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Subject: Rosh HaShanah -- PART 2
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 17:06:44 -0800
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From: Uri Marcus
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: G-d's Appointed Seasons -- Rosh HaShana PART 2

PART 2 OF 2

---------------------
PURPOSE OF THE SHOFAR
---------------------

There are ten reasons for the mitzvah (commandment) of blowing the
shofar, based on Rav Sa'adiah Gaon. In many of them, links to the major
holiday themes discussed above can be found.

1. Rosh HaShana is the day that commemorates the creation of the world
and it is described as the "coronation" of HaShem (G-d). As it is
customary to sound a trumpet at a king's coronation so we blow the shofer
on Rosh HaShana. By blowing the shofar we recognize the "purpose" of the
creation. (Theme: Kingship)

2. The shofar blast marks the beginning of a period of amnesty which is
known as "HaYamim HaNora'im" or Days of Awe -- The Ten Days of
Repentance. Repentance is based on the fact that since humanity has been
given free-will, and our actions are not pre-determined, we must take
responsiblity for our actions. The ability to repent teaches us that our
future is not bound by our past and that by changing our behaviour we
have the ability to change our past. (Theme: Ressurection/Repentance)

3. When the Jews accepted the Torah at Mount Sinai, the sound of the
shofar is described as "continuously increased and was very great"
(Shm'ot [Exodus] 19:19). The shofar serves to remind us of the revelation
at Mt. Sinai and therefore to renew our commitment to HaShem and to
accept that Torah morality is absolute and G-d given - not relative, nor
does it depend on human understanding. (Theme: Marriage)

4. The prophets called out to the Jewish People and aroused them to
improve their ways (the root of the Hebrew word for "shofar" also forms
the root for the Hebrew word "to improve" (L'Shaper)). The shofar reminds
us of the admonitions of the prophets and their calls to repentance. We
should be aware of the fact that HaShem communicated with us, via the
Prophets, and displayed through them His desire to perfect us and not to
punish us.

5. The shofar reminds us to pray for the rebuilding of the Temple where
trumpets and shofarim were sounded. Just as HaShem manifests His presence
in the world in specific places like the Temple in Jerusalem, He also
manifests His presence at special times, such as during HaYamim HaNora'im
(Days of Awe).

6. The ram's horn reminds us of the Binding of Yitzchak when Avraham
demonstrated his absolute faith in HaShem by being prepared to sacrifice
his son. HaShem demonstrated His absolute love for Avraham by having Him
sacrifice a ram in his place.

7. The sound of the shofar is supposed to inspire fear in the hearts of
those who hear it. It allows one to dwell upon fear of punishment, to
progress from there to fear of doing evil and then to fear of G-d.
Finally one arrives at the feeling of awe of G-d.

8. The shofar reminds us of the day of judgment in the future. And
inspires us to pray for the renewing of world, all of mankind and the
Messianic era.

9. The sound inspires us to yearn for the ingathering of the Exiles, that
will be heralded by the sound of a shofar. There will be absolute unity
amongst the Jewish People and our connection to the Land of Israel will
again be absolute.

10.The shofar recalls the resurrection of the dead which will be
accompanied by the sound of a shofar. As G-d is the source of all life
and the creator of all existence so He has complete control over death.
(Theme: Ressurection)

Additional reasons from other sources:

The shofar ushers in the Divine court session and shows our trust in
HaShem's judgement. By showing our eagerness to be judged by HaShem we
thus confuse the heavenly prosecutor, HaSatan.

Shofar blasts were sounded preceding a war - to rally the troops for
action and to call the people together for prayer and repentance and
assembly. The shofar is therefore like an air raid siren that alerts us
to danger, and summons us to action.

The Shofar (Ram's Horn) is a natural wind instrument, one of the oldest
known to the world. In earliest times, the Shofar was used by Jews as a
musical instrument.

