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The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month is to be your beginning of months; it will be your first month of the year. Tell the whole community of Israel, ‘On the tenth day of this month they each must take a lamb for themselves according to their families—a lamb for each household. If any household is too small for a lamb, the man and his next-door neighbor are to take a lamb according to the number of people—you will make your count for the lamb according to how much each one can eat. Your lamb must be perfect, a male, one year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You must care for it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then the whole community of Israel will kill it around sundown. They will take some of the blood and put it on the two side posts and top of the doorframe of the houses where they will eat it. They will eat the meat the same night; they will eat it roasted over the fire with bread made without yeast and with bitter herbs. Do not eat it raw or boiled in water, but roast it over the fire with its head, its legs, and its entrails. You must leave nothing until morning, but you must burn with fire whatever remains of it until morning. This is how you are to eat it—dressed to travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.
Exodus 12:1 – 11
Let me start this article by first wishing you a Happy New Year! As I’ve stated before, Gods reckoning of time never changed and is in no way subject to the opinions, calculations of interpretations of man. As stated above; “This month is to be your beginning of months…” so I say to you, Happy 5980! (Yes, you read that right, and no, it’s not a typo or a misprint).
With the advent of the new year, fourteen days in to be specific, comes Passover, easily my favorite Holy Day of the entire year. This year, it falls on the Gregorian calendar date of April 8th, beginning in the evening. For those unfamiliar with the precept I am addressing here, I would refer you to the article series The Creator’s Calendar, Parts One and Two.
Passover is so steeped in meaning and significance that there is simply no way in which to convey it all in a single article, rather than attempt to do this in a series, I thought it best to allow this Mo’edim (Appointed Time) to speak for itself…
For the last several years, I have conducted a family Seder consisting of my immediate and extended family – although present circumstances stand to complicate the matter, they in no way discourage my observance of this, and every connected Holy observance that comes along with it; Unleavened Bread (Matzah) and First-fruits to be specific.
In order to better understand the depths of meaning, and effectively convey them to family and friends alike, I did a lot of research and, ultimately constructed my own Messianic Haggadah; the instructive order by which a Seder is traditionally conducted. I thought, as we’re all hunkered down amidst the current circumstance, I’d share it here to do with as you please – read from, research or use at your own table.
Without further ado…
A Messianic Haggadah
Yetzias Mitzraim – A Celebration of the Exodus from Egypt
“‘This will be a day for you to remember and celebrate as a festival to ADONAI; from generation to generation you are to celebrate it by a perpetual regulation.
Exodus 12:14
Passover (Pesach [Pay-sock] in Hebrew) also called the “feast of freedom”, commemorates the deliverance of Israel from the bondage of slavery in Egypt and memorializes the night when the faithful were protected by the blood of the lamb. According to the sages of old, Passover is to be observed as if each of us physically left Egypt ourselves.
For believers in Jesus (Yeshua [Yeh-shoo-ah] in Hebrew), Passover not only commemorates deliverance from Egypt, but is a foreshadowing of our deliverance and redemption from sin and death purchased through the Lamb of God, Yeshua HaMashiach [Ha-ma-shee-ahk] (Jesus the Messiah).
In his final moments, Yeshua observed the Passover with his disciples. It was during this Seder meal that He revealed the significance of the elements and decreed that at each Passover from that time forward, we are to remember Him and His atoning sacrifice until His return;
This booklet is called a Haggadah [Ha-gah-dah], which means “tale” or “parable”. Rightfully, it establishes the order (Seder [Sey-dur] means “order”) of events through which we conduct the Seder meal.
The Elements
The Seder Table
The Seder begins with everyone seated around a beautifully set table. At the head of the table, a number of special appointed items have been arranged:
- A set of candlesticks which provide light for our Seder.
- Three matzot [maht-zoht (the plural form of matzah [maht-zah], meaning unleavened bread) hidden under a napkin or in a specially divided bag (called a matzah tosh). These serve as a reminder of the “Bread of Affliction” the children of Israel carried as they fled Egypt.
- A special goblet; the “Cup of Elijah” set in a prominent place.
The Seder Plate
A special platter is used, called a Seder Plate. This plate contains the elements required, as recorded in scripture.
- Matzah – unleavened bread which recalls the Bread of Affliction.
