Beth Immanuel Newsletter: Adar I 5774

Beth Immanuel Newsletter: Adar I 5774
Shalom Beth Immanuel Friends and Family,
Welcome to Adar I.
Why are there thirteen months this year instead of twelve?
The Jewish calendar follows the lunar cycle which contains 354.37 days. To keep it in synchronization with the solar year, which contains 365.25 days, the Jewish calendar adds an intercalation of one month every few years. Otherwise the seasons begin to drift, and soon we would be celebrating Passover in October and Chanukah in June.
This thirteen-month, Jewish “leap year,” occurs seven times in a nineteen-year cycle. The leap year is called a shanah meuberet (which means, “a pregnant year”) because it contains an extra month of Adar: Adar I and Adar II.
The Talmud says that joy increases in the month of Adar. We say, “Mishenichnas Adar, marbim besimcha!” which means, “When Adar arrives, we increase our joy!” Since this year is a leap year, our joy is doubled with two months of Adar.
Purim Katan
Ordinarily, the festival of Purim occurs on Adar 14, but in a leap year, the festival moves to the fourteenth of Adar II. Purim this year will be on Sunday, March 16. Nevertheless, we still mark the occasion of Adar 14 as Purim Katan which means “Little Purim.” At Beth Immanuel, we celebrate Purim Katan with a men’s gathering on the eve of Little Purim. We enjoy a time of fellowship with singing, storytelling, and special treats. This year Purim Katan will be on Friday, February 14, and our men’s gathering will be on Thursday evening, February 13.
Isaiah in the New Testament
Pastor Lancaster announces an ambitious new twelve week class on the prophet Isaiah beginning Tuesday, February 18. The class will include an introduction to Isaiah and his life and times. Then we will focus on selected texts from Isaiah that appear in the apostolic writings. We will tackle famous passages like “a virgin shall be with child” (Isaiah 7:4) and the controversial suffering servant of Isaiah 53, but we will also spend time with more obscure prophecies.  The New Testament quotes Isaiah or alludes to the book of Isaiah more than eighty times with references to some sixty different passages. We will attempt to cover all of them, understand them in the context of Isaiah, and understand them in the context of the New Testament under the interpretation of Yeshua, the apostles, and rabbinic sources. If you are interested in subscribing to the audio CD’s, contact us.
Beth Immanuel Reading List
At Beth Immanuel, we are compiling an essential reading list for Messianic Jewish literacy. Do you have suggestions for our list? Contact us and let us know what books you think every Messianic needs to read.
2014 Shavuot Conference: Shabbaton, Eyes on Zion, Ethics of Sinai
First Fruits of Zion has announced plans to host three consecutive events this year at Beth Immanuel between May 30 and June 5. The festivities begin on Friday, May 30 with a special Shabbaton event dedicated to the release of the new Vine of David liturgical resource The Sabbath Table. The Shavuot conference, “Eyes on Zion,” runs June 1-3. Finally, on the actual holiday of Shavuot (June 4-5), we will celebrate Shavuot and hear teachings on the “Ethics of Sinai.” For more information click here.
Epistle to the Hebrews
Pastor Lancaster’s year-long study through the Epistle to the Hebrews is nearly complete. Catch up with the teachings at bethimmanuel.org.  
Messianic blogger James Pyles has just begun an in-depth summary and review of the series. Follow his reviews and contribute to the conversation. He has already posted his review on the first teaching, Fire on the Mountain, and the second teaching, A Word of Exhortation.
Year-End Tax Receipts  
The year-end donation receipts have been sent out, along with a year-end letter from Pastor Lancaster. Read a PDF version of the letter here.
Thank you to our many virtual congregants who send support via PayPal.  Unfortunately, we do not have mailing addresses for many of our virtual members.  If you are one of these generous donors and have not received a year-end tax receipt, please request one by sending us your mailing address.  Click here to contact us.
Support 
Please prayerfully consider supporting the work of Beth Immanuel. Donations can be made online at www.bethimmanuel.org/donate or by sending a check to
Beth Immanuel 
PO Box 562
Hudson, WI 54016
Sincerely,
The Beth Immanuel Elders
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