Author: Holy Branches

I’m a Gentile Believer, a devoted mother of five wonderful children, and the wife of an amazing husband. Nature, gardening, and dance bring joy and inspiration to my life. In my spare time, I play the piano, care for my garden, or study the Bible in Hebrew. And I’ll drop just about anything for a game of cards. My unwavering quest for a genuine relationship with the God of the Bible has driven me to delve deeply into His Word, which guides my journey and shapes my life's path. This exploration, combined with dedication to living out my faith, is at the heart of my writing. I seek to share my insights and discoveries with readers, encouraging them to embark on their own spiritual journeys.

Havdalah: Separation Between the Holy and the Common

Written by Holy Branches on August 10, 2026. Posted in Hebraic Roots, Sabbath. 2 Comments on Havdalah: Separation Between the Holy and the Common

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I’ve previously written about the importance of the Sabbath (Shabbat) and how to observe it. We light candles and say blessings to set the Sabbath apart from all other days.

In addition, there’s a tradition that reminds us when the Sabbath is over, and we return to our regular week. It’s called Havdalah. In Hebrew, Havdalah means “separation” and celebrates what a blessing the Sabbath is. It’s a way of both saying our goodbyes to it and looking forward to next week’s Sabbath. As our God has asked of us, Havdalah is another way to remember the Sabbath. It’s also how we can keep it holy and set it apart from the other days.

The Dreidel Company Havdalah Candle Handcrafted Blue & White Paraffin Wax, Shabbat Candle, Shabbat Judaica Gift (2-Pack)

The three essential elements of the Havdalah service are a cup of wine, a braided, multi-wick candle to light, and fragrant spices. Held on Saturday evening, just after sundown, the Havdalah service is typically held at home instead of in a congregational setting.

Like other traditions, the order of a basic Havdalah ceremony varies among households.

Click here for a printable Step-by-Step Havdalah Guide

The Blessing Over the Wine

This blessing is the same one we say when we bring in the Shabbat called the HaGafen. Fill the cup to the very brim with wine. It’s okay if it overflows – that signifies our overflowing blessings. Recite the blessing, but don’t drink the wine until after the Havdalah service concludes.

In English:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Response: Amen)

In Hebrew:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

Transliteration of the Hebrew:

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, bo-rei pe-ri ha-ga-fen. (Response: “Amen”)

The Blessing Over the Spices

At the Havdalah service, we smell pleasantly fragrant spices to remind everyone of the blessing we’ve been given in the Sabbath. Cloves and cinnamon are the most often used spices, but hyssop, anise, and other spices can also be used. A blessing is then said over the spices.

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In English:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of different types of spices.

(Response: Amen)

In Hebrew:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְשָׂמִם

Transliteration of the Hebrew:

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, bo-rei mee-nei ve-sah-meem.

(Response: “Amen”)

The Blessing Over the Havdalah Candle

By lighting the havdalah candle, we remember two things – that light was the first thing created by our God and that the Sabbath is over, and we begin our work, our “creating.” Lighting the candle represents our first act or work of the week, as many don’t light candles on the Sabbath due to Exodus 35:3.

In English:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of the light of the fire.

(Response: Amen)

In Hebrew:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ

Transliteration of the Hebrew:

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, bo-rei meh-or-ee ha-esh.

(Response: “Amen”)

The Blessing of the Seventh Day: Exploring the Sabbath Through Scripture by Holly Eastburg

The Blessing of Separation

The final blessing brings it all together. Havdalah is to distinguish the sacred from the common, the holy from the unholy. It states that the holy Shabbat has ended, and the work week has begun. This blessing praises God for separating. While this may seem strange, think of all the separating God does. He separated the light from darkness, the waters from the heavens, the seas from the dry land, the Sabbath from the rest of the week, His people from among the nations, etc.

In the command to keep the Sabbath, we must keep it holy. Keeping it holy means we’re to set it apart from the rest of the days of the week. Havdalah is one way to keep the Sabbath holy – we’re deliberately separating it from the other days of the week. Here’s the blessing over separation, called the Hamavdil.

In English:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who distinguishes between the holy and the profane, light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work. Blessed are you, Lord, who separates between the holy and the profane. (Response: Amen)

In Hebrew:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קדֶשׁ לְחוֹל

, בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹשֶׁך, בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָאַםִּים, בֵּין יוֹם הַשְׁבִיעִי לְשֶׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַםַּעֲשֶׂה

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קדֶשׁ לְחוֹל

Transliteration of the Hebrew:

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, ha-mahv-dil ben ko-desh leh-chol, ben or leh-cho-shech ben yees-ra-el la-a-meem ben yom hash-vee-ee leh-sheh-sheht yeh-mei ha-mah-ah-seh. Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai ha-mahv-dil ben ko-desh leh-chol.

(Response: “Amen”)

The End of the Shabbat

After the blessings, take a drink of the wine. The havdalah candle is then extinguished in the wine that overflowed from the cup, symbolizing that the Shabbat is now over. Everyone can now wish each other a “Shavua Tov” – a good week!

Click here for a printable Step-by-Step Havdalah Guide

A Havdalah service is important because it separates the holiness of the Sabbath from the other days of the week. Instead of just being another day, the Sabbath is separated with the Shabbat service on Friday evening and the Havdalah on Saturday evening. This clear separation is not only one way we can honor God’s command to keep the Sabbath holy. It’s also a way to align our week with His calendar and receive even more blessings by living according to His ways!

Is the Sabbath Really THAT Important to God?

Written by Holy Branches on August 10, 2026. Posted in Sabbath, Traditions. 9 Comments on Is the Sabbath Really THAT Important to God?

Does God really care that much whether we keep the Sabbath? What difference does taking a day off work make? Couldn’t we take a vacation for rest or worship Him at any convenient time?

A basic rule of Bible study is to pay special attention to the things God repeats in His Word. The concept of the Sabbath is repeated numerous times, beginning at the very beginning when God rested after the creation of our universe. Sabbath keeping is worded as a command 27 times, and there are many other places where it is discussed further. It’s not only one of the Ten Commandments; God also calls it a sign of the covenant between Him and His people forever!

I want to point out that I know the subject of the Sabbath creates some division among Christians. There are Godly Christ-followers on both sides of the Sabbath conversation, and many have strong feelings about it. I’ll present here the conclusion my family has reached in our pursuit of God’s will in our lives, and I hope these words will fall on open ears and hearts, no matter your beliefs on the issue. Like every other aspect of the life of a believer, we must take our questions to God and His Word and use our discernment through the Holy Spirit to decide what we do and do not do.

The Command

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
Ex. 20:8 (NASB)

That one’s pretty simple. Remember it and keep it holy. Got it. Then it gets more serious.

Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.
Ex. 31:14-15 (NASB)

“For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the Lord; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.
Ex. 35:2 (NASB)

While we don’t put those who ignore the Sabbath to death, these verses make it obvious how God feels about it. Besides being commanded by God, violating the Sabbath carried a stiff punishment in Old Testament times.

Looking at what God says about the Sabbath through His prophet Ezekiel (Ez. 20-23) is even more sobering. He considered wiping out the entire nation of Israel for profaning the Sabbath and rejecting God’s other ordinances. Yikes!

But why does He care so much? Why does my taking a day off of work – or not – make any difference to God?

