Tag: Holy Days

The Holy Days of Leviticus 23 explain prophecy. They outline the plan of salvation, particularly the first coming of Yeshua, aka Jesus, the Messiah.

Holy Days for Christians

The first century Christians did not observe Sunday, Christmas, or Easter. Whether gentile convert or a Jew who accepted Messiah, they continued to worship as commanded by the Torah. This message shows that Christians should never have stopped that practice and the blessings for those of us who have returned to the observances of the first Christians.

Video with slides above via Rumble. Audio only below via First Century Christianity | Podcast on Spotify.

Tisha B’Av happened August 6 this year. The 9th day of the 5th month. This is not a commanded observance but is a very important date in Judaism and Christianity. There is a list of bad things said to have happened on the 9th of Av on the Hebrew calendar. Some are a stretch. But two things appear to be quite literal, the destruction of both Temples happening, or starting to happen, on or about this date. This is significant for a lot of reasons but having both temples come down on the same calendar date is a big sign that YHVH meant those things happen. The second temple coming down was prophesied by Yeshua. That’s also super significant because it’s another proof of His Messiahship. The down side to this, of course, is the suffering and the time it took for the destruction to be complete.

I bring this up because cultures are formed around events and observances. The Torah establishes what a day is, what a week is, what a month is, what a year is, sabbatical years, and jubilees. The Torah is very much intertwined with times and observances. The culture of this world has observances, too. They are sometimes secular in nature, like sporting events or the signing of key documents, and they are religious in nature. The religious ones are pretty much imposters of the real Holy Days of the Bible. It’s August 27 and can you believe there was a Christmas tree display in Costco yesterday? None of us keep Christmas, but this is absurd to start thinking about it this far out. What’s not absurd to think about are Yahweh’s fall observances, which start a little less than a month from now. Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets, begins sundown on Sunday, September 25th this year. September 26 is the day to take off work, the High Sabbath. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins the night of October 4 and runs through sundown on October 5. We do no work and eat or drink nothing for those 24 hours. Then Sukkot comes on October 10 – October 17, with the 10th and 17th being High Days.

One of the core beliefs we share is to observe the holy days of Leviticus 23. The early church continued to obey Torah and those who were grafted in from the nations in the first century adopted God’s ways. There are a couple of key points to prove this in the New Testament:

Slide 2 When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, (Act 27:9)

This is when Paul was being taken to Rome as a prisoner. This is perhaps 20 years after Yeshua ascended. The fast is Yom Kippur and the author of Acts is using this day to say “it’s fall and the seas are now rough.” The day of Atonement mentioned so casually this late in scripture is solid evidence for its continued observance for the early Messianics.

Slide 3 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. (Act 20:16)

Same theme as above but the day is mentioned by name this time. Well, it’s Greek name.  Pentecost means “count 50” and this is the day that is 50 days from the brining in of the first fruits around Passover time. It’s also the day that Yeshua sent the Ruach to the apostles in Acts 2. Paul is trying to be in Jerusalem for Shavuot, a pilgrimage festival. The context again shows solid evidence the day was known and observed by the early believers. Keep in mind the book of Acts was written about 20 years after Yeshua ascended so if they decided to stop keeping the law, it’s weird behavior for the day of Pentecost to be mentioned at all, let alone showing Paul trying to observe it in the holy land.

Slide 4 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Messiah our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1Co 5:7-8)

Just to make sure we cover all the bases, Paul is instructing the church at Corinth to keep the festivals. These would be gentiles and Jews alike and he is writing as if they are fluent in the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So let there be no doubt that they continued to observe the festivals, and the commandments, long after Yeshua ascended. It was expected the faith would be observed like this forevermore. In fact, we have evidence the faith did continue like this until the early 400s as the councils had to mandate believers to stop observing the Sabbath and even reading the Torah Portions. So this wraps up the apologetic on the early church keeping the holy days.

Slide 5 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Messiah, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Messiah Yeshua. For all of you who were baptized into Messiah have clothed yourselves with Messiah. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. (Gal 3:24-29)

But I bring it up because of Tish B’Av and how we need to keep the right mindset. Our Messiah was Jewish. He lived as a Jew, attending synagogue, and kept the commandments. That doesn’t mean we have to become Jews or follow the Rabbis, particularly the stuff that came after, but it means we should be mindful, respectful, and somewhat knowledgeable about Judaism, particularly how it was followed in the first century.

