Shalom chevrei! This episode reflects on the Hebrew month of Av, exploring its spiritual significance and rituals. The month is marked by both mourning, due to the destruction of the Temples on the 9th of Av, and hope for redemption, symbolized by the 15th of Av, a day of joy and love. The month of Menachem Av is associated with themes of destruction and rebuilding, with the letter Tet and the tribe of Shimon playing symbolic roles. Av's astrological sign, Leo, signifies divine will and the potential for renewal. The episode also discusses observances, such as mourning practices and the significance of Rosh Chodesh, emphasizing the importance of ritual observance in preparing for the future rebuilding of the Temple. The host encourages listeners to explore and practice Jewish customs as part of spiritual growth and connection to God. Incidentally since this is the last episode, we will summarize the months and tribes here: In Jewish tradition, each month of the Hebrew calendar is associated with a specific tribe of Israel. Here is a list of the tribes and the Hebrew months they correspond to:

1. Nisan (1st month) – Tribe of Judah
   Nisan is associated with the tribe of Judah, which led the march in the desert and is connected to leadership and kingship, as Judah was the royal tribe.

2. Iyar (2nd month) – Tribe of Issachar
   Issachar is associated with wisdom and understanding, and Iyar is a month of spiritual reflection, often linked to the counting of the Omer.

3. Sivan (3rd month) – Tribe of Zebulun Zebulun, the tribe associated with commerce and trade, is linked to Sivan, the month of the giving of the Torah on Shavuot, when a connection to both spiritual and material prosperity is emphasized.

4. Tammuz (4th month) – Tribe of Reuben Reuben, the firstborn, is associated with Tammuz, which falls during the period of mourning leading up to Tisha B'Av, a time of reflection on spiritual and historical losses.

5. Av (5th month) – Tribe of Shimon Shimon, associated with hearing and listening, corresponds to Av, a month of mourning and also the anticipation of redemption, as represented by Tu B'Av.

6. Elul (6th month) – Tribe of Gad
   Gad, symbolizing strength and resolve, is linked to Elul, a time of introspection, repentance, and preparation for the High Holy Days.

7. Tishrei (7th month) – Tribe of Ephraim Ephraim is associated with Tishrei, the month of the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot), representing both the beginning of the Jewish year and a time of spiritual renewal.

8. Cheshvan (8th month) – Tribe of Manasseh Manasseh, connected to the concept of remembrance, is linked to Cheshvan, a month with no major holidays, representing a time for spiritual work and reflection.

9. Kislev (9th month) – Tribe of Benjamin Benjamin is associated with Kislev, a month of joy and celebration, especially with the holiday of Hanukkah.

10. Tevet (10th month) – Tribe of Dan Dan, associated with judgment and resolve, is connected to Tevet, a month of reflection on the destruction of the First Temple and the time of mourning leading up to the fast of the 10th of Tevet.

11. Shevat (11th month) – Tribe of Asher Asher, symbolizing abundance and blessings, corresponds to Shevat, the month of Tu B'Shevat, the New Year for trees, a time to reflect on nature and renewal.

12. Adar (12th month) – Tribe of Naphtali Naphtali, associated with joy and happiness, is connected to Adar, the month of Purim, a time of celebration and redemption.

    This system reflects a deeper spiritual and symbolic connection between the months and the tribes of Israel, enhancing the significance of each month within the Jewish calendar.

Welcome friends to this PENULTIMATE episode of the Footsteps of The Messiah, 5784 edition of A YEAR OF MONTHS! We cover all things Tammuz this month and will explain where the name comes from, why and what it means. Also we share all the dates of importance and the season that Tammuz includes and how it prophesies about the future! Tammuz is strongly connected to the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and the city of Yerushalayim, past, present and FUTURE! Into the Messianic Age, Tammuz will become a new starting holiday for an entire 3 week festival season! [See Zechariah 8]

So said the Lord of Hosts: The fast of the fourth [month], the fast of the fifth [month], the fast of the seventh [month], and the fast of the tenth [month] shall be for the house of Judah for joy and happiness and for happy holidays-but love truth and peace. יט כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת צ֣וֹם הָֽרְבִיעִ֡י וְצ֣וֹם הַֽחֲמִישִׁי֩ וְצ֨וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י וְצ֣וֹם הָֽעֲשִׂירִ֗י יִֽהְיֶ֚ה לְבֵית־יְהוּדָה֙ לְשָׂשׂ֣וֹן וּלְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּֽלְמֹֽעֲדִ֖ים טוֹבִ֑ים וְהָֽאֱמֶ֥ת וְהַשָּׁל֖וֹם אֱהָֽבוּ:

Please tell us how you think we are doing and send ?'s or suggestions to FootstepsOfTheMessiah@gmail.com. Shalom! Romans 9:1-5

Welcome to the third to last of this year's episodes of a year of months! This year we have been delving into each of the months one at a time. Before Rosh Hashanah, our goal is to finish the year strong and complete the cycle! This month covers SIVAN and new insights, ideas and deeper understandings of the month as well as the major holiday that occurs! Join us for this episode just under one hour. And we look forward to bringing you more soon! G-d bless you and shalom!

