Israeli news commentators have been saying, “These are historic times.” Over the past two weeks, Israel’s pinpointed attacks against Hezbollah operatives, top leadership and their communication system brought the most powerful terrorist army in the Middle East to its knees. In the confusion and fear these attacks caused, the IDF began aggressively destroying their vast weapons arsenals.

A month ago, we all shuttered at the thought of what a war with Hezbollah would look like, and the nation’s moral has been at a serious low with the war in Gaza slowly dragging on without clear resolution or the release of our 101 hostages still held there. Then, in a moment, the tables turned, and everyone here in Israel has the sense that what is happening is historical, miraculous even. Despite that, we are fully aware that we are facing serious days of intense, dangerous warfare with a discipled and trained terrorist army who, if they can, will conduct reprisal bombings on the Homefront. As I write this, I am hearing the boom we’ve come to be familiar with of the iron dome shooting down rockets in neighboring towns and villages.

All of this is coming at a deeply significant time for Jews worldwide: the Day of Trumpeting (Yom Teruah), a biblical holy day which God commanded the children of Israel to observe. This day is most commonly called Rosh Ha Shanah (New Years), but it in fact has no connection to the new year – this was a rabbinic tradition that developed during the generations because a holy day just being about “trumpeting” seemed like there should be more to it. So what is the meaning of this day that requires us to blow the trumpets? The Bible tells us:

“Make two trumpets of hammered silver to be used for calling the congregation and for having the camps set out. When both are sounded, the whole congregation is to assemble before you at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.… When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies.”

(Num. 10:2-3, 9)

The trumpeting described in the above verses is for two purposes. One is to gather the assembly of the people together and to send them marching forward. The second is to purpose of trumpeting is to act as a cry to God to save us from our enemies. What is the connection between these two purposes for trumpeting?  I believe that we are to cry out to God on this day to save us from our enemies, and, in response to our trumpeting, the armies of heaven gather together and begin moving forward in response.

We believe that this it is no coincidence that this historical and critical moment of war for Israel is happening right before the biblical Day of Trumpeting. Of course, this holy day points first and foremost to that day at the end of the age when the people of Israel will call upon the Lord as the armies of the antichrist overwhelm the Land. Then God will send the great ultimate salvation and redemption of Israel at Messiah’s return.

We know, however, that biblical prophesies also have partial fulfilments or foreshadowing throughout the generations. And we believe that a partial fulfilment of the prophetic meaning of the Day of Trumpeting is happening right now.

War violently broke in upon us a year ago on the very last day of the fall feasts – on October 7^th. Now, a year later, this war is entering a new phase, more intense and serious, but also the stakes and the upper hand have changed. Now is the time —the biblically appointed time, no less— to cry out to God, to blow the trumpet in Zion and plead for God’s mercy and protection from our enemies.

We ask that you, our brothers and sisters in the nations, would join us in this cry to God to grant us physical salvation from our enemies.  It is our prayer and belief that this physical victory will bring about a spiritual one: a revival in the land of Israel and in the lands of our enemies who need spiritual salvation just as much as we do!