Beit Yeshua

2007
August to December

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Summer
Israeli
Folk Dance
Classes
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YOM TERUAH
(Rosh Hashanah)
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SUKKOT
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Catawba
Queen
Cruise
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HANUKKAH

 

2007 Machol's Summer Israeli Folk Dance Classes
During the summer months of 2007 we started to pray that Yahweh would add dancers to the class.  We prayed specifically for younger dancers - young men and women.
God is always faithful.  On August 7 we added five new "younger" dancers.  On August 21st we had 8 more new dancers and I'm expecting 3 more when we meet on September 10th.
(Below) A small group of dancers worship with Israeli Folk Dance
(Left to Right) Curtis, Janice, Madelyn, Da'na, Connie, Myrl and Lori
Cindy B. (from Dance Camp) contacted me via email and wanted to bring her daughter and six ladies from her church in Monroe to visit our Israeli Folk Dance Class.  Six of the ladies were Hispanic and had never done Israeli Folk Dance before - one of the ladies, Dora, was even a Pastor's wife.
(Above) The Monroe group arrived at 6:30 and we started teaching some of the basic steps for Israeli Folk Dance - including the Mayim, Balance, Coupe and  Tcherkessia
(Below) Time to move what we've learned to a circle
By 7:00 the entire group had arrived - about 25.  We opened the evening with prayer and moved immediately into working on the steps for the dance "Sulam Yaakov".
One of the most frequently used steps in Israeli Folk Dance is the Yemenite step.  We worked on Right & Left Yemenites, as well as Yemenite-Hops and even Backward Right & Left Yemenites.
Time to move what we've learned in the larger group to the circle.
(Left) Connie gives Dora a little individual tutoring during the teaching of Im Hupal Nu
Myrl modifies Im Hupal Nu slightly to a beautiful worship dance for Kirk Dearman's "Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem"
2007 Rosh Hashanah / Yom Teruah / Feast of Trumpets
The Bible commands that we gather together on Tishri 1 for the Feast of Trumpets.  Other names for this Biblical feast include Rosh Hashanah (Head of the Year) and Yom Teruah (Day of the Shofar Sounding).
We gathered at the home of Doug & Lynda on Friday afternoon, September 14, 2007 to celebrate the Biblical festival of Yom Teruah.
North Carolina had been going through the most severe drought on record, but on the day of our gathering Yahweh opened the windows of Heaven and the earth was refreshed with rain all day long.
We had planned to walk to a lake in the neighborhood where Doug & Lynda lived to celebrate Tashlich, but because of the rain we had to come up with an alternative method to observe this ancient custom.  Tashlich is a service where we repent of our sins and then cast bread crumbs into the water to symbolically show the "casting away" of our sins.  There is no forgiveness for sin by casting bread into the water, but when accompanied by sincere repentance - there is!
Since the rain kept us from walking to the lake, Doug & Lynda set up a large bowl of water on their pool table, providing us an opportunity to participate in this wonderful object lesson.
Tashlich is based on the following scripture:
MICAH 7:18-19  Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.  You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
(Above) Doug leads the group of 40+ through Tashlich
(Below) At the conclusion of the Tashlich ceremony, we observed Communion. Yom Teruah is also a reminder of the marriage that will take place between Yeshua and his bride.  Many in the group chose to wear white to symbolically show their purity as a result of Messiah Yeshua's atonement
The only specific commandment in scripture for Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah / Feast of Trumpets is the blowing of the shofar (the ram's horn).  Dan led us in the sounding of the shofar, but unfortunately I didn't get a photo this year.
Leviticus 23      24  Speak to the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
Numbers 29 1 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.
1 Corinthians 15: 51-52
Listen, I tell you a mystery:  We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised, imperishable, and we will be changed.
The rain stopped in the early evening, so we went outside on the brick patio for a time of Praise, Worship & Israeli Folk Dance.
(Below)  We started with the song "Peace of Jerusalem" by Kirk Dearman.  Myrl choreographed a beautiful dance to the song
(Below) Another traditional song and dance for the evening was "Od Ye Shamah"
(Below) Those who didn't dance joined in song
We spend about an hour studying the scriptures pertaining to Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah / Feast of Trumpets.  I led the group in a teaching as we looked at the ancient Jewish Wedding and and how they paralleled the life and teachings of Yeshua/Jesus.
1. The Bible is a marriage covenant. 2. Both the Tanach (Old Testament) and the Brit Hadashah (New Testament) describe how G-d through Messiah Yeshua, the Bridegroom, is in the process of marrying His bride. 3. On the wedding day, the bridegroom is seen as a king and the bride as a queen.
