On the Jewish calendar: 15 Nisan (March-April)
Torah: Exodus 12:1-14 Deuteronomy 16: 1-4
HOLIDAY BACKGROUND
What is the Passover? The Passover is explained in a story that retells the beginning of Israel’s story in Egypt began with the arrival of Joseph after he was sold as a slave by his brothers. He was taken to Egypt where, after the hardship of slavery and even prison, he was elevated to a position over all of Egypt except for Pharaoh himself. During the time of famine, his family came to get food from Egypt. Because of Joseph, their needs were met, and thus they remained in Egypt. All these children of Jacob, or Israel, began to multiply.
Four generations later, they were so prolific that the current Pharaoh felt they were a threat to his kingdom. Scripture says that this ruler did not know Joseph, from which we can deduct that he may very well have known of him but did not embrace him or know him as the intimate biblical usage of the word implies. By this time, Israel had become slaves and were not allowed the freedom to worship and sacrifice to God. Pharaoh finally sought horrific, yet ultimately futile, measures such as infanticide to control the increasing numbers of the Israelites.
Despite the infanticide decree to extinguish the life of all males, one was spared and became adopted by the very daughter of Pharaoh. This child was the famous leader of the nation who ultimately led Israel into her own nationhood and to the border of the Promised Land. He was Moses.
Moses demanded, through God’s authority, that Pharaoh let Israel leave so that they may be free to worship God. Pharaoh did not let the slaves free as God demanded, so God brought plagues upon both him and the Egyptian people. After a barrage of frogs, lice, beasts (some interpret these as flies), diseased livestock, boils, fiery hailstones, locusts, and darkness hit the land, Pharaoh still refused. Finally, as Pharaoh was still stubbornly preventing the Jewish slaves to go free, the final plague was brought upon him and all of his Egyptians. God gave specific instructions to Moses:
Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire-head, legs and inner parts. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn-both men and animals-and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
Thus, with these instructions, the Jewish people experienced their first Passover-literally, the “passing over” of the Divine hand bringing death to the firstborn. With the blood of the lamb smeared on the posts of their houses, they were spared from the wrath of God who took the lives of the Egyptian firstborn that night. This final plague, and survival of the Jewish firstborn, marked the Passover. From here, Pharaoh let the Jewish people go (until he changed his mind and unsuccessfully tried to bring them back), and the great exodus from Egypt commenced; the nation of Israel began to take on a new identity.
Thus, one of the greatest moments in Jewish history was the deliverance from Egyptian slavery for the purpose of worshipping God freely. This is forever commemorated by the festival week known as Passover, in reference to the Passover lamb whose blood saved the eldest of each family during the tenth and final plague of Egypt. This holiday encompasses the freedom from not only death but slavery as well. This festival, an old tradition spanning well over three thousand years, includes more than simply the escape from Egypt and Pharaoh, as it has come to include also the liberation from all the threats to the Jewish people and their culture.
That the beliefs, practices, and sense of peoplehood have survived in complete dispersion for over thousands of years, despite all odds-including pharaohs, czars, kings, Hamans, and Hitlers of every variety-is nothing short of miraculous. Thus, at Passover, we celebrate a freedom we have repeatedly fought to maintain at all costs at all times in all generations (Cordoza, 124).
Passover is the foremost of the festivals which thus causes its month of Nissan to be first on the calendar. It was the first national religious holiday of the people, observed even before the Sabbath was re-instituted at Sinai. It was also one of the pilgrimage holidays.
TRADITIONAL OBSERVANCE
Before Passover, a thorough cleaning of the home takes place. All crumbs and dust that can contain yeast particles are swept away in obedience to God’s mandate that all leaven be put away from the borders of the home. After thorough cleaning, often a parent will give a child a feather for which to “sweep” any missed leaven up with. Often the parent may hide something leavened, such as a piece of bread, so that the child can find it and enjoy the exercise of removing and disposing of it. More of this is explained later in the section “Feast of Unleavened Bread,” as it is ultimately for that holiday for which the house is “sterilized” from yeast. For the actual Passover dinner, tzedakah, or charity, is exercised by inviting the less fortunate to both dine together and participate in the celebration of the seder.
