Feast of Trumpets Scripture Reading List (Yom Teruah)

Here are Bible verses to be read during the Feast of Trumpets, or studied in this time leading up to this Biblical holiday. These are parts of Scripture that directly relate to the Feast of Trumpets or that connect with it through mentions of shofars, the return of the Messiah, and other promises God has made surrounding this special day. Also known as Yom Teruah, or the Day of Sounding, Trumpets is a multifaceted day and there a ton of different Scriptures and topics that would be fitting to study.

As the main themes of the Feast of Trumpets are remembrance, and the sounding of the shofar it would be very appropriate to study each on this day. You could do a word study of all of the things YHWH or Yahusha say to remember. I did this as I was gathering this reading list and I would definitely recommend that. You could totally do some art journaling or another activity based on these verses too. Taking a look at where we see shofars and what they stand for throughout Scripture is also time well spent. Of course, a special emphasis on repentance is fitting for all the feast days and we would do well to brush up on a few verses about that.

Prophetically it is believed that the Messiah will return on Trumpets, which would be another great study topic! The return of the Messiah and the start of his reign here on earth. Many verses mention his return and the sounding of shofars together so we can easily see the connection to the Feast of Trumpets.

Here are a few of my favorites to read during this time.

Scriptures to Read During the Feast of Trumpets:

Leviticus 23:23-25 - instruction for this holiday.

Numbers 29:1-6 - instructions for offerings on this day.

Genesis 21:1-13 - a traditional passage to read. 

Genesis 22 - the sounding of the shofar is connected with the ram being sacrificed instead of Isaac.

1 Samuel 1-2:10 - it is traditionally believed that Hannah conceived during Yom Teruah.

Jeremiah 31  - Trumpets is described as a day of remembering and this passage is about YHWH remembering his people.

Psalm 98:6 - with shofars shout joyfully before YHWH.

John 15-16:4 - the Messiah instructs us to remember these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 - this significant event could be happening during a future Feast of Trumpets.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 - The Messiah will return during a blast of the shofar.

Revelation 8-11 - the seven shofar blasts.

More on the Feast of Trumpets:
The Beginner's Guide to the Feast of Trumpets
The Meaning of Yom Teruah
The Significance of the Shofar During Trumpets

Yom Teruah Printable Card

The first of the Fall Feasts will be here in just a few days! Either this Sunday or Monday evening as we wait to see the new moon. I hope you are going to celebrate this Festival of YHWH. A couple of you sent me projects you're working on inspired by Music & Moonlight party from a few posts back, and I can't wait to see more pictures!

I put together a printable card you can download to wish someone in your life a joyful Yom Teruah! Just print off, fold in half width wise, and then fold width-wise again. This printed best for me when the 'fit picture to frame' option was selected in the normal printing preferences box in Windows. I used a thin type of card stock paper to make this card a little more sturdy, but regular paper will do the job as well.

Download my printable Yom Teruah card here. It is free for your personal use.

Have a very happy Feast of Trumpets! Make a joyful noise!

Elegant Feast of Trumpets Party Idea: Music and Moonlight

Here is a fantastic theme for a Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah celebration: music and moonlight! Scripture tells us that for this Biblical holiday, festivities call for not working, lots of music and shofar blasts, and that it happens under the light of the Biblical calendar's seventh new moon. That's what we're going with to throw a beautiful and elegant party, complete with DIY decorations like signage and place settings that utilize old sheet music!

Music and moonlight. We are taking what Scripture says and going with it. The foundation of this table setting is super simple. I picked up a book of sheet music at a thrift store, cut the pages out, and taped them together until I had a runner that was long enough for my table. It took only a few minutes and cost pennies, making it a very inexpensive table setting for the Feast of Trumpets.

Why not have an evening under the stars and take advantage of the nice fall weather? Traditionally, to confirm the right day and hour for Yom Teruah, the new moon was searched for, so it makes sense to be outside. Lovely music is always a happy addition to any of the feasts, but it is never more appropriate than for the holiday that is literally known as Trumpets and is about the power of sound. What an opportunity we have for worship!

I used my sheet music again. This time I stuck it in a regular printer, and captured the theme of the evening, music and moonlight. You could also print things like:

Welcome to the Feast of Trumpets
Happy Yom Teruah!

Make a joyful noise
Shout to God with a voice of joy. -Psalm 47:1
Sound the trumpets.
Guest's names

The thirty cent piano songbook was put to use again to make a custom Yom Teruah bunting sign or banner. This makes for such an easy DIY project but looks quite lovely as you can see! It can be done in a printer or entirely by hand.

Here's how to make a DIY Yom Teruah sign.