The Sign of the Covenant

The Sabbath isn’t just a day of rest. It’s a sign that we belong to God.

I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.
Ez 20:12 (NASB)

Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’
Ez. 20:20 (NASB)

God created all people, and many claim to belong to Him, but He clarifies in His Word that keeping the Sabbath is the sign that we acknowledge that He’s our God and we’re His people.

I’ve heard baptism metaphorically explained like a wedding ring. Accepting Jesus as your Savior seals your place in the Kingdom of Heaven. Baptism is your outward expression of that decision to the world, just as the wedding is what makes you married, but the ring is how you show that decision to the public.

The Sabbath is much the same. When we accept Jesus, we belong to God. He is our God, and we are His people. Keeping the Sabbath is the external signal to God, the world, and ourselves that we’ve made that decision. Ignoring the Sabbath is like keeping our relationship with God a secret. We may indeed be His people, but we’re unwilling to expose that to the public in the action of observing the Sabbath.

I want to make this part very clear. Keeping the Sabbath doesn’t save us! Belief in Jesus as the only sacrifice for our sin does (Rom. 10:9-10). However, when we fail to keep the Sabbath, we give up the opportunity to show God and those around us who we belong to. That’s why it’s so serious.

Didn’t Jesus Work on the Sabbath?

Jesus and his disciples gathered grain on the Sabbath as they traveled. While this was permitted by law, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus since he did it on the Sabbath. But gathering grain wasn’t against any biblical command concerning the Sabbath. Not gathering grain was a Rabbinical addition to God’s command. When asked about this, Jesus didn’t say, “I’m here now, so the Sabbath is no longer relevant.” Although this would have been the perfect time to point out that we no longer needed to keep the Sabbath, he instead tried to teach them what God says about mercy (Matt. 12:1-8).

Did Jesus’s Crucifixion and Resurrection Nullify the Sabbath?

Nowhere in his recorded words does Jesus say to stop keeping the Sabbath – before or after his resurrection. In fact, Jesus says that he came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). He clarified that the Law isn’t gone because of his arrival on Earth or his work on the cross. He’s the Messiah, the one who kept every one of the commands in the Torah – The Holy Days, the 10 Commandments, eating a Kosher diet, Keeping the Sabbath, all of it. We could say he just did those things because he was born of Jewish heritage, but remember that it was his perfect keeping of these “Jewish” laws that made him the only one on Earth throughout history that qualified as a sacrifice for the sin of all. Let that sink in.

The Sabbath is Forever

If the Sabbath was meant to be temporary, why didn’t God say that? Sabbath-keeping was such a big deal in both the Old Testament and among the Messianic Jews who made up the early church; why didn’t God clarify that it was no longer necessary?

Exodus 31:16, Leviticus 16:31, and 24:8 all say that the Sabbath is permanent. It doesn’t say that it will be abolished when the Messiah comes or that it’s only necessary during the wandering in the desert or while the Temple is standing. It’s forever—throughout all generations of God’s people.

The Sabbath Isn’t Just for Jewish People

Sterling Silver Bar Pendant Necklace Messianic Seal Mezuzah

The Ten Commandments, including the fourth—the one about the Sabbath—were given to the Hebrew people, later called the people of Israel. In other places, such as Isaiah 56, it was stated that foreigners would receive blessings from keeping the commands of God—the Sabbath and others. Exodus 20:10 says that even a sojourner staying with a Hebrew should observe the Sabbath with the rest of the household.

Unless you’re Jewish by heritage, you’re a Gentile and cannot change that by obeying the commands God gave to Israel. However, the apostle Paul lays out how we’re grafted in to the promises God gave Israel through our faith in Jesus. It’s important to realize that, because of this, the promises, commands, and blessings God gave to Israel are now extended to us as well.

For All God’s Creation

The Sabbath is not only for people everywhere but also for other parts of God’s creation. He commands that the land and livestock should also have a Sabbath. Many places say this, and here are a couple.

but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.
Ex. 20:10 (NASB)

but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard.
Lev. 25:4 (NASB)

We all know why it’s essential for humans and even animals to rest, but God also sees benefit in the land itself taking a break from its job of producing.

But it’s not just creation that takes a Sabbath. We can look back at Genesis to remind us that even the Creator Himself took a Sabbath after His miraculous creation work. Chapter 2 tells us that that’s when He blessed the day, making it holy, as only God can do.

Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life

What Should We Do?

You may be feeling awkward right now if you learned something new about the Sabbath or have recently been convicted of not keeping it God’s way like I was. Don’t throw in the towel, though. Just because those around you don’t keep the Sabbath or think it’s optional or unimportant to God doesn’t mean you have to follow their path. Even if you’ve never kept the Sabbath, here are a few things to set you on your way to a peaceful and God-pleasing one.

Consult God.

While we know this should be where we start in any step we take in our faith walk, we sometimes forget it. Ask God what He wants for you and your family regarding the Sabbath. Be ready to hear His answer, even if it may not be what you were expecting. Dig into His Word to see what He has to say about the Sabbath, and ask Him to show you what that should look like in your life.

Get started.

When our family got serious about Sabbath-keeping, it wasn’t easy at first! We had to restructure our whole week to incorporate the Sabbath, and it took a few years to get it right. We’re not perfect at it now, but we regularly have holy, peaceful Sabbaths and continue to learn and grow more toward that each week.

Here’s what my family does on the Sabbath to give you ideas of where to start. Don’t strive toward your expectation of what a Sabbath should look like. Instead, make it a day to grow closer to God, your family, and others. Continually learn and grow in the direction God takes you.

Embrace tradition.

Our family finds it most beneficial to observe a traditional Jewish-type Sabbath. While this may not work for all families, it has given us the focus, discipline, and other tools we needed to make Sabbath-keeping a tradition in our home. Learning about and employing one Sabbath tradition at a time may help everyone adjust.

Prepare.

Welcoming the Sabbath: A Messianic Family Guide for Erev Shabbat

Keeping the Sabbath doesn’t work well without this one—trust me—I’ve tried! Make a list of things that need to be done ahead of time to ensure the Sabbath is as work-free as possible. Organize that list according to when each item can be done and spread the work over the days of the week. Planning this way will prevent you from trying to squish a week’s worth of chores and cooking into your Friday afternoon, causing you to arrive at the Sabbath worn out and stressed.

The Bible clearly shows that the Sabbath is essential to God and should be to us. Just that should cause us to take our Sabbaths seriously and remember them as God told us to. But Jesus also pointed out that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath (Mk. 2:27). While we do it to show that we belong to God, we also keep the Sabbath because we know we’re all in desperate need of some quality rest – both the kind you get from taking a day off of work and the perfect and eternal peace we can only find in our Savior.

Holidays for Christians to Observe in Honor of Their Hebraic Roots

Written by Holy Branches on August 10, 2026. Posted in Hanukkah, Hebraic Roots, Passover, Purim, Rosh Hashanah, Shavuot, Sukkot, Traditions, Yom Kippur. 1 Comment on Holidays for Christians to Observe in Honor of Their Hebraic Roots

If you’re just here for the free printable calendar, get yours here!

The celebration of Passover has become more common among Christians in recent years. This celebration is so beneficial because Passover has many elements that point to our Messiah and highlight the greatness of our God and His love for us!

