Mo’edim

Passover (Pesach)

Scriptures:

• Exodus 12:2–11: "This month [Abib] shall be for you the beginning of months... On the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb... kill it on the fourteenth day at twilight... eat it that night with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. It is YaHU'aH’s Passover."

• Leviticus 23:5: "In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is YaHU'aH’s Passover."

• Numbers 28:16: "On the fourteenth day of the first month is YaHU'aH’s Passover."

• Deuteronomy 16:1–2: "Observe the month of Abib and keep the Passover to YaHU'aH your AL'uah, for in the month of Abib YaHU'aH your AL'uah brought you out of Mitsrayim by night."

Breakdown:
Date: 14th day of the 1st month (Abib/Nisan), at twilight (evening start).
Purpose: Commemorates the Exodus, when the lamb’s blood spared Yashar’al from YaHU'aH’s judgment (Exodus 12:12–13).
Ritual: Slaughter a lamb on the 14th, eat it that night (into the 15th) with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
Duration: One day, leading into Unleavened Bread.
2025 Example: April 12, 2025 (14 Abib 5785, sundown).

Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot)

Scriptures:

• Exodus 12:15–20: "Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread... On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses... The first day and the seventh day shall be a holy convocation; no work shall be done... It is a statute forever to YaHU'aH."

• Leviticus 23:6–8: "On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to YaHU'aH; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread... On the first day and seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; no ordinary work."

• Numbers 28:17–25: "On the fifteenth day of this month is a feast; for seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten... Offerings each day to YaHU'aH."

• Deuteronomy 16:3–4: "Seven days you shall eat [unleavened bread]... no leaven shall be seen with you, that you may remember the day when you came out of Mitsrayim all the days of your life before YaHU'aH your AL'uah."

Breakdown:
Date: Begins 15th day of Abib, lasts for 7 days.
Purpose: Remembrance of leaving Mitsrayim in haste, affirming YaHU'aH's command.
Ritual: Eat unleavened bread for 7 days, remove all leaven, hold holy gatherings on days 1 and 7.
Duration: Seven days.
2025 Example: April 13–19, 2025 (16–22 Abib 5785).

Feast of Firstfruits (Reishit Katzir)

Scriptures:

• Leviticus 23:9–11: "And YaHU'aH spoke to Mosheh, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Yashar’al... When you come into the land... and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, and he shall wave the sheaf before YaHU'aH... on the day after the Sabbath.’"

• Deuteronomy 26:1–10: "When you come into the land which YaHU'aH your AL'uah gives you... you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground... and say before YaHU'aH your AL'uah, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father...’"

Breakdown:
Date: Day after the Sabbath during Unleavened Bread (often 16th of Abib if Sabbath is the 15th, or the next Sunday).
Purpose: Offers the first barley harvest to YaHU'aH, acknowledging His provision.
Ritual: Wave a sheaf (omer) of barley before YaHU'aH; no new grain eaten until this (Leviticus 23:14).
Duration: One day, tied to Unleavened Bread week.
2025 Example: April 13, 2025 (16 Abib 5785, day after Sabbath on April 12).

Feast of Weeks (Shavuot / Pentecost)

Scriptures:

• Exodus 34:22: "You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year’s end before YaHU'aH your AL'uah."

• Leviticus 23:15–21: "You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day you brought the sheaf... fifty days... offer new grain to YaHU'aH... a holy convocation, no ordinary work."

• Numbers 28:26–31: "On the day of the firstfruits, when you offer a grain offering of new grain to YaHU'aH at your Feast of Weeks... a holy convocation."

• Deuteronomy 16:9–10: "Count seven weeks... then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to YaHU'aH your AL'uah with a freewill offering."

Breakdown:
Date: 50 days from Firstfruits (7 weeks + 1 day), typically in the 3rd month (Sivan).
Purpose: Celebrates the wheat harvest, commanded by YaHU'aH; later linked to Sinai.
Ritual: Offer two leavened loaves (Leviticus 23:17), burnt offerings to YaHU'aH (Numbers 28:27); a Shabbaton (no work).
Duration: One day.
2025 Example: June 1, 2025 (5 Sivan 5785, 50 days from April 13).

Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah)

Scriptures:

• Leviticus 23:23–25: "And YaHU'aH spoke to Mosheh, saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation; no ordinary work; offer an offering to YaHU'aH.’"

• Numbers 29:1–6: "On the first day of the seventh month... a day of trumpet blasts... offer burnt offerings to YaHU'aH."

