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Sukkot
Oct 12, 2008 5:55:25 GMT -8
Post by Mark on Oct 12, 2008 5:55:25 GMT -8
We started putting up our sukkah the other day. When putting together a structure that holds a dozen or more people, it takes a while. "Why do you do that?" he asks. "Why do you put up a Christmas tree?" he huffs and drives on. We decorate our sukkah with lights and silk flowers. The kids are making pop-sickle stick Star-of-Davids this year. There’s a homemade portable fire-pit at the front of it and a blue fabric valance that goes around the back. It’s our best sukkah yet, and we stare admiringly at it for a long time, hoping that the wind doesn’t blow too hard.
The sukkah is just a homemade shell or frame decorated ornately with all the best and prettiest that we can come up with. Every one is different. Each one we have made, from year to year, has been completely different, with various materials, creative style and sometimes downright dangerous engineering. Sometimes my wife comes out and says, "That’s really beautiful." Sometimes she says, "Maybe we should put that in the BACKyard."
The sukkah is very, very much a reflection and representation of me. This skin that houses who I am is of unique and fragile construction, barely designed to withstand the wind, ornately decorated with the best that I can come up with; but only created for a temporary existence for the purpose of giving glory to Adonai.
Sleeping in the sukkah, in October??!!!, is a dramatic representation of the life that we "enjoy" here on earth. This is not my home: the discomforts of outdoor life and struggles to keep warm and sustain myself seem absolutely futile when just a very short distance away, a distance of no effort whatsoever, is every comfort, every need, provided for me without my having to do any more than go inside. The comparison of this life and the life that Adonai has offered to us in His eternal kingdom is as stark a reality.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
(1 Corinthians 2:9)
Yet being here, under the stars, and in the company of others who are with me- not so that we can be cold; but so that we can commune in worship together in unity, is why we build the sukkah and why it stands here as the very best we have to offer. In exactly the same way, and for exactly the same reasons, my life here in these great outdoors of this life is an offering of communion and fellowship with those who are sharing the hope of something far greater that is promised for us one day.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
(Philippians 1:21-24)
May we tabernacle together with purpose.
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Sukkot
Oct 8, 2009 4:44:53 GMT -8
Post by Mark on Oct 8, 2009 4:44:53 GMT -8
One of the practices of during the Festival of Sukkot is the waving of the Lulav and the Etrog. This is a "wave offering" as described throughout  : an offering that is presented to Adonai but shared completely in fellowship with the congregation. And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. (Lev 23:40) The Lulav contains branches from three specific trees: the date palm, the willow and the mertyl tree. The etrog is a citrus fruit that looks similar to a large lemon with a tumorous peel but tastes somewhat less pungent. These elements are hold out, traditionally, on the first night of Sukkot and waved before the Lord in the entryway of our sukkah (tabernacle or booth). "Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has given us His commandments and has commanded us to worship Him with the waving of the Lulav." We could stop with that and just chock it up as being important simply because it is a ritual that gives God honor for the festival. Yet, if you know anything about Hebrew tradition, it’s never that simple. Each of the four species of the Lulav have characteristics which tell us something very important about this experience. The Etrog has a very strong and pleasant odor and if we to open it up and share it, we would find that it has a juicy, pleasant flavor. The date palm, while it is known for it’s sweet taste, has no smell. The mertyl tree has a strong and pleasant odor but there is no taste. The willow tree has neither taste nor smell. Such can identify the people of this world in our relationship with Adonai our God. There are some folk in this world who possess within themselves the sweetness of God’s love and the goodness of His Word. They give off the sweet air or aroma of that sweetness by their lives. They are like the etrog. There are other folks who are diligent in their studies of God’s commands. They are committed to knowledge and understanding; but they keep it all inside. They are like the date palm who has a sweet taste but have no odor to share with others. Still, there are others in this world who are beautiful examples of God’s love to others and show His goodness by their lives, though within them there is no substance of God’s Word. Like the mertyl, they have a pleasant odor but no taste that satisfies. Then there are those who have neither taste nor odor. There is nothing in their lives that is demonstrative of God’s presence. They are like the willow. Still all four of these species are present in the Lulav. All four are waved before God as a wave offering, declaring His blessing and His goodness, sharing what we are with Him. It’s our inclination to aspire to become the Etrog and to ostracize the willow as we wave our offering to the Most High. Yet, without the willow there, the Lulav would be incomplete. In fact, as we review the command described in the Scripture above, it is interesting to note that the Etrog is the one species that is not mentioned by name (but later inserted by tradition). Maybe God’s trying to tell us something. That which we aspire to be in our worship is not what He expects of us. Rather, as we begin to see this analogy realistically, the Etrog is not a true representation of any of our lives: we go back and forth in turn between the other three. Could it be that the Etrog is representative of our Messiah, who presents Himself to the Great King along beside us? |
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Sukkot
Jan 9, 2010 8:05:06 GMT -8
Post by Mark on Jan 9, 2010 8:05:06 GMT -8
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Sukkot
Sept 21, 2010 15:58:16 GMT -8
Post by zionlion on Sept 21, 2010 15:58:16 GMT -8
On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day.
Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your G-d for seven days.
You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year.
It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt.
I am the Lord your G-d.
[Leviticus 23:39-43]www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXKPpfoa2qo
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Sukkot
Oct 10, 2014 20:45:03 GMT -8
Post by Questor on Oct 10, 2014 20:45:03 GMT -8
Check out this article on Sukkot, and then think how nice it will be to climb under the protection of Mashiach, and never have to be unprotected again, particularly by a temporary shelter under a few palm fronds.
Hashem commands the Jewish people to dwell in Sukkot “that your generations may know that I made the Children of Israel to dwell in Sukkot, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your G-d.”
Strangely, before this time, the never mentions that we dwelt in Sukkot. If this merits a special holiday, why isn’t this dwelling in Sukkot ever explicitly mentioned? Sure, clouds can be compared to Sukkot, but the comparison is never made in the text. Compare this to the eating of Matzoh. It is mentioned, repeatedly, in the text. For some reason, the concept of Sukkot is far less concrete than the concept of Matzoh. Why?
In the Jewish calendar of redemption from Egypt, Sukkot is the last of the ‘shalosh regalim’ – or three festivals. Pesach is the first. If we trace the trajectory of these holidays, we can see a pattern emerging....
www.jewishpress.com/judaism/holidays/the-sukkot-state-of-mind/2014/10/10/
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Sukkot
Oct 11, 2014 19:21:34 GMT -8
Post by alon on Oct 11, 2014 19:21:34 GMT -8
Good article! I always enjoy getting the Jewish perspective on things. Even while rejecting Yeshua (for the most part) they still have the mind of God on most things.
Looking back, we can now see some of the prophetic importance of Sukkot. I like how the article makes it clear that the time they dwelt in sukkah's was limited. Rabbi S. talked about this today.
Sukkot is called Z'man Simchateinu, a time of great joy. It is also the Festival of the Nations- a time for goyim to celebrate with us. The holiday is about dwelling with God. It is also about being thankful, and is probably where our tradition of Thanksgiving comes from.
Yeshua was born on Sukkot as well. I'll see if I can get the proofs down that Rav. S laid out ...
Luke 1:5-13 5 In the days of Herod, King of Y'hudah, there was a cohen named Z'kharyah who belonged to the Aviyah division. His wife was a descendant of Aharon, and her name was Elisheva. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, observing all the mitzvot and ordinances of ADONAI blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elisheva was barren; and they were both well along in years. 8 One time, when Z'kharyah was fulfilling his duties as cohen during his division's period of service before God, 9 he was chosen by lot (according to the custom among the cohanim) to enter the Temple and burn incense. 10 All the people were outside, praying, at the time of the incense burning, 11 when there appeared to him an angel of ADONAI standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Z'kharyah was startled and terrified at the sight. 13 But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Z'kharyah; because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elisheva will bear you a son, and you are to name him Yochanan.
