Minor Feasts
There are minor feast and fast days that become major days in history (Zechariah 8:19).
• Fast of the Firstborn - 13th of Nisan
On the day before Passover, the firstborn remember their deliverance from the tenth plague of Egypt (Exodus 12:23, 29).
Forty days after Weeks or Pentecost, Moses returned from Mt. Sinai, saw the children of Israel worshiping the golden calf and became so angry that he broke the stone tablets (
Exodus 32:19). This day begins
The Three Weeks, a period of mourning that ends on the 9th of
Av.
A year after God's miraculous deliverance from Egypt, twelve spies were sent into Canaan to explore the land. Because of a lack of faith, ten spies rebelled against God, discouraged the people and they all wander in the wilderness forty years (
Numbers 13:30-31). Later, Babylon and Rome destroyed the Jewish temples (
2 Kings 25:8-9). Crusaders, England, France, Spain, Russia and Germany persecuted the Jews.
World War I and
Iraq War I began on this day.
•
Teshuvah - Repent and Return - 1st of
Elul-10th of
Tishri
When Moses was on Mt. Sinai a second time, the people had forty days to repent and return back to God. Each year, the Jews ask forgiveness of sins against God and one another. It is better to judge yourself now than to be judge by God later (
1 Corinthians 11:31-32).
Teshuvah includes the month of
Elul and Trumpets as preparation for Atonement (
Exodus 34:1, 28).
World War II began and ends in
Teshuvah.
•
Ten Days of Awe - 1st-10th of
Tishri
The last ten days of
Teshuvah are Ten Days of Awe or Repentance. The Feast of Trumpets is two days, followed by seven days and the Day of Atonement. The days points to the
Rapture,
Tribulation and
Second Coming (
Jeremiah 30:5-7).
•
8th Day of the Assembly - 22nd of
Tishri
After Tabernacles is the Eighth Day of the Assembly. God tells the people to stay an extra day with God (Leviticus 23:36). Jesus Christ was circumcised on this day.
•
Rejoicing with the Torah - 23rd of
Tishri
Tishri is the beginning and the end. The study of the five Books of Moses concludes with Deuteronomy and begins again with Genesis (Joshua 1:8). As Israel begins their Torah study so we begin our new life with the Word, Jesus Christ.
•
Hanukkah - Feast of Dedication - 25th of
Kislev-2nd or 3rd of
Tevet
On the 15th of
Kislev, 168 BC, Greek Syrian king Antiochus IV, attacked Jerusalem. Three years later on the 25th of
Kislev, 165 BC, Jews recaptured Jerusalem and rededicated the temple. The oil for the temple menorah miraculously lasts eight days (
Daniel 11:31, Luke 1:31, John 10:22). Mary conceived of the Holy Spirit during the Feast of Lights in
Kislev and the Light of the World was
born in
Tishri.
• Babylonian Siege of Judea - 10th of Tevet
On the 10th of Tevet in 588 BC, the Babylonians began a thirty month war against Judah. On the 17th of Tammuz (Golden Calf) in 586 BC, they breached the walls of Jerusalem and on the 9th of Av (Kadesh Barnea) the Jewish temple was destroyed (2 Kings 25:1).
• Fast of Esther - 13th of Adar
Israel remembers God deliverance before the celebration of Purim (Esther 4:16).
•
Purim - Feast of Lots - 14th-15th of
Adar
During the reign of Ahasuerus over Media-Persia, evil Haman plotted to kill the Jews. However, God put Queen Esther and Mordecai in place "for such a time as this." God protected the Jews while Haman and the Amalekites were killed (
Esther 9:21-22).
Iraq War I ended and
Iraq War II began on
Purim.
Israeli National Holidays