Shemoneh Esrei
Why do we celebrate Passover?
Happy Passover
“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
At the same time, Jewish People and Messianic Believers will be celebrating the Passover Seder, recounting how the Angel of Death passed over the homes of the Israelites and all those in Egypt who applied the blood of the Passover lamb to their doorposts. Two thousand years ago, 12 men celebrating the Passover Seder in Jerusalem were told by their rabbi and master, YESHUA, that this would be their last Seder together. He also explained its prophetic significance.
“When the hour came, YESHUA and His apostles reclined at the table. And He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of YEHOVAH.’” (Luke 22:14–16)
Despite this last time of breaking unleavened bread and sharing of the wine, YESHUA did not leave them without hope. He emphasized the physical coming of the Kingdom of GOD to the earth and His return:
“After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of GOD comes.’
“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.’” (Luke 22:17–20)
And so YESHUA taught His talmidim (disciples) that the Passover Seder was from that time on to be celebrated in remembrance of the sacrifice that He was to make of Himself in order to become an atonement for the sins of all mankind.
What Did Our Redeemer Do for Us?
“Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Messiah our Passover also has been sacrificed.’” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
As the blood of the Passover lamb spared the Israelite firstborns from death in Egypt, the blood of Messiah YESHUA spares us from eternal death and separation from YEHOVAH. Indeed, no sacrifice could cover intentionally disobeying the law. Nor could its covering of sin extend into eternity. Only the Lamb of GOD could redeem humankind from the curse and the punishment of disobedience, as well as give eternal life. the prophet Isaiah spoke of the fulfillment of Passover through the coming of the Passover Lamb, the Suffering Servant of GOD, who would become this curse for us and bear the sins of many:
“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and YEHOVAH has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5–6; see also Galatians 3:10, 13; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
But Isaiah 53 is not the only prophecy about YESHUA. We can know that YESHUA was this Suffering Servant and took our death penalty upon Himself as our Passover Lamb by carefully reading Passover Scriptures that foreshadow Him, such as these: Foreshadow: Exodus 12:5 speaks of a spotless (unblemished) lamb to be used in the Seder. Isaiah 53:11 further describes the coming Passover Lamb as being the “righteous servant.” Fulfilled: “GOD made Him YESHUA who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of GOD.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Foreshadow: Exodus 12:22–23 describes how the blood of the lamb is used to cover the members of the household from judgment. Isaiah 53:6 says the Messiah bore the “iniquity of us all.” Fulfilled: Believers now “have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of YESHUA, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body.” (Hebrews 10:19–20)
Foreshadow: Exodus 12:6 says that the lamb is to be slaughtered between the evenings (sometimes translated twilight).
Fulfilled: Matthew 27:45–46 describes how YESHUA hung on the tree from the 6th hour to the 9th hour, which is before evening fell. It is the same time that the Passover lambs were being slain for the Passover Seder.
Foreshadow: Exodus 12:46 says that not a bone of the lamb is to be broken.
Fulfilled: John 19:31–36 states that when the soldiers came to break the legs of those condemned to die on the Roman execution stake in order to hasten their death, YESHUA was already dead. Not one of His bones was broken.
Foreshadow: Leviticus 23:5 says that Passover is to be celebrated on the 14th of Nissan at twilight.
Fulfilled: Matthew 27:62 tells us that YESHUA died on the day of preparation for the Passover, which is Nissan 14, just in time for the Passover.
The Passover Lamb: When being Passed Over Is a Miracle
Passover is rich in lessons for all Believers in YESHUA.
For a child, being passed over could be devastating. Likewise, as adults, being passed over for a promotion, raise, or a prestigious role can be very frustrating.
But being “passed over” during the first Passover was a miracle of deliverance.
During the very first Passover in Egypt, so that YEHOVAH’s judgment of Egypt would pass over, the children of Israel were required to choose an unblemished lamb, kill it, and place its blood over the doorposts and lintels of their dwelling places.
Today, 3300 years later, we are able to celebrate the Passover in all of its prophetic fulfillment.
We have the opportunity to place the blood of the perfect, chosen Lamb of GOD, YESHUA, over our herats and homes, so that by faith, we too will be spared from the Divine judgment due to fall on this world. This too is a miracle of deliverance.
