Cover Image: Rose Guide to the Feasts, Festivals and Fasts of the Bible

Rose Guide to the Feasts, Festivals and Fasts of the Bible

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Member Reviews

I was given the privilege to read this book off of netgalley for my honest review.
This book talks about the different for Israel. It was written by five different authors, one for each chapter. I personal did not like this book because it had five different views. There was even one that decided to us the new way to write before Christ (which is the way people take Jesus out of the picture) instead of BC. If you don’t want to believe in before Christ then why write about Jewish holidays? This book has nice history, but some questionable writers.
The first chapter talked about the feast, festivals, celebrations, and observances of the Old Testament.
The second chapter talked about observance of the dynamic part of Jewish life leading up to and following the New Testament.
The third chapter talked about ways that Jews keep the biblical holidays today.
The fourth chapter talked about the ways messianic congregations observe the biblical feasts and holidays today.
The last chapter talked about ways churches and congregations have adopted elements of the biblical feasts into their liturgies, theologies, and expressions of Christian life.

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A good overview over the feasts and festivals
Paul H. Wright is the editor of the "Rose Guide to the Feasts, Festivals and Fasts of the Bible", one of the Rose guides that touch various topics (e.g., "Rose Chronological Guide to the Bible" or "Rose Guide to the Temple")., published by Tyndale House Publishers and Rose Publishing. The contributing authors are Rev. Dr. Paul H. Wright, Rabbi Moshe Silberschein, Ophir Yarden, Pastor Steven P. Lancaster, and Rev. Heidi Kinner. After the introduction the book offers a calendar for the feast and holidays with a short explanation of the various days. Then the book is divided into five chapters: 1) Feasts of the Bible During the Time of the Old Testament, 2) Feasts of the Bible During the New Testament and in Early Judaism, 3) Jewish Feasts and Holidays Today, 4) The Biblical Feasts and the Messianic Movement, and 5) Feasts of the Bible and the Church. The goal of the book is to "explore the celebrations and observances kept by ancient Israel in the time of the Old Testament and those kept by the Jews in and after the time of the Gospels. (The lists overlap but are not exactly the same.) Together, these provide context for how Jews, Christians, and messianic believers celebrate today" (Introduction).
The book in a great design presents good illustrations, maps, and photographs. There are notes at the end of the chapters which, together with the bibliography and the index at the end of the book, are available for reference and deeper study. I have always been interested in the Rose Guides. I recommend this book for anyone, young and old, who wants to know more about the celebrations, festivals, observances, and feasts in Israel during the time of the Old and the New Testament, more about modern-day Jewish traditions, and more about the way the feasts and holidays were adopted by the messianic and non-messianic Christian movement.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#RoseGuideToTheFeastsFestivalsAndFastsOfTheBible #Netgalley

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This book looks at the regular fasts and feasts in the Old Testament period, in the New Testament Period, of modern Jews, of Messianic Jews, and of Christians. For the Old and New Testament sections, the authors explored how the pilgrim feasts were supposed to be celebrated and what the biblical evidence is for how the feasts were actually celebrated throughout the Bible (and if there were times when they weren't celebrated at all). They provided the context of the feasts and fasts: why they were celebrated, how they fit into a largely agricultural society, and how Israel was similar to and different from their neighbors. They talked about both feasts in general and the annual feasts. There were references to specific events in the Bible, to comments made in writings by others at that time, and to finds in archaeology. The book included some charts and pictures of things like the different foods mentioned in the feasts or a table set up for a modern Passover. Overall, I'd recommend this informative book.

The first chapters talked about: Sabbath, New Moon, Rosh Hashanah (New Year's Day), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Passover (Feast of Unleavened Bread), Shavuot (Feast of Weeks), and Sukkot (Feast of Booths), Purim, Hanukkah, and days of Fasting, and other holidays. Messianic perspective was given on the Sabbath, Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Feast of Weeks/Pentecost, Day of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Booths, Purim, Hanukkah. He also explained how the Spring feasts were fulfilled by Yeshua and the Fall feasts will be fulfilled in the future. He also talked about how Jesus celebrated these feasts in the New Testament. The Christian perspective covered how the early church celebrated these holidays and how that changed with time: Sabbath and Sunday, Passover and Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, Pentecost, Advent, Holy Cross Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and Epiphany.

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What is the connection between Food and Faith? Why are festivals so much a part of the Hebrews? What is the significance of events surrounding feasting and fasting? How does food foster relationships? This book attempts to answer some of these questions from biblical, historical, relational, theological, and practical perspectives. Covering both the Old Testament and New Testament feasts, the author aims to help us see how the simple act of eating could bring people together and bind them. At the same time, festivals enable us to be in tune with the cycles of a religious year. Like seasons during the year, these timely observances enable us physically and spiritually to appreciate God's intended rhythms of rest, relaxation, and relational dimensions of creation.