Breakdown: Date: 1st day of the 7th month (Ethanim/Tishrei).
Purpose: A memorial with trumpet blasts (teruah), commanded by YaHU'aH; later called Rosh Hashanah.
Ritual: Blow trumpets (shofarim), a Shabbaton (rest), burnt offerings to YaHU'aH.
Duration: One day.
2025 Example: September 12, 2025 (1 Ethanim 5786, new moon).

Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

Scriptures:

• Leviticus 16:29–34: "In the seventh month, on the tenth day... afflict yourselves and do no work... the priest shall make atonement for you before YaHU'aH... a statute forever."

• Leviticus 23:27–32: "On the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement... a holy convocation; afflict yourselves... a Sabbath of solemn rest before YaHU'aH."

• Numbers 29:7–11: "On the tenth day of this seventh month... afflict yourselves... offer a sin offering to YaHU'aH."

Breakdown:
Date: 10th day of the 7th month (Ethanim/Tishrei).
Purpose: Atonement for sins, commanded by YaHU'aH, via the priest (Leviticus 16:16).
Ritual: Fast ("afflict yourselves"), no work (full Sabbath), sin offerings, scapegoat ritual (Leviticus 16:20–22).
Duration: One day.
2025 Example: September 21, 2025 (10 Ethanim 5786).

Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)

Scriptures:

• Leviticus 23:34–36, 39–43: "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month... the Feast of Booths for seven days to YaHU'aH... dwell in booths... On the first day a holy convocation, and on the eighth day a holy convocation."

• Numbers 29:12–38: "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month... seven days... offer burnt offerings to YaHU'aH each day... an eighth day."

• Deuteronomy 16:13–15: "Celebrate the Feast of Booths for seven days after you have gathered... rejoice before YaHU'aH your AL'uah."

Breakdown:
Date: 15th to 21st of the 7th month (Ethanim/Tishrei), plus 8th day (22nd).
Purpose: Commemorates wilderness journey (booths, Leviticus 23:43), harvest thanks to YaHU'aH.
Ritual: Dwell in booths (sukkot), daily offerings to YaHU'aH, 1st and 8th days are Shabbatons (no work).
Duration: Seven days, plus an 8th day.
2025 Example: September 26 – October 2, 2025 (15–21 Ethanim 5786), October 3 (22 Ethanim).

Eighth Day Assembly (Shemini Atzeret)

Scriptures:

• Leviticus 23:36: "On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation... it is a solemn assembly; no ordinary work; offer an offering to YaHU'aH."

• Numbers 29:35–38: "On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly... offer burnt offerings to YaHU'aH."

Breakdown:
Date: 22nd day of the 7th month (Ethanim/Tishrei), after Tabernacles.
Purpose: A distinct holy day, commanded by YaHU'aH, often linked to closing the feast cycle.
Ritual: A Shabbaton (no work), burnt offerings to YaHU'aH.
Duration: One day.
2025 Example: October 3, 2025 (22 Ethanim 5786).

Feast of Dedication (Chanukah)

Observe for 8 consecutive days, from sundown December 13 (24 Ninth Month 5786) to sundown December 21 (2 Tenth Month 5786)

Scriptures:

• 1 Maccabees 4:56: "So they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness."

• 2 Maccabees 10:5–6: "Now upon the same day that the strangers profaned the temple... it was cleansed again... They kept eight days with gladness."

• 2 Maccabees 10:6–7: "They kept eight days with gladness, as in the feast of tabernacles... with branches and fair boughs, and palms also, and with psalms unto Him that had given them good success."

• 1 Maccabees 4:59: "Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Yashar’al ordained that the days... should be kept... with mirth and gladness."

• 1 Maccabees 4:53–54: "They offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of burnt offerings, which they had made."

• Numbers 10:10: "Also in the day of your gladness... you shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings... that they may be to you for a memorial before your AL'uah."

• Exodus 20:8–10: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it set-apart... you shall not do any work."

Practices:

• Kindle a light (oil lamp or candle) each night, increasing by one daily:

  • December 13 (night 1): Light 1 lamp

  • December 14 (night 2): Light 2 lamps

  • ...continue to December 20 (night 8): Light 8 lamps

  • Place lights in a visible location (e.g., window) to proclaim the miracle

• Celebrate with joy, song, and praise:

  • Sing praises or psalms (e.g., Psalms 30)

  • Present offerings of thanksgiving (symbolic if not at a temple)

• Blow a shofar or trumpet during the 8 days, especially on the first day (December 14), if desired.

Additional Notes:

• No cessation of work is commanded (unlike Leviticus 23 feasts).

• If a day falls on a Sabbath (e.g., December 20, Sabbath #39), maintain regular Sabbath rest.

  • Light Chanukah lamps before sundown on December 19.

  • Shofar blowing on December 20 is optional and not restricted pre-exilically.