HAPPY NEW MONTH!     

Has anyone wished you a 'Happy Rosh Chodesh' lately?
Have any friends expressed hope that you would have a ‘Blessed Elul?’

Are you wondering what I’m talking about?

Well, it’s been a while since I last wrote; so I decided to take advantage of this new month to say, ‘hi’ to ‘all y’all,’ (as we say here south of the Mason-Dixon line!)

Of what ‘new month’ am I speaking, you may ask! (We’re already well into August.)  The month of Elul, of course!!            

You probably already know that the Hebrew calendar is based on the lunar cycle.  It is different from our solar-based calendar, and Elul is the name of the month we are entering.  ‘Chodesh’ is the Hebrew word for ‘month’; (thus, my aforementioned greeting!)

‘Rosh Chodesh’ means ‘head of the month.’ It’s kind of a mini-holiday every time a new month begins!  (You are free to hold your own personal celebration, if you like; providing the food is good.  That’s VERY important, especially to ‘my’ people!)

Elul is unique, in that is a time of preparation before the month ‘Tishrei.’ The latter is the month in which we celebrate Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and  Sukkot.   These are the Hebrew names meaning ‘The Head of the Year,’ ‘The Day of Atonement’ and ‘Booths,’ respectively.

During Tishrei, the Jewish people welcome a new (civic) year, followed by ‘Yamim Noraim,’ or, ‘Days of Awe.’  These ten days lead to the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, commemorated by a day of fasting and prayer.  The climax of the ‘holy month’ comes five days later during the eight days of ‘Tabernacles.’  Jewish families build a ‘sukkah,’ a makeshift structure with a roof ‘thatched’ with fruits, vegetables and other representations of  ‘harvest.’  Meals are shared in that ‘booth,’ (and some sleep in there as well.)  All this is done as a reminder of God’s provision and protection during Israel’s wilderness wanderings.

Sukkot is one of the biblical pilgrimage festivals, during which the Jewish people went up to worship God in the temple at Jerusalem.  (Lev. 23:33-36)  (It is STILL celebrated there, with great exuberance, to this day!)  One day, by the way, ALL the nations will ‘go up’ and do the same!  (Zech. 14:16-17) 

Rosh HaShanah is actually ‘The Feast of Trumpets’ in the scriptures.  (Lev. 23:24-25)  It points to the coming ‘final trumpet,’ signalling the return of the Lord, Yeshua! (1Thess. 4:16)

Yom Kippur (Lev.23: 27-28) hints at a day when ‘a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.’ (Zech. 13:1)  (In other words: ATONEMENT!)

Now THAT’S some MONTH!

Annually, Tishrei sets the stage for a type of ‘dress rehearsal’ for the ‘grand finale’ of history; the ‘end of the age,’ if you will!

One day, the trumpet will sound, the Lord will return, Israel will look upon Him and mourn for Him ‘as one mourns for his only son,’ and, in time, all nations will go up to worship the Lord in Jerusalem!  WOW!!  (1Thess. 4; Zech. 12+14)

I don’t know about you, but I would LOVE to be still alive when the curtain goes up on this final act---AND to be one of the actors on stage!  (The curtain won’t be the only thing ‘going up’ a that time, as you know!)  (Thess. 16-18)

Until that time, whatever happens, I want to (maybe) be the first to wish YOU---a ‘Happy Rosh Chodesh’ and a ‘Blessed Elul!’

The month of Elul provides us all an opportunity to prepare for the month of Tishrei; which provides us an opportunity to prepare for---well---the world prepared ‘BEFORE the foundation of the world!’  (Eph. 1:4)

Until that time, allow me also to say THANKS to those of you who have followed us, supported us and encouraged us ALL these years!   Jenny and I SO appreciate it and are grateful to God for you!!

We do---SINCERELY---hope YOUR days of preparation are truly blessed!  The best IS yet to come---as we all say, ‘Maranatha’ ---‘Come, Lord Yeshua…Jesus!’  (Rev. 22:20)

As for me, I hope to be more faithful in communicating with you who check in to see what we’re doing!  Hopefully, I’ll be able to eventually say, as did Barbara Walters in days gone by: ‘We’ll be in touch, so you be in touch!’

(Barbara’s Jewish too!  A ‘Happy New Month’ to her, as well!)

Blessings and Shalom, Peace,

       Marty (for Jenny and Misha)