Slide 6 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. (Rom 11:1)

But Paul said, “I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.” (Act 21:39)

But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” (Act 23:6)

These verses are up so we can see that not only were the first believers grafted in to the family of God but those who were already of the family did not have to change. By change, I mean cast aside the Torah and their ancestry, which is what mainstream Christianity teaches. They teach that a new religion was born 2000 years ago, while we know the faith is a continuance of the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I watched the movie Risen on a couple plane rides. It was very good until the end when the movie makers showed the Apostles cease being Jews and become something else. That’s just not true. The New Testament doesn’t show God turning His back on the Jews and switching to random gentiles, it shows Jews accepting Messiah and continuing to keep the commandments and gentiles accepting the Messiah and starting to keep the commandments. So while we aren’t to convert to Judaism, we still learn from them and their writings because, for at least 150 years, the Messianic movement was actually a sect of Judaism until it was forced out for a couple reasons.

So with all this said, let’s take a quick look at the Fall Holy Days of Leviticus 23 because they are coming up.

Slide 7 Again YHVH spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. ‘You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to YHVH.'” (Lev 23:23-25)

In English, this is called the Day of Trumpets. That doesn’t do it justice. In Hebrew it’s called Yom Teruah, which does include Trumpets but also shouting, noise, etc. We have a conflict here with Judaism because they call this “new year’s” when it is the first day of the SEVENTH month. But we also learn something from Judaism about this day that Yeshua cited:

Slide 8 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Mat 24:36)

Judaism has referred to the first day of the 7th month as “the day no man knows” since before Yeshua. Yeshua was hinting His audience that the end, or His Return, or some hugely significant event coming in the future will occur on the Yom Teruah.

Slide 9 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1Th 4:16-18)

And Paul tells us also that Yeshua will return on Yom Teruah, revealing the hint from Yeshua, and that this day is also when the first resurrection will occur. So, you see, keeping the Holy Days isn’t just a commandment, it isn’t just an expectation of the original believers, many of which were already keeping the commandments because they were Jews, but it’s also looking forward to the return of the Messiah!

Slide 10 YHVH spoke to Moses, saying, “On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to YHVH. “You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before YHVH your God. “If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people. “As for any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. “You shall do no work at all. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. “It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.” (Lev 23:26-32)

Now comes the Fast. This day has enormous Messianic meaning. But the crux is to do nothing – no eating, no drinking, no work, nada for 24 hours from sunset to sunset. That’s what we do today. Back in Temple and tabernacle days, the people did nothing except for a couple of the Kohen. The High Priest made atonement for the people. This was the day that the sins of the people were transferred, ceremonially and perhaps literally, to the goats or the curtain. And the High Priest did it for all.

Slide 11 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. (Heb 9:6-7)

Again, today is just an overview, but the crux of the matter is that Yeshua bore our transgressions. The Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, was a type, Yeshua is the fulfillment. When He died, the curtain was torn in two. And the book of Hebrews goes on in great detail what this day means.

So for us to fast on this day, to observe it the best we can, is to honor our Messiah’s death which paid the price for sins. And those were sins committed in ignorance, which gives us a marvelous hope for all mankind who have committed sins in ignorance, which is everyone.

Slide 12 Again YHVH spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to YHVH. ‘On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. ‘For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to YHVH. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to YHVH; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work. (Lev 23:33-36)

Now we get to Sukkot! The Feast of Tabernacles. Or the season of our joy! So after we have the day that foreshadows Yeshua’s return, then we have the day of somber fasting that is for the sins committed in ignorance (among other things), we have an 8 day festival. We analogize this one to representing the 1000 years, but the Sabbath does that to. We also equate the 8th day as the sign of completion and a gateway between the impure and the holy. The 8th day of sukkot is thought to be representative of the bridge between the end of this era and the beginning of eternity, where we enter the olam ha ba. It’s also thought to be judgment day or the second resurrection. For today, Sukkot is a time for us all to fellowship together in peace and harmony, most often at a resort or camping, with just our fellow believers. Scripturally it represents the time the Hebrews were in the wilderness, living in sukkahs, and is a remembrance of that. Which can also relate to how our lives here are temporal, where we live for just a short time, and then at the resurrection are given permanent immortal bodies. But whatever the meanings turn out to be, the feast is just fine as it is!

Slide 13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. (Ecc 12:13-14)

The conclusion, though, is to fear God and keep His commandments. For in so doing, we will show ourselves approved and faithful when Messiah returns. Keeping the commandments are not burdensome, as I hope the message today shows. They are a privilege for us to know and do. They are healthy for us. They enhance our lives today. And they show our faith in Yahweh and His Son, Yeshua, while we await Yeshua’s return.