“And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you [pasachti], and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13)
In Hebrew, the word for I will pass over is pasachti וּפָסַחְתִּי, which comes from the word pesach, which means to hop, to skip over, to spare, and to pass over.
Our salvation was wrought at such a great price.
The Messiah died in our place and paid the price for the sins that we committed.
And despite celebrating the Passover year after year, so many Jewish people do not know YESHUA!
Kriah: The Jewish Custom of Rending the Garments
YESHUA’s last words before giving up His Spirit were, “It is finished.” At that moment, our Father in heaven fulfilled an important Jewish custom. In Judaism, there are seven immediate family members who are expected to observe a seven-day mourning period: the father, mother, daughter, son, brother, sister, and spouse. These seven mourners participate in a special tradition. To symbolize how death rips the fabric of life, their garments are symbolically ripped just before the funeral, as Jacob did when he thought his son Joseph had been killed.
“Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days.” (Genesis 37:34)
In this tradition called kriah, the parents and children rend the garment on their left, closest to the heart. Spouses and siblings tear their garments on the right. While this may seem like an odd tradition, it dates back to Biblical times (Genesis 37:34). In fact, at the moment of YESHUA’s death, the Heavenly Father also seemed to observe kriah in His grief over the death of His son YESHUA the Messiah.
“At that moment the curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.” (Matthew 27:51)
Rending the curtain of the Temple removed the need for an appointed High Priest to bring a sacrifice into the Holy of Holies and make intercession for the sins of the people year after year. YESHUA is the Father’s anointed High Priest, who sacrificed His own body and blood for us. He is our only intermediary.
As YESHUA said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
We come to our Father through YESHUA. Though He suffered and died, the tomb has been empty for 2,000 years and He is Alive!
Death Could Not Contain MESSIAH!
“Messiah has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.” (1 Corinthians 5:20) He now sits at the right hand of the Father and all authority has been given to Him! He is our High Priest and only intermediary to YEHOVAH the Father for Jew and Gentile alike. (Colossians 3:1; Matthew 28:18; 1 Timothy 2:5)
Happy Passover from Prophet Ezra
Torah Keeper
Passover Haggadah for Believers in the MASHIACH YESHUA
Prayer:
Introduction
Leader:
Tonight we are going to be participating in a Passover Seder. The word Seder is of Hebrew origin and it means “Order of Service.”
The booklet we are using the guide us through this Passover Observance is referred to as a Haggadah. The word Haggadah means, “The Telling.” This comes from the hebrew word V’Higgad-Ta that is found in the passage of Exodus 13:8: “On that day tell your son, “I do this because of what YEHOVAH did for me when I came out of Egypt.” Originally, the Haggadah was brief, but each successive generation has added their own interpretations and embellishments. This Haggadah is different because it not only revolves around the story of redemption from slavery in Egypt, but it also celebrates our redemption from sin by the atoning sacrifice of YESHUA.
In a sense, tonight, we will be doing some time traveling. Jewish tradition teaches that in each generation we must consider ourselves as having personally been freed from slavery in Egypt.
However, our travels will not only be to ancient Egypt but also to a large upper room in Jerusalem, Israel during the time of YESHUA where we will re-enact the inauguration of the New Covenant. The Passover Seder is a family event and usually takes place in the home. IN order to accommodate this arrangement you will be asked at this time to select (if you haven’t already) a “father” and a “mother.” As we go through the Haggadah, you will understand why this is necessary.
Preparation
In the days preceding Passover, a religious Jewish family would search their whole household and remove all leavened items (products with yeast) from their home. This is the in keeping with the Biblical command that describes the steps necessary to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. These commands are found in Exodus 12:19-29: “For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community in Israel, whether he is an alien or native-born. Eat nothing made of yeast. Whenever you live, you must eat unleavened bread.”
In addition to these preparations, it would also be necessary to purchase various food items to celebrate Passover.
As followers of, and believers in YESHUA, we should be reminded of the fact the the Scriptures often uses leaven as a symbol of sin. As it is written in the first book written to the believers in Corinth: “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast- as you really are. For Christ, our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.”
