📜 Yawd Culture & Customs

TheSecondExodus.org
Sep 26
14 min read

Updated: Nov 10

A detailed extension of the Community Rule for the practices of a set-apart life, established upon the principles of the Books of Remembrance and the Handbook of Established Righteousness which can be found in our Reference Library.

Preamble: A Set-Apart People

The Yawd is a community called out from the world to live a life of set-apartness, in preparation for the coming of Motsah the Lamb. Our daily customs are not arbitrary rules, but are the outward expression of our inward covenant of Shabuwa. They are designed to promote purity, order, peace, and love, and to serve as a constant reminder of our sacred commitments to Anokeesed and to one another.

"And as I looked with Urim I could see that Yawd expressed no authority to act to control the lives of any people for the glory of men or for gain and also I saw that Yawd asserted no authority before the world and it acted the same as Anokeesed at the judgement but Yawd was known only as the means for the righteous in Community to act in common in their pursuit of repentance and perfection of way and the power of Godliness. And it was the people who would not allow evil in their midst to remain and it was the people who would stand up for walking in perfection of way and it was the people who directed their affairs in Yawd according to the leadings of the Spirit and by the power of Godliness and all of this could come about because the people of Yawd found sorrow, happiness, thankfulness, learning endurance, wisdom and redemption all in common, and because of this the soul of Yawd was formed and it became strong" (Book of Remembrance of Enoch 9:84-85)

"And you shall be a set-apart people unto me, for I, YAHUAH, am set-apart, and have severed you from other people, that you should be mine." - Leviticus 20:26

Article 1: Personal Purity & Conduct

Section 1.1: Outward Adornment

In the Yawd, our bodies are temples set-apart for the Spirit of the Most High. Therefore, our outward appearance shall reflect inward purity, humility, and our set-apart status, not the vanity and fashions of the world.

Make-up: The application of cosmetics and the beautification of the body is a worldly practice rooted in vanity and shall not be practiced by the women of the Yawd. Natural beauty is a gift from Anokeesed and is to be cherished without artificial enhancement.
Jewelry & Adornment: The wearing of excessive or prideful jewelry, such as gold, silver, and costly gems for the purpose of adornment, is discouraged. The true adornment of the people of the covenant is a meek and quiet spirit and good works, not outward apparel.
Hairstyles: Hairstyles for both men and women shall be modest and natural. Natural locks are encouraged, whilst all synthetics (i.e extensions, weaves and wigs) as well as elaborate styles designed to draw worldly attention or imitate the proud fashions of the nations are prohibited, as these are not in keeping with the spirit of humility that governs the Yawd. Men are encouraged to permit and maintain the growth of their hair, locks and beard.
Head Coverings: Women are encouraged to wear a head-covering, especially in communal spaces and during set-apart convocations.

Section 1.2: Clothing Garments & Fringes

Our clothing shall be made from natural fabrics such as white linen, cotton, wool, leather (animal skin) and shall be simple, modest, and practical for a life of work, fellowship and worship. It should not be a means of expressing pride nor worldly fashion.

All members, upon reaching the age of accountability (13 years), shall wear yellow fringes on the hemming of their outer linen garments:

'And Motsah the Lamb said. "Father Your hands are always extended in loving kindness and You see, You have yellow bands of color on Your sleeve openings. Therefore those of our Yawd will do the same with their garments as a constant reminder to always extend their hands in lovingkindness." (Book of Remembrance of Enoch 8:47)

We do not mix fabrics in an item of clothing (e.g mixing cotton with linen).
Synthetic fabrics such as nylon, polyester, acrylic, raylon, spandex, olefin, microfibre, fleece, are prohibited.

Article 2: Hygiene & Sanitation

Section 2.1: Principle of a Set-Apart Yawd

The Yawd is to be a set-apart camp, and physical cleanliness is a direct reflection of our spiritual state. The entire community is responsible for maintaining a high standard of hygiene to ensure the health, purity, and sanctity of our dwelling place, for Motsah the Lamb walks in our midst:

"Make your abodes a place where Motsah can rest. Do not have uncleanness or discord and untidiness and chaos in your homes. Give Him a place of honor day and night for Him to be comfortable in His reclining. Make your dwelling places a source of comfort and peace. And teach your children to view their homes as a place of sacredness to be reverenced in all their associations together. Keep discord far from you." (Book of Remembrance of our Ancient Grandmothers - Page 506, verse 36)

Section 2.2: Personal Hygiene

All members shall maintain personal cleanliness, washing their bodies and clothes regularly.
Hands shall be washed with water before the preparation of food and before partaking in the common meal of the congregation. No one shall come to the pure meal in a state of uncleanness.
Those who have experienced a nocturnal emission shall not enter the main assembly until they have washed their clothes and bathed their whole body in running water, and they shall remain unclean until the evening.
Ritual washing in water is required for various states of impurity, as outlined in the Law and confirmed in the ancient community rules, before one can rejoin the pure assembly of the congregation.