The Feast of Weeks for Christians

“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest. You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.” (Exo 34:21-22)

This Sunday, June 5th, is the Feast of Weeks for 2020. This day goes by many names in scripture including “count fifty” which, in Greek, is Pentecost. Most Christians know this day to be Pentecost because of the miracle of the Spirit (Ruach) descending on the Apostles in Acts 2. The book of Acts was written in Greek and Pentecost was not translated into English. What’s ironic is many Christians don’t realize this day is from the Torah and it shows the Apostles were continuing to observe Torah after Yeshua ascended.

I used the Exodus scripture above vice the many others to illustrate the Feast of Weeks for a reason today. It’s because the commandment is adjacent to the Sabbath commandment. In English, we don’t see an association here that is plain to see in Hebrew. Let me show you:

“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day (yom shebee-e) you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest. You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks (Chag Shebua), that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year. (Exo 34:21-22)

Yom Shebee-e means seventh day. Chag Shebua means Feast of Weeks. And you can see these words are derived from the word Shabbat, which we know is the weekly holiday commanded by the 4th commandment. The Feast of Weeks is tied to the Hebrew week. We are to count 7 Sabbaths and then a day to arrive on the day to be observed, which is June 5 this year.

I understand there is another counting method to this day that makes it start on a calendar date each year instead of a day of the week. This results in the Feast of Weeks falling on random days of the week fifty days later. Does it make sense to count 7 weeks apart from the week established by Yahweh at Creation? I don’t think so.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. (Act 2:1-4)

I will speak about this day in detail this weekend. The Sabbath before Pentecost is rather special to those of us who believe in Yeshua and the New Testament. Please join us on Zoom at 1pm central to hear more about that specific day in history. On Pentecost, please join at 3pm central. Sorry for the change in times but we share meeting space and couldn’t get in at our normal time. Here’s the link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9833667268

On the day of Pentecost in Acts two, we can know the count started on the 1st day of the week because Yeshua was resurrected on the 1st day. The women arrived at the tomb to find it empty before sunrise on the 1st day. Since a day starts at sunset, we know Yeshua was resurrected sometime Saturday night (using modern words for understanding). Paul later tells us Yeshua is the first fruits of the dead, meaning He was resurrected on the day the wave sheaf was offered as Yahweh’s blessed first fruits of the dead. Yahweh accepted His Son’s sinless death as an offering for all sin and resurrected Him at the proper time. This observance is particularly important as an apologetic to our common Messianic faith. Because it shows the Apostles were still keeping Torah even after the Messiah was resurrected and explained everything to them. And they were rewarded incredibly for displaying their faith through their works. Shalom and I hope to see you online this weekend!

The Bread of Chaos

John 19:31 records that they wanted Yeshua to be off the cross because that Sabbath was a “High Day”. This message explains what that High Day is and how it parallels events around the Exodus as well as events to unfold at the end times!

The Bread of Chaos

1st ULB Welcome. We’re really in the minority observing these days. Not Passover in general, mind you. Most of Christianity and Judaism does something at this time of the year in commemoration of Yeshua’s sacrifice or the Exodus. In both our movement and within Judaism, the ULB days tend to get short shrift. The Seder is such a beautiful observance, it’s common for folks to just do that and no more. But let’s take a look at the mitzvot:

Slide 2 “Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to YHVH your Elohim, for in the month of Abib YHVH your Elohim brought you out of Egypt by night. You shall sacrifice the Passover to YHVH your Elohim from the flock and the herd, in the place where YHVH chooses to establish His name. You shall not eat leavened bread (chamets) with it; seven days you shall eat with it unleavened bread (matzah), the bread (lechem) of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), so that you may remember all the days of your life the day when you came out of the land of Egypt. For seven days no leaven (seor) shall be seen with you in all your territory, and none of the flesh which you sacrifice on the evening of the first day shall remain overnight until morning. You are not allowed to sacrifice the Passover in any of your towns which YHVH your Elohim is giving you; but at the place where YHVH your Elohim chooses to establish His name, you shall sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt. You shall cook and eat it in the place which YHVH your Elohim chooses. In the morning you are to return to your tents. Six days you shall eat unleavened bread (matzah), and on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly to YHVH your Elohim; you shall do no work on it.” (Deu 16:1-8)

