ISRAEL AND IRAN ARE AT A CROSS ROAD

Chamberlain and Hitler making peace deal

All night long my IDF "Notifications" went off. All the sirens were in southern Israel, thus Gaza/Hamas related. Their was a "false alarm" last night about a large drone attack in the north from Lebanon and Syria.  

Will this war be isolated to southern Israel and Gaza/Hamas? Or is there "another shoe to drop." What do you think? 

Iran can have a nuclear bomb in 12 days. They have vowed to destroy Israel.  Jews in Israel are suffering their worst trauma since the Holocaust. Netanyahu vowed to never let Iran have a nuclear bomb. He also called every Hamas man a ' 'Deadman.'

The war started. The question now is where, when and how it ends. I don't believe this war ends until Iran's nuclear program is severely damaged and there is no way Hezbollah and Syria sit idle through that. Not if Iran has any say, which they do.

During pre-WW11 the appeasement years set the stage for the Holocaust. The result of negotiating with the evil Nazi's wasn't a path to peace -- it was the the path to a terrible war.  So too with Obama and Biden -- their appeasement years has resulted in the current war. 

HERE WE SIT,  LIKE JUST BEFORE JUNE 6, 1944 -- D-DAY. 

The Germans knew we were going to land. The Allies knew we were going to attack.  We could feel the tension and anticipation. The path to peace is terrible.

DEJAVU - from IN BEGINNING (Genesis)

As I See It ...

 Pray I am wrong!! 

More recent video on the trap Iran has set. 

LIST OF ISRAEL RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS

 

The Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA) as assembled and released an extensive list of organizations helping relief efforts in a multitude of ways.  See below for links and short descriptions. 

Israeli hospitals are dealing with a surge of wounded patients and some have been damaged by rockets or in fighting. Many depend on donations even in normal conditions, making the need more acute now.

Barzilai Hospital in the south sustained rocket fire while serving patients. Over the past few days, it has been inundated with more than 450 victims being brought in.

Hadassah hospital is treating victims of the attacks, including many soldiers, and launched a crisis campaign to raise needed funds.

Soroka Medical Center has already treated 700 severely wounded victims and the center is seeking donations for its emergency fund to ensure the acquisition of essential medical equipment.

Israel’s robust volunteer emergency services providers, which have been first responders through a variety of crises, have been on the front lines since the attack began.

American Friends of Magen David Adom, Israel’s version of the Red Cross, has been providing emergency aid and information since early on; one of its drivers was killed responding to the attack. Bloomberg is now matching donations.

United Hatzalah has more than 1,500 volunteers serving near Gaza right now. At least one volunteer with the group was killed in Saturday’s fighting, it said.

ZAKA has special expertise in retrieving bodies from disaster scenes; the group announced on Sunday that it had retrieved 250 bodies from the scene of the festival that was attacked early in the onslaught.

Lev Echad–One Heart organizes a network of volunteers during national emergencies. It says it has deployed 30,000 volunteers but needs help to get 100,000 to work.

The Jewish federations system operates local federations in hundreds of communities across North America, soliciting and distributing donations based on the needs and interests of their constituents. From Los Angeles to Indianapolis to New York (which has allocated $10 million to the aid effort), many have announced special funds in the wake of the attack. 

The Jewish Federations of North America, the umbrella organization, is also collecting funds to support victims in Israel.

The Giving Back Fund is making funds available to purchase plane tickets for Israelis abroad who want or need to return to serve in the army. But other Israelis abroad are on their own if they want to fly home — and with flights canceled and demand high, prices have skyrocketed.

Some organizations and informal efforts are working to make sure that Israeli soldiers have what they need to stay safe during what they’ve been told could be a prolonged campaign. While the Israel Defense Forces say it has adequate supplies, families sent off their soldiers and reservists with little advanced warning and, in some cases, concerns about whether the army is prepared to take care of them.

Bayit Brigade is raising emergency funds for lone soldiers, a term used to describe immigrants and volunteers mostly from abroad who enlist without a familial support network in the country.

Belev Echad is a veterans group raising funds to distribute bulletproof vests and helmets.

Friends of the IDF is a non-military organization that supports soldiers, veterans and their family members.

Latet is aiding the security forces on the front line with emergency aid kits containing food and hygiene products.


Mental health resources are also much-needed at this time. Helplines are getting an unprecedented number of calls from people mentally and emotionally affected by the war.

