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All About Pesach Back to Emet Articles Passover. This is the Biblical holy day that commemorates the birth of the nation of Yisr’ael. It marks the liberation of the people from the bondage of slavery. Passover. This feast reminds Yisra’el of the death angel “passing over” the homes that had the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. It is also the exact time that Messiah Yahshua gave His life as a sacrifice for all mankind. It is to be celebrated every year by all Bible believers. But how? How should you keep Passover? There are many way and many wonderful traditions. Each congregation or family must choose how do so as instructed by the Rabbi, yet this teaching will express just a few suggestions. This short overview of Pesach is just that – a short review of the holy day. Enjoy! (This teaching is in no way exhaustive on the rituals and customs of this special time.) Now understanding and celebrating Pesach is as easy as A,B,C… A - All about the festival, a simple overview B - Biblical references concerning the holy day C - Celebration information on how to make the day special
Pesach is the most celebrated of the Biblical holy days by Jews and Christians. It commemorates the exodus of the Yisraelites from the bondage of slavery to Pharoah. This feast is usually called “Passover” which is the English translation of the Hebrew Pesach. This is the Strong’s Exhaustive definition of the word: çñ—t, pesÖahÖ, from paôsÖahÖ, “to pass” or “spring over” or “to spare” (Ex 12:13, 23, 17; compare Isa 31:5) Other conjectures connect the word with the “passing over” into a new year, with assyr pasúaòhÕu, meaning “to placate,” with Hebrew paôsÖah, meaning “to dance,” and even with the skipping motions of a young lamb.” According to the Bible, a memorial of this day is to be observed as an ordinance forever (Ex 12:14, 24) during the first Biblical month of Aviv. Pesach is the first of the three annual festivals that include Shavuot and Yom Teruah. Again, this day commemorates the final plague on Egypt when the firstborn of the Egyptians died and the Israelites were spared because of the blood smeared on their door posts (Ex. 12:11, 21, 27, 43, 48). According to the Bible, Passover takes place on the fourteenth day (at evening) of the first month (Lev. 23:5). To commemorate the Passover, the Yisraelites were to take a lamb or kid to be slain on the tenth day of the month (Ex. 12:3) and slaughtered on the fourteenth day and then eaten (Deut. 16:7). None of the animal was to be left over on the following morning (Ex. 34:25). The uncircumcised and the hired servant were not permitted to eat the sacrifice (Ex. 12:45-49). This meal has evolved into the modern-day “seder” in Judaism. Seder is the Hebrew word for “order” and the seder is an orderly service that teaches the story and meaning of Pesach. The Passover is also called the feast of unleavened bread (Ex. 23:15; Deut. 16:16) because only unleavened bread was eaten during the seven days immediately following Passover (Ex. 12:15-20; 13:6-8; Deut. 16:3-8). Technically this is a separate feast to Yahweh that happens to occur during the Passover season. Unleavened bread reflected the fact that the people had no time to put leaven in their bread before their hasty departure from Egypt. It was also apparently connected to the barley harvest (Lev. 23:4-14). Leaven is often a word picture of sin in the Bible. So by eating bread without leaven, the Hebrews can reflect on how their lives should be lived without sin. A special book is used during the Passover season called a “haggadah.” Haggadah literally means “the telling.” The Haggadah is a book of instructions, prayers, blessings, and stories that lay out the order and information for Pesach. In the traditional Pesach Haggadah all Yisra’el is called to experience the miracle of Yahweh. It says, "In every generation, each person must feel as if he personally had come out of Mitzrayim (Egypt), as the Torah says: "You should tell your child on that day, 'When I left Mitzrayim, Yahweh did miracles for me…” Pesach has been celebrated in the same traditional manner for hundreds, if not thousands, of years by Yisra’el. A detailed account of the institution of this feast is given in Shemot (Exodus) 12 and 13 and many of the verses recorded below. Passover is a family time. It is a time to come before Yahweh to remember the great miracle of the Exodus. It is also a special time to remember the work of Yahshua and His death and resurrection. During New Testament times large crowds gathered in Jerusalem to observe this annual celebration. Yahshua the Messiah was crucified during the Passover event. He and His disciples ate a Passover memorial meal together on the eve of His death. During this meal Yahshua said, “This is my body,” and “this cup is the new testament in my blood” (Luke 22:7, 19-20). The Bible records that the Passover celebration should include the use of wine (Luke 22:17, 20), a sauce with the bitter herbs (John 13:26), unleavened bread, the roasted lamb, and songs of praise. Although Yahshua would die at Pesach as the ultimate ransom for sins, this does not alter the eternal commandments in the Torah to keep the Pesach. In fact, Yahshua said to do Passover “in remembrance of me.” This is a quote about Pesach from Geikie’s book The Life of Christ, “The city itself and the neighbourhood became more and more crowded as the feast approached, the narrow streets and dark arched bazaars showing the same throng of men of all nations as when Jesus had first visited Jerusalem as a boy. Even the temple offered a strange sight at this season, for in parts of the outer courts a wide space was covered with pens for sheep, goats, and cattle to be used for offerings. Sellers shouted the merits of their beasts, sheep bleated, oxen lowed. Sellers of doves also had a place set apart for them. Potters offered a choice from huge stacks of clay dishes and ovens for roasting and eating the Passover lamb. Booths for wine, oil, salt, and all else needed for sacrifices invited customers. Persons going to and from the city shortened their journey by crossing the temple grounds, often carrying burdens... Stalls to change foreign money into the shekel of the temple, which alone could be paid to the priests, were numerous, the whole confusion making the sanctuary like a noisy market.” B Biblical references “ And Yahweh said