Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, March 2, 2020
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
Time got away from me today. Now I’m writing under pressure (which I don’t like). I’m planning to pick up the analysis of the 12 pillars tomorrow. For today, I want to write about a comment I made from the stage at the “Brothers Together” worship concert last Friday night.
It started with a prayer that I sang just before a word from the Lord was given. It is a prayer from Scripture. Zechariah 14:9 Adonai will then be King over all the earth. In that day Adonai will be Echad and His Name Echad. I sang the last part of the verse in Hebrew… BaYom HaHu Yiyeh Adonai Echad U’Sh’mo Echad.
Rabbi Trail: Steve McConnell wrote an excellent song by that name. (Not the tune I sang.) Here is the link to the YouTube audio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehx1WVZjWJU End RT.
The tune I did sing is from the last part of a synagogue hymn which is titled “Aleynu L’Shabeach” (Let Us Adore), at the bottom of the third paragraph, we find these 7 words usually sung to the tune I used. After I sang that part of the verse, I felt persuaded by the Holy Spirit to say something I want to explain now.
The “Brothers Together” worship concert had Jewish Joshua Aaron performing together onstage with non-Jewish Aaron Shust. Gregor Smee (non-Jewish) and I (Jewish) were working together in ministry long before Joshua and Aaron even knew each other. We are the original “Brothers Together.”
There was a word from the Lord about a season of persecution yet to come to Jewish people. One symbol of the Holocaust is the yellow star (pictured above) which Jews were required to wear at all times in Nazi Germany. In this way, the Nazis could be sure Jews were unable to function at liberty in society. When the time came to deport Jews, the yellow stars made it that much easier to round us up.
Many people have told me when that day comes again, they will stand with Israel. My comment was intended as a short-cut. I said (or meant to say), “When that day comes, be sure to wear your yellow star.” So I’m asking now, if you knew that identifying with Israel (or Jewish people outside of Israel) meant certain death for you and your family, would you do it? That’s the meaning of my comment, get ready to sew on your yellow star.
https://www.ushmm.org/learn/timeline-of-events/1939-1941/jewish-badge-decreed
The Danish people stood out as examples of those who risked their own lives to protect their Jews. From the studies I’ve done, it appears that less than 100 Danish Jews died in the Holocaust, mostly due to the steadfast resistance of the whole population to the Nazi “final solution.”
Week 10
Memory Verse: Leviticus 26:13 I am Adonai your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, so that you would not be their slaves, and I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk upright.
* 46 3/2 Monday: Leviticus 23
47 3/3 Tuesday: Leviticus 26
48 3/4 Wednesday: Numbers 11-12
49 3/5 Thursday: Numbers 13-14
50 3/6 Friday: Numbers 16-17
Question of the day: Hey rabbi, can you give me the big picture on the Jewish holidays described in Leviticus 23? I’ve read it several times and it just doesn’t make sense.
Answer: Sure. There are seven feasts. Oh, and they are called in Scripture “the feasts of the Lord,” not the “Jewish feasts.” The first is the seventh day Shabbat (Sabbath). It is a day of rest that is a weekly reminder to us of both the Garden of Eden (at the beginning), and the millennial reign of Yeshua (at the end).
Then there are 3 spring feasts and 3 fall feasts. These are connected to the first coming of Yeshua (spring), and second coming of Yeshua (fall).
In the spring…
Passover (Pesach) was fulfilled in the crucifixion (sacrifice of the lamb) of Yeshua.
First Fruits (Yom HaBikurim) was fulfilled in the resurrection on the third day.
Pentecost (Shavuot) is the feast of weeks (a week of weeks – 49 days). Then the 50th day is a fulfillment. Tradition informs us the Torah was given on this day. This was fulfilled further in the giving of the Holy Spirit on the 50th day in the year Yeshua was sacrificed.
In the fall… (none of these are yet fulfilled, waiting for the second coming)
Feast of Trumpets will be fulfilled when Yeshua appears in the clouds. The trumpets (shofars) are sounded to announce His return and to crown Him King. Then 10 days later…
The Day of Judgment or Atonement (Yom Kippur). There will be a great division between followers of Yeshua and everyone else. Then four days later…
Feast of Booths (Sukkot) is a feast that foreshadows the time when God will “tabernacle” among His people and all the nations of the earth will celebrate this feast day, or God will not allow rain to fall on that rebellious land.
That’s it in a nutshell. Now read it again and see if it makes a little more sense.