Beginning with Old Testament feasts, readers get a fascinating overview of what the ancient Israelites did through the year. Paul Wright asserts that food provides not just nourishment for the body, it is also for the soul.

On New Testament feasts, readers learn more about how the Early Church and Jesus continue on the Old Testament traditions. Here, Jewish rabbi Moshe Silberschein gives us an overview from both a Jewish and Christian perspective. Not only that, he gives us enlightening backgrounds to the different approaches before, during, and after the Second Temple period. As he combs the historical background and modern literature, he gives us a treasure of resources about the origins and practices of each feast.

Chapter 3 and 4 talk about how Jews and Messianic Christians today keep the biblical holidays respectively. Ophir Yarden connects the two notable thread of deliverance and food as he deals with the special days through the year for the Jews. The Shabbat delivers us from the toil of work once a week; the Pesach reminds us of how God delivered the Jews at the Passover; and Yom Kippur marks the end of the ten days of repentance. In fact, the celebrating of these Jewish festivals is by itself a synopsis of Judaism! In Chapter 4, Steven Lancaster builds upon ancient Judaism to give us an idea of how modern Jews, especially Messianic Jews improvise on the ancient festivals.

In the final chapter, Heidi Kinner looks at the feasts of the Bible and the Church. He shows us that how the early Christians make decisions about the Jewish feasts could help us decide on how to celebrate or not observe these ancients feasts today. She gives us a good birdseye view of the Sabbath, Passover, the Shavuot, Pentecost, Easter Vigil, Holy Week, the Advent, etc. One of the most helpful sections is the part on "Hannukah, Christmas, and Epiphany." Due to the proximity of these festival dates, a clearer understanding of these events help us connect the dots with regard to the religious and social significance for our friends and loved ones.

My Thoughts
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Food and feasts are distinctive parts of our daily lives. Globally across all cultures and ethnicities, mention food and people would typically give a smile. Food brings people together in more ways than one. In the Bible, food, and feasts too play a significant part in both the Old and New Testaments. The gospel writers sometimes frame the narratives using feats to help date the occurrences. Many of these feasts point back to Old Testament times such as the Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, etc. Let me offer three thoughts on this book.

The first thing that pops out of the page for me is the illustrative map of all the feast days of the Bible. With a beautiful 1-page overview, complete with color and concise descriptions, one could follow a brief history of both ancient and modern events. I find myself keeping that page open as I go through each season of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. It is a reminder that the biblical cycle of seasons is there to help us count our blessings and to cherish the time we have each year. It helps us remember God's goodness and faithfulness in history. We practice faith in anticipating God's continued presence among us today and tomorrow. Spring highlights include the Passover celebration, the festival of Unleavened Bread, the Savuot, as well as the modern day remembrance the Holocaust (Yom HaShoah) and Israel's Independence (Yom HaZikkaron). Fall highlights include the Sukkot, Yom Kippur, and Hannukkah. Winter and Summer highlight the Purim and Feast of Trumpets respectively. I like the way the author synchronizes all the events according to ancient days as well as modern equivalents. The map itself as a reference is worth the price of the book.

The second reason why I enjoy this book is how the book makes a seemingly mundane topic of feasts and festivals into a highly readable reference book. From the illustrative map, one springboards into the various festivals with a better understanding of the contexts and importance of the festivals. In the Old Testament, feasts were celebrated partly to distinguish the Hebrew race from pagan cultures. By making the festivals distinctively Jewish, others get a chance to compare and contrast both cultural and religious significance of the day. As Wright leads us through the four contexts of climate & land; mealtime & eating; time; and worldview, we get a broad picture of the wide influences of the feasts. Each feast tells a story. Each festival celebrates that story. Each observance links the present with the past. Although some of the older feasts are not celebrated as much today, they form part of the Jewish heritage and sets the tone for other feasts. The tables help modern readers see that even though the names have been changed, the principles remain the same.

Finally, I applaud the contributors for bringing to life the different aspects of feasts and festivals. In an increasingly visual world, people are more likely to respond to pictures and illustrations than mere words. This book combines the two to give us a beautiful and captivating reference that preachers, pastors, theologians, and laypeople to use and appreciate. There are many photographs, maps, tables, and thoughtfully arranged illustrations to keep readers engaged. I find myself learning a lot of new stuff. Next time, just coming across the various feasts of the Bible should create lightbulb moments as we read and reflect on Scripture.