But did you know other holidays celebrate our God and Savior while honoring the Jewish history of our faith? Some of them are Biblical, and others are traditionally Jewish in our culture but also have implications for us as Gentile believers.

Adding these significant days to your family’s legacy can enrich and deepen your faith and help you pass it on to your children and others. It can even bring you and your family closer to God and Jesus as we learn more about them through observation of these meaningful times.

Celebrating Jesus in the Biblical Feasts Expanded Edition: Discovering Their Significance to You as a Christian

Here are some that are the most directly connected to the practice of our faith as Christians, especially as it relates to our Jewish roots.

Purim (פּוּרִים)

Purim is the celebration of God’s deliverance of the Jewish people through Queen Esther. A man named Haman was plotting their destruction, but Esther bravely approached the king and revealed her identity as a Jew to encourage him to save her people. He did and had Haman executed instead.

As Christians, we’re familiar with persecution and how God orchestrates historical events that affect His people. We can celebrate that Esther was in the place she was because God knew what the need for her to be there would be and made her an instrument for His plan.

Purim is a fun celebration. Both children and adults dress as characters from the story and act it out in dramatic fashion. It is held on the 14th day of Adar on the Hebrew calendar, corresponding to February or March on our Gregorian calendar.

Passover (פֶסַח- Pesach)

This celebration commemorates God’s rescuing the Israelites from slavery under the Egyptians. Its relevance to Christians is very basically two-fold. Firstly, since we are also God’s people, we have a part in this history, and secondly, we have been rescued from the slavery of our sin by the blood of Jesus.

Biblically, Passover is to be celebrated on the “fourteenth day of the first month.” On the Hebrew calendar, it starts on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan, which corresponds with our Gregorian calendar, which is sometime in March or April.

Holocaust Remembrance Day (יוֹם הַשׁוֹאָה – Yom HaShoah)

This somber observance was established in 1953. It’s a national holiday in Israel to remember the Holocaust in Europe during World War II and the murder of over six million Jewish people, including children. This remembrance occurs on the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar, during March or April.

Why should Gentile (non-Jew) Christians observe Holocaust Remembrance Day? Romans 1:16 tells us that salvation came first to the Jew and then to the Greek (Rom. 1:16). Christians are the Gentile believers that are “grafted in” to the promises to God’s people described in Romans 11.

Throughout the Old Testament, God clarifies that the Jewish people are His chosen people. He made a covenant with Abraham concerning their lineage throughout history and brought the Savior to the world through the Jewish line. God also says that He will never abandon the Jewish people.

If the Jewish people are this important to God and are the roots of the tree we’re grafted into; we must be concerned with their well-being in our day and throughout history. The tragedy that struck as the Holocaust brutally and senselessly extinguished the lives of so many people precious to God (Jews and others) must never be forgotten, and its horrors never repeated.

Pentecost and Shavuot (שָׁבוּעוֺת)

I combine these two celebrations because they’re similar in meaning and history. Before the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire and inhabited the Apostles in Acts 2, this time was known as Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks.

It was commanded in Leviticus 23 and was a type of harvest festival that was to occur 50 days after the Passover. Also recognized on this date is the gift of God’s Laws being given to His people on Mt. Sinai. Shavuot is what the Apostles were celebrating when they were “gathered” when God’s Spirit was given to them.

They would have realized the significance of the gift of God’s Spirit being given specifically on this day during a celebration of the gift of God’s Word being given as well. Jesus also foretold it when he said they’d be baptized by the Spirit in Acts 1:4-5.

The command says it is to take place on the 6th and 7th of the month of Sivan. It is to be observed 50 days (or 7 Sabbaths and one day) after the Day of Firstfruits during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (when the Passover and Exodus from Egypt occurred).

Rosh Hashanah (רֹאשׁ הַשִּׁנִה)

This holiday is commonly known as the Jewish New Year and is called Yom Teruah in the Bible. It was designated the first day of the new year primarily for year-counting purposes, but it’s also one of the commanded Feasts in Leviticus 23. It was a two-day festival during which trumpets (shofars) were blown and sacrifices were performed.

Today, it marks the beginning of the High Holy Days in Autumn. It’s a time when people examine their lives, seek to rid them of their old, sinful ways, and make a change for the better. In this way, it’s a lot like the American New Year, but it’s also a type of Judgment Day or the beginning of a season of judgment for the Jewish people.

Christians can remember on Rosh Hashanah that we will be judged with Jesus as our substitute. We can also examine our lives and see whether we’re living in a way that expresses the joy of this salvation. The command to blow a trumpet on this day should cause us to look forward to the day when Jesus has returned and the dead are raised (1 Cor. 15:52).

The Feast of Trumpets occurs on the 1st and 2nd days of the month of Tishrei on the Hebrew calendar and in September or October on the Gregorian calendar.

Day of Atonement (יוֹם כִּיפּוּר – Yom Kippur)

This Holy Day is another of the commanded Feasts in Leviticus 23. It’s observed ten days after Rosh Hashanah and is a day of confession and repentance. Biblically, it was a day when sacrifices were offered for the people’s sins. As Christians, this is a day we can celebrate the mercy we have been given in having our sins fully atoned for by Jesus!

The date is the 10th of Tishrei, which occurs in September or October.

Feast of Tabernacles (סֻכּוֺת- Sukkot)

Another Holy Day from Leviticus 23, Sukkot, is a seven-day celebration, five days after the Day of Atonement. Also known as the Feast of Booths, it is a time when people leave the comfort of their homes and live in temporary shelters.

This celebration serves to appreciate God’s provision for us and to celebrate God being among His people on earth. Christians can be even more thankful at the time of Sukkot for Jesus, who, as God, came down to earth to be with us.

Eighth Day (שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת – Shimini Atzeret)

This day is the day just following the last day of Sukkot. It’s on the 22^nd day of Tishrei, which falls in September or October. It is the final commanded Feast in the List in Leviticus 23.

It’s a day to remain with God and rest in His provision, even after the previous seven have been focused on Him. This day is more spiritual and considered greater than the 7 of Sukkot. A formal prayer for rain is often said, and it’s said to be a time to store the memories of what God has provided in our hearts.

Simchat Torah (שִׂמְחַת תּוֺרָה)

This celebration is not in the Bible but is a great way to thank and praise God for giving us His Word! It’s held on the 22nd day of Tishrei and is also known as “rejoicing in the Torah.”

Jews and Christians enjoy the immense blessing through the words and commands God Gave us in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and the rest of His Word. Simchat Torah’s joyful celebration marks the end of the annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of a new one. When celebrated in a synagogue, there is dancing and singing, and it’s a beautiful time of worship.

Celebrating Biblical Feasts: In Your Home or Church By Martha Zimmerman

Hanukkah (הֲנֻכָּה)

Although not a commanded Holy Day, Jesus celebrates it in the Book of John. It commemorates the dedication of the rebuilt temple after the Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s temple.

The story of Hanukkah is miraculous. The Jewish people were vastly outnumbered as they decided to fight against the destruction of their people and culture and the blasphemy of God. God was with them as they fought, and they were victorious!

Celebrated from the 25th of Kislev to the 2nd or 3rd day of Tevet on the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah falls in late November or December.