- Maror – bitter herbs which call to mind the bitterness of slavery.
- Z’Roah – a lamb shank which serves to remind us of the Passover Lamb.
With the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, there is no longer a means of conducting a proper sacrifice of the Passover Lamb. For this reason, lamb is not traditionally served so that the meal may not be confused as Korban Pesach, a Passover Sacrifice.
It is noteworthy that the Hebrew word for bone is etzem (םצֶעֶ), but the sages refer to the lamb as z’roah, or “arm” – as in the “outstretched arm” (z’roah netuyah)…
Additional Elements
Throughout the years, additional elements have become tradition and serve to provide further symbolism in within the context of the Seder.
- Charoset [ha-ro-set] – made of chopped apples and nuts, mixed with sweet wine, honey and cinnamon. It symbolizes the mortar used by the Hebrew slaves.
- Karpas [kar-pahs] – Parsley, to remind us of the sweetness of the promise of new life which bursts forth from God’s bounty each spring.
- Beytzah [bait-zah] – a roasted egg; many add this element, symbolic of the peace offering which accompanied the sacrifice of the lamb. It is also a reminder of the destruction of the Second Temple and burning of Jerusalem in 70AD.
- A bowl of Salt Water – symbolizing the tears of the Hebrew slaves.
Searching for Chametz
During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, no food containing yeast or leaven, called chametz [ha-metz] is to be consumed. In many homes, an extensive “chametz search” is conducted prior to the Passover celebration and all traces of chametz are removed from the home – some so thorough that a feather is used to reach into the deepest recesses of the cupboards. Others make a game of it, involving the whole family.
The sages teach that the bad things we do are like chametz and that we must search within ourselves to remove the chametz of sin just as we remove the leaven before Passover. Sha’ul [Sha – ool] (the Apostle Paul), addressing the believers in Corinth used this very analogy:
“Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know the saying, ‘It takes only a little chametz to leaven a whole batch of dough?’ Get rid of the old chametz, 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.”
1 Corinthians 5:6 – 8
We Recite
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam, a’sher kid’shanu b’mitz-vo-tav v’tzee-vah-nu al’bee-ur chametz
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by Your Commandments and instructed us concerning the removal of leaven.
Lighting the Candles
We begin our Seder in earnest by kindling the candles which will provide light for our meal.
We Recite
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam a’sher kid’shanu b’d-varo v’natan lanu et Yeshua M’shicheynu v’tzee-vah-nu l’hee-ote ohr le-olam
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by Your Word and gave us Yeshua our Messiah and commanded us to be a light to the world.
Understanding the Cups
It is traditional that at each Passover, we drink four cups of wine. Each of these cups is symbolic, representing a promise made by God to his people Israel.
“I will bring you out from your enslavement to the Egyptians, I will rescue you from the hard labor they impose, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you to myself for a people, and I will be your God.”
Exodus 6:6 – 7
The Sh’Hecheyanu – A Blessing for Special Occasions
We Recite
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam sh’hecheyanu v’keymanu v’higianu laz’man ha’zeh
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to this time.
~
May our homes be consecrated, O God, by the light of Your countenance shining upon us in blessing and bringing us peace. Amen
As believers in Yeshua, we also pray:
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam a’sher kara otanu mikol amim, v’katav et mitz’votaiv al libeynu al yad ha-b’rit ha-chadasha vatiten lanu YHVH b’ahavah z’manim l’sason, liz’kor nisim shelo midor l’dor. Et chag ha-matzot hazeh, z’man cheruteynu, mik’ra kodesh, zecher litziyat mitzrayim v-go-aleynu mi-chet al yad hamavet v’hat chiyah shel Yeshua. Baruch atah YHVH, m’kadesh hag’ulaiv
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who has called us from all peoples and written His Commandments on our hearts through the New Covenant. You, O Lord, have lovingly given us seasons for rejoicing to remember Your miracles from generation to generation. This Feast of Matzot is the Season of our Freedom, a holy gathering commemorating the departure from Egypt and our redemption from sin through Yeshua’s death and resurrection. Blessed are You, O Lord, who sanctifies His redeemed. Amen
Kadesh – The Cup of Sancitification
We Recite (All)
Blessed are You Lord God, King of the Universe, who has chosen us out of all the people of the world and made us holy through Your word. With love You have given us commandments to follow, festivals for rejoicing, holidays for gladness and this Feast of Passover, an anniversary to remember our freedom and this season of deliverance to remember the departure from Egypt. You have chosen us. You have given us this Holy Festival with loving kindness and blessed us with Your favor.