Let us also make preparations in our heart. As you will learn tonight, Passover is the Biblical feast from which we derive our Communion Service. Therefore, it is important that we search out the leaven of sin in our lives and in doing so we may keep the feast of Unleavened Bread. For it is written:
“A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” (1 Cor. 11-28)
In keeping with the Biblical Commandment our Messiah, YESHUA also had preparations made in order to keep Passover:
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. YESHUA sent Peter and John saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” They asked. He replied, “As you enter the city, as man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters and say to the owner of the house, “The teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”
He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.” They left and found things just as YESHUA had told them. So they prepared the Passover. (Luke 22:7-13)
Brechat Haner- Kindling of the Candles
The Blessing Over the Candles:
“Mother”: (The head of the table)
Baruch ahah YEHOVAH Eloheinu Melchior ha-loam Asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetsivanu lehiyot or le-goyim. V’natan-lanu et YESHUA Meshicheinu or ha-loam. Amen.
Blessed are YOU YEHOVAH our ELOHIM, King of the Universe, who Sancrified us with HIS commandments, and commanded us to be a light to the nations and who I gave to us YESHUA our MESSIAH the Light of the World, amen!
Leader:
As a woman begins the Seder and brings light to the table, let us remember that YEHOVAH used a woman to bring forth our Messiah, the Light of the world.
The Four Cups of Wine
As we read through the Haggadah we see that we partake in drinking from the cup of wine four times. These four cup stand for the four “I wills” recorded in Exodus 6:6-7.
1. The Cup of Sanctification: “I will bring you it from under the burden of Egypt.”
2. The Cup of Judgment: “I will rid you of their bondage.”
3. The Cup of Redemption: “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.”
4. Cup of Praise: “I will take you as MY own people.”
Kiddush
(1) First Cup: The Cup of Sanctification
(2) The first Cup is called “Kiddush.” Kiddush is Hebrew for sanctification. The act of sanctification is akin to an act of separation. Elohim said that he would bring the Israelites out (separate them) from the burdens of the Egyptians. Indeed… an act of sanctification!
Instruction: At this point the leader shall ask the people to raise the cup of the fruit of the vine. At this time it should be explained that this cup will be drunk from four times- during the evening- two times before the actual meal and two times after the meal, so they should take small sips.
The Blessing over the Wine:
Leader:
Baruch Atah YEHOVAH, Elohaynu Melchior Ha Olam, boray p’ree hagephen
All:
Blessed are you, YEHOVAH our Elohim, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Leader:
The events that took place between YESHUA and HIS disciples during the first cup are recorded in the Gospel according to Luke. (Luke 22:14-18)
When the hour came, YESHUA and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the Kingdom of ELOHIM.” After taking the cup, HE gave thanks (HE said the blessing) and said, “Take this and divide it Among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of Elohim comes.”
Urchatz- Washing of the Hands
Leader:
Concerning the events regarding the washing of the hands the following is recorded in John 13:15, 12-14;
When he had finished recording washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call ME ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and right so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
Instruction: For this ceremony, you will need (at the head of the table only.. to save time) a small container of water, a small plate or basin, and a towel. The leader at the head table will take some of the water from the cup and pour It over his hands at the water basin. Then he will wipe his hands with the towel.
(Lifting up the parsley) The wine we drank was red in color and represents the blood f the Passover Lamb. This parsley represents the hyssop which the Israelites used to place the blood of the Passover Lamb upon the sides and tops of the doorposts of their house. The saltwater represents the tears shed in Egypt because life there was full of pain, suffering and tears. Let us take a spring of parsley and dip it into the salt water, remembering that life is sometimes immersed in tears.
The Blessing of the Karpas (Parsley)
Leader:
Baruch Atah YEHOVAH Eloheinu Melch Ha Olam, boray p’ree ha-ada-ma All:
Blessed are YOU, YEHOVAH, our ELOHIM, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the earth. Leader:
Now Let us eat the Karpas! Leader:
The Matzah (unleavened bread) is found in it’s special covering which is called a Unity, even thou it has three sections. Bypassing the first section and third section, then middle piece of matzah is removed; it is broken in half and one half is hidden in a small napkin and is called the Afikomen. The Afikomen becomes an important part of the Seder service., As believers in symbol of a unique unity manifested in three Persons: Father, Son, and HOLY SPIRIT. The significance of the breaking of this middle matzah will be seen later in the service.
