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Welcome to Yom Teruah, the Day of the Shofar Blast. What kind of a blast? A shofar blast. Yom Teruah is mentioned in the Torah. These are the Mo'adim [appointed times] of G-d, holy convocations which you shall observe in their appointed times [Mo'adam]. The two locations in Torah are:

Vayikra - Leviticus 23:23-25 Again the L-RD 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 the L-RD.'" NASU

B’midbar - Numbers 29:1-6 Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets. 'You shall offer a burnt offering as a soothing aroma to the L-RD: one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old without defect; also their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs. 'Offer one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you, besides the burnt offering of the new moon and its grain offering, and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the L-RD. NASU

The Torah does not use the term "Rosh Hashana," but calls this holiday Yom Teruah (The Day of the Sounding of the shofar). According to Leviticus 23:23-25, it was to be celebrated by blowing a Shofar, or ram's horn, by resting from all work, and by calling a holy assembly, and presenting an offering. The offering is described in Numbers 29:2-6. In Nehemiah 8:2-9 we find Ezra reading the Torah to the assembled people of Israel on this date. In Amos 8:4-5 we see the judgment of the scales. The Tanach (Old Testament) never calls this holiday Rosh Hashanah but instead calls it Yom Teruah.

The Tanach does not give us a reason for celebrating this holiday as it does for all of the other Biblical holidays. The Rabbi’s felt lead to change the meaning of this holiday. The question is who is being called to assemble and for what reason. After this is the start of the Days of Awe.

In Exodus 12:2, G-d told the Children of Israel to start the year in the spring, fourteen days before Passover. Yet, seven months later we celebrate a New Year celebration. Vi Gaits (What gods)? This day was given a special importance by the Rabbi’s of old. They eventually labeled it as a spiritual new year.

It is said that on Rosh HaShanah (Yom Teruah), G-d sits on His throne of judgment and three books are opened. They are the 'Book of Life,' the 'Book of Death,' and the 'Book of the Intermediates.' Those written in the 'Book of Life' are the totally righteous who have fully repented of their sins, and had their repentance accepted by G-d. Those written in the 'Book of Death' are the totally wicked who are fit only for destruction. The vast majority of people are written in the 'Book of Intermediates.' These people have until Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) to repent and be written in the 'Book of Life.' If they do not repent, they will be written in the 'Book of Death.

The Book Of Life: G-d has written our names into the Book of Life. Our relationship for or against Him is what determines if we are blotted out of the Book of Life. The Tanach mentions a request not to be written out of the Book of Life. Those who are against G-d and those who do not obey His commands will be written out of the Book of Life.

Tehillim - Psalms 69:28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and may they not be recorded with the righteous. NASU

Sh’mot - Exodus 32:31-34 Then Moses returned to the L-RD, and said, "Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a G-d of gold for themselves. "But now, if You will, forgive their sin -- and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!" The L-RD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. "But go now, lead the people where I told you. Behold, My angel shall go before you; nevertheless in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin." NASU

Philippians 4:3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. NASU

Hitzion - Revelation 3:4-6 But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. "He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' NASU

Hitzion - Revelation 13:8-9 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. NASU

The "Lambs Book of Life" is the "Book of Life" after those names have been eraced, because they have not called upon the Name of Jesus as Messiah.

John 3:17-18 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. " He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. NASU

John 10:9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved , and will go in and out and find pasture. NASU

1 Timothy 2:3-6 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. NASU

On this day we blow the Shofar to remind us of the call. The Shofar is an instrument created by G-d for man to use.

As the term Teruah appears three times in Torah, they decided that the broken blast should be sounded three times, each time preceded by a straight sound and followed by a straight sound.

The Shofar is a ram's horn, a reminder of the ram offered by Abraham instead of his son Isaac (Gen. 22:13). The horn of a cow or steer may not be used (it might serve as a reminder of the golden calf). The animal from which the horn is to be taken must be kasher. The horn is softened by boiling for several hours; then the cartilage is removed, a hole is drilled into the end that will serve as a mouthpiece, and the hole is then enlarged.

The root of the term Shofar is sh-p-r, hollow. It must, therefore, consist of a perfect, hollow shell, coming to life by the breath of man. No mouthpiece of any material may be added, nor may the Shofar be decorated with any foreign matter, though carvings on the horn itself are permitted. A Shofar should be obtained only from a reliable Jewish dealer and should have a certificate of Kashrut. The Shofar is a symbol of revelation and of redemption.

On Yom Teruah we sound the straight sound Tekiah; the three-break sound Shevarim, and the nine-break sound Teruah.

In fact there is no certainty on what a teruah sound really is. It could be a shevarim, a teruah or a combination of both. On Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashanah), several combinations are used to accommodate the various opinions.