to Mosheh, “Now see what I do to Pharaoh, for with a strong hand he is going to let them go, and with a strong hand he is going to drive them out of his land.” And Elohim spoke to Mosheh and said to him, “I am Yahweh.” “And I appeared to Avraham, to Yitshaq, and to Ya’aqob, as El Shaddai. And by My Name, Yahweh, was I not known to them? “And I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Kena’an, the land of their sojournings, in which they have sojourned. “Say, therefore, to the children of Yisra’el, ‘I am Yahweh, and I shall bring you out from under the burdens of the Mitsrites, and shall deliver you from their enslaving, and shall redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments, and shall take you as My people, and I shall be your Elohim. And you shall know that I am Yahweh your Elohim who is bringing you out from under the burdens of the Mitsrites. ‘And I shall bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Yitshaq, and to Ya’aqob, to give it to you as in inheritance. I am Yahweh,’” Shemot 6:1-8 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Yisra’el, saying, ‘On the tenth day of the month each one of them is to take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.’” Shemot (Exodus) 12:3 “And this is how you eat it: Your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Passover of Yahweh.” Shemot (Exodus) 12:11. “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. Indeed, on the first day you cause leaven to cease from you houses,” Exodus 12:15. "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt... that I may lay My Hand upon Egypt... and the Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I stretch forth My Hand upon Egypt." Exodus 7:3-5 “For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses,” Exodus 12:19. “Unleavened bread is to be eaten the seven days; and whatever is leaven is not to be seen with you, and leaven is not to be seen with you within all your border,” Exodus 13:7 “And this day shall become to you a remembrance. And you shall observe it as a festival to Yahweh throughout your generations - - observe it as a festival, an everlasting law.” Shemoe (Exodus) 12:14. “And you shall guard this word as a law for you and your sons forever.” And it shall be, when you come to the land, which Yahweh gives you, as He promised, that you shall guard this service. Shemot (Exodus) 12:25. “And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’ “Then you shall say, ‘It is the Pesach slaughtering of Yahweh, who passed over the houses of the children of Yisra’el in Mitsrayim when He smote the Egyptians and delivered our households.’” Shemot 12:26, 27. “So Moshe told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Yisraelites did everything just as Yahweh commanded Moshe,” Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:4-5. On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover,” Yah’hoshua (Joshua) 5:10. “In the first month (Aviv), on the fourteenth day of the month, you have the Pesach, a festival of seven days, unleavened bread is eaten. And on that day the Prince shall prepare for Himself and for all the people of the land a bull for a sin offering. And during the seven days of the festival He prepares a burnt offering to Yahweh, seven bulls and seven rams, perfect ones, daily for seven days, and a mail goat daily for a sin offering.” Yehezqel (Ezekiel) 44:21-23. “The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover to Yahweh your Elohim, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” Not since the days of the judges who led Yisra’el, nor throughout the days of the kings of Yisra’el and the kings of Judah, had any such Passover been observed. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to Yahweh in Jerusalem,” 2 Melekhim (Kings) 23:21-24 “ This is my body which is given for you: This do in remembrance of me,” Luke 22:19. “And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival; your hearts will rejoice as when people go up with flutes to the mountain of Yahweh, to the Rock of Yisra’el. Yahweh will cause men to hear his majestic voice and will make them see his arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst, thunderstorm and hail,” Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 30:30. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Ruach (Spirit), says Yahweh of hosts," ZekarYah 4:6 “On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover. The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests and for themselves. So the Yisraelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek Yahweh, the Elohim of Yisra’el. For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because Yahweh had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of Elohim, the Elohim of Yisrael,” Ezra 6:20-23. “Hezekiah sent word to all Yisra’el and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to Yahweh, the Elohim of Yisra’el. The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. They had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem,” 2 Chronicles 30:1-4 “This will be a day for you to remember and celebrate the festival to Yahweh from generations to generations you are to celebrate it by a perpetual regulation. When your children ask you, “What do you mean by this ceremony? say, it is the sacrifice of Yahweh’s Pesach because Yahweh passed over the house of Yisra’el in Egypt, when He killed the Egytians, but spared our houses,” The people of Yisra’el bowed their heads and worshipped,” Exodus 12:14, 26, 27. “Get rid of the old hametz (leaven) so that you can be a new batch of dough, because in reality you are unleavened. For our Pesach lamb, the Messiah has been sacrificed. So let us celebrate the seder not with leftover hametz the hametz of wickedness and evil, but with the matzah of purity and truth,” 1 Corinthians 5:7,8. “Let us rejoice and be glad let us give him the glory! For the time has come for The wedding of the Lamb, and the bride has prepared Herself fine linen, bright and clear has been given her to wear. (“fine linen,” means the righteous deeds of Yahweh’s people) The Angel said to me “ Write: How blessed are those who have been invited to the wedding Feast of the Lamb…” Then he added, “ These are Yahweh’s very words,” Revelation 19:7-9. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Master's death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Sovereign in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the King. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the King's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the King, that we may not be condemned with the world,” 1 Corinthians 11:26-32. “A little leaven leavens all the lump,” Galatians 5:9 “Now the Passover of the Yehudim was near, and many went from the country up to Yerushalayim before the Passover, to set themselves apart,” Yochanan [John] 11: 55. “And Yahshua said to them, "Mind! And beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "Because we brought no bread,” Mattitiyahu 16: 6-7. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah, and the Prophets. I did not come to destroy (or modify, or change), but (only) to fulfill.” Mattithyahu 5:17. “On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Yahshua had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Yahshua was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, master?” Yahshua replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born,” Matthew 26:17-24, “On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Yahshuas’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover,” Mark 14:12. “And Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand, a stretched out arm, with great terror, and with signs and wonders,” Devarim (Deuteronomy) 26:8 “Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Yahshua stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it,” Luke 2:41-43. “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Yahshua sent Kefa (Peter) and Yochanan (John), saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked,” Luke 22:7-8 “When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Yahshua went up to Jerusalem,” John 2:13 “And you shall count for yourselves from the morrow of the Shabbat, from the day that you bring the omer [offering] that is raised, seven complete weeks there shall be until the morrow of the seventh week you shall count fifty days,” Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:15, 16. “The Jewish Passover Feast was near. When Yahshua looked up and saw a great rowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do,” John 6:4. "This annual festival will be a visible reminder to you, like a mark branded on your hands or your forehead. Let it remind you always to keep Yahweh's instructions in your minds and on your lips. After all, it was Yahweh who rescued you from Egypt with great power." Ex 13:9 "For indeed Messiah, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." I Cor 5:7 “Then the Jews led Yahshua from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man,” John 18:28-29, “Let no one therefore judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a Festival or a new moon or Sabbaths – which are a shadow of what is (yet) to come – but the Body of Messiah (meaning, “Let no one but the Body of Messiah judge you),” Colossians 2:16-17. “By faith he (Moshe) kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel,” Heb 11:28, Here are a few Passovers in the Bible: 1. The death angel Passover in Egypt (Ex. 12:21). 2. The first Passover in the Promised Land (Josh. 5:10). 3. The Passover in Hezekiah’s time (2 Chron. 30:2). 4. The Passover in Josiah’s time (2 Ki. 23:22). 5. The first Passover by the returning remnant (Ezra 6:19). 6. The Passover attended by Yahshua at age twelve (Lk. 2:41, 42). 7. The cleansing of the Temple Passover (Jn. 2:13). 8. The feeding of the 5,000 Passover (Jn. 6:4). 9. The raising of Lazarus Passover (Jn. 11:55). 10. The upper room Passover (Mt. 26:19). 11. The Passover associated with the death of James (Acts 12:4). 12. The future Passover in the millennium (Ezek. 45:21).
C Celebration information Pesach is celebrated in many different ways by different groups. The most popular way to celebrate Pesach is through the “seder” or commemorative meal held in the month of Aviv. Judaism teaches that the Seder should include 15 steps that properly keep the festival. All 15 of these events are not found necessarily in the Scriptures, so when keeping this feast consult your Rabbi or Bible teacher for proper halakha on the various aspects of Pesach. Just like most Biblical holy days this is a special time for children to learn all about their heritage and their faith. Pesach is more than just a day or just a meal. It is a season of joy a month long time to celebrate the great miracle of Yahweh and His deliverance. This festival lasts for eight days. The first day and the last day are Shabbatons on which no work is permitted according to the Bible. Also according to the Bible no leaven or “chametz” can be eaten during this feast time. What is eaten is called “matzah” or unleavened flat bread. Matzah is simply made from water and flour and is usually cooked very quickly. You can also purchase matzah at most grocery stores during Passover. Chametz that should not be eaten includes leavening agents found in many foods. The prohobition against leaven also includes owning or possessing chametz during Pesach. One web site defines chametz as “including anything made from the five major grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt) that has not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after coming into contact with water. Orthodox Jews of Ashkenazic background also avoid rice, corn, peanuts, and legumes (beans) as if they were chametz. All of these items are commonly used to make bread, thus use of them was prohibited to avoid any confusion.” In preparation for Pesach, the home is to be cleaned and scrubbed to remove all chametz Some people even use special kitchen utensils and dishware at this time. By the way, this is were the term “spring cleaning” comes from. Pesach cleaning usually begins two weeks before Pesach and can include riding the home of minute traces of leaven. Some people buy new toasters while others even have special countertops just for Pesach. Professor Yona Amitai, a senior toxicologist at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem notes that studies show that “accidential poisonings of children from cleaning fuild triples during the two or three weeks before Passover in Jewish homes.” Many foods that are made without chametz havea label on them that says, "Kosher L'Pesach” which means, “kosher for Passover." To celebrate a Pesach Seder usually requires a special Seder Plate. These plates can be very decorative and beautifull yet you can also use any plate to