Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

We Invite You to The Head of The Year Festival Family Event at The Rock of Israel Congregation, Hickory, NC on Wednesday October 2, 2024 at Sunset. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in 2024 from Sunset on Octorber 2, 2024 through sunset Friday, October 4, 2024. In 2025, Rosh Hashanah will run from sunset Monday, September 22, 2025 through sunset Wednesday, September 24, 2025. For your Rosh Hashanah holiday pleasure, we've shared some congregation favorite recipes below as well as a brief history, fun facts, and video explanations about this messianic Jewish holiday! In 2024, Yom Kippur began at sunset on Friday, October 11, 2024 and ended at sunset on Saturday, October 12, 2024. In 2025, Yom Kippur will begin at sunset Wednesday, October 1, 2025 and will end at sunset Thursday, October 2, 2025. For the topic of Yom Kippur, we have also provided historical information and a video. As we wait for the return of Yeshua, we stand with Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Shalom.
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 10 Days of Awe – Sound the shofar

Learn More About Rosh Hashanah

Significance and Explanation -Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement

Learn More About Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur Fun Facts

 

  1. Fasting Tradition: On Yom Kippur, observers fast for approximately 25 hours, abstaining from food and drink, to focus on spiritual renewal and repentance.
  2. Kol Nidre: The evening service begins with a prayer called Kol Nidre, which means “all vows.” It’s a solemn declaration asking for forgiveness for unfulfilled vows and promises.
  3. White Garments: Many people wear white on Yom Kippur, symbolizing purity and a desire to be cleansed of sin.
  4. Long Services: The synagogue services are among the lengthiest of the year, with five distinct prayer services held throughout the day.
  5. The Shofar: At the end of Yom Kippur, a single, long blast of the shofar (a ram’s horn) is sounded, marking the conclusion of the fast and the holy day.
  6. Day of Complete Rest: Yom Kippur is observed as a Sabbath, meaning no work is done, and it’s a time for reflection and atonement.
  7. Vidui: A central part of the Yom Kippur service is the Vidui, or confession of sins, where the congregation recites a communal list of wrongdoings and seeks forgiveness.
  8. Breaking the Fast: After Yom Kippur ends, families and communities often gather for a meal to break the fast, which usually includes light and easy-to-digest foods.If you would like to learn more, you can also visit our Feasts Page which has even more details.  opens in a new windowClick Here to go to Feasts.

Example Kol Nidre Hebrew & English

Hebrew:  כָּל נִדְרֵי וֶאֱסָרֵי וּשְׁבוּעֵי וַהֲרָמֵי וְקוֹנָמוֹי וְכִנוּיֵי וְקִנוּסֵי וּתְקָנֵי וִדֲנָחֵנָא, דְנָדַרְנָא וּדְאַשְתְּבַעְנָא וּדְאַקְנוּמָנָא עַל נַפְשָׁתָנָא, מִיּוֹם כִּפּוּרִים זֶה עַד יוֹם כִּפּוּרִים הַבָּא עָלֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה, בְּכוּלְהוֹן אִתְכַּרַטְנָא בְהוֹן. כֻּלְהוֹן יְהוֹן שָׁרָן שְׁבִיקָן שְׁוִין שְׁבִיתִין, בְלָא נִדְרָא וּבְלָא אִסָּרָא, בְלָא קוֹנָמָא וּבְלָא קִנוּיָא וּבְלָא קִנוּסָא וּבְלָא תַּקָּנָה וּבְלָא דִי נָחֲתָנָא.

English:  All vows, obligations, oaths, and anathemas, whether called ‘konam,’ ‘konas,’ or by any other name, which we may vow, or swear, or pledge, or whereby we may be bound, from this Yom Kippur until the next Yom Kippur (may it come to us for good), regarding them all, we repudiate them. They shall be null and void, they shall have no power and no standing. Our vows shall not be considered vows, our obligations shall not be considered obligations, and our oaths shall not be considered oaths.

 

Who We Are

The Rock of Israel Congregation is a Bible-based Messianic church in Hickory, NC with a great outreach ministry, authentic community, and a living demonstration of the Kingdom of G-d.

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History of Rosh Hashanah: What’s it All About?

The Bible verses associated with Rosh Hashanah include Leviticus 23:23-25 and Numbers 29:1-6

 Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and is celebrated on the first and second days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. It is a time of introspection, prayer, and repentance.

 Rosh Hashanah has been celebrated for thousands of years. The holiday was likely well established by the sixth century B.C., though the phrase “Rosh Hashanah” shows up for the first time in the Mishna, a Jewish code of law compiled in 200 A.D

 Most Messianic believers hold to the tenet that Rosh Hashanah anticipates the prophetic fulfillment of the L-rd’s covenant faithfulness to Israel in Daniel’s 70th week when all of Israel will repent and their Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ), will return to restore Israel as Saviour, L-rd, and Deliverer.

 Honey is a symbol of Rosh Hashanah as well as sweetness and hope for the new year. It is also associated with the manna that G-d provided to the Israelites in the desert, and with the Shekhinah Glory. By dipping apples in honey, Messianics and Jews express their gratitude to G-d for creating the fruit of the tree and their traditional wish for a good and sweet year ahead.  

