We pray you had a blessed and meaningful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends! As we have entered into the month of December, we look forward to the M.J.A.A. Southeast Regional Conference December 20th-22nd, 2024 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando Florida! It is a powerful, supernatural weekend of Messianic praise, worship, teaching, and fellowship! Paul Wilbur, Shae Wilbur, and the Nesbitts will be our guest psalmists! Dr. Michael Gabizon, Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at Moody Bible Institute is teaching this years Yeshiva course titled:“ From Eden to the New Covenant: Exploring Biblical Promises” As the war continue to rage in Israel never has it been more important to stand with us than right now! Put action to your love and join us in solidarity with Israel! This is a weekend you don’t want to miss!
https://mjaa.org/southeast2024/
We remain committed to praying for and supporting Israel in this ongoing and difficult time! ‘It’s hard to be a Jew’, an old Yiddish proverb never felt more resonant in America today! We’re all reeling from the tidal wave of antisemitism and its silent sanction in our society! Throughout our history in America, as Jews we’ve faced our share of bigotry, excluded from certain businesses, schools, neighborhoods, and social clubs. Since the COVID Pandemic we’ve witnessed a terrifying increase in antisemitic rhetoric, violence, and attacks. But never have I witnessed and experienced the level of anguish and fear American Jews are experiencing right now.
Keep praying for Israel and the Jewish people! Pray with fervency and unceasingly! עם ישראל חי “The people of Israel live!”
December is the 12th month (and last month) in our modern-day Gregorian calendar (as it was in the preceding Julian calendar). However, it was originally the 10th month of the Roman calendar (until 153 BC). Hence, “December” comes from the Latin “decem”, meaning “ten.” In Roman times, the calendar only had ten months and began with March! The winter period was not even assigned months because it was not an active time for military, agriculture, or civil life. The month of December originally consisted of 30 days. When January and February were added to the calendar (around 700 BCE), December was shortened to 29 days. Then, two days were added to December in the subsequent Julian calendar, making it 31 days long.
We look forward to celebrating Hanukkah for eight days which begins at sunset, Thursday, December 25th, 2024. At our Erev Shabbat service on Friday, December 27th 2024 we will have a special Hanukkah service with special holiday presentations! You don’t want to miss this special service with all of our children and youth! We’ve included a “How to Celebrate Hannukah “guide” in this Newsletter. Then, Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 4:20 am, we enter the “winter Solstice”, the shortest day of the year that officially marks the first day of winter!
Tuesday, December 3rd 2024 is the national day of giving! The National Day of Giving takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which occurs every fourth Thursday of November. Did you know that the National Day of Giving was only created in 2012? The National Day of Giving, also known as Giving Tuesday or Global Day of Giving follows three major shopping days: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. It is created to unleash the power of radical generosity by giving a healthy donation to Non-profits and charitable organizations such as Congregation Zion’s Sake. Click on the link below to donate!
https://portal.icheckgateway.com/CongregationZionsSake/
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day, is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 Americans who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States declaring war on Japan the next day and thus entering World War II. When I was a young child Pearl Harbor Day was a big deal! As our nation ages the importance of this day is fading, overshadowed by 9/11. Yet it is a day we should never forget!
On Pearl Harbor Day, the American flag should be flown at half-staff until sunset to honor those who died as a result of the attack on U.S. military forces in Hawaii. Pearl Harbor Day is not a federal holiday – government offices, schools, and businesses do not close.
And last, but not least, December 25th is Christmas! A holiday to commemorate the birth of the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua! This day is celebrated by 81% of the world’s population. 160 countries out of 196 total celebrate Christmas in some form or fashion! Since it is a Federal Holiday, our offices will be closed! Since Messianic Believers (both Jew and Gentile) don't celebrate Christmas, what do we do on December 25th?
It's tough to find something to do on Christmas, because just about everything is closed! Except on Christmas, even the grocery stores are closed! But here are a few of the more popular Jewish December 25th activities! We go out for Chinese food on Christmas. Someone even wrote a song about Jews eating Chinese Food on Christmas. Jewish rapper Rami Matan Even-Esh, best known by his stage name Kosha Dillz, debuted on a rap song about the tradition of American Jews eating Chinese food on Christmas on December 20th 2020. He posted a video of his rap on Twitter, performed in front of a Chinese restaurant. The lyrics make reference to various Chinese dishes, such as wonton soup, General Tso’s chicken and lo mein, adding “but you know that Dillz will never eat shredded pork.” He titled the song, “Jews Love Chinese Food on Christmas Rap. There is a meme of a sign on a Chinese Restaurant (not real!) from the "Chinese Restaurant Association" thanking the Jewish People that our God insists that we eat their food on Christmas! The Chinese do not celebrate Christmas any more than Jews do, so most Chinese restaurants are open on Christmas.
