As the summer begins to fade and the leaves start to fall, we find ourselves approaching one of the most significant seasons of the year—the Fall Feasts season. These are not merely traditions or man-made holidays, but God’s own appointed times (moedim)—sacred feasts that He Himself established for us, His people to meet with Him in special ways.
Preparing for God’s Appointed Times
The Fall Feast season is more than simply a series of holidays we celebrate every year; it’s a God-appointed journey that takes us from the awakening blast of the shofar through the solemn introspection of Yom Kippur, into the joyful celebration of Sukkot, and concludes with the intimate fellowship on Sh’mini Atzeret and the exuberant joy of rolling back the Torah Scroll on Simchat Torah. For us as Messianic Jewish and Gentile believers, these observances hold profound meaning, connecting us with Yeshua through following in His footsteps in commemorating these set-aside days.
The question before us is: How do we as Messianic believers prepare to celebrate these High Holy Days? How do we enter into the fullness of what God intended when He established these moedim?
Rosh Hashanah: Feast of Trumpets
Rosh Hashanah marks both the Jewish New Year and the beginning of the High Holy Days; also called Yom Teruah—the Day of Blowing or Day of Trumpets. This day launches the Days of Awe, a ten-day period of preparation leading up to Yom Kippur. Far from being a simple calendar change, Rosh Hashanah serves as an alarm clock, calling us to awaken from any spiritual slumber and prepare our hearts for the holy days ahead.
How We Celebrate…Shofars, Apples, Honey, and More
The central practice of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the shofar, with tradition calling for one hundred blasts throughout the day. These ancient ram’s horn calls pierce through the ordinary rhythm of life, summoning us to attention and calling us to return to our Creator. We gather for special prayers and liturgy, sharing festive meals that include symbolic foods rich with meaning: apples dipped in honey for a sweet new year, round challah representing the cycle of the year, pomegranates and any other tropical fruit that’s “new” to us, representing the fresh opportunities that lie ahead in the new year!
One of the most beautiful traditions is Tashlich, where we symbolically cast away our sins, by throwing breadcrumbs into flowing water while reciting prayers of repentance. Throughout this day, we greet one another with “Shanah Tovah”—wishing each other a good year filled with God’s blessings.
Messianic Significance
For believers in Yeshua, Rosh Hashanah takes on profound prophetic meaning. The shofar blasts remind us of the “last trumpet” that will sound at Messiah’s return, when the dead in Messiah will rise and we will be gathered to Him. It’s a call to spiritual awakening and preparation, reminding us that our King could return at any moment!
Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement
Yom Kippur stands as the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. This is the Day of Atonement, when the Biblical commandment calls us to “afflict our souls” through fasting, prayer, and deep repentance. It’s a day of deep reflection, when we examine our hearts and ask Adonai to remove anything that hinders our relationship with Him.
How We Observe…Fasting, Reflecting, and More
Yom Kippur is marked by a complete fast—no food or water from sunset to sunset—as we focus entirely on heart matters rather than physical needs. It is common to dress in white clothing, symbolizing the purity we seek and the forgiveness we’ve received. The day begins with the Kol Nidre, a prayer that releases us from rash vows and prepares our hearts for honest confession. Extended services include special prayers of confession and repentance as well as prayers for the salvation of our Jewish friends, family, and neighbors; which then culminate in the Ne’ilah (closing) service as the sun sets, followed by the joyous break-fast that marks the end of this sacred day.
Messianic Understanding
As Messianic believers, we approach Yom Kippur with hearts full of gratitude for the ultimate atonement already accomplished through Messiah’s sacrifice. Yet we still observe this day’s solemnity, not seeking atonement we’ve already received, but in gratitude for complete forgiveness, and in recognition that this day points toward final judgment and ultimate redemption when Messiah Yeshua returns.
Sukkot: Feast of Tabernacles
After the intensity of Yom Kippur, Sukkot bursts forth as a seven-day harvest festival of joy! Also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths, this celebration commemorates God’s faithful provision during Bnei Yisrael’s wilderness wanderings while celebrating the harvest He provides. The Torah specifically commands us to be “completely filled with joy” during this feast—making it impossible to observe Sukkot with anything less than celebration and thanksgiving.
