Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets, falls on the first day of the seventh month. Every month begins with its own Rosh Chodesh, or “head of the month” - a small new beginning. But the seventh month holds a unique place. It is Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the new year, and it carries far more weight than an ordinary Rosh Chodesh. The Lord spoke to Moses about it directly. Leviticus 23:24-25 says, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you...

The month of Elul is a special season in the Jewish calendar, a time when the Jewish people begin preparing their hearts for the great biblical feasts that lie ahead. It is a month associated with drawing near to God, repentance, forgiveness, and preparation for an encounter with Him. Elul is also connected in Jewish tradition with the words of Song of Songs 6:3, “I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine.” It is a beautiful picture of a love relationship between God and His people. This is...

The month of Av is the key month in the commemoration of the destruction of Jerusalem, first by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian armies, and later by Titus and the Roman armies in the year 70 AD. It stands as one of the darkest hours in Israel's history. On the ninth of Av, Tisha B'Av, Israel commemorates these two great tragedies together. On the very same day of the Jewish calendar, centuries apart, the temple was destroyed twice, once by the Babylonians and once by Rome. In both cases,...