Shabbat Parah? Holy Saturday? Shabbat Shalom!
Today, many followers of Our Saviour are honouring His death by observing Holy Saturday a day of watching and waiting after His sacrificial death. While it is wonderful people took the time to honour the final Passover meal Our Saviour had with His disciples, His sacrificial death and tomorrow they will celebrate His resurrection. However, it grieves me that they may miss out on blessings by celebrating these important historical events on the wrong dates! Why?
You see, Passover this year, according to the people who have been celebrating it since it started, will be on April 22 in 2024.
Why I No Longer Celebrate Passover at This Time
When I was a child and didn't know any better, I too celebrated Passover along with all the trappings of the pagan holiday - Easter with bunnies, eggs and so on.
I regret trying to find ways to weave those pagan symbols into the Sunday school lessons I taught when I was grown and had children of my own - explaining that the coloured eggs represented the stone that was rolled away from the tomb. Why on earth would anyone in their right mind distribute colouring pages to children with a picture of a cross decorated with eggs and rabbits - fertility symbols of a pagan goddess? Obviously, I was oblivious to the truth.
However, from the time I was quite young, I was unsettled by the fact that people were marking the seventh day of rest on the first day of the week, rather than on the seventh day as decreed by Our Father. Shabbat was decreed by Our Father in Exodus when we were set free from centuries of backbreaking slavery. At that time we had no idea what it meant to take a break and rest. It was a totally foreign concept to us. It is a blessing to take that break on the last day of the week. It is interesting how many people recognize that it is truly time to take a break today and will say TGIF.
When I was reborn on August 13, 2011, and I started to perceive the directions of the Holy Spirit who abides in me, I was gently and intently guided to read the scriptures very carefully and apply them to my life- not because I had to, but because I wanted to get closer to this amazing Creator who loves us so much.
I remember the day I read "I tire of your New Moon feasts" and perceived in my heart "When will you celebrate my Sabbaths?"
Well, that certainly got my attention! It had never been my intention not to honour Our Creator! I then started on my journey of little-by-little learning more and more about these special Sabbaths and dates that Our Creator set aside for us - His bride. However, I still was not doing much about what I was learning. Then last year as I pondered how to remember a certain scripture, it was put in my heart "Look in the Book". Well, I let the Holy Spirit do the talking and my fingers do the walking. When I opened my Bible the first verse my eyes were guided to see was Ez 20:20! I had to laugh - Easy! 20;20!
This was one of those moments of shared puns - one that answered my unspoken question in fun! What does Ezekiel 20:20 say?
"Sanctify my Sabbaths and it will be a sign between me and thee that I am your God!"
So that brings us to today - the celebration of Cow Sabbath-Shabbat, AdarII, 5784.
Several years ago I was blessed to attend a Messianic service in Ottawa where Rabbi David Stone Jr. of Beaumont Texas was the guest speaker. Rabbi David Stone Jr. was born into the Catholic faith, but as he read more and more and learned more and more he too realized the importance of these special days set aside by Our Creator. After much training, he became a Torah-observant Messianic Rabbi.
Rabbi Stone offers Messianic Studies each Shabbat in person and online. Since Beaumont, Texas is far away from me, I participate online whenever I can get the internet to work properly at the right time, and when things do not work out for me, I can watch the replay and post any questions on Rabbi David Stone Jr.'s Facebook page. and he answers them.
Rabbi David posts the readings for the Shabbat each Thursday so folks can prepare their minds ahead of time and come primed for learning.
This week Rabbi David posted the following scriptures to be studied for this Shabbat:
This is Shabbat Parah which means "Sabbath of the 'cow'"Yes, I'm serious! It deals with the use of the purification process with the red heifer ashes before Passover.Get ready Cowboys and Cowgirls.The name of the Torah portion is "Tzav" which means 'Command'.
- Torah- Leviticus 6:8 (verse 1 in a Jewish published Bible) to 8:36 and Numbers 19:1-22
- Haftarah- Ezekiel 36:16-38
- New Covenant- Hebrews 9:11-28
Why These Readings at This Time?
When I searched "Cow Shabbat" I found something interesting posted on My Jewish Learning:
The reason Shabbat Parah is read prior to the Hebrew month of Nisan is that the purification rite of the red heifer readies us for Passover. It removes the stain of death — both the contaminating husks of the old year, and perhaps also the violence and chaos sacralized by Purim.
There are 10 days left before the first month of the New Year - Nisan. It is time for spring cleaning - cleaning of all our four houses or the four aspects of our being.
Rabbi David Stone also explained that this is the first Shabbat after Purim.
Torah Portion Thoughts and Resources
Leviticus 6:8 to 8:36 and Numbers 19:1-22 - Overview
Here is a brief synopsis of the Torah readings put together with the help of Copilot AI. These passages provide insights into ancient Israelite religious practices, emphasizing holiness, atonement, and ritual purity.