hold the elements of the evening. The Seder is a ritual banquet which reenacts the Exodus, conducted sometimes on both the first and second evenings of Passover. Four cups of wine are consumed during the course of the Seder to commemorate the redemption of the Jewish people, the sanctity of the holiday and events related in the Haggadah. The Seder is a traditional occasion for Jewish families to gather together to reinforce their ties to Judaism It is tradition to commemorate the removal of all chametz from the home on the night before Pesach with a thorough search of the home to ensure that no chametz remains. Of course all chametz should have already been removed, but families can do this by hiding pieces of bread or cereal throughout the house and allow the children to have candles or flashlights to find the chametz and brush it away into a small bag. After the search game the chametz is usually burned and the following decleration is spoken: “Any chametz (leavened bread) or leaven which is in my possession and which I have not seen, nor disposed of, nor did I know of it, may it be considered as null and as ownerless like the dust of the earth." This burning is sometimes done on the following morning. On the day before Pesach, Erev Pesach, is the fast of the firstborn. This is an extra-Biblical tradition that commemorates the fact that the firstborn Hebrew males in Mitzrayim were "passed over " (spared) during the final plague while the first-born sons of the Egyptians were killed. The first born male of the womb is to fast on this day and then break the fast with a festive meal right before Pesach begins. A new tradition to the Pesach seder is Kos Miryam or Miriam’s cup. This is a cup that sits on the table and is filled with water instead of wine. This symbol honors the Talmudic story of Miriams’s Well which brought water to the Yisraelites as they traveled in the dessert. Special actions can further be taken with this cup. Another tradition of Pesach is celebrating the Shabbat before the Seder. One web site had this to say about this special day, “The Shabbat before Pesach is called Shabbat HaGadol (the Great Shabbat) because it was the day when the Jews were to take the sheep (which the Egyptians worshipped) to be used for the Korban Pesach (Pascal offering) four days later. (This means that the first Pesach was on a Wednesday). After nine plagues, the Egyptians were powerless to react to the slaughter of one of their gods. The Israelites, of course, didn't know this, and therefore displayed tremendous faith in Hashem prior to Yetziat Mitzrayim (the Exodus). We remember this event with a special Haftorah (reading from the prophets) where again great faith and trust in Hashem is emphasized. The Haftorah concludes with the call to remember the teachings of Moshe and informs us that Hashem will send Eliyahu Hanavi (Elijah the Prophet) to herald the great and awesome day when Bnei Yisroel (the Children of Israel) will again experience redemption. This is yet another possible reason for the name Shabbat HaGadol, - that "great day" mentioned in the Haftorah. Traditionally on Shabbat HaGadol the Rabbi lectures about the observance and meaning of Pesach to his congregation, teaching the laws of Pesach, so that the families can prepare properly for the Yom Tov. Which leads to another interpretation of Shabbat HaGadol - "the Shabbat of the Leader" or of the Rabbi. A more novel explanation is that the people returning from the synagogue later than usual on this Shabbat because of the unusually long speech that was customary on this day. Thus this Shabbat seemed "great," i.e., longer than the other Shabbatot. Whatever the reason for the name, it is customary to recite part of the Haggadah on Shabbat HaGadol.” It seems the activities of Pesach never end, especially when you consider the counting of the omer. Counting the omer is a Biblical command that commemorates the time between the Passover and the giving of the Torah. The days between Pesach and Shavuot is a special time of anticipation because it was on Shavuot that the Torah was given to Yisra’el. Here are the listed dates of the Jewish calendar for Pesach: · Jewish Year 5764: sunset April 5, 2004 - nightfall April 13, 2004 · Jewish Year 5765: sunset April 23, 2005 - nightfall May 1, 2005 · Jewish Year 5766: sunset April 12, 2006 - nightfall April 20, 2006 · Jewish Year 5767: sunset April 2, 2007 - nightfall April 10, 2007 · Jewish Year 5768: sunset April 19, 2008 - nightfall April 27, 2008 Below is the recipe for the sweet charoset eaten during the seder: This fruit, nut and wine mix is eaten during the seder. It is meant to remind us of the mortar used by the Jews to build during the period of slavery. It should have a coarse texture. The ingredient quantities listed here are at best a rough estimate; I usually just eye-ball it. The recipe below makes a very large quantity, but we usually wind up making more before the holiday is over. Other fruits or nuts can be used. Shred the apples. Add all other ingredients. Allow to sit for 3-6 hours, until the wine is absorbed by the other ingredients. Serve on matzah. Goes very well with horseradish. 4 medium apples, 2 tart and 2 sweet · 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds · 1/4 cup sweet wine · 1/4 cup dry wine · 1 Tbs. cinnamon One of the most popular songs of Passover and the Pesach seder is Dahyenu. Dahyenu means, “it would have been enough.” In the Haggadah this song appears after the telling of the story of the exodus just before the explanation of the Matzah and Maror. Had He brought us out of Egypt, it would have been enough for us. These are the lyrics to one of the verses and the chorus: Dahy-dahyenu,
dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu. Ilu hotzi-hotzianu hotzianu mi-Mitzrayim hotzianu mi-Mitzrayim dahyenu.
The traditional four questions spoken by children during the Seder stimulate the discussion of the exodus and the events of the evening. The four questions are: 1. Why do we eat unleavened bread on this night when all other nights we eat leavened bread? 2. Why do we eat only bitter herbs on this night when on all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables? 3. Why do we dip our vegetables twice this night when we do not dip our vegetables even once on all other nights? 4. Why do we eat our meals reclining on this night when on all other nights we eat our meals sitting or reclining?
