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Date:         Sun, 27 Sep 1992 16:09:24 EDT
From:         Lon Mendelsohn <LMENDELS@CMS.CC.WAYNE.EDU>
Subject:      Rosh haShanah/Days of Awe (1 Tishrei, 5753)

Monday is Rosh haShanah, or the Jewish New Year.  As such, it is
the first day of the ten Days of Awe, which correspond roughly to
the Forty Days preceding Easter, and I thought I'd share a few
thoughts from a Messianic Jewish perspective.

Rosh haShanah is referred to in scripture as Yom haTeruah, the Day
of Blowing of Trumpets (Num. 29:1ff, Lev. 23:24).  It is actually
the first day of the seventh month in the Jewish calendar, the
first month being the one in which Passover occurs.  You may ask,
therefore, why is it the Jewish New Year?  According to ancient
tradition, Passover (in the first month) is the anniversary of the
Jewish people, while Rosh haShanah is the anniversary of creation.

The focus of the day is the opening of the Book of Life in the
heavenly court of judgement, which will be closed at the
conclusion of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) ten days later.
Many of the prayers therefore refer to God as King or Judge.
There is also a very strong emphasis on God remembering His
people.  During the later part of the service, verses emphasizing
God's sovereignty are read (Malchuyot), followed by verses
emphasizing God's remembrace of His people (Zichronot), then
verses having to do with the blowing of trumpets (Shoferot).

It is interesting to note that Rosh haShanah is the first day of
the seventh month and is followed not only by the Day of Atonement
but also by the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), which is one of the
most joyful feasts on the Jewish calendar.  Thus, the seventh
month is a sabbatical month, a month almost totally dedicated to
the special service of God.  Rosh haShanah inaugurates this
sabbatical month; biblically, this seems to be one of its most
important functions.

The Messianic significance of the day has to do with the return of
Messiah and the final judgement, when the Book of Life will be
opened for the last time to determine who will enter into the life
of the Kingdom of God, and who will suffer eternal condemnation.
Many Messianic Jews (myself included) believe that it is likely
that the Lord will return during the Days of Awe.  We base this
belief on the statement of Paul in 1 Cor. 15:51-52:

   Lo!  I tell you a mystery.  We shall not all sleep, but we
   shall all be changed, 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 shall all be changed.

and the statement of John in Revelation 11:15:

   Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud
   voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become
   the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he shall reign
   forever and ever."

Because the Days of Awe precede Yom Kippur, many Jewish people
tend to examine and evaluate their lives before God during this
season; thus, I would invite you to join me in praying for my
brothers and sisters after the flesh, that God would bring them to
saving faith in the Messiah of Israel.

Below are the readings from the Tanakh (Old Testament) for Rosh
haShana, and one of the more important prayers from the liturgy of
The Days of Awe:

First day of Rosh haShanah

Torah readings:

Genesis 21 (God remembers Sarah: the birth of Isaac, the expulsion
of Hagar and Ishmael and God's care for them, the conflict between
Abraham and Abimelech).

Numbers 29:1-6 (Biblical instructions for the observance of Yom
haTeruah).

Haftarah:

1 Samuel 1:1-2:20 (God remembers Hannah: the birth of Samuel).

Second day of Rosh haShanah:

Torah readings:

Genesis 22 (The binding of Isaac).

Numbers 29:1-6.

Haftarah:

Jeremiah 31:2-20 (God's promise to restore Judah and Israel).

Avinu Malkenu

Our Father, our King, we have sinned before You.
Our Father, our King, we have no king except You.
Our Father, our King, deal kindly with us for the sake of Your
  name.
Our Father, our King, renew unto us a year of good.
Our Father, our King, annul every evil decree against us.
Our Father, our King, annul the designs of those who hate us.
Our Father, our King, frustrate the counsel of our enemies.
Our Father, our King, destroy the power of every oppressor and
  adversary.
Our Father, our King, silence the mouths of our adversaries and
  those who accuse us falsely.
Our Father, our King, remove pestilence, sword, famine, captivity,
  destruction, and plague from the children who obey Your covenant.
Our Father, our King, withhold the plague from Your people.
Our Father, our King, forgive and pardon our iniquities.
Our Father, our King, blot out our transgressions, and cause our
  sins to pass away from before You.
Our Father, our King, efface in Your abundant mercy all record of
  our guilt.
Our Father, our King, may we return to You in perfect repentance.
Our Father, our King, send a perfect healing to the sick among
  Your people.
Our Father, our King, repeal the evil sentence that may be decreed
  against us.
Our Father, our King, remember us for our well-being.
Our Father, our King, inscribe us in the book of happy life.
Our Father, our King, inscribe us in the book of freedom and
  salvation.
Our Father, our King, inscribe us in the book of sustenance.
Our Father, our King, inscribe us for a meritorious life.
Our Father, our King, inscribe us in the book of forgiveness and
  reconciliation.
Our Father, our King, cause salvation speedily to spring forth for
  us.
Our Father, our King, bring glory to Israel, Your people.
Our Father, our King, exalt the majesty of Your Messiah.
Our Father, our King, provide us with Your abundant blessings.
Our Father, our King, fill our storehouses with plenty.
Our Father, our King, hear our voice, have pity and compassion
  upon us.
Our Father, our King, receive our prayer with merciful favor.
Our Father, our King, open the gates of heaven to our prayer.
Our Father, our King, O turn us not away from You unanswered.
Our Father, our King, remember our frailty for we are but dust.
Our Father, our King, let this hour be an hour of mercy and a time
  of favor before You.
Our Father, our King, have mercy upon us and upon our children.
Our Father, our King, do this for the sake of those who were slain
  for Your holy name.
Our Father, our King, do this for the sake of those who were
  slaughtered for Your unity.
Our Father, our King, do this for the sake of those who went
  through fire and water for the sanctification of Your name.
Our Father, our King, bring to judgement those who have shed the
  blood of Your people.
Our Father, our King, grant our supplication for Your sake, if not
  for ours.
Our Father, our King, accept our prayer for our sake and save us.
Our Father, our King, do this for the sake of Your abundant mercies.
Our Father, our King, do it for the sake of Your great, mighty,
  and revered name.
Our Father, our King, be gracious to us and answer us, for behold,
we are unworthy; deal with us in charity and loving-kindness and
  save us.

AMEN.

 *************************

 Shalom,

 Lon Mendelsohn
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