot by Hellenistic Jews. As we gather in our varied settings, may our God draw near as God did on Mount Sinai and in ancient Jerusalem. May we worship God with glad and generous hearts.

The Feast of Tabernacles

Tonight, the celebration of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, begins and continues through October 1. Since the conclusion of Yom Kippur, the observant Jew has prepared the outdoor tabernacle for use throughout the week. Among Christians, little to nothing is done to remember the experiences of the people of God in their desert wanderings.

I personally have always felt that this season held special promise for children and families whether Jew or Christian. What child does not love an evening outdoors or "camping out." Add to this the many lessons to be learned from the scriptures and the rituals and you have a ready-made teaching laboratory.

Among the rituals of great interest is the blessing over the "four species:" the myrtle, the willow, the citron, and the date palm. The daily waving of the four branches and fruit is accompanied by the blessing:

Blessed are You, our God, Creator of time and space, who enriches our lives
with holiness, commanding us to dwell in the sukkah.

Such a practice remembers the God who provides an abundant harvest.

The mood of the observance is one of joy. During the Second Temple period, there was dance with music and song as water was drawn for use in the Temple and to accompany the prayers for rain. Jesus used the occasion to proclaim: "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and let the one who believes in me drink" (John 7:37-38).

Have a joyous Sukkot!

Yom Kippur

The observance of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement or the Day of Awe, began on Friday evening. This day in the Jewish calendar is the most solemn. The day's origin lies deep in Israel's desert experience with the Golden Calf. The idolatrous people of God incurred God's judgment but received his forgiveness.

While the worshipper remembers Israel's great sin, he repents of his sin before the judgment of God is sealed. Therefore, the most sober day becomes joyful as well. God forgives our sin. The new year can now be whole and happy for the repentant sinner.

The ritual practices of this day include: the reading of the book of Jonah in its entirety, fasting from drink and bathing, and attending Kol Nidrei services at the synagogue. When the fast is broken, there is the eating of honey cake and a meal on the evening after (Yom Tov or "festival").

Following the festivities, attention is turned to the next holiday, Sukkot, which is observed for seven days beginning September 23. Sukkot is the Feast of Tabernacles.

Happy New Year!

Let us depart once again from our Bible study and consider what is happening throughout the land and the Diaspora for our Jewish friends. On the evening of September 9, they celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year. The celebration continued for two days.

The nature of this observance is somber. According to Jewish belief, the entire world passes before the Lord for judgment. Therefore, the call is for soul-searching and repentance.

The third day is given to the holiday prayer. For the remaining days until Yom Kippur (there are ten days between Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement), the faithful remain in a penitent mood.

The Beginning of Ramadan

Occasionally, let's take a break from our Bible study to consider what's transpiring in the land. Last evening, Muslims began their observance of Ramadan. This season of fasting will continue for one month until September 10. The fast is complete from sunrise to sunset, no food, drink, smoking, or sexual relations. Come evening, the faithful break the fast with the eating of a single date and the Iftar (a meal).

Fasting, as in most religions, serves to teach patience and humility, and the practice results hopefully in purification. For Islam, fasting is one of the five pillars of the faith. The month of fasting is finally broken with the celebration of the "festival," Eid al-Fitr.

In addition to fasting, the observant Muslim is expected to pray, read or recite the Qu'ran, and feed the poor. As for the latter, free meals are served in designated public places.