Christians can celebrate God’s power displayed in His people and the victory over persecution. We are also interested in this day as we can see Jesus having shown up in Jerusalem for its celebration, translated as the Feast of Dedication. At this time, Jesus said that his sheep would never perish and that no one could snatch them out of his or His Father’s hand.

Here’s a calendar of the dates of these important days. Print out the free PDF version to keep handy in planning for these days.

Having a Jewish calendar to see what holidays are approaching and plan for them is helpful. Many are out there, but I like the First Fruits of Zion calendar best!

I hope observing these holidays brings you joy, deepens your Christian faith, and provides yet another way to pass your faith on in your family’s legacy, as they have for my family. I’ll continue to post ways for Christian families to observe these meaningful days on the Hebrew Roots Mom website, so stay tuned!

At-A-Glance Guide to the Biblical Feasts

Written by Holy Branches on August 10, 2026. Posted in Bible Study, Hebraic Roots, Traditions. No Comments on At-A-Glance Guide to the Biblical Feasts

According to the Bible, there are seven Feasts that God calls His Feasts (Lev. 23:2, Ez. 44:24) and commands His people to keep. Although it became rare for Christians to keep these Feasts in recent times, many are returning to a more Biblical way of life and realizing all that God has to teach us through these Feasts!

Each Feast teaches us about our God’s attributes. By observing these Feasts, we can learn what a wonderful God He is! The Feasts also teach us about ourselves, how we should live as His people, and what our relationship with Him should look like.

These Feasts are also prophetic. When God commanded them, he wanted His people to look back on what He had done for them in the past and forward to the rest of the story of Him and His people.

One important thing – the Sabbath is covered before these Feasts are listed in the Bible. It’s the holiest of all the Feasts, and observing it demonstrates to God, others, and ourselves that we belong to God. Although it’s not on this list, it’s of great importance in the life of any Believer. For more info on the Sabbath and how to keep it, visit this page.

Below, I will cover each Feast very briefly. Know that, with each Feast, you can go more into the practices, symbolism, sacrifices, where they occur in the Bible, etc., and learn more of what God has for you with each of them. Here, I want to cover the basics for those who want to see just a summary of these Feasts and their meanings.

Print-friendly PDF Biblical Feast Chart

Passover

Passover is the first Feast of the year, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. It helps us remember how God redeemed His people from captivity and brought them out so they could freely worship Him. Like the blood on the doorways of the Hebrew people in Egypt was a protective covering from the plague of the firstborn, the blood of Jesus provides a covering for our sin.

Passover (Pesach in Hebrew, meaning “skip”) is usually celebrated with a seder. In this seder, the story of the Exodus is retold, and each aspect of it is “experienced” by the participants. It’s a time of celebration, and each element of the seder represents a part of this incredible story.

Unleavened Bread

Just after Passover is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Observing this Feast is to remember the Exodus further and that the Israelites needed to flee Egypt in a hurry and didn’t have time to leaven their dough before leaving. Leaven often represents sin in the Bible, so the lack of leaven represents sinlessness. Jesus fulfilled this Feast by following the Laws of the Torah and was, therefore, a pure candidate for atonement.

Unleavened Bread is called Matzah in Hebrew, so this Feast is Biblically called the Feast of Matzah. It is observed by eating unleavened bread for seven days and even cleaning all the leaven out of the home (Ex. 12:19). The first and seventh days of Unleavened Bread are Sabbaths.

First Fruits

The first of something, like the harvest, firstborn child, or firstborn animals, were given to God as an offering, thanking Him for providing and putting faith in Him to continue to provide in the future (Deut. 26:1; Ex. 13:1-2, 11-16). During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits is a time to bring the first of what we reap to God and look to Jesus as the first and best offering to God. He’s also the first of those to be raised from the grave (1 Cor. 15:20).

The Hebrew word for First Fruits is Bikkurim, which comes from the same root word as the word for “firstborn,” which is bekhor. It’s commonly thought that Jesus rose from the dead on First Fruits, so many celebrate his resurrection during this two-day celebration.

Shavuot

Starting on First Fruits, many “count the omer.” This practice comes from Leviticus 23:15-16, where God says to count 7 Sabbaths or 50 days from First Fruits, then to observe Shavuot. We symbolically prepare our hearts to receive the Law and the Spirit during this time, and Shavuot is a Sabbath.

Shavuot is a time to celebrate God giving us His Law (Yes, it’s worth celebrating!) and eventually His Spirit to live in us. His Law was given on Mount Sinai, and the prophetic side of this Feast (Jere. 31:33) was fulfilled when the Spirit was given, and the Law was no longer external but written on our hearts instead.

The word Shavuot means “weeks.” It’s also known as Pentecost, which comes from a Greek word meaning “fiftieth.” Biblically, Shavuot includes an offering from the wheat harvest, a sign of gratitude to God for providing through the land. To further celebrate the giving of the land, milk and honey (or recipes containing the two) are often eaten on Shavuot. It’s also a time to celebrate the Law and the Spirit, showing that we’re thankful for both.

Yom Teruah

This Feast is often confused with Rosh Hashanah, but they are different celebrations, and you can read more about the differences here. Yom Teruah is another Sabbath, observed on the first day of the seventh month, and it’s supposed to be “a reminder by blowing of trumpets.”

A “teruah” or trumpet blast is heard in the Bible when God’s doing something incredible. What we remember on Yom Teruah are all of the awesome things our God has done throughout time. Prophetically, we look forward to the day we hear the “teruah” announcing the return of our Savior!

This day is observed at sundown by looking for the New Moon (indicating the first day of the month has started) and blowing the shofar when it’s spotted. Some mix traditions from Rosh Hashanah and Yom Teruah, celebrating the beginning of the Hebrew calendar year at this time.

Yom Kippur

The tenth day of the month of Tishrei is Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is when the priest made atonement for the nation of Israel in the days of the Temple. It’s a Sabbath, and the Bible says we’re to be “humbled” or “afflicted” on this day. This Holy Day is more somber and focused, less celebratory, where people wear white, attend services, and fast.

On Yom Kippur, we can look to Jesus and be grateful for his covering (Kippur means “covering”) of our sin in response to our repentance. As a people, though, we need to repent, pray for God’s mercy, and turn to Him for forgiveness. Yom Kippur is a day when we examine our actions and those of our nation, repent where needed, and turn back to the path God wants us to take.

The prophecy in Yom Kippur is that we look forward to a time when Jesus will be the judge. It will be up to him who enters God’s Kingdom and who doesn’t.

Sukkot

Sukkot is the last of the Holy Days on the Biblical calendar. It’s a joyful celebration lasting eight days, starting on the fifteenth day of the seventh month on the Biblical calendar, also known as Tishrei. The first and last of the eight days of Sukkot are Sabbaths.

According to the command for Sukkot in Leviticus 23, God’s people are to celebrate by living in temporary dwellings called Sukkot. God says this is to remind us that God had the people live in dwellings like these when He brought them out of Egypt. During Sukkot, we remember many things – that God provides, that God supernaturally rescued the Hebrew people and provided for them in the wilderness, and that He sent Jesus to “tabernacle” or temporarily dwell with us on earth.

Sukkot is also prophetic in that there will be one day when Jesus will not just tabernacle but will live among us on earth. It points forward to the wedding feast, where we, as God’s people, will finally be joined with Jesus and live with him physically among us, ruling on earth.

