Is Yom Kippur Kosher?

To the Jew, other than every weekly Sabbath, Yom Kippur represents the Highest of Holidays. In Jewish Tradition, on Rosh Hashanah, or The New Year, Adonai writes our names into The Book of Life. During the 10 proceeding days, the days of awe, we consider our lives. We take account of our behaviour, and seek forgiveness for our Sins. It is on Yom Kippur that our names are sealed in The Book of Life. It is at this point that this solemn observance turns into a celebration, and we declare Baruch HaShem and Hallelujah!

To the Average Christian, Yom Kippur represents a thing of the past, a ritual, no longer required due to the change of the era. It is said that "Christ has done away with this." It is understood, and commonly accepted that this observance is futile, since Christ died for our Sins, and there is no longer a need for it. It is viewed as an Old Testament practise that, and in some cases, it is (if observed) an insult to God's Work, and the Atonement of Messiah.

If this is true, then why would Messianic Believers even consider this idea? Are we insulting God? This is a good question.

I believe that many of us are here, because we have questions. Many of us have had difficulty, simply swallowing theology handed down to us, especially when that theology contradicts simplistic understandings within the Word of God.

Let us consider the issue. Is it Kosher for "Christians" to Observe Yom Kippur?

In order to begin this thought, we must first ask, "Is it found within the Word of God?" - Yes, but in the Old Testament. Therefore it has lost its validity. - The Word of God, as you call it, "The Old Testament," has lost its validity? That's interesting.

Turn with me to the second portion of Today's Reading (Leviticus 18)

1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: I am the LORD your God.
3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do; and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do; neither shall ye walk in their statutes.
4 Mine ordinances shall ye do, and My statutes shall ye keep, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
5 Ye shall therefore keep My statutes, and Mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them: I am the LORD. {S}
6 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness. I am the LORD. {S}
7 The nakedness of thy father, and the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. {S} (Invalid?)
8 The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness. {S} (Obsolete?)
9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or the daughter of thy mother, whether born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover. {S}
10 The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover; for theirs is thine own nakedness. {S}
11 The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. {S}
12 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman. {S}
13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister; for she is thy mother's near kinswoman. {S}
14 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. {S}
15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son' wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. {S}
16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness. {S}
17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; thou shalt not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness: they are near kinswomen; it is lewdness.
18 And thou shalt not take a woman to her sister, to be a rival to her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her lifetime.
19 And thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.
20 And thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.
21 And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to set them apart to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination.
23 And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto; it is perversion.
24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things; for in all these the nations are defiled, which I cast out from before you.
25 And the land was defiled, therefore I did visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomited out her inhabitants.
26 Ye therefore shall keep My statutes and Mine ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the home-born, nor the stranger that sojourneth among you--
27 for all these abominations have the men of the land done, that were before you, and the land is defiled--
28 that the land vomit not you out also, when ye defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.
29 For whosoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people.
30 Therefore shall ye keep My charge, that ye do not any of these abominable customs, which were done before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God. {P}

No longer Valid? Interesting. I find it interesting that we refer to this as "The Old Testament," with the perception that it is "Old," and done away with. All the while, "Christianity," holds onto these Old Traditions of God's Word - God's Law, as though they were still valid. Where do we draw the line on what is still valid, and what is not?

Is this something that we use our Logic and Reason to justify and legitimize, or are we simply not understanding all the angles to this equation?

As Messianic Believers, we embrace the Torah, as God's Everlasting Covenant. We do not view it as "Out-Dated." As God is Eternal, the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever, so is His Word. He and the Word are echad (One). Therefore, if it is in the Word of God, then it is Kosher. Where our Wisdom and Reason come into play, is HOW we understand and Observe God's Word. This is called Halacha - or Working out our Salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12) Does this mean that we get to pick and chose? No, but we must use Wisdom, on How we Observe this Holiday, and anything else found within God's Word. The Holy Spirit will guide us into Righteousness, not into Rebellion.

I could spend more time relaying the foundation of our understanding, explaining that the LORD, Yeshua Our Messiah, gave us instruction on How to Understand Torah, as in application apposed to dismissal, but I want to focus on the specific topic at hand, Yom Kippur.

Today, we are living in a Period of History that some are referring to as "The Restoration Period." As we are transitioning from the Reformation Movement, into the Restoration Movement, we are also experiencing what the Scriptures refer to as "The Falling Away." (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

This is the turning point, where the Emerging Church Movement parts ways with the Restoration Movement. The Sifting is happening, as we speak.

The Emerging Church Movement, is taking the "Old Testament," idea to the next level, which is redefining its very value and meaning. It views the Traditions of the past, not only as passe and obsolete, but "Alienating," and "Lacking the Love that Jesus taught us." Wow.

