6320 Quail Hollow Rd.
Memphis, TN 38120
(901) 685-9267 ph
(901) 763-0028 fx

Weekly Torah Study
Saturdays, 9am


Shabbat Worship
Services
 Saturdays, 10:30am
Nursery & Children's 
classes available


Office hours:
Mon. 1-5pm
Tues.- Fri. 9am-5pm

Q: Why do you count 50 days after Passover?

A: We count 50 days from Passover up to the feast of Shavuot (Weeks), also called Pentecost because God told us to do so in Leviticus 23. Shavuot is the anniversary of the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai, and is considered to be the birthday of ancient Israel. Following that event, 3000 Israelites died. However, the New Covenant in Acts chapter 2 tells us of another Shavuot/Pentecost/birthday (about 1400 years later on the same day) in which the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Jewish people at Mt. Zion, and at that event 3000 were saved. This second great gift was given to empower His people (including you and me) to live out a life with God according to His life-giving instructions.

For the mainstream Jewish community, Shavuot is about returning to the Torah, God’s Instructions. We want to convey that the prophet Joel’s promise of the Spirit’s outpouring (Joel 2:28) has already begun and is also available. For us though, Shavuot is about the anticipation of receiving from Heaven what God has for us, His revelation and presence. It’s the double blessing of having both God’s Law and His Spirit in you. We need both the Written Word and the Living Word to follow Him. Its like saying that a car is great, but gets you nowhere without gas. Shavuot is about God breaking into time and space to reveal Himself to Israel. We're saying He did it initially when he gave His Torah and again (in Acts 2) when He doubly blessed us with His Spirit. As for today, He has not changed, He wants to break into your life today as well. You can "count" on it.

Also visit our Counting the Omer page.