Print-friendly PDF Biblical Feast Chart

This article is just a summary of each of these Holy Days, but don’t stop here in your study of them. God has so much for you to learn as you study these meaningful Feasts that He calls His. Explore them further by browsing the Traditions category on HolyBranches.com or in my book, Bring Shalom to Your Home.

The Aaronic Blessing: An Introduction

Written by Holy Branches on August 4, 2026. Posted in Hebraic Roots, Traditions. 6 Comments on The Aaronic Blessing: An Introduction

The Aaronic Blessing, also known as the Priestly Blessing, is commonly known among Christians, and it’s said after the service in Christian churches of many denominations and Jewish synagogues. Aside from being a nice thing to say before congregants exit the sanctuary, why is it said, and where does it come from?

Click here for a printable version of the Aaronic Blessing.

A command to bless

This blessing was God’s idea as He instructed Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel using these words. In the book of Numbers, where this blessing is found, the Israelites are experiencing their newfound freedom from their Egyptian captors. In the Sinai wilderness, God’s giving them instructions for their new desert lifestyle as free people. God also provides directives for the priesthood, including a specific command to bless the people using what is commonly referred to as the Aaronic blessing.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:

The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,

And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace.’

So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”
Num. 6:22-27

One exciting thing you’ll notice as you learn about the blessings is that there’s a progression in the bible of who was allowed to give a blessing. At first, only God had the authority to bless, and he then extended it to some of the patriarchs and then to priests. Some incidences of Aaron blessing the people in God’s name are found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy (Lev. 9:22 and Deut. 10:8 and 21:5).

Aaronic Blessing Wall Art Numbers 6 24-26 Wall Art The Priest’s Blessing(12.00”x16.00”,Framed)

Throughout history

In an archeological site on the old road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, what are possibly the oldest surviving Hebrew texts were found in 1979. In ancient Paleo-Hebrew, the Aaronic Blessing was written on two scrolls made of silver found in an ancient burial site. Aptly named “The Silver Scrolls,” they were dated back to the First Temple period and were possibly used as an amulet to ward off evil. If true, this would be another of many unfortunate examples of pagan customs infiltrating God’s people even back then. But what a fantastic find!

The Aaronic Blessing today

Today, God’s people are blessed using this same blessing in synagogues worldwide. In Judaism, it used to be that only priests would give this blessing, but it’s now extended to rabbis and worship leaders.

In a synagogue, when the congregants are blessed, the one performing the blessing raises his hands as Aaron did, as recorded in the Bible (Lev. 9:22). This practice has been nicknamed “the raising of the hands.” He also extends his prayer shawl or tallit over his head and his hands as he recites the blessing to indicate reverence and to obey the biblical command to have fringes or tzitzit on the corners of one’s clothing. Some hold their hands in the shape of a shin (ש), the Hebrew letter at the beginning of the word Shaddai, a name for God. The blessing is most commonly recited in Hebrew, but other languages are used depending on the audience.

On the evening of the Sabbath, Friday evening, this blessing is often said over the children of the house by many Jews and some Christians. It’s accompanied by requests for God to make them like Ephraim and Manasseh (boys) or Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah (girls). Whether in English or Hebrew, the one blessing usually puts their hands on or above the one(s) being blessed and then says the blessing.

For Christians?

As grafted-in Gentiles, we can take part in the promises extended to Israel and gain nourishment from the same roots from which they thrive – God Himself! When we accepted Jesus as our savior, we officially joined the Kingdom of God, which started with the nation of Israel in the Old Testament.

Under the New Covenant, where God’s Word has been written on our hearts through the Holy Spirit as believers in Jesus, we entered the priesthood ourselves. Revelation 1:5-6 says that Jesus’s blood made us priests to God! We can bless God’s people in His name, and He does indeed bless through it due to the power in His name.

A walk through the blessing

The LORD bless you and keep you

(Yverkah’kha Adonai v’yeeshm’rekha; – יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ׃)

Adonai is written and said in this phrase instead of the tetragrammaton, YHVH, which is not said to avoid profaning God’s name.

The word “bless” here means “to affirm or revere,” and the word “keep” means “to protect or watch.”

The LORD make His face to shine upon you

(Ya’ayr Adonai panav ‘aylekha – יָאֵר יְיָ פָּנָין אֵלֶיךָ)

“Face” here is a noun and can be either “face,” literally, or “front” as well.

And be gracious unto you

(Veekhoonekha; – וׅיחֻנֶּךָ׃)

Translated here as “gracious,” this word means “to show pity or favor.”

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you

(Yeesa’ Adonai panav ‘aylekha – יׅשָּׂא יְיָ פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ)

This phrase is an idiom (a saying) meaning “He looks at you with peace and blessing.”

And give you peace.

(V’yasaym l’kha shalom. – וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֺם)

Beyond just peace, shalom’s meaning also includes wholeness and completeness. And who of us doesn’t want God’s perfect peace?

In your family

If this article has moved you to use the Aaronic Blessing to bless your children, please don’t let the learning process or the newness of doing so prevent you! I encourage you to continue this blessing once you start, as it may be awkward at first but will become among your family’s most treasured moments, as it has become in mine.

Click here for a printable version of the Aaronic Blessing

A blessing for you!

And I’ll conclude this way with all of you, brothers and sisters, in my mind and heart:

The LORD bless you and keep you

The LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious unto you

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you

And give you peace.

What’s So Important About the Western Wall?

Written by Holy Branches on August 4, 2026. Posted in Hebraic Roots. 4 Comments on What’s So Important About the Western Wall?

There stands in the Old City of Jerusalem a 2,000-year-old wall of limestone. Its beautifully chiseled ancient stones are of historical interest but have fueled much religious and political tension throughout its existence. But why this wall? Why is it worth all the strife and spilled blood surrounding it? Why do millions of people come from all over the world to visit this 187-foot section of wall – sometimes over 1 million people in just one month?

Mount Moriah

To fully understand the significance of The Wall, we must have at least a basic understanding of Mount Moriah. Now called the Temple Mount, and a seemingly small area comparatively, many significant acts of faith took place in this very spot. On Mount Moriah, Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him out of obedience to God. Abraham named this area “the LORD will provide” after God provided a ram to be offered in Isaac’s place.

1 Chronicles 21:18-30 and 2 Chronicles 3:1 describe Mount Moriah as the place God appeared to David and answered his prayer to end the plague on his people. It’s also the site of the threshing floor that David purchased for the Temple to be built. Ornan (or Araunah, depending on your translation), the floor’s previous owner, offered to give it to him, but David said he wouldn’t offer to God that which cost him nothing and paid for it anyway. Doesn’t that show us what’s going on in David’s heart? Service to God isn’t really sacrificing if it costs us nothing!

Solomon then built the Temple on Mount Moriah, which was later rebuilt after the first Temple was destroyed. Many places in the Bible (Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation, among others) indicate that there will be a holy temple in the future. Scripture suggests that Mount Moriah will again be where God inhabits His Temple.

