How to celebrate a Messianic Rosh Hashanah (The Feast of Trumpets)
Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets, is the first of the fall feasts of Israel. Mentioned in Leviticus 23, the Biblical name is Yom Teruah—a Hebrew word that literally means day of blasting or shouting.
Rosh Hashanah, as it most often is called today, came later out of the period of Babylonian exile and eventually became known as the celebration of the new Hebrew year. It’s often referred to as the spiritual new year as it begins in the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar, called Tishrei.
While the biblical details on how to celebrate it are sparse, it's directly connected to what became known as the 10 days of Awe leading up to the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur.
Adonai spoke to Moses saying: “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 23:23-24
An older Jewish man blowing a shofar, overlooking the city of Jerusalem (AI Image: The Ancient Way)
As we are exiting the 30 days of Elul with a Spirit of repentance and introspection, we turn our hearts to the king. As we enter the 10 days of awe leading up to the Day of Atonement, we continue to individually and collectively search our hearts and ask God to forgive us as we return back to Him.
As we hear the sound of the shofar, we recognize the Kingship of God. It's a day where we recognize afresh that Messiah Yeshua is King of our lives, and so we acknowledge His rightful place on the throne.
It’s also a call to wake up from our spiritual slumber. To remember our Creator. To repent and return to the One who loves us. To rekindle the flame within our hearts.
Finally, it's a time to remember all of the moments that our great God has come through for His people. We call to mind the events in scripture as well as our own lives where our Father and King brought deliverance through His mighty hand!
With all of this in mind, how should you celebrate the Feast of Trumpets?
1. Attend a service with your local Jewish community
Not everyone lives close to a Messianic congregation or Jewish synagogue. Even if you do, it might feel intimidating to visit a new, unfamiliar place.
But if there is one near you, I encourage you to visit! Many communities would welcome others during the high Holy Days, and with the rising presence anti-Semitism, it's a way that you can stand in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters.
For those of us who are Gentile believers in Yeshua, we are grafted into the Jewish root of the people of God. What a blessing!
As you become aware of this, it should move you towards community with fellow believers—especially those who are Jewish and follow Yeshua as Messiah.
This may feel a little foreign given our western propensity for rugged individualism, but I encourage you to take one step if you're able and see what happens!
However, If you don't have a congregation near you, don’t let that stop you! Perhaps you could invite some friends or family over and celebrate Rosh Hashanah in your home as a small community.
2. Blow a shofar
With trumpets in the name of this feast, blowing a shofar should not surprise you. In fact, blowing a trumpet and making noise is the only command from scripture on how to celebrate.
But why is a shofar important? The sound of the shofar summons us to re-crown Yeshua as King over our lives. Its stark noise is intended to awaken us from our spiritual slumber. To call us to attention.
If you have time, try to find a shofar online. There are many available for purchase directly from Israel.
If you don't have a shofar, find a trumpet or perhaps some sort of noise maker from your kids. Anything to help you make a joyful noise.
The sound of a shofar is a call to repentance. It signals the arrival of our great King! So as you hear the blast, ready your heart! Wake up and recognize the season we are in!
Listen to our Rosh Hashanah podcast episode if you’re curious about what the different blasts of the shofar sound like.
3. Eat a meal with friends & family
It’s Jewish tradition to eat a meal together for Rosh Hashanah, typically a whole fish like salmon, along with several symbolic items like apples and honey, glazed carrots, and let’s not forget the round challah!
Because the day is a Sabbath, we light candles on the evening before Rosh Hashanah begin and say a prayer of blessing over the wine/grape juice along with the bread to the God who graciously gives us everything we need.
Apples can be arranged on a plate around a bowl of honey, where guests dip the apples in a symbolic hope of the sweet New Year we’re entering into.
The father of the house or other leader can say a special blessing over the group gathered, for the year ahead.
As you enjoy the gift of life and delicious food, perhaps you could share stories of how our Father and King was with you in the previous year and what you’re expecting Him to do in the year ahead.
4. Gather some friends for a Tashlich service
While not specifically mentioned in the Bible, there's a beautiful part of a Rosh Hashanah celebration called Tashlich that connects us to the theme of repentance and return throughout the season to the fall feasts of Israel.
Tashlich is a Hebrew word that means "you will cast," from the Hebrew verb used in Micah 7:19.
Celebrating Tashlich is simple.
You need a small body of water—a beach, lake, pond or creek will work just fine.
A few small rocks or pebbles (or even bread)
A Bible to read scripture
A willing heart.
Gather yourself or group near the water.
Bring a few rocks or pebbles or find some on the ground nearby. Feel free to improvise as you see fit!
As you hold the stone (or bread), think of something you would like to leave behind as we enter a new Hebrew year. Maybe it's bitterness towards someone who wronged you. Perhaps it's anger from unmet expectations. Maybe you have been struggling with addiction. Or maybe you feel that God is distant and want to release your frustration with Him.
Whatever it is, keep that in mind as you continue.
Read Micah 7:18-19:
Who is a God like You pardoning iniquity, overlooking transgression, for the remnant of His heritage? He will not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy.
He will again have compassion on us. He will subdue our iniquities, and You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Say a short prayer to yourself or out loud with your group. Thank our Father for his great Mercy and kindness, ask Him to forgive you and give you the strength to return to Him.
When you're ready, throw the stone into the body of water.
Our sins are like stones at the bottom of His ocean. Never to be found again.
Bless his holy name!
5. Prepare your heart for Yom Kippur.
With Yom Teruah, we begin the 10 days of Awe that countdown to Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.
With the physical act of throwing a stone into the water, symbolizing repentance, we continue to search our hearts for what our Father may be putting His finger on.
In there something else you need to let go of? Is there a sin that you've been involved in that you need to repent from? Is there a change you need to make in your life that you've been putting off?
Now is the time!
The sound of the shofar is a wake up call. It calls us to attention and let's us know the King is near. That His day of kingdom rule is on the way. Are you prepared to enter it?
Get your heart right!
Repent! For God's kingdom is at hand.
Turn back to him will all of your heart, soul, and strength. Fix your eyes on the author and completer of your faith. Return to Him with trust as we approach the Day of Atonement.
Shana Tova!
Congratulations! You're on your way to learning how to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, The Feast of Trumpets! As you celebrate here are two traditional greetings:
Shanah Tovah U’Metukah — (שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה) — may you have a good and sweet New Year.
Ketivah v’Chatimah Tovah — (כְּתִיבָה וַחֲתִימָה טוֹבָה) — may you be inscribed in the Book of Life.
May you have a joyful and pleasant new year as you celebrate The Feast of Trumpets.
May you remember His goodness and loyal love.
May your heart remain soft and attentive to the voice of our Father and King who is filled with mercy and compassion.
And may you return to Him with all of your heart, all of your soul, and all of your strength.
L’Shanah Tovah!
Explore more about Rosh Hashanah
What is the ceremony of Tashlich, often celebrated during Rosh Hashanah? Tashlich is a form of baptism, where individuals cast away their sins into a body of water. It is a deeply personal and intimate experience that symbolizes repentance and letting go of old ways and the importance of having a loving relationship with God. They also briefly discuss the four different New Years in the Hebrew calendar and their significance.