Messianic Traditions:
The Calendar and Festival Assemblies

<< Scripture
Exploring Salvation

Contents

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, {2} Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. {3} Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. {4} These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
Lev 23:1-4 (KJV)
  • The Calendar System

  • The Festival Assemblies















    The Calendar System

    Calculated Calendar

    The Rabbis have claimed the authority to set the times of the calendar, including the beginnings of the months and years as well as the timing of the Festival Days of Assembly. They basically follow the Metonic Cycle that works on a 19 year pattern with some additional postponements that have the effect of making it easier to follow other Rabbinical traditions. Although this calendar will be similar to that found in Scripture, this method neglects the direct connection that the festivals had with the times of harvest.

    Changing the Calendar

    The religious calendar is based on the Rabbinic interpretation of Leviticus 23:1-4. The passage states that "you shall proclaim" and this has been interpreted to mean that the Rabbi's have the authority to decide when the High Days and Festivals will occur. It was appearantly used by the Rabbi's for some time before it was publicly declared about 359 AD because of the dispersion of the Jewish people in the world. Maimonides states that the new moon is the conjoining of the moon and sun in the sky. Nevertheless, their system of mathematics is designed to make sure that the Day of Atonment does not fall on a friday or sunday although the Talmud has passages about what to do when this happened long ago. It also has rules of postponements, full and defective months, and intercalated leap years.

    The Festival Assemblies

    Festival Meaning

    The Rabbinical interpretations of the festivals focus on the literal history of the Nation of Israel or of what the people can do to attain salvation. Because they have not accepted the Messiah who has come (and will come again) the true meaning of the Festival Assemblies, which picture the work of the Messiah, is missed. Furthermore, some traditions of the Rabbis which lack or deny the Messiah are taken by Messianic Judaism and given a layer of new meaning and symbolism meant to celebrate the Messiah.

    Passover Seder

    One of the most elaborate and well-known Rabbinical festival celebrations is the seder ceremony that has replaced the Passover observance. The seder ceremony is a symbolic ritual used to emphasize freedom from slavery and for teaching the historic event of the exodus to the children. Messianic Judaism has taken the many customs which focus on the leaving of Egypt, mostly involved with eating certain kinds of foods (primarily fruits, vegetables, and grain), and has overlaid them with a new meaning that points to the Messiah and His work for the salvation of mankind.

    Todd Elder is a believer in the Messiah who wants to help people understand Scripture and know the message of Salvation. For more information from the Messianic Traditions series, please visit the
    website http://www.exploringsalvation.info and look under 'Scripture'.
    Additional Information