Solomon’s Temple

Built almost 3,000 years ago on Mount Moriah, in the 10th century BCE, the Temple for God was among the grandest of structures in history. Read about it in 1 Kings 6-8. It was indeed a work of art! During his reign, building the Temple was on David’s heart but was later constructed by his son, Solomon. This Temple wasn’t just a beautiful church building. Called the house of God in the Bible, it contained the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies and was where sacrifices were carried out according to the Laws of God. The design came from God and was given to David (1 Ch. 28:19), who then passed it on to his son when the time came for it to be built.

The God of the Way: A Journey into the Stories, People, and Faith That Changed the World Forever By Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel

In 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 5, it’s recorded that the presence of God showed up in the form of a cloud during the dedication of the Temple. When the priests exited the Holy of Holies, the innermost part of the Temple, after placing the Ark of the Covenant there, the glory of God filled the Temple in the form of a cloud. The Bible says that cloud permeated the building, so the priests couldn’t even stand to minister! Clearly, God thought highly of the Temple King Solomon had built for Him!

The Second Temple

In about 587 BCE, the city of Jerusalem was occupied and taken over by the Babylonians. King Nebuchadnezzar II had not only Solomon’s Temple destroyed but all of Jerusalem burned.

After the fall of the Babylonian Empire in 516 BCE, Cyrus the Great allowed the Jewish people to rebuild the Temple. It was reconstructed in the same place as the first. In 19 BCE, Herod built a semi-rectangular retaining wall around the Temple area, and the Temple was completed during the reign of his grandson, King Agrippa II, as recorded by historian Josephus Flavius. The Western wall of this rectangular retaining wall is what’s currently known as The Western Wall.

The Temple today

The story behind the celebration of Hanukkah covers the period when the Seleucid Empire controlled Jerusalem. Antiochus IV followed in his father’s footsteps in trying to Hellenize the Jews. The Temple was desecrated with the pagan practices of the Greeks, which eventually led to the Maccabean Revolt and their miraculous victory.

Roman rule over Jerusalem in 70 CE brought the most recent destruction to The Temple. This time, it wasn’t rebuilt (at least not yet!). Both the Romans and the Christians under Constantine forbade the Jews from entering Jerusalem for centuries, except just one day annually, the 9th of the month of Av, when they were allowed to visit to mourn the Temple.

In the 7th century, the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem led to them building a shrine on the Temple site, the Dome of the Rock, in 691 CE. Even after the Nation of Israel regained control over Jerusalem in 1967, the Temple Mount remained under Jordanian rule. It’s still this way today, and though Jews may visit, they may not pray there. The closest place to the Temple they’re permitted to pray is the Western Wall, which is why the Kotel, or “wall” in Hebrew, is considered the holiest site in Judaism.

Christians and The Wall

Should the Western Wall be a sacred site for Christians? The short answer is yes! Though we are not Jewish, our belief in Jesus as the Messiah has allowed our Gentile selves to be grafted in, allowing us to become God’s people. God’s promises to the Israelites in the Old Testament also apply to us.

The Temple is not only part of the history of our faith as Christians and our spiritual heritage as people of the Kingdom of God; it’s also the place our God physically inhabited here on earth to be with His people, pre-Jesus. It’s easy to forget that our God is real, supernatural, and awesome! Don’t miss the significance of the history of this Temple. Your God thought the place was important enough to live there. Your God lived there. For real. Let that sink in.

Jesus at The Temple

Another reason for Christians to honor the Temple is that it was a place of worship for our Savior, Jesus. The Bible records many situations where we find Jesus in different life stages at the Temple in Jerusalem.

As an infant

Jesus’s first visit to The Temple was when he was just 40 days old. Mary and Joseph brought him there to fulfill the command in the Torah to do so (Luke 2:22-38). He also went there at least as often as once yearly as he grew up (Luke 2:41).

As a young man

At 12, Jesus went to Jerusalem with his parents to celebrate Passover. Then, he was accidentally left behind and was found asking brilliant questions of the rabbis there (Luke 2:41-51).

As a man

The most well-known story from Jesus at the Temple was when he overturned the sellers’ tables (Mark 11:15-18), but that wasn’t the only time he went to the Temple. During one period in his adult life, he taught there daily (Luke 21:37-38).

As believers in the truth of scripture, the God of the Bible, and Jesus as Lord, it can be seen that the Western Wall and the Temple it represents are of great importance. The fact that Jesus fulfills the need for a sacrifice for our sin, causing us not to need a temple for sin sacrifices, doesn’t diminish the significance of The Temple and its Western Wall. While not all of us can visit it in person, Christians can honor this site and thus our God from afar by learning more about its history and effect on the world both politically and prophetically. If you can, a visit to the Western Wall (as well as other significant sites in The Holy Land) will grow and concrete your faith and understanding of the land of the Bible.

Holy Branches’ Featured Amazon Find of the Week

Written by Holy Branches on July 28, 2026. Posted in Hebraic Living. No Comments on Holy Branches’ Featured Amazon Find of the Week

Welcome to Holy Branches’ Featured Amazon Find of the Week! Each week, I’ll highlight one product I believe is worth sharing, whether it’s an exceptional value, currently on sale, has a great coupon, or is simply a product I personally recommend. These aren’t just random finds. They’re items I think will genuinely bless your Bible study, Sabbath and biblical holiday celebrations, and everyday life.

Because Amazon prices and promotions can change quickly, if you see something you love, don’t wait too long. I’ll update this feature each week with a new recommendation, so be sure to check back regularly for trusted finds and great values.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support Holy Branches and the free biblical resources we provide. Thank you for your support!

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Old Testament Hebrew Vocabulary Cards

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As I’ve studied Biblical Hebrew, these vocabulary cards have been one of the resources I reach for most often. I personally use the Old Testament Hebrew Vocabulary Cards by Gary D. Pratico and Miles V. Van Pelt to reinforce the words I’m learning and to make review much easier.

Organized by word frequency and keyed to Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar, these flashcards help you build a solid vocabulary foundation while studying the Hebrew Scriptures. If you’re serious about learning Biblical Hebrew, I highly recommend adding them to your study routine.

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Shalom Canvas Wall Art

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The Hebrew word shalom (שָׁלוֹם) is often translated simply as peace, but its meaning is so much richer. Shalom speaks of wholeness, completeness, well-being, harmony, and flourishing—the kind of peace that comes from walking in God’s ways.

This beautifully framed 12″ × 15″ canvas features the Hebrew word Shalom along with its definition in a clean, modern design. It’s a meaningful addition to your home, office, prayer space, or Bible study room, and it also makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves the richness of the Hebrew language.

Want to go deeper? Click here to read my article, “9 Hebrew Words That Bring You Closer to God,” and discover the rich biblical meaning of shalom and other Hebrew words found throughout Scripture.

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Want to learn what these names mean and why they’re so significant? Click here to read our “The Names of God” article series, where we explore the biblical names God uses to reveal His nature throughout Scripture.

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7 Feasts: Finding Christ in the Sacred Celebrations of the Old Testament

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If you’ve ever skimmed past passages about the feasts because you weren’t sure what to make of them, this study can help you see these celebrations with fresh understanding and discover their place in the larger story of Scripture.

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Hear, O Israel: What Does the Shema Mean for Christians?

Written by Holy Branches on July 27, 2026. Posted in Traditions. 36 Comments on Hear, O Israel: What Does the Shema Mean for Christians?