Maggid- The story of Passover
Instruction: Ask a Reader to read:
Reader:
YEHOVAH said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month of the year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of the month, each man is to take a lamb for this family, one for each household…. The animals you choose must be year old males without defect and you may take them from the sheep or goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
They are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with the bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat real or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire…. 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 YEHOVAH’S Passover.
On that night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every first-born; both men and animals and I will bring judgment on all the little elohims of Egypt. I AM the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” (Exodus 12:1-13)
Leader:
As ELOHIM saw the blood and passed over the houses of the Israelites, so does HE pass over sins when HE sees YESHUA’S blood shed on our behalf.
We keep Passover to remember the physical deliverance. ELOHIM gave us in Egypt and we keep MESSIAH’S Passover (communion) to remind us of the spiritual deliverance HE brings us from sin.
All:
This is the bread of affliction, which our forefathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat. All who are needy, let them come and celebrate the Passover with us. Now we are here: next year may we be in the land of Israel. Now we are slaves; next year may we be free men.
Instruction: The plate is put down, the matzot is covered, and the second cup of wine is filled. The youngest asks the four questions.
Ma-Nishtanah- The 4 Questions
The Youngest:
“Why is this night different from all the other nights?”
“On all other nights we eat either leavened or unleavened bread; why on this night do we eat only matzah which is unleavened bread?”
“On all other nights we eat vegetables and herbs of all kinds; why on this night do we eat only bitter herbs?”
“On all other nights we never think of dipping herbs in water or anything else; why on this night do we dip the parsley in salt water and the bitter herbs in charoseth?”
“On all other nights we eat either sitting upright or reclining; why on this night do we recline?”
Leader:
“I am glad you asked these questions. This night is different from all other nights, because on this night we celebrate the going forth of the children of Israel from slavery to freedom.” Leader:
“Why do we only eat matzah tonight?”
“When Pharaoh let our forefathers go from Egypt they were forced to flee in great haste. They had no time to bake their bread and could not wait for the yeast to rise. The sun which heart down on the dough as they carried it along baked it into the unleavened bread called matzah.” “Why do we eat bitter herbs tonight?”
“Because our forefathers were slaves in Egypt and their lives were made very bitter.” “Why do we dip the herbs twice tonight?”
“We dip the parsley in salt water because it reminds us of the green of spring time. We dip the bitter herbs in sweet charoseth to remind us that our forefathers were able to withstand bitter slavery, because it was sweetened by the hope of freedom.” “Why do we recline at the table?”
“Because reclining was a sign of a free man long ago, and since our forefathers were freed on this night, we recline at the table.”
Said Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah, “Behold, I am almost a seventy-year-old man, yet I never understood why the story of the outgoing from Egypt is told at night; until Ben-Zoma explained it.
As the Holy Scriptures say, “So that you will remember the day you left the land of Egypt all the days of your life “The days of your life means the present world; all the days of your life” includes the days of the MESSIAH.” And so, we, who are believers in YESHUA, the MESSIAH, can rejoice that we can keep the Passover in the days of our Messiah, YESHUA. We can rejoice that in HIS death we have found life. In MESSIAH’S coming is Passover completed.
Makkah- The Second Cup: The Cup of Judgment
The Story of the Plagues
Reader 1:
ELOHIM raised up Moses to lead the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. Moses was to go to Pharaoh to red and that the children o Israel be released so that they may worship YEHOVAH their ELOHIM. ELOHIM reminded Moses that he would encounter resistance from Pharaoh.
But I know that the King of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out MY hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that he will let you go. (Exodus 3:19-20)
Reader 2:
Each time that Moses approaches Pharaoh to gain the release of the children of Israel, Pharaoh refused. With each refusal, ELOHIM sent as a judgment, a plague to the land of Egypt. The Egyptians became afflicted with discomfort and disease, bane and blight. With each plague, Pharaoh hardened his heart even more. Ten plagues were delivered in all. The tenth plague was by far the worst. With this plague Pharaoh finally relented. Of the tenth plague was written:
“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every first-born.. both men and animals… and I will bring judgment on all the little elohims of Egypt. I am YEHOVAH. (Exodus 12:12)
The Ten Plagues
Leader:
A full cup of wine is considered a symbol for joy. It is indeed good to be joyful of ELOHIM’S mighty deliverance. Our joy should be tempered at the recognition of the great cost at which redemption was purchased. For the Israelites, many lives were sacrificed to bring about the release from the slavery of Egypt.