You will need:
Sheet music pages
String
Glue or tape
Printer or markers or paint

What you do for the printer version:

Put pieces of sheet music where your regular paper goes. It will need to be of similar size to the paper you regularly print on.

Select a font you like and individually print letters to spell out the message you'd like your banner to say. I went with Yom Teruah, but you could certainly do Happy Yom Teruah or Happy Trumpets, or whatever else you'd like.

After you've printed the letters, cut the paper into triangles.

Tape or glue your letters onto string.

To do this by hand:

Simply cut your sheet music into triangles and write or paint on the letters. Once they are dry, tape or glue the letter signs on the string.

Flowers for the Yom Teruah table. Look for wildflowers that are in season in your area! The yellow flower on the table is goldenrod and it makes for lovely decoration. You could also gift your guests with a small vase of it if you'd like.

What's a lovelier way to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets than with a candlelit alfresco dinner with string music? If your family or congregation has musicians, you can ask them to take turns playing. A group hymn sign would also be beautiful. Not musically inclined? Play worship music in the background.

This celebration theme of music and moonlight is a beautiful way to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets, and can be done very inexpensively. In addition to shofar sounding and any live music, create a playlist of background music to play during dinner. Good violin or piano is very elegant and I like to play string versions of my favorite songs.

These ideas go to show that it can be quite simple to put together an elegant celebration to honor God during the Feast of Trumpets. Make decorations out of inexpensive sheet music, use instruments and wildflowers as part of your decor, and play festive music. If you have a menorah it will look stunning lit around dusk!

More ideas for the fall feasts:
Swoon Worthy Yom Teruah Party
Easy Stargazing Sukkot Party
The Beginner's Guide to the Feast of Trumpets

Looking Ahead To The Fall Feasts

This is your reminder that the Fall Feasts of YHWH will be here soon! Summer is definitely my favorite weather but I do find it easier to let go of as I look forward to celebrating the festivals. Maybe that's not an accident? :) For those of us who follow the traditional calendar we still have some time, but now is our chance to prepare by taking time off work and planning how you are going to celebrate.

Yom Teruah: 
In Scripture this is a one day holiday, but since it is the only feast to fall on a new moon we aren't positive about when it will land. Therefore, this is traditionally observed on two days.
Starting in the evening on October 2 and going through sundown on October 4. Yom Teruah is a no work day.

Yom Kippur:
This is a no work day and a fast day. October 11 in the evening until October 12 at sundown.

Sukkot:
Starts the evening of October 16 and goes through October 24th at sundown. Hopefully you can free yourself up to celebrate as much as possible but the only mandatory no work days are the evening of October 16 until sundown the 17th, then October 23 in the evening until sundown the 24th. Since this is a camp out festival you will want to start thinking about what you are going to do for a sukkah this year.

Traditionally the day after Sukkot is a celebration known as Simchat Torah, where the final Torah portion of the cycle is read. This is a time of great joy, but this day is not found in Scripture. 

If you want a printable download of the dates you can find it here. 

Swoon Worthy Yom Teruah Party

Today I'm excited to share with you a Yom Teruah celebration that I've been envisioning most of the summer. Pink and gold? Apples and lace? Yes, please!

For me, parties are about creating a lovely atmosphere while staying true to my beliefs about conscious consumerism. The last thing I wanted was to go buy a bunch of things that would end up in the trash or shoved in a closet. With those ideals in mind, I'm happy with what I put together for the first of the Fall Feasts. Other than the balloons, everything you see is something I already had or borrowed. So no need to invest big money or haul away garbage bags of disposables when you're done!

Since the menorah represents the presence of YHWH I wanted to include that front and center. And to make this tablescape clearly for Yom Teruah, what better than shofars?

This simple printable is from Tehillim 100. It is usually translated, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord of the earth." But is closer to, "Make a noise of simcha to YHWH, all the lands." If you wanted to use it as a place card you could go with something like, "Make a joyful noise, Rachel."

 The large tablecloth belonged to my grandmother. I added a smaller tablecloth and table runner from my mom for more texture and interest.

 While apples are a traditional food to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, that's not the reason I went with them. I originally wanted peaches (imagine the scent!), but since I have an apple tree about twenty feet right of this photo I decided to utilize those. You could use whatever is in season in your part of the world.

The bushel baskets are something I found in my grandparents garage a while back. My grandmother used to by huge amounts of fruit to freeze or preserve so they are from some nearby orchard. I actually use them quite a bit for fruit and squash picking.

Letter balloons. All the heart eyes! Originally I wanted the huge ones that can float, but then thinking about logistics (IS there a vehicle that can hold nine 40 inch balloons?!) and cost ($10+ each) I decided to go with the one foot size. They don't float but look great when hung on string or ribbon!

And the apples? They are simmering on the stove as they become applesauce.