Originally, the Shofar was blown to herald the beginning of each month
(the New Moon). On those occasions short blasts were sounded. But on the
New Moon of Tishrei, long alarm blasts were sounded. The Torah states in
vi'Yikrah (Leviticus) 23 the reason for the long blasts. It explains that
the New Moon of the seventh month marked the beginning of the period of
the Holy convocations of Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippor and Succot. The first
two of these feasts are NOT joyous holidays. The are rightly called
"HaYamim HaNora'im" or the Days of Awe and they celebrate G-d's role as
Master of the universe. They contain themes of resurrection, kingship,
marriage and judgement but they emphasize morality, self-examination,
spirituality and holiness. On Rosh HaShana, the Shofar blasts about 100
times.

-----------------------------------
NO MAN KNOWS THE DAY OR THE HOUR ??
-----------------------------------

Our Rabbis and Sages taught that G-d set up His complete redemption plan
for mankind, and it begins and ends on the Feast of Trumpets, Yom
HaTeru'ah. This line of thought is based upon the seven-day creation
week.

Further understanding the built-in themes of Rosh HaShana, and thus
establishing the resurrection and return on Mashiach for His Bride on
this feast invites us to re-examine the perplexing words of Yeshua when
he admonished us to keep watch,saying "you do not know the day or the
hour," of His return.

However, the words turn out NOT to perplexing at all, once it it
understood that this phrase is a Jewish idiomatic expression specifically
referring to Rosh Shanah, and it even shows up in other Jewish
literature. The phrase is so keyed to this holiday, because of its
connection to the lunar cycle and the appearance of Rosh Chodesh (the new
moon), that when properly understood, it is as if Yeshua was really
saying, "I'll see you again on Rosh HaShanah at some point in the future."

The Torah prescribes that Rosh HaShana be observed for one day, on the
first day of the seventh month of Tishrei. The penalty for non-observance
or for missing the date was excommunication from the Holy Community. This
holiday is unique amongst all the feasts, in that it is the ONLY holiday
that is celebrated on the FIRST DAY of the month (or New Moon). So how in
world were we to know WHEN the new moon would fall given that the lunar
cycle is 29 1/2 days?

Well, up till the time of Hillel II, the testimony of witnesses was used
to determine the official date of arrival of the New Moon which in turn
set the date of the festivals, Pesach, Shavu'ot, Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippor
and Succot. The only ruling body who could hear the testimony and
actually declare that the New Moon had arrived, was the Sanhedrene. No
one knew when that day would actually arrive since it could have been on
the 29th day, the 30th day or the 31st day (in the event of cloud cover),
but they knew the season of its arrival. Hence the Jewish idiom "no man
knows the day or hour" came into use.

Once the declaration of a New Moon was made in Jerusalem, the Sanhedrene
commissioned messengers to go out to notify outlying Jewish communities.
If the witnesses were to arrive too late in reporting to the Sanhedreen,
this would delay the messengers in departing on time to get the word out
to those living far from Jerusalem. This would then result in those
communities missing the correct day of observance of the Feast. Since the
Lord insisted in the Torah that Bnei Israel (Children of Israel) keep the
Feasts at their appointed times or else risk being cut-off from their
people, the Rabbis, in protecting against this, made Rosh HaShana a
two-day Holiday, since it depended upon a New Moon in which no one really
knew the "day or hour" of its arrival. "Nevertheless," the Rabbis
declared, "the two days are to be considered as one long day."

When the era of the Sanhedrene has passed, and from their time onward,
the date of the New Moon was established by calculations alone. These
computations provided for the fixing of the beginning of each month
throughout the possible span of world history. Thus all the lengths of
all future months in exile were now fixed. But this was not the case
during the days of Yeshua, and additionally, this formula has introduced
error into our Jewish calendar today, which can lead to fixing the wrong
date for G-d's appointed seasons.

The result is that all the more we don't know "the day or hour," but we
sure know the time of year, the month, and even the week. Which Rosh
HaShana that Yeshua will return upon is sill a matter of speculation, but
I speculate that though it is not this year, it is right around the
corner.