Section 2.3: Community Sanitation

The Yawd is to be a set-apart camp, and cleanliness is essential to maintaining its sanctity.

All members are responsible for the cleanliness of their person, personal dwellings and the common areas of the community.
A designated place for suitable male & female use pit latrines shall be established outside and away from the main camp, and far from any spring, well, or river to prevent the contamination of water sources.
A paddle shall be kept for the purpose of safe waste disposal.
All household and community waste shall be disposed of in a designated area away from the dwellings and water sources, either by burning or deep burial, to prevent disease and maintain the purity of the land.
The preparation day before each Sabbath is to be dedicated to general cleaning and food preparation.

Article 3: Dwellings & Community Structures

Section 3.1: Principles of Yawd Dwelling

Our dwellings are not instruments of personal wealth or status, but are humble shelters for our families and tools for righteous stewardship. All construction shall reflect the principles of simplicity, sustainability, and communal unity.

Humility & Simplicity: All family dwellings shall be of a similar size and design, sufficient for the needs of the family but without extravagance. There shall be no "great houses" that would create envy or division among the members of the community.
Sustainability: Structures shall be designed to harmonize with the local environment, utilizing natural light, ventilation, and water-wise principles. The goal is to create dwellings that are self-sufficient and have a minimal impact on the land Anokeesed has provided.

Section 3.2: Approved Materials & Methods

To promote self-sufficiency and separation from reliance on the supply chains of the world, the use of local, naturally sourced and sustainable building materials is recommended.

Primary Materials: Preference shall be given to materials sourced directly from the land, such as sun-dried adobe which consists of 'bricks' made from a mixture of earth (clay and sand), water, and straw that are dried in the sun to create a natural, sustainable building material or rammed earth for walls, stone for foundations, and sustainable timber from community-managed woodlots for framing and roofing.
Roofing: Natural thatching that also allows for the collection of clean rainwater is acceptable.
Finishes: Natural plasters and finishes, such as lime or clay plaster, shall be used in place of worldly chemical paints.

Section 3.3: Communal Construction & Stewardship

The building of any structure within the Yawd is a communal effort, reflecting the law of common substance.

All able-bodied members shall contribute their labour and skills to construction projects as directed by the Yawd Council.
All materials and tools are drawn from the common treasury and storehouse.
Upon completion, a dwelling is given to a family or newly-married couple as a form of stewardship. It remains the property of the Yawd and cannot be sold or altered without the unanimous consent of the council.

Article 4: Dietary Customs

Section 4.1: Dietary Laws

The Yawd shall observe the dietary laws outlined in the Scriptures to maintain physical and spiritual cleanliness. All food for the common table shall be prepared according to these laws.

The community shall operate a safely maintained common storehouse of food from which all in the community obtain nourishment without lack.
A vegetarian, plant-based diet is encouraged as the primary Yawd diet.
Only clean animals, birds, and fish with fins and scales shall be eaten.
The consumption of blood is strictly forbidden.
All meat must be properly prepared to remove the blood following the slaughter of an animal intended for food.
Strangulation is strictly forbidden, as well as consumption of an animal that has died on its own.
Food grown, raised and prepared for consumption by the community is preferred, as it is quality assured to be free from the impurities of the world i.e strictly organic, natural, non-genetically modified and non-hybrid sources.

Article 5: Health, Sickness, Healing & Well-Being

Section 5.1: The Principle of Divine Healing

All healing comes from Anokeesed. The health of our bodies is a sacred stewardship. Our first recourse in times of sickness shall be prayer, fasting, and faith in the power of Motsah the Lamb to heal. We shall not put our trust in the wisdom of men, which is foolishness to Anokeesed.

Section 5.2: Prohibition of Worldly Medicine

Pharmaceuticals: The Yawd shall not partake of the sorceries (pharmakeia), and vaccines of the world (Babylon). These are creations of men that potentially defile the body, which is the temple of the Spirit of Anokeesed, and create a dependence on worldly systems and sorcery rather than on Anokeesed.
Surgical Procedures: In cases of severe injury (such as broken bones or life-threatening wounds), practical medical intervention may be sought with the counsel and unanimous consent of the Yawd Council, but this is an exception for the preservation of life, not a first resort for common illnesses.

