Yom Teruah “Day of Acclamation” Vayikra (Lev) 23:23-25 – Bamidbar (Num) 29:1-61 Tishrei 5767 – Sep. 23, 2006To
observe the beginning of a new month, the Yisraelites would celebrate
the new moon. However, although the new moon was set aside to mark the
beginning of a new month most new moons were not considered Holy. The
Torah only sanctifies one new moon as Holy. This Holy new moon occurs
on the first day of the seventh month as Vayikra 23:23-25 states “the
LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Refraining
from work on the first day of the seventh month sets this day apart
from the rest of the workweek. However, unlike Yom Kippur and
the seventh day Shabbat the new moon of the seventh month is
not considered a day of complete rest. We can see this when we compare
the commandment concerning work on the first day of the seventh month
to the commandment concerning work on the weekly Shabbat. Shemot
31:15 states “Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the
sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath
day, he shall surely be put to death.” We can also see this difference,
when we compare the commandment concerning work on the first day of
the seventh month to the commandment concerning work on Yom Kippur.
Vayikra 23:31-32 states “Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall
be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls:
in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye
celebrate your sabbath.” On Yom Kippur and on the weekly
Shabbat all manner of work is forbidden. However, on the new
moon of the seventh month, the commandment concerning work is qualified
by the word servile. Bamidbar
29:1 states “And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month,
ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is
a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.” When the word translated
as servile is dissected, we can see that it refers to the work of service.
In other words, the only work that is forbidden on the new moon of the
seventh month is the type of work that pertains to a regular job. Therefore,
similar to the way Shemot 12:16 states that work concerning food
preparation during the Passover is acceptable; food preparation on the
new moon of the seventh month is also acceptable. The second of the three commandments, concerning
this Holy Day is the most misunderstood. Bamidbar 29:1 states
“in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have
an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing
the trumpets unto you.” Because the scriptures concerning the new
moon of the seventh month are translated to say it is a day for the
blowing of trumpets the new moon of the seventh month became, known
as the feast of trumpets. There are two problems that arise by naming
this day the feast of trumpets. The first problem is that this day is
not a commanded feast. Therefore, if it is a local tradition to have
a feast, it is acceptable, and if it is a local, tradition to fast it
is acceptable. The second problem arises from the use of the word trumpets.
In the passages concerning the new moon of the seventh month, the word
translated as trumpets is not Shofar or any other word that is
normally translated as trumpet. The word used for the passages concerning
the new moon of the seventh month is Teruah. Teruah is
most commonly translated as shout. Therefore, the use of a trumpet to
make noise is not specifically commanded. The Torah places the emphasis
of this day on the noise instead of the device. In other words, this
day is a day of great noise. Therefore, the biblical name for the new
moon of the seventh month is Yom Teruah. Literally translated
Yom Teruah breaks down into Yom meaning Day and Teruah
meaning noise. Therefore, the most appropriate English title for the
new moon of the seventh month is the Day of Acclamation. Like the other Holy Days, the commandment to
convene a Holy assembly is also given for the new moon of the seventh
month. This commandment is given so that HaShem's people can come together
as like-minded individuals and worship Him as one body. This is a prelude
to the prophecy in Yesha'yahu 66:22-23, which states, “For
as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain
before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from
one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith
the LORD.” Coming together and worshiping HaShem in one accord on
Yom Teruah gives us the opportunity to experience His presence
as a family of individuals committed to the goal of serving HaShem.
Yom Teruah
is unique among the Holy Days. Yom Teruah's uniqueness comes
from the few number of commandments given concerning the observance
of the Holy Day. However, HaShem does give us three commandments specifically
concerning the observance of Yom Teruah. The first commandment
HaShem gives concerning Yom Teruah is that we are required to
set the day apart from the workweek. This is seen in HaShem's commandment
to abstain from servile work on Yom Teruah. The second commandment
HaShem gives concerning Yom Teruah is that we are to observe
a memorial of remembrance through some type of acclamation. This may
be accomplished through shouting, shofar blasts, praise, and any other
way that loudly acclaims HaShem's mercy, forgiveness, and Holiness.
The third commandment HaShem gives concerning Yom Teruah is that
his people shall to come together in one accord, and worship Him as
like-minded individuals. As we celebrate, this Yom Teruah let
us remember to observe these three commandments and refrain from servile
work, come together as one body and loudly proclaim HaShem through repentance
and preparation for His future return.
By Rabbi |