The Shofar Newsletter
THE SHOFAR Newsletter of Bet Yeshurun Messianic Assembly
Good News for the Assembly of Bet Yeshurun
No. 1707 / October 17, 2025
2025 Gatherings (services start at 3:00 pm; doors open an hour earlier. )
10/18 Chodesh (Celebrating the 8th month of the Divine Year) *
10/19 Sabbath
10/25 Praise & Worship
10/26 Sabbath
11/1 Praise & Worship
11/2 Sabbath
11/8 Praise & Worship
11/9 Sabbath
11/15 Praise & Worship
11/16 Sabbath
* A Holy Day like Sabbaths (a day for no work)
2025 Schedule for Reading the Bible in One-Year
Jubilees Book (Jobel: a joyful shout, a sound of trumpets) R. H. Charles Translation
10/14 - Chapters 1 – 3 10/15 - Chapters 4 – 6 10/16 - Chapters 7 – 9
10/17 - Chapters 10 – 13 10/18 - Chapters 14 – 17 10/19 - Chapters 18 – 22
10/20 - Chapters 23 – 26 10/21 - Chapters 27 – 29 10/22 - Chapters 30 – 33
10/23 - Chapters 34 – 37 10/24 - Chapters 38 – 43 10/25 - Chapters 44 – 47
10/26 - Chapters 48 – 50
Apocrypha (Hidden Writings); 1 Esdras; 1611 KJV
10/27 - Chapters 1 – 3 10/28 - Chapters 4 – 6 10/29 - Chapters 7 – 9
Apocrypha (Hidden Writings); 2 Esdras; 1611 KJV
10/30 - Chapters 1 – 3 10/31 - Chapters 4 – 6 11/1 - Chapters 7 – 9
11/2 - Chapters 10 – 12 11/3 - Chapters 13 – 16
Apocrypha (Hidden Writings); Tobit; 1611 KJV
11/4 - Chapters 1 – 3 11/5 - Chapters 4 – 6 11/6 - Chapters 7 – 10
11/7 - Chapters 11 – 14
Apocrypha (Hidden Writings); Judith; 1611 KJV
11/8 - Chapters 1 – 4 11/9 - Chapters 5 – 8 11/10 - Chapters 9 – 12
11/11 - Chapters 13 – 16
Apocrypha (Hidden Writings); Additions to Esther; 1611 KJV
11/12 - Chapters 10 – 13 11/13 - Chapters 14 – 16
Apocrypha (Hidden Writings); Wisdom of Solomon; 1611 KJV
11/14 - Chapters 1 – 5 11/15 - Chapters 6 – 10 11/16 - Chapters 11 – 15
11/17 - Chapters 16 – 19
Tabernacle Invitation
Interested in joining Bet Yeshurun Assembly? Please contact Pastor ObadiYah by email, telephone, mail, or in person at a gathering of Yahushuah’s Body.
Another Great Day
(Leviticus 23:33-36) The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be a Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) for seven days unto YAHUAH. The first day, shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no servile work therein. Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire unto YAHUAH. On the eighth day, shall be a holy convocation unto you. You shall offer an offering made by fire unto YAHUAH. It is a solemn assembly. You shall do no servile work therein.
After camping out 7-days for Sukkoth 2025 as an offering unto YAH, many at Bet Yeshurun (BYA) stayed for one more day in Dundee, Michigan. This Shofar will focus on the spiritual aspects of that eighth day; a Sabbath of which YAHUAH repeats instructions about solemnly gathering for it: (Leviticus 23:39) In the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a Feast unto YAHUAH seven days. On the first day shall be a Sabbath and on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath. (Numbers 29:35) On the eighth day, you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall do no servile work therein.
This eighth-day assembling is separate and distinct from Tabernacles. Called “Eighth Solemn Assembly” or “Shemini Atzarah” in Hebrew, Strong's Concordance explains“shemiyniy” (H8066) means “eighth”and the “solemn assembly” is from “atzarah” (H6116) a derivative of “atzar.” It means “to hold back, keep up close, to maintain, assemble.”In English, the word “solemn”speaks of a Day, which is“sacred in character; a formal ceremony; arousing awe because of its great importance or seriousness.” (Webster’s Dictionary)
The spiritual view of this Last Great Day in YAH's fall Festival pictures the Messiah's saints arriving into their promised rest. Similar to the 7-day custom of celebrating weddings in ancient times, day-8 can be likened to Yahushuah (the Groom) asking His Church (the Bride) to linger 1-day more with Him. The Bride’s wedding gift for faithfully obeying Torah is spending an eternity in Yah's new creation. Indeed, enjoying the privilege to “atzar” with Yah for eternal life seems like a dream. An incomprehensible thought! Yet faithfully trusting Elohim in love and obedience throughout our physical lives means we can count upon unimaginable riches in the hereafter. Isn’t it totally Yah-some to receive His invitation “to hold back” with Him?