In Proverbs 24: 17-18 we are reminded “Do not goat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not melt your heart rejoice, or YEHOVH will see and disapprove and turn HIS wrath away from him.” As believers in YESHUA we recognize that a far greater price purchased our redemption from slavery to sin… the death of our savior YESHUA.
We will be reciting the ten plagues that Egypt was afflicted wit because of Pharaoh’s hardened heart. As we do so, we will dip our little finger into the cup, allowing a drop of wine to fall (on a napkin or plate). We do this to reduce our fullness of our cup of joy this night:
Blood
Frogs
Lice
Wild Beasts
Pestilence
Boils
Hail
Locusts
Darkness
Death of the first-born.
Leader:
In light of this redemption we acknowledge ELOHIM’S goodness to us. For each of HIS acts of mercy and kindness we declare “Dayenu!” Dayenu is the Hebrew word which means it would have been sufficient.
Leader:
Head HE brought us out from Egypt and not judged them.
All: Dayenu!
Leader:
Had HE judged them
And not judged their idols
All: Dayenu!
Leader: Had HE judged their idols and not slain their first-born.
All: Dayenu!
Leader: Had HE slain their first-born
And not given us their property.
All: Dayenu!
Leader: Had HE given us their property
And not divided the sea for the us.
All: Dayenu!
Leader: Had HE divided the sea for us
And not brought us through on dry ground.
All:
Dayenu!
Leader: Had HE brought us through on dry ground
And not frowned our oppressors.
All:
Dayenu!
Leader:
Had HE drowned our oppressors
And not helped us forty years in the desert.
All:
Dayenu!
Leader:
Had He helped us forty years in desert and not fed us manna.
All:
Dayenu!
Leader:
Had HE fed us manna and not given us the Sabbath.
All:
Dayenu!
Leader: Had HE fed us manna
And not given us the Sabbath.
All:
Dayenu!
Leader:
Had HE given us the Sabbath
And not brought us to Mount Sinai
All:
Dayenu!
Leader:
Had HE brought us to Mount Sinai
And not given us the Torah.
All:
Dayenu!
Leader:
Had HE given us the Torah
And not brought us into the land of Israel.
All:
Dayenu!
Leader:
Had HE brought us to the land of Israel
And not build us the Holy Temple.
All:
Dayenu!
Leader:
As followers of the Messiah, we can add a further “Dayenu” knowing that if ELOHIM had only provided atonement for us through the death of the Messiah; it would have been enough for us. But he did much more. YESHUA said, “I have come that you might have life, and have it in abundance.” HE gives us peace within when we know HIM as our MESSIAH.
Instructions: Sing Dayenu
Leader:
Rabbi Gamaliel, who was the teacher of Paul the Apostle (Acts 22:3) taught that in recounting the Passover story one must be certain to mention three things: the Passover Lamb, the Unleavened Bread, and the Bitter Herbs. Passover Lamb
Leader:
The Passover Offering
The Passover offering which our forefathers ate in the temple times… what was the reason for it? Because then HOLY ONE, blessed be HE, spared the lives of our forefathers in Egypt, as it is written, “and when your children ask you, ‘why does this mean?’ Then you tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to YEHOVAH who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when HE struck down the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:26-27) Concerning the Messiah it is also written. “he was oppressed and afflicted, yet HE did not open HIS mouth, HE was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep is silent before her shearers so HE did not open HIS mouth. “(Isaiah 53:7) Also, John saw YESHUA coming to him and said, “Behold the lamb of ELOHIM who takes away the sins of the world. “ (John 1:29)]
Matzah- Unleavened Bread
Leader:
THE MATZAH (Lift the Matzot). This matzah which we eat, what is the reason for it? It is because there was not enough time for ur father’s’ dough to rise when the Holy ONE, blessed be he, Redeemed them, as the Scriptures say, “They baked cakes of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they did not have time to prepare food because they had been driven out of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:39)
The matzah is unleavened; in its baking, it is pierced and striped. Unleavened, because it is to be without contamination, a symbol of sin. Pierced and striped, it illustrated the Messiah, who being without sin, was pierced and striped as the Scriptures say, “And I will pour out on the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplication. They will look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn for him as one grieves for a first-born son. (Zachariah 12:10)
The prophet Isaiah said, “But HE was pierce for our transgression, HE was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon HIM, and with HIS stripes we are healed.” AMEN! (Isaiah 53)
Maror-Bitter Herbs
MAROR (lift the Maror) This bitter herb which we eat; what is the reason for it? It is because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors in Egypt, as it is written, “So they put slave drivers over them to oppress them with forced labor… but the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor, the Egyptians used them ruthlessly. (Exodus 1:11-14)
The bitter herb reminds us of the sorrow, persecution, and the suffering of our people.