	A. Many times the Bride had not seen the Bridegroom before
		1 Peter 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love. (referring to Messiah  His bride)
	B. The Bride Price - The Mohar
		1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price. (the blood of Messiah)
	C. The Betrothal
		Hosea 2:19  I will betroth thee unto me for ever.
	D. The Wedding Contract - the Ketubah
		Hebrews 8:6  Now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant. (New Covenant)
	E. The Bride's Consent
		Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the heart confession is made unto salvation.
	F. The Cup of the Covenant
		Matthew 26:29 I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
	G. Betrothal Gifts
		James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of  lights.
		1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
	H. The Mikvah - Ritual washing before the wedding
		Mark 16:16  He who believes and is baptized will be saved.
	I. Departure of the Bridegroom
		John 14:2-3 In My Father's house are many mansions: if (it were) not (so), I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also.
	J. Bride Consecrated & Set apart for a period of time while the bridegroom was away building the house.
		Matthew 251Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and  went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
	K. Day & Hour of Return
		Mark 13:32  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
		2 Peter 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.
	L. Bridegroom Would Return With a Shout & the Sound of the Shofar
		1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
	M. Bridegroom Would Abduct his Bride, Go to the Bridal Chamber & Consummate the Marriage
		1 Thessalonians 5  2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
	N. The Chupa - Bridal Canopy
		John 14  2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
		Psalm 19:5 … a bridegroom coming out of his chamber...
	O. Bride walks around the Bridegroom
		Jeremiah 31:22 ...A woman shall compass a man.
	P. The Jewish man & wife spend 7 days alone to consummate the marriage in the wedding chamber
		Ephesians 5  25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
	Q. Wedding Feast - Marriage Supper – A Theme of Sukkot
		Revelation 19:7-9  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed (are) they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.  And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of G-d.
2007 Sukkot / Booths / Feast of Tabernacles
We gathered on Sunday afternoon, September 23rd, at the home of Doug & Lynda to build the sukka at their home.  Sukkot is the last of the Fall festivals mentioned in Leviticus 23.
			Leviticus 23 33The LORD said to Moses, 34"Say to the Israelites ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD’S Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 39"‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. 40On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42Live in booths for seven days All native-born Israelites are to live in booths 43so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’"
The 15th day of the 7th month on the Hebrew calendar is Tishri 15, which falls within the Gregorian Calendar months of September or October.  The Children of Israel were to build temporary dwellings, called sukkot or "booths", and were to dwell in them during the 7-day festival.
The sukka is built after Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) on Tishri 10 but must be completed before the beginning of Sukkot on Tishri 15.
This year, Sukkot began at sundown on Wednesday September 26th and ran through sundown on Wednesday October 3rd.
(Below) The men began by putting together the frame of the sukka
The children, aided by some of the ladies, prepared colorful paper chains to decorate the sukka
After the framing of the structure was completed (Left), we began to cover the walls with fabric (Right).
(Below) The third wall was covered with fabric
(Below) Curtis gave John Michael a few suggestions as they finished up the front
(Below) As we listened to music with Sukkot themes by Paul Wilbur, Jonathan Settel, Barry & Batya Segal, Steve McConnell, Lenny & Varda Harris & Kirk Dearman, Myrl & Becky pause to do some Israeli Folk Dance
(Below) The men and kids went to the woods to look for colorful branches for the top of the sukka
(Above) Helen and Mary Grace posed for a photo
As Bruce & the kids cut branches (above), Doug, Duke & Curtis were busy "snapping" photos.  Paul (Below) makes a humorous statement, "I wish I had brought my camera, too!"
(Below) Everyone got busy adding the branches to the top of the sukka
(Below) It was finally time to start adding the decorations.  Everyone in the group was invited to bring something personal to help with decorating the sukka.  Myrl used her basket-weaving skills to make a Star of David & then wrote the name of each family on them.
(Left) Becky had quilted a beautiful Star of David.  (Right) Paul & Susan hung the Star of David with their name, as well as a ceramic angel and an email from a dear friend.  Sheryl brought hot peppers as a remembrance of her family.
(Below) We added the paper chains, some hydrangeas as well as some wild flowers
(Below) Myrl, Duke & Sheryl added a little Ivy and some more wild flowers
(Below) The sukka was finished and we paused for a photo of the group
We completed the evening with a time of prayer, including praying for our Jewish friends, locally and abroad.
Since you're supposed to live in your sukka for seven days, it's customary to eat your meals and even sleep there (if weather permits).
We met on Erev Shabbat, Friday, September 28th to celebrate Sukkot as a group.  We had 50+ people in attendance - a large crowd for any home - but since we were meeting on Doug & Lynda's patio, we had ample room.
The weather was perfect for an Autumn evening to be outside from 6:30 to 11:30, and we enjoyed every bit of it.
