Yom Teruah (aka Rosh Hashanah)

Yom Teruah, or the Feast of Trumpets, is the day that is marked on most calendars as Rosh Hashanah. Yom Teruah means “Day of Shouting” and can refer to the shout of a trumpet or a voice. It’s a day of remembrance and shouting, or Zicharon Teruah meaning remembrance shouting. It is a day to hear the sound of the shofar or a trumpet, it is a day to make a joyful noise unto the L-RD! For if we don’t praise Him the very rocks will cry out in our place. The cries of the trumpet or shofar on Yom Teruah serve as a warning cry for us to wake up and repent, to be prepared for YHVH. Yom Teruah is the first day of the seventh month, so it takes place on Rosh Chodesh Tishri – the new moon – the beginning of the month of Tishri. This is the first celebration of the fall festivals. 10 days later is Yom Kippur and 5 days after that is Sukkot.

In Scripture you can find references to Yom Teruah in these locations: Leviticus 23:23-25, Numbers 10:1-2, 10:10, 29:1-6, Nehemiah 8:2-3, 8:8-12.

The month before Yom Teruah is a season of repentance, spiritual awakening and preparation for the fall festivals. Yom Teruah begins a traditional 10 day period between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. These days are called the Days of Awe. Then we have the highest holy day of the year – the day the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for all of Israel. This is a solemn time to be sure. Then Sukkot is the time that it is expected that Yeshua the Messiah was born. It is a time to remember living in temporary dwellings on the road from Egypt to Israel, it is a time to remember that the G-d of Heaven came to tabernacle among us. It is a time to remember that our earthly tabernacles are temporary and that He is preparing for us heavenly bodies to last us for all of eternity. The fall festival season is powerful!

Back to Yom Teruah. This is a day that is referred to as a day that no man knows because it is Rosh Chodesh and it means we must be watchful of the signs. Today we have computers and programs that will tell us when the new moon will be visible. Way back when they knew too because they watched the skies. But have you ever noticed that some nights there seems to be no moon at all, for a night or two? No man knew if this month would have a one night or a two night “no moon” or how long it would take to actually be able to see the moon. Once the new moon is spotted it signals a new month. Yom Teruah being on Rosh Chodesh has special significance in this way. We are to wait with anticipation for this day to be revealed, just like we wait for the Messiah to return. There is much tradition that says that this is the time that the Messiah is expected to return.

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in many homes as the New Year. While it is not the start of the Biblical New Year (it is the 7th month), it is the start of the civil year. It will be the year 5767 according to the traditional calendar when Rosh Hashanah comes this Friday night. This holiday will be celebrated with sweet breads, other sweet foods, apples and honey, and wishes that you be inscribed in the book of life. This year Yom Teruah falls on Shabbat, making it a doubly special Shabbat.

I am going to list a few links to several articles I found this week for further reading. Yom Teruah – The Day of the Awakening Blast, Yom Teruah is a holiday on the 1st day of the Seventh month (Tishrei), Yom Teruah: Day Of The Shofar Blast ,and Yom Teruah are all articles that might be of interest to those who would like to read further.

May you all have a sweet and wonderful Yom Teruah and may your spirit be stirred as you wait for Him. May you make a joyful noise unto Him in praise and worship and may your time with family and friends be blessed. Shabbat Shalom!!