Boletín Semanal Shabbat Shalom de la Conferencia General

We pray every week for the leaders of the Jewish Ministry,

Shabbat Shalom Newsletter

Resources:

• Website: https://jewishadventist-org.gcnetadventist.org

A must website. To subscribe to our newsletter. To download some resources (Hebrew Sabbath School, and other documents). To order the book “Comfort, Comfort my people…” and many other things.

•

Professional Urban Development:

Shalom Adventure Magazine online: www.ShalomAdventure.com

If you would like to read articles, watch videos, learn things about Judaism and Israel, this website is just for you.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WJAFC: If you would like to share with people, this forum on facebook is a good place for that.

• Photos on Google+: http://picasaweb.google.com/jewishadventist: We have posted a lot of pictures on Internet during the last years. Don’t hesitate to look at them.

The WJAFC provides:

• WebRadio: www.shema-israel-radio.com

- Professional Urban training for Jewish Ministry

• Adventist Mission Website: https://jewish-adventistmission-org.lifehopecenters.org/

- Teaching for theological students - Help to plant new congregations.

- Support for AdventistJewish dialogue with scholars and rabbis

If you would like to listen Jewish or Messianic songs. If you want to be used to ear modern Hebrew of the Apostolic Writings, it is the right radio to listen on the web.

This website is the new resource provided by the Office of Adventist Mission of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists.

• Russian Website: http://www.boruh.info/ This website is in Russian, many articles and the parasha are posted on it every week.

WJAFC Paris

A weekly Journal of information and training published by the World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center Under the umbrella of the General Conference —Office of Adventist Mission

Journal of Information and Training — Issue 648 — 19 September 2 0 1 5 / 6 T i s h r e i 5 7 7 5

Jael Wells Cuellar English Edition: Richard-Amram Elofer

Richard Amram Elofer

Russian Edition: Alexandra Obrevko French Edition: Sabine Baris Spanish Edition: Jael Wells Cuellar Portuguese Edition: Carlos Muniz Dutch Edition: Hubert Paulleta

Hubert Paulleta 8

Carlos Muniz Emails: English: richard@elofer.com Russian: sashok_l@mail.ru French: sabinebaris@gmail.com Spanish: jael_wells@hotmail.com Portuguese: cdmuniz@gmail.com Dutch: hpauletta@hotmail.com

Credit photos: Richard Elofer, Alexandra Obrevko, Jael Wells Cuellar Hubert Paulleta, Laurent Baris and Advent Digital Media

for more information: contact us at www.jewishadventist.org

Alexandra Obrevko

Sabine Baris

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19 September / 6 Tishrei 2015 / 5775

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This issue

Weekly Jewish-Adventist Journal of Information

We pray every week for the leaders of the Jewish Ministry or Jews somewhere in the world.

I suggest that our partners pray from September 20 to 26 for the Jewish people living in South America. This week will be the week of Yom Kippur, that is why we suggest to pray for the Jews living the different country of South America Israel.

Thank you for supporting our ministry by your prayers.

Shabbat — Vayelekh

News P.1 Parasha’s comments P.2-4 Haftara P.4-5 Apostolic Writings P.5 Stories P.6 Inspirational Corner P.6,7 Color Sheet for Kids P.7

NEWS

Shana 5776 Tova to Everyone Next Jewish Celebrations ( Yom Kippur on September 23 ( Sukkoth from September 28 to October 4

Chag Sameach VeTzom kal ( As the Jewish people will fast on September 23 for Yom Kippur it is appropriate to wish each of your Jewish friend an easy fast, which is said in Hebrew Tzom Kal. The traditional Yom Kippur greeting is G’mar Khatimah Tovah or “May You Be Sealed for a Good Year”.

Historic Celebration in an Old Shtetl

( Alexandra Obrevko, the translator of the Russian edition of this newsletter sent us this news: Kalush is an old town of Galicia-Volyn principality (Western Ukraine).

For centuries this region drew its resources from salt mining. The history of the Jewish people of this region is connected to salt since many of them were salt workers. It was the famous shtetl of Galicia, where the Jewish community used to live since the 15th century. There were 6 synagogues and many Jewish institutions. After the World War I,

the city suffered from pogroms by retreating Russian Tsarist army. And in addition 7.000 Jews were shot in the early days of World War II. Now the history of the Jewish people of Kalush is being silently testified only by ancient matsebas (tombstones) of Jewish cemeteries. On Shabbat, August 2, Vitali Obrevko who was born in Kalush visited his native community and the Seventh-day Adventist congregation, he introduced the Kabbalat Shabbat service to this congregation.