The lunar cycle can teach us other truths as well.

Yonatan once said to David: "Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you will be
missed because your seat will be empty." (Smu'el Aleph [1 Samuel] 20:18.

We read this Haftarah when Shabbat falls, as it does this year, on the
day before Rosh Chodesh, or the New Moon. The Jewish People (as are all
those who belong to the Holy Community) are compared to the moon. Just as
the moon grows to fullness over a period of fifteen days and then wanes
for fifteen days, so our light is likened to the Moon's, in that the
source of its light, like us, is not within us, but comes from another.
Our light, just like the moon's, needs to be renewed all the time, and
this happens when we yield to the Torah. This gives us opportunity, on a
regular basis, to simply reflect the light from a greater source.

Similarly there were fifteen generations of physical and spiritual growth
from Avraham to David's son Shlomo, and from Shlomo there was a descent
of fifteen generations until the monarchy ended with the destruction of
the Beit Hamikdash (The Holy Temple) and the exile to Bavel (Babylonian
Exile).

However, just as the heavens do not remain dark forever and the moon
re-appears, so will the line of David re-appear with the Mashiach in the
time of the redemption. For this reason in the monthly prayer of Kiddush
Levana (Sanctification of the Moon) we include the verse "David, Melech
Yisrael, Chai, Chai, veKaiyam" (David, King of Israel, lives and
endures")!

-------------------
A NATION OF PRIESTS
-------------------

Another verse which links Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh is: "And it shall be
that, from New Moon to New Moon, and from Shabbat to Shabbat, all flesh
shall come and prostrate themselves before Me, says HaShem. 66:23).

Every New Moon is a summons to Israel to renew and rejuvenate itself.
Every Shabbat is a call to show practical proof of our homage to HaShem
by ceasing from our own work. But there will come a time when not only
Israel will be called to offer their willing service to HaShem... "And I
will establish a distinctive sign amongst them and send refugees from
them to the nations to ...Yavan, to the most distant lands that have not
heard My Fame, nor have seen My Glory, and they will inform the nations
of My Glory." (Yishayahu [Isaiah] 66:19)

Yavan/Greece is the nation charged with the task of elevating the lowly
and un-refined nations through culture. But culture is not an end in
itself. It is only a preliminary stage. After Yavan/Greece, it is Shem
(i.e. Israel -- The Holy Community) who will show mankind the path to
elevate itself to an awareness of what is good and true; to pay homage to
what is morally beautiful; to lead the nations to the height of Man's
calling. The intellect of Greece will one day give way to the wisdom and
revelation of Torah, and they will finally come to perceive the
'One-ness' of the Creator.

Then the nations will recognize Israel's role as the priests of mankind,
just as the Levi'im are the priests of Israel. The realization of this
goal is something absolutely certain. Then every New Moon and every
Shabbat will not only bring to Israel a call for renewal of kedusha
(holiness) of acknowledging HaShem in free-willed devotion, but all
mankind will also hear and heed this call.

But when might this happen? Well, it all depends on...

---------------
HOW OLD ARE WE?
---------------

Just as G-d's creation plan reflects six days of work and the seventh as
rest, so also each day according to the L-rd is prophetically 1,000 years
(Mizmor [Psalm] 90:4). Therefore at the end of 6,000 complete years since
the creation of Adam, corresponding to the sixth day of the week, and as
we approach the seventh day Shabbat (in otherwords the Jewish year 6001),
we can expect a one-thousand year "day" of rest, also known as "The
Millennium." It will be marked by a great resurrection of the dead, a
gathering of the living and fulfillment of a long-standing marriage
contract between G-d and His people Israel. So how close are we to the
Jewish year of 6001?

If we know, using revealed biblical cronology alone, that there exists
approximately 2000 years from Adam to Moshe, another 2000 years from
Moshe to Yeshua (almost to the day!), and then add on the
gregorian/secular calendar in use today, which informs us that we have
passed some 1998 years since Yeshua, using simple math, how close to you
think that places us? You be the judge.