Susan lit the festival candles
Barukh Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam Asher kidshanu b’mitzvohtav v’tzi-vanu l’hadleek ner shel Shabbat Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe who has set us apart by Your commandments and in whose Name we kindle the Sabbath lights
Carolyn read the scripture from Leviticus 23 about observing Sukkot and dwelling in booths, then we recited the festival blessings.
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam Shehecheyanu, V’ki’i’ma-nu, v’hig-i-a-nu laz-man ha-zeh Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe Who has given us life, and has sustained us, and has brought us to this season
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam Asher kidshanu b’mitz-vo-tav v’tze-va-nu, L’i-shev ba-sukka Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe Who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and commanded us to dwell in the Sukka
Chuck shared about the feast of Sukkot and the sukka, and gave us a "thumbs-up" approval for the sukka we had built on Doug & Lynda's patio.
Andy shared about the birth of Yeshua. Traditionally we have celebrated His birth on December 25th, but in actuality the time of His birth was more than likely during the Feast of Sukkot - when He came to tabernacle with us.
(Below) Sukkot is suppose to be the most joyous of all the Festivals. We moved into a time of praise, worship and dance.
(Below) As you can tell, the kids joined right in with the adults
We recited the blessing for Taking the Lulav.
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher kidshanu b’mitz-vo-tav v’tze-va-nu,  Al  n’tee-lat Lulav. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your Commandments, And has commanded us concerning the taking of the Lulav.
Curtis did a short teaching about the 4 species of the Lulav: the Etrog (Citron, similar to a lemon), the Lulav (Date Palm Branch), the Hadasim (3 Myrtle Branches), and the Aravot (2 Willow Branches). Yahweh commands in the Torah that we are to REJOICE with them for seven days.
Leviticus 23 40On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.
(Below) We passed the Lulav & Etrog and gave everyone a chance to smell the fragrance that comes from the Myrtle Branches and the Etrog.
We recited the blessing for waving the Lulav ...
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher kidshanu b’Yeshua, Asher bish-mo not-lim anachnu Lulav. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us in Yeshua, In Whose Name we wave the Lulav.
...Then waved it to the East, South, North, West, Up & Down - showing that Yahweh is everywhere.
Hodu L'Adonai Ki Tov, Ki L'Olam Chasdo! Give Thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever!
Paul shared about the ancient Water Libation Ceremony when the Priest would go down to the Pool of Siloam and scoop up water in golden vessels and carry it back to the temple to be poured (while mixing with wine) over the altar. It was during this ceremony each year that they would pray for rain for the upcoming year. It was in reference to the Water Libation Ceremony of Sukkot that Yeshua said ... "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.  He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."   With the severe drought we've had for past 6 months in the eastern part of the U.S., it definitely caused us to appreciate the blessings of rain that we receive from our Heavenly Father.
Doug shared about Simchat Torah, and the joys of Rejoicing in the Torah. How wonderful that Abba gave us His Word in order to live a fuller life. We rejoiced in the Torah by Dancing with our Bibles - passing them to the next person in line as we processed, mayim-ed and turned. May we always Rejoice in His Torah. Yeshua was and is the Torah made flesh.
(Below) Rejoicing in the Torah
We read Zechariah 14 - that speaks of our celebrating Sukkot during the Millennium Reign of Messiah Yeshua.
Zechariah 14:      4On that day his (Yeshua’s) feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.      8On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter.      9The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.      16Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.
We prayed for Israel & the U.S., as well as the Nations, and observed communion as family groups.
(Below) We rejoiced, sang and danced to the song "Latter Days" by Barry & Batya Segal which speaks of the Nations going up to Jerusalem each year to celebrate Sukkot.
(Above) The kids eventually took charge of the flags & banners
After sounding the shofar again, we entered into a time of Oneg (food and fellowship).
(Below) Abbey, Peter, Savanna and Mary enjoy the Sukka during Oneg
(Below) Ali & Beth enjoyed the good food that everyone brought
(Left) 5-year-old Koen Popovich showed us he could blow the shofar as good - or even better - than most adults (Right) Koen, Moshe & Peter examined the variety of shofarim that people had brought
(Below) After everyone had eaten, the music started again and so did the dancing - Moshe, Amber, Curtis, Alexa and Lori danced to Kirk Dearman's "Peace of Jerusalem"
Chag Sameach Sukkot - A Joyous Sukkot Holiday!
Catawba Queen Cruise
On Sunday evening, October 14th, Doug & Lynda, Paul & Susan, Duke & Myrl, Chuck & Janice, Carolyn & Curtis did a Lake Norman dinner cruise on the Catawba Queen.  The Catawba Queen is a replica of a Mississippi River Paddle Wheeler River Boat.  We boarded at 6:30 PM and the cruise was underway by 7:00 PM.