Dipping of bread into honey after kiddush. Ha-motzi (Bread) dipped in honey is a symbol of the hope that the new year will be sweet. Bread is a symbol of supply and nourishment.

Dipping pieces of apple into honey, for the same reason. Also, the apple is said to symbolize the Divine Presence.

We use a round loaf of bread instead of the usual braided challah. Some say the round shape symbolizes a crown.

We avoid contact with or eating any nuts. This is because the numerical value of the Hebrew word for "nut" is the same as the word for "sin."

Tashlikh ceremony, in which "sins" are ceremoniously tossed into a river or body od water and washed away, as penitential prayers are said.

Dipping bread or apple into honey to remind us of the sweetness of G-d is a good thing. I wish you all a sweet new year. We should avoid sin all the time. Nuts are just a symbol of remembrance.

We are called to assemble to worship the L-rd. We are called to bring an offering in atonement for our sins. We are called to bring that atonement to the Temple and give it to the Cohanim for an offering. In ten days the High Priest (Cohanim Gadol) will enter the Holy of Holies and ask for forgiveness of the sins of the people. Oh Booooooooo. We don’t have a Temple. There can be no blood offering for sin. The only offering that is acceptable to G-d is a blood offering in the Temple in Jerusalem. No Temple - no acceptable offering for sin. Now you know why the name was changed from Yom Teruah to Rosh HaShanah.

Don’t misunderstand, Yom Teruah is a time of repentance (Teshuvah). Teshuvah means to return, to turn around, and to repent. Teshuvah in this context means to repent. If I was going to tell you to turn back I would use the Hebrew word “vashav” (to convert or to turn back). This is found in Isaiah 6:10.

Yesha’yahu - Isaiah 6:10 0 "Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed." NASU

Teshuvah is about repentance. There is no forgiveness form sin without repentance. The Days of Awe are coming. This starts a ten-day period of offering to the L-rd. Ten days to go to those you have offended and ask for their forgiveness. This is also illustrated in the New Testament (Brit Hadeshah). Teshuvah occurs when a sinner forsakes his or her sin, asks God to remove it through the blood of Jesus and decides in his heart not to do it again.

Mattityahu - Matthew 5:23-26 Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother , and then come and present your offering. " Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. "Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent. NASU

Mattityahu - Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. NASU

Mattityahu - Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. NASU

The Rabbi’s changed the name to illustrate a new beginning. They gave it the name Rosh HaShanah (head of the year) to give a new start each year.

Yom Teruah is one of the perpetual statutes that G-d has asked us to observe throughout our generations.

B’midbar - Numbers 15:22-24 But when you unwittingly fail and do not observe all these commandments, which the L-RD has spoken to Moses, even all that the L-RD has commanded you through Moses, from the day when the L-RD gave commandment and onward throughout your generations, then it shall be, if it is done unintentionally,

Devarim - Deuteronomy 5:28-29 Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!

Yom Teruah may have a different meaning. Perhaps it will be the trumpet that announces the King of Kings, the Mashiach, The Son of G-d.

Mattityahu - Matthew 24:31 And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. NASU

1 Corrinthians 15:52 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. NASU

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the L-rd Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of G-d, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the L-rd in the air, and so we shall always be with the L-rd. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. NASU

If you don't believe that the B'rit Hadashah (The New testament) is truth, you will not hear the call if the trumpet, calling those who believe to come to the L-rd.

Hitzion - Revelation 1:10-11 I was in the Spirit on the L-rd's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, " Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: NASU

Hitzion -Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, " Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things. NASU

There is only one way to come to the Father. The way is by the Son. John heard and he is with the L-rd.

Yochanan - John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. NASU

Yeshua suffered great pain, humiliation and died at the cross for our sins, blood sacrifice, not simply of a man, but of G-d in man. The only pure sacrifice for our sin is G-d sacrificing Himself for us.

Yesha’yahu - Isaiah 53:1-12 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the L-RD been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of G-d, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the L-RD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the L-RD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the L-RD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will seeit and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors. NASU

Yom Teruah starts the Days of Awe. Ten days to prepare for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). After Yom Kippur is Sukkot (The Feast of Booths). This is an important time of the year as G-d has given us so many festivals of worship to Him all at once.

Do you have ears to hear. Ask HaShem (G-d) to show you who the Messiah is and He will. Ask Him if Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah, and He will show you the Truth. If being wrong meant living in eternity, apart from G-d, wouldn’t you want to find a way to be with Him. If you were wrong wouldn’t you like to know.

Good Year

The L-rd bless you, and watch over you; The L-rd make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The L-rd lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace. [NASU Numbers 6:24-26]

Rosh Hashanah

Hitzion - Revelation 13:8-9 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. NASU

Steady Low Note = _____

Broken Low Note = _ _ _

Good Year

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