[ As of this year 2014, after much study and discussion of the seven “My feasts” commanded in Leviticus 23, Sinaites arrived at an understanding of which of the feasts apply to non-Israelites, that is, gentiles like ourselves.
While all of the seven are in Israel’s national experience and historical roots, three of them are in the individual and community experience of non-Israelites/gentiles. These are:
(1) the weekly Sabbath modeled by the Creator Himself in Genesis 2;
(2) Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement which every Jew or Gentile should observe since everyone is prone to violate YHWH’s Torah and should sincerely repent; and
(3) Shavuot which commemorates the giving of the Torah on Sinai, an anniversary that all humankind should celebrate.
There is no TORAH study included in this celebration, and no Havdalah because we just want meet in joyful celebration of the giving of YHWH’s LAW, an act of grace and mercy from YHWH, the God of Israel, the God Who spoke on Sinai, our (Sinaite’s) God and the God of all gentiles who choose Him and who choose to live in conformity with His revealed will.
We believe that all humankind are under grace AND law, for by YHWH’s grace, He shared with humanity what He expects of each individual! How else would humanity live together had not the Law-Giver commanded what is just for all, through righteous living, for the good of the other, in community with one another, where the ends of justice is served equally. The Torah is doable, not impossible to obey; the Law-Giver is a benevolent King Who best understands that those Who would choose to live under His Kingship are capable of doing all that He commands. He specially designed humanity with freedom of choice, endowed with free will to obey Him or not.
We maintain that faith is based on divinely given truth: YHWH’s Sinai revelation and no other. Deuteronomy warns, do not add or subtract!
Indeed there is cause for celebrating for Jew and Gentile. Shavuot is one of YHWH’s “MY” feasts, and so our Torah prayer is excerpted from Psalm 119.—Admin1]
KINDLE THE LIGHTS OF SHAVUOT-SABBATH
Blessed be the Name of the Creator and Master Designer of the universe, Redeemer of Israel, Revelator on Sinai, our great and awesome God.
Blessed be Your Name,YHWH, the Eternal, Who was, is, and will be, Who chooses to be what You choose to be.
You manifested as a burning bush, as Shekinah, an Invisible Presence amidst thunder and lightning at the giving of Your Torah, though Your voice was heard by all.
Tonight as we kindle the sabbath lights, we join Your firstborn son Israel, Your chosen people, in commemorating the giving of Your Torah, as part of Your covenant with Your chosen nation, a nation You formed through their patriarchs, Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.
We claim our place with the gentiles among the mixed multitude gathered at Sinai, likewise delivered from bondage to Egypt seven weeks earlier, on the night of Passover.
We submit to You, YHWH as our LORD and our GOD, we embrace Your TORAH as our Way of Life, for it is Your gift not only to Israel but to the nations, to all peoples; we celebrate with Israel this ‘feast of weeks’.
Psalm 119
[http://www.basicsofthebible.org; excerpted version]
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to YHWH’s law,
Blessed are those who keep His statutes, who seek Him with their whole heart.
Yes they do nothing wrong, they walk in His ways.
You have commanded Your precepts, that we should fully obey them,
Oh that my ways were steadfast, to obey Your statutes,
I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word.
With my whole heart, I have sought You.
Don’t let me wander from Your commandments.
I have hidden Your word in my heart that i might not sin against You.
Blessed are You, YHWH, teach me Your statutes.
With my lips I have declared all the ordinances of Your mouth.
I have rejoiced in the ways of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways.
I will delight myself in Your statutes, I will not forget Your word.
Do good to Your servant, I will live and I will obey Your word.
Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things out of Your law.
I am a stranger on earth, don’t hide Your commandments from me.
My soul is consumed with longing for Your ordinances at all times.
My soul is laid low in the dust, revive me according to Your word.
I declared my ways, and You answered me.
Teach me Your statutes.
Let me understand the teaching of Your precepts, then I will meditate on Your wondrous works.
My soul is weary with sorrows, strengthen me according to Your word.
Keep me from the way of deceit, grant me Your law graciously.
I have chosen the way of truth.
I have set Your ordinances before me.
I cling to Your statutes, YHWH,
I run in the path of Your commandments for You have set my heart free.
Teach me, YHWH, the way of Your statutes, I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding, and I will keep Your law.
Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in them.
Turn my heart toward Your statutes, not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things, revive me in Your ways.
Let Your loving-kindness also come to me, YHWH, Your salvation, according to Your word.
So I will have an answer to him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word.
Don’t snatch the word of truth out of my mouth, for I put my hope in Your ordinances.
So I will obey Your law continually, forever and ever.
I will walk in liberty, for I have sought Your precepts, I will also speak of Your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed.
I will delight myself in Your commandments because I love them.
I reach out my hand for Your commandments which I love.
I will meditate on Your statutes.
Remember Your word to Your servant, because You gave me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has revived me.
The arrogant mock me excessively, but I don’t swerve from Your law.
I remember Your ordinances of old, O YHWH, and have comforted myself.
Indignation has taken hold on me because of the wicked who forsake Your law.
Your statutes have been my songs in the house where I live.
I have remembered Your name, YHWH, in the night, and I obey Your law.
This is my way, that I keep Your precepts.
YHWH is my portion, I promised to obey Your words.
I sought Your favor with my whole heart.
Be merciful to me according to Your word.