Section 5.3: On the Sanctity of Blood

The law of Anokeesed strictly forbids the consumption of blood, for the life of the flesh is in the blood. This principle extends beyond diet to include modern medical procedures.

Blood Transfusions: The receiving of a blood transfusion is a violation of the law against consuming blood and is therefore prohibited within the Yawd. It represents an exchange of life-force that is not sanctioned by Anokeesed and is a reliance on the flesh rather than on the power of the Spirit for life and healing.

In all cases, even those of severe injury, the community shall rely on prayer, the ordinance of healing, and natural means to stop bleeding and restore health, trusting in Anokeesed to preserve life according to His will.

Section 5.4: The Use of Natural Herbs & Ordinances

Anokeesed has provided for the healing of His people through the natural provisions of the earth and through His set-apart ordinances.

Herbal Remedies: The community shall diligently cultivate a knowledge of the medicinal properties of herbs and plants. The use of natural herbs for teas, poultices, and remedies is encouraged as a means of aiding the body's natural healing processes.
Ordinance of Healing: When a member is sick, they shall call for the Watchman (Elder). The Watchman shall pray over them, anointing them with consecrated oil in the Name of Motsah the Lamb, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick.

Article 6: Courtship and Marriage

Section 6.1: The Principle of Courtship

Courtship within the Yawd is not a worldly practice of 'dating,' but a prayerful and supervised process of discerning the will of Anokeesed for the establishment of a new covenant family. The primary purpose of courtship is to determine spiritual compatibility and readiness for the sacred vows of marriage, which is intently established as an element of righteousness.

A man and a woman who feel they may be called to marriage, shall first bring their intentions separately to the Yawd Council.
If the council, after prayer and counsel, feels the union may be righteous, they will sanction a formal courtship.
During the courtship, the couple will meet only in public community settings or in supervised environments. They will focus on spiritual study, understanding one another's commitment to the covenant, and joint prayer.
There shall be no physical intimacy before marriage. The relationship is to be guarded in all purity.

Section 6.2: The Covenant of Marriage

Marriage is an everlasting covenant, not only between a man and a woman but between the couple and Anokeesed. It is the foundation of the family and the Yawd as a whole. A righteous community does not encourage nor condone polygamy.

A marriage may only proceed with the unanimous and prayerfully confirmed consent of the couple involved, the parents as well as the Yawd Council.
The marriage ceremony shall be simple, sacred, and performed before the entire congregation as a public witness of the vows being made.
The couple covenants to uphold the seven-fold covenant of Shabuwa within their home, to raise their children in righteousness, and to serve the Yawd in unity.
The couple covenants not to use any contraceptives, aside from the practice of prayerful abstinence.

Section 6.3: Covenant Gifting

The Yawd does not practice the worldly custom of a 'bride price' or dowry as a financial transaction between families. Instead, we follow the pattern of "covenant gifting," which is an act of honor and blessing.

Espousal Gifting: Espousal Gifts are given by the bride to her husband and by the husband to his bride, signifying the value of the marriage covenant being made and the blessing of the union. Espousal gifts express your desire and request for specific helps in your joining and marriage to fulfill your vision.
Nature of Gifts: All gifts shall be modest, practical, and meaningful. They may include items from nature or produce from the community's storehouse. The emphasis is always on the spirit of the gift, not its material value.

Section 6.4: On Adultery

Adultery is a grievous sin and a profound violation of the covenant of Shabuwa. It defiles the individual, the marriage covenant, and the purity of the entire Yawd. It is a transgression against the laws of Love, Truth, and Set-Apartness.

Any members found to have committed adultery shall be brought before the Yawd Council immediately.
The matter requires two or three witnesses for a formal judgment.
If the member shows sincere and deep repentance, a path of restoration will be determined by the council, which may include a period of separation from certain community ordinances.
If the member is unrepentant, they shall be disfellowshipped and expelled from the community to preserve the sanctity of the camp.

Section 6.5: On Divorce

Marriage is an everlasting covenant, ordained by Anokeesed to be perpetual. Therefore, divorce is a solemn and grievous matter that should not be undertaken for light or worldly causes. The Yawd shall not recognize divorce for reasons of incompatibility or personal dissatisfaction.