THE ORDER (SEDER)
The actual seder dinner of Passover is in order of the Exodus story and is led by a book, called “The Telling,” (the Haggadah). This meal features a seder of important symbolic edible components. They are as follows:
1. Bitter Herbs (Maror). This is usually horseradish but sometimes has been bitter lettuce. This represents the bitterness of the hardship of slavery.
2. Shank Bone of a Lamb (Z’roa). This symbolizes the lamb that the Jews ate hastily before fleeing Egypt.
3. Unleavened Bread (Matzah). This is made with no leaven and with kosher-for-Passover flour that has not been previously moist (even as wheat) or otherwise allowed to harbor leaven within it. These three ingredients were specified to be eaten ceremoniously. Later, the following items were also added to the seder plate:
4. Bitter Greens (Karpas). Usually parsley or celery, this is a symbol of spring as well as new life for the nation of Israel. It also represents the hyssop used to sprinkle the blood of the lamb upon the door posts. During the seder, this is dipped in salt water to symbolize the tears of pain and anguish of bondage and slavery.
5. Egg (Beitzah). This symbolizes new beginnings. By the first Passover, the nation of Israel had already begun to experience for herself the freedom of being a sizable nation for the first time, sanctified and set apart unto their God.
6. Apple-nut Mixture (Charoset). This mixture of apples, nuts, wine or juice, raisins and cinnamon (see recipe to follow) is a representation of the mortar used by the Israelite slaves in building the Egyptian monuments. It also is sweet, representing a sweeter life of freedom and following God.
KOSHER WINE / GRAPE JUICE
During the seder dinner, it is customary to drink four cups of wine or grape juice. These are to represent the four ways redemption is expressed in the following scripture:
Therefore, say to the Israelites: “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free [or deliver] you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”
Thus, the first cup is called the cup of sanctification (as in God brought them out of Egypt). The second cup is the cup of judgment (as God judged Egypt and delivered Israel from her). The third cup is the cup of redemption (as Israel was redeemed with an outstretched arm, as the text says quite similarly). The fourth cup is the cup of the kingdom (representing the new kingdom, or Messianic peaceable kingdom to come and to which God will take us). These four cups are always present on Passover regardless of the arrangement of the haggadah. The fifth cup later added was to represent Elijah,as Elijah never died but was translated to Heaven alive. During the seder, it is customary for a child to open the door to check for Elijah’s arrival. Elijah is expected to arrive during the Passover time, some say. Elijah is known as a figure to herald the arrival of the Messiah. John the Baptist was a prophet in the manner of Elijah in preparing the way for Yeshua on earth during his First Coming. Some eschatologists also note that Elijah may also be considered one of the witnesses announcing the Second Coming of Yeshua.
THE HAGGADAH
The actual Passover meal is embedded in the Seder ceremony. Following the story, or the haggadah, the participants are guided along a symbolic journey to re-experience their liberation from slavery and death to freedom and life. A Passover haggadah can be found online or at select religious book centers. They range from traditional Jewish versions to Messianic Jewish ones which will include the Messianic significance of the Passover symbols. The latter are often used at Christian celebrations of the Passover ceremony.
Passover occurs on a specific day. Some Christians celebrate Passover on any spring day that is convenient but this goes against the basic understanding of Jewish holidays when the actual (not approximate) time of year is sacred.