  • Bread of affliction – the topic today, even though I’m calling it the bread of chaos. Oni means misery, poverty, depression, affliction. It’s supposed to be a chore to eat this bread. Unusual and a break from the norm. YHVH using food. Agrarian society.  I’ll get to the bread of chaos later.
  • Different types of bread = English versus Hebrew and Greek.
  • Chamets = zume = yeast or leavened bread
  • Seor = zume = leaven
  • Lechem = artos = bread. Artos alone means leavened bread.
  • Matsah = azumos = unleavened bread, one word
  • In English, we have to have the adjectives which are not necessary in Hebrew or Greek. Greek words are there to help with NT. They ate leavened bread the night Yeshua was betrayed. If we could read Greek, we would just see it.
  • YHVH uses food to teach us lessons. This week begins before hand for us to remove the leavening signifying a renewal. Abib is the beginning of the year, natural for renewing. Removing the leavening to make a new lump teaches lessons. It starts a cycle. It gives us a pattern from which to grow.
  • Using food shows we need to trust YHVH for our sustenance. On a national level, throwing out starter lumps shows we need to rely on peace to grow a new lump.
  • Unleavened bread is a chore. Here in the US in the 21st century, we can have recipes and make tasty treats for ULB. Not so much in first century Judea or ancient Israel.
  • Not in our towns, where YHVH places His Name – no Temple or priesthood, no real Passover. We are doing the best we can, practicing for when this becomes a real thing again in the future. Practicing for the 1000 years.

Slide 3 The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.” So the people took their dough before it was leavened (chamets), with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders. Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread (matzah). For it had not become leavened (chametz), since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. (Exo 12:33-39)

  • The bread of chaos. Imagine this scene. Imagine the nation of Egypt, then the most powerful empire in the world, laying in waste. All ten plagues have been executed. The Israelites are unscathed. The Egyptians are decimated. All their first born are dead. That means the leadership is gone. A generational disaster – nobody to hand the family farm to, nobody to inherit the royal titles. And the Egyptians have been brought to their knees, begging the Israelites, their workforce to leave. And a mixed multitude joining. Egypt is a wreck. And the Hebrews have a very tight window to get out of town. Despite the commandment, it reads their bread was not risen because of time, leaving in haste.
  • The commemoration is for this. To remember that YHVH saved a people who didn’t really know who they were. Our adopted family. They knew they were different from the Egyptians, but not how much. They were slaves and had to be chased out. They even shirked their identity many times, but YHVH did not give up on them. Well, there was that one time and then Moses interceded. He brought them out in haste and made them a nation.

Slide 4 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (Joh 19:31)

  • Today is that High Day. It’s not the day of the week because it was really a Thursday that year, but you get the picture. Imagine the chaos of the disciples at this point. Imagine their sorrow. They do not know where to turn. Their rabbi, who is the Messiah, was dead. They were surely lost. And He stayed dead for three whole days. Do you know what they were eating then? ULB. The bead of affliction. They were mourning the death of YHVH’s firstborn Son. That’s not a coincidence. The blood of the lambs in Egypt covered the Israelites and whoever else put that blood on the doorposts. Then the blood of YHVH’s Son, shed on Passover, as the Lamb of God, allows for all who accept it to be grafted into Israel and become heirs according to the promise.
  • And when He was resurrected, He would have eaten ULB. Still keeping the commandments.
  • The Apostles remained unscathed after His death. Even though the leaders wanted the movement stopped for good. They were protected in the chaos.

Slide 5 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2Ti 3:1-7)

  • Chaos of the end times – believers unscathed? Maybe, maybe not. Some will be martyred. Some will survive until the absolute end. The chaos will be immense at the end. Keeping Pesach and ULB will be incredibly hard. The world will be incredible violent and godless. Which isn’t too hard to imagine. And what will we be doing?

Slide 6 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of YHVH and hold to the testimony of Yeshua. (Rev 12:17)

  • Well be keeping the commandments the best we can. Even in times of chaos. In Yeshua’s Name!

How to Keep the Holy Days of the Bible

Here’s a basic “how to” for those who keep the Holy Days of the Bible in the context of the New Covenant. This includes the Sabbath, The Night Yeshua was Betrayed, the Passover, Pentecost, The Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles.

How-to-Keep-the-Holy-DaysDownload

How to keep Yahweh’s appointed times under the New Covenant

We have many, many teachings about what the days mean and how they fit into prophecy, but not so much on how to actually observe the days. Here’s an easy to use chart on what to actually do on each of Yahweh’s Holy Days. These are in chronological order.

