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Discover the treasures of the Holy Land through Artza’s thoughtfully curated boxes, designed to connect you with its rich heritage and vibrant culture. Each quarter, they collaborate with talented local artisans to handpick unique, high-quality items that offer a deeply meaningful, multi-sensory experience.
This season, their Holiday Box is a celebration of the festive spirit! Packed with beautifully crafted gifts, it’s perfect for sharing the warmth and wonder of the Holy Land with your loved ones—or treating yourself to a touch of its magic. Every item is carefully chosen to make your holidays unforgettable and bring the heart of the Holy Land to your doorstep.
This item brought so much joy to my 8-year-old daughter and her friend as they worked together to assemble the mosaic. The kit includes all the necessary supplies and clear instructions, making it easy to dive right in without any extra preparation. It’s a fantastic, creative activity accessible to everyone, even older children. Highly recommended for a fun and engaging project!
The kit has everything needed to create a beautiful mosaic, including stones, glue, a template, sand, etc. Once completed, it forms a Star of David, a meaningful symbol of the unity of the Jewish people. This project is a fun and engaging craft and results in a cherished keepsake to treasure.
Lavido Lotion Kit
I’ve enjoyed Lavido products in a previous Artza box, so I was thrilled to see them included! This kit is perfect as a holiday gift but equally excellent for personal pampering. It includes lotion, facial serum, foot cream, and more—everything you need for a bit of indulgence.
True to Lavido’s style, these products are lightly and pleasantly scented, offering a touch of luxury. They leave your skin feeling silky-smooth and refreshed, making them a delight to use.
Hand-dipped Beeswax Candles
Featured once again in this season’s Artza box, Safed Candles brings their signature craftsmanship to the holiday collection. These elegantly slender candles are stunning and practical, making them perfect for your favorite candle holder. This package of ten lightly scented and carefully crafted candles offers a gentle touch of beauty and warmth to your celebrations. Whether lighting them for a special occasion or simply enjoying their soft glow, Safed Candles remain one of my favorite Artza offerings.
Ahava Stone
Created by survivors of the October 7th attack on the Nova Festival, this carved Jerusalem Stone embodies resilience and the enduring spirit of hope. Crafted by Darya and Ofek of Jerusalem Stone Etching, each piece carries an uplifting message, spreading “Ahava”—love in Hebrew—during even the darkest of times.
The stone included in this box is beautifully etched with the Hebrew phrase: “בִּקְצֵה הָאוֹר יֵשׁ עוֹד אוֹר”—“At the end of the light, there is more light.” Its compact size makes it perfect for displaying in your home or carrying with you as a meaningful reminder. Lightweight and beautifully engraved, this stone is a testament to the power of love and hope.
Potato Seasoning Mix
Each Artza box features an authentic recipe paired with a signature spice or ingredient to bring it to life. This season’s box includes a delicious Potato Seasoning, a versatile blend of herbs perfect for elevating your culinary creations.
Use it to prepare the included Fireside Rosemary Spiced Potato recipe—a savory dish that’s sure to delight—or sprinkle it on any type of potatoes for a burst of flavor. Feeling creative? This aromatic mix can easily enhance other dishes, adding a touch of the Holy Land to your meals.
Hazelnut-Filled Dates
Dates have been a cornerstone of the Israeli diet for centuries, thriving in the region’s warm climate and playing a key role in its culinary traditions. Dates are featured in this box in an exciting and delicious way.
Made by the Israeli company, The Nut House, these premium dates are elevated to a whole new level. Each date is generously filled with creamy hazelnut, then delicately coated in rich cocoa, creating a snack that’s both indulgent and wholesome.
Perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up or a post-dinner treat, these hazelnut-filled dates offer a natural energy boost while satisfying your sweet tooth. Whether enjoyed on their own or paired with a cup of coffee or tea, they bring the flavors of Israel straight to your home.
Treat yourself to this unique delicacy and savor the sweet, nutty, and chocolaty layers that make these dates truly unforgettable.
Winter Cider Infusion
One of the joys of the colder months is enjoying a cozy, flavorful drink—and this fruit infusion is perfect for the season! With its delightful blend of dried hibiscus, pineapple, and cranberries, this mix offers a versatile and delicious experience.
Brew it as a soothing tea, add it to a pot of cider for an extra burst of flavor, or simply let it simmer on the stove to fill your home with a warm, inviting aroma. The small, bite-sized pieces make it easy to use in a mesh cheesecloth bag for cooking, and they even double as a sweet, chewy snack that my kids adore.
Whether you’re sipping, snacking, or savoring the fragrant atmosphere it creates, this fruit infusion is sure to become a seasonal favorite for the whole family.
This holiday season, let Artza bring the spirit of the Holy Land into your home and heart. With every box, you’re not just receiving beautifully crafted items; you’re supporting local artisans, cherishing ancient traditions, and deepening your connection to a land rich in history and meaning. Whether you’re gifting it to a loved one or enjoying it yourself, the Artza Holiday Box is more than a collection of treasures—it’s an experience that celebrates faith, culture, and the joy of giving. Embrace the wonder of the season and discover the story of the Holy Land, one box at a time.