The Shema is recited at synagogues worldwide and twice daily by Orthodox Jews and some Christians. Its meaning is deep and answers life’s most challenging questions. When sung in Hebrew, its cadence is soothing and poetic. It consists of three parts, beginning with Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NASB)

The Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven

Reciting the Shema is sometimes called accepting the yoke of the kingdom of heaven. It’s referred to this way because, by saying the words of the Shema, we acknowledge that we are responsible for following them and are committed to God and His commands.

Facing East

It is often said while facing East. Facing East is done because people in the Bible said prayers in the direction of the Temple. Praying in this way is demonstrated by Daniel in Dan. 6:10. The practice comes from the following verses out of Solomon’s prayer to God in the dedication of the Temple.

“Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today; that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.”
1 Kings 8:28-30 (NASB)

“Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake (for they will hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.”
1 Kings 8:41-43 (NASB)

Of course, God can hear prayers said in any direction, but facing Jerusalem while reciting the Shema reminds us of God’s desire to dwell with His people and hear our prayers. It also reminds us that Jesus is returning to reign in the new kingdom of Jerusalem, as promised.

Phrases of the Shema and their meanings

Each phrase of the Shema is relevant to us as Christians. Below is a summary of the meaning of each phrase and what it means for us and our faith.

“Hear, O Israel!”

(In Hebrew – “Shema, Yisrael”)

This first phrase of the Shema is the most recited portion. It is a call to God’s people to acknowledge that God is our only God – and that we are His people. “Shema” literally means “hear” or “listen,” but it implies more than that. It implies that we should not only hear the following verses but also act, showing in how we live that we believe them.

When we don’t know what to do in our lives, the Shema reminds us to listen. We are to hear what God has to say with faithful ears, be prepared to do what he commands of us, and continually follow His guidance.

“The Lord is our God”

(In Hebrew – “Adonai Eloheinu”)

The command to listen is followed by the name of God (YHVH), but out of respect and obedience to the third commandment, God’s name is represented by “Adonai” instead. This phrase is said with great reverence and is said while bowing. It should humble and forever awe us that we have the great privilege of calling the Creator of the universe “our God”! How blessed are we?!

“The Lord is one”

(In Hebrew – “Adonai Echad”)

God is the only one deserving of our worship. No one, not political figures, other gods, our families, or even ourselves, comes close to God’s caliber of significance. He is to be our focus and our purpose.

I have also heard this verse discussed considering the pagan people groups surrounding the people of Israel at the time of Moses. Given that the neighboring peoples had numerous gods, having just one God would have set the Hebrew people apart noticeably.

“Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever”

(In Hebrew – “Barookh shem k’vod malkhooto l’olam vaed”)

While not included in Deuteronomy, rabbis added this, and it is therefore said in an undertone, not at a normal volume as the rest of the Shema. Its purpose is to affirm God’s kingship throughout eternity.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might”

(In Hebrew – “V’ahavta et adonai elohekha b’kohl l’vavkha oovkohl nafsh’kha, oovkohl me’odekha”)

Referred to as the v’ahavta, this phrase answers the question of purpose in our lives. With all our hearts, souls, and might, we’re to love God. It’s simply stated, but it takes a lifetime to learn – and then some!

When the Bible talks about the heart, it isn’t an emotional organ but one of discernment, reason, and commitment. When we love God with our hearts, we don’t have a mushy, romantic feeling toward God; we commit. We’re all in. Our faith in Him is solid, and we love all that is from Him and reject all that is not in our lives.

The concept of our “soul” is somewhat ambiguous, but the best description I’ve heard is that it is our innermost being. How do we love God with our souls? We are devoted to Him with everything we are. There is nothing we try to hide from him. He knows us better than we know ourselves because He made us, so we can consult Him if we want to get to know ourselves better!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.”
Psalm 139:23-24 (NASB)

The word for “might” is “me’odekha.” It is more literally translated as “very, very much” or “muchness.” Loving God with all your “muchness” is something that consumes you. It is intertwined in everything you do and is something people can see when observing your life.

“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart”

(In Hebrew – “V’hayoo hadvareem ha’ayleh, ‘asher ‘anokhee m’tsavkha hayom al l’vavekha”)

Interestingly, the commands were to be on the hearts of the Israelites. The common understanding is that the Law was at this time written on stone, and its being written on our hearts only occurred later, post-Jesus, when the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles. God’s words were to be on the hearts of His people from day one, not only after the New Covenant was instated.

“You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Christian Canvas Wall Art Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Shema Canvas Print Positive Painting Religious Home Wall Church Decor Framed Gift 12×15 Inch

(In Hebrew – “v’sheenantam l’vanekha, v’deebarta bam b’sheevtkha b’vaytekha, oovlekht’kha vaderek oovshakhb’kha, oovkoomekha. Ookshartam le’ot al yadekha, v’hayoo l’totafot bayn aynekha. Ookhtavtam alm’zoozot baytekha oovish’arekha.”)

This phrase is taken literally by orthodox Jews using tefillin (or phylacteries) and mezuzahs. Tefillin are small leather boxes containing scripture attached to the forehead and arm using leather bands. Tefillin is done to fulfill the part of the command saying, “bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be frontals on your forehead.” Mezuzahs are small boxes containing scripture that are adhered to the doorposts of one’s house. These are to fulfill the command to “write them on the doorposts of your house.” While these are great reminders, I think God was trying to ensure that we kept His commands first and foremost in all areas of our lives. I don’t think He wanted to limit His commands to things like doorposts and gates, but instead, to be throughout our lives, schedules, homes, and cities when we travel and when we are home.

3 parts of the Shema

There are three parts to the complete Shema. Although the remaining two parts are also meaningful, I focused this post on the first part, the one my family recites and the version recited at our synagogue and others. Here’s a summary of the second and third parts of the complete Shema.

The second part, called the Vehayah, is taken from Deuteronomy 11:13-21. This part covers obedience to God and the blessings that result, and it also includes a warning of what disobedience brings. It then repeats that these words should remain on your heart and that you should teach them to your children, etc., just as it says in part one. Its name, the Vehayah, is the first word of this section of the Shema, and it means “and it shall be” or “it shall come about.”

Part three is from Numbers 15:37-41. This section includes the command that God gave the Israelites to wear tassels (tzitzit) with blue cords on the corners of their garments so they’d look at it and remember God’s commands and not go their own way.

Tzitzits (tzitziot is the correct plural in Hebrew) look like this, and if you wish to purchase them, click on the picture below.

Traditional Tzitzits Set Tassels Prayer Shawl Accessories Blue and White with Hanging Hooks

They are usually attached to a prayer shawl (called a Tallit) or another four-cornered garment. You may have seen depictions of Jesus or the apostle Paul wearing a similar garment.

HalleluYAH Messianic Tallit Prayer Shawl 72″x 22″ with Bag

The most prominent of Jewish prayers, the Shema, holds deep meaning for Christians, who share the same awesome one God. Recited daily for thousands of years, the Shema would have even been said at least twice daily by our Savior, Jesus. When asked what the greatest commandment was, his response was the Shema!

”One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ “
Mark 12:28-30 (NASB)

Jesus’s reference to it as the greatest commandment should draw our attention. Reciting the Shema as Christians keeps us focused on what God wants us to be – on Him, obedience to His commands, and witnessing to others about them.