Before celebrating Passover, the house must be cleansed from all yeast or chametz, as stated earlier. This is followed by the lighting of the candles. Here is a basic list of items used for a seder celebration:
-Holiday candles (at least two)
-Carafe of wine or grape juice
-Seder plate (or dish with divided areas to isolate each of the six seder items:
1. bitter herbs such as horseradish
2. shankbone of a lamb or suitable equivalent
3. matzah
4. bitter greens (often romaine lettuce)
5. roasted egg (in the shell)
6. apple-nut mixture of charoset
-Cup for Elijah
-Three matzot, covered
-Afikomen bag (or napkin to hide it in)
-Pillows for reclining
-Salt water for dipping
-Empty chair to symbolize those who are not free to celebrate (optional)
-Cup, basin and towel for washing hands
-Flowers (optional)
-A copy of the haggadah for each person
-Drinking cup for each person
Following here is a basic order of service. Since “seder” is translated to mean “order,” we can say, “here is the seder of the seder:”
A GENERAL SEDER OF THE PESACH
Before officially starting the seder, it is customary to light the candles (traditionally two as in Shabbat) and before gazing up on them, a participant (female if possible), recites the following:
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel Yom Tov.
In English:
Blessed are You Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the festival lights.
Follow this with the Shehecheyanu blessing:
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu vekiyenamu, vehigianu la’zeman hazeh.
In English:
Blessed are You Lord our God, King of the universe, Who gave us life, and sustains us, and enabled us to reach this season of joy.
1. Kadesh (Blessing and drinking the first cup of wine)
All cups are filled with wine or juice as the following blessing is recited:
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, boray peri hagafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.
Together, everyone drinks from their cups.
2. Urchatz (Washing our hands)
At a sink or over a basin, take a cup or pitcher in one hand and pour the water over the other hand. Then, switch hands, and repeat. Each person washes his or her own hands silently. No blessing is said at this time.
3. Karpas (Dipping a vegetable with a blessing):
Everyone holds and dips a green vegetable, such as parsley, into the salt water and recites the following blessing:
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, boray peri ha-adama.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who created fruit of the ground.
4. Yachatz (Breaking the middle matzah and hiding the Afikomen)
Three covered matzot are on the table. The middle one is taken out and broken. The larger half is wrapped in a fabric Afikomen bag or napkin and is hidden (the children will try to find it later). The smaller piece of the broken matzah is replaced with the other two whole matztot. Then, the matzot are ceremoniously uncovered for all to see. The following announcement is made aloud:
This is the bread of poverty which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. All who are hungry, come and eat. All who are needy, come and celebrate Passover with us. Now we celebrate here. Next year, may we be in the land of Israel. Now we are slaves. Next year, may we be truly free.
The wine cups are filled a second time. No one drinks them yet.
5. Maggid (Questions, Story and second cup of wine):
Four Questions:
The leader exclaims, “how different is this night from all others!” By custom, this part of the seder involves the youngest child present asking the famous Four Questions to the leader of the seder. The Four Questions are the following:
1. On all other nights, we eat bread or matzah.
On this night, why do we only eat matzah?
2. On all other nights, we eat all kind of vegetables.
On this night, why do we eat only maror (bitter herbs)?
3. On all other nights, we do not have to dip our vegetables even once.
On this night, why do we dip them twice?
4. On all other nights, we eat our meals sitting any way we like.
On this night, why do we lean on pillows?
The leader begins to answer with the following:
This night is different from all other nights because once we were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, but Adonai, our God, took us out with His mighty hand and His outstretched arm. If Adonai had not brought our ancestors out of Egypt, then we and all of our people and descendants would still be enslaved. We know the story and tell it many times, but it is a sacred duty to hold this story of our salvation as an important part of our memory. This night is also different because, whereas once we were in idolatry, now we only worship our God, Adonai, the One Who is everywhere. Praised be our Deliverer.
Baruch Hamakom Baruch Hu.
Baruch Shenatan Torah lamo Yisrael Baruch Hu.
In English: Praised be God Who is Everywhere. Praised be God. Praised be God who gave the Torah to the people of Israel. Praised be God.
