Introduction
At Valley of Blessing we keep Torah together as a community. We join the Jewish people in keeping the weekly Shabbat (Sabbath), Rosh Chodesh and the seven Biblical feasts. These are God’s appointed times to meet with His people. In addition we celebrate two cultural feasts: Hannukah and Purim.
Shabbat
As specified in the Torah, each week in the life of the community ends with a time of rest, and refreshment…a time for people to come together as family and as community. This weekly cycle follows the pattern of God’s week of creation…a time of work followed by a day of rest.
Shabbat begins at dusk on Friday evening and ends at dusk on Saturday evening.
We begin the Shabbat with each family gathering at home. Along with the lighting of the two shabbat candles, the wife offers the traditional prayers. This is followed by prayers, songs and blessings including a blessing for each child. There is a great time of fellowship as the family enjoys a meal together.
The next morning the Shabbat continues as the community gathers for prayer, praise, teaching, and a meal followed by discussion of the Torah portion.
Rosh Chodesh
We meet on the first of each month according to the lunar calendar. This is the time in which a new moon appears which marks the beginning of the month. Rosh Chodesh is one of God’s appointed times in which we meet to dedicate the month to Him. Typically, we meet and have a meal together, listen to a short teaching and blow the shofar to announce the new month.
Biblical Feasts
In addition to the Shabbat, God appointed special times for His people to meet with him…these are the seven feasts specified in the Torah. This yearly cycle is vital to the life of the community. In addition to the traditional aspect of the feasts built around harvest cycle, the feasts carry a far more significant spiritual and prophetic meaning. We believe the feasts tell the story of redemption in Messiah Yeshua and define the order of the prophetic seasons which are fulfilled in Messiah.
Spring Feasts
The feast cycle begins with the spring feasts of Passover (Pesach), Unleavened Bread (Matzah) and First Fruits (Yom Bikkurim). We prepare for the season by removing leaven (symbolic of sin) from our houses. We gather at the appointed time for the Passover seder and observe the special Sabbath at the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened bread. We refrain from eating leaven and eat Matzah (unleavened bread) during the seven days of the feast. We also observe First Fruits.
These feasts speak of the redemption in Messiah as Yeshua was crucified on Passover, buried on Unleavened Bread and rose again on First Fruits thus fulfilling the prophetic aspect of these feasts.
Shavuot
We then begin counting the fifty days until the next feast, Shavuot (Pentecost). This is called the Counting of the Omer. This count connects the redemption of the cross depicted in the Spring feasts to the giving of the Holy Spirit at Shavuot and is traditionally associated with the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. The giving of the Holy Spirit thus fulfills the prophetic meaning of the feast. At Shavuot we have a special service and teaching.
Fall Feasts
After the long summer the fall feasts arrive (September/October). The season begins with Yom Teruah (the blowing of the shofar) announcing the days of awe (a time of repentance and solemn reflection in anticipation of Yom Kippur ten days later. The community gathers for Yom Kippur to repent of sin as a community and as individuals. This is a time of healing with the restoration of relationships.
Finally, the solemnity of Yom Kippur gives way to joy as we celebrate the Feast of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) five days later. As specified in the Torah we put together Sukkahs (booths) at home and at the Congregation building. We eat some of our meals there. The celebration goes on for eight days with a special Sabbath at the beginning and at the end. We have in the past rented a local retreat facility for the community to observe the feast together.
The prophetic aspect of the fall feasts depicts the second coming of Messiah to judge the nations and establish His earthly kingdom. Sukkot symbolizes God dwelling among His people as he did in times of old with the Tabernacle in the wilderness.
Cultural Feasts
We join the Jewish people in celebrating two cultural feasts: Hannukah and Purim. We celebrate these feasts as a way of rejoicing with the Jewish people in their miraculous salvation brought about in the historical events associated with the feasts. These feasts are a testimony of God’s faithfulness to deliver His people and preserve His plans and purposes in saving both the Jewish people and the nations.
Hannukah, also known as the Feast of Lights or the Feast of Dedication, commemorates the great victory that God brought about through the Maccabees as they miraculously defeated the Seleucid empire under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, freeing the Jewish people to worship God. After this great victory, they cleaned the Temple and restored the Temple service.
We gather to recount this great victory through the lighting of the Hanukkiah (menorah) with each of the candles depicting the eight days of the feast.
Purim commemorates the great victory God brought about in Ancient Persia to save the Jewish people from annihilation. The story is recorded in the Book of Esther. We gather to celebrate with food, games and a play that helps to tell the story. We also read the Book of Esther. It is a time of great joy and celebration.