In the Torah we read of Jacob’s encounter with Yahweh at a place he calls Beit El. Jacob describes this place of meeting as a “gate to heaven, sha’ar hashamayim.”  May this Sha’ar LaSiddur (“gateway to the siddur”) open to us the beauty of Moadim, and by entering it, may our worship become more inspired, by drawing us closer to Yahweh and each other.

A siddur contains a set order of daily prayers. A special time we set apart to arrange order into our life. The Siddur is a book containing a set order of daily prayers.

Ohel Mo’edmeans(Tent of Meeting) and also gathering for prayer and worship. As we pray we use our headcoverings as a tent of meeting, prayer is our way of expressing ourselves to Yahweh.  In prayer it helps us to lift ourselves above the ordinary into a world of the extraordinary holiness. It is first and foremost praise and thanksgiving, making us aware of the wonder of the world in which we live and of the existence of a Divinity greater than ourselves.  This is called a special Moadim – “Shabbat” whereby we sacrifice ourselves to the Holiest of Holiest, our redeemer”I AM”. A time to Kah oti karov “draw me close”.

Moed or Moadim  
A moed is an appointed, set, specific time by order of Yahweh. It is a designated time to meet with Yahweh. A time that is significant to the relationship that must be observed, as instruments of praise. An appointed time set aside and cut off from the ordinary daily cycle. This appointed times are to be a total consecration, dedication and cycle which are called sanctification. The (moadim) is a unique and extraordinary time where Yahweh can be worshiped and praised. This is a time to refresh and revive your relationship with Yahweh. It is also a proclaimed time of offering, as set times, an appointment with our creator. A moed serves as a visible sign of eternal relationship. Historically, Yahweh’s people aligned their prayers with the sacrifices that took place in the morning and the afternoon. It is a commandment.

Moadim summary
Leviticus 23 describes the most important Jewish holidays, starting with the weekly Shabbat. The Moadim – Yahweh’s appointed times are times for drawing close to Yahweh and our human community. Time together is a key for building relationships and a key to understanding the essence of the Feasts of The Lord which He proclaimed. The Moadim message is challenge to revive your innermost spirit and to celebrate the Lord’s Feast with love and fervent desire.
And Yahweh said: Let there be lights ... for the appointed times (moadim) Gen 1:14
There are so much revealed in the contents of the Lord Feasts. Understanding the feasts and set time prayers opens and reveal so many things about Yeshua HaMassiah
Date = a “predetermined” time (Predestine - an outcome or course of events).  
Time = “past – present – future” (A point of time is measured) – (Appointed time is a specific order)
Month = (Hodesh) Rosh Hodesh - The head or beginning of every Hebrew month which begins is marked by the appearance of the new moon. "Hodesh" (New Moon), is derived from the root H.D.SH. meaning "new" or "to make new / renew".
Years = Repeated period of times which contains different Seasons
We focus on Yahweh’s appointed times (moadim), what they teach us about Yeshua and our salvation, their meaning and importance in understanding Biblical prophecies.

In The Scriptures, Feast (Hag) is a technical term which always refers to the three annual Pilgrimage-Feasts (Matzot, Shavuot, Sukkot; see Exodus Chapters 23 and 34).
Pesach (Passover - Repentance): Matt 26:17; Luke 2:41: 22:15; Heb. 11:28
Chag haMatzot - Unleavened Bread of sincerity and truth): Matt. 26:17; Acts 20:6; 1 Cor. 5:6-8
Shavuot/Penetcost (Firstfruits - Baptism of Holy Spirit): Acts 2:1
Sukkot (Tabernacles - Dwelling in His Kingdom of Life): John 7:2

Exodus 10:9 Mosheh (Moses) tells Pharaoh that the Israelites must leave Egypt to celebrate a Hag to YAHWEH (YHWH) in the desert, which clearly is a Pilgrimage-Feast. It is worth noting that Mosheh (Moses) says that they have a Hag, meaning they must make a Pilgrimage, in this case to Mt. Sinai, and thus they must leave Egypt in order to observe the Hag properly.