The Hebrew Calendar Explained

Written by Holy Branches on July 27, 2026. Posted in Bible Study, Hebraic Roots. 5 Comments on The Hebrew Calendar Explained

You’ll find that following the Hebrew calendar becomes necessary when you begin to observe the Biblical Holy Days and align your year according to the Bible. To guide you in this, I recommend you purchase a calendar with the corresponding Hebrew months and Biblical Holy Days. The one I use is from First Fruits of Zion. It includes the Holy Days, corresponding dates on the Hebrew calendar, and the Torah Readings for each week and holiday.

** Free printable Calendar of Important Dates from Hebrew Roots Mom! **

2024-2025 Dwell in The Land – Messianic Calendar from Israel featuring Scenic Photos of Israel, 16-Months Sept 2024-Dec 2025

The significant differences between the Gregorian calendar we’re used to and the Hebrew/Biblical calendar are:
– Hebrew days start the evening before instead of at midnight.
– Hebrew months do not correspond to the months on the Gregorian calendar.
– The Hebrew calendar has a different Leap Year system, adding in a month 7 of the years out of a 19-year cycle instead of a day every four years, like the Gregorian leap year.
– The Hebrew calendar is lunar rather than solar.
– Months are 29 or 30 days instead of 28, 29, 30, or 31 like Gregorian months.

Biblical Events on the Hebrew Calendar

It’s interesting to study events in the Bible and where they occur on the Hebrew calendar. We can note when they occur, remember them, and even study them on the anniversary of their occurrence!

Here are some of the events from the Bible that we know the date of on the Hebrew calendar:

Nisan/Aviv (The First Month)

God designated this the year’s first month (Ex. 12:2).
Nisan 1: Building of the Tabernacle was completed, the 2nd Temple consecrated, and construction of the 3rd Temple will be completed (Ex. 40:2, 17; 2 Chr. 29:17, Eze. 45:18).
Nisan 10: The Passover Lambs are chosen (Ex. 12:3).
Nisan 11: When Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, his triumphal entry is when people greet him with palm branches and shout “Hosanna” (Mt. 21:10- 19).
Nisan 12: The Last Supper and Jesus arrested (Mt. 26:17-68).
Nisan 13: Jesus is crucified, and Passover begins (Mt. 26-27, Ex. 12:8).
Nisan 14: Passover (Lev. 23:5, Ex. 12:6-13).
Nisan 15-21: Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev 23:6, Ex. 12:15-2).
Nisan 15: The Hebrew people leave Egypt (Ex. 12:28-51).
Nisan 16: Jesus rises from the dead (the evening before), First Fruits (approximate date) (Mt. 28:1, Lev 23:9-14).
Nisan 17: Haman is hung (Est. 7).

Under the Fig Tree: Messianic Thought Through the Hebrew Calendar

Iyar/Ziv (The Second Month)

Iyar 1: Construction of the 2nd Temple begins (Ezra 3:8).
Iyar 2: Construction of the 1st Temple begins (1 Kgs. 6:1, 2 Chr. 3:1-2).
Iyar 20: The Hebrew people leave Mt. Sinai (Num. 10:11-13).
Iyar 27: Noah and his family exited the ark (Gen 8:14-19).

Sivan (The Third Month)

Sivan 6-7: Shavuot, the Torah is given to the Hebrew people at Mount Sinai, and the Holy Spirit is given. (Lev. 23:15-22, Ex. 19:16-25, Acts 2).
Sivan 23: Decree is made, saying the Jews are allowed to defend themselves (Est. 8:9-13).

Tammuz (The Fourth Month)

Tammuz 5: Ezekiel received his vision (Eze. 1).
Tammuz 9: Jerusalem captured by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 30:1-3, 2 Kgs. 25:1-7).

Av (The Fifth Month)

Av 1: Death of Aaron (Num. 33:38).
Av 9: First and second Temples destroyed (Jer. 52:6-11, Historical sources only for 2nd Temple. Not recorded in the Bible).
Av 10: First Temple set on fire by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 52:12-13).

Elul (The Sixth Month)

Elul 24: Rebuilding of 2nd Temple resumed (Hag. 1:14-15).
Elul 25: Jerusalem’s walls rebuilt (Neh. 6:15).

Tishrei (The Seventh Month)

Tishrei 1: Temple offerings resume, Yom Teruah (Ezra 3:6, Lev. 23:23-25, Num. 29:1-6).
Tishrei 2: Sukkot is celebrated when priests, Levites, and heads of households gather to study the Torah (Neh. 8:13-18).
Tishrei 8: The dedication ceremony for the 1st Temple starts, and the Ark is brought into the Temple (1 Kgs. 8:2-11).
Tishrei 10: Yom Kippur (Lev. 23:26-32, Num. 29:7-11)
Tishrei 15-22: Sukkot (Lev. 23:33-43, Num. 29:12-40, Deut. 16:13-17).
Tishrei 21: Jesus said he is the living water (Jn. 7:37-39).

Cheshvan/Bul (The Eighth Month)

This month, the first Temple building was finished (1 Kgs. 6:38).
Cheshvan 15: King Jeroboam’s Feast was instituted (1 Kgs. 32-33).

Kislev (The Ninth Month)

Kislev 4: Zechariah receives prophecy (Zech. 7).
Kislev 20: Ezra calls Israel out for their sin (Ezra 10:9-12).
Kislev 24: Haggai receives two prophecies (Hag. 2:10, 20).
Kislev 25-Tevet 3: Hanukkah, Jesus in the Temple portico – “I and the Father are one” (John 10:22-42).

Aligning With God’s Appointed Times: Discover the Prophetic and Spiritual Meaning of the Biblical Holidays

Tevet (The Tenth Month)

Tevet 1: Esther crowned queen (Est. 2:16-17).

Shevat (The Eleventh Month)

Shevat 1: Moses told the people God said He’d give them the Promised Land (Deut. 1:3-8).
Shevat 24: Zechariah’s vision (Zech. 1:7).

Adar (The Twelfth Month)

Adar 3: Building of the 2nd Temple completed (Ezra 6:15).
Adar 14: Purim, Jews celebrate victory (Est. 9:17-18).
Adar 25: Jehoiachin freed from prison (2 Kgs. 25:27-30).

Understanding the Hebrew calendar is vital to Belivers because it increases our understanding of the Bible and Biblical events.

Take the Temple, for example. Is it merely a coincidence that the construction of the first and second Temples happened within a day of one another, even though these events took place 485 years apart? How about when both Temples were destroyed on the same day, but the second was destroyed 656 years after the first?

Or, even more intriguing, that Jesus, who John referred to as the Lamb of God before his ministry even started, was crucified on Passover when the Passover lambs were killed (John 1:29, Mt. 26-27)? Or when the Apostles were celebrating God giving the Law on Shavuot, which happened over 1,000 years earlier, the Holy Spirit was given, and the Law was written on their hearts (Ex. 19:16-25, Acts 2)?

I don’t think any of this occurred randomly. It happened just as God knew it would. He also knew what was coming and what would happen in the future. Isn’t it amazing to look at the Hebrew calendar and see God’s faithfulness to His people throughout time?

The plan of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Psalm 33:11

** Free printable Calendar of Important Dates from Hebrew Roots Mom! **