He talked about the features of the Jewish celebration and sanctification of Shabbat, step by step explaining the meaning of the ancient traditions, prayers and hymns. At the kiddush time every participant got a piece of Shabbat khallah and grape juice. The service was attended by 70 people, including guests who visited the community for the first time.

After the service, members of the community, shared warmth memories of Jewish life in the city and asked questions about the Jewish-Adventist ministry.

This meeting could be considered as an historic event since it was the first Kabbalat Shabbat celebrated in this old Jewish shtetl (village) in the last 75 years.

Parasha for this Week Vayelekh

Parasha Overview

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Vayelekh

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n this last days of his life, Moshe goes from tent to tent throughout the camp, bidding farewell to his beloved people, encouraging them to keep the faith.

Moshe tells them that whether he is among them or not, G-d is with them, and will vanquish their enemies.

Then he summons Yehoshua, and in front of all the people, exhorts him to be strong and courageous as the leader of the Jewish People. In this manner, he strengthens Yehoshua’s status as the new leader.

Moshe teaches them the mitzvah of Hakhel: That every seven years on the first day of the intermediate days of Succos, the entire nation, including small children, is to gather together at the Temple to hear the King read from the Book of Devarim. The sections that he reads deal with faithfulness to G-d, the covenant, and reward and punishment.

G-d tells Moshe that his end is near, and he should therefore summon Yehoshua to stand with him in the Mishkan, where G-d will teach Yehoshua.

G-d then tells Moshe and Yehoshua that after entering the Land, the people will be unfaithful to Him,

“So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel.

And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today.

I am no longer able to go out and come in.”

(Deuteronomy 31:1–2)

Deuteronomy 31: 1 - 31:30 Moses’ Farewells

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he parasha starts with this words “And Moses went [Vayelekh] and spoke these words unto all Israel. And he said to them, ‘I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in.’” (Deuteronomy 31:1-2). We are at the very end of the life of Moshe, he considers that his mission is completed and now turns to the last needs of Israel before his death. He gives his last recommendations to the people of Israel (verses 1-6). He introduces again Yehoshua as his successor to them with words of encouragement to him (verses 7-8). He entrusts the Torah to the Kohanim and to the people’s elders with instruction to read it in the Sanctuary every seventh year, when the people of Israel gathered for Sukkot. (verses 9-13).

In other gatherings of Israel, Moses was close to the Sanctuary and asked the people of Israel to come to him in order to receive Gd’s instructions. However here in this last gathering, Moshe did not ask the peo-

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ple of Israel to come to him but it was Moshe who “went” (Vayelekh) to meet the people of Israel to bid farewell to them in a simple manner, illustrating his humility before G-d and the people of Israel.

120 Years Old

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ccording to the Jewish tradition and the Bible ,(Deuteronomy 34:7), in spite of his 120 years Moses strength was not diminished. Rabbi Hirsch says it “was a special gift of G-d’s love” a gift given only for his time of activity, but now, as his work is completed, Moshe starts to feel his old age and knowing that his time is over said to Israel “I am no longer able to go out and come in.”

(Deuteronomy 31:2).

Who is Your Leader?

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he verse three of this parasha is again a mark of humility of Moses who said to the people of Israel: “The Lord your God himself will go over before you.” (Deuteronomy 31:3). literally “it is the Lord your G-d who works before you” Moses tries to say to the people of Israel that the real lead-

er of Israel is not himself but G-d. G-d is the one who lead his people. In other words, he says “You will not miss me, it is G-d not me who is the leader. He will lead you into the new future that lies before you and he has already appointed Yehoshua in my place. You have already seen God’s power, which grants victory over the nations. Only you have to deal with them in accordance with all that I have commanded you.”

Encouragements

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oses’s words of encouragement to the people of Israel are very close to the words of encouragement that he gives to Yehoshua, he said to Israel: “Be strong and courageous.

Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6). “don’t fear” is the same recommendation he gave to spies who went to explore Canaan (Deut. 1:29). “He will not leave you”, According to Rabbi Hirsch Lo Yarpekha from the root RFH means “weak”, “powerless” that means “He will not let you

become weak” or be strong, do not allow yourselves to be overpowered, for it is Gd’s hand that hold you fast.

And Hirsch adds: As long as you faithfully hold fast to him, the nations will not be able to overpower you unless they overpower His hand.

