226 days to “Swords of Iron War”.

19.05.2024. Nahariya, Israel. Sunday. 26th day to the count of the OMER.

(A bit of translated Hebrew; A bit of explanation about the Jewish Feasts, and some gleaning from both.)

Three “Regalim” (means: legs) are mentioned in the Torah as Appointed Times for the Nation, to walk up (Aliyah) to Jerusalem and to assemble:

1. Pesach (Passover), is the celebration of Freedom from Slavery and the beginning of the Nation.

Israelis Jews celebrated Peach on April 22-29 this year. The Hebrew date is always the same: From sunset on Nisan 14 until sunset on Nisan 22.

The corresponding Christian holiday is Easter, (Friday-Sunday). The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Yeshua. It was celebrated on March 31, 2024.

2. Shavuot (Feast of the Weeks), which celebrates the time the Torah was given; First Harvest, and the giving of the First Fruits of the Year to the priests.

Shavuot on the modern fixed Hebrew calendar is during the 24 hours, evening to evening, of Sivan 5-6. Biblically, it is counted not dated. This year we'll celebrate it on June 11-12.

The corresponding Christian holiday is Pentecost (based on Acts 2), calculated 7 weeks after Easter. It is celebrated today, May 19, 2024.

3. Sukkot (Feast of the Booths), is a memorial to the years the nation walked in the desert. (Leviticus 23:42-43)

Sukkot has a start Hebrew date on Tishrei 14 - 17, in 2024 it will be celebrated on October 16-23.

Although Yeshua celebrated Sukkot (John 7:14) and Zechariah prophecies, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles”, to the majority of Christians it is not a common celebration.

Since the prophecy is related to the coming of the Messiah in Sukkot, the attack of October 7, 2023, on the last day of the feast, is viewed as a spiritual attack by both: The Jews, who wait for Messiah to come, and the Believers, including Arab Christians, who are waiting for Yeshua to return. The massacre caused uproar among all Israelis who now view the war as a fight against Satan – Hamas. Thus, the majority of Israel insists that we cannot put down our arms, regardless of how many young men and women are lost in the battle, Hamas has to be eradicated, it is the battle of God.

    Yesterday, maybe because it is Pentecost Sunday today, I received some observations regarding the Shavuot Feast. Much is written about the above three major feasts. Here are just some major points regarding Shavuot that can be used as a diving board into deeper and wider research.

The feast is called Shavuot (weeks) because it is celebrated at the end of the counting of the 7 weeks from Nisan 16 – Sivan 5. (Exodus 34 and others).

It is also called Shvuot (oaths) since two oaths were sworn on that date:

1. The nation swore “We will do and we will listen” as it received the Torah at the foot of Mount Sinai.

2. God swore that He would not replace the people He chose nor convert them into another nation.

It is also known as “Bikoorim” (First Fruits) in reference to the offering of the 7 species in Israel.

(Deuteronomy 8:7-8) For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;

Also called, The Harvest Feast. (Exodus 23) Israel did not complete its salvation until it received the Torah, which happened on this day.

Another reference is The Celebration of the Giving of the Torah. There is no specific date given, only that after Pesach the Omer has to be counted and on the 50^th day the holiday is to be celebrated. (Leviticus 23:16) This year the counting commenced on April 24 and will reach 49 on June 11.

The Book of Ruth is being read in the Synagogue, during this holiday. 

Some say because it compares Israel when they came to receive the Torah, they converted to Judaism and came under the wings of the Shekinah. Just like Ruth the Moabite who converted and came under the wings of the Shekinah. (divine presence; omnipresence; Godhead). 

Others say that it needs to be read since it deals with the genealogy of King David and from his seed the Messiah will come and who was the grand-grandson of Ruth. There are other explanations as well. 

Either way, the eternal love story called The Book of Ruth, is read in the synagogue during Shavuot.