Instruction: Raise and replace the cup and say: Therefore, we are bound to thank, praise, laud, glorify, extol, honor, bless, exalt and revere HIM who performed for our fathers and for us all these miracles. He brought us from slavery into freedom; from sorrow to joy; from mourning to festivity; and from servitude into redemption. Left us therefore sing a new song in HIS presence.
Leader:
Praise YEHOVAH, praise O servants of YEHOVAH. Praise the name of YEHOVAH.
All:
Let the name of YEHOVAH be praised, both now and forevermore. Leader:
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of YEHOVAH is to be promised.
All:
YEHOVAH is exalted over all the nations, HIS glory above the heavens. Who is like YEHOVAH, our ELOHIM, the one who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and earth?
Leader:
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; HE seats them with princes, with the princes of their people.
All:
HE settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. PRAISE YEHOVAH!
Leader:
When Israel came out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign tongue. Judah became ELOHIM’S sanctuary, Israel HIS dominion.
All:
The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back: the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back, you mountains that you skipped like rams, you hills, like lambs?
Leader:
Tremble O earth at the presence of YEHOVAH, at the presence of ELOHIM of Jacob who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.
Truly, we can praise ELOHIM for the redemption HE has brought us: Redemption from slavery through the death of Egypts first-born. Redemption from sin, through the death of ELOHIM’S Son. It is written: “For ELOHIM so loved the world, that hE gave HIS one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”
Instruction: Raise the cup say the blessing
Blessing of the wine:
Leader:
Baruch Atah YEHOVAH ELOHEINU Melech Ha Olam, boray p’ree hagaphen
Blessed are YOU YEHOVAH our ELOHIM King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Instruction: Ask the “father” at each table to follow you by taking the “Unity” raising it up and saying the blessing.
Motzi Motzot
The blessing of the matzah:
Leader:
Baruch Atah YEHOVAH ELOHAYNU melech Ha Olam Ha-motzi Lekhem Min Ha-aretz.
All:
Blessed are YOU, YEHOVAH our ELOHIM, the King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Instruction: Place the “Unity” back on the table. The remaining middle and upper matzot should be broken into small pieces and distributed to the participants at the table.
Leader:
Baruch Atah YEHOVAH, ELOHAYNU melech Ha-Olam, Asher Kiddshanu B’mitzvo-tav, Vitzee Vanuatu All Akhenaten-lat Ma-tzah.
All:
Blessed are YOU, YEHOVAH our ELOHIM, King of the universe, who made us holy in his commandments, and commanded us concerning the eating of the matzah. (Eat the matzah). Maror- Eating of the Bitter Herbs.
The blessing of the bitter herbs:
Leader:
Baruch Atah YEHOVAH, ELOHAYNU Melech Ha Olam, Asher Kiddshanu B’mitzovo-tav Vitzee-Vanu Al A-knee-lat Maror.
All:
Blessed are YOU, YEHOVAH, our ELOHIM, King of the universe, who made us holy in HIS commandments, and commanded us concerning the eating of the bitter herbs.
All:
Blessed are YOU, YEHOVAH our ELOHIM, King of the Universe, who made us holy in HIS commandments, and commanded us concerning the eating of bitter herbs.
Leader:
The bitter herb speaks of sorrow, the persecution and the suffering of our people under the hand of Pharaoh,; and as the horseradish brings tears to the eyes, so also did the great affliction of our people bring tears to their eyes.