I considered my ways and turned my steps toward Your statutes.
I will hurry and not delay to obey Your commandments.
At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances.
I am a friend to all those who fear You, of those who observe Your precepts.
The earth is full of Your lovingkindness, YHWH, teach me Your statutes.
Do good to Your servant, according to Your word, YHWH,
Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.
Before i was afflicted, I went astray, but now I observe Your word.
You are good and do good, teach me Your statutes.
Your hands have made me and formed me,
Give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments.
Those who fear You will see me and be glad, because i have put my hope in Your word.
YHWH, I know that Your judgments are righteous, that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
Please let Your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant.
Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live, for Your law is my delight.
I will meditate on Your precepts.
Let those who fear You turn to me. They will know Your statutes.
Let my heart be blameless toward Your decrees, that I may not be disappointed.
My soul faints for Your salvation, I hope in Your word. My eyes fail for Your word.
I don’t forget Your statutes. All of Your commandments are faithful.
Preserve my life according to Your loving kindness, so I will obey the statutes of Your mouth.
YHWH, Your word is settled in heaven forever.
Your faithfulness is to all generations.
You have established the earth, and it remains.
Your laws remain to this day, for all things serve You.
I will consider Your statutes, I have seen a limit to all perfection, but Your commandments are boundless.
How I love Your law, it is my meditation all day.
Your commandments made me wiser than my enemies, for Your commandments are always with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged, because I have kept Your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil way, that I might observe Your word.
I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You have taught me.
How sweet are Your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth.
Through Your precepts, I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way.
Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
I have sworn and have confirmed it, that I will obey Your righteous ordinances.
Revive me, YHWH, according to Your word.
Accept, I beg You, the willing offerings of my mouth.
YHWH, teach me Your ordinances.
My soul is continually in my hand, yet I won’t forget Your law.
I have taken Your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
I have set my heart to perform Your statutes forever, even to the end.
You are my hiding place and my shield, I hope in Your word.
Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live.
Let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Hold me up and I will be safe and will have respect for Your statutes continually.
You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is in vain.
You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross, therefore I love Your testimonies.
My flesh trembles for fear of You, I am afraid of Your judgments.
I have done what is right and righteous, ensure Your servant’s well-being,
My eyes fail looking for Your salvation, for Your righteous word.
Deal with Your servant according to Your loving-kindness.
Teach me Your statutes. I am Your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.
Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.
The entrance of Your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.
Turn to me and have mercy on me. as You always do to those who love Your name.
Establish my footsteps in Your words.
Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me.
Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe Your precepts.
Make Your face shine on Your servant.
Teach me Your statutes.
Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe Your law.
You are righteous, YHWH, Your judgments are upright.
You have commanded Your statutes in righteousness.
They are fully trustworthy.
My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore Your words.
Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and Your servants love them.
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness.
Your law is truth. Your commandments are my delight.
Your testimonies are righteous forever.
Give me understanding that I may live.
I have called with my whole heart.
Answer me, YHWH, I will keep Your statutes.
I put my hope in Your words.
My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on Your word.
Hear my voice according to Your loving kindness, revive me, YHWH, according to Your ordinances.
They draw near who follow after wickedness.
They are far from Your law.
You are near, YHWH, all Your commandments are truth.
Of old I have known from Your testimonies, that You have founded them forever.
Salvation is far from the wicked, for they don’t seek Your statutes.
Great are Your tender mercies, YHWH, revive me according to Your ordinances.
I look at the faithless with loathing, because they don’t observe Your word.
Consider how I love Your precepts.
Revive me, YHWH, according to Your loving kindness.
All of Your words are truth.
Everyone of Your righteous ordinances endures forever.
I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great plunder.
I hate and abhor falsehood. I love Your law.
Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances.
Those who love Your law have great peace.
Nothing causes them to stumble.
I have hoped for Your salvation, YHWH, I have done Your commandments.
My soul has observed Your testimonies. I love them exceedingly.
I have obeyed Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You.
Let my cry come before You, YHWH, Give me understanding according to Your word.
Let my supplication come before You. Deliver me according to Your word.
Let my lips utter praise, for You teach me Your statutes.
Let my tongue sing of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.
Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
I have longed for Your salvation, YHWH, Your law is my delight.
Let my soul live that I may praise You. Let Your ordinances help me.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek Your servant, for I don’t forget Your commandments.
BLESSINGS
There is no greater blessing than the knowledge of You, O YHWH,
and yet You bless us further with Your Torah, Your Tree of Life, our chosen Way of Life.
Further You bless us with one other—a small community of like-minded believers in Your Sinai revelation, who hold steadfastly to Your declarations.
And more . . .You have blessed us with family —beloved parents, spouses, children, and extended relationships, all loved ones—-we thank You for each one of them, and seek Your blessing upon them—for protection, for provision, for Your saving grace, that they might seek You with all their heart and all their mind and all their soul, and find You just as we have found You where You spoke Your words of life —Your Sinai Revelation— may they find You in their lifetime.
We celebrate the life You have granted each generation of our family, may each of our beloved ones choose Your Life, Your Torah Tree of Life, just as we have done. Amen.
L’chaim, to LIFE!
SHAVUOT MEAL
A joyful Shavuot celebration to all who choose to obey YHWH’s Torah . . . it is for all humankind, Jew and Gentile.
SINAI 6000