A bill of divorcement may only be considered in cases of serious covenant-breaking, such as proven adultery or an unrepentant abandonment of the faith and community.
A member seeking a divorce must bring their cause before the full Yawd Council.
The council's first duty is to labour diligently with the couple, seeking reconciliation, repentance, and the preservation of the marriage covenant.
Only if reconciliation is proven impossible due to unrepentant transgression, and after a period of prayer and fasting, may the council unanimously sanction the writing of a bill of divorcement. This is a final measure to protect the righteous party and maintain the purity of the Yawd.

Article 7: Childbirth, Purity & Weaning

Section 7.1: On Childbirth

The birth of a child is a great blessing from Anokeesed. The community shall support the mother and family throughout the process with prayer and practical assistance.

When a baby is born, its placenta should be placed back into the earth for safe-keeping and covered under a rock of witness (Ebedel).

Section 7.2: Separation After Childbirth

In accordance with the laws of purity, a mother is considered 'unclean' after childbirth and shall remain in a state of separation. This is a time for her physical and spiritual restoration, not a punishment.

For a Male Child: The mother shall be unclean for seven days. On the eighth day, the child shall be circumcised. The mother shall then continue in the blood of her purifying for an additional thirty-three days, for a total of 40 days of separation.
For a Female Child: The mother shall be unclean for fourteen days. She shall then continue in the blood of her purifying for an additional sixty-six days, for a total of 80 days of separation.
During this time, she shall not enter the central gathering places for worship or partake in the pure meal of the congregation.
The community, particularly the other women, will minister to her and her family's needs at her dwelling.

Section 7.3: Weaning of Children

The weaning of a child marks a significant milestone in their life and is to be observed with joy by the family and the community.

Following the pattern of the patriarchs, a child shall be weaned from his or her mother's milk at the completion of their second year, also known as the 'Day of Gamal.'
As Abraham "made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned, " so shall the family hold a feast of thanksgiving to Anokeesed for sustaining the child and bringing them to this new stage of development. This is a time for the family and close friends within the Yawd to rejoice together.

Section 7.4: Separation During Menstruation

A woman shall be considered 'unclean' during her monthly period of menstruation for seven days. During this time, she will dwell in a separate tent or room. Anyone who touches her or her bedding during this time shall be considered 'unclean' until evening and must wash themselves and their clothes in water. This practice honors the sanctity of life and maintains the ritual purity of the community.

Article 8: Rites of Passage

Section 8.1: The Age of Accountability

Upon reaching the age of thirteen, a child of the Yawd enters the age of accountability. This is not an age of full adulthood, but the beginning of their personal accountability before Anokeesed and the community.

At this time, the young person shall begin to fast with the congregation on appointed days and take on greater responsibility in the work of the community.
They shall begin a more intensive study of the Community Rule and the covenant of Shabuwa, under the guidance of the Watchman and their Parents.
This marks the period when they begin to consciously prepare themselves for the day when they will stand before the congregation and take upon themselves the full vows of the covenant, as a willing and knowledgeable member of the Yawd.

Article 9: The Ordinance of Fasting

Section 9.1: The Purpose of a Righteous Fast

Fasting is a sacred ordinance and a spiritual tool for humbling the soul before Anokeesed. It is not a public display of piety, but a private act of devotion intended to increase spiritual sensitivity, petition for divine guidance, and demonstrate sincere repentance. The community shall engage in fasting to draw closer to Anokeesed and to seek His will in all things.

Section 9.2: The Manner of a Righteous Fast

A fast shall consist of abstaining from all food and drink for a designated period, typically from sunrise to sunset, or for a full day as appointed.
When fasting, members should not appear to others to be fasting. They shall maintain a clean appearance and a cheerful countenance, keeping their devotion between themselves and Anokeesed.
A day of fasting is a day of peace. All contention, loud disputations, and worldly labors shall cease. The time should be dedicated to prayer, meditation, and the study of the scriptures.

Article 10: Death and Burial

Death in the Yawd is understood as a transitionary passage, and the body of the deceased is to be treated with respect and in accordance with the laws of purity.

Upon the death of a member, the body shall be washed, anointed, and wrapped in simple, clean linen.
Burial shall take place before the sunset of the following day.
Designated members of the community shall handle the burial preparations.
Those who touch the body of the dead shall be considered 'unclean' for seven days and must undergo the prescribed purification rituals.
The burial place shall be in a designated area of the community's land, set-apart for this purpose.
Graves shall be marked simply, with the headstone due South.
There shall be a period of mourning, but it should be marked by faith in the resurrection and hope in the promises of Anokeesed, not by the despair of the world.

"For YAHUAH your Aluahiym walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you... therefore shall your camp be set-apart." - Deuteronomy 23:14

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