~
The cup is a symbol of joy; as we drink this cup, we are reminded of the joy which is ours as a result of our salvation. Let us lift our cups and bless the Lord together…
We Recite
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam bo-ray p’ri ha’gafen
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth the fruit of the vine. Amen
– All drink the First Cup Together –
Urchatz – We Wash Our Hands
A symbolic act of purification, this is an imitation of the priest who had to wash his hands in the laver before he offered the sacrifices or entered into the Holy of Holies. As the most Holy place within the temple, the High Priest alone had entrance; through the sacrifice of Yeshua, we all now have entrance into the presence of God. In John [Yochanan] (Yo-ha-non in Hebrew), we also see that Yeshua washed His Disciples’ feet as a lesson in humility;
“Then he poured some water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the talmidim (disciples) and wipe them off with the towel wrapped around him. He came to Shim`on Kefa (Simon Peter), who said to him, ‘Lord! You are washing my feet?’ Yeshua answered him, ‘You don’t understand yet what I am doing, but in time you will understand.’ ‘No!’ said Kefa, ‘You will never wash my feet!’ Yeshua answered him, ‘If I don’t wash you, you have no share with me.’ ‘Lord,’ Shim`on Kefa replied, ‘not only my feet, but my hands and head too!’”
John 13:4 – 9
In the example of our Messiah, let us each take turns washing the hands of our neighbors – each person should pour water from the vessel over the hands of the person to their left.
– In turn, pour water over your neighbors hands 3 times –
We [All] Recite
Lord, we pray that our hearts will also be clean in your sight, for it is written:
“Who may go up to the mountain of Adonai? Who can stand in his holy place? 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 Adonai and justice from God, who saves them.”
Psalms 24:3 – 5
Karpas – Parsley
We Recite
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam bo-ray p’ri ha’adamah
All:
Blessed are you Lord God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth the fruit of the earth. Amen
“‘… the Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.”
Exodus 2:23
As we eat, we recall that all good gifts come from God. With the salt water, we also recall the tears shed from suffering under bitter slavery and give thanks that God heard the cries of the Hebrews;
– Each take a sprig of parsley and dip it in the salt water –
As we partake of the parsley, let us remember that even the sweetness of life may be immersed in tears. Let us thank God that through much suffering, He has made a People, a Nation and made us His resurrection through our Messiah, Yeshua.
Let us also call to mind the suffering of those who, even now, are still in bondage.
– We eat the parsley together –
Yachatz – Breaking the Middle Matzah
In the ceremony of yachatz, or breaking, we break the middle matzah in two and remove one half. This portion, called the Afikomen is wrapped and symbolically buried by being hidden.
– Yachatz is performed and the Afikomen wrapped and hidden –
There are always three matzot wrapped together for Passover and there are various explanations for this tradition: the sages call the three a unity, some pointing to a representation of the patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Avraham [Av-ra-ham], Yitzchak [Yit-zak] and Ya’akov [Yah-ah-kov] in Hebrew). Alternatively, others point to a representation of the Cohen (Priests), the Levites and Am Yisrael (the People of Israel).
As Believers in Yeshua, we see profound symbolism in this ritual; a picture of God the Father, Yeshua the Son and the Ruach Ha-Kodesh – the Holy Spirit. The middle matzah represents Yeshua, whose body was afflicted and bruised, pierced and striped and, like the matzah, without chametz.
Yeshua’s body was wrapped for burial in same way we wrapped our Afikomen. As our Afikomen was hidden, in the same way Yeshua was hidden from our sight for three days and three nights, to be revealed later – so too, will we “ransom” our Afikomen later in our Seder.
We [All] Recite
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
Footnote: Afikomen comes from the Greek epikomon [ἐπὶ κῶμον] or epikomion [ἐπικώμιον], meaning “that which comes after”
Maggid – The Telling…
We Recite
Leader:
Ha’lachma anya di achalu avhatana be’ara de’mitzrayim
All:
This is the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt.