1 Chron 24:3 David, together with Tzadok from the descendants of El'azar, and Achimelekh from the descendants of Itamar, arranged them in divisions for service.
Because the priests houses were arranged for service, those who study such things can know when this was told to Z'kharyah, the aprox date of Yochanan's conception.
Luke 1:31-36 31 Look! You will become pregnant, you will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua. 32 He will be great, he will be called Son of Ha`Elyon. ADONAI, God, will give him the throne of his forefather David; 33 and he will rule the House of Ya`akov forever -- there will be no end to his Kingdom." 34 "How can this be," asked Miryam of the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered her, "The Ruach HaKodesh will come over you, the power of Ha`Elyon will cover you. Therefore the holy child born to you will be called the Son of God. 36 "You have a relative, Elisheva, who is an old woman; and everyone says she is barren. But she has conceived a son and is six months pregnant!
So Yeshua is conceived 6 mo after Yochanan, which would be at Channukah. Assuming a 9 mo. pregnancy Yeshua would then have been born at Sukkot. This was another manifestation of the physical presence of God, as was talked about in the article but a little more than they meant. Even the language of the season is recorded in the Bible;
Luke 2:10 (KJV) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold , I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
This is Sukkot language! Jews even today greet each other like this.
Now let's talk about where Yeshua was born. In those days Jews NEVER stayed at inns. Synagogues had rooms for traveling Jews to stay in so that they wouldn't have to break Shabbath while traveling; also so they didn't have to stay at inns which were for traveling Gentiles and so become parties or at least witnesses to the excesses of the goyim. Since Sukkot is a shelash regalim, sukkas would have been built against the walls of the synagogues in Jerusalem and the outlying towns, which included Beith Lechem. These would have been nice accommodations, just not like having a room.
G2646 κατάλυμα kataluma kat-al'-oo-mah From G2647; properly a dissolution (breaking up of a journey), that is, (by implication) a lodging place: - guestchamber, inn.
Here Strong et all show their ignorance of Jewish custom as well as their Catholic indoctrination (I know, they were Methodists, but still steeped in Catholicism even today). By "implication" an inn- they might as well say "we assume it is an inn." Any Jew could have told them it was a synagogue, but why bother asking a Jew when you can just assume? It's the pagan/mythological way!
"But, but, wasn't He laid in a manger?" Yeshua was laid in a food container, all right. But not a place for animals to eat. Food was kept in a food crib at that time; a stone box to keep it cool. This is in all likelihood what Yeshua was laid in.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth.
This was the perfect manifestation of the sukkah, Yeshua HaMoshiach. He came once in humility to redeem us, and while here He showed us the perfect way. Sukkot will finally be fulfilled in the Millennial Reign when Yeshua once more will live among us to rule His creation perfectly.
Sorry my notes are a bit sketchy, but the Rabbi's message just seemed to fit with what your article said so well I thought I'd try and get the point across. That physical manifestation they speak of in the article foreshadowed the coming of Yeshua- Emmanuel, God Dwells With Us (not "is with us"). And His first coming foreshadows His next advent and the 1000 yr. reign that ensues after the destruction of the wicked. He will once again dwell with us, and the nations will come up to Jerusalem and worship Him on Sukkot.
Zech 14:16 Finally, everyone remaining from all the nations that came to attack Yerushalayim will go up every year to worship the king, ADONAI-Tzva'ot, and to keep the festival of Sukkot.
Chag Sameach
Dan C
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Sukkot
Oct 11, 2014 20:27:42 GMT -8
Post by alon on Oct 11, 2014 20:27:42 GMT -8
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Sukkot
Aug 31, 2015 7:01:05 GMT -8
Post by alon on Aug 31, 2015 7:01:05 GMT -8
I thought I'd share this from the parent synagogue here:
You'd have to ask about shipping on to your location. I don't usually buy a set, but there will be one at our sukkot celebration. I don't build my own Sukka either because I can't stay outside in it that time of year anyhow. But I will help someone put up theirs and we'll celebrate in it. Sukkot is a great chance to get children interested in the moedim as it can be good family fun and a time for family bonding. It can be a fun time to learn as well.
Dan C
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Sukkot
Sept 24, 2015 19:48:33 GMT -8
Post by alon on Sept 24, 2015 19:48:33 GMT -8
Sukkot is this Sunday evening (9-27-15) so we should be getting ready. We should try to do something, even if it isn't perfect. If you can't build a sukkah, put up a tent or awning and strive to improve each year. I'll be helping some friends put up theirs and we'll share it for Sukkot services. Sukkot is a harvest festival, so usually there are plenty of fruit and veggie dishes. Stuffed vegetables are very popular. This is a community festival, and one of the shalosh regalim. This makes it a great time to invite others to share your faith. Use it to reach out to family and friends.
Chag Sameach!
Dan C
Leviticus 23:34-36 (ESV) “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the Lord. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. For seven days you shall present food offerings to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the Lord. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work.
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Sukkot
Sept 29, 2020 18:00:36 GMT -8
Post by alon on Sept 29, 2020 18:00:36 GMT -8
From the parent synagogue:
B”H Shalom chaverim! This is a reminder that the 1st day of Chag HaSukkot (The Feast Of Tabernacles) begins this Fri. evening (2 October) until Sat. night (10 October). The first and last day will take place on the weekly Shabbat this year, and our services will start at 10am. We bring our lulavs to the synagogue on the first day, but not on the eighth day conclusion. We do rejoice with our lulavs in our sukkah for seven days. It is also traditional to wear white clothing during both the first and eighth day at the synagogue for our services. **We will be cancelling our Hebrew study today to start preparing for Sukkot. This is the time to start getting ready your supplies and equipment to build your Sukkah and to celebrate, as we are exhorted by Adonai during this season. This upcoming time is known as “Z’man Simchateinu”, “The Season Of Our Rejoicing”. Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:39-42 says, “Also, in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you gather the increase of the land, you shall keep the feast of HaShem seven days; on the first day a sabbath, and on the eighth day a sabbath. And you shall take to yourselves on the first day the fruit of majestic trees, palm branches, and boughs of oak trees, and willows of the valley, and shall rejoice before HaShem your God seven days. And you shall keep a feast to HaShem, seven days in a year, a never ending statute throughout your generations; in the seventh month you shall keep it. You shall live in booths seven days; all who are native in Yisra’el shall live in sukkot (tabernacles)”. There will be a few Sukkah simchahs (parties) taking place throughout our community where everyone is invited to come. - After the first, this Sat. night (Oct.3), everyone is welcome to join us at our sukkah at our house. Join us for havdalah and rejoice in our sukkah with us! - Mon, Oct. 5th the Hanson mishpachah will be having their Sukkot simchah at their house, and you are welcome to come as earlier as 3pm. - Fri,. Oct. 9th the Drew mishpachah will be having their simchah at their house, and you are welcome to come as early as 4pm. If you need the addresses for any of these locations please contact us. If you have never built a sukkah before, feel free to ask for instruction. Essentially, a sukkah should have at least three sides to it, and traditionally at least part of the top of the sukkah should be open so that you can see the stars. Other than that, you can decorate your sukkah with various things, such as fruit, ect. After you have built your sukkah send me a picture and I will include in our slide show at the synagogue. If you ordered a lulav, we will let everyone know when they arrive and you can make arrangements to pick them up at the house, or at the synagogue. But, now is the time to prepare to rejoice during Sukkot. Shavua tov ul’chaim b’Yeshua!Rabbi Reuel DillonChavurat HaMashiachA Messianic SynagoguePhone: 509-714-2939info@messianicspokane.comwww.messianicspokane.com“Jew & Gentile, One In Messiah”Donate at: PayPal.Me/synagoguechm
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: an offering that is presented to Adonai but shared completely in fellowship with the congregation. 
