Shemeni Atzeret-Abiding In G-d's Blessing by Rabbi Barney Kasdan "For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the L-rd. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the L-rd; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work" [Leviticus 23:36] It is a wonderful and busy season indeed during the High Holy Days. After the days of repentance of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we enter the joyous period of Sukkot. For seven days we dwell in the Sukkah/booth and rejoice in the reality that G-d dwells with us in a special way. Yet, right when you might think it is all over, the Torah exhorts us to celebrate one final day called “Shemini Atzeret”. Although we are not told much about why this day is so important to G-d, some insight can be gleaned from the very name of the feast, “the eighth day of assembly”, or more literally, “waiting, tarrying or abiding.” Why an eighth day of abiding? The rabbinic commentator Rashi relates a story that the day is reminiscent of a King who held a weeklong banquet for his friends. As the joyous festivities were winding down, the King expressed to his friends how he really did not want them to leave but to abide one more day in his presence. That is what Shemini Atzeret is all about; our Heavenly Father and our King doesn’t want to leave us when the holy days end. He desires that we would abide with Him and enjoy His blessings. It seems that our Messiah Yeshua may have had this concept in mind as he taught His Jewish disciples on one occasion. As He was facing His imminent death, Yeshua was concerned that the talmidim understood the vital importance of abiding in the Father’s blessings. How could this be accomplished? “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love” (Yochanan/John 15:10). If they wanted to abide in the good things of G-d’s kingdom, they must go beyond simply hearing the Word. Memorizing the Torah is commendable, but that is not what necessarily keeps us in the Father’s blessing. We hear so many important truths during our high holy day services but Shemini Atzeret reminds us that the biggest challenges actually begins after all the sermons. If believers are to enjoy the continued blessing of G-d, we must “keep”; that is obey and apply the Scripture to our personal lives. Sometimes we may wish it was something more glitzy or complex. But, as those great theologians at the Nike Shoe Company remind us, “Just do it!” Shemini Atzeret is a call for all believers in Yeshua to abide in His precepts. Secondly, our Messiah exhorts us to abide in the power of G-d. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing” (Yochanan 15:5). One would think that this message would be very clear through the course of all the High Holy Days. It is with much prayer and tshuvah/repentance that we come before the King at this season. Yet how many people struggle during the year with the frustration of trying to please G-d in our own strength? If we are honest, we must admit that even our best, most sincere efforts fall short of the high standard of our King. For us Messianic Jews, we have come to realize that without Yeshua we can do “bubkis” (nada, zilch, nothing!) Shemini Atzeret is a special time for us to reflect on our desperate need for G-d’s power in our lives. If we are to take some spiritual steps forward through the Holy Days, we must abide in the power which Messiah offers. Only then can we produce true, eternally lasting fruit in our lives. Thirdly, Yeshua teaches us great joy when be ours as we abide in His presence. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be make full” (Yochanan 15:11). This world is often seeking a joy and happiness that seems so elusive. Yet, many have missed the very source of deep, abiding joy. The High Holy Days call us back to a vibrant, personal relationship with G-d through Yeshua HaMashiach. Maybe it is not so surprising that the capstone of the Holy Days is this eighth day of assembly. The King does not want you to depart from His presence. As one bumper sticker states, “Feel far from God? Who moved?” Shemini Atzeret is our call to remain in the Father’s blessing throughout this new year of 5768. What are you doing to ensure that you will abide in the blessings of G-d? Maybe it’s time to raise the bar in our spiritual lives and see what good fruit will result. L’shana Tova u-metukah! May you have a sweet year abiding in Messiah! Sept 8 Saturday, 7:30pm. Selichot Service. Join us for a special concert with Goor Aryeh as well as prayers and a workshop on preparing for the Holy Days. Sept 12 Wednesday, 7:30 pm. Erev Rosh Hashanah Service. Usher in the spiritual New Year celebrating the goodness of Messiah! This will be a traditional service including the sounding of the shofar (ram’s horn) and a message on the importance of the holiday for all believers in Yeshua. Special Note: All High Holy Day Services are free but reservations are required for non-members. Call the KA office. Sept 13 Thursday, 10:30 am. Rosh Hashanah Morning Service. We will continue in prayer and meditation at this traditional service. Sept 13 Thursday, 4:00 pm. Tashlich Service at La Jolla Shores. Join us for this beautiful time as we cast bread crumbs into the sea to remind us of the important truths of the High Holiday season, “Thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:19). We will also have an immersion service for new believers in Messiah. Bring your own dinner (and bread crumbs) and meet us on the grassy area by the main lifeguard tower. Sept 21 Friday, 7:30 pm. Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre Service. We will have a special assembly for this holiest day of the biblical calendar. We are encouraging a day of congregational fasting starting sundown Friday through sundown Saturday as we pray for our spiritual lives and for our people of Israel. Special Note: In the spirit of “tzedakah” (helping others), we are suggesting that all worshipers bring to service some package food items or a check donation which will in turn be given to help a ministry to the homeless. It would be fitting to donate the value of the amount which we would normally would have eaten when not fasting. Sept 22 Saturday, 10:30 am. Yom Kippur Morning Service. We will continue in prayer and fasting at this traditional service. Sept 22 Saturday, 5:30 pm. Neilah Service. The closing service followed by a potluck at 6:30 pm to “break our fast.” Bring your favorite dairy dish to share with all. Sept 29 Saturday, 10:30 am. Sukkot Service. Join us for this exciting praise service as we celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. We will construct our own Sukkah (please bring greenery and fruit to decorate) and there will be a great time of Davidic worship and praise. There will also be a special message on the significance of the holy day for all believers in Messiah. Oct 4 Thursday, 7:00 pm. Simchat Torah Service. This will be a fitting close to the fall Holy Days as we “rejoice in the Torah.” There will be plenty of music as we celebrate God’s gift of the Word. Nov 10 Saturday, 7:30 pm. Kehilat Ariel 25th Anniversary Celebration. Mark this date for this fundraising celebration as we reflect on G-d’s faithfulness to our messianic synagogue over the years. A special concert and dessert is planned. More info to come. June 2008 UMJC/ KA Solidarity Tour to Israel. Call our office for a full brochure on this historic tour and conference with the Israeli messianic community in Jerusalem! Weekly Services SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES: at 3219 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., in Clairemont, Saturday, 10:30am. Join us for this uplifting time of worship, fellowship and study. Our current sermon series is “Hope Through The Haftarah” which is a study of the weekly reading in the Prophets. CHILDREN'S SHABBAT SCHOOL: Our children join us for the first part of the service, then break for different classes. Classes for ages 2 through High School which include a Bible lesson plus background on Jewish studies and Hebrew. DANCE MINISTRY: Dance workshop every other month at 1:30 pm meeting upstairs. Contact our office for the latest information. BEGINNING HEBREW: Join Israeli instructor Tovik Liberman for some conversational Hebrew on Shabbat, 1:30-2:30pm. Fee required. MIDWEEK MINYAN and MESSIANIC JEWISH INSTITUTE OF SAN DIEGO: Corporate prayer from 6:30-7:00 on Tuesday. From 7:00-8:30 Current class : “Introduction To Talmud” taught by Rabbi Kasdan. The MJISD classes can lead to a certificate of Messianic Jewish Studies. Call for information. ADULT SHABBAT CLASSES: Saturday 9:00-10:00am. This “Survey of the Torah” class will take you through the Parsha in one year. Currently in Bemidbar/Numbers. There is also a Spanish Torah Study at his same time. SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES: at 3219 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., in Clairemont, Saturday, 10:30am. Join us for this uplifting time of worship, fellowship and study. Our current sermon series is “Hope Through The Haftarah” which is a study of the weekly reading in the Prophets. CHILDREN'S SHABBAT SCHOOL: Our children join us for the first part of the service, then break for different classes. Classes for ages 2 through High School which include a Bible lesson plus background on Jewish studies and Hebrew. DANCE MINISTRY: Dance workshop every other month at 1:30 pm meeting upstairs. Contact our office for the latest information. BEGINNING HEBREW: Join Israeli instructor Tovik Liberman for some conversational Hebrew on Shabbat, 1:30-2:30pm. Fee required. MIDWEEK MINYAN and MESSIANIC JEWISH INSTITUTE OF SAN DIEGO: Corporate prayer from 6:30-7:00 on Tuesday. From 7:00-8:30 Current class : “Introduction To Talmud” taught by Rabbi Kasdan. The MJISD classes can lead to a certificate of Messianic Jewish Studies. Call for information. ADULT SHABBAT CLASSES: Saturday 9:00-10:00am. This “Survey of the Torah” class will take you through the Parsha in one year. Currently in Bemidbar/Numbers. There is also a Spanish Torah Study at his same time. Group Ministries Havurot: Would you like to build some deeper friendships in Yeshua? We encourage participating in a Messianic home group in your area for study and fellowship. Please contact the following people for details of time and place: Del Cerro, Tony & Joan Savarese,
(619)501-7778,
2nd & 4th Fri, 6:30 pm Kehilat Ariel Board: Barney
Kasdan, Anna Martin, Frank Rosas, Tovik Liberman, Patty Kolb, Luis
Garibay | ||