What might prevent us from keeping up close with Yah? Is selfishness, fear or anger pushing us away from Him? Can we completely offer our mind, heart and soul to Elohim? Or, do worldly distractions hinder us from “atzar” with Yah? Will a desire for material wealth here on earth block His spiritual invite? (see Mark 10:17-30)
The solemn (serious) nature of The Last Great Day reflects the consequences of choosing a material life over a spiritual one. Those who reject, ignore or neglect to heed the call for repentance to obey Torah’s Way of Life and Yah’s teachings, sayings and commands will lose their opportunity to “atzar” in Elohim’s rest. Those who accept Yah’s invite can realize the opportunity afforded through YAHUAH’s Plan of Salvation. Hence, its bittersweet solemnity! (Matthew 22:11-14) “When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who had not a wedding-garment. He said to him, ‘Friend, how came you in here, not having a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away and cast him into utter darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For, many are called, but few are chosen.”
The 8-days is spiritually significant. According to E. M. Bullinger’s “The Spiritual Significance of Numbers,” biblical numbers can convey messages and regarding the number eight, he writes, “eight denotes resurrection, regeneration, a new beginning, or commencement.” Further consider that when king Solomon had finished constructing a Temple in Jerusalem, the nation of Israel consecrated it at Sukkoth by dedicating it during theirShemini Atzarah celebration: (2 Chronicles 7:9-10)In the eighth day they made a solemn assembly for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. On the three and twentieth day of the seventh month, he sent the people away to their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that YAHUAH had shown to David, to Solomon and to Israel, His people. (Also see 1 Kings 8)
That numerical pattern repeats in Scripture. For example, when Israelite exiles returned from captivity in Babylon (spiritual symbol of a state of confusion), they rebuilt the Temple, then celebrated its new beginning also at Sukkoth, which was followed by Shemini Atzarah: (Nehemiah 8:14-18) They found written in Torah, which YAHUAH commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the Feast of the seventh month and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Go forth to the Mount, fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.’ So the people went forth, brought them and made booths, every one upon the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of the House of Elohim, in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. All the congregation of those who once again came out of the captivity made booths and sat under the booths. For since the days of Yahoshuah, son of Nun, until that day the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness. Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read in the book of Torah of Elohim. They kept the feast seven days. On the eighth day was a solemn assembly according unto the manner.
Consider one more prophetic picture when Moses initiated Aaron and sons as Israel’s priests at a festival of 7+1-day in the wilderness: (Leviticus 8:35 – 9:6) You shall abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days. Keep the charge of YAHUAH that you not die, for so I am commanded. So, Aaron and his sons did all things that YAHUAH commanded by the hand of Moses. It came to pass on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel. He said to Aaron, ‘Take a young calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before YAHUAH.’ To the children of Israel you shall speak, saying, ‘Take a kid of the goats for a sin offering; a calf and a lamb, both of the first years, without blemish, for a burnt offering. Also, a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before YAHUAH; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for today YAHUAH will appear to you. They brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation. The entire congregation drew near, stood before YAHUAH, and Moses said, “This is the thing which YAHUAH commanded that you should do and the glory of YAHUAH shall appear unto you.”
The 7+1-day pattern is very important! (Ezekiel 43:26-27) Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it. They shall consecrate themselves. When these days are expired, it shall be that upon the eighth day and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar and your peace offerings. “And I will accept you,” says Sovereign YAHUAH.
The promised eternal rest in heaven’s spiritual city was part of YAH’s Salvation Plan from the beginning. Plus, each of Yah’s Feasts instruct BYA physically about His spiritual plan of redemption (salvation). Shemini Atzarah is about Yah literally asking us to remain with Him forever. That He dwells among us during our celebration of the Eighth Solemn Assembly pictures a transition into Elohim’s realm of eternity. (Zechariah 14:16) It shall come to pass, that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King YAHUAH Tzavuot (of hosts) and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Last Great Day of YAHUAH's Festival is a reminder of a grand, old-fashioned wedding party. Young and old dancing in lines and forming circles during BYA services. People waving banners! Singing arm-in-arm! Swaying to spiritually moving music. And oh, the food! Fit for royalty! That's just a few of my memories from 2025. I pray you will reflect on your own happy times and the spiritual messages, which Elohim sends us during all His Feasts.
So, how can BYA prepare for those upcoming Feasts? Pray for Wisdom to understand YAH's Way of Life! Then thank Elohim, and give all the glory to Yahushuah! (Romans 14:17-19) For the kingdom of Elohim is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace and joy in Ruach ha'Qodesh for he who in these things serves Messiah is acceptable to Elohim and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
HalleluYAH! And may we always dwell in peace! Shalom, elder Curt
Announcements
Thoughts for Meditation
Isaac Newton, mathematician and physicist in the 17th century - “I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily.”
Galileo Galilei (1564 -1642 astronomer) - “When I reflect on so many profoundly marvelous things that persons have grasped, sought, and done, I recognize even more clearly that human intelligence is a work of God, and one of the most excellent.”
Martin Luther - “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.”