Congregation Shema Yisrael Moadim Page
Congregation Shema Yisrael
The Moadim: God's Appointed Times |
The Moedim (moe-eh-DEEM - "Appointed Times"), are typically called, "Jewish holidays" but in the Bible are referred to as G-d's appointed times.These include: Pesach (Passover), Matzah (Feast of Unleavened Bread), Shavuot (The Giving of the Torah/Pentecost), Rosh HaShannah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot (Tabernacles). Also given consideration in this section are the Shabbat (Sabbath) and the Yovel Year (Jubilee Release). The Moedim can best be understood as holy appointments the Almighty has made with His redeemed community.
Especially considering that the Shabbat is considered a "moed", these appointments are not strictly for the Jewish people since the Almighty established the Shabbat at the beginning of Creation, long before the days of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. We cannot truly celebrate the Moedim as we do not live in The Land of Israel and no Temple or Levitical priesthood currently exists. What we can do instead is make our best efforts based on the Torah and accepted tradition, to celebrate, showing the Almighty our steadfast desire to obey His Word and the longing to celebrate these holy times again as in days of old.
The High Holidays, Sukkot, & Simchat Torah 
The High Holy Days are observed over a 10-day period, beginning with Rosh Hashanah and culminating in Yom Kippur.
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, celebrates the creation of the world and is a time for reflection on the events of the past year. We use this 10 day period to prepare for confession and repentence of our sins on Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah begins the year 5771.
Rosh Hashanah - September 9-10, 2010 | Tishrei 1-2, 5771
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day of the Jewish year. Although we've been redeemed from sin by our Messiah Yeshua, it doesn't mean we lead perfectly obediant lives. On Yom Kippur, we have the opportunity to reflect on how we have failed to completely obey the Almighty, to make teshuvah (repent) of our disobediance, and to rededicate our lives to becoming better sons and daughters of G-d.
Yom Kippur - September 17-18, 2010 | Tishrei 9-10
Sukkot or the Festival of Booths commemorates the days when the Children of Israel wandered the desert, living in only tents and trusting in the Almighty to protect and guide them. Our congregation constructs a sukkah (temporary dwelling) and celebrates by having an outdoor service and taking meals together in it.
Sukkot - September 22-29, 2010 | Tishrei 14-21
Shemini Atzeret is considered the "extra" day of Sukkot, celebrated as if you had invited beloved guests to your sukkah and just had to have them stay one more day.
Simchat Torah is the celebration of the completion of one Torah Cycle and the beginning of another. We spend this day in worship and glad celebration, dancing and praising the Almighty for the wonderful gift of His Word.
Shemini Atzeret - Simchat Torah - September 30-October 1, 2010 | Tishrei 22-23
Chanukah: Victory of Light 
Chanukah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors called the Hasmoneans defeated the Syrians who had defiled the Holy Temple and attempted to force the Jews to assimilate. It is celebrated for eight days by kindling the menorah each evening. We are reminded of how we are to be a "Light to the World".
December 2-9, 2010 | Kislev 25-Tevet 2
Tevet 10: Jerusalem Under Siege 
On the 10th of Tevet of the year 3336 from Creation (425 BCE), the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. Thirty months later -- on Tammuz 9, 3338 -- the city walls were breached, and on Av 9th of that year, the Holy Temple was destroyed. The Jewish people were exiled to Babylonia for 70 years. Tevet 10 is observed as a day of fasting, mourning and repentance. We refrain from food and drink from daybreak to nightfall, and add the Selichot and other special supplements to our prayers. More recently, Tevet 10 was chosen to also serve as a "general kaddish day" for the victims of the Holocaust. The accompanying graphic depicts a tallit gadol or large prayer shawl caught on the barbed wire fence of a Nazi concentration camp.
December 17, 2010 | Tevet 10
Tu B'Shevat: the New Year for Trees 
Tu B'Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar is the day that marks the beginning of a "New Year for Trees." This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle. This isn't a moed you'll find in the Torah but it is still a time of renewal when we can thank the Almighty for a new season of life.
January 20, 2011 | 15 Shevat
Purim 
Purim celebrates the salvation of the Jewish people, in the year 3405 from Creation (356 BCE), from Haman's plot "to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews." Purim is observed each year on the 14th of Adar, celebrating the deliverance of the Jewish people from the wicked Haman in the days of Queen Esther of Persia, as described in the book of Esther. It is traditional to gather together for a time of dressing in costumes, joking, and celebration.
February 18, 2011 | Adar 14
Passover: Festival of Redemption 
Passover celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. One of the major mitzvoat of this holiday is the prohibition against eating any leavened products and the commandment to eat Passover Matzah. We celebrate as a people delivered from slavery to sin and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. The first two days and the last two days are holidays as shown.
April 19, 2011 | Nissan 15
Counting of the Omer - Sefirat HaOmer 
Between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot, the Omer is counted after nightfall on each evening. The count signifies our preparation for the receiving of the Torah on the holiday of Shavuot. Day One of Counting the Omer is:
April 20, 2011 | Nissan 16
Pesach Sheni - The Second Passover 
30 days ago we cleaned our homes and souls of leaven and matzahed our way through the week-long festival. And now -- a Second Passover! But this time it's over before you know it and the challah stays in the breadbox. Pesach Sheni was traditionally celebrated by those who had been traveling or otherwise were unable to make their Pesach offering during the time of the Mishkan and the two Temples. Today, you can welcome guest to celbrate with you if they were unable to observe Pesach the month before. This is also Day 29 of Counting the Omer.
May 18, 2011 | Iyar 14
Shavuot: The Giving of the Torah 
Shavuot is the culmination of the counting of the 49 days of the Omer, the 49th day being on Thursday, May 28th this year. It marks the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. The Ten Commandments are read in synagogues on Shavuot just as they were in the desert on Mt. Sinai over 3,300 years ago. It is also considered the same day recorded in Acts 2:1-4 when the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples in an upper room of the Second Temple.
June 8, 2011 | Sivan 6
The Three Weeks and Tisha B'Av: Destruction and Renewal 
A full three weeks of our year -- the three weeks "between the strictures" of Tammuz 17 and Av 9 -- are designated as a time of mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temple and the resultant galut (diaspora: physical exile and spiritual displacement) in which many of us still find ourselves.
Fast of Tammuz: July 19, 2011 | Tammuz 17
Tisha B'Av: August 9, 2011 | Av 9
