Feast Days

These beautiful festivals are an essential part of a Torah lifestyle and convey deep meaning and understanding of God’s relationship with us. These holy days are a model for all believers weekly, monthly and yearly. At House of Covenant we strive to structure our feast services to convey these dynamic scriptural principles.

Shabbat (Sabbath) is the first feast mentioned in Leviticus 23. All other feasts are fashioned after this most important day. Sabbath is the first sign of covenant that the Lord gave to all mankind. It is a day of rest and renewal, a time when we can reconnect with God and renew relationship with one another.

Passover is the beginning of the Jewish religious New Year. This feast is a rememberance of God’s deliverance from slavery and the Exodus from Egypt. It’s also the time of the sacrifice of Messiah.

Unleavened Bread is the week-long observance of removing the leaven from our homes and the eating of matzah. This also commemorates the Exodus and symbolizes the removal of sin (leaven) from our lives. Messiah, the Bread of Life, was in the grave during this feast.

First Fruits occurs on the first day following the Sabbath after Passover. This celebration is to remember that our first and best harvest belongs to the Lord. Yeshua the Messiah resurrected on this day.

Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks, takes place fifty days after First Fruits. This day commemorates the giving of the Torah to Moses at Mt. Sinai and the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Rosh Hashanah, or Feast of Trumpets, is the Jewish Civil New Year. This feast marks the fall harvest, is a rememberance of the time of Creation, as well as a time of introspection and repentance in anticipation of Yom Kippur. This is the time of the second coming of Messiah.

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. It is the day when the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies and offer sacrifice for Israel. This festival is a time of reflection and solemn worship, mingled with a joyous anticipation for the Wedding Day of the Lamb.

Sukkot, or Feast of Tabernacles, marks the seventh festival of God’s appointed times. This is a remembrance of the Hebrews dwelling in tents during their wanderings through the desert for forty years. It is a time of celebration and thanksgiving to God for dwelling in our midst.

Simchat Torah, our time of “Rejoicing with the Torah," is a celebration that marks the conclusion of Sukkot and the renewal of the cycle of Torah readings.

Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication) remembers the Maccabean Revolt against the Selucid tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes. It marks the victory that God brought to the Hebrews and the miracle of the menorah.

Purim, also known as the Feast of Lots, remembers the time the Jewish people were in Persia and God’s protection and deliverance through Esther. This is a time of joyous fun and humor.

Find out more about Feast Days and other information in our Library of Links


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