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
As many families decide to observe the Biblical Holy Days in order to embrace the Hebrew roots of our faith, we look for ways to include our children so we can pass our faith on through them.
It seems that God had the kids in mind when He gave His people the commands for the Holy Days. Their multi-sensory celebrations serve as tangible reminders of what God has done in the past and will do in the future! Sukkot is a rich time for kids as we build and hang out in an outdoor enclosure – something children love to do any day!
Crafts not only provide kids with a hands-on learning experience, and they also make lovely decorations for your sukkah! Here are some creative ways to get all ages involved.
Building an edible sukkah may be my kids’ favorite Sukkot activity. They talk about it all year! We use the instructions at the link above as a base, then get pretty crazy, adding candy, cilantro for the roof, you name it. We even molded furniture out of Starbursts one year!
This idea from PJ Library uses the unique types of decorative gourds plentiful this time of year. Your kids could use googly eyes, paint, yarn, or whatever else you have around the house. The possibilities are endless!
This one from the Chabad’s Kids’ Page is a classic but still ends up being one of our favorites! Combine them with these Sukkah Decoration Cut-outs for a great addition to your sukkah!
And while you’re cutting lots of paper strips for those chains, you may as well make some of these adorable Paper Strip Fruits out of them too!
These would be fun sukkah decorations! You could make them into a garland or hang them around your sukkah for a colorful touch. You could also follow these simple instructions from ReformJudaism.org for Free-Form Foil Fruit!
A citron is a citrus fruit used during Sukkot, as mentioned in Leviticus 23:40 and Nehemiah 8:14-15. In Hebrew, it’s called an Etrog (אֶתְרוֹג, pronounced “eht-rōg”).
Sammy is the star in many cute books as he learns about Jewish traditions and holidays. In this one, he learns about Sukkot from the roof of the Shapiro family’s sukkah.
My children use many of the Bible Pathway Adventures Activity Books. They contain activities for a range of ages (6-12 years is stated, but some activities are suitable for younger ones as well).
I’ve used Parsha Pearls for my kids to study the weekly Torah Portions; they’re a great resource! Their Feast Day editions are similar, with both fun and educational activities. Here’s a video of one of their Sukkot crafts, the Sukkah Hand Puppet.
No holiday meal is complete without challah bread. And children LOVE to help make it! For a fall twist, try this Pumpkin Challah recipe from Tori Avey. from Tori Avey.
Delicious for breakfast, dessert, or in between, this is one of my favorites. It’s easy enough to make that the kids can help, or older ones could even make it themselves!
Gyros are another of my family’s favorites! Stuff the ingredients into pita bread and top with Tzatziki sauce (recipe included in the Gyro link above).
Whatever you choose to celebrate Sukkot with your children, don’t do what I sometimes do – get wrapped up in the activities and neglect the purpose! The celebration of Sukkot should introduce our children to a God who provides. As He provided for the Hebrew people in the desert, He provides for us, and He provided a Savior so we can be near to God despite our sin! What a beautiful reason to celebrate! Chag Sameach!
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
In a festival similar to Thanksgiving, the Biblical feast of Sukkot (pronounced sue-COAT) gives us a chance to focus on our blessings from God and His desire to be with His people. Also called the Feast of Booths, Tabernacles, or Ingathering, it’s one of the seven commanded feasts in Leviticus 23. Sukkot was also when Jesus revealed himself as the source of Living Water for those who believed in him! Also, the events that occur when Jesus rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday are directly related to the festival of Sukkot. I promise, after understanding the festival of Sukkot, you will never look at Palm Sunday the same again.
Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the Lord. On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the Lord; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.
‘On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day. Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”
Sukkot is the last feast listed in Leviticus 23. Just five days after the very somber Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, it’s the most joyful of the biblical Holy Days. Part of its biblical command is that we’re supposed to “rejoice before the LORD .” Really though, with all He’s done for us, we should all welcome an excuse to be joyful before Him!
On the Biblical calendar, the 15th day of the month of Tishrei is when Sukkot starts, and it continues until Tishrei 22. On our Gregorian calendar, this is in September or October. Here’s a calendar of the dates of the Holy Days for reference.
Sukkot in the Old Testament
Sukkot is one of three festivals for which a pilgrimage to The Temple in Jerusalem was made, along with Passover and Shavuot.
Sukkot is called the Feast of Ingathering in Exodus 34:22. It occurs at the same time as the wheat harvest in Israel, so it’s the perfect timing for a harvest festival. The reason God gave for commanding the Israelites to celebrate Sukkot was for them to remember God’s provision and their dependence on Him.
“You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
In 1st Kings, King Solomon had the priests bring the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple during the Feast of Sukkot. How appropriate it is that this Ark, which represented and housed the presence of God, was brought into His Temple, the place He was to dwell with His people, during Sukkot!
Ezra and Nehemiah recount a time when the Temple was restored, and so was Israel’s adherence to the commands of God. Both books discuss the people returning to the Feast of Sukkot because of the Temple’s restoration and their commitment to follow God’s command.
