Day: November 28, 2022

Rabbi and Rebbetzin’s Corner December 2022

By Eric Carlson in December-2 on November 28, 2022

We pray you had a blessed Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends! As we have entered into the month of December we look forward to the M.J.A.A. South East Regional Conference December 16^th-18^th, 2022 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando Florida! It is a powerful, supernatural weekend of Messianic praise, worship, teaching, and fellowship! Paul Wilbur and Sarah Liberman will be our guest psalmists! This is a weekend you don’t want to miss!

Register at https://mjaa.org/southeast2022/#schedule

Tuesday, November 29^th 2022, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is national Giving Day! The intent is for people to kick off the holiday season by donating money to a charitable cause such as Congregation Zions Sake! Giving Tuesday was founded in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. In the year 2021 Americans spent $707.5 billion, that’s right, $707.5 billion dollars on the Christmas Holiday! Congregation Zion’s Sake and every Church I know sees a downturn in Tithes and offerings in December every year! That’s a tragic and horrible statistic! What an impact for the Kingdom of Adonai and Jewish revival we could do with just 1% of this spending! Consider honoring God first with a special donation to Congregation Zion’s Sake today, on giving Tuesday!

We look forward to celebrating Hanukkah for eight days which begins at sunset, Sunday December 18^th 2022. Then on Wednesday, December 21^st 2022 we enter the “winter Solstice”, the shortest day of the year that officially marks the first day of winter! At our Erev Shabbat service on Friday, December 23^rd we will have a special Hanukkah service with both a children’s and youth group holiday presentation! You don’t want to miss this special service with all of our children and youth!

The end of this month, December 31^st marks the end of the Gregorian Calendar year of 2022 and the start of the New Year 2023. The 1^st of Nisan (the Biblical New Year) begins at sunset, Wednesday March 22^nd 2023 when we begin the year 5783. As we move into a new year one of the meanings of 5783 is the year of retribution. Retribution is the dispensing or receiving of reward, punishment, and judgement! 5783 spells “Ur” in Hebrew which means to be exposed! 23 in the Gematria means to drop or trickle, to flow scantily. The year 2023 will be a year of lack regarding food and water. Adonai has been preparing us for such a time as this! The good news is that it will be a year of great revival as people will seek Adonai and His Kingdom!

To be revived, to experience life from the dead, to have signs and wonders be part of our daily lives is something we must work towards, to strive for, to cultivate through prayer and worship! Those with a humble and contrite heart, those who seek Adonai, those who are His bondservants, those who praise and worship the God of Israel in spirit and truth, those who rejoice in Him, to them He pays attention. In fact, He revives those who are humble! Those who have a broken, contrite heart, those who seek Him! As we enter a new year shortly let us enter His gates with Thanksgiving, with expectation, with anticipation for revival, for a move of God! The onus is upon us to be a mature, sin free body that acquires the groanings of the Holy Spirit for revival. We must matriculate into society, into work, into school, into malls and stores, sharing the Good News by demonstrating the dunamis power then introducing the King. May we be humble servants for the Lord to use to usher in Worldwide Revival.

What is Shabbat?

By Eric Carlson in December-1 on November 28, 2022

Why do we enter into and Keep Shabbat? Shabbat is our weekly Moedim, a divine appointment, a feast with God. It is the time that we lay down everything from the week and world, all of our concerns, worries, and stress. All the things that we have allowed to occupy our time during the week and enter into God’s rest to minister to and worship Him. God knew we needed rest and without all the distractions we can fully enter in His presence. Shabbat is our weekly reminder that we serve the God of creation. Shabbat goes from sunset on Friday evening until sunset on Saturday evening. Biblical days begin at sunset and end on sunset:

Darkness in Hebrew is: “Choshech” means lacked, missing, unenergetic, lacking energy, powerless, beyond repair, aimless, hopeless, feared, suspected, worthless, and meaningless. Darkness or Choshech is all of these descriptions! The enemy, HaSatan, the Devil, the Prince of Darkness is Chosech or Darkness. Light in the Hebrew is: “Or”, means light, illumination, joy, happiness, instruction, teaching, directive, order, puts in order, woke up, and roused. Light is all of these terms! Yeshua is “Or”, the light of the world!

