Today is the last day of Rosh Hashanah. As Israel celebrates this holiday while fighting on multiple fronts, let’s pray for its people.

From All Israel News. As Rosh Hashanah approaches, many wonder what this holiday truly represents. In Israeli tradition and under rabbinic influence, Rosh Hashanah, literally meaning “Head of the Year,” marks the Jewish New Year. It serves as a cornerstone of the Jewish faith and traditions, signifying the start of the High Holy Days in the fall, marking the fifth annual Feast of the Lord.

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Rosh Hashanah is regarded as a time of deep introspection, repentance and prayer. Although it is one of four distinct new years recognized in Jewish tradition, it is generally considered the most significant as it ushers in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

According to rabbinic tradition, Rosh Hashanah is seen as the “Day of Judgment,” a time when God evaluates one’s actions and character over the past year and determines his fate for the coming one. This judgment, however, is not yet final, as the period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur offers time for repentance and atonement. …

The origins of Rosh Hashanah, as we know it today, are believed to have developed during the Babylonian exile in 586 BCE and could be linked to the Babylonian New Year festival called “Akitu.” Before Rosh Hashanah took its current name, it was referred to as “Yom Teruah,” or the “Day of Blowing,” with origins that can be traced back to Leviticus 23:24-25 and Numbers 29:1-6.

This day is somewhat enigmatic because the Bible does not give a detailed reason for it, only describing it as a day of rest marked by the blowing of the shofar. The sound of the shofar, heard throughout Israel on Rosh Hashanah, is laden with symbolism, acting as a call to awaken spiritually and to acknowledge God’s power and sovereignty. …

As October 2nd, 2024, draws near – the first night of Rosh Hashanah – Israel faces a sobering reality: This will be the first time in the nation’s history that it is at war on multiple fronts during this sacred holiday. Some view this as a troubling fulfillment of the “birth pangs” mentioned by Yeshua in Matthew 24:6-8, where “wars and rumors of wars” are a sign of the times. …

As believers, this season serves as a poignant reminder of the urgency of the Gospel message and the need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We can rest assured that just as God has been faithful to His people throughout history, He will continue to be faithful in the present and future.

Share your prayers for Israel in the comments below.

(Excerpt from All Israel News. Photo Credit: Megs Harrison on Unsplash)