In Jesus’s time, two practices were performed annually at the Temple during Sukkot.
One was a water ceremony, in which the priest would lead everyone to the pool of Siloam, fill a golden pitcher, and pour it out as a type of sacrifice in the courtyard of the Temple. People would then wave their palm branches (lulavot – more on this below) and shout, “Save now, I pray, oh LORD; oh LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.”
Jesus was in Jerusalem on Sukkot, fulfilling the command to celebrate this feast there (John 7:2). To an audience very familiar with this ceremony, Jesus chose Sukkot to foretell the pouring out of the water – the Spirit – on those who follow him!
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'”
In the other ceremony at the Temple during Sukkot, the people would wave the lulav (palm branch) and have a procession around the Temple, shouting “Hosannah” or “Please save us .” Sound familiar? We’ve all heard of when Jesus was on his way into Jerusalem before Passover during the week of his crucifixion, and the people did this. They waved palm branches because they recognized Jesus as the one who would save them. For over a thousand years, the Israelites had observed Sukkot and celebrated God’s provision when Jesus came along. Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem is recorded in 3 books – Matthew, Luke, and John. Although the people of Jerusalem knew Jesus was there to save them, they didn’t recognize that he would save them from the condemnation of their sin and that that was a more significant threat than the people in power around them who thought he was there to rescue them from.
Some propose that Jesus was born during Sukkot, which, if true, would mean he was conceived during Hanukkah. Though the bible doesn’t confirm this, it would enhance the concept that Jesus is God dwelling with us (John 1:14) since this is part of what we celebrate during Sukkot. It would also make sense that the Light of the World was conceived during Hanukkah, the festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple and the lighting of the Temple menorahs where God would dwell among His people.
Sukkot Today
Celebrated for seven days in Israel and eight outside, Sukkot is a harvest festival and a time to remember how God provided for the Israelites in the desert. God’s dwelling among His people is also celebrated during the week of Sukkot.
The procession mentioned above around the Temple is often replicated in Jewish congregations today. They wave the lulav and etrog (citron fruit) and shout, “Hosannah.” This practice is done at synagogues worldwide instead of a procession around the Temple in Jerusalem.
The Sukkah
The most common thing to do during Sukkot today is to build a Sukkah. The word “sukkah” is a Hebrew word meaning “booth” or “tabernacle.” It’s generally a small tent-like shelter with at least three sides and a roof made of plant material. It’s supposed to resemble the dwellings of the Israelites when they were living and wandering in the desert as newly free people of God. People often decorate their sukkah with artwork as well as the four species. And sukkah plural is… get ready for it… sukkot, which is where this appointed time got its name.
The command says that God’s people are to “live” in the sukkah during the week of Sukkot. Although some abandon their homes entirely during this time and live completely in a sukkah, most just have their meals there. Some people take the week of Sukkot to go camping, which is an excellent way to fulfill the commandment and re-live the lifestyle of the Israelite desert-dwellers.
A sukkah also reminds us that God chose to dwell – or tabernacle – with His people. We often read about it but seldom stop to let that sink in. The God that created the universe and is Himself the Holiest being that ever existed chose to dwell on earth with His people – physically and through Jesus’s life on earth! If that doesn’t give you chills, sit and think about it for a while. It’s incredible that He would choose to do this and that it actually occurred. What an awesome God we have!
As mentioned in Leviticus 23:40 as well as Nehemiah 8:14-15, there are four species associated with Sukkot. The first is the lulav (plural is lulavot), a palm branch. The second, the etrog, is a lemon-like fruit also called a citron. The third is the aravot, a willow branch, and the last is Hadassah or myrtle. These four species represent Israel’s unity and the land’s harvest and fertility.
During Sukkot, these are waved or shaken in all six directions (North, South, East, West, up, and down), signifying that God is everywhere. A blessing accompanies this custom, thanking God for the harvest, and praises are also sung.
In the Future
Kingdom of God
Many places in the bible tell us that there will be a day when God will physically dwell with us again. Ezekiel prophesies that God will dwell in His eternal sanctuary with us and make a covenant of peace with us.
Revelation 7:9-10 will give you goosebumps. It predicts a time when God’s people will stand before His throne, our lulavs in our hands, and worship him together. Wow! What a fantastic picture of the future we’re given!
The Eighth Day
Also known as Shemini Atzeret, this is the last of the commanded feasts in Leviticus 23. It’s celebrated the day after the last day of Sukkot, and this day is considered more spiritual than the previous seven days.
Traditions on the Eighth Day differ. The sukkah may or may not be used, and the four species are not waved. Different blessings are used on this day than the others commonly said during Sukkot.
Would you like to celebrate Sukkot? There are many traditions a Christian can keep that bring the concepts of Sukkot to the forefront. The basic commands are: gather the four species (Lev. 23:40), rejoice before the LORD (Lev. 23:40, Deut. 16:13-14), dwell in a sukkah (Lev. 23:42), and visit the Temple in Jerusalem (Ex. 23:14-17, 34:18-23, Deut. 16:16-17).
