Head of the year - 5787

Isaiah 40:26Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

(Rosh Hashanah starts Friday Night, Sept 11 and ends at nightfall Sept 13). It is also the Head of the month of Tishrei. We are currently in the Hebrew month of Elul. This is when we officially enter the year 5787. This is the seventh month and the seventh year. Sevens represent completion.

The High Holiday season begins during the month of Elul, when the shofar is blown every weekday morning, a clarion call to return to God in advance of the sacred days ahead. The two-day holiday of Rosh Hashanah is the head of the Jewish year, the time when God reinvests Himself in creation as we crown Him king of the universe through prayer, shofar blasts, and celebration.

Sounding the shofar does three things. It inspires us to return to God. It helps us coronate God as King. And it 'reminds' God of the merits of our forefathers. This year Rosh Hashanah falls on the Sabbath so traditional Jews will blow the shofar on Sunday. Shabbat nurtures God’s love and delight!

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah means “Head of the Year.” Just like the head controls the body, our actions on Rosh Hashanah have a tremendous impact on the rest of the year. It is a day of prayer, a time to ask the Almighty to grant us a year of peace, prosperity, and blessing. It is also a joyous day when we proclaim God King of the Universe.

The Torah refers to this day as Yom Teruah (Day of Shofar Blowing). Traditional prayers refer to the day as Yom Hazikaron (Day of Remembrance) and Yom Hadin (Day of Judgement.

Together with Yom Kippur (which follows 10 days later), it is part of the Yamim Nora'im (Days of Awe, or: High Holidays).The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the shofar. The blowing of the shofar represents the trumpet blast that is sounded at a king’s coronation. Its cry serves as a call to repentance. The  shofar itself recalls the binding of Isaac, an event that occurred on Rosh Hashanah in which a ram took Isaac’s place as an offering to God

.

Tishrei is also associated with the Hebrew letter Lamed, which points to returning to your true source. This is a time to declare restoration over what has been scattered and to release past bitterness so you can move forward.

One of the classic symbols of Rosh Hashana is the apple dipped in honey. Before eating the apple, the ha’etz blessing is prayed adding:   ‘May it be Your will to renew for us a good and sweet year.”

As we remain in the month of Elul and approach Rosh Hashanah—a season when the King is in the field—we can prepare our hearts for this transition. The story of Ruth and Naomi is especially meaningful during this time. Naomi was Jewish, and Ruth, a Moabite, was married to Naomi’s son. After Naomi’s husband and two sons died in Moab, she chose to return home. Ruth chose to follow her, and the two widows journeyed back together to Naomi’s place of origin.

It was harvesting time and Ruth found a field to glean in. Boaz was the owner, Naomi’s relative. He had the men protect her and allow Ruth to glean more than usual. When Naomi discovered this, she instructed Ruth to clean up, change out of her widows’ garments, anoint herself and lay at Boaz feet on the Threshing floor.

Ruth received favor because she chose to return to Naomi’s God and join Naomi’s people. She was blessed through her marriage to Boaz, which brought her into her redemptive purpose. Both Naomi and Ruth experienced the glory of the Lord as He redeemed what had been lost, making this a season of fullness.

Just as Ruth removed the garments of widowhood and followed the guidance of wisdom, may we seek the Lord for help breaking any structures of death or limitation that keep us from entering all He has prepared for us in this season and new year. I pray that God’s light dispels every darkness and that your own light shines even brighter in this month and year ahead. May you be blessed with a sweet new year!