“Or” and “Choshech” are structured and unstructured energy. Torah states that both Or and Choshech are Echad, that the two are one, chaos and order are one just as we are to be one! Every day begins at sunset and is a recreation, a reminder of God’s creation of the universe. Each day begins just as the universes began in darkness, powerless, beyond repair, aimless, hopeless, feared, suspected, secret, worthless, meaningless and streams towards the light, the knowledge of God Himself who separated this hopelessness with His very being which is joy, happiness, instruction, teaching, directives, power, order, perfection, holiness, righteousness, purity, and love. Shabbat is the culmination of this understanding, just as the day begins in chaos and streams towards the light, the week begins in such a manner and streams towards Shabbat, God’s blessing and perfection. Shabbat separates the profane and mundane from the Holy!

Just as Light was the first act of creation, the first act we do on Shabbat is to light the Shabbat candles. First, two Shabbat candles are lit and a blessing is recited. The lighting is performed by the woman of the house who is the keeper of the light. Why, because it was a woman who removed the light from the world (Eve) and it was a woman who returned the light to the world (Miriam/Mary who gave birth to Yeshua). The wife (woman) is the keeper of the light for her entire family and holds the honor of lighting the candles and reciting the blessing. Lighting the Shabbat candles is an eternal bond linking us to thousands of years of heritage and tradition that defines Biblical life and culture! The holy flames of the Shabbat candle are our link to the future generations while connecting us to our past!

The flickering flame is a reflection of the divine spark within each of us. It is a focal point for the family, united in Shalom, to gather around the “light” which represents Yeshua, to pray together, to spend time together, to pause and share the Shabbat meal together, united in Messiah! Light is significant in many ways. It represents truth, purity, trust, and the removal of darkness and sin through the revelation of God’s Glory, the Light of the World! Yeshua, commanded us to be a light:

The two candles represent the two biblical commandments concerning Shabbat: zachor (remember) and shamar (observe & Guard).

The first candle represents Creation "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...And God said, 'Let there be light' and there was light." -- Genesis 1:1,3. The second candle represents Redemption, Yeshua said, "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12.

The man of the house then recites Kiddush (Blessings), a prayer over wine and Challa bread sanctifying the Shabbat blessing which is not communion but represents the double portion blessing of Manna given in the desert wanderings! The Hamotzei (bread blessing) Two covered, braided or twisted loaves of challah, the traditional Shabbat bread, are used and eaten every Shabbat. Two loaves of bread are used, they are interwoven together making a braided bread in remembrance of the double portion blessing of manna God caused to rain down every Friday during the Israelites wandering through the desert. It is also a reminder of two arms folded together in rest for Shabbat. The Children of Israel were able to collect enough bread to last through Shabbat, when no manna fell. This is the bread blessing:

Those who observe Shabbat, those actually observing it discover a precious gift from God. The arrival of Shabbat is greatly anticipated, a day of great joy when the mundane and profane of the weekday are set aside as we pause to devote ourselves to ministering to and serving Adoani! In biblical Jewish culture, poetry, and music, Shabbat is described as a bride or queen, as in the popular Shabbat hymn Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah (come, my beloved, to meet the [Sabbath] bride). There is a deep, profound understanding with this: We don’t keep Shabbat, Shabbat keeps us! The word “Shabbat” comes from the root Shin-Bet-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest. Shabbat is the first of seven moedim, divine appointments God gives to us in Leviticus 23. Shabbat is considered the most holy of biblical feast days for several reasons.

Because Shabbat was made first before the other feast days in Genesis Chapter 2.

Shabbat is so Holy a Feast Day that He made 52 of them.

Shabbat is the only Moedim mentioned in the Ten commandments, the only commandment with the statement “Remember” attached to it. "Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God.” Exodus 20:8. (zachor (remember) and shamar (guard and observe).