Visit Jerusalem
Christians around the world visit Jerusalem during Sukkot. If you’re planning a trip to Israel, this may be something to consider! Other great (and very crowded) times are Passover and Shavuot.
Build a Sukkah
You can purchase ready-made sukkahs online, but you can also build a simple one, just like the Israelites did in the desert. Your children would probably love to help you decorate it! Some people camp out during Sukkot, their tent serving as their sukkah. Eating meals in the sukkah is customary, but sleeping in it adds a realistic element as we remember God’s provision for the Israelites in the desert.
Get a Lulav and Etrog
The phrase “lulav and etrog” may include all four species but is commonly called the lulav and etrog. You can order them online before Sukkot, but check that the delivery date is before Sukkot starts!
Thank God
Thank Him for how He has lavishly blessed you and for sending Jesus to dwell among us. We can also thank Him for His promise to dwell with us in the future, which we surely do not deserve! The list of things we can thank Him for could go on forever.
Spend Time in the Word
Ecclesiastes is commonly read during Sukkot, so that’s a great place to start! Some places to read about the Feast of Sukkot are:
Exodus 34:22
Leviticus 23:34-44
Deuteronomy 16:13-17
1 Kings 8:2
2 Chronicles 8:13 and 31:3
Ezra 3:4
Nehemiah 8:13-18
Zechariah 14:16-19
John 1:14-18 and 7:2, 37-38
Revelation 7:9-10
Sing Praises
We can not only thank God through prayer but also through our worship of Him. Any day’s a great day to worship God, but Sukkot should make us focused on being grateful. He loves to hear from His people, so don’t disappoint Him! Worship is what these days are set aside for.
Teach Your Children
All of the biblical feast days have valuable lessons in their observance. Sukkot is no exception, and children will love to be involved! Aside from participating in the building and decorating of the sukkah, here are a few more ways kids can learn about and participate in Sukkot.
As we thank God for His generosity toward us, we can also extend it to those around us. Find a place to serve or a charity to donate to, and make sure your family knows why you’re giving.
Invite friends
Sukkot is a time for celebrating God’s goodness. What better excuse could there be to throw a party? Invite some friends to hang out in your sukkah and make a special meal. You could even celebrate with only your family, but remember the focus of your celebration!
Wish others a “Chag Sameach!”
The standard greeting during Sukkot is “Chag Sameach!” meaning “joyful festival.” It’s pronounced HOG sa-may-ach, with the first part of “HOG” starting in your throat, like the ending of Bach. In the U.S., people often say “Happy Sukkot” as well.
Be joyful!
Although the celebration of Sukkot is commanded, it’s not something we should do with a “have to” attitude. Part of the command is to be joyful, and how could we not when we focus on all God has done for us? From shelter to Jesus, we are some super blessed people!
A Thanksgiving celebration of sorts, Sukkot is a time Christians can give thanks for God’s provision for us and focus on our dependence on Him. We can also remember that He loves us enough to desire to be with us, even giving us Jesus to provide a way for us to be near Him and the Holy Spirit to be with us at all times. What an excellent way to celebrate these things! Chag Sameach and Happy Sukkot!
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Artza brings the best of the Holy Land to your doorstep! Artza gathers unique items from artisans throughout the Holy Land to provide a multi-sensory way to experience the Holy Land without leaving home!
Artza boxes feature different items each quarter. This quarter’s box is the Biblical Archaeology box, with items representing an archaeology theme. Some of history’s most extraordinary archaeological discoveries are found in the Holy Land, so this is a perfect theme for an Artza box!
I love Biblical Archaeology. Intriguingly, items and buildings that are thousands of years old can still be found and tell their story! I love hearing about archaeologists’ discoveries in the Holy Land. Here’s my favorite Biblical Archaeology channel.
I’ve been getting Artza boxes for a while now, and they have been getting better and better! This box is by far my favorite one yet. Here are the items in the Biblical Archaeology box.
Dead Sea Scrolls and Inkwell
This inkwell is my favorite item in the Biblical Archaeology box! Discovered alongside the famous jars containing the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Dead Sea inkwells were used to write those texts thousands of years ago. This box includes an inkwell replica with a reed pen and scroll bearing Psalm 122:7 in Hebrew. It also comes with a card with the Hebrew alphabet and even the Ancient Hebrew alphabet. There’s even a place in the Artzabox booklet to trace some Hebrew words.
Made by Touchwood Designs in Jerusalem, this ready-to-build kit is a tiny replica of the Ark of the Covenant in the Bible. All of the pieces are pre-cut. All you have to do is punch them out of the wood piece and assemble! The assembly instructions are easy, and it doesn’t require glue, nails, or any other supplies other than what’s included.
Wax Stamp and Sealing Wax
This stamp includes wax that can seal five envelopes. But the fascinating thing about the stamp is the design on it. It’s made to resemble a 2,000-year-old ancient coin found in Israel. The stamp is attractive and of good quality, and the gold wax is cut into hexagonal shapes that are just the right size to press with the seal.