NATAL: Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center — NATAL is an apolitical crisis help organization that has been around since 1998 and helps those affected by trauma from war and terrorism.

ERAN — ERAN is Israel’s mental health crisis hotline. Founded in 1971, it provides “emotional first aid” to anyone who needs it.

One Family Fund is offering emergency grief and trauma counseling to all victims and survivors. Their employees and volunteers are visiting the injured in hospitals, cooking food for victims in areas of attack, and attending funerals before supporting the families of victims.

Bayit Cham has established a fund to provide free therapy for 1,000 children from the Gaza border area.

Other fundraisers are underway for communities hit hard by the attacks.

Shinua Chevrati: Operation Delivering Light is mobilizing to help deliver material goods to Israelis forced to flee their homes in partnership with BIG, the largest retail conglomerate in Israel.

GOT A NAME FOR IT?

P.M. Netanyahu speaking before the U.N. 9.22.23

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the U.N. General Assembly on Friday before Yom Kippur that Israel is “at the cusp” of a historic breakthrough leading to a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia. During his speech Netanyahu announced an amazing new infrastructure project.

Netanyahu's proposed "infrastructure corridor" is brilliant. I can't wait to hear what Netanyahu calls it! 

This so called "Infrastructure Corridor" is hugely attractive to Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, India and Greece as well as Europe and other Middle-East nations. The bi-directional possible benefits are pretty incredible. They also threaten Russia, China, Iran and even Sudan and Turkey.  

Israel has massive natural gas reserves. Israel could supply a great portion of Europe's and India's energy needs. They could even convert that gas energy to electricity and do the same to supply Europe and India.   

Netanyahu touted the corridor as digital communications and electricity connection but the infrastructure corridor could include a pipeline and be a shipping lane with a high-speed AI driven truck and/or rail lines as well. India and other parts of Asia could ship physical goods that way. 

Asia would come across the Arabia Sea, then make land somewhere around Dubai, Bahrain and the UAE. From there the corridor would travel west through Saudi Arabia to Jordan before hitting Israel and the Mediterranean Sea. Israel has six major commercial marine ports and oil terminals. 

From there it's smooth sailing to Greece and/or Spain pretty much along the great shipping routes of the ships of Tarshish in the Book of Jonah.

Israel already has a huge pipeline project planned across the Mediterranean, called the EastMed Pipeline to get gas from there to Greece. It was nearly ready to move forward with the support of the Trump Administration.   When Biden got into office he IMMEDIATELY killed that and the Keystone Pipeline from Canada to the USA. Experts say that project is still viable.  I'm certain that the moment Trump is sworn in on practically day one he is on board. I expect Trump will be announcing his support for this corridor from the campaign trail. I wouldn't be surprised to see Trump show up in Saudi Arabia soon. Of course Biden will claim credit. (Both candidates claiming credit for the same project means Israel has bipartisan support either way it goes. That BB is one smart politician!!)

Israel Katz: photo by Moti Kimchi

Netanyahu said in a statement issued late that Saturday night Israel time that the US approached Israel regarding "regarding the realization of this historic opportunity" and "held urgent diplomatic contacts in order to bring about today's breakthrough." In fact, the idea was first floated by former Transportation Minister Israel Katz in April 2017. Katz's original idea - which he dubbed "railways for regional peace" - was to establish a railway to connect Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. Former US President Donald Trump liked and adopted Katz's idea. 

Netanyahu must have name in mind for this Infrastructure Corridor. Something biblical I would assume. Or maybe something "futuristic" or even "Cosmic." 

I also have a sneaking suspicion that Elon Musk is going to be involved. Netanyahu did devote some time to AI. Netanyahu made an unusual trip to see Musk on his USA visit. That speaks volumes. Maybe Musk's work with high speed rail or robotics will play a part. 

Netanyahu described the start of a "new Middle-East." He practically showed us a drawing of it -- with a map and his now famous RED MARKER. He used that same marker the last time he spoke to the U.N. to highlight the "curse" of Iran!  

The date of Netanyahu's U.N. speech was Friday, September 22, 2023 / Tishrei 7, 5784 - Jewish Calendar. This was a very special date, it is the start of the Shabbat before Yom Kippur. It is called the Shabbat Shuva, the Shabbat of Returning. The name comes from the prophecy of Hoshea.