Instruction: The remaining half from the bottom matzah of the “Unity” container is broken into small pieces, and the “father” will distribute it among the table (two small pieces to each person) (if no matzah is left from the “Unity” use the extra matzah). The “father” will then pass the dish of charoseth from the Seder plate. Each person will put some charoseth on the matzot in a sandwich- like fashion (and wait for the blessing). Eating of the bitter herbs with the charoseth is optional. At the head table, the leader shall hide the left over.
Korean- Eating of the Bitter Herbs with Charoseth
Leader:
As the bitter herb is a symbol of suffering, the slat water a symbol of tears, the greens a symbol of hyssop, the wine is a symbol of blood, so the charoseth is a symbol of mortar, representing the clay bricks which were made by our people in Egypt.
This concludes the first part of the Sedar.
Shulchan Orech- The Passover Supper
Tzaphun- Eating of the Afikomen
Leader:
Concerning the Afikomen, it is written:
“And HE took the bread, and when HE had given thanks, HE broke it and said, “This is MY body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of ME.”
“YESHUA said to them, “I tell you the truth, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is MY FATHER who gives you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of ELOHIM is HE who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Leader:
Is it not significant that it is this middle matzah, which was broken and hid away, finally to be brought back, broken and distributed, that YESHUA points to and says, “This is MY body which is given for you”? Is it not significant that Afikomen (Afikomen is a Greek word) Means- “I have come”?
As the matzah is unleavened, striped and pierced, so was our Messiah without sin, striped by the Roman’s whip and pierced by nails and the soldier’s spear. For the believer in YESHUA, that HE is the Messiah, and our atonement, this Afikomen symbolizes HIS sacrifice o atonement for our sins, that we might have peace with ELOHIM. If you are a believer tonight, in YESHUA the MESSIAH, you can eat this piece as a communion service, reminding yourself of what has happened in the upper room at the last supper. Also, as you eat it, it will remind you of what the Messiah did for you, in that HE came and gave HIMSELF for your sins.
Blessing for the Afikomen:
Leader: Baruch Atah YEHOVAH ELOHAYNU melech ha-Olam, Ha-motzi Lekhem Min Ha-aretz
All:
Blessed are YOU, YEHOVAH our ELOHIM, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Leader:
Baruch Atah YEHOVAH, ELOHAYNU Melech Ha Olam, Ha-motzi Lekhem Min Ha-sha-ma-y lm:
All:
Blessed are YOU, YEHOVAH our ELOHIM, King of the universe, who brought forth bread from heaven.
Ha-Geulah- The (3) Third Cup: The Cup of Redemption
Leader:
This cup, the cup of redemption symbolizes ELOHIM’S promise of redemption from slavery. It was this cup, after supper, in the upper room that YESHUA raised and said, “This cup is the New Covenant of MY blood, which is shed for you.” He died to give us atonement from sin, and new life with ELOHIM, just as the Passover Lamb was sacrificed to bring us redemption.
For the believer in YESHUA, this cup symbolizes our participation in the New Covenant, that ELOHIM has forgive our sins because of YESHUA’s sacrifice.
Blessing of the Wine:
Leader:
Baruch Atah YEHOVAH, ELOHYANU melech ha-Olam, boray p’ree hagaphen.
Blessed are YOU YEHOVAH our ELOHIM, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Elijah’s Place
Leader:
You will note that one place setting has not been touched throughout the meal. The is the traditional place for Elijah. The door is opened to see if the prophet Elijah will come. -John The baptizes who YESHUA spoke of as the forerunner HIMSELF, was indeed the prophet Elijah – had he been accepted by his people. It was the same John who looked upon YESHUA and said, “Behold the Lamb of ELOHIM, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
The Remaining Symbols
Leader:
You will also note some items on the Seder plate which have not been touched. One, the betzah, or roasted egg, and two, the shank bone of the lamb.
The Egg
Leader:
The roasted egg speaks of sacrifice, which can no longer be made because the Temple was destroyed. Is it not strange that an egg is used to represent sacrifice? But one must remember that sacrifice not only means death, it also means life.
The Shank Bone
Leader:
The shank bone of the lamb is untouched, because lambs are no longer sacrificed. As believers in the Messiah, we recognize that sacrifice is no longer necessary, because of the death of our messiah satisfied the need for sacrifice. In HIS death there is life. In the shedding of HIS blood there is remission of sin.