 Shofarot is the Hebrew word for shofar verses, which are ten biblical passages that mention the shofar, a trumpet made of a ram’s horn.  The shofar is an ancient musical instrument that was used by the Israelites in religious ceremonies and as a signal in battle. It is also a symbol of Hashem’s voice, sovereignty, and mercy.

The shofarot is recited as part of the Musaf Amidah, the additional prayer service on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year performed in synagogues and Messianic congregations. They are the last of the three central benedictions of the Musaf Amidah, following Malchuyot (kingship verses) and Zichronot (remembrance verses). The shofarot expresses the hope for the Messianic redemption of Israel and mankind, to be heralded by the sound of the great shofar.

In some Messianic and Jewish traditions, the shofar is also sounded during or after the recitation of the shofarot, as a way of fulfilling the biblical commandment in Numbers 10:10 to hear the shofar on Rosh Hashanah . The shofar blasts are meant to awaken the listeners to repentance, gratitude, and awe of Elohim.

 

 

Fun Facts about Rosh Hashanah

 

 Here are some fun facts about Rosh Hashanah:

  • Rosh Hashanah does not mean “New Year” in Hebrew. It actually means “Head of the Year.” Just like your head (brain) tells your body what to do, how you behave on Rosh Hashanah has far-reaching consequences for the entire year.
  • The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is listening to the blowing of the shofar on both mornings of Rosh Hashanah. Made from a hollowed-out ram’s horn, the shofar produces three “voices”: tekiah (a long blast), shevarim (a series of three short blasts), and teruah (a staccato burst of at least nine blasts). 
  • When Rosh Hashanah coincides with Shabbat, Orthodox Jews do not blow the shofar on that day. The Jewish sages enacted this as a precaution, in case someone would end up carrying a shofar to an expert to blow. They believe there is a deeper lesson here as well. On Shabbat, they assert that the coronation of the King is so deep and so special that it’s accomplished without the bells and whistles of the shofar.
  • The Orthodox Chabad rabbis all over the world walk many miles on Rosh Hashanah (when car travel is forbidden) to blow shofar for people who are unable to make it to the synagogue.
  • Round challah (tasty leavened bread) is a traditional Rosh Hashanah treat. On Rosh Hashanah, we traditionally start our holiday feasts with two loaves of round challah, sweetened with raisins to demonstrate our wish for a sweet new year.

The Orthodox Jewish belief that how you behave on Rosh Hashanah has far-reaching consequences for the entire year is a Jewish traditional belief. Their belief is that G-d balances a person’s good deeds over the last year against their bad deeds and decides what the next year will be like for them. As a Messianic congregation, we put our full faith and trust in the shed blood of Yeshua Hamashiach and not in our deeds for Salvation. This does not discount the Biblical premise that we reap what we sow in our relationships and daily walk in the faith of this life.  

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Rosh Hashanah Noodle Kugel Recipe

Ingredients:

1 lb  Broad Noodles- Cooked & Drained

1 pint of Sour Cream

1/2 pint Cottage Cheese (Small Curd)

4 Eggs

1 tbsp. Cinnamon

1 tbsp. Nutmeg

1 Can Crushed Pineapple

1/2 cup Sugar

1/4 lb Butter or Margarine

Directions:

Cook and drain the broad noodles.  Mix all the ingredients in the list together.  Pour into a greased 9 x 12 in. pan & bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes.

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Rosh Hashanah Honey Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups Sifted Flour

1/4 tsp. Salt

1 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 tsp. Organic Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Organic Nutmeg

1/8 tsp. Crushed Cloves

1/2 tsp. Organic Ginger

4 Large Eggs

3/4 cup Granulated Sugar

4 tbsp. Olive Oil

2 cups Honey (Dark prefered)

1/2 cup Brewed Dark Roast Coffee

1  1/2 cups light raisins or nuts

Directions:

Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.  Stir in the spices. In separate bowl, beat the 4 eggs and gradually add the sugar.  Beat until thick and light in color.  Blend in the spices, oil, honey, and coffee.  Stir in the flour mixture and the raisins/nuts.  Spray 2,  9 inch loaf pans with Olive oil, and pour in mixture.  Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven on middle rack for 50 minutes for the two pans until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean.

Next Steps

Lots of Ways to Get Involved

Public Office Hours, Saturdays 9:45 am-1:00 pm

1405 2nd St Dr SW, Hickory, NC 28602

In-house Worship Service Hours:  Saturdays, 10:30 am-12:00 PM 

Livestream broadcast: Saturdays, 10:30 am-12:00 PM

Hebrew Language Classes:  12:30 pm-1:00 pm

Shabbat Cafe- Fellowship Hall-  Saturdays, 9:45 AM- 10:15 AM

Homeless Ministry & Nursing Home Ministry:  Every other Saturday- 1:30-3:00 PM

 

Come and visit with us and you will find a family that will warmly welcome you. Come and grow in your own personal relationship with the King of Kings and discover your purpose for which you were created. Come and learn the deeper meanings of the Holy Scriptures from both the Old and New Covenants from the Hebrew perspective. Come and expect to be transformed. (Romans 12:2).