Leviticus 6:8-8:3 is mostly about sacrifices and offerings in ancient Israelite worship. These include the following:
- Burnt Offerings: - Regulations for the burnt offering are outlined. - The burnt offering remains on the altar hearth throughout the night, and the fire must be kept burning. - Priests wear linen clothes and remove ashes from the burnt offering. - Grain offerings are also described, emphasizing their holiness. -
- Sin Offerings: - The sin offerings is slaughtered before the LORD. - The priest who offers it may eat it in the sanctuary area. - Specific instructions are given for handling blood and flesh.
- Ordination of Aaron and His Sons - Aaron and his sons are consecrated as priests. Rituals involving anointing, sacrifices, and offerings are performed.
Thoughts on this Torah Portion
The ritual of the Red Heifer seems to be really causing quite a stir right now. There are some people who are quite sure that the Messiah will be coming very soon to do the sacrifice of the Red Heifer in Israel. In preparation for this, three red heifers that were born in the United States have been shipped to Israel to await the coming of the Messiah. Will He return soon? Some believe He will before the end of the month of Adar!
Rabi David Stone Jr. shared some very interesting insights into these ancient books in the Shabbat Study that are definitely worth listening to. Take a listen to this!
Sources: Conversation with Bing, 4/2/2024
(1) Leviticus 6:8-8:36 NIV - The Burnt Offering - The LORD said to - Bible .... https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%206%3A8-8%3A36&version=NIV.
(2) Numbers 19 NIV - The Water of Cleansing - The LORD said - Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2019&version=NIV.
(3) Leviticus 6:8-8:36 ESV - The Priests and the Offerings - The - Bible .... https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%206:8-8:36&version=ESV.
(4) Shabbat Parah 2024 - Shabbat of the Red Heifer - Hebcal. https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/shabbat-parah-2024.
(5) Parashat Tzav | My Jewish Learning. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/torah-portions/parashat-tzav/.
(6) Leviticus 6 NIV - The LORD said to Moses: “If anyone - Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%206&version=NIV.
(7) Numbers 19:1–22 ESV - Now the LORD spoke to… | Biblia. https://biblia.com/bible/esv/numbers/19.
(8) Numbers 19:1-22 - BibleGateway.com. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+19%3A1-22%3A1&version=NASB.
(9) Numbers 19:1–22 NIV - The LORD said to Moses and… | Biblia. https://biblia.com/bible/niv/numbers/19/1-22.
(10) Numbers 19 KJV - And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto - Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2019&version=KJV.
(11) leviticus 6 : 8 to 8 : 36|Pin on My Bible Study Journal. https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/208784132701725782/.
(12) leviticus 6 : 8 to 8 : 36|UNLEAVENED BREAD | Morning Devotions. https://morningdevotions.se/unleavened-bread/.
(13) leviticus 6 : 8 to 8 : 36|Sacrifice, Atonement, and Holiness in Leviticus. https://blog.cph.org/study/sacrifice-atonement-and-holiness-in-leviticus.
(14) leviticus 6 : 8 to 8 : 36|Leviticus. https://www.pinterest.ca/cinnersaved/leviticus/.
(15) leviticus 6 : 8 to 8 : 36|Book of Leviticus Word Search - WordMint. https://wordmint.com/public_puzzles/671377.
(16) leviticus 6 : 8 to 8 : 36|Pin on Craft Ideas. https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/539165386633729831/.
(17) numbers 19 : 1 22|How to Remember Multiplication Tables - Twinkl Teaching Wiki. https://www.twinkl.ca/teaching-wiki/remember-multiplication-tables.
(18) numbers 19 : 1 22|All About Number 19 Activity Mat with Numicon Shapes. https://www.twinkl.ca/resource/t-n-2546589-all-about-number-19-activity-mat.
(19) numbers 19 : 1 22|Los Numeros 1-20. https://mungfali.com/explore.php?q=Los Numeros 1-20.
(20) numbers 19 : 1 22|Number Flashcards Printable 1-20 Black And White | Number flashcards .... https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/88383211427389424/.
(21) numbers 19 : 1 22|Roman Numerals | System of Numbers | Symbol of Roman Numerals |Numbers. https://www.math-only-math.com/roman-numerals.html.
(22) numbers 19 : 1 22|Large Printable Numbers 1 30 Pdf | Printable numbers, Free printable .... https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/school-time--511721576420754348/.
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About This Author
Sister Su is grateful to God for keeping her alive. She is a Trent/Queen's Concurrent Education graduate with over 20 years of teaching experience. She writes on several blogs, has a YouTube channel and is most easily reached through Twitter @Sister_Su See her link tree for more details:@Sister_Su | Linktree
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