Below is a glossary of terms used during the Passover season: Afikoman: lit, "dessert," from the Aramaic fiku man, "bring out the food" the portion of matzah eaten at the close of the Seder meal in commemoration of the Passover offering. Beirach: (lit. "bless") the thirteenth activity of the Seder--recitation of Grace After Meals. Bedikat Chametz: the search for leaven conducted on the night before Passover eve. Bet HaMikdash: Holy Temple in Jerusalem Birkat Hamazon: grace after meals. Chagigah: the festival offering. Chametz: Leavened foods, prohibited on Passover. Charoset: a paste made of apples, pears, nuts and wine, in which the maror is dipped Chazeret: vegetable used for maror (bitter herbs) Chol HaMoed: (lit. "mundane [days] of the festival"), the intermediate days of the Festivals of Passover and Succot. Dayenu: "It is enough for us"--the refrain in a song in the Haggadah. Erev: (lit. "eve of") day preceding Shabbat or Festivals. Haggadah: (lit. "narration") the text that is recited at the Seder. Hallel: (lit. "praise") the 14th activity of the Seder--reciting the Hallel, Psalms of praise and thankgiving Havdalah: (lit. separation), the blessings recited at the conclusion of Shabbat and Festivals, separating the holy day from the other days of the week. Kadesh: (lit. "sanctify") the first activity of the Seder--to recite the Kiddush. Karpas: (lit. "greens") the vegetable, dipped in saltwater, eaten at the beginning of the Seder. Ke’ara: (lit. "plate") the tray, plate or cloth on which are placed the three matzot and six foods for use during the Seder. Ketz: (lit. "the end") the deadline for the end of the Exile. Kiddush: (lit. "sanctification") the sanctification of Shabbat and Festivals with a blessing recited over a cup of wine. Klipah: (li. "husk") the Kabbalistic term for evil, which is extraneous to, and concealing of, the kernel of good within Korech: (lit. "wrap" and "make a sandwich") the tenth activity of the Seder--to eat matzah and maroir combined in a sandwich. Leviyim: Levites, members of the tribe of Levi, who served in the Holy Temple. Magid: (lit. "telling") the fifth activity of the seder--the telling of the story of the Exodus. Mah Nishtanah: (lit. "What Is Different?"); the "Four Questions" asked by the children at the Seder. Malchut: "Kingship", the last of the ten sefirot (Divine Attributes) Maror: bitter herbs. Mashiach: (lit. "the annointed"), the Messiah. Matzah: (pl. matzot): unleavend bread. Midrash: the non-literal interpretation and homiletic teachings of the Sages, on Scripture. Mitzrayim: Egypt Mitzvah: (pl. Mitzvot): "commandment"; the precepts of the Torah; also used to mean "good deed" Motzi: (lit. "take out" or "bring forth"). the blessing, thanking Yahweh "Who brings forth bread from the earth," recited before eating bread or matzah. Nirtzah: "accepted". Nissan: the Babylonian name of the Hebrew month of Aviv in which Passover falls; mandated by the Torah to occur in the (beginning of) spring. Omer: biblical measure (approx. 43 oz.); the barley offering from the spring harvest which was brought on the second day of Passover. Seder: (lit. "order") the gathering and meal which takes place on the first night of Passover and follows a specific order. Sefer Torah: Torah Scroll Sefirat Haomer: (lit. "the counting of the omer"), the period between the Festivals of Passover and Shavuot (the Torah commands to count 49 days period from the day on which the omer offering was brought in the Holy Temple--the second day of Passover--and to observe the Festival of Shavuot on the 50th day). Shabbat: (lit: "rest", "cessation [of work]") the Sabbath; the divinely-ordained day of rest on the seventh day of the week. Shabbat Hagadol: (lit. "The Great Shabbat") the Shabbat before Passover. Shehecheyanu: (lit. "Who has made us live") the blessing recited over eating new fruit, wearing new clothing, or performing a mitzvah for the first time that season. Shechinah: (lit. "indwelling", "immanence") the Divine Presence; that aspect of the Divine which resides within, or is in anyway connected with, the created reality. Shulchan Orech: (lit: "set table") the eleventh activity of the seder--eating the festive meal. Siddur: (lit. "ordering", "arrangement") the prayer book. Tzafun: (lit. "hidden") the twelfth activity of the seder--to eat the afikoman which has been hidden away since the beginning of the seder. Urchatz: (lit: "and wash") the second activity of the seder--washing one's hands before eating the karpas. Yachatz: (lit: "divide") the fourth activity of the seder--breaking the middle matzah in two. Yom
Tov: (lit. "a good day"), a festival on the Hebrew calendar.
Provided below for your use is the Emet Ministries Haggadah that will be used to celebrate Pesach this year: A Nazarene Yisra’el Pesach Haggadah By Emet Ministries www.emetministries.com Leader One: Welcome to our Seder, an active reminder of our personal deliverance. In every generation each Yisraelite believer must look upon himself or herself as though he or she, personally, was among those who went forth from Egypt. Not only our ancestors alone did the Holy One, blessed be He, redeem from suffering, but also did He redeems us and our families from suffering. Not only did Yahweh, blessed is He, lead our ancestors to freedom, He continues to lead our families to freedom. This He does by His Word, the Torah. For this Word is Spirit and life. Leader Two: In this generation our struggle for freedom is a continuous one, but we are never able on our own to reach that freedom. In this world we have tribulation. In this world we have One Savior. Who by His death, resurrection and ascension has delivered us from the bondage of sin and slavery. Though we continue to be in warfare with the adversary, He, Yahshua HaMoshiach, has won the war for our souls, He has given us the victory and continues to lead us, who trust in Him, and who have yielded ourselves totally to Him, toward the prize of the high calling of Yahshua HaMoshiach. Leader One: Tonight we celebrate the Feast of Pesach (Passover) as well as observe the first of seven days called Hag HaMatzot (Feast of Unleavened Bread). These Holy days, these appointed times, were mandated by Yahweh to be observed by those who honor Him, worship Him, praise Him, listen to Him, obey Him and walk with Him in Torah through all their generations.