All who are hungry; let them come and eat, all who are needy; let them come and celebrate Passover with us. We thank You Lord, for Your goodness to us. May we show like goodness to others.
Leader:
May our brothers and sisters, wherever they may be, remember the liberty our Messiah has procured for them, knowing that no physical bondage can destroy freedom in Him.
All:
May his people Israel speedily come to know His fullness.
– Refill all cups, but do not drink –
Ma Nishtana – The Four Questions
“… and when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ tell them…
The essence of the biblical observances is to pass the miracles and faithfulness of God from generation to generation – therefore it is both a duty and a privilege to answer these four questions as we recount the wonderful works of our mighty God.
Leader:
Shebechol haleyot anu achlin chamayetz umatzah, Halailah hazeh kulo matzah?
All:
On all other nights we eat bread, leavened or unleavened, On this night, why do we eat only unleavened bread?
Leader:
Shebechol haleyot anu achlin she’ar yerakot, Halailah hazeh maror?
All:
On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables, On this night why do we eat bitter herbs?
Leader:
Shebechol haleyot eyn anu matbilin afilu pa’am mesubin, Halailah hazeh shtey feh amim?
All:
On all other nights we do not dip our vegetables, On this night why do we dip them twice?
Leader:
Shebechol haleyot anu achlin beyn yoshevin uveyn mesubin, Halailah hazeh kulanu mesubin?
All:
On all other nights we eat our meals sitting straight, On this night why do we recline?
Leader:
Tonight is different because we remember that our people were slaves in Egypt under Pharaoh and that our God brought us out with strength and the might of his hand. If God had not brought us out, we would still be slaves in Egypt. We would not be a people.
In the fullness of time came the Lamb of God, a son of Jacob and, in Him we have our redemption. It is a story of God’s love, His justice and care – for those who are poor and whose hope is in Him.
– Alternate readers moving clockwise from the leader –
Reader:
The matzah reminds us of the haste in which the Hebrews fled Egypt; for the dough had no time to rise, but baked hard and flat in the desert sun.
Reader:
The maror reminds us of the bitterness of the bondage of slavery. We also remember that Messiah – our Passover – set us free from the slavery and bondage of sin.
Reader:
We dip first as a symbol of replacing our tears with joy and second to season the taste of bitterness, knowing that Yeshua is our sweetness in the bitter times of life.
Reader:
Reclining is a symbol of the free man who can eat in leisure, so this pillow reminds us of our freedom, for trusting in God we are secure.
~
Leader
To avoid a terrible famine, God led the children of Israel to the land of Egypt to find sustenance. This is a story in which God’s great providence is demonstrated.
Joseph suffered many hardships, but kept himself pure and continued to trust in God. God raised Joseph to the highest position in the land of Egypt under Pharaoh and thus Joseph would become the source of provision to his family. Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt during a time of famine and didn’t recognize him. After Joseph taught them a lesson, they were reunited in love and his family came to Egypt to survive the famine.
~
– Alternate readers, again moving clockwise from the leader –
Reader:
Many years later, a Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph. He oppressed the Israelites, forcing them into slavery. The original seventy had increased greatly and Pharaoh feared that their numbers would be added to his enemies. He not only kept them enslaved, but also slew the male infants to keep their numbers small.
Reader:
Moses, however, was saved by his mother who sent him down the Nile in a basket. He was found and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. Later in life, Moses rose up and defended his people and had to flee for his life to the land of Midian. In Hebrews we read:
“He chose being mistreated along with God’s people rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin. He had come to regard abuse suffered on behalf of the Messiah as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he kept his eyes fixed on the reward.”
Hebrews 11:25 – 26
Reader:
Even so, God has passed over us and freed us from his judgement through Messiah, our Passover. God alone worked salvation for us, by the strength of His own Arm, he redeemed mankind.
Reader:
Though Pharaoh let the people go, he recanted once more. He sent his armies to recapture the Children of Israel. However, it was then that God parted the waters for Israel to pass through. Pharaoh’s men followed only to be swallowed and drown by the return of the waters. The Exodus from Egypt was complete; Israel was free.