I'm looking forward to celebrating Yom Teruah in just a few days! I hope you are too! Chag sameach!

Fall Feast Gift Ideas

Though presents aren't typically associated with the Fall Festivals I thought it would be fun to share a few items that are appropriate for these set apart times. Giving something to a friend, making it at a party, using to decorate, or keeping it for yourself is your decision. :)

On a side note, I signed up for The Climbing Tree's Fall Feast Countdowns and it is so enjoyable! Talia sends out an email each day with a craft or activity to do and a brief devotional. She has tons of great ideas for teaching kids about the feasts too! The email list continues through Sukkot so you still have plenty of time to sign up.

Menorah Stickers by Petite Paperie - $1.50
-Why wouldn't you want these?

Shofar Cookie Cutter from Big Cat Crafts - $1.99
-So you can make your own shofar cookies during Yom Teruah.

Happy Challah Day Card on Modern Tribe - $4
-Works for any feast day.

High Holiday Nail Decals by Midrash Manicures - $11.99
-Just awesome.

Seven Species Magnets by TamarHammersArt - $12
-Fridge decor for Sukkot.

From Society 6.

Genesis 15:5 Art Print by Kevin Ohlin - $18
-The counting the stars verse we remember during Sukkot. Also available as a rug, card, tote, and more.

Pomegranate Tea Towel on Modern Tribe- $19
-A pretty and useful Yom Teruah present that doubles as kitchen decor.

From Society 6.

Sukkot Festival Poster by Melek Design - $20 
-Also available in other forms. I particularly want it as a blanket.

Feast of Trumpets Shirt by Yeshua Shirts - $26
-They sell shirts for each feast day.

DIY Projects

Constellation Printable by Mr. Printables
-The perfect guide for stargazing during Sukkot.

Pomegranate Sugar Scrub from The Casual Craftlete
-Who wouldn't love this gift for Yom Teruah? Bonus: simple to make.

Photo by Jared Smith.

Breakfast Macaroons from Sugar & Cloth
-Wouldn't it be fun to have these at a Yom Kippur 'break fast'?!

Yom Teruah Printable from Land of Honey
-I think you need this in your life.

Happy Little Camper Printable by Rae Ann Kelly
-Decorate your Sukkah!

Memory Jar from Alice and Lois
-A simple gift to emphasis remembrance during Yom Teruah.

Photo by Mary Costa.

Palm Frond balloons from Studio DIY
-Surprise a friend with these during Sukkot.

Dried Citrus Garland from Free People
-Use etrog or any handy citrus fruit to decorate your Sukkah.

Palm Print Pillows from Dream Green DIY
-Lovely in your sukkah or as an indoor reminder.

Galaxy Necklace from Oh The Lovely Things
-During Sukkot, bring on the galaxy projects.

What did I miss? Let me know what you want to receive for the feasts!

Yom Teruah Printable

I'm sharing a pretty printable today to get ready for Yom Teruah!

Yom Teruah is one of the most overlooked of the Hebrew holidays, in my opinion, so I thought it would be fun to make a sign to decorate with. How pretty are those watercolor ranunculous? (Courtesy of Angie Makes, love her stuff!) It is completely free for your personal use so download it and start getting ready for the Feasts!

Click here to download!

The Fall Feasts

Just a reminder that the Fall Feasts are approaching quickly! It's hard to believe isn't it?

Yom Teruah is September 24 at sundown until the 25th at sundown. Rabinically through the 26th.

Yom Kippur is October 3 at sundown and the eight day celebration of Sukkot begins October 8th. 


Though Yom Teruah falls in the seventh month it is considered the new year spiritually, on the Hebrew calendar (it will be the year 5775), and is known as Rosh Hashanah--the head of the year.
Tell the people of Israel, "In the seventh month, the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar. Do not do any kind of ordinary work, and bring an offering made by fire to YHWH." -Vayikra 23:23-25

Where these feasts fall on the calendar used to seem a bit off to me. Last year I was so frustrated with the timing of the festivals and their no-work prohibitions because the garden was ripe with produce and if I wasn't working I needed to be preserving the harvest. I felt I didn't have time for extra days off, in addition to Shabbat. Finally, it occurred to me that might be exactly why YHWH positioned the feasts when he did. Because he knew we wouldn't make time to rest in the midst of the harvest. Surely he anticipated what a hectic time of year this is for an agriculturally driven society. He is taking care of us, making sure when get rest even when we don't look out for ourselves. 

Slowing down for the feasts is a natural and lovely transition between seasons. It is a time to let go of the frantic pace of summer, refocus on YHWH and embrace this new, slower season.

Rest. Remembrance. Shofar. Offering.

Let's get ready for this new year! We are just two weeks away!