Rosh Hashanah and Weeping for Tammuz

I used to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Who would not observe the Jewish New Year? Apples, honey, and festivities are how we kick off the high holy day season.

In Hebrew school children come home with all kinds of apple crafts. Local Jewish organizations give out honey snacks, honey cake, and honey sticks.

But once I began to read the Torah for myself, to understand the fall feasts and their prophetic meanings in light of Yeshua and G-d's redemptive pan, a sweet holiday took on a bitter taste.

Rosh Hashanah is found nowhere in the Torah. It was carried back from Babylonian captivity as Israelites once again wanted what other nations have.

Yom Teruah, the holiday Rosh Hashanah sprung from, is little talked about as many ring in this invented new year, but it's clearly in the Torah.

Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a [b]rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.’ Leviticus 23:23-25

It's mentioned again in Numbers.

Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy assembly; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets. -Numbers 29:1

"While the Torah does not explicitly tell us the purpose of Yom Teruah, its name may indicate that it is intended as a day of public prayer. The verb form of Teruah often refers to the noise made by a gathering of the faithful calling out to the Almighty in unison. For example:

• “Clap hands, all nations, shout to God, with a singing voice!” (Psalms 47:2)

• “Shout to God, all the earth!” (Psalms 66:1)

• “Sing to God, our strength, shout to the God of Jacob!” (Psalms 81:2)

• “Shout to Yehovah, all the earth!” (Psalms 100:1)"

-Dr. Nehemiah Gordon, founder of Nehemiah's Wall

"The seventh month refers to the Jewish seventh month, now known as Tishri. The name Tishri/Tishrei was adopted after the Babylonian exile. Before the exile, the seventh month was known to the Hebrew people as Ethanim (1 Kings 8:2). In a desire to have a New Year to celebrate, this feast was adapted to become the Jewish New Year, even though it was connected to the seventh month, not the first."

-Sarah Fisher, of Hebrew Word Lessons

"It is outright bizarre to celebrate Yom Teruah as New Years. This biblical festival falls out on the first day of the Seventh Month. However, in the context of Babylonian culture this was perfectly natural. The Babylonians actually celebrated Akitu, New Years, twice every year, once on the first of Tishrei and again six months later on the first of Nissan.

The first Babylonian Akitu celebration coincided with Yom Teruah and the second Akitu coincided with the actual New Years in the Torah on the first day of the First Month. While the Rabbis proclaimed Yom Teruah to be New Years, they still recognized that the 1st day of the “First Month” in the Torah was, as its name implied, also a New Years. They could hardly deny this based on Exodus 12:2 which says:"

“This month shall be for you the beginning of months; it is first of the months of the year.”

- -Dr. Nehemiah Gordon, founder of Nehemiah's Wall

Why then, are we doing this?

The prophetic meaning in Yom Teruah is all but lost under the greetings of "L'Shanah Tovah" and "May you be inscribed in the Book of Life" and in apple cakes, but why have we made a new year for ourselves, one G-d did not sanction?

Some say that it is a new calendar based around Yeshua's return. But where does G-d say this?

Many leaders in the Messianic community know better but want to adapt Rosh Hashanah. Why? Because of earthly affections? Nostalgia?

At some point, we need to stop wanting the things of other nations.

G-d saved us from Babylonian captivity. He returned us to the land and Himself. And we repay Him by holding holidays that honor false gods and the ways of our captors? Why?

Imagine if a wife cheated on her husband and each year at their anniversary, remembered the times with her former lover. Commemorated them with the foods the other lover gave her, the songs they enjoyed together and with gifts he gave her?

How must all of this look from G-d's perspective? He is merciful indeed.

We are saved through Messiah Yeshua and not our works, but how can we do this to our G-d who has called us His and rescued our people over and over again?

It is something for every Jewish person to reflect on.

It makes me think of Ezekiel 8:13-14 when G-d gave the prophet a vision of idolatry in the temple.

"And He said to me, “Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing.” So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the L-rd’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz."

Tammuz was a false god.

Yom Teruah carries with it much prophetic meaning as it is said in the New Covenant that Yeshua will return with the blast of a trumpet.

This holiday has such prophetic meaning and could point many of Israel toward the legitimacy of the Messiah, but instead it has been watered down into something while beloved is foreign.

How did we let this happen?

I feel a heaviness in my heart as I think about what all of this looks like to G-d. Do we appear as a people weeping for Tammuz when we could be pointing our brethren toward Yeshua and the marks of His return in the Torah?

Have we once again let our desire for the things of other nations rule us to the point of destruction to many among us?

I pray we refocus on what matters: showing the light of Yeshua to the world and His people, many of whom still do not know.

Yeshua's life, death, resurrection, and return are all over the Tanakh for those who have eyes. Let us turn to Him and make him know while it is day and work can be done.