How We Celebrate…Etrog, Camping, Lulav, and More
The central practice of Sukkot involves building and dwelling in temporary shelters called sukkot (singular: sukkah). As Leviticus 23:42-43 instructs:
“You are to live in sukkot for seven days. All the native-born in Israel are to live in sukkot, so that your generations may know that I had Bnei-Yisrael to dwell in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
These fragile structures, with their roofs open to the sky, remind us of our dependence on God’s protection and provision.
We also wave the Four Species—the lulav (palm branch), etrog (citron), myrtle, and willow—in all four compass directions (north, south, east, and west) as well as up and down, acknowledging God’s presence everywhere around us. Festive meals are shared in the sukkah, creating memories of God’s goodness while living in these temporary dwellings for seven joyful days.
Messianic Meaning
Sukkot holds special significance for us as many believe that Yeshua was born during this season! The feast beautifully illustrates God “tabernacling” with humanity—first in the wilderness, then through Yeshua, and ultimately in the New Jerusalem where He will dwell with us forever. Sukkot offers us a prophetic glimpse of the millennial reign when all nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate this feast, and it reminds us that our earthly dwellings are temporary while our eternal home awaits us with our Messiah.
Sh’mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
Sh’mini Atzeret, the “Eighth Day of Assembly,” is a separate Biblical feast that immediately follows Sukkot, though it has its own distinct character and significance. In Israel and traditional communities, this day is combined with Simchat Torah, the “Joy of the Torah,” which celebrates the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle. Together, they provide a beautiful conclusion to the entire Fall Feast season.
How We Celebrate…Dancing, Singing, Scroll Rolling, and More
Sh’mini Atzeret includes the prayer for rain, acknowledging our dependence on God for the coming agricultural year. Simchat Torah is marked by joyful processions, where Torah scrolls are carried around the synagogue in celebration. This is the day when we complete the final chapters of Deuteronomy and immediately begin again with Genesis, showing that our relationship with God’s Word is an eternal cycle of learning and growth. The atmosphere is one of dancing, singing, and celebration!
Messianic Joy
For those who know Yeshua as the Living Torah, these celebrations take on profound meaning. We rejoice not just in the written Word, but in the Word made flesh who dwells among us. This feast pictures the intimate fellowship we have with God after the great harvest of souls, and it represents the continuous cycle of learning and growing in our faith. The joy we experience in celebrating God’s Word points to the eternal joy we’ll know when we see our Messiah face to face.
Preparing for this Season
As we approach these holy days, how can we prepare our hearts and homes to fully enter into what God has planned for us during this season?
Practical Preparation
For Rosh Hashanah: Begin now to examine your heart. Assess your relationships, your spiritual growth, and areas where you need to return to God. Prepare special foods for your celebration meals and plan to attend Erev and Rosh Hashanah services.
For Yom Kippur: If you plan to fast, begin preparing your body gradually. More importantly, prepare your heart through prayer, seeking forgiveness from those you’ve wronged, and extending forgiveness to others. Consider how you can make this day meaningful for you and your family.
For Sukkot: Start planning your sukkah—even if it’s simple, the act of building and dwelling in it connects you to generations of faithful believers. Gather the Four Species if possible, and plan how to make your meals in the sukkah special occasions of thanksgiving.
For Sh’mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah: Reflect on how God’s Word has impacted your life this year. Consider memorizing a special verse or committing to deeper Torah study in the coming year.
It’s our prayer that you will connect with these special times that were ordained by the LORD Himself, in a new and deeper… and develop a closer relationship with the Son, Yeshua. We invite you to join us in person or connect with the live streamed services on our YouTube channel.
May this season of God’s appointed times draw you closer to Him, deepen your faith, strengthen your community connections, and fill your heart with the joy that comes from walking Yeshua’s footsteps and the traditions He observed. As we prepare for this Fall Feast season, let us remember that we’re not just observing ancient traditions—we’re participating in God’s eternal plan of redemption and preparing for the ultimate celebration when our Messiah returns.
Shanah Tovah! May you have a blessed and meaningful Fall Feast season!
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