The Book of Hoshea is dated to c. 760–720 BC, it is one of the oldest books of the Tanakh, predating final recensions of the full Torah (Pentateuch). Hosea is the source of the phrase "reap the whirlwind." The Book of Hosea contains a number of prophecies of significance to both Jews and Christians. 

It is customary for the rabbi to address the people and to emphasize the severity of transgression so that the people turn their hearts toward repentance. Our Sages have said that when the wise address the people, G‑d forgives the sins of Israel. 

Now, with this biblical context in mind, have a look below at Netanyahu's actual words to the United Nstions and the world:

"Ladies and gentlemen, over three millennia ago, our great leader Moses, addressed the people of Israel as they were about to enter the promised land. He said they would find their two mountains facing one another. Mount Gerizim, the site on which a great blessing would be proclaimed, and mount Ebal, the site of a great curse.

Moses said that the people's fate would be determined by the choice they made between the blessing and the curse. That same choice has echoed down the ages, not just for the people of Israel. But for all humanity. We face such a choice today. It will determine whether we enjoy the blessings of a historic peace, of boundless prosperity and hope, or suffer the curse of a horrific war of terrorism and despair."

Netanyahu literally drew out the message of choosing between blessing and curse with a red marker!  

The "freaky part" ... Can you say Ezekiel? 

EVERYONES WANTS A SIGN!

 

Looking for a sign from God? 

Genesis 15:1 sounds so simple. 

After these things the word of ADONAI came to Abram in a vision saying, “Do not fear, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

But Abram wants a sign: In the very next verse, Abram immediately wanted something from God. He wanted a son. Genesis 15:2 

"Abram said, “My Lord ADONAI, what will You give me, since I am living without children, and the heir of my household is Eliezer of Damascus?” Then he believed in ADONAI and He reckoned it to him as righteousness."

Abram wanted a sign (a son), but what he recieved was hope. Abram had faith, and God counted Abram has Righteous. Abrams faith was sufficient for God and God made an everlasting Blood Covenant with Abram in Genesis 15:18

On that day ADONAI cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River: 

EVERYONE'S FAITH IS TESTED...

Fast forward to Genesis 22:2 and we see that Abram's faith was tested.

Then He said, “Take your son, your only son whom you love —Isaac—and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains about which I will tell you.” 

Abraham demonstrates his faith in Genesis 22:8

Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself a lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” 

It was enough for God to see that Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son. So in Genesis 22:12 God said:

Then He said, “Do not reach out your hand against the young man—do nothing to him at all. For now I know that you are one who fears God—you did not withhold your son, your only son, from Me.” 

And God showed his love for Abraham by providing a ram. Genesis 22:12-13

Then He said, “Do not reach out your hand against the young man—do nothing to him at all. For now I know that you are one who fears God—you did not withhold your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and behold, there was a ram, just caught in the thick bushes by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 

Abraham was rewarded on that mountain of faith, that would eventually become the threshing floor and the place that King David would one day purchase for 30 pieces of silver. But before these things would come to be, Abraham knew the mountain where he bound his son Isaac was Holy. So in Genesis 22:14

Abraham named that place, ADONAI Yireh,—as it is said today, “On the mountain, ADONAI will provide.” 

To this day the faithful say what Abraham said:

ADONIA YIREH - GOD WILL PROVIDE

God came to Jonah a second time and in Genesis 22:15-18 

The angel of ADONAI called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I swear—it is a declaration of ADONAI—because you have done this thing, and you did not withhold your son, your only son, I will richly bless you and bountifully multiply your seed like the stars of heaven, and like the sand that is on the seashore, and your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed—because you obeyed My voice.” 

These Torah verses are straight out of those that Jews read on Rosh Hashanah when we blast the ram's horn - the shofar.  On Rosh Hashanah we remember that God provided a ram as a substitute for Abraham's son Isaac. 

TEKIAH! WAKE UP!  GOD ALREADY GAVE US A SIGN. FAITH IS THAT SIMPLE.  IT IS NOT THE TEST WE NEED TO FEAR.  IT'S THE TEKIAH GEDOLAH -- THE FINAL GREAT SHOFAR BLAST.

 

Epilogue:

Here is another fascinating connection with Mount Moriah and another miracle that Jews celebrate on the holiday of Hanukkah.  The Moriah Plant.

FEET OF IRON AND CLAY

 

Daniel 9.22

He reveals the profound and secret things; He knows what is in the dark, and light dwells with Him.