Another tradition is to go to the movies. Many movie theaters are open on Christmas day, particularly in the afternoon (after 4PM). Of course, nowadays, if you're not up for going to a movie in person, you can stream them at home. Whatever you choose to do we pray you have a blessed and wonderful December as we prepare to enter into the new Gregorian Calendar year of 2025!
Blessings and love,
Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson
https://mjaa.org/southeast2024/
We remain committed to praying for and supporting Israel in this ongoing and difficult time! ‘It’s hard to be a Jew’, an old Yiddish proverb never felt more resonant in America today! We’re all reeling from the tidal wave of antisemitism and its silent sanction in our society! Throughout our history in America, as Jews we’ve faced our share of bigotry, excluded from certain businesses, schools, neighborhoods, and social clubs. Since the COVID Pandemic we’ve witnessed a terrifying increase in antisemitic rhetoric, violence, and attacks. But never have I witnessed and experienced the level of anguish and fear American Jews are experiencing right now.
Keep praying for Israel and the Jewish people! Pray with fervency and unceasingly! עם ישראל חי “The people of Israel live!”
December is the 12th month (and last month) in our modern-day Gregorian calendar (as it was in the preceding Julian calendar). However, it was originally the 10th month of the Roman calendar (until 153 BC). Hence, “December” comes from the Latin “decem”, meaning “ten.” In Roman times, the calendar only had ten months and began with March! The winter period was not even assigned months because it was not an active time for military, agriculture, or civil life. The month of December originally consisted of 30 days. When January and February were added to the calendar (around 700 BCE), December was shortened to 29 days. Then, two days were added to December in the subsequent Julian calendar, making it 31 days long.
We look forward to celebrating Hanukkah for eight days which begins at sunset, Thursday, December 25th, 2024. At our Erev Shabbat service on Friday, December 27th 2024 we will have a special Hanukkah service with special holiday presentations! You don’t want to miss this special service with all of our children and youth! We’ve included a “How to Celebrate Hannukah “guide” in this Newsletter. Then, Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 4:20 am, we enter the “winter Solstice”, the shortest day of the year that officially marks the first day of winter!
Tuesday, December 3rd 2024 is the national day of giving! The National Day of Giving takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which occurs every fourth Thursday of November. Did you know that the National Day of Giving was only created in 2012? The National Day of Giving, also known as Giving Tuesday or Global Day of Giving follows three major shopping days: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. It is created to unleash the power of radical generosity by giving a healthy donation to Non-profits and charitable organizations such as Congregation Zion’s Sake. Click on the link below to donate!
https://portal.icheckgateway.com/CongregationZionsSake/
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day, is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 Americans who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States declaring war on Japan the next day and thus entering World War II. When I was a young child Pearl Harbor Day was a big deal! As our nation ages the importance of this day is fading, overshadowed by 9/11. Yet it is a day we should never forget!
On Pearl Harbor Day, the American flag should be flown at half-staff until sunset to honor those who died as a result of the attack on U.S. military forces in Hawaii. Pearl Harbor Day is not a federal holiday – government offices, schools, and businesses do not close.
And last, but not least, December 25th is Christmas! A holiday to commemorate the birth of the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua! This day is celebrated by 81% of the world’s population. 160 countries out of 196 total celebrate Christmas in some form or fashion! Since it is a Federal Holiday, our offices will be closed! Since Messianic Believers (both Jew and Gentile) don't celebrate Christmas, what do we do on December 25th?
It's tough to find something to do on Christmas, because just about everything is closed! Except on Christmas, even the grocery stores are closed! But here are a few of the more popular Jewish December 25th activities! We go out for Chinese food on Christmas. Someone even wrote a song about Jews eating Chinese Food on Christmas. Jewish rapper Rami Matan Even-Esh, best known by his stage name Kosha Dillz, debuted on a rap song about the tradition of American Jews eating Chinese food on Christmas on December 20th 2020. He posted a video of his rap on Twitter, performed in front of a Chinese restaurant. The lyrics make reference to various Chinese dishes, such as wonton soup, General Tso’s chicken and lo mein, adding “but you know that Dillz will never eat shredded pork.” He titled the song, “Jews Love Chinese Food on Christmas Rap. There is a meme of a sign on a Chinese Restaurant (not real!) from the "Chinese Restaurant Association" thanking the Jewish People that our God insists that we eat their food on Christmas! The Chinese do not celebrate Christmas any more than Jews do, so most Chinese restaurants are open on Christmas.
Another tradition is to go to the movies. Many movie theaters are open on Christmas day, particularly in the afternoon (after 4PM). Of course, nowadays, if you're not up for going to a movie in person, you can stream them at home. Whatever you choose to do we pray you have a blessed and wonderful December as we prepare to enter into the new Gregorian Calendar year of 2025!
Blessings and love,
Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson
Posted in December 2024
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