This book is more than simply a guide. It is a great reference to bring to life ancient festivals for modern appreciation and observance. Each type of food has a beginning. Every feast tells a story. Each period of fasting helps us reflect on history. I loved Rose Guide books and this book adds an additional reason why.

All of the contributors to this volume, except for Heidi Kinner have lived in Jerusalem before.

Rev. Dr. Paul H. Wright is president of Jerusalem University College where he has taught biblical geography on-site to thousands of students. He and his wife, Diane, have lived in Jerusalem for twenty-five years.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Rose Publishing, Tyndale House Publishers, and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

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This is an awesome guide. And definitely useful to understanding the events in the Bible.

The colors are very vibrant and the details draw you in.

I have it on my Amazon list to eventually purchase a physical copy.

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Rose Guide to the Feasts, Festivals, and Fasts of the Bible
Paul H. Wright
Tyndall House Publishers
Rated: 4
Back of the Book: “God commanded Moses and the children of Israel to observe feasts and holy days as memorials to the great things that he had done in their lives. Understanding these times of celebration are important to help us better see God’s complete picture and plan of redemption.
In Rose Guide to the Feasts, Festivals and Fasts of the Bible:Dr. Paul Wright explores the celebrations, festivals, observances, and feasts kept by ancient Israel in the time of the Old Testament—including their historical and biblical background and how they developed during biblical times. Rabbi Moshe Silberschein looks at the ways the festivals and holy days of ancient Israel were celebrated during the intertestamental, Second Temple, and early Rabbinic Periods, including the ways that Jesus and the writers of the Gospels celebrated. Educator Ophir Yarden describes ways Jews keep the biblical feasts today, focusing on traditions most common in North America and Israel. Pastor Steven Lancaster looks at how and why the festivals and holy days of ancient Israel and early Judaism are celebrated by the variety of Messianic believers today. Rev. Heidi Kinner presents ways the early Church interpreted the feasts of the Bible to inform Christian celebrations about the life and work of Jesus.”

Impressions: First I’d like to start off with some perspective as to why I’m reading this book. I grew up in a Christian home attending church regularly on Sundays and Wednesdays. I have chosen my faith in Jesus as my savior as an adult and continually am looking to better understand the Bible and its implications. I’ve read through the Bible in the past and am reading through it again, however, I have struggled with seeing the cultural context of the events taking place in the Bible. The different feasts and festivals are very much part of the OT culture. I was interested in learning more about these feasts and festivals and I think this book was helpful in my circumstances. I was thankful for the information gathered in this book (text, graphs, and pictures) and how it was organized to easily understand.

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I requested this book because I have been writing a TV series set in First Century Israel. I was not disappointed but even if you don't have such a specific purpose, this book is an eye-opener.

Tracing the Scriptural and extra-biblical developments of feasts, this contains a wealth of information. Some of the extra details really helped me visualize what real people did at the time of Jesus. Did you know at the start of the month fires would be lit on high places to mark it?

Remember that scene in The Two Towers (Lord of the Rings) when Frodo got the beacons in Minas Tirith lit? Yep, like that. Then...Jesus would go up to the roof of HIS house and light a torch in response. A small perhaps but if you are hungry for additional knowledge to understand our Lord, worth it.

I haven't read it all. There's simply too much to take in as it's more like an encyclopedia. However, and I want to be very clear about this - the layout is stunning. The vivid pictures help us to visualize what was done at the time, the page has plenty of white space (actually, more like caramel but who's counting!) and the pacing of the text is superb.

It will be my go-to resource for a long time and was obviously made with a kind of love and devotion that I haven't seen in a long time. Wow. Wow.

For too long has Christianity refused to acknowledge its Jewish origins and now there are a slew of books to correct that. Starting with Alfred Edesheim books connecting Jewish history with Christianity (old, but great and available on Kindle for literally cents) through books written by Rabbi's who acknowledge Jesus as Messiah, to this.

If you minister to people - you need this book. If you truly want to delve more into the life of the people who God chose - you need this book. If anything, the book will show you the level of devotion required by God under the Old Testament laws and perhaps help you - as it does me - sober up with my commitment to holiness. Well done guys.

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I requested this book because I wanted to know more about my religion and how to properly observe biblical feasts. This book was very helpful because it went into depth on the history of the feasts and how they were celebrated during biblical times. This book will be very helpful for anyone that is searching to know about biblical feasts and learn how to make the feasts practical. It's also a nice companion for gaining more knowledge and learning more things about biblical roots.

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This was absolutely fascinating. I learned so much. This is one I'll return to again and again. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

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So fascinating! This is an area of interest for me and I was happy to see it here on NetGalley. I wish the format was available on the Kindle App - I would have been able to appreciate the book more. This is a book I may purchase for my home library, asa resource for myself!

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