The last act done on Shabbat is the Blessing the Children and the wife! It is customary on Shabbat for the father to lay his hands upon and bless each of his children then his wife. This custom originated from the blessings Isaac gave his sons Jacob and Esau (Genesis 27:49), as well as from the blessings Jacob gave to Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:20). Shabbat is when the King is off the throne and among His people, as His word states! It is a date night with God, ordained by God and established by God forever! May the Living God of Israel bless you and keep you as you honor Him by observing and keeping Shabbat!

Hanukkah

By Eric Carlson in December-3 on November 28, 2022

The story of Hanukkah begins in the reign of Alexander the Great. Alexander conquered Syria, Egypt, and Judah in 332 B.C.E. Alexander the Great allowed the lands under his control to continue observing their own religions and retain a certain degree of autonomy. Under this relatively benevolent rule, many Jews assimilated to much of Hellenistic culture, adopting the language, the customs and the dress of the Greeks, in much the same way that Jews in America today blend into the secular American society.

More than a century later, a successor of Alexander, Antiochus IV was in control of the region. He began to oppress our Jewish people severely, placing a Hellenistic priest in the Temple, massacring Jews, prohibiting the biblical practices, and desecrated the Temple by requiring the sacrifice of pigs (a non-kosher animal) on the altar. A group led by Mattathias the Hasmonean and his son Judah Maccabee led a revolt against both the assimilation of the Hellenistic Jews and oppression by the Seleucid Greek government. The revolution succeeded and the Temple was rededicated on the 25^th day of Kislev.

Antiochus tried to eliminate the Kingdom of God, not so much by killing the Jewish people as by forbidding the Worship of the God of Israel. Studying and reading Torah was forbidden, along with circumcision, honoring the Sabbath, etc. In 167 BC a priest by the name of Mattityahu Hasmonea started guerrilla warfare along with his sons and a few followers. What they did in the hill country of Judea and Samaria was so amazing that books on their exploits are still studied by modern guerrilla fighters. Early in the war Judas Hasmonea took over after his father’s death and he is the one who came up with the legendary tactics. His motto was “Mi Camokha Ba Elim Adona’y,” from Exodus 15:11. The translation is: “Who is Like You, Oh Lord, Among the Mighty.” The initials of those words spell Maccabee, which is the name that was later applied to Judas and his followers. Although spelled differently in Hebrew, the Hebrew word for hammer sounds like Maccabee. Therefore, he was called “The Hammer,” which in Hebrew is Maccabeus, so the books of Maccabees in the Apocrypha were written about their successful wars. In 164 BC they retook the Temple on Kislev 25, two years to the day after it was taken by the Syrian Greeks. They needed to repair and dedicate the temple right away. Dedication is an eight-day process that requires the use of sanctified oil for the lamp stand in the Holy Place, the first room of the sanctuary.

They could only find a one-day supply of oil, but rather than wait eight days to sanctify more, they began the temple sanctification process with the one-day supply. Adonai, through a creative miracle made that one-day’s supply last the full eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight-day celebration was declared to commemorate this miracle. The Apocrypha records their struggle:

II Maccabees 10:1-8. Now Maccabeus and his followers, the Lord leading them on, recovered the temple and the city; ² and they tore down the altars which had been built in the public square by the foreigners, and also destroyed the sacred precincts. ³ They purified the sanctuary, and made another altar of sacrifice; then, striking fire out of flint, they offered sacrifices, after a lapse of two years, and they burned incense and lighted lamps and set out the bread of the Presence. ⁴ And when they had done this, they fell prostrate and besought the Lord that they might never again fall into such misfortunes, but that, if they should ever sin, they might be disciplined by him with forbearance and not be handed over to blasphemous and barbarous nations. ⁵ It happened that on the same day on which the sanctuary had been profaned by the foreigners, the purification of the sanctuary took place, that is, on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which was Chislev. ⁶ And they celebrated it for eight days with rejoicing, in the manner of the feast of booths, remembering how not long before, during the feast of booths, they had been wandering in the mountains and caves like wild animals. ⁷ Therefore bearing ivy-wreathed wands and beautiful branches and also fronds of palm, they offered hymns of thanksgiving to him who had given success to the purifying of his own holy place. ⁸ They decreed by public ordinance and vote that the whole nation of the Jews should observe these days every year.

