"Open the Gates,
that the righteous
nation that keeps
the faith may
enter in!"

Festival
Photo
Album

Click on any image to see an enlarged version with explanation.
"Open the Gates, that the righteous nation that keeps the faith may enter in!" Rabbinic writings say this refers to the returning Northern Kingdom of Israel.The Sabbath is the first of the appointments instituted by Yahweh. Enter into His courts with praise!"
Passover (Pesakh)







Passover (Pesakh) is the first festival of Yahweh's year.Pesakh as such really refers to the slaughter of a specially-selected lamb. Putting its blood on the doorposts recalls YHWH's rescuing us from slavery in Egypt. The Passover is eaten with staff in hand and sandals on feet, to remind of us of the hurry with which we left EGypt.The main purpose of Passover is to recount YHWH's deliverance to our children.Passover is to be remembered as our own deliverance from Egypt, not just that of our ancestors.
Feast of Unleavened Bread







Burning the leaven --a picture of purging the sin out of our lives, especially pride, which puffs us up and makes us look like more than we really are.Making new bread without leavenBaking matzah (unleavened bread) in our brick overnPicture of undefiled communityStriped and pierced matzah is a reminder of both Adam before the image of YHWH was diminished and Yahshua, by whose stripes it is regained.
Shavuoth (Pentecost)







Kneading the dough. (The Shavuoth loaves are leavened, for in this season, leaven is a picture of the permeation of the Kingdom into the whole world.Becoming One BreadIn ancient times, the high priest would wave the loaves before YHWH. Presenting Ourselves to YHWH as one unified loaf
Sukkoth, the Season of Our Joy














Yom T'ruah (Rosh haShanah)







Hanukkah, the Feast of (Re)Dedication







Purim, the day when everything is backwards






Some examples of sukkoth (temporary shelters) used during the festival with the same name.Making lulavim at Sukkoth These are the four species Yahweh commanded us to take up during this feast: branches of palm, willow, myrtle, and a citron (etrog) fruit."For the sake of the unification of the Holy One, blessed is He, and His presence, in fear and love to unify the Name 'Yod-Hey' with 'Waw-Hey' in perfect unity, in the name of All Israel..." Shaking the Lulavim inside the Sukkah symbolizes the reunion of both houses of Israel as well. "The Season of our Joy" Sukkoth is not only a reminder of the travels of Israel through the wilderness; it anticipates the coming Messianic kingdom as well, when we will live without fear "under our own vine and our own fig tree"."How lovely are your tents, O Yaaqov!" This is the season when we are to "dwell in tents as in the wilderness."Buildling the SukkahAnd the palm branches make it complete!Very special guests are invited--the patriarchs of Israel!Mural showing the water-drawing from the Pool of Shiloakh in second Temple timesEating in the Sukkah...and even a sukkah you can eat
It all began with the Maccabees' uprising against the Greeks who forbade the study and practice of the Torah."The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overwhelm it.""I am the light of the world...You are the light of the world."Rededicating the altar was the turning point of the battle.It's now about us rededicating ourselves to being bearers of YHWH's light.
Yah B'Shvat, the Birthday for Trees





The focus is on what kind of fruit we are bearing.This is the day which marks the new growing season so we can count how many years old a tree is and thus know if we have reached the fifth season, when we can eat of the fruit.
Queen Esther invites the king and Haman to her banquet... Mordechai is paraded through the streets of ShushanThe decree is reversed: Haman hung in effigyNow it's a night to dress up and be a little bit silly."For the Jews there was light and joy and gladness and honor"...and so may it be for us!