Leviticus Chapter 23 וַיִּקְרָא
“1. Adonai said to Moshe: 2. Tell the people of Israel: The appointed times of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as holy convocations (מִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ ), are My appointed times (מוֹעֲדָי ) 3 . Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a Shabbat of complete rest, a holy convocation; you are not to do any kind of work; it is a Shabbat for Adonai in all your homes. 4. These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations, you are to proclaim at their appointed times.”
In Hebrew these appointed times are called moedim (מועדים). G-D appointed special times in the calendar year for us to set time aside for him. The word moedim does not solely mean a festive time or a season of celebration. It is a time to remember and reflect on all of the times when God revealed Himself to mankind.
The Hebrew language has fewer words than our English language, yet every word is rich with meaning. Likewise the words mikraei kodesh ( מִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ ), which are translated as holy convocation, can also mean dressed rehearsal.
There are four Spring moedim and three Fall moedim. Below is a list of their English names with Hebrew transliteration:
Spring Moedim
Passover – Pesach
Feast of Unleavened Bread – Hag HaMatzot
First Fruits – Yom Habikkurim
Festival of Weeks (Pentecost) – Shavuot
Fall Moedim
Feast of Trumpets– Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashanah)
Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur
Feast of Tabernacles– Sukkot
To the Jewish people, the moedim are important. They are commanded by G-D, and are times of celebration and remembering. Children grow up with these traditions and pass them on from generation to generation.
Sadly, most Christians do not understand the history and meaning of Jewish holidays, even though Jesus – born into a Jewish family – observed them. They are not familiar with the various Feast Days, and what each of them represents.
Israel serves as an example and a lesson to the world. Understanding its holidays will therefore help us understand what the Almighty wants to teach us. If the moedim are important to Him, they should also be important to us.
Standing with Israel 