What are the Feast Days?
We translate the Hebrew word “moedim” literally as “appointed times,” or more commonly, “feast days.” These are comprised primarily of seven major feasts, beside Shabbat, commanded to be commemorated as prescribed in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16. In brief summary, the feasts are listed as follows:
Spring Feasts – Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits
Summer Feast – Weeks (Pentecost)
Fall Feasts – Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles
Minor Feasts – Chanukah and Purim
In our day, we embrace them as a picture of Messiah Yeshua. It can be quite strongly noted that the redemptive work of Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus Christ) is reflected in the traditions of the feast days, and his life can be seen as a fulfillment of them all! For this reason, we are excited to “keep the feasts” as we are led of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) as a means of cultivating a heart of worship toward God and devotion toward Messiah.
What to Expect for the Feast Days...
Passover...
“‘During the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, is Adonai’s Passover'” (Leviticus 23:5 TLV).
Traditions: Passover Seder
Messianic Significance: Death of Messiah
Celebrated: 14th day of Nisan
Unleavened Bread...
“‘On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Matzot to Adonai. For seven days you are to eat matzah'” (Leviticus 23:6 TLV).
Traditions: Removal of Leaven from the Home, Eating Only Unleavened Bread for Seven Days
Messianic Significance: Burial of Messiah
Celebrated: 15th-22nd days of Nisan
First Fruits...
“’Speak to Bnei-Yisrael and tell them: When you have come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you are to bring the omer of the firstfruits of your harvest to the kohen'” (Leviticus 23:10 TLV).
Traditions: Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
Messianic Significance: Ressurection of Messiah
Celebrated: 17th day of Nisan
Weeks (Pentecost)...
“’Then you are to count from the morrow after the Shabbat, from the day that you brought the omer of the wave offering, seven complete Shabbatot. Until the morrow after the seventh Shabbat you are to count fifty days, and then present a new grain offering to Adonai'” (Leviticus 23:15-16 TLV).
Traditions: Mixing Two Bread Loaves Together, Enjoying Dairy Foods, Remembering the Giving of Torah at Sinai
Messianic Significance: Coming of the Holy Spirit
Celebrated: 7th day of Sivan
Trumpets...
“’Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a Shabbat rest, a memorial of blowing (shofarot), a holy convocation'” (Leviticus 23:24 TLV).
Traditions: Hearing the 100 Shofar Blasts, Remembering the Creation of the World
Messianic Significance: Rapture and Resurrection of the Kedoshim (Saints)
Celebrated: 1st day of Tishri
Atonement...
“”However, the tenth day of this seventh month is Yom Kippur, a holy convocation to you, so you are to afflict yourselves [fast]. You are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai'” (Leviticus 23:27 TLV).
Traditions: Fasting, Prayer, Repentance of Vows
Messianic Significance: Second Coming of Messiah, Throne Judgment
Celebrated: 10th day of Tishri
Tabernacles...
“’So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you are to keep the Feast of Adonai [Sukkot] for seven days. The first day is to be a Shabbat rest, and the eighth day will also be a Shabbat rest'” (Leviticus 23:39 TLV).
Traditions: Dwelling in Sukkot (Temporary Dwellings), Waving the Lulav (Four Species)
Messianic Significance: Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Millennial Reign of Messiah
Celebrated: 15th-22nd days of Tishri
Chanukah...
“Then came Hanukkah [Dedication]; it was winter in Jerusalem. Yeshua was walking in the Temple around Solomon’s Colonnade” (John 10:22-23 TLV).
Traditions: Lighting Chanukiah (Eight Candles), Exchanging Gifts, Enjoying Fried Foods, Reading 1 and 2 Maccabees
Messianic Significance: Conception of Messiah (Light Coming into the World)
Celebrated: 25th day of Kislev
Purim...
“For Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had schemed against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur—that is, the lot—to ruin and destroy them. But when it came to the king’s attention, he issued a written edict that the wicked scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows” (Esther 9:24-25 TLV).
Traditions: Wearing Disguises/Costumes, Enjoying Hamantashen (Triangular Cookies), Reading the Megillah (literally “scrolls,” usually the book of Esther).
Messianic Significance: Messiah’s Hidden Presence in Human Affairs
Celebrated: 14th day of Adar
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