The Book of Daniel gets off to a quick start from the first chapter. Right away the message is there.

Nebuchadnezzar ordered the names of young choice individuals to be changed to assimilate them into Babylonian culture: “Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to Shadrach, Mishael to Meshach, and Azariah to Abednego.” (Daniel 1:7).

Names are for a blessing in the bible. They help us to understand. Names in the bible are hint of God's calling for the characters in the bible. 

Nebuchadnezzar's name is derived from Nabu, the name of the Babylonian god. The one true God is Daniel's judge. Nebuchadnezzar seeks protection from Baal and changes Daniel's name to Belteshazzar.

Meaning of these names before and after:

Daniel - God is my judge

Belteshazzar - Baal protect the king.

The names of the Hebrews taken away by Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 1.

Hananiah - Grace, mercy

Mishael - Who Is Like God

Azariah - Helped by God

Nebuchadnezzar changed their names to:

Shadrach - Tender

Meshach- Guest of the king

Abednego - Servant of Nebo (Babylonian god)

Nebuchadnezzar selected Tender (young) guests to be trained for 3 years to serve him and bow down to a false god.

The Hebrews stayed true to the ONE GOD who is their Judge and they received God's grace and mercy.  They went through the fire with GOD.  God is their helper.

There is an early connection between the ancient world of Daniel and America. Perhaps no other nation in the world has recieved more grace and mercy than America. Perhaps no other nation has tried harder to be Godly. With the exception of Israel, perhaps no other nation has been helped by God more than the USA.

The Book of Daniel is for the ages and the times! 

In Daniel 2, Daniel related a dream of Nebuchadnezzar II, the King of Babylon. The King dreamed of a great statue with a head of gold, arms and chest of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of mingled iron and clay.  A great stone, not cut by human hands, fell on the feet of the statue and broke apart. The rock became a mountain that filled the whole world. 

In interpreting the dream, Daniel tells the king's dream concerns four successive kingdoms, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar, which will be replaced by the everlasting kingdom of the God of heaven. Hearing this, Nebuchadnezzar affirms that Daniel's god is "the God of gods and Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries." He lavishes gifts on Daniel and makes him chief of all the wise men and ruler over the province of Babylon.

Lady Liberty holding a Tablet with English letters and Roman numerals.

Could America be the nation represented by the feet with ten toes of iron & clay depicted in the statue from the Book of Daniel? 

MY REVELATION...A THEORY. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? 

Recently, while starting a study on the Book of Daniel I had a revelation on how to interpret the feet of mingled iron and clay. I will piece my theory together below. I doubt I am the only person with this theory, but I have never heard or read anything like my revelation which makes a deep connection in the way I do. 

For the sake of brevity, I am going to assume my reader is familiar enough with the Book of Daniel and American history to follow my blog post. 

How did the great stone not cut by human hands that fell on the feet of the statue fill the whole world? 

The Jewish diaspora spread the Word. The fallen empires filled the world. Christians spread the word. Missionaries and those seeking religious freedom -- Jews and Christians -- spread the word.  Those seeking the Promise Land spread the word. And the word came to the Americas. 

The Book of Daniel is about a Jew forced to leave the promise land who rises to greatness in Babylon. The Jews were forced to leave many lands including England, France, Austria, Spain and elsewhere. The diaspora has been on the move from the time of Daniel! 

While the Spanish Inquisition was in full force, in 1492, Cristóbal Colón (Christopher Columbus) sighted Cuba, the "NEW WORLD." America would ultimately become the NEW WORLD EMPIRE. He named it Juana! 

Cristóbal Columbus, is very connected to Jews! It is said he was secretly in search of the Promised Land. Salvador de Madariaga argued in 1940 that Columbus was a MARRANO (see this linked article) who was compelled to leave Spain. Scholars such as Jose Erugo, Celso Garcia de la Riega, Otero Sanchez and Nicholas Dias Perez have since concluded that Columbus likely had a Jewish background.

So we have Daniel, a Jew who was compelled to leave his homeland and was made #2 in charge of the Babylonian Empire. After all the empires in Daniel's prophecy collapse along comes Columbus who finds what will be the New World empire, America. Columbus a possible Marrano Jew, whose departure from Spain ("old Rome") is linked to Tisha B’Av, the date of the Spanish Inquisition when ALL Jews in Spain had to either leave Spain, convert or die.