The olive oil that is used for the menorah in the temple (A seven-branch menorah, a Hanukkiah menorah has nine branches which is only used for Hanukkah) was an extra virgin oil that is the first fruits offering of the oil press. This oil was not pressed by a pressing stone, rather, as the olives are placed into the press their weight upon themselves causes a very light, clean, and pure oil to be released from the olives which is collected and sent to the temple to be burned in the menorah. Cloudy olive oil or olive oil with debris in it will smoke and sputter in the menorah and was not allowed, so the purest, cleanest, first fruits pressing only olive oil was used for the menorah in the temple. The stone vases that were used to hold this special pressing were marked by a priestly seal on the lid of the jar denoting its purity and dedicated use in the temple menorah only!

Dedicate is a devotion to a cause, ideal, or purpose, zealous. To be given over to a particular purpose. God commands dedication unto Him, He searches for it among those that serve Him! This was celebrated then with great joy, thankfulness, and with decorations! This is our model in the days, months, and seasons to come. When we dedicate ourselves, volunteer for God’s duty (this is the story of Hanukkah), when we are zealous and dedicated unto Adonai signs and wonders will follow! The same spirit of apostasy that was working in the time of the Maccabee’s was also working in Yeshua’s day. Zealousness, dedication, and obedience to the Word is the only foundation that will sustain us!

Deuteronomy 12:11. then you will bring all that I am ordering you to the place ADONAI your God chooses to have his name live -your burnt offerings, sacrifices, tenths, the offering from your hand, and all your best possessions that you dedicate to ADONAI;

And in:

Judges 5:2. “When leaders in Isra’el dedicate themselves, and the people volunteer, you should all bless ADONAI.

We begin to understand the complexity of the moral issue they faced, a question arises: Who or what was the real enemy? The Syrians Greeks who were attempting to Hellenize Israel through assimilation or the Israeli Aristocracy who were openly embracing the new and wildly popular Greek philosophy and cultural fad! This parallels Americas flirtation with Socialism and Communism. The Syrian Greeks then are now the Chinese and Russians, and America’s Aristocracy are embracing them seeking a new world order!

I Maccabees 1:11-15. In those days certain renegades came out from Israel and misled many, saying, “Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles around us, for since we separated from them many disasters have come upon us.” ¹² This proposal pleased them, ¹³ and some of the people eagerly went to the king, who authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. ¹⁴ So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, ¹⁵ and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.

Assimilation through Hellenization would result in a complete annihilation and replacement of the biblical culture and philosophy of Israel with Greek culture and philosophy. This would have eliminated Israel, the Jewish People, and the prophetic soon coming and birth of Messiah!! What is Assimilation? Assimilation is a verb, an action which means to become like another people, another nation, or another people group through culture, language, viewpoint, and character attributes.

Assimilation to a religion or expression of worship contrary to Adonai, His word, His Kingdom, His Son is apostasy, it’s sin! It’s contrary to Adonai’s word, commands, and mitzvahs! This is especially true for Israel! Throughout our history we have continually strayed from Adonai, worshipped and served other gods which resulted in death, destruction, and exile to foreign lands. Its critical to be dedicated, sanctified for Adonai, Hanukkah! Hanukkah isn’t just about Sufganyut (jellied fill Donuts) and Latkes, it’s a time of ‘dedication.

The Maccabees dedicated themselves to Adonai long before they rededicated the temple! We must do the same! Hanukkah reveals a mystery, the miraculous power of trust in Adonai in the face of hopelessness, a spark of light in the depths of darkness, the limitless, divine, dunamis power of Adonai against a worldly superpower! Hanukkah is the story of restoration and dedication! To accomplish this, we like the Maccabee’s must first seek a personal, spiritual restoration through the word and the Blood of Messiah! Yeshua Himself, the Light of the world observed Hanukkah in the temple.

John 10:22-23. Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter, ²³ and Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlomo’s Colonnade.