JPS Torah Commentary – “Yahweh gave them and Israel must proclaim each festival sacred, working together. These are complementary actions. The sanctity of these occasions cannot be achieved by Yahweh alone without us. It is our job to set them apart.”

Time plays a very important key in every aspect of existence. The word time associates itself to every part of existence.  Genesis 1:1 starts off with the words “In the beginning, G-d created the heavens and the earth.” Thereafter only by G-d’s spoken words, by His oral expression, all came into existence. This understanding agrees perfectly with passages in Genesis: 1:3,6,9,11,14,20, and 24, all of which begin, "And G-d said."  When G-d spoke - it was done. When Yahweh gave an order it has to be obeyed. All this comes down to true respect to our almighty that created all, our only and true G-d.

Deuteronomy10:12‐13; 10:20 ‐12And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your G-d ask of you but to fear the LORD your G-d, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?... Fear the LORD your G-d and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.

Genesis 1:14 ‐14 Then G-d said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons (moadim) and for days and years;

Deuteronomy 8:6 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your G-d by walking in his ways and by fearing him. Further Revelations 22:13 we read, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

The Midrash relates that when YAHWEH said to Mosheh (Moses) "This month (HODESH) shall be for you the beginning of months" Exodus 12:2.  Yahweh indicated a specific date and time to Mosheh. Yahweh gave Mosheh a complete rerun of the beginning of creation and taught him about the appointed times of feasts, days and months. We also see that Yahweh gave this as an order. Yahweh does not ask us, He order us to keep His commandment, we have to proclaim it and sanctify His order. Exodus 31:11 According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.” This order requires action and obedience, a form of sacrifice in front of the Yahweh.
The strongest proof of appointed times is the passage in Psalm 104:19 which declares: "He created the Moon for Mo'adim (Appointed Times)"The Scriptural month begins with the Crescent New Moon, also called the first visible sliver.

Exodus 31:13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you

Every commandment of Yahweh gives us the opportunity to demonstrate our humility to His kingship. Each kept commandment (mitzvah) denies ourselves and submits to His rules and His authority. They re‐order and re­structure our lives in Godly manners.

Our prayer life enables us to have a great spiritual growth when we enter into a close relationship with Yahweh. Although we can approach Yahweh at all times, there is also a very specific and unique time set aside for dedication, sanctification in prayer. Through obedience to the Torah we make Yahweh’s presence known in this world. “It has been taught: To love the Lord your G-d and to serve Him with all your heart.

Sabbath is to set aside a day for Yahweh.  Realizing the benefits of Shabbat and how much better our life can be when we keep the commandments Yahweh has ordered us to keep. Exodus 23:25You shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.
The Mighty One, G-d the LORD speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Psalm 50:1 G-d is calling the earth to come meet with Him. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! Psalms 113:3

It is our responsibility to claim, or proclaim the moadim. The manner of way we proclaim them by words of praise, study, seeking Yahweh’s face, prayer. Ephesians 2: 8‐10 For by grace you have been saved…good works  Daniel 6:16. Disciple – an imitator. I will do everything in my life to imitate Him. Luke 6:40. Prayer as Discipleship. Prayer is a foundation to the whole of Torah. Prayer is a responsibility, to give praise back to Yahweh.

Psalm 141:2 – May my prayer be counted as incense before You; the lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
Psalm 51:15 – O Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.
Hebrews 13:15‐16 – Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to G-d, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

These prayers are not a replacement of sacrifices. Outside of the temple context, we are to offer words of our lips as sacrifices.
Hebrews 10:4 – It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Revelation 5:8 – When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty‐four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Leviticus 23 contains a catalogue of the Scriptural Set Apart Days opens with the statement: "These are the Moadim (Appointed Times) of Yahweh, set apart convocations which you shall proclaim in their Appointed Times (Moadim)”. We also learn about the Feast of The Lord and how this all connect with Yeshua. Each moed (Feast) teaches us about Messiah and reveals His work to us in much deeper ways. For that very same reason we realize why Yeshua is Lord of the Sabbath. 

