Breaking The Jewish Code Perry Stone

The Celebrations In the American culture there are basically two religious and personal celebrations recognized each year. Traditional American Christians celebrate what the West calls Easter and Christmas, recalling the birth and resurrection of Christ. Each year most Americans recognize birthdays and anniversaries of friends and family. With three hundred sixty-five days in a year, Americans set aside four days for some form of “celebration” (not counting July 4 or Thanksgiving). Torah-observant Jews recognize seven God-appointed celebrations called the feasts, which are recorded in Leviticus 23. These appointed times, called moedim in Hebrew, are designated yearly convocations. In Leviticus 23:6, the Hebrew word feast is chag , whose root word is chagag , meaning, “to move in a circle” or “to dance.” The implication is that a time of rejoicing was set aside by God for His people. Each feast includes specific instructions, special meals (except fasting on the Day of Atonement), and freedom from work. Many feasts involve the entire family. Beginning in the spring (usually March or April) and continuing into the fall (usually September and October), these seven festivals are as shown below. The English Name The Hebrew Name The Jewish Time of Celebration Passover Pesach First month, fourteenth day Unleavened Bread Chag Ha Matzot First month, fifteenth to twenty-first days

First month, day after the Sabbath of Unleavened Bread

Bikkurim

Firstfruits