Yom Teruah
September 26th – 7:00pm | October 1st – 11:00am
EVENT DETAILS:
What is Yom Teruah?
One of the unique things about Yom Teruah is that the Scriptures do not say what the purpose of this holy day is. The Scriptures gives at least one reason for all the other holy days and two reasons for some. The Feast of Passover (Unleavened Bread) commemorates the Exodus from Egypt, but it is also a celebration of the beginning of the barley harvest (Exodus 23:15; Leviticus 23:4–14). The Feast of Shavuot (Weeks) is a celebration of the wheat harvest (Exodus 23:16; 34:22). Yom Kippur is a national day of atonement as described in great detail in Leviticus 16. Finally, the Feast of Sukkot (Booths) commemorates the wandering of the Israelites in the desert and is also a celebration of the ingathering of agricultural produce (Exodus 23:16). In contrast to all these Torah festivals, Yom Teruah has no clear purpose other than that we are commanded to rest on this day.
Nevertheless, the name of Yom Teruah provides a clue as to its purpose. Teruah literally means to make a loud noise. This word can describe the noise made by a trumpet but it also describes the noise made by a large gathering of people shouting in unison (Numbers 10:5–6). For example,
“And it shall come to pass when the ram’s horn makes a long blast, when you hear the sound of the shofar, the entire nation will shout a great shout, and the wall of the city shall fall in its place, and the people shall go up as one man against it.”
– Joshua 6:5
In this verse, the word “shout” appears twice, once as the verb form of Teruah and a second time as the noun form of Teruah. Although this verse mentions the sound of the shofar (ram’s horn), the two instances of Teruah do not refer to the shofar. In fact, in this verse, Teruah refers to the shouting of the Israelites which was followed by the fall of the walls of Jericho.
While the Scriptures do 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:
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“Clap hands, all nations, shout to God, with a singing voice!” (Psalms 47:2)
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“Shout to God, all the earth!” (Psalms 66:1)
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“Sing to God, our strength, shout to the God of Jacob!” (Psalms 81:2)
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“Shout to Yehovah, all the earth!” (Psalms 100:1)
We invite you to come and “shout” with the Community of Beit Tehila. For more information on how to celebrate Yom Teruah, please call our ministry office at 813-654-2222.
Yom Kippur
October 4th – 7:00pm
EVENT DETAILS:
We invite you to come and participate with us in a Kol Nidre Service (the closing of the gates).
The Day of Atonement God instructed us to:
There are six Names, Themes, and Idioms of this feast day:
We can find ceremonial cleansing when the priests would wash their hands and feet before serving in the Tabernacle or temple (Exodus 30:19). In Leviticus 16:24 it says, “And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering of the people and make an atonement for himself, and for the people;” This is a reference of the high priest on the day of Yom Kippur (Atonement) practicing ceremonial cleansing. Yeshua is our high priest and we still need to come together and ask for corporate forgiveness on the Day of Yom Kippur (Atonement). Don’t forget that John the Baptist was also called John the immerser and he was teaching a message of repentance. He followed up his message by performing mikvahs for those that wanted to repent. In Hebrews 10:22 it says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” 
Sukkot – Tabernacles
October 10th – 7:00 pm
October 15th – 11:00 am
October 17th – 7:00 pm (8th Great Day)
EVENT DETAILS:
Sukkot is an annual reminder of God’s provision during Israel’s 40-year wilderness sojourn. It is also known as the “Feast of Ingathering,” because it was observed after all crops had been harvested and gathered.
Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field (Ex. 23:16).
“You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year” (Ex. 34:22).
The symbol of Sukkot is the sukkah or tabernacle. It recalls Israel’s hastily-built housing in the wilderness. As soon as Yom Kippur is past, booths are constructed in yards and patios of homes. The booths are made with at least three walls that are covered with intertwined branches.
The roofs are thatched so there is more shade than sunlight during the day, but sparsely enough to allow the stars to be seen at night. Inside they are decorated with colorful harvest fruits and vegetables. During the Feast of Tabernacles, families eat their meals in their sukkah, and even sleep in them. It’s considered a blessing (mitzvah) to invite others into your sukkah.
It is traditional to say “Chag Sameach!” (Happy Holiday) to wish someone a Happy Sukkot!
It was also one of the three pilgrim feasts to Jerusalem, Israel. Three times during the year, all male were required to appear before the Lord in the Temple. Those feast were, The Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles – Exodus 23:17; 34:22-23; Deuteronomy 16:16.
As meaningful and joyous as this annual celebration is for us, the best is yet to come, for the Feast of Tabernacles points to more than merely our present provision and protection. Zechariah foretells that during Yeshua’s reign in the Millennial Kingdom, the Feast of Tabernacles will be an annual celebration in which all nations will gather to testify that the LORD Himself is the source of all the bountiful blessings we enjoy.
Come join us for the Feast of Sukkot!
“Directions to Beit Tehila”
We are located at 1705 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Brandon FL. 33511