Hand-Pressed Hebrew Cards
These hand-made raw paper cards feature a Hebrew word (translated into English) printed on the front and a Bible verse inside. Envelopes are included! The edges of the cards and envelopes are raw, giving them a unique natural appearance. These would be a perfect place to use the seal and sealing wax included in this box for a lovely note of thanks or encouragement to a loved one!
Linen Pillowcase Cover
Featuring loaves and fish from Jesus’s miracle of feeding the 5,000 in the Gospels, this pillowcase cover will fit an 18×18 inch pillow. It is a natural brown color delicately designed with grey/light black ink. There’s a zipper on the back to insert and remove a pillow easily.
Red Lentil Spice Mix
You’ll appreciate the savory aroma of this blend as soon as you open it! This red lentil mix is a ready-to-cook meal or side dish in an attractive container. The Mediterranean Red Lentils recipe is in this Artza box booklet. You’ll need the red lentil mix, olive oil, salt, water, and parsley to make it. That’s it! It only needs to simmer for 10 minutes, so it will take under 30 minutes to make.
Galilean Anointing Oil
This oil is reminiscent of the anointing oil mentioned in the Bible, containing the scents of frankincense and myrrh. Its light fragrance is perfect for an anointing oil or other various purposes. It comes in a glass container with a roller ball for easy application.
Za’atar Cashews
These nuts are a delicious addition to this box. These cashew nuts are flavored with hyssop and other herbs and are roasted in Israel. They’re a low-sugar and tasty, protein-filled snack.
The Biblical Archaeology Artza box is the one I like the most so far. The items included are valuable and meaningful. What a fantastic way to learn about the Holy Land!
Study the Bible with the Holy Branches Torah Portion Reading Schedule! For information about studying the Torah portions, read Parashōt, The Original Bible Study!
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Observing the Biblical Holy Days is a rich experience for Christians, and Yom Kippur is no exception. Most of us are familiar with the themes of atonement and repentance of this Feast Day.
But what about fasting? Traditionally, Yom Kippur is observed with a 25-hour fast. Do we have to fast to celebrate it? What are the benefits of fasting?
How is Fasting Related to Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur is also known as the Day of Atonement. In the time of the Temple, it was a time to bring a sacrifice to atone for, or “cover,” sin. As Christians, we know that Jesus was the sacrifice that atoned for our sin once and for all! On Yom Kippur, we can both focus on repentance for sin and on our Savior, who took that sin upon himself on the cross.
The command for Yom Kippur in Leviticus 23:26-32 says to “humble your souls.” Humble can also be translated as “afflict.” While the Hebrew word used here could be translated a few different ways, all of them are unpleasant and uncomfortable, to the degree that even your soul is somehow involved in this significant discomfort.
So, while fasting isn’t directly commanded. It is an affliction that humbles and can even affect your soul. If you haven’t done it before, I’ll tell you – fasting is challenging! You have to set your mind against what your body desperately wants. It takes much discipline and is not much fun at all.
So that brings us to the question – why fast?
Benefits of Fasting for Christians
Despite how difficult and uncomfortable it is, there are significant benefits to our faith through fasting. While there are notable health benefits to fasting, that shouldn’t be the goal of a fast on Yom Kippur. The goal should be to achieve a state of humility and repentance, not to focus on the body but on the state of the heart.
It makes us want to cry out to God.
In our comfortable lives, we don’t often happen upon the times that make us desperately cry out to God. This lack of need is a blessing, of course, but it also keeps us in a state where we may not come before God in a weakened, humble state of need. Fasting removes one of the comforts we take for granted, and we can turn each hunger pang into a reminder to go before God in humble prayer.
As we respond to our hunger with prayer, we open a conversation that may have previously been one-sided, brief, inconsistent, or non-existent. The feeling of an empty stomach is a constant reminder of why we’re fasting and brings our focus back to God. Twenty-five hours of turning our attention toward Him humbly makes us better listeners. It can remove what was previously in the way of hearing what God wants to say to us so we can listen to Him more clearly.
It reminds us who our provider is.
Since most of us don’t regularly go without food or other necessities, we can forget where it comes from or credit ourselves with providing it. Fasting brings to mind just how blessed we are to have the option to eat when we’re hungry. God provides above and beyond what we need, and denying ourselves for a while puts that in perspective. Fasting is a humbling reminder that we come before a mighty God who always has our lives in His hands.
It brings out our spiritual side.
Throughout each day of our lives, we tend to our physical needs and wants. We bathe, rest, brush our teeth, apply lotions, etc. But an entire day of fasting causes us to turn on the physical and focus on the spiritual. One wise Jewish source said that we become like angels for a day since they don’t have physical needs like eating. Our stomachs tell us we need food, but we quiet them, acknowledging that we need God more.
Fasting on Yom Kippur can cause us to shift our focus from ourselves and our physical needs to our God and Savior. This Holy Day allows us to take a break from everyday life to humble ourselves before our great Provider. We use that time to repent of our sin and express gratitude for a Savior sacrificed to pay for it.