Consider as well the historic relationship between the early Puritans who came to the New World and the Hebrews. This article speaks to the overlooked history of the Pilgrims, Puritans, and the Hebrew Republic of Massachusetts. 

"The Hebrew Republic became the original model for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In their political Hebraism, the early New England Puritans saw themselves as “Christian Israel,” King Charles I as Pharaoh, the Atlantic Ocean as the Red Sea, America as the Promised Land, and Boston as the new Jerusalem, or as John Winthrop described it, “the city on the hill.”"

About the name Christobal Columbus gave the land he spotted...Juana is a feminine variation of the Spanish name Juan (John). Juana is a feminine name encouraging appreciation for life's most simple gifts. Its meaning is "God is gracious" resonates with the names of the Hebrews in the Book of Daniel. 

The notion of being greeted by a feminine image with a message of God's grace will become relevant later in America's history.

As time moved forward, from the 1500's people came to the early colonies from Britain, France and Spain and other nations that were once part of the old Roman Empire. 

Old Rome's population was compromised of 60% servants and slaves. America too had many poor and desperate people who came to our shores, along with many slaves. In addition, Jews from the diaspora caused by the Babylonian and Roman Empire conquests of Israel, came here to the New World, America. Ultimately, America would become home to the largest population of Jews in the world outside of Israel. In Daniel's time Jews rose to prominence. So too in America. There are other parallels.

After the American Revolution immigrants poured in and built America based on Judeo-Christian values. The people who built America came through New York's harbor. York England is a walled city in northeast England that was founded by the ancient Romans. Many Royalty in England is descended from the House of York.  America is home to NEW York!

Throughout the Revolutionary War, The first future President (King) of America, George Washington, longed to recapture New York City. He returned on November 25, 1783, the day the British forces evacuated. On that day, Washington marched around 800 troops into the city before throngs of celebrating citizens.

King George of England was famous for two things -- losing the American colonies and going mad. Nebuchadnezzar is famous for losing Babylon and going mad.

NY was the 10th Colony! (10 toes!) New York City was the first capital of the New United States. Immigrants coming by sea to America for the first time entering York City spotted a large feminine statue made of iron - Lady Liberty.

Like Columbus who saw Juana, a feminine image, the new immigrants to America were welcomed by the Statue of Lady Liberty. Her base featured the words of female Jewish poet Emma Lazarus, who was arguably the first Zionist. Lady Liberty is holding a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand with the date of the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 in English, July and Roman numerals, the year.

What is the clay mixed with the iron? 

Daniel 2:43 TLV

"Just as you saw iron mixed with clay, people will mix with one another, but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay." 

The American Nation and the Indian Nations have never fully mixed. 

There are plenty of connections between the old Roman and America. So we have the Iron part of the toes, but what about the clay that is also part of the ten toes. Do they represent the Indian Nations? 

I think the Native American Indians are the clay melded with the Roman iron of the ten toes in the statue Daniel interpreted for King Nebuchadnezzar. Here is how they come together.

After forming a Covenant with God and one another, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Soon after the Pilgrims came ashore they were introduced to a Native American man named Tisquantum, who was known as Squanto, who would become a member of the Massachusetts colony.

The Iroquois Confederacy banded several Indian tribes in the early New York Colony together including the Iroquois, Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga and others.  [Iroquois "Creation Myth.]

The Iroquois Confederacy was a true federal republic system governed by a council of 50 sachems (supreme chiefs) representing each clan/nation. This included a bicameral (two-house) legislature, much like the British Parliament and modern U.S. Congress.

The framework of government in the Iroquois Confederacy is said to have inspired Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and other founders as they wrote the Constitution. Just as the Iroquois Confederacy brought the separate Indian tribes together, the American Constitution modeled after it brought the first American Colonies together.

The Iroquois dug the clay from the earth and molded it by hand; however, the characteristics are slightly different between ALL the tribes of the America's. Iroquois pottery is black, indicating a low temperature and have rounded bottoms for cooking. It was unusual for those attributes. The blackened rounded bowl bottoms even sorta sounds like the dirty bottoms of toes.

A young Indian woman by the name of Sacagawea was crucial on the Lewis and Clark Expedition which President Thomas Jefferson launched to find a way to open up western America.

The Sacagawea Golden Dollar replaced the Susan B. Anthony Dollar.  It showed Sacagawea carrying her baby Jean Baptiste (John the Baptist) on her back. The reverse featured a soaring eagle. All U.S. circulating coins from the 18th to early 20th centuries depicted the mythical figure of Liberty, Lady Liberty in New York Harbor.