Hallel- 4 Fourth Cup- The Cup of Praise
Leader:
We come to the fourth last drinking of the cup. This cup represents the fourth “I will”- “I will take you to ME for a people.” This speaks of the time when YEHOVAH will gather Israel again in the LORD. To the believer in the Messiah this cup also represents the great hope that someday the Messiah is coming back to take up HIS followers to be with HIM. It is written:
“For YEHOVAH HIMSELF shall descend from heaven wit a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of ELOHIM: and the dead in CHRIST shall rise first: Then we, which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet YEHOVAH in the air: and so shall we ever be with YEHOVAH.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Instruction: Raise the 4th Cup
The Blessing of the Wine
Leader:
Baruch Atah YEHOVAH ELOHAYNU Melech Ha Olam, Baray P’ree Hagaphen. All:
Blessed are YOU, YEHOVAH our ELOHIM, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Instruction: Drink the 4th Cup
Concluding Remarks
Leader:
The Seder of Passover is now complete, even as our salvation and redemption are complete. Just as we were privileged to celebrate it this year, so may we be privileged to do so in the future.
All:
O FATHER in heaven, Restore the congregation of Israel in YOUR love, speedily lead YOUR people, redeemed to Zion in joy.
Instruction: Have the people say together:
All:
Dayenu!
Traditional Songs
I’ll Hoti Hotzi onu
Hotzi one mi Mitzayim
Hotzi one mi Mitzrayim
Dayenu
Chorus
I’ll notan notan Kanu
Notan Kanu et ha Torah
Notan Kanu et ha Torah
Dayenu
Chorus
I’ll notan notan lanu
Notan Lanu et
YESHUA Notan lanu
Et YESHUA Dayenu
Chorus Translation:
Had ELOHIM Done nothing
But save us from the land of Egypt,
For that alone we should have been grateful.
Had ELOHIM given us nothing more
Than the Torah (the scriptures),
For that alone we should have been grateful
ELOHIM have us YESHUA
And for this we are grateful. Elijah’s Hanavi (Elijah the Prophet)
Part 1: Eli-li-ya-ha-Natan’EL-vi, Ei-li-ya-He-ha-Gish-bi
Ei-li-ya-He, Eli-li-ya-hu, Ei-li-ya-hu ha-gil-and
Bim-her-ra v’-ya-mei-nu, ya-go-ei-lei-nu
Im Ma-shi-ach ben Da-vid,
Im Ma-shi-ach ben Da-vid
(2 times)
Come return to us
YESHUA born to set thy
People free
From our sins and fears release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art
Dear desire of ev’ry nation,
Joy of ev’ry longing heart. Part 2
Him-hei-ra v’-ya-mei-nu, ya-vo ei-lei-nu
Ma-shi-ach Ben Da-vid, Ma-shi-arch Ben Da-vid
Bin-he’s-are v’-ya-mei-nu, ya-ei-lei-nu
Ma-she-arch Ben da-vid, Ma-shi-arch ben Da-vid
Translation:
Part 1:
Elijah The Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite,
Elijah from Gilead, may he come soon
And in our days with Messiah the son of David Part 2:
Soon and in our days
Messiah the son of David will come (again) to us
AMEN!
Items – Passover Check List:
Ceremonial Foods
Shank bone
Horseradish (White)
Eggs (Roasted)
Salt
Saltwater
Parsley
Matzot
Grape Juice
Charoset
Apples
Cinnamon
Grape juice
Nuts-walnuts
Honey
Lemon
Utensils and place settings:
Tables
Table Cloths Vases
Candle Holders Candle
Lighter
Carafes for Grace Juice Carafes for Water
Place Settings
Seder Plates
Dishes for Salt water Soup Bowls
Dinner Plates Dessert
Plates Knives
Knives to spread Charoseth & Horseradish
Forks
Soup Spoons Glasses
Napkins for setting Napkins for Yachutz
YESHUA was crucified on Passover, becoming our sacrificial Passover Lamb. YESHUA fulfilled the feast of Unleavened Bread, Representing the embodiment of the sinless Lamb of ELOHIM. YESHUA rose from the dead during the Feast of First Fruits. YESHUA fulfilled HIS promise, sending the RUACH ha KODESH on Shavuot (Pentecost).