The month of Iyar in Judaism is the second month of the Hebrew calendar, counting from the calendar order established in Exodus ch 12. It falls between Nisan and Sivan and typically corresponds to April-May in the Gregorian calendar. Some of the observances we cover are...The Counting of the Omer! The most prominent observance during Iyar is the counting of the Omer, which begins on the second night of Passover and continues for 49 days until Shavuot. This period is a time of semi-mourning, traditionally observed by refraining from joyous activities such as weddings and parties. Yom HaZikaron: On the 4th of Iyar, Israel observes the Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. Yom HaAtzmaut occurs immediately following Yom HaZikaron. Iyar 5 is when Israel celebrates Yom HaAtzmaut, Independence Day, commemorating the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Also, the 33rd day of the Omer the 18th of Iyar is Lag BaOmer, a minor holiday celebrating a break in the mourning period of the Omer. It is traditionally associated with the cessation of a plague during the time of Rabbi Akiva and marks various events in Jewish history. These holidays and observances make the month of Iyar a time of remembrance, celebration, and spiritual introspection in the Jewish calendar. All this and more on this month's podcast of Footsteps of the Messiah! Please write to us at FootstepsOfTheMessiah@gmail.com with ideas or questions! Shalom, Shalom!

It is NISAN 5784! We finally made it to the first of the year! Our quest is to do one podcast about the month, its mazal, its tribe and all the things that make it unique plus bring you a new insight or practice that is particular to the month, called "chodesh" in Hebrew. So this month we will also cover the idea of "The Nasi". We will look into the concept of tribalism within Judaism, particularly focusing on the twelve tribes of Israel. We look at the significance of tefillin and the declaration of the oneness of God, paralleling it with the unity and uniqueness of the Jewish people.

From the narrative of Jacob's twelve sons to the dedication of the Sanctuary, the article discusses how each tribe had its own identity, role, and blessings. Despite the dispersion and loss of tribal identity over time, the unity of the Jewish people remains through shared customs, traditions, and mutual support.

We elaborate on the dedication of the Sanctuary by the twelve tribal heads, where each tribe brought identical offerings on different days. It explains the symbolism behind these offerings, emphasizing both the unity and diversity within the Jewish nation.

Furthermore, the article explores two dimensions of Jewish unity: interdependence, where different tribes complement each other to achieve a common goal, and intrinsic oneness, where diverse vocations and personalities are expressions of a singular essence.

Ultimately, it suggests that while the Jewish people may have different paths and approaches, they are united by a shared purpose of serving God and fulfilling their mission, making their lives a sanctuary for the divine presence. Please send feedback or questions to FootstepsOfTheMessiah@gmail.com. Shalom!

Adar Alef, Bet: Pisces & Purim! This is a leap year or also called a SHANA ME'UBERET, a pregnant year. The Biblical calendar rotates through a cycle of 19 years and seven of these years in the 19 yr cycle has an ADDITIONAL month and it is called Adar Sheni! We will discuss the "mazal" of the month along with all six of the major characteristics that every Hebrew or Biblical month possesses. Adar is connected to the tribe of Naftali and has special qualities as well as the quality of doubling in size from 30 days to 60 days when it is a leap year! All this and more on this month's episode of FOOTSTEPS OF THE MESSIAH! Write to us with any ideas or feedback at FootstepsOfTheMessiah@gmail.com! Be blessed and shalom! By the way if you are still reading, the Hebrew in the picture that accompanies this episode is Kuf Gimel and at the bottom of it says "k'ra satan" meaning tear the satan. It is associated with the second verse of the Ana B'koach prayer. Shalom!

So happy new year as we have almost finished the cycle of 5783 and this very short parashah this week is bumping the schedule of the normally scheduled program of Ha'azinu to next week. Welcome to this High Holiday and New Year addition of Footsteps of the Messiah! It is approaching! Tishri 1 is near...I am recording this in the week leading up to Sept 15/16, Friday-Sat, which is the first day of RHS. Since there are special readings for this Shabbat as it is RHS, I will tell you what they are but I am not going to go into them or recap since there is alot and it is beyond the scope of what I plan to cover. The first day of RHS is Genesis 21:1-34 from parashat VaYera and has to do with Sarah and the L-rd promising the birth of a son when she cannot have son. I think this is prophetic of Yeshua's birth. His mother, Miryam, was not allowed to have kids yet b/c it took place prior to being married to Yosef. It is a similar miracle of childbirth meant to draw your attention to HaShem going above nature and bringing a first born son where none should have happened. In Sarah's instance she was past the time of childbearing. In other words, pretty late in life...and in Miryam's instance it was too early to be having a baby. I like the way G-d does bookends and polar opposites sometimes!

All this and more on this week's episode of Footsteps of The Messiah, special edition for Rosh Hashana! Please write to FootstepsOfTheMessiah@gmail.com with questions, comments or suggestions. Shanah Tovah!