The Restoration Movement, on the other hand, is seeking out the the Truth of God's Word. By leaving behind the Traditions of Men, believers are returning to the Torah, the Word of God, and finding that this whole idea of "The Old Testament," and "The New Testament," have been completely misconstrued. In doing so, we see the reemergence of a Jewish Church. A Kehielah that has become the head, and not the tail. Therefore, members of the body are coming out of the apostasy that has given God's Word a back seat to Christian Psychology, and saying to The Jew "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."

As it is Written in Zechariah 8

19 'Thus saith the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful seasons; therefore love ye truth and peace. {P}
20 Thus saith the LORD of hosts: It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities;
21 and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying: Let us go speedily to entreat the favour of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will go also.
22 Yea, many peoples and mighty nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favour of the LORD. {S}
23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, shall even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying: We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.' {S}

And this Corresponds with what Isaiah wrote in Chapter 2

1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 And it shall come to pass in the end of days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established as the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many peoples shall go and say: 'Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 And He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. {P}

If God's Prophets were Righteous and Spoke Words of Truth, and these things are yet to be fulfilled, then on what foundation does any teaching, that proclaims that God's Law - God's Word is past, have any value? It does not.

This is not about Yom Kippur verse Easter, because there is no Easter in the Word of God. This is about applying our Messianic Understanding to How we Observe Yom Kippur.

I've taught before that the very Hebrew Word for Truth - Emet - Exemplifies the nature of God and His Word. His Truth is Everlasting. Emet is the Aleph - Mem - and Tav. The Beginning, the Middle and the End. He is the Alpha and Omega. The Eternal. This is to say that Yom Kippur wasn't what we did, until Yeshua. It was always about Yeshua, and it still IS about Yeshua HaMashiach today!

Therefore, when we Observe Yom Kippur today, we do it in Remembrance of Him. This is the way that HE prescribed it to be observed. Perhaps this is why He never mentioned "Easter," in His Eternal Truth. Perhaps Easter is the celebration of another god, and not the God of Israel.

Let's once again look back to today's reading. (Leviticus 18:30)

30 Therefore shall ye keep My charge, that ye do not any of these abominable customs, which were done before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.

Why Yom Kippur? Why The Day of Forgiveness? Why ANYTHING that God Instructs us about? Have we surrendered to His Will? Have we Chosen to follow Him, as our God, or are we still making it up, as we go along?

Yom Kippur is about Intimacy. It is about Kosher Intimacy. It is about Purity, and returning to our First Love. If we look at the first reading of Leviticus 16, we see God, explaining to Moshe, How and What Aaron is to do on Yom Kippur. As Aaron enters into the Holy of Holies, and approaches The Mercy Seat, as the Cohen Gadol, he is drawing closer to God, than any other man could, but it had to be done exactly God's Way. In fact, Chapter 16 starts off reiterating Aaron's Loss, because his sons did not follow the instructions properly, and they paid the ultimate price.

At first, I didn't understand why Leviticus 18 was chosen as the second reading. 16 was obvious, as this was what was to be done on Yom Kippur, but why 18? Leviticus 18 deals with Sexual Relations, but of the Unkosher nature. God compares these acts as what the Goyim did, and explains that THIS was the reason that they were kicked out of the Land, and that Israel was now going to possess it.

As I compared the two Chapters, I began to see the connection in Kosher and Unkosher intimacy. If we want to Know God, then we must follow His protocol to approach Him. We cannot make up our own Rules, Commandments and Holidays, and say "Here, accept this." This was what Cain did. This is why his offering was unacceptable before The LORD (Unkosher). Able made a sacrifice acceptable to God (Kosher), because He followed the instruction that was given to Adam, and passed down to him, regarding blood sacrifice.

Should we be like Cain, angry at our Brother, angry at God for not accepting our Sacrifice? Perhaps we should learn from this lesson, and turn. T'shuva, return, to God's Way of doing things.

Chaverim, Yom Kippur is Kosher for all Believers, because it's God's Way. His Eternal Word did not prescribe any other way. God Chose these days, His Days, His Mo'edim, to instruct us about His Coming. We should feel at home with them, not alien to them. In them, and through them, He has and is revealing Himself to us.

It was because we superimposed our own ideas upon God's Word, that Our People could not see Messiah when He came. Should we do the same, and be guilty of the same sin? I think not, because as Paul teaches us, and implies in Romans 11, the same blindness that fell upon them, will fall upon us. Which is to say, "We may not recognize Him either, when He is right in front of us."

Therefore Chaverim, I encourage you to not feel alienated with Yom Kippur or any of "God's Appointed Times." These are just as much your Time with the LORD, as they are ours. These are NOT "Jewish Holidays," these are God's Holidays. These are Days that HE has prescribed for all his Children. He did not command us to go about making up Holidays to meet with Him. He makes the rules. This is why He is The LORD, and we are His servants. He loved us so much that He has set a day apart for us to spend with Him. Let us enjoy this day with the LORD together.

May the Ruach HaKodesh seal you today, and let us rejoice in His Salvation! Shabbat Shalom.