There are multitude of other ways that Jews and America are intertwined. There are multitude of ways the old Roman Empire and America are intertwined. There are a multitude of ways that the American colonies/nation and the Indian Tribes and the Iroquois Nation are entwined.  

 The founding of America is associated with a rock in 1620, Plymouth Rock. Are we going to "dashed" (ruined) by a falling Rock for disobeying God like Moses did in Genesis? Are we the last Empire to fall in the statue that Daniel prophesied?

We were "One Nation under God with Liberty and Justice for All" that no longer "trusts in God!" 

Daniel 2:31-43 TLV

“You looked, O king, and behold, there before you stood a huge statue—an enormous and dazzling image, whose appearance was awesome. The head of that statue was of pure gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet partly iron and partly clay. While you were watching, a stone was cut out, but not by hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from summer threshing-floors that the wind blows away. Not a trace of them could be found. Then the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. You, O king, are the king of kings to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, might and glory. Wherever mankind, beasts of the field, and fowls of the heaven dwell, He has given them into your hand, and made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold. “Now after you another kingdom will arise, one inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over all the earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron shatters and breaks everything—and just as iron smashes everything, so will it shatter and crush all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly potter’s clay and partly iron, so this will be a divided kingdom. It will have some of the strength of the iron, for you saw the iron mixed with clay. As the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. Just as you saw iron mixed with clay, people will mix with one another, but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 

RESH - 200 (ADONAI YIREH -- GOD WILL PROVIDE!)

 

Rosh Hashanah literally translates to "head of the year" which is why our Hebrew calendar year changes on the holiday and the holiday is the Jewish New Year. 

Rosh Hashanah is one of the seven holiday feasts, known as the "appointed times" - moedim” מועדים. They are all days of rest, Sabbaths, beginning with Passover. They are times to remember and reflect on when God revealed Himself. They can also evoke feelings from sadness to joy and a sense of obligation, of awe and even fear.  Collectively they represent the story of the Jewish people that has been told repeatedly for thousands of years.

Here is a list of all seven appointed times.

Spring Moedim:

1. Passover – Pesach - 1 Nisan 
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread – Hag HaMatzot 
3. First Fruits – Yom Habikkurim
4. Festival of Weeks (Pentecost) – Shavuot

Fall Moedim:

1. Feast of Trumpets – Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashanah)  - 1-2 Tishrei
2. Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur - 10 Tishrei
3. Feast of Tabernacles – Sukkot 15-21 Tishrei 7+1 Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah 

Another name for Rosh Hashanah is Yom Teruah. Yom is Hebrew for "day."  The word Teruah תְּרוּעָה comes from the root Ruah ר.ו.ע meaning is to shout in alarm or joy.  TERUAH is one of the "blasts" of the shofar composed of a series of nine staccato blasts that is called out to be blown on the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

Volumes have been written about the reasons for and meaning of Rosh Hashanah. There are beliefs, traditions and customs associated to each of the holidays. In this blog post I focus on the basis for the Jewish holiday in the Tenach.  

On Rosh Hashanah, we Jews read (hear) the verses in Genesis 21 and 22 concerning the binding of Isaac. Chapter 21 is read on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and Genesis 22 is read on the second day. Below are some verses from these two chapters in Genesis:

Genesis 21:5-7 TLV

Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac his son was born to him. So Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me! Everyone who hears will laugh with me.” She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham, ‘Sarah has nursed children’? For I have given birth to a son in his old age!” 

No one could have imagined that Sarah could give birth to a son. Isaac means "one who laughs." As the old Yiddish expression says, "Der mentsh trakht un got lakht." (Man plans and God laughs.).  

God provided a son to Abraham thus fulfilling one of God's promise to Abraham. 

Genesis 21:18

ק֚וּמִי שְׂאִ֣י אֶת־הַנַּ֔עַר וְהַֽחֲזִ֥יקִי אֶת־יָדֵ֖ךְ בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִׂימֶֽנּוּ

"Rise, pick up the lad and grasp your hand upon him, for I shall make him into a great nation."

God kept his promise to Abraham! From his seed, Isaac, came Jacob, who would become Israel. 

