02/10/2024
The Month of Ethanim (Tishrei):
Rosh Hashanah(New Year)
Ethanim is the seventh month based on the count that begins from Nisan, for the verse says: "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns, an holy convocation" (Leviticus 23:24). Furthermore, we read in the Scriptures: "And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month" (1 Kings 8:2). Here, we read from the Scripture that the seventh month as reckoned by God in the Holy Scriptures is not July. Jewish tradition attributes special value and significance to the number seven and being seventh. Our Sages write: "All sevenths are beloved above." Just as in the count of the generations, the seventh generation from Adam was most precious, for it was the generation of Enoch of whom it is said, "Walked with God." Also, amongst our ancestors, the seventh generation was most favoured, for Moses was the seventh generation from Abraham. Of Moses, it is written, "And Moses ascended unto God" (Exodus 19:20).
The month is called Yerach ha-eisanim - which means the month of the strong. It is indeed the month of the strong because Abraham, Issac and Jacob, our patriarchs and pillars of strength of the world, were all born in this month. Eisanim is translated Ethanim in most English bibles. The Torah simply calls it the seventh month, which is translated in Hebrew "ha-chodesh ha - Shevi" which simply means the seventh month (see Leviticus 23:24). It is further known by the name Tishri, which is a name that came into use when the Jews returned from the Babylonian exile. However, this name has no reference to any idol or god. The first of Tishrei marks on of the traditional Jewish new years', this regard, Tishrei is counted as the first month regarding the calculating of years of the Shemittah cycle, the Yovel cycle, for the planting of trees, and for produce.
The month is replete and endowed with an abundance of festival days and rites unlike any other months, namely: Rosh Hashanah - The Feast of Blowing of Trumpets; Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement; and Sukkot - The Feast of Tabernacles also called the Feast of Booths or the Feast of In-Gathering. On Rosh Hashanah, Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah were granted Divine remembrance and they conceived were blessed with children. Also, on Rosh Hashanah, Joseph was freed from the Egyptian prison where he had been held for twelve years on the accusation leveled against him by Potiphar's wife. The bo***ge of our ancestor ended on Rosh Hashanah, and their redemption from the house of slavery began when God remembered them according to His promise to Abraham.
By Jewish tradition we say Rosh Hashanah is the day on which the world was created. So it is the birthday of God’s Creating - (Creation). On Rosh Hashanah, people are inscribed in the Book of Life, we make atonement, and we right relationships that have gone awry.
Rosh Hashanah, literally "head of the year" in Hebrew is the Jewish New Year. The Biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah literally "Day [of] shouting/raising a noise", or the Feast of Trumpets.
The month consists of thirty days, its New Moon appears between September/October of the secular calendar.
As we have gathered in honour of our Lord's invitation, let us declare in the usual old Jewish spiritual, saying,
"Let the old month and its curses come to an end.
"Let the new moon and its blessings begin."
Happy new moon to you all.
Shalom lekulam!
H░A░P ░P░Y░ N░ E░W░M░O░O░N░ and Happy New Year From Cohen BETH'EL c (Ben Aaron 🦁).