If you plan to observe Yom Kippur this year, check out the Holy Branches Calendar for the correct dates.
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
Yom Kippur is considered a primarily Jewish holiday and is even called the Holiest Holy Day of the year on the Hebrew calendar! Yet the number of Christians celebrating Yom Kippur (the day of atonement for sin) is growing. What does this biblical Holy Day have to do with the Christian faith?
Through our Biblical roots, Christians can bring the Biblical Holy Days into their faith and make these traditions their own. We can further follow our Rabbi Jesus and enrich our faith by obeying the Biblical commands of his Father, which he obeyed, including the observance of Yom Kippur.
A Biblical Holy Day
In Leviticus 23, commands for observing seven Feast Days are listed. This list is also found in Numbers 29:7-11.
”The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord. You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God. If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people. As for any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no work at all. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.’”
Yom Kippur is to be observed on the 10th day of the month of Tishrei on the Biblical calendar. Biblical days are from evening to evening instead of morning to morning (Gen. 1:5), so Yom Kippur starts on the evening of the 9th day of Tishrei. It occurs in September or October on our Gregorian calendar. It comes ten days after Rosh Hashanah (Yom Teruah in Hebrew). The ten days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur are called the Days of Awe.
Called Yom HaKippurim (literally, the day of coverings, cancelings, pardonings, or reconcilings) in Hebrew, the command includes a holy convocation, humbling or afflicting the soul, offering sacrifices, and taking the day as a Sabbath. In the Old Testament, it was the one time of the year when the high priest offered a sacrifice to atone for his sin and that of the people of Israel. You can find the detailed procedure for this in Leviticus 16.
Blood Sacrifice
Throughout the Bible, it’s clear that all sin separates us from God and leads to death. A blood sacrifice is the only way to pardon or atone for our sin.
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.”
These verses show just how vital this Day of Atonement was in the days before Jesus! Yom Kippur was the only day the priest could offer this type of sacrifice and the only time throughout the year that the Israelites could have their sins forgiven on a corporate level.
Yom Kippur Observation Today
Orthodox Jews consider the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur a time of judgment. The belief is that on Rosh Hashanah, God writes the names of the righteous in the Book of Life, and those that are evil are listed in the Book of Death. Whether or not one’s name will be recorded in the Book of Life can be affected by their actions during this 10-day period.
On this somber day, referred to as a Great Sabbath or High Sabbath, Jewish people practice a 25-hour fast. They also attend synagogue services where specific prayers are said and scriptures are read. They focus on repentance for sin from God and others and examine their life to see where changes need to be made to move toward righteousness.
As Christians, we have accepted the gift of Jesus as the single, eternal sacrifice that atones for our sin. Because of this, we no longer need to seek atonement as individuals. Instead of making Yom Kippur irrelevant to us, this makes this Holy Day even more meaningful!
On Yom Kippur, we can celebrate because our sins have been atoned for once and for all by Jesus. Yom Kippur also moves us to sadness because there are still those who have not yet turned to him. We should have remorse over our sin and repent it in our lives and communities. Though these are emotions we should have continually as Christians, a day set aside helps us focus on these and discuss them with God and our families.
Celebration and Repentance
What does a focus on sin, atonement, and repentance look like for a Christian family? Here are some things to include in your Yom Kippur to bring out the meaning and weave its concepts into your family’s legacy.
1. Pray
Set aside time to spend with God – alone and as a family. Thank Him for the gift of Jesus and the forgiveness, deliverance, and salvation we have because of his sacrifice. Confess sin in your life and community and commit to turning from it to a better, Godlier path.
This humbling is usually done in the form of fasting. The Bible doesn’t specifically say to fast on this day, though. Some people practice this humbling or affliction by giving something up, like time or money, instead. Be sure to use whatever you choose only to bring yourself closer to God. Remember when Jesus rebuked those who used fasting as an outward action instead of a way to get their heart focused on God (Matt. 6:16-18)? What they were doing wasn’t honoring God, and neither is anything else we do in His name that brings attention to ourselves and not glory to Him.
If you plan to fast, pray whenever you experience hunger pangs. The Bible often positively pairs fasting with praying, so do them together and, in doing so, bring blessing into your life and glory to God.
Plan for a large meal on the evening of Yom Kippur so that everyone doesn’t start the fast hungry and has some calories to work off of for the next 25 hours. Make the meal that will break the fast ahead of time so it’s ready when the fast is over. I’m guessing that no one in your house will be in the mood to labor over a meal that evening, and everyone will want something to eat as soon as possible!
3. Forgive and seek forgiveness
Colossians 3:13 says that we must forgive others as we have been forgiven. Make this day the day you leave behind that grudge or bitterness you’ve been hanging on to, and let the healing begin in that relationship. On that same note, be honest with yourself about who you may need to ask for forgiveness. Decide to honor God on Yom Kippur by putting your pride aside, humbling yourself, and admitting where you wronged someone else. I do know how difficult this is! Read James 4:6-10 for encouragement.