Just like any relationship, it is important to set aside valuable time to refresh, revive, honor and give praise. We fill the invisible points of time by ceasing, stopping our daily lives. This is a time where you are cut off from the rest of the world and dedicate oneself entirely in spirit and soul.  It helps us with the renewing of our minds and our wows.  This is the true love the Torah teaches us about. We become imitate in our relationship with our Rabbi, Yeshua HaMassiah. The Torah constantly shape and challenge our flesh. We have this perfect opportunity to stand before Yahweh and be His instrument of praise. Through dedication we learn to walk in holiness in our discipleship, to mature, to discipline our lives. Doing so, we receive grace for our salvation and being redeemed by His covering. It strengthens our walk and as substance receives deeply Biblical depth and quality rooted in Scriptures.

Prayer time should not be disingenuous or a selfish act. Meaning that the focus be on oneself, but be in constant praise and thanks giving. The word prayer derived from praise. Historically we read in the scripture how continuous praises went up as incense before Yahweh. Once we take the self-centeredness out of prayer and we realize the dept of the relationship. Instead of saying constantly look at me Yahweh or do for me Yahweh. This is the opportunity to say thank You and give Him praise.

We must understand prayer to be a commandment.
We should not use prayer as a tool to with the attempt to only achieve what we want at all times but also ask His will. We should enter into prayer and rather seek what Yahweh had planned for us. This does not mean we cannot bring our hearts desire before Him. The words of our mouth reveal what is in our heart. This means that we should allow Him into every decision we make which forms a solid relationship.

Most relationships fail, due to selfishness and self-centeredness. The reason it fail is because the focus is on “my way” instead of the Lord’s way.  This type of relationship never lasts because it has no depth; it is shallow and does not value the word love. It cannot reach fulfillment or joy. Passion and love should grow from both sides. When we read in 1 Corinthians 13 we learn more about a perfect relationship we can have with Yahweh and how to apply it in our life. Our goal in relationship with Yahweh is to work together through intercession and petition to see His kingdom established.

This also applies for the Set‐time for prayer. Prayer is our duty and responsibility. It forms a bond of intimacy with the Father. Yahweh’s commandments give us the opportunity to put in place a routine. By approaching prayer as a Moed, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, we re‐shape your life and come more in alignment with Yahweh. Blessings are awaiting us.

We should be a constant instrument of un‐selfish praise. A daily appointment (moed) with Yahweh is that special time we set aside “Checking in”. The Moed of Prayer (based on the morning and afternoon sacrifices)

Tefillah (prayer) – Means bonding with Yahweh. Prayer makes that connection with Yahweh. Prayer is what we offer to Yahweh. It is the means whereby we can bind Him to us.”

The Morning Moed
Abraham, traditionally, instituted the morning prayers. And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD.  Genesis 19:27   
Psalms 5:3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
Acts 2:1‐4,15 They were all together in one place… since it is only the third hour of the day. 
Mark 1:35 And rising very early in the morning… He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed. 
Mark 15:25 And it was the third hour when they crucified Him. 

The Afternoon Moed
The afternoon prayers are traditionally instituted by Isaac. Genesis 24:63‐64   And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening… 

 1 Kings 18:36‐37  At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice (mincha), Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, the God of Abraham Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are G-d in Israel…

Ezra 9:5 And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting…fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God…

Malachi 1:11 – The nations will worship Me in every place at the rising and the setting of the sun, and incense will be offered to My Name.

At the time of the morning sacrifice, Yeshua was placed on the cross. At the time of the afternoon sacrifice, He breathed His last. His disciples who walked with Him still participated in these prayers at their set the time, in the temple. These times should have much more meaning and value to us as believers.