Prayer to Begin Seder Leader Two: We pray, Yahweh, our Father that this night your Ruach would fill this house with Your light and give us ears that can hear with understanding; wisdom and knowledge of the holy, with insight as we celebrate together Pesach as commanded to all our generations forever.
Blessing and Candle Lighting by a Woman Baruch atah Yahweh Eloheynu, Melekh Ha Olam asher kidsanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu l’hiyot or l’goyim bidvaro u’vishmo anakhanu madlikim haneyrot ner shel yom tov. Blessed are you, Yahweh, our Elohim, king of the universe, who has sanctified us by Your commandments and commanded us to be a light to the nations and who has set us apart by His word and in whose name we light the feast lights.
Scriptures: Leader One: Pesach is an appointed time set by Yahweh for all Yisrael, established for His people for eternity. Exodus 12:14, 26, 27 “This will be a day for you to remember and celebrate the festival to Yahweh from generations to generations you are to celebrate it by a perpetual regulation. When your children ask you, “What do you mean by this ceremony? say, it is the sacrifice of Yahweh’s Pesach because Yahweh passed over the house of Yisra’el in Egypt, when He killed the Egytians, but spared our houses,” The people of Yisra’el bowed their heads and worshipped.” 1 Corinthians 5:7,8 “Get rid of the old chametz (leaven) so that you can be a new batch of dough, because in reality you are unleavened. For our Pesach lamb, the Messiah has been sacrificed. So let us celebrate the seder not with leftover chametz the chametz of wickedness and evil, but with the matzah of purity and truth.” Revelation 19:7-9 “Let us rejoice and be glad Let us give him the glory! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, And the bride has prepared Herself fine linen, bright and clear Has been given her to wear. (“fine linen,” means the righteous deeds of Yahweh’s people) The Angel said to me “ Write: How blessed are those Who have been invited to the wedding Feast of the Lamb.” Then he added, “ These are Yahweh’s very words.”
Mathew 10:6 “Yahshua said, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Yisrael,” Mathew 15:24. And he instructed his Talmidim in Mathew 10:6 as he sent the twelve out, “but go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Yisrael.
Foot Washings as Yahshua did: Leader One: 1 Corinthians 5:8 says, “Therefore Yisrael, Let us keep the feast…” As we rest in our Messiah this special evening let us remember his coming to the world. Leader One: “Those with clean hands and pure hearts, who don’t make vanities the purpose of their lives, or swear oaths just to deceive. They will receive a blessing from Yahweh, and justice from Elohim who saves them,” Tehillim (Psalms) 24: 4-5. Leader One: There is a tradition at Pesach, as other festivals. It is the ceremony of the washing of hands. Before we do this though let us remember how Yahshua humbled himself as a servant and washed the feet of his Talmidim. Let us also follow Yahshua’s example of servant hood in our lives. (The head of the table, the “Fathers, brings their basin and chairs to the front) Leader One: “After he had washed their feet, taken back his clothes, and returned to the table, He said to them, “ do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Rabbi and Master, and you are right because I am. Now, if I, Your Master and Rabbi have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet,” Yochannan (John) 13:12-14. (The “Fathers” return to their tables, and wash the feet of those at table who are humbly willing. Husbands may serve wives and wives may serve husbands.)
The First Cup: The Cup of Blessing and Holiness Leader Two: As He began his final Pesach Memorial Seder, Yahshua, our Messiah, said to his talmidim, “I have really wanted so much to celebrate this Seder with you before I die. For I tell you, it is certain that I will not celebrate it again until it is given its full meaning in the kingdom of Yahweh,” Luke 22:15,16. Leader Two: Let us lift the first cup together and bless the name of Yahweh.
Baruch Atah Yahweh Eloheynu Melekh Ha Olam, Borey Pri Hagafen. Blessed are you, Yahweh our Elohim, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. Leader Two: At this Pesach, we remember that you freed all Israel from slavery. May this cup of joy remind us of the freedom from sin that you, our Father, gave us through your son, Yahshua. Leader Two: Let us all drink of this, The first cup of Pesach.
The First Exodus Leader One: “And Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand, a stretched out arm, with great terror, and with signs and wonders,” Devarim (Deuteronomy) 26:8. Leader Two: A long, long time ago our ancient ancestors, Avraham’s descendants through Ya’akov were in Egypt because of severe famine in the land. Yahweh had placed Yosef- a son of Ya’akov in Egypt many years before, and in the course of time, he had become the second in command of all Egypt. Because of him the seventy plus members of his family came down to Egypt and settled in Bosher- the rich fertile region of the Nile Delta. There, over the years this family grew to great numbers. Yosef, Ya’akov, and the rest of the tribe were tied in Egypt, and the family continued to grow. In time a Pharoah, came along who did not know of Yosef. All he could see was the huge number of people who were becoming more numerous or more powerful. Pharaoh became afraid of our ancestors, and made them slaves. He worked them very hard, and they cried out to Yahweh, and he heard them. Leader One: Moshe had been reared in the house of Pharaoh, and had become a powerful regent and general. He had become more popular with the people than Pharaoh, and he had become jealous and sought to kill Moshe. Moshe fled from Egypt to Midyan. Where Moshe learned more of Yahweh and his ways. Then, Yahweh chose him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Yahweh spoke to Moshe through the burning bush. Moshe and Aharon went to Egypt to confront Pharaoh with Yahweh’s message, “ Let my people go!” Pharaoh’s heart held no kindness concern for the Israelites. They were his slaves and he would not let them go. Leader Two: So in turn, Yahweh sent ten plagues to punish Egypt. Each plague was directed against each of the gods of Egypt to prove they had no power over Yahweh.
