Shammash Ariel
Messianic Synagogue
Holy Days
We believe that the Biblical Holy Days are not only for the Jewish community, but also for all those who place their trust in the Jewish Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). These Holy Days were given by Hashem (G-d) to the House of Israel, which includes all those grafted-in through Yeshua (Rom. 11:17). Messiah Yeshua and His apostles kept these Holy Days. These seven feasts are special times appointed by G-d where we can meet with Him and get to know Him better.
We also celebrate a few other Jewish holidays (e.g. Purim & Hanukkah). While these holidays are not commanded in scripture, they are unique opportunities to celebrate G-d's deliverance of His people from their enemies, and for us to connect with the Jewish heritage of our faith. We would like to invite you to celebrate them with us! Check out our Calendar page for exact times of celebrations.
Rosh Hashanah
Begins sunset of Friday, September 15, 2023
Ends nightfall of Sunday, September 16, 2023
Rosh Hashanah, first of the High Holy Days, is the Jewish New Year. It is called Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) in the Bible (Lev. 23:23-25). It is considered to be a prophetic day of judgment and the coronation day of Hashem (G‑d) as king. It is a High sabbath, so no customary work is done. It is celebrated by blowing a Shofar (ram's horn) and eating apples dipped in honey. Many believers in Messiah Yeshua expect that He will return on this day.
Yom Kippur
Begins sunset of Sunday, September 24, 2023
Ends nightfall of Monday, September 25, 2023
Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. It is observed by fasting, prayer, and seeking forgiveness from G-d and others. It is forbidden to work on this day (Lev. 23: 26-32). It is the High Sabbath and the peak of the High Holy Days. Typically we do not eat the entire day (except for children, sick people, pregnant women, and those with other medical conditions). We wear white clothes and have a special liturgical service. We usually spend the day in fellowship, Torah Study and prayer until we break the fast together.
Sukkot
Begins Sunset on Friday, September 29th, 2023
Ends Nightfall of Friday, October 6th, 2023
Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) is seven days of rejoicing, celebrated by dwelling in a Sukkah (tent or booth), waiving branches and fruit (Lulav and Etrog), and rejoicing before G-d. Sukkot is when we commemorate G‑d's sheltering the children of Israel as they traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land. The day after Sukkot is the eighth day and is called Shemini Atzeret. The first and eighth days are High Sabbaths with Holy Convocations (gatherings) when no regular work is permitted (Lev. 23:33-43).
Sukkot is also a prophetic picture of the marriage supper of the Lamb and the Kingdom Reign of Messiah Yeshua. It is a very joyful time! The next day is Simchat Torah, the day when we finish the annual Torah reading cycle, roll back the scroll to the beginning, and start the reading cycle over again. In Israel, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah both are combined into the eighth day. On Simchat Torah we dance with the Torah and thank G-d for giving us His Holy Word!
Hanukkah
Begins sunset of Thursday, December 7, 2023
Ends nightfall of Friday, December 15, 2023
Hanukkah (the Feast of Dedication) is a holiday that commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors (Maccabees) miraculously defeated the occupying mighty Greek armies. We celebrate by lighting a nine branch menorah (Hanukkiah), eating fried potato pancakes (latkes), and playing a game with spinning tops (dreidels), and sometimes by giving gifts. We rejoice in remembering how G-d delivered His people from destruction yet again, preserving the way for Messiah. Yeshua went to the temple for this commemoration: "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Yeshua walked in the temple in Solomon's porch," John 10:22.
Purim
Begins sunset of Saturday, March 23, 2024
Ends nightfall of Sunday, March 24, 2024
Purim is a holiday that celebrates G-d's deliverance of the Jewish people from the wicked Haman in the days of Queen Esther of Persia. We celebrate by reading the Book of Esther and/or putting on a play retelling the story. During the story children boo or use a noise-maker toy called a Grogger to "blot-out" Haman's name. There is a tradition to eat cookies shaped like Haman's hat (Hamantaschen). Many enjoy dressing up in costumes, giving treats to children, and sometimes throwing parties.
Passover
Begins sunset of Monday, April 22, 2024
Ends nightfall of Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Passover (Pesach) is a Holy Day that celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12). For Messianic believers it is also a time to commemorate the death and resurrection of Messiah Yeshua! Yet the Passover Seder dinner is only the beginning of the Holy Week, which includes three of the spring feasts: Passover (Lev. 23:4-5), the Feast Week of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:6-8), and the Feast of First Fruits (Lev. 23:9-14).
During this Holy week, the only bread that we eat is Matzah (bread without yeast) and we clean out all products with yeast from our homes ahead of time in preparation. The first and seventh days of this week both have Holy convocations and are Sabbaths with no regular work. The Feast of First Fruits also occurs during this week, the day after the Sabbath. Many Messianic believers celebrate this day as the day when Messiah Yeshua rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:23).
Shavuot
Begins sunset of Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Ends nightfall of Thursday, June 13, 2024
Shavuot (The Feast of Weeks) is the last Holy Day of spring and it marks the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. The reading of the Ten Commandments happens in synagogues all over the world, just as they were read in the desert on Mt. Sinai over three thousand years ago. It also is the day that Hashem sent the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to the Messianic believers in Jerusalem (Acts 2). It is also called Pentecost (Greek for "fifty") because we are told to count fifty days from the Feast of First Fruits (Lev. 23:15-22). Many have the tradition to eat dairy and other sweet foods on this day to symbolize the Torah and the “land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). The tradition of our congregation is that each family gives two loaves of bread to Hashem, which are then donated to the local soup-kitchen.