Genesis 22.13

וַיִּשָּׂ֨א אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ וְהִנֵּה־אַ֔יִל אַחַ֕ר נֶֽאֱחַ֥ז בַּסְּבַ֖ךְ בְּקַרְנָ֑יו וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ אַבְרָהָם֙ וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־הָאַ֔יִל וַיַּֽעֲלֵ֥הוּ לְעֹלָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת בְּנֽוֹ

"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and he saw, and lo! there was a ram, [and] after [that] it was caught in a tree by its horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son."

You could say that Abraham's son Isaac was saved by a ram rather than the lamb that Abraham told Isaac God would provide. Nonetheless, God provided a ram!  

Genesis 22:14

דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ יִֽהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ שַׁבָּת֔וֹן זִכְר֥וֹן תְּרוּעָ֖ה מִקְרָא־קֹֽדֶשׁ

"And Abraham named that place, The Lord will see (provide), as it is said to this day: On the mountain, the Lord will be seen."

IT IS SAID, ADONAI YIREH -- God will provide! 

Isaac was spared by a ram and shofarot are made from ram's horns.  Though there is nothing specifically about blowing a shofar and celebrating the New Year in those verses, we see the connection in later verses of the Torah. 

Leviticus 23.24 

דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ יִֽהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ שַׁבָּת֔וֹן זִכְר֥וֹן תְּרוּעָ֖ה מִקְרָא־קֹֽדֶשׁ:

"Speak to the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first of the month, it shall be a Sabbath for you, a remembrance of the shofar blast a holy occasion."

We are remembering the events described in Genesis when God sent a 🐏 ram to spare Isaac.  Take note of the authority of God -- the Head, the Resh! Also, notice the parallel to the "Head of the year" - Rosh Hashanah. 

Numbers 29.1

וּבַחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ מִקְרָא־קֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א תַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ י֥וֹם תְּרוּעָ֖ה יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶֽם:

"And in the seventh month, on the first day, there shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall not perform any mundane work. It shall be a day of shofar sounding for you."

Ancient Hebrew letter Resh and number 200.

Ancient Israel would announce the New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) and call people together with the blast of ram's horn, the shofar. 

On Yom Teruah, Rosh Hashanah, the shofar is sounded, Tekiah, the call to wake up - be alert for God is about to judge the world. After the Shofar call of Tekiah to wake up, is the call of Shevarim, which sounds like a loud cry. Shevarim literally means “breaks” or “fractures." We are all broken. We all need repentance. 
 

GOD LOVES 7, BUT HOW IS TISHREI, THE "SEVENTH" CALENDAR MONTH THE START OF THE "NEW YEAR?" 

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated at the start of the 7th month as the Jewish New Year from a civic (government) standpoint, to number our years, this being that start of the year 5784. On the other hand, the first calendar month is Nisan when we celebrate Pesach (Passover) and the birth of the Jewish Nation. The Torah calls it chodesh ha-aviv—the month of spring, as it marks the beginning of the spring months. 

Exodus 12:1-2

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֣ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לֵאמֹֽר: הַחֹ֧דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם רֹ֣אשׁ חֳדָשִׁ֑ים רִאשׁ֥וֹן הוּא֙ לָכֶ֔ם לְחָדְשֵׁ֖י הַשָּׁנָֽה

The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be to you the head of the months; to you it shall be the first of the months of the year.

Counting 7 months from Nisan brings us to the month of TISHREI -- THE HEAD (RESH) OF THE YEAR. 

In other words, the Jewish people start the year in the 7th month which is a different month than when we start the first month on our calendar. But that is how we get to the month of Tishrei as the "seventh month" and the "head of the year."

READINGS FROM THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL

Over the course of the 2 day holiday of Rosh Hashanah, in addition to remembering the binding of Isaac and fulfilling the command to blast the shofar we read certain words of the Hebrew Prophet's.  

DAY 1: On The first day we read from the Book of 1 Samuel: 1.1-2.10. Below are some verses from this section:

"It came to pass, as she prayed long before ADONAI, that Eli was watching her mouth. Now Hannah was praying in her heart—only her lips were moving, but her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. Then Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!” But in response Hannah said, “No, my lord, I am a woman with an oppressed spirit! I haven’t been drinking wine or beer. Instead I’ve been pouring out my soul before ADONAI. Don’t consider your handmaid a wicked woman. For out of my great anguish and grief I’ve been praying until now.” Then Eli responded, “Go in shalom, and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you asked of Him.” “May your maidservant find favor in your eyes,” she said. So the woman went her way; she ate, and her countenance was no longer dejected."