The Second Cup: The Cup of Wrath (The Second Cup Of Wine Is Poured) Leader One: Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let Yahweh’s people go, even though his Majesty on High sent ten plagues against the land of Egypt and its people. This cup reminds us of those terrible plagues. Let us receive the fullness of our cup as we remember each of those plagues. Dip your index finger into the cup, and drop one drop of wine on your plate, for each plague, as we recite the plagues together. All: Blood, frogs, Lice, Flies, Animal Disease, Skin Disease, Hail, Locusts, Darkness, Death of the First Born We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and Yahweh took us out from there with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm. If the Holy One, blessed be He, had not taken our fathers out of Egypt, then we, our children and our children's children would have remained enslaved to Pharaoh in Egypt. Even if all of us were wise, all of us understanding, all of us knowing the Torah, we would still be obligated to discuss the exodus from Egypt; and everyone who discusses the exodus from Egypt at length is praiseworthy. (Do not drink the second cup yet.) Leader One: To review how Yahweh delivered his children out of bondage, we will ask 4 questions. #1 - Young Child- On all other nights we eat bread with leaven. On this night, why do we eat only unleavened bread? Leader One: this is the bread of affliction, which we call Matzah. It is the bread the Israelites had when they left Egypt in a hurry. Notice how it is pierced, bruised, and stripped. This bread also represents Yahshua the bread of life. Again, this is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Whoever is hungry, let him come and eat; whoever is in need, let him come and conduct the Seder of Passover. This year we are here; next year in the land of Israel. This year we are slaves; next year we will be free people. (Lifting three pieces of Matzah) Leader One: These three pieces of Matzah are wrapped together for Pesach. The Rabbi’s call these three unity. Believers in Messiah recognize these three represent the Father, Son, And Ruach Hakodesh. We remove the middle piece, which represents Yahshua, whose body was broken for us. Let us break this bread together now. One half of this piece is called the Afikomen. The word Afikomen is Greek and means the one that comes after, it also means “dessert.” Let us wrap this piece just as Messiah was wrapped for burial. Leader One: All the children must now cover their eyes as we hide the Afikomen. (The Father now hides the wrapped Matzah). Just as Yahshua was hidden in the tomb for three days and three nights, so the Afikomen is now hidden. Leader One: Just as our Messiah returned from the tomb, and will soon return to us again, the Afikomen will return to complete our Pesach Seder. Leader One: Let us now share the remaining piece of the broken unleavened bread. Let us follow Yahshua’s example. (The Father blesses the bread as he breaks it saying:) Baruch Atah Yahweh Eloheynu Melekh Ha Olam Hamotzi Lechem Min Ha’Aretz Blessed are you Yahweh our Elohim, Ruler of the Universe; Who Brings Forth Bread From the Earth. (The Father shares the bread with the Talmidim at his table.) Question # 2 – Young Child - On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables. On this night why do we only eat only bitter herbs? Leader Two: On this night we eat bitter herbs instead of vegetables to remind us of the bitter life of slavery the Israelites had in Egypt. The bitter horseradish also reminds us of the bitter cup that Yahshua took upon himself, dying on the tree for us. (The Father now spreads horseradish on each piece of bread, passes a piece to each person and recites the blessing. After the blessing all eat.)