4. Hear what God has to say to you
Spend some time in God’s word on this Sabbath day. Here are some scriptures to read and meditate on to get you in the right mindset for Yom Kippur.
A convocation is an assembly or gathering. For it to be holy, it needs to be set apart to God. For the Israelites, this meant gathering as a nation before God. Here are a few things you could do to incorporate a holy convocation into your observation of Yom Kippur.
Gather together with fellow believers. Plan and discuss Yom Kippur with your believing friends. If they’re interested, invite them over and read scriptures, pray, and fellowship together.
Gather as a family. Have everyone stop their daily activities and come together to focus on the reason for this Holy Day. Talk about the concepts of Yom Kippur – sin, atonement, salvation, repentance, and forgiveness. Open up and be real with each other about where you are in your spiritual walk. Read scripture and pray together as a family.
6. Wear White
Wearing white on Yom Kippur is an outward expression of our acknowledgment of and gratefulness for the purity we receive through the forgiveness of our sins. It serves as both a reminder and an object lesson throughout the day, especially for children!
More and more Christians are celebrating Yom Kippur because, through it, we can focus on repentance – our own and that of our community – and thank God for providing us a way to atone for our sins through Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. Isaiah 53:6 says that Jesus took all our sins onto himself. Wow. We are so undeserving yet SO loved, Brothers and Sisters!
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I always look for ways to teach my kids about the Biblical Holy Days, as they are meaningful for how we practice our faith and help us get to know our God and Messiah even more. I recently came across one of the best resources for this – Links to Messiah boxes!
Links to Messiah has boxes containing all the items you need to teach families the connection between Jesus and Jewish traditions. They have boxes that teach about the Sabbath (Shabbat), the Fall Feasts, Hanukkah, Passover, and more!
These boxes are assembled and created by Rachel Kushner. She was raised with Messianic Jewish traditions and celebrated both Jewish and Christian holidays. She has a heart to pass on what her family taught her—that Jesus is the Messiah who fulfills the Old Testament prophesies and that Jewish traditions point to Jesus! What a fantastic ministry!
Interested in a Shabbat Adventure Box for your family or a loved one? Find yours here.
My family received the Shabbat Adventure Box from Links to Messiah. It’s filled with all you need to teach your family about the Sabbath – its meaning to your faith and the traditions to observe. This box is a great way to teach your family about the importance of the Sabbath, and how the box is created is well thought out! Since everything is included, it’s ready to go right away. The crafts come with all you need to complete them, and the games don’t require prep, so your family can jump right in!
Here’s what’s included in the Shabbat Adventure Box.
Shabbat Candleholder Craft
This activity was my family’s favorite! It’s tradition to light two candles on Friday evening to bring in the Sabbath, so these wooden candleholders are a perfect addition to the Shabbat Adventure Box. My kids had fun decorating them, and we’ll use them for years to come!
Challah Cover Craft and Recipe
Another Shabbat tradition, serving challah bread, is represented in this box by a challah cover that the kids can decorate. Like the Shabbat candleholders, these covers are not just a teaching tool – they’re an item my family will use to grace our Shabbat table.
Shabbat Paint-by-Number Canvases
These canvases come printed with a Shabbat scene and are numbered for painting. They come ready to paint with paint and a paintbrush. My kids really enjoyed painting these!
Memory Cards
Traditionally, blessings are said on Shabbat. These include the Shema, a blessing when lighting the candles, and blessings over the bread and wine. The memory cards in this box have the Shema and the Blessing over the candles in Hebrew and English, so your family can learn both!
Shabbat Games
Playing games is one of my family’s favorite Shabbat traditions, so it’s brilliant that a list of Shabbat Family Games is included in this box! These are wonderfully chosen games the whole family can play that bring everyone together.
Rest List
The focus of Shabbat is on rest and God. Links to Messiah includes an empty list where family members can fill in ways they can rest, both as individuals and as a family.
Shabbat Shopping List
This is so helpful, especially for those new to observing the Sabbath. It includes the ingredients for making challah bread, what you need to set the table, and other necessities.
“All About Shabbat” Instruction Guide
This guide contains information for all the activities in the box, including craft instructions, an explanation of the Sabbath and traditions, Bible verses about the Sabbath, a Shabbat song, and more! It even includes the link to a Shabbat playlist, where Links to Messiah has collected songs for your family to play on Shabbat.
This Shabbat Adventure Box is an excellent way to teach your family about Shabbat! I wish I had something like this when my family started this journey. It would have been so helpful!
The Shabbat Adventure Box is just one of Links to Messiah’s creative teaching tools for your family! Find even more here.
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
Celebrated by increasingly more Christians, Rosh Hashanah is based on a holiday commanded for God’s people in the Bible. Biblically called Yom Teruah, in Leviticus 23:23-25 and Numbers 29:1-6, God says it’s supposed to be a Sabbath and should be celebrated by blowing trumpets and offering sacrifices.
But how can we, as Christians, celebrate this Holy Day? Here are some ways to honor God in His command and bring the vital meaning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Teruah into your Christian home and faith.