We just may have the unique privilege of seeing the redemption unfold, in
short order.

How else might we know that the King is returning quickly?

-------------------------------------------------------------
MASHIACH IS "THE FLOURISHING ONE." THE REST IS BIO-DEGRADABLE
-------------------------------------------------------------

"For behold I will bring you My servant -- the flourishing one"
(Zechariyahu [Zechariah] 3:8)

Why is Mashiach referred to as the "flourishing one?" Even though today
it seems that all remnant of the majesty of the Royal House of David has
been uprooted and has vanished into nothingness. Nevertheless, the root
is still living, hidden and dormant.

Immediately prior to the coming of Mashiach there will be a tremendous
confusion in the world, just as we in fact are witnessing. Everything
will seem to have gone haywire. The natural order will be turned on its
head: Age will bow to youth. Ugliness will be trumpeted as beauty, and
what is beautiful will be disparaged as unattractive. Barbarism will be
lauded as culture. And culture will be dismissed as worthless.

The hunger of consumerism and the lust for material wealth will grow more
and more, and it will find less and less to satisfy its voracity.
Eventually materialism depicted in the historical figures of Esav (Esau),
Edom and Rome will grow so ravenous that it will become its own angel of
death. It will literally consume itself and regurgitate itself back out.

G-d has put into the creation a restlessness, a lack of tranquillity,
which is the metaphysical reflection of the exile of the Jewish People.
While the nation of Israel still languishes in their final exile, there
will be no tranquillity in the world, but only decay: "For Zion's sake, I
will not be silent, and for Yerushalyim's sake, I will not be still."

But from this decay, the line of David will sprout, like a plant that
springs forth from no more than the dirt of the ground. For vegetation
cannot flourish unless the seed rots. The second event is predicated on
the first. It's interesting to note that Mashiach is referred to as the
"tzemach tzedek," literally the "righteous sprouting." For His coming is
identical to the growth of vegetation. After three wars of confusion, at
the appropriate moment, the Mashiach will appear like a majestic tree
flourishing from barren ground, laden with fruit, revealed to all.

The Prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah) in 61:10-63:9 describes how, just as the
Land will seem to bloom and flourish without any prior cultivation in the
time of the Mashiach, so HaShem will redeem His people and shower them
with kindness without any prior action on their part, and without them
deserving it. Hashem will simply bestow His kindness, through His
infinite generosity.

In the last days HaShem will come "marked with scars from the battle with
Esav/Edom/Rome and its spiritual heir" to liberate His people and reveal
that He has been with them in every exile, frustrating the designs of
those who wished to obliterate them.

----------------
A CLOSING PRAYER
----------------

So, ready yourself to meet the Groom! I assure you, while the world is
preoccupied with the global peace and the unity of mankind, you can be
focusing on putting on your Shabbat wedding garments (Matt 22:11) and
preparing to hear the sound of the Last Shofar (Tehillim [Psalms] 47 &
45:13-15). Take this opportunity to turn your attention to the
instructions of G-d (the Torah), as is befitting the Bride of the King.

And while you are at it, pray for us, the Messianic Remnant in Israel,
who need your assistance to provide this witness for "Am Israel," the
People of Israel. This prayer may help:

May it be Thy will, our G-d and the G-d of our
fathers, to strengthen this nation, to grant
wisdom, understanding and insight and to preserve
the unity and integrity of our people, of the Land
of Israel and the Saints that dwell within it.
Grant strength and fortitude to withstand the
pressures from within and without, and to act on
behalf of Israel for good and for blessing, and we
reconnect to our Torah. May it thus be Thy will,
through Melach HaMashiach Yeshua, Amen.

Yechi HaMelech Yeshua (Yeshua the King Lives)!

May your homes be filled with His ressurection and life,

Hag Samayach,

Uri Marcus

*portions of this article were adapted from materials found on the Ohr
Samayach Archives, Jerusalem.

--------------------------------END OF PART 2

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