Baruch Atah Yahweh Eloheynu Melek Ha Olam Asher Kidshanu Bidevano Vitzivanu Al Akhilat Maror. Blessed are you Yahweh our Elohim, ruler of the Universe who was set apart by his Word, and Commanded us to eat Bitter Herbs. Question # 3 - Young Child - On all other nights we do not dip our vegetables twice. Why on this night do we dip twice? Leader Two: On this night we dip parsley into the salt water, reminding us of the salty tears which the Israelites cried while they were slaves in Egypt. The salt water also reminds us of the tears of Yahshua while he prayed in the garden, on the night he was betrayed. (Each person dips a piece of parsley into the salt water and eats it.) Leader Two: On this night we also dip the Charoset, a sweet mixture made of Apples, Nuts, Raisins, Honey, and Wine. This is to remind us of the clay and bricks the Israelites made to build cities for Pharaoh in Egypt. Leader Two: Now we will eat again the bitter horseradish, except this time we will dip it into the sweet Charoset. Reminding us of the sweet hope we have in Messiah even in bitter circumstances. (Spread a piece of Matzah in the bitter herbs, then dip it into the Charoset, and then eat.) Question # 4 – Young Child - On all other nights we eat sitting. Why tonight do we eat reclining? Leader One: On this night we recline for our meal because we are free people. During the first exodus the people were commanded to eat this meal in a hurry. They were to have their belt fastened, their staff in hand, and be ready to leave Egypt on a moments notice. Just as the Israelites were freed from Pharaoh’s bondage, so we are free through the blood of the lamb. Leader One: Now we lift the second cup in celebration of our deliverance from the bondage of sin and death. Baruch Atah Yahweh Eloheynu Melekh Ha Olam Borey Pri Hagafen. Blessed are you, Yahweh our Elohim, Ruler of the Universe, who creates the fruit of he vine. (Drink the second cup while leaning (Reclining) to the left) Leader One: We Now Give Thanks for the Feast “You shall keep it a feast to Yahweh forever,” Shemot (Exodus) 12:4. Leader Two: Praised be you Yahweh our Elohim, King of the Universe, who provides food for all; whose abundance, and goodness, and mercy endures for all. Time to eat the meal Leader Two: It is now time for the meal, the shulchan orech. During our meal each person should sample the lamb that has been cooked. The lamb of our Seder is symbolic of the lamb that was sacrificed during Pesach. The Bible states that Yisra’el is commanded to roast a lamb on this day. All parts of this lamb were to be eaten by the family. What was not eaten was to be burned up. Yahshua is the “Lamb of Yahweh slain from the foundation of the world.” On the Seder plate is a lamb bone, which is a visible reminder of the lamb that was killed during this time. The bone is merely symbolic as the Bible states that no bone in Yahshua’s body was broken when He gave His life on the tree. Now, we will ceremonially wash our hands and as we do let us recite this blessing: “I dedicate my hands to Messiah, the Hope of glory, to serve Him only” (Families administer the washing of hands to each one at the table)
Leader Two: Now as we have all washed our hands, let us bless the Father for our food: Baruch atah Yahweh, Eloheynu melech ha-olam boray mee-nay me-zo-note Blessed are You Yahweh our Elohim, King of the universe, creator of all kinds of food. (Congregation eats the meal)
After the Meal - Afikomen- The Dessert Leader One: The children may now go and find the burial Afikomen, and take it to the head of your table for a ransom. (Pause for the children to find the afikomen) In the same way, Yahshua was ransomed with his life, to bring us back to Yahweh the Father. Leader One: The hidden Matzah also symbolizes the return of our Messiah. Yahshua has ascended to his Father, and is now seated at his right hand. Hidden from our view as he returns for the final Pesach. The Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Leader Two: When Yahshua ate his last Pesach with his Talmidim, He gave them this broken Matzah, and they remembered the words he had spoken earlier. “This is my body which is given for you: This do in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) Leader Two: Let us now eat the Matzah, letting the taste linger in our mouths. (The Father breaks the Afikomen, and hands a piece to each person, and blesses the bread saying:) Baruch Atah Yahweh Eloheynu, Melekh Ha Olam Hamotzi Lechem Min Ha’Aretz Blessed are you Yahweh Our Elohim, Ruler of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.
Leader One: Let us fill our cup again for the third time this evening. This is the cup, after supper that Yahshua identified himself with. This is the cup of Redemption, which symbolizes the blood of the Passover Lamb. Leader One: “For this is the blood, which ratifies the New Covenant; my blood shed on behalf of many, so that they may have their sins forgiven.” (Matt. 26:28) Baruch atah Yahweh eloheynu melekh ha’olam borey pri hagafen. Blessed are You, Yahweh our Elohim, Ruler of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine Leader One: Let us gratefully drink together as we recline (lean) to the right. Leader Two: Yahshua is calling His chosen people today: “Here I am standing at the door and knocking. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me,” Revelation 3:20 Leader Two: As we look to Yahweh Yahshua our Redeemer and Savior let us sing the traditional song of Pesach called “Dayenu.” Dayenu means, “it would have been sufficient.” Dahy-dahyenu,
dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu. Ilu hotzi-hotzianu hotzianu mi-Mitzrayim hotzianu mi-Mitzrayim dahyenu. Illu
notan, notan lanu notan lanu et ha Torah, notan lanu et ha Torah dahyenu. (Had He brought us out of Egypt and not judged them, it would have been enough for us.) (Had He just given us the Torah, it would have been enough for us) (Had He just given us Yahshua, it would have been enough for us)
Leader Two: Let us fill our cup for a fourth and last time tonight and give praise to Yahweh our Redeemer. After Yahshua sat and drank with his disciples, Scripture says that they sang a hymn. Psalm 136 is usually sung at this time, so let us read a portion of it together. After I read a verse you are to respond with, “His grace continues forever.” Leaders: Give thank to Yahweh, for He is good Response Leaders: Give thanks to the Elohim of elohims Response Leaders: Give thanks to the Master of masters Response Leaders: To Him who alone has done great wonders Response Leaders: To Him who skillfully made the heavens Response Leaders: To Him who spread out the earth on the water Response Leaders: To Him who struck down Egypt’s firstborn Response Leaders: And brought them out from among them Response Leaders: With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm Response Leaders: Who remembers us whenever we are brought low Response Leaders: Give thanks to the Elohim of heaven Response Leader Two: Let us bless and partake of the cup of praise in anticipation of when we will drink it again with Yahshua in the Messianic Kingdom to come. Baruch atah Yahweh eloheynu melekh ha’olam borey pri hagafen. Blessed are You, Yahweh our Elohim, Ruler of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine (Drink now the fourth cup with rejoicing) Leader One: Our Passover on this 14th day of Aviv, has concluded in this place. It is tradition to end the Seder with a farewell blessing. Let us repeat together and greet each other with love as we say: Next Year in Jerusalem! Aharonic Blessing Baruch
HaShem Yahweh Yahshua!
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