~
Leader:
The Exodus from Egypt is a type of greater exodus from the slavery of sin we have through our Messiah. As the ancient Israelites did, we now look to a greater promised land – the land of resurrection and eternal life – which shall be ours at the return of our Messiah.
When men defy the will of God, they bring pain and suffering upon themselves. The Law of God brings blessings and prosperity. Messiah Yeshua said;
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Torah (Law) or the Nevi’im (Prophets). I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill. Indeed I tell you that until Heaven and Earth pass away, not so much as a yud (the smallest letter) or stroke will pass from the Torah – not until everything that must happen, has happened.”
Matthew 5:17 – 18
Reader:
Egypt received the judgement of God for defying God’s command. We also know that the plagues demonstrated to the Egyptians that their gods were not gods at all and that they were powerless against the One True God.
Reader:
And yet, because all people are created in the image of God, we mourn the destruction they suffered. Indeed, we mourn for all, who in turning from God reap the sad fruit of destruction and loss.
Reader:
The Psalmist said “My cup overflows.” A full cup symbolizes the fullness of joy; but when others turn from God and suffer, as did Pharaoh, we cannot be full of joy – therefore, even our joy is diminished as we recall the plagues God used to obtain our freedom.
All
We have tasted the bread of affliction and the bitter herbs which remind us of the Israelite’s deep sorrow and the haste of their flight out of Egypt – but what of the Passover Lamb?
~
Leader:
Gamaliel, teacher to the Apostle Paul, taught that three essential elements must be mentioned in the Passover narrative; the Matzah, the Bitter Herbs and the Passover Lamb. Represented by the lamb shank, we remember the lamb whose blood marked the doors of the Children of Israel, as instructed by the Lord, sparing their lives.
The Cup of Judgement
We diminish some of our cup as we now recite each of the plagues together. As we recount each plague, let us dip a finger into our cup and allow a drop of wine to fall on our napkin. In this way, we reduce the fullness of our cup of joy as we remember the terrible price the Egyptians paid for their disobedience.
- Blood – [Allow one drop to fall on your napkin]
- Frogs – [Allow one drop to fall on your napkin]
- Lice – [Allow one drop to fall on your napkin]
- Flies – [Allow one drop to fall on your napkin]
- Death of Livestock – [Allow one drop to fall on your napkin]
- Boils – [Allow one drop to fall on your napkin]
- Hail – [Allow one drop to fall on your napkin]
- Locusts – [Allow one drop to fall on your napkin]
- Darkness – [Allow one drop to fall on your napkin]
- Death of the Firstborn – [Allow one drop to fall on your napkin]
– Do Not Drink Yet –
Dayeinu
Dayeinu [dah-yay-noo] means “it is enough”, or “it would have been enough. It is a song traditionally sung in praise to God for his overwhelming faithfulness.
– As the leader recites each line, let us all respond “Dayeinu!” –
If He had brought us out of Egypt and not judged against them
If He had judged against them and not against their idols
If He had destroyed their idols and had not smitten their firstborn
If He had smitten their firstborn and not given us their wealth
If He had given us their wealth and not split the sea
If He had split the sea and not taken us through on dry ground
If He had taken us through on dry ground and not drowned our oppressors
If He had drown our oppressors and not supplied our needs for forty years
If He had supplied our needs and not fed us manna
If He had fed us manna and not given us Shabbat (Sabbath)
If He had given us Shabbat and not brought us before Mount Sinai
If He had brought us before Mount Sinai and had not given us the Torah
If He had given us the Torah and not brought us to the land of Israel
If He had brought us to the land of Israel and not built for us the Holy Temple…
It would have been enough – DAYEINU!
Hallel – Praise
We Recite
“Halleluyah! Servants of Adonai, give praise! Give praise to the name of Adonai! Blessed be the name of Adonai from this moment on and forever! From sunrise until sunset Adonai’s name is to be praised. Adonai is high above all nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like Adonai our God, seated in the heights, humbling himself to look on heaven and on earth? He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the needy from the rubbish heap, in order to give him a place among princes, among the princes of his people. He causes the childless woman to live at home happily as a mother of children. Halleluyah!”
