Messianic Haggadah by Singer

A Messianic

Haggadah