DAY 2: On the second day of Rosh Hashanah we read from the book of Jeremiah, specifically chapter 31.2-20.  Below are some verses from this section:

Jeremiah 31:1-6 TLV

“At that time,” declares ADONAI, “I will be God to all families of Israel, and they will be My people.” Thus says ADONAI: “The people surviving the sword found grace in the wilderness— where I gave Israel rest.” From afar ADONAI appeared to me. “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Again I will build you, so you will be rebuilt, virgin Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines as ornaments, and go out to dances of merrymakers. Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria— planters will plant and use them. For there will be a day when watchmen will call out in the hill country of Ephraim, ‘Arise, let us go up to Zion, to ADONAI our God.’” 

The prophets words were fulfilled.  Jerusalem and Israel were rebuilt.  

HOW WE BLOW THE SHOFAR ON YOM TERUAH 

If I am not mistaken, there is nothing specific in the Torah on how to blow the Shofar for Rosh Hashanah, however, the rabbis do offer an explanation of the ritual as I have experienced it. 

There are four distinct Shofar sounds called out during the Days of Awe, the High Holy Days, beginning with Rosh Hashanah. Tekiah is the first Shofar call on Rosh Hashanah. It is a "wake up call." The second call Shevarim means "broken." It reminds us we are all broken. The next call, Teruah would create fear of death in the hearts of ancient Israelites. It was a call to battle. One better be ready to face death. It is a reminder of the need for repentance. The last Shofar call is Tekiah Gedolah (big/great/awesome) - It is the last Great Wake Up Call.

TEKIAH, WAKE UP BEFORE THE FINAL GEDOLAH WAKE UP CALL.

It is interesting that this holiday is named after the third blast we call, Yom Teruah. The call for battle. It is a reminder that in any day or year we could face death. We need to make our selves ready through repentance. To be washed.

In conclusion, I hope this information is edifying for you. I also wish my family, friends and readers a טוֹבָה‎ שָׁנָה Shaná Tová, literally “good year” - a sweet year. Dip your apple in the honey because "every wrong can be made right." 

It has always been popular to listen to songs around most of the holidays, Jewish and otherwise. Pop songs get us in the mood and teach us the meaning and spirit of holiday in a fun and memorable way.  Here are two songs for Rosh Hashanah from a popular Jewish acapella group.

Below is another song by The Fountainheads. 

In this song, "Can't Hold Us" there is the verse "No matter what kind of Jew you are we say Shana Tova!"  

In this song the band of Jewish brothers is depicting the ceremony of Tashlich, the casting off of sins which is performed after Rosh Hashanah and before Yom Kippur. On a personal note, a number of years ago, while I was the president of my temple, during my own performance of Tashlich, I cast off fear and started to use my Hebrew middle name Jonah. 

The song says "start thinking over" about repentance as we head to "The Day of Atonement." It is important to always be reading and hearing the Word. 

Sin "can't hold us." So cast off our sins and dip our 🍎 in the 🍯.  Shana Tova!

Epilogue:

Other ways Shofarot are used in the entire bible:

Genesis 22:13 - Binding Isaac

Exodus - 19:19 - We will do and we will hear,"

Joshua 6:20 - Battle of Jericho

Judges 3:27; Samuel 20:1 - Sounded to signal the assembly of the Israelites during war

1 Kings 1:34, 39 - Coronation of kings

Numbers 10:10 - Announce the beginning of festivals

Psalm 81:1-3 - Celebrate the new moon (Rosh Chodesh)

Psalm 47:5 - Sovereignty of God

Zechariah 9:14,16 - Israel will be advised of the advent of the Messiah

Isaiah 27:13 - Time of the in-gathering of the exiles

Isaiah 58:1 - Call to repentance

1 Thessalonians 4:16 - Resurrection of the dead

Revelation 8-9 - Final Judgment in Tribulation

The shofar is also sounded on the Jubilee - the Sabbath of Sabbaths - the 50th year. The Jubilee Ordinance is commanded in Leviticus chapter 25. 

Leviticus 25:9-10 states: “Then shall you cause the shofar to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, on Yom Kippur shall you sound the shofar throughout all your land. And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants; it shall be a jubilee for you.” This verse is also inscribed on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.