Psalm 113
Let us lift our second cup together and bless the Lord;
We Recite
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam bo-ray p’ri ha’gafen
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth the fruit of the vine. Amen
– All drink the Second Cup together –
Motzi Matza
We Recite
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam ha’motzi lechem min ha’aretz
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth. Amen
– We distribute the upper & middle matzah ensuring that everyone gets 2 pieces –
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam a’sher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzeevanu al achilat matzah
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us and commanded us to eat unleavened bread. Amen
Maror – Bitter Herbs
On Passover, we are commanded to eat bitter herbs. As sweet as our life of freedom is today, let us remember the bitterness of past generations for the Children of Israel in the land of Egypt.
As we put a small amount of horseradish on a piece of matzah, let us allow the bitter taste to bring tears to our eyes and allow compassion to come into our hearts for those who suffered – as though it were us and our own families that suffered in bondage and oppression.
We Recite
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam a’sher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzeevanu al achilat maror
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us and commanded us to eat bitter herbs. Amen
– We eat the bitter herbs together –
“After saying this, Yeshua, in deep anguish of spirit, declared, ‘Yes, indeed! I tell you that one of you will betray me.’ The talmidim (disciples) stared at one another, totally mystified — whom could he mean? One of his talmidim, the one Yeshua particularly loved, was reclining close beside him. So Shim`on Kefa (Simon Peter) motioned to him and said, ‘Ask which one he’s talking about.’ Leaning against Yeshua’s chest, he asked Yeshua, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Yeshua answered, ‘It’s the one to whom I give this piece of matzah after I dip it in the dish.’ So he dipped the piece of matzah and gave it to Y’hudah Ben-Shim`on from K’riot (Judas, son of Simon, of Iscariot.).”
John 13:21 – 26
At Yeshua’s last Seder, He identified Judah (Judas or Y’hudah [Yeh-hoo-dah] in Hebrew) as the one who would betray him as they participated in this tradition;
Charoset – We Dip Twice
While the Temple yet stood, Hillel introduced a custom into the Seder service; putting together a piece of the Passover offering, a piece of matzah and a piece of the bitter herb, he would eat all three together in accordance with the scripture;
“They shall eat it with unleavened bread an bitter herbs.”
Exodus 12:8
Over the centuries, the charoset – the sweet apple mixture – has been added to symbolize the mortar with which the Israelites toiled to build Pharaoh’s treasure cities.
Let us again put some horseradish on a piece of matzah, but this time let us dip a second time into the sweet charoset and remember that even bitter circumstances are sweetened by the hope we have in God.
This mixture of horseradish, charoset and matzah is sometimes eaten as a snack throughout the week of Unleavened Bread and is often called a “Hillel Sandwich.”
– We eat the bitter herbs and charoset together –
Shulchan Oreych
– Break for supper at this time –
Tzafun – The Afikomen
At this time, the children are traditionally sent to seek out the Afikomen. Once found, we will ‘redeem’ it by giving the child who finds it a gift or a coin in exchange.
Surprisingly, the word Afikomen is the only Greek word associated with the Passover Seder. It is a form of the Greek verb ikneomai, which literally means ‘I Came’.
It was at this time during the Seder that Yeshua instituted the Lord’s Supper as a personal memorial of his fulfilling the meaning of Passover; He is the Living Bread that came down from Heaven, given for us. With His blood He purchased our freedom from sin and death. We are grateful and will ever remember His sacrifice with humble thanksgiving.
“While they were eating, Yeshua took a piece of matzah, made the b’rakhah…“
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam ha’motzi lechem min ha’aretz
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth. Amen
– Break the Afikomen distributing one piece to each guest –
…[He] broke it, gave it to the talmidim and said, ‘Take! Eat! This is my body!’”
Matthew 26:26
– All eat the matzah together –
The Cup of Redemption
– Refill all cups –
The third cup has traditionally been a cup of celebration for the freedom and deliverance that comes from God. Yeshua raised this cup and blessed it:
We Recite
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam bo-ray p’ri ha’gafen
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth the fruit of the vine. Amen
~
He then gave them the cup, saying:
“’All of you, drink from it! For this is my blood, which ratifies the New Covenant, my blood shed on behalf of many, so that they may have their sins forgiven.’”
Matthew 26:27 – 28
“‘This cup is the New Covenant effected by my blood; do this, as often as you drink it, as a memorial to me.’”