1. Read scripture
There are so many scriptures that relate to this Holy Day. It’s a day when we can be both thankful for the gift of forgiveness through Jesus and repentant of our sin. Some celebrate this as the day God created the universe. The story of Abraham being obedient in almost sacrificing his only son, Isaac, is often read. Here are some that I found inspiring and relevant to the concepts of Rosh Hashanah.
Genesis 1:1-2:3 and 22
Leviticus 23
Psalm 32 and 139:23-24
Micah 7:7-20
Isaiah 53
Jeremiah 31:27-40
Matt. 26:26-29
Luke 24
Acts 2 and 3:19-21
1 Cor. 11:26
1 Thess. 4:13-18 and 5
Hebrews 9
James 5:7-11
1 John 1:5-10
Rev. 22
2. Have a Tashlikh ceremony
From Micah 7:19, this is a Jewish custom symbolizing the “casting off” of our sins. Bread is thrown into running water. The bread symbolizes sin and is taken away and forgotten as our sin is when forgiven by God. As Christians, we can use this to remember that our sin has been paid for and removed by our Savior and Messiah as we confess it to him and put our faith in his ability to atone for it. My family has used oatmeal because it’s better for the animals that find and eat it, but some people use stones instead. It doesn’t matter what you use as long as it conveys the message that our sin can be cast off and forgiven if we accept the gift God gave us in Jesus.
3. Have a celebratory meal
While not required, as humans, we tend to celebrate with traditions concerning food. Dishes with apples are traditionally served during Rosh Hashanah, but any meal that everyone will love and come together over would work well. Here are a few ideas.
Brisket is a traditional Jewish meal for almost any holiday. These sliders are super easy, and my family loves them. You could even serve them on your round challah bread (see below)!
This side dish is traditionally served on Rosh Hashanah. It’s a sweet baked mixture of carrots and sweet potatoes that will make your house smell delicious!
Kugel is a decadent Jewish dish that will surprise you if you haven’t tried it before. I was wary of putting noodles into a dessert, but it’s fantastic!
This bread is served at many Jewish celebrations and on the Sabbath. Usually a straight braided loaf, it’s made into a round shape on Rosh Hashanah to symbolize a crown, reminding us of God’s kingship over the universe. Here’s how to braid round challah.
Just something fun to put on your challah bread! Yum!
4. Blow a Shofar
Rosh Hashanah is known Biblically as Yom Teruah or the Day of Trumpets. The trumpets they blew in biblical times and those used today are shofars or ram’s horns. Make a joyful noise with your own Shofar! Check out the link below to start shopping for one of your own.
God told His people to teach His truths to their children. As parents, grandparents, and other influential people in the lives of the children around us, we should take this command seriously, and the Biblical holidays are a great place to start! There are many resources to help with this, but observing these days will provide you with many moments open to teaching about them. Bible Pathway Adventures is one resource I often use to further teach my children about the Fall Feasts, and they have resources helpful in guiding other biblical concepts as well.
6. Do a craft with your kids
Crafts are a great way to teach your children about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Teruah. Hands-on lessons are wonderfully practical, and making a shofar is perfect for children! While their hands are busy creating, please take the opportunity to explain why you’re celebrating Rosh Hashanah and what the shofars have to do with it. Prepare by reading the verses in #1 above. A fast and fun shofar can be made simply by rolling a piece of construction paper into a cone shape. Secure it with tape, glue, or staples. Most children would also love to decorate the paper ahead of time. Some people use the blower part from a child’s party blower to make their shofar craft even noisier! You can get as creative as you like with this one.
Signifying the sweet blessings God will give us in the new year, apples and honey are the traditional sweet treats to eat on Rosh Hashanah. Apples are usually dipped in honey, although numerous recipes are made with both ingredients commonly eaten during this celebration. Honey apple cakes, cookies, and breads add a creative aspect to this tradition, but simple apples and honey will work well too. I’ll warn you to plan extra clean-up time if little ones participate in this custom! I learned that the hard way.
8. Share a pomegranate
While apples and honey signify sweet blessings, pomegranates symbolize many things. Frequently mentioned in the Bible, righteousness, fertility, and wisdom are among the meanings attributed to the pomegranate. The references to pomegranates in Song of Solomon are a reminder of the relationship between God and His people. They were woven into the hems of the garments of the Temple priests and carved into the columns – a design which was God’s idea!
9. Rest
The command for Rosh Hashanah (Yom Teruah) says it’s to be a Sabbath. Be intentional about having a restful day and do as much preparation ahead of time as possible so that that can happen. Prayer and reading the scriptures in #1 above (or others) should also be included. Here are some other ideas for things to do on a Sabbath.
Pronounced “sha-NA toe-VAH,” this is the traditional greeting used on Rosh Hashanah. It means literally “good year.” It’s also often said “L’Shana Tova,” meaning “to a good year” or “for a good year.” The response is the same right back – “Shana Tova”!
L’Shana Tova to you, and I hope you find this list helpful in your Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah celebration this year!