Four Children
The next section tells of the Four Children. The early authors of the haggadah recognized that the reactions to learning of Passover differed with each person. When teaching children, especially, a parent may be confronted with one of four major reactions. These four categories are represented by children who are, in turn, wise, wicked, simple and ignorant. The leader then discusses each one:
[Upon learning of Passover] the wise child might ask, “What is the meaning of the laws and rules with Adonai our God has commanded us?” To this child, we must explain all the laws and customs of Passover in great detail. The wicked child might ask, “What does this service mean to you?” Since this child does not include himself in the service and denies ownership of the celebration, we answer, “we celebrate Passover because of what Adonai did for us. If you had been in Egypt with such feelings, you would not have been freed with us.” The simple child might ask, “What is this all about?” We are to reply, “Adonai freed us from Egypt with a mighty hand.” Also, a child might not know enough to ask (often called “the ignorant child”). To this child, we must explain that we do this service in a joyful and grateful remembrance of God freeing us as slaves in Egypt.
Passover Story and Plagues
The Passover story is retold at this time (similar to the story that this Passover chapter begins with). Special emphasis is spent in retelling each of the plagues of Egypt. Each time a plague is mentioned, a bit of wine symbolizing “joy” is spilled out of our cup in empathy for the Egyptians, who were also God’s children. This is done by dipping a spoon or finger into the cup and bringing a drop out of the cup and onto a plate or dish) to reduce the total volume of the cup with the mention of each grievous plague. Each one is said slowly and solemnly.
- Blood
- Frogs
- Lice
- Beasts
- Livestock diseases
- Boils
- Hail
- Locusts
- Darkness
- Plague of the firstborn
- God’s Promise
The Passover story continues with the telling of Pharaoh’s determination to pursue and recapture the people of Israel. God saved Israel by defeating her enemies. Numerous times in our history, enemies have tried to destroy us, but the Jewish people live on [according to God’s promise].
Have a participant read Psalm 114 at this time:
When Israel went down from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion. The sea looked and fled; The Jordan turned back. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills, like lambs. What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back? O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, before the God of Jacob, Who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of water.
Dayenu
God has shown His people so many acts of kindness, generosity and goodness. Each one would have been enough. The leader says each line below with the other participants saying in unison “dayenu” which means in Hebrew, “that alone would have been enough, for that alone we are grateful.”
Adonai took us out of Egypt (all reply dayenu)
Punished the Egyptians, destroying their gods (all reply dayenu)
Divided the sea and led us across on dry land (all reply dayenu)
Took care of us in the desert, feeding us manna (all reply dayenu)
Gave us Shabbat (all reply dayenu)
Brought us to Mount Sinai and gave us Torah (all reply dayenu)
Brought us to Israel and built the Holy Temple (all reply dayenu)
For all these, alone and together, we say (together, all say dayenu)
Passover Symbols Explained
The three most important symbols of the Passover seder are explained:
While raising the shank bone or equivalent:
This is called the Pesach, or Passover. It points to the lamb that was sacrificed by our ancestors and eaten for the Passover meal. This shank bone is a reminder of the tenth plague when, due to the sacrificed lamb (with its blood spread on the door posts) the homes of the Israelites were spared from the death of the first born.
While raising the matzah:
We eat this matzah to remind us of our ancestors leaving Egypt with such haste that they did not have time to let the bread rise.
While raising the maror or bitter herb:
We eat this maror, or bitter herb, lest we forget the bitterness of slavery imposed upon our people by the Egyptians. We know the sweetness of freedom best after understanding the bitterness of bondage.
Songs of Praise
All lift wine cups (without drinking) and say:
We have a duty to give thanks, sing praises and to bless the Holy One who delivered us from Egypt through miracles, for bringing us from slavery to freedom, from sadness to joy, from darkness to light. All of us who live now are still part of the ancient struggle and are free today because of this deliverance by the Divine Hand. In every generation, we must imagine ourselves as having personally been delivered from Egypt and slavery.