Holy DayMain ScripturesHow and What
Shabbat aka The SabbathLev 23:3, Exodus 20:8-11Rest from Friday Sunset to Saturday Sunset. No work, no commerce. Have an assembly.
The Night Yeshua was BetrayedMatthew 28: 26-29, 1 Corinthians 11: 23-34Abib 13, the day before Passover, assemble, wash each other’s feet, sing a hymn, have wine and bread (leavened). A somber assembly. This is not a Sabbath.
Pesach aka PassoverLeviticus 23:5 and many othersAbib 14 at sunset. Have all the leavening removed from your house, car, etc. before sundown. Have a memorial meal with unleavened bread. Prefer to have a Seder (link) that includes Passover from Abraham through to the Kingdom. Meal can be family at home with or without guests or an assembly. Abib 14 is not a Sabbath.
Days of Unleavened BreadLeviticus 23:6-8, 1 Corinthians 5:8Eat unleavened bread for 7 days. Have an assembly on Abib 15 and on Abib 21 which are Sabbaths, but you can prepare food on them. These two days are feast days.  
First FruitsLeviticus 23: 9-14, 1 Cor 15:20The day Yeshua was resurrected. Not a Sabbath. Nothing for us to do except start counting.
Feast of Weeks aka Pentecost aka ShavuotLeviticus 23: 15-22, Acts 250 days from First Fruits (the Sunday during Unleavened Bread). Always lands on a Sunday. This is a Sabbath where you can prepare food, a feast day. Celebrate the giving of the Ruach ha Kodesh or Holy Spirit.
Yom Teruah aka Feast of TrumpetsLeviticus 23: 23-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:161st day of the 7th month. Not Rosh Hashana or “New Years’”. Have an assembly. Blow a shofar if you have one. Many dress in white as this is the day that foreshadows Yeshua’s return. This is a Sabbath where you can prepare food.
Yom Kippur aka Day of AtonementLeviticus 23:26-32, Acts 27:910th day of the 7th month. Fast from sundown on the 9th through sundown on the 10th. No water or food (if able). No work at all. Have an assembly. 
Sukkot aka the Feast of Tabernacles aka Feast of Booths aka Feast of IngatheringLeviticus 23: 33-43Have an assembly on the 15th day of the 7th month and on the 22nd day of the 7th month which are sabbaths that you can prepare food on (feasts). Most celebrate this by traveling to have larger gatherings that are festive with a lot of teachings. Making a communal sukkah (not a tent) is common practice. Dancing and a general festive atmosphere is the way to go!

That’s the most simplified list I think one could make.

YHVH spoke again to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD’S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these:” (Lev 23:1-2)

Now that we’ve gone through the list, let’s talk about having an assembly. The origin of a church service is in the second line of Leviticus 23 where it says holy convocations. This is called a Holy Convocation in Leviticus 23, which is a miqra kodesh in Hebrew, which is represented well by holy convocations. The KJV calls this a feast which isn’t quite accurate. Only some of the appointed times in Lev 3 are feasts. Yom Kippur is obviously not a feast or a festival.


This is what we call “church” in English, but is also called an ekklesia in Hebrew, which is an assembly. These days are assemblies for the purpose of worship. Here lies the problem: the Torah doesn’t tell us what to actually do to have a holy assembly. This means we have latitude. The elements of a holy assembly have evolved over time, but we who have the New Testament can figure out some elements that should be included.

And Yeshua returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding districts. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. (Luk 4:14-15)

The synagogue is not in Torah. This is the foundation for modern day church services and was instituted by the Jews after the return from the exile. Yeshua’s behavior sanctions the synagogue. He taught there often and even told the disciples they would be punished in the synagogues. Paul used the synagogues often, being a high ranking Pharisee, he was welcomed with honor in these houses of worship.  

The synagogue system of the first century is where we get the elements of gathering in a building on Shabbat. Christianity shifted this to Sunday in error but retained many of the same practices. Reading scriptures, having a sermon, and corporately singing hymns are all from the synagogue. A Catholic church even looks like a synagogue, but with the Torah scroll replaced with a chalice and the host bread. The large altar on a Catholic stage is remarkably similar to the large table a synagogue uses for the reading of a Torah scroll. The Catholic church is the foundation for the modern church service, so you can see how easy it is for use to trace these practices back to the synagogue.

“For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” (Act 15:21)

Acts 15 is most often misused by Christianity to show the Torah ended, but the opposite is actually true. The gentile converts were attending synagogue, which is why that council was called. The Messianics didn’t know what to do with these uncircumcised people showing up at the synagogue. And the result was that they would hear Moses read every week and learn. The synagogue system was sanctioned by Yeshua and allowed to flourish so the faith would have a base of operations from which to grow in every city.

As you gather on the holy days, understand there is latitude in how we observe the days. Hopefully you have somewhere nearby to fellowship with, but if you’re on your own, then trust the Ruach and just get started. We cease from commerce and work on all Sabbaths. On the days that aren’t Sabbaths, like Passover and the night Yeshua was betrayed, we follow the example of scripture wherever possible understanding that our actions display our love for Yahweh and His Son, Yeshua.