1 Corinthians 11:25
– All drink the Third Cup together –
Birkat Hamazon – Giving Thanks After the Meal
Let us give thanks to the Lord:
We Recite
All:
Let us bless Him of whose bounty we have partaken and through whose goodness we have life.
Leader:
Praised are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe Who sustains the world with goodness, with grace and with infinite mercy.
All:
Through Your great goodness, provision has not failed us. May it never fail us at any time, for the sake of Your Great Name.
Leader:
You sustain and deal graciously with all Your creatures.
All:
Praised are You O Lord, Who gives food unto all.
~
We Recite
Leader:
Oov’neh Yerushalayim e’er Ha’kodesh Bim’herah v’yameynu Baruch atah YHVH, boneh b’rachamav Yerushalayim
All:
May our eyes behold Your return to Jerusalem in holiness. Blessed are You, O LORD, Who rebuilds Jerusalem in His mercy. Amen
The Place of Elijah
The place at the table you see with the special cup has been considered the place of Elijah (Eliyahu [Ey-lee-yah-hoo] in Hebrew). It was prophesied that Elijah would return to prepare the way of the Messiah – it is therefore customary to open the door to see if Elijah has come to announce the coming of Messiah.
Some teach that Messiah occupied this place during His Seder, leaving no empty seat, so that we should think of this as the place or symbol of our Messiah’s presence.
Although Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist), came in the spirit of Elijah and was the forerunner as our Lord taught, many still see evidence that Elijah will literally come again before Messiah’s return… therefore, let us open the door and say with earnest desire:
We Recite
All: Even so come Lord Yeshua!
~
This song traditionally sung in Hebrew, calls for Elijah to come and to bring on his heels, the Messiah.
Ey-li-ya-hu ha-na-vi, Ey-li-ya-hu ha-tish-bi
Ey-li-ya-hu Ey-li-ya-hu Ey-li-ya-hu ha-gi-la-di
Bim-hey-ra b’-ya-mey-nu Ya-vo ey-ley-nu
Im Ma-shi-ach ben Da-vid Im Ma-shi-ach ben Da-vid
Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah the Giladite
Come soon, in our time, with Messiah Son of David…
The Cup of Acceptance and Praise
– Refill all cups, but do not drink –
Now let us partake of the last cup;
We Recite
Leader:
Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu Melech ha’olam bo-ray p’ri ha’gafen
All:
Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth the fruit of the vine. Amen
Blessed are You, O LORD, King of the Universe, for the wine, the fruit of the vine and for all abundance of the field. We thank You for Your goodness and steadfast love. We praise You for the earth and all its fullness in the Name of our Messiah Yeshua. Amen
– All drink the Fourth Cup together –
Hallel – Praise
We Recite
Leader:
Peet’chu-lee sha’a’ray tza’dek A’vo vam O’deh Yah!
All:
“Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will enter therein and praise God!” Psalms 118:19 All:
“After singing a hymn (the Hallel), they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Yeshua said to them, ‘this night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’ Kefa (Peter) said to him, ‘If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!’ Yeshua said to him, ‘I tell you the truth, on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’ Kefa said to him, ‘Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.’ And all the disciples said the same thing. Then Yeshua went with them to a place called Gat-Sh’manim (Gethsemane)….”
Matthew 26:30 – 32
Nirtzah – Desire
Our Seder is complete – we have made the ancient story of deliverance our own. May we celebrate this feast together again!
All:
May Zion be blessed with peace, may His ancient People come to know him as LORD and Messiah and may all mankind someday live in harmony and contentment under his rule. Amen
Since the days when the Children of Israel were exiled, it has become customary to say “This year here, but next year, Lord willing, we will celebrate in Jerusalem.”
For centuries, this was only a dream, but now the Lord has restored the Land of Israel; Jerusalem is being rebuilt, the desert has begun to bloom and the Second Coming of Messiah draws near.
When He comes, there will be a New Jerusalem as He establishes His Kingdom here on earth.
We Recite
Leader:
Lashanah haba’ah b’Yerushalayim!
All:
Next Year in Jerusalem!
Chag Pesach Semeach ~ May you have a joyous Passover celebration!
Until next time,
שלום עליכם – Shalom Aleichem – Peace Be Upon You