Therefore, we all bless Adonai for his redemption. (All say together): Hallelujah.
Give praise to Adonai. Sing praises, all we who serve Him. Blessed is His name now and forever more.
The Second Cup (Lift full cups):
Blessed are you O Lord God, King of the Universe, who has freed our people from Egyptian slavery and brought us to this night when we eat the matzah and maror. We praise you as we celebrate the seder, eating the offering and symbolic sacrifices while singing praises for our redemption.
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, boray peri hagafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.
Drink the cup at this time while leaning to the left side. Once the cup is empty, have the person next to you refill it.
6. Rachtzah (We wash our hands for the meal and say the blessing)
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yada’yim.
In English:
Blessed are You Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the washing of hands.
7. Motzi / Matzah (We say the blessing for “bread” and matzah)
Distribute pieces of the upper and middle matzah to participants.
Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread of the earth.
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, Asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al achilat matzah.
In English:
Blessed are You Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning eating the matzah. We eat the matzah now as the Torah commands us, “seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.” This matzah also reminds us of the bread our ancestors ate while fleeing Egypt. The matzah is now eaten together while leaning to the left side.
8. Maror (We dip the maror into the charoset and say a blessing
Each participant takes a small spoonful of maror and charoset and eats them together after the following blessing is recited:
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al achilat maror.
In English:
Blessed are You Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning eating bitter herbs.
9. Korech (We eat “Hillel’s sandwich” followed by third cup)
Each participant takes a small spoonful of maror and charoset and eats them together with bottom matzah and (bitter) lettuce, making a “Hillel Sandwich.” As much charoset as desired can be used here to offset the required bitter components of the sandwich.
10. Shulchan Orech (Dinner)
Dinner is served.
11. Tzafun (We eat the Afikomen “dessert”)
After the Afikomen is found and ransomed, it is divided amongst everyone to eat as the dessert of the meal. It is technically part of the meal, so no blessing is needed. Nothing should be eaten after the Afikomen, as it should be the last thing to be savored in the mouth.
12. Barech (We say the blessing after the meal, have the third cup of wine and welcome the prophet Elijah)
The third cup of wine is readied (glasses are filled now if not already full). A blessing after the meal is said followed by a blessing over the wine:
Blessed are you, Lord God, king of the universe who gives food to the world with goodness, mercy and kindness. Your love endures forever, so we praise you, the Provider of all life. May You, Who makes peace in Heaven, make peace for us, for Israel, and the whole world.
Third Cup
All raise full cups together:
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, boray peri hagafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.
All drink the cups. The person sitting next to you is to refill them again.
Welcoming Elijah
The front door is opened (usually by a child) for the greeting of Elijah, as he is to preceded the Messiah’s coming.
Christians believe that this Elijah figure was fulfilled with the coming of John the Baptist).
May Elijah the Prophet come soon to us in our day, heralding in the time of the Messiah.
13. Hallel (Songs of praise)
Assorted praise songs are sung at this time.
14. Nirtzah (We complete the seder)
Fourth Cup
All raise full cups together:
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, boray peri hagafen.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.
All drink.
Leader concludes:
Appropriately, our haggadah ends on a triumphant note of victory and praise. May the sincerity and passion that we have brought to our celebration of the Passover be present in our lives throughout the year. Truth, justice, mercy and kindness are the opposite of slavery, persecution and oppression. May we embody these traits and be granted the blessing of celebrating the Passover for many years to come.
All say in unison:
Next year in Jerusalem!
PESACH HOLIDAY NOSHES (SNACKS)
Here are two easy as well as truly tasty recipes. The first, Matzah Lasagna, closely resembles regular lasagne in flavor and texture, yet it is delightfully kosher for Passover.
The second, Charoset, is a mixture of apples, nuts, wine or juice, raisins and cinnamon and is a representation of mortar used by Israelite slaves building Egyptian monuments. It also is sweet, as is the sequel of a sweeter life of freedom from slavery and following God.