(Above) Carolyn, Susan, Paul, Lynda, Doug, Janice, Chuck, Myrl & Duke
After the cruise was underway, we all up to the top of the boat while our meal was being prepared.
(Below) Curtis & Carolyn
(Below) Leaving Queens Landing
Because of the severe drought that we had been suffering, the waters of Lake Norman were down 10 feet.  The evening temperature was perfect.
(Above) Carolyn with Doug, Lynda, Paul & Susan
(Below Left) Chuck & Janice (Below Right) Duke & Myrl
There was a beautiful sunset on the lake and even a small sliver of the moon.
Our meal included a choice of steak, salmon or herb chicken.
Paul & Susan "celebrated" their 50th Wedding Anniversary - or so it was announced by Captain Ron. Funny thing is they don't look that old!
So, What does our cruise on the Catawba Queen have to do with Israeli Folk Dance?
When a few of us get together, it doesn't take long before we find ourselves dancing. We weren't inhibited by the fact that there were others on board who were watching us.
Yahweh is a great God and worthy to be praised in every aspect of our daily lives.
Hanukkah
We gathered together on Friday evening December 7th to observe Hanukkah as a group.  Because of the growth we've experienced over the past few years, especially during Festival meetings, we decided to have our Hanukkah celebration in the Covenant Family Life Center.  There were about 50 in attendance.
The crowd started to arrive around 6:15, some to help with setting up chairs, tables, decorations, etc., others to fellowship and chat.
We've always welcomed children as an important part of our group as we study our Biblical heritage and embrace the Festivals of the Lord.
Curtis and Doug make final plans for the evening
We had a few Hanukkias for the Festival evening, but only lit one
As we prepared to lite the Hanukkia, Yahweh lit up the sky
Eight-year-old Peter lit the Hanukkia for us.  Since it was the fourth night of Hanukkah, Peter lit the Shamash (the helper candle), then lit 4 candles from left to right.
Baruch  Atah  Adonai  Eloheinu  Melech  Ha'Olam Shehecheyanu  Vekeyimanu  Vehigiahnu Lazman Hazeh.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season.
Baruch  Atah  Adonai  Eloheinu  Melech  Ha'Olam Asher  Kideshanu  Be'mitzvotav Vetzivanu  Lehadlik Ner  Chanukah.
Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and in whose name we kindle the lights of Chanukah.
Baruch  Atah  Adonai  Eloheinu  Melech  Ha'Olam He'asa  Nisim  L'avoteinu  Ba'a'im  Ha'eim Biz’man  Ha'zeh.
Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old at this season.
Susan lit the Shabbat candles. Paul did the blessings over the bread & wine.
We had a time of Praise, Worship & Dance
Children learn by word & example how to worship the Lord
... and of course the Hanukkah play!
Alexander the Great defeated the Persians and the Medes. He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. After Alexander’s death, his officers began to rule, each in his own place. They all put on crowns, and brought much evil into the world. The evil Syrian king, King Antiochus Epiphanes, took control of Israel.  Before long, people became more concerned about pleasing their leaders, than about pleasing God.  Because of persecution, it became easier just to try to blend in … and some did.  Antiochus passed laws forbidding observing Shabbat and the Biblical Festivals.  He also passed laws forbidding Jews from circumcising their male children after their births, eventually putting many to dead.  Eventually he went so far as to profane the temple of God by offering pigs on the Holy alter of God to the god Zeus. As a result of Antiochus' evil doings, Mattathias Maccabee and his son, Judah, led a revolt - eventually defeating Antiochus.  The temple was cleansed but there was only enough of the holy oil to burn in the menorah for one day until more could be made.  A great miracle happened there - the oil that should have only lasted for one day, lasted for eight days, until more could be made.
Each year we try to make the play a little different.
The play itself is a "spontaneous" play, meaning that people don't know they have a part in the play until it actually begins.  That tends to add to the excitement and humor.
We frequently have more women at our meetings then men, and having enough men to portray the "all-men" characters of the play seemed difficult.  So, this year I decided to use all women.  Joe M. was the only male who landed a part in our play this year's play, as one of our Narrators.
(Left to Right) Susan (King Antiochus Epithanes), Sheryl (our hero, Judah Maccabee), Allison (Narrator), Doris (our other hero, Mattathias Maccabee), Joe (Narrator), Laura (King Antiochus' Servant), Carolyn (Narrator), Jane (the righteous Jew, James), Janice & Christi (two Jews who chose to compromise)
The play told the miraculous story of Hanukkah and with the fake beards & costumes, provided lots of humor for the kids & adults.
Interested in seeing the entire script?  Click the link below:
Hanukkah Play