The menorah, kept in the temple, represents the “light unto the world”. The temple, which was located on a hill had inverse windows which allowed the light of the Menorah to be radiated to the world. This light represents the knowledge of the kingdom of God. The light which separated the upper and lower heavens! Yeshua said He was the light of the world (John 8:12, 9:5). The supernatural light of Adonai will be restored in the Messianic Age when we will no longer need the sun or the moon (Rev. 21:23). Yeshua told us that we are a light for the world.

Matthew 5:14-16. “You are light for the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Likewise, when people light a lamp, they don’t cover it with a bowl but put it on a lampstand, so that it shines for everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

Be creative this Hanukkah, let your light shine before people so that they may see the good things you do and praise Adonai!! Rebbetzin and I always decorate for Hanukkah! We place blue and white lights in and around our home. We have a 3ft tall lit menorah and lighted Star of David that we hang on the front of our home that can be clearly seen from quit a distance. Why? Because we are up front in defining our Jewish identity in Yeshua, we’re letting our light shine. Everyone on our block knows that we’re Messianic Jews! Rededicate yourselves and rejoice in this season of miracles, be a light for the world! Chag Hanukkah Sameach, have a Happy and Blessed Hanukkah!

HANUKKAH MENORAH LIGHTING 2022

The Hanukkah celebration is a time for family and prayer. Hanukkah is a time to focus on the light of the world, Yeshua. The Hanukkah (9 branch) menorah should be placed in a window or outside to publicize this great miracle. The candles are placed in the menorah from left to right and the candles are kindled from right to left. The center candle is called the shammash (caretaker/helper). The shamash is removed, lit, and used to kindle the other candles then returned to its holder. The first night of Hanukkah you will have two candles in your menorah, the Shamash and one candle for the first night of Hanukkah. The second night you will have three candles, the Shamash and two candles on the far right of the menorah representing two nights of Hanukkah and so on through the eight days! On the last night of Hanukkah you will have all nine candles in the menorah. You will need a total of 44 candles for the entire Hanukkah celebration. The candles should be lit after sundown and the whole family should be gathered (it’s acceptable to wait past sundown so that the entire family can gather around the menorah). The candles should remain lit for at least 30 minutes. The following blessings are recited when kindling the candles:

Lighting the Candles

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, Asher Kid’shanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu,

Le hadlik Ner Hanukkah.Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has set us apart by Your commandments and has enjoined upon us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

Miracles

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, Sh’asa Nissim La’avoteinu Bayamim Hahim B’zman Hazeh.

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.

The Mashiach

ברוח אתא יהוה אלוהנו מלך העולם אשר נתן לנו את דרך הישוע במשיח ישוע

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha olam, asher natan lanu et Derek ha Yeshua, b’Mashiach, Yeshua.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has given us the way of salvation in Messiah Yeshua.

Shehechiyanu

ברוך אתה יהוה אלוהינו מלך העולמ שהחינו וקימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה.

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloiheinu Melech ha olam sh’hekiyanu v’kiyimanu
v’higiyanu l’azman hazeh.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion.

After the blessings, kindle the candle or candles. The following scriptures may be read, followed by family fellowship. This is a quiet time, a time focused on our heavenly Father. Shut off the television, turn off the radio, and enter into the presence of the Most High God!

Night one, Sunday, Dec 18th, 2022 @ sunset:

Night two, Monday, Dec 19th, 2022 @ sunset:

Night three, Tuesday, Dec 20th, 2022 @ sunset:

Night four, Wednesday, Dec 21st, 2022 @ sunset:

Night five, Thursday, Dec 22nd, 2022 @ sunset:

Night six, Friday, Dec 23rd, 2022 @ sunset:

Night seven, Saturday, Dec 24th, 2022 @ sunset:

Night eight, Sunday, Dec 25th, 2022 @ sunset:

Isaiah 60:19, Psalm 27:1.

Psalm 119:105, 119:130, Proverbs 6:23.

Matthew 5:16, Luke 11:30.

Luke 11:34, Acts 26:18.

John 1:4-5, John 8:12, John 12:35-36.

Acts 26:12-18.

Ephesians 5:8-11, I Peter 2:9, Ephesians 5:11-15, I John 1:5-9.

Philippians 2:14-16.