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Yehoshua

ntroducing Yehoshua to the people of Israel as his successor and at the same time encouraging him in the sight of all Israel Moses said: “Be strong and courageous (Be steadfast and strong), for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it.” (Deuteronomy 31:7). These words remind us the words of G-d to Moses about Yehoshua in the chapter 3: “But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.” (Deuteronomy 3:28). The Hebrew word used for “charge” here is the word tzav same root as the word Mitzvah or command-

ment, that means when G-d addressed Moshe he said to him “command Joshua and encourage…” when G-d give a “charge” it is not only a proposition, but it is an obligation, a commandment to serve him.

The charge given to Yehoshua includes his entire task as leader of the nation.

According to the Jewish tradition (Berachot 32b) “be steadfast and strong” means “remain steadfast in looking on the Torah for an understanding of your tasks, and be strong in overcoming any obstacles to the fulfillment of these tasks. Be steadfast in adhering to your principles and be strong in carrying them out.” These are the most important qualities required of a leader.

Moshe Wrote the Torah

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t is not the first time that the Torah affirms that It is Moshe who wrote the Torah: “Then Moses wrote this law [HaTorah HaZoth] and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.” (Deuteronomy

31:9). In the book Exodus we already have these statements: “Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, ‘All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.’ And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.’” (Exodus 24:7; 34:27).

Moshe does not consider that the Torah is his Torah, the Torah has been given

by G-d to the people of Israel, that is why he handed it over to the Kohanim, Son of Levi, descendants of Aaron, who are the spiritual leaders of Israel. From the very beginning of their history Israel had two power, which were separated. Yehoshua was the political leader, and the Kohanim who were the religious leaders.

Usually those who were in charge of carrying the Ark of the Covenant and the Torah were the Levi’im, son of Kehat (Numbers 3:31) as it is written: “Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, “Take this Book of the Law and put

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and begin to worship other gods. G-d will then completely hide his face, so that it will seem that the Jewish People are at the mercy of fate, and that they will be hunted by all.

G-d instructs Moshe and Yehoshua to write down a song — Ha’azinu — which will serve as a witness against the Jewish People when they sin. Moshe records the song in writing and teaches it to Bnei Yisrael.

Moshe completes his transcription of the Torah, and instructs the Levi’im to place it to the side of the Aron Hakodesh (Holy Ark), so that no one will ever write a new Torah scroll that is different from the original — for there will always be a reference copy.

Haftara Overview Isaiah 55:6 - 56:8

This Shabbat is the last Shabbat before Yom Kippur. That’s why the Haftara is oriented towards repentance and a call to change our ways. It is the purpose of the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

The text starts with a call to repentance. “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near” (Is. 55:6). Before Yom Kippur the people of G-d are invited to come back to him, to give up their old ways. The prophet affirms that the thoughts of G-d are very far away from human thoughts.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is. 55:8-9).

Worshiping G-d in our assembly can make a great difference in our lives because attending a religious service let’s us hear G-d’s Word. Isaiah states under inspiration that the Word of G-d cannot return to G-d without having its effect on our heart. “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in

“When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end, Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 31:24–25) it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.”

(Deuteronomy 31:25–26), but in our parasha, and on outstanding events, the Ark of the Covenant and the Torah were carried by the Kohanim. The great difference between the verse 9 and the verse 25, is that in the verse 25 the Levi’im carried the Ark and the Torah as a regular task, but in the verse 9 of this parasha, it was a moment of outstanding importance, it was the special moment when the Torah is put in the special place G-d had chosen for it. Only the Kohanim had the ability to fulfill this mitzvah of putting a Torah in the chosen place (the Sanctuary). The Levi’im were in charge of carrying the Ark and the Torah from place to place.

Torah Reading

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he text of the parasha continues: “And Moses commanded them, ‘At the end of every seven years, at the set time (mo’ed) in the year of release (shmitah), at the Feast of Booths (sukkoth)’” (Deuteronomy 31:10). The end of

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every seven years should not be understood “from now” that means from the moment that G-d and Moshe gave this commandment, but as it is written “in the year of release” that means “At the end of the Sabbatical year (Shmitah)” which occurs every seventh year. The text gives more details on when this reading should be done, it is written at the end of the Sabbatical year, at Mo’ed, this word designate the feast days (Mo’adim in plural), but not on Rosh Hashanah which is the first day of the eighth year, but on the feast of Sukkoth which is a pilgrimage feast, and when every Jew has to come to the place Hashem has chosen. Thus it is on the first day of the feast of Sukkoth which follow the Sabbatical year, that means on the eighth year.

What happened on this special day? “when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children,

who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

(Deuteronomy 31:11–13). This commandment of reading the Torah is not intended as a means of making the Torah known to the people of Israel.

The people of Israel are already asked to study the Torah every day as the Shema Israel states: “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” (Deuteronomy 6:7 & 11:19). Rabbi Hirsch says that this reading “is a mitzvah that transcends the everyday, recurs at seven-year intervals, and seeks to attain a special purpose.”

It is important to precise that when the Bible says: “when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose.” (Deuteronomy 31:11) It is the place where the Sanctuary is built and later Jerusalem where the Temple was built. This pilgrimage is not in order to find God. God may be found everywhere by those who seek him, but for the pledge of Gd’s presence among the people.

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Apostolic Writings — Mark 8:27-9:13

n the text of our parasha Moses who gathers the people of Israel for the last time said to them that he is old enough to stop his journey there, just before entering the Promise Land.

In the text of the Besorah of Mark we see Yeshua gathering his disciples in the village of Caesarea Philippi in order to give them one of his most important teaching about the end of his life. Moses and Yeshua are together aware that their life will end very soon. The great revelation of Yeshua was that he is the Messiah. “Yeshua asked “Who do people say I am?” (Mark 8:27) Many people believe that Shim’on-Peter was the main disciple, certainly the oldest one, it is him who gave the correct answer : “You are the Mashiach.” (29).

This parasha and text of the Besorah of Mark are read during a very solemn time, it is the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is a special time called Yamim Nora’im (10 days of awe) days of judgement. On these special days we see the feeling of Yeshua who starts to share with the disciples that he will be judged and sentenced to death very soon: “And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again” (31). Shim’on, does not like that and says it to Yeshua: “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.” (32), However Yeshua understand that it was temptation: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the

things of man.” (33). Shim’on did not understand at that time that it was not the time of the revelation of the Royal Messiah (the son of David), but it was the time of the suffering Messiah described in Isaiah 53 (called by the Talmud, the Son of Joseph). In fact until the death and resurrection of Yeshua no one understood really what was his mission and how his life would ultimately end.

We see here a strong parallel with the life of Moshe, the people of Israel did not know that their prophet would not enter Canaan with them: “The LORD said to Moses, “Now the day of your death is near. ” (Deuteronomy 31:14).

Then Moses said to Yehoshua that his life would not be easy, it is not easy to be a disciple and to follow the instructions of G-d, the people of G-d will be the main obstacle of his ministry he therefore encourages Yehoshua: “Be strong and courageous” (Deut.

31:7) In the same way, Yeshua teaches to his disciples that it is not easy to be disciples and the main obstacle of their ministry will be the people of God who will oppose their ministry: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it” (34-36). Let’s remember that this Shabbat is between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, being a disciple of Yeshua is to accept to follow him whatever would be the cost.

There is also another very important parallel during this period of time and the reading of our Besorah of Mark.

Rosh Hashanah is not only a

day of judgement, but it is also a day when Israel recognizes that God is their King. It is the crowning of G-d by his people as the creator of man (Adam).

The text of the Besorah is also the crowning of Yeshua as the creator of man, the text says: “Six days later” (let’s remember that the creation of Adam was on the sixth day), “Yeshua took with him Shim’on and Yaakov and Yochanan, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no-one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moshe, who were talking with Yeshua” (Mark 9:2-4). Moshe was the greatest prophet, the one who spoke directly to G-d, and Elijah is the prophet who announces the coming of the Messiah. They were speaking together, what was the topic of their discussion? Moses and Elijah were sent from heaven to say to Yeshua that he got victory over every temptation.

Now if he wants he could go to heaven to celebrate his victory and to be crowned as the king, but Yeshua declined this invitation and decided to stay on the earth and to lay down his life. That is why Yeshua could say later “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

(John 10:17–18). He received this authority from the Father on the day of the transfiguration.

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the thing for which I sent it...” (Is. 55:11). The consequences of this action of Gd’s word are joy, peace and happiness. “For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Is. 55:12). Experiencing forgiveness, G-d’s people are happy and ready to share G-d’s love with the nations through songs.

The L-rd is waiting for his people to do what is right. “Thus says the LORD: Maintain justice, and do what is right” (Is. 56:1). And what is just and right? To keep and observe Shabbat: “Who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it, and refrains from doing any evil” Is. 56:2). Even the foreigners and the excluded are welcome in the midst of G-d’s people. “To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off ” (Is. 56:4-5). Keeping the Shabbat is one of the best ways to demonstrate our love to G-d who prepared an everlasting name, which will never be deleted.

STORIES AND TRADITIONS

Inspirational Corner

v We are now living in the great Yom Kippur. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away.

(CCh 348)

Never Trust Yourself

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n old man developed a propensity for alcohol in his old age. During his binges, he would stagger drunkenly through the marketplace and often fall asleep in the gutter. His son, a respected member of the community, was mortified. Something had to be done. The son decided to take his father to the marketplace on one of his sober days. Together. they walked past the stalls until they found a drunk lying in the gutter in a state of stupefaction.

“Look at him,” said the son.

“Do you see what drinking does?” The old man stared intently at the snoring drunk.

“Indeed, I do,” he said. “I wonder what kind of wine he is drinking. It seems to be wonderful stuff.”

In our own lives, we need to recognize the seductive power of forbidden fruit. “Never trust yourself,” the Talmud advises.

Just because we frown on the deprivations and abominations of modern society does not mean that we are impervious to moral subversion. What seems disgusting to us today may seem interesting tomorrow. Only by insulating our families from unnecessary exposure to the degeneracy of the street can we preserve the purity and holiness that are inherently ours.

Yom Kippur

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ere are three questions to think about on Yom Kippur to help you develop your life plan:

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1) Am I eating to live or living to eat?

2) If I am eating to live, then what am I living for?

3) What would I like written in my obituary or on my tombstone?

Rabbi Pakouz explains us what is Yom Kippur and how to keep it a spirit of repentance and confession. He says: “the Day of Atonement, is the anniversary of the day Moshe brought down from Mount Sinai the second set of Ten Commandments. Th is signified that the Almighty forgave the Jewish people for the transgression of the Golden Calf. For all times this day was decreed to be a day of forgiveness for our mistakes. However, this refers to transgressions against the Almighty. Transgressions against our fellow human being require us to correct our mistakes and seek forgiveness. If one took from another person, it is not enough to regret and ask the Almighty for forgiveness; fi rst, one must return what was taken and ask for forgiveness from the person and then ask for forgiveness from the Almighty.

In the prayer service we say the Viduy, a confession, and the Al Chet (on Sin), a list of transgressions between man and God and between man and man. It is interesting to note two things. First, the transgressions are listed in alphabetical order (in Hebrew). Th is not only makes a comprehensive list, but gives

a framework to include whatever transgression you wish to include under the proper letter.

Secondly, the Viduy and Al Chet are stated in the plural. Th is teaches us that we are one people and that we are responsible for each other. Even if we did not commit a particular offense, we carry a certain measure of responsibility for those who transgressed - especially if we could have prevented the transgression.

The Rambam, Maimonides, teaches that each individual’s life is always on a balance—like the old-time scales where the weights were put on one side and the produce on the other side—and that each of us should think before doing an action that this transgression or that this mitzvah (commandment) could tip the scales. Likewise, Rambam teaches that each community, each country and ultimately the world is judged in the same manner.

Thus, an individual should not only think that his transgression or fulfi llment of a mitzvah tips the scale for him alone, but may very well tip the scale for all of mankind!

On Yom Kippur we read the Book of Jonah. The lesson from the story is that G-d readily accepts the repentance of anyone who sincerely desires to do Teshuva, to return to the Almighty and to the path of the Torah—just as He did with the people of Niniveh.

KIDS PARASHA VAYELEKH

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Deuteronomy 29: 9 - 30:20

“So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ The LORD your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the LORD has spoken. And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. And the LORD will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

(Deuteronomy 31:1–6) http://www.bnai-tikkun.org.nz 7

Inspirational Corner

v With sacred song and thanksgiving the worshipers celebrated this occasion. A little before the feast was the Yom Kippur, when, after confession of their sins, the people were declared to be at peace with Heaven. Thus the way was prepared for the rejoicing of the feast. “O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever” (Psalm 106:1) rose triumphantly, while all kinds of music, mingled with shouts of hosanna, accompanied the united singing. The temple was the center of the universal joy. . . . . the choir of Levites led the service of song. The multitude of worshipers, waving their branches of palm and myrtle, took up the strain, and echoed the chorus; and again the melody was caught up by voices near and afar off, till the encircling hills were vocal with praise. (DA 448)