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Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Mar 10, 2013 20:45:03 GMT -8
B”H Shalom chaverim umishpochah! Monday night at sundown begins the new Hebrew month of Nissan, otherwise known as Aviv. We will be meeting at the synagogue at 7pm. Our community takes time out for worship, celebration, and a sounding of the shofars each Rosh chodesh, in accordance with the scriptures. But, this Rosh Chodesh is special among them all. Why is this? This was the month that Adonai brought our people Yisra’el out of the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt), with an out-stretched arm, and by the blood of the Lamb. This month and is referred to by the sages of Yisra’el, as the season of our freedom or redemption. Shemot (Exodus) 12:1-7 states, “HaShem spoke to Moshe and Aharon in the land of Egypt; he said, "You are to begin your calendar with this month; it will be the first month of the year for you. Speak to all the assembly of Yisra'el and say, 'On the tenth day of this month, each man is to take a lamb or kid for his family, one per household - except that if the household is too small for a whole lamb or kid, then he and his next-door neighbor should share one, dividing it in proportion to the number of people eating it. Your animal must be without defect, a male in its first year, and you may choose it from either the sheep or the goats. "'You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, and then the entire assembly of the community of Yisra'el will slaughter it at dusk. They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the two sides and top of the door-frame at the entrance of the house in which they eat it”. This season of Pesach (Passover) is upon us. May we begin to prepare our hearts, our families, and our homes for this most holy time, and may we purge the chametz (leaven) from our lives. Let us come together to praise His holy name with thanksgiving, music, and with the sound of the shofar on this holy Rosh Chodesh! Again, we will be meeting Mon. (03-11-13) at 7pm. We look forward to seeing many of you there! If you are new to the synagogue, you may find a map or directions at: www.synagoguechm.com/contact.html L’chaim b’Yeshua! (to life in Yeshua)
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Post by alon on Apr 17, 2015 19:33:33 GMT -8
Rosh Chodesh Iyyar 1 Iyyar 5775 Mon 20 April 2015 ראש חודש אייר [When a Hebrew month has 30 days Rosh Chodesh is traditionally celebrated over two days — the 30th of the old month and 1st of the new month.]
Rosh Chodesh means "head of the month" or "first of the month" - the first day of any new month. By observation, the new month began when the first sliver of the new moon became visible in Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin would interrogate those who witnessed it to verify the sighting. When two independent, reliable witnesses confirmed the new moon and described it consistently, the Sanhedrin would declare the new month and send out messengers.
The next day after the new moon was a festival, with the sounding of the shofar and solemn convocations, festivities and sacrifices. Numbers 28:2 (ESV) “Command the people of Israel and say to them, ‘My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.” This was a very important holiday, a time of renewal, which is why the sacrifice was necessary. These sightings set the calendar and determined when the commanded Feasts of the Lord were to occur. Now we have the Hillel calendar which is mathematically determined because there is no Temple and the Sanhedrin is not seated. So the festivals of the new moon (new month) are not held as highly important as they were.
The liturgy for Rosh Chodesh is changed, including the addition of part of Hallel after the Shemoneh Esrei, and there are additional readings. It is customary (in some communities) for women to refrain from work on Rosh Chodesh. This is a reward for their refusal to participate in the incident of the Golden Calf (According to tradition in Midrash Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, the women refused to participate in the sin of the Golden Calf). The Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh is Shabbat Mevarekhim, "the Sabbath of blessing." After the Shabbat reading, the prayer leader holds the scroll and says a blessing for a good month. He then tells the day of the week the new month begins and says the name of the new month.
Prayers are supposed to be said while looking at the new moon. Not praying TO the moon, just praying while looking at it. This is known as Kiddush Levana, or “the Sanctification of the New Moon.” Geela-Rayzel Raphael gives three reasons: 1.it is a reminder that Jewish life is connected to the moon and a lunar calendar. 2.it provides a direct link to natural phenomena and inspires a blessing for God. 3.it provides a framework for meditating on the moon as a symbol of the Jewish people
I don’t really celebrate Rosh Chodesh. I’ve never seen an example of its observance. But I often wonder if I should. Ezekiel 46:3 (ESV) The people of the land shall bow down at the entrance of that gate before the Lord on the Sabbaths and on the new moons. So I try and remember and say a prayer. But really I feel like there should be more.
Dan C
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Post by alon on Jul 16, 2015 15:45:36 GMT -8
Rosh Chodesh Av / ראש חודש אב
Tonight, Thu, 16 July 2015 at sundown begins the Hebrew month of Av; the 5th month of the Hebrew year.
Rosh Chodesh Av starts the nine day mourning period culminating in the most tragic day of the year, Tisha B’Av (9th of Av). As the Gemorah states “MiShenichnas Av MeMa’atin B’Simcha;” when the month of Av enters, we decrease our joy. Still, Rosh Chodesh is a joyful day, a semi-holiday. So the joy of this day is tempered with the understanding that twice the Jewish people have been deprived the privilege of offering korbanos as the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed on Tish B’Av.
Sinas chinam, or baseless hatred was the cause of the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash according to the Netziv (Rosh Yeshiva of the Volozhin Yeshiva until closed by the Russian government in 1892). The sinas chinam which caused this destruction included hatred between Jews with different hashkafas (Hebrew: השקפה; lit. "outlook", or worldview) or a different psak (basic understanding) in halachah. If someone saw another Jew serving Hashem differently from his understanding, he would accuse that person. Remember the excerpt I did from the talk by Rob Vanhoff (http://theloveofgod.proboards.com/thread/3658/landscape-galations ). This is exactly how he described the time of Yeshua based on the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is what occurred in Luke 11:38 when Yeshua was accused of not washing His hands.
We as Meshiachim are by no means immune to this kind of thinking. While it is important we always strive for truth, and we are privileged of HaShem to have been shown truth in abundance, we must never allow it to make us proud or too judgmental to function with others.
For the traditional prayers said on Erev Rosh Chodesh, go to : www.hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/birkat-hachodesh.pdf
Dan C
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Post by alon on Jan 10, 2016 13:29:14 GMT -8
A reminder that Rosh Chodesh is this evening. The time given is Pacific Time- 5PM Pac. So if you'd like an example of a Rosh Chodesh celebration you might want to tune in.
Dan C
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Post by alon on Feb 9, 2016 13:09:57 GMT -8
That is this evening, 9 Feb 2016 at 6:00 PM Pacific time.
Dan C
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Post by rroath on Feb 10, 2016 8:21:45 GMT -8
I was recently asked why some people considered Rosh Chodesh on Feb 8 and some celebrated on Feb 9. I was told that this is NOT a calendar issue. It is because this year being leap year we have Adar I and Adar II. Therefore it was permissible to celebrate on Feb 8 or on Feb 9. Any insight on Rosh Chodesh Adar during a leap year?
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Post by alon on Feb 10, 2016 12:43:14 GMT -8
I was recently asked why some people considered Rosh Chodesh on Feb 8 and some celebrated on Feb 9. I was told that this is NOT a calendar issue. It is because this year being leap year we have Adar I and Adar II. Therefore it was permissible to celebrate on Feb 8 or on Feb 9. Any insight on Rosh Chodesh Adar during a leap year? Nothing really that you don't probably already know. Both are new moons as far as the first of the month. As to the calendar issue, as I understand it some sects just try to get their observance as close as possible so they can see the moon in their observance. I like the idea of a scheduled celebration the first of each month (erev 1, as they use the Hebrew calendar). If I lived closer to the parent synagogue here I'd attend theirs.
Dan C
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Post by rroath on Feb 10, 2016 13:05:20 GMT -8
I am with you on this one. I did attend theirs via livestream. I do agree completely on the 1st of the month, however I guess the question was more in line of...because of the leap year is it permissible to "pick" one of two days? It just seemed a little strange to me and we all know where "strange" can lead, lol. I was just curious if there was actually validity to it.
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Post by alon on Feb 10, 2016 13:18:55 GMT -8
I am with you on this one. I did attend theirs via livestream. I do agree completely on the 1st of the month, however I guess the question was more in line of...because of the leap year is it permissible to "pick" one of two days? It just seemed a little strange to me and we all know where "strange" can lead, lol. I was just curious if there was actually validity to it. Yes, strange should always be investigated. My only problem there is I too often find it is me that is strange ...
In this case, there are other calendars out there, so maybe they are using one of those. Purists will argue mathematics and semantics and say the Hillel calendar experiences drifts and must be corrected. I use the Hillel calendar since it is what the vast majority of Judaism uses, and so my feasts are in line with theirs. It was the last "official" calendar in Judaism, so until the Sanhedrin is reseated it is what we have.
Had you said the 9th or tenth I'd have said they were probably mixing the Jewish calendar (sundown to sundown) with the Gregorian calendar (witching hour to witching hour) and doing it on Saturday instead of Friday evening. "Who knows what strangeness lurks in the hearts of men ..."
Dan
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Post by alon on Mar 11, 2016 9:37:22 GMT -8
Rosh Choesh Adar II is tonight. Don't for get to go outside and bless HaShem for the moon He gave us. The formal observance can be as simple as saying three times:
Blessed is your molder Blessed is your maker Blessed is your owner Blessed is your creator
Or you can just say a prayer to HaShem for the new month while standing under the moon which He gave us to mark the month.
Dan C
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Post by alon on Mar 25, 2020 18:14:41 GMT -8
From the parent synagogue:B”H Shalom chaverim umishpochah! Rosh Chodesh Nisan is upon us. This Rosh Chodesh is of particular significance Why is this? This was the month that Adonai brought our people Yisra’el out of the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt), with an out-stretched arm, and by the blood of the Lamb. This month and is referred to by the sages of Yisra’el, as “Z’man Cheiruteinu” (the season of our freedom / redemption). To read a d’rashah about Rosh Chodesh Nisan, you may click on the following link: www.messianicspokane.com/pesach-themonthofourredemption Sh’mot (Exodus) 12:1-7 states, “HaShem spoke to Moshe and Aharon in the land of Egypt; he said, "You are to begin your calendar with this month; it will be the first month of the year for you. Speak to all the assembly of Yisra'el and say, 'On the tenth day of this month, each man is to take a lamb or kid for his family, one per household - except that if the household is too small for a whole lamb or kid, then he and his next-door neighbor should share one, dividing it in proportion to the number of people eating it. Your animal must be without defect, a male in its first year, and you may choose it from either the sheep or the goats. "'You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, and then the entire assembly of the community of Yisra'el will slaughter it at dusk. They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the two sides and top of the door-frame at the entrance of the house in which they eat it”. bloodondoorpostThis season of Pesach (Passover) is upon us. May we begin to prepare our hearts, our families, and our homes for this most holy time, and may we purge the chametz (leaven) from our lives. If you would like more details about what we have planned for tonight’s Rosh Chodesh Nisan...please contact me via e-mail, text, or Facebook. Let us uphold the Torah to praise Adonai’s holy name with thanksgiving, music, and with the sound of the shofar! L’chaim b’Yeshua!(to life in Yeshua) Rabbi Reuel DillonChavurat HaMashiachA Messianic SynagoguePhone: 509-714-2939www.messianicspokane.com “Jew & Gentile, One In Messiah”
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