In just a few days our community will be ushering in the beginning of our seventh Kodesh (“month”) with the Yom Teruah observance. This Rosh Kodesh (New Moon/Cycle) is the first day of several other moadiym (set times) of the seventh Kodesh. It sets the tone for the appointed moments of the next cycle of twenty-eight or so days. On this first day the proverbial alarm is sounded – reminding us to take account of where we are in relation to HIS time and HIS clock. Although families in our culture use the day to celebrate and hold a type of feast gathering on it as we do on new moon occasions – Yom Teruah IS NOT actually a kag/feast day (We have a Feast of Tabernacles for that). And although we may sound the shofar on this day it IS NOT “the day of trumpets” (we sound the shofar on every other Rosh Kodesh) as some translations may identify it as (Yom Teruah literally means Day of the Teruah [sound]). Although it is a season of utmost importance for our people and ushers in a new season while closing out our harvest season – it is not technically a Rosh Ha Shana/Beginning of The Year (we chart our year at the beginning of months at the time of Abib). It’s all too easy to confuse the practices of the observance with the actual intent of the observance.
The alarm (teruah) is sounded to awaken within us an actual internal alarm of the season that is upon us and the preparation we must undertake so that we may meet HIM properly at that time. It is a day for remembering; remembering where we came from to reach this season, remembering the trials, the tribulations, the being brought up from the depths of ignorance to a place of realization, remembering (and appreciating) that we have been even given a day by The Great One away from the world’s typical day of operating – just to remember all that HE has done for us. It is a day for us to be reminded; reminded of how we must walk and where we must walk to - in order to remain on or get back in alignment with the trajectory that he has set us for our fathers and we, their progeny. It is a day for us to be reminded of what our roles are within our family, tribal, and national units to help ourselves individually and collectively be in alignment with the voice of The Kwadosh (Set Apart) One of Yisrael. It is a necessary power check – for without our connection to The Great Power we are powerless; functioning as ships without sails, bodies without minds, a flock without a shepherd. Every man is obligated to remember and be reminded of this. Noone is exempt!
My prayer is that we use this time wisely, that we celebrate the opportunity allowed by our blessing to even be in the know, that we can then efficiently utilize the days leading up to Yom Ha Kippuriym (The Day of Covering/Atonement) to ensure that the members of our household are indeed covered under our umbrella, and that we ourselves, the men of Yisrael are also covered – causing ourselves to be in alignment with HIS will and HIS way. My prayer is that we use the time to patch up all of our relationships and acknowledge the rock from which each of us were hewn, considering how we may have deviated and to devote the appropriate time and energy sobering ourselves and deliberating within the aforementioned units to determine a real strategy on how to get to our destination as one body.
Father…We have acted presumptuously. We have gossiped. We have slandered. We have criticized. We have witnessed falsely. We have intentionally deceived. We have intentionally misled. We have stolen. We have lied. We have coveted. We have hated. We have been jealous. We have been envious. We have loved other deities – things that men make. We have worshipped the works of our hands. We have worshipped the works of others’ hands. We have disobeyed. We have rebelled. We have blasphemed your name. We have not loved YOU fully and by extension we have not loved one another genuinely. We have hated your people. We have hated ourselves. We have injured one another. We have injured that which you have given us.
Father…we know that you are just. We know that such transgressions warrant a punishment. Some require a lashing. Some transgressions require our very lives. We request a path forward to earn your mercy. We request that you put a spirit of humility in us to confess before one another the ways that we’ve erred and also a spirit of understanding and forgiveness in us to receive our brother again – for we ourselves have transgressed – and if we do not forgive how can we come to you seeking forgiveness and mercy? If granted - we pray that we do not take your mercy for granted ever again. We pray that we are grateful for the breath you have put in us and that we guard and keep all of the gardens that you have planted for us in a manner that is acceptable.
My prayer is that what we do on Yom Teruah is pleasing in the eyes of The Most High. I pray that our Houses are accepted and allowed entry into HIS day of atonement. And I pray that when we celebrate on the Feast of The Ingathering/Tabernacles it will be a celebration filled with genuine joy and rejoicing – due to us having utilized HIS set apart times accordingly and as expected.
Peace be to you. Peace be to your house. And peace be unto all that is yours! Shalom Shalom!
Bn Shmû ÉL is a loyal son, a committed father, and the founder of HaDBR Media, Chief Editor at Bn Shmû ÉL Publishing House, and author of The Land Of Milk and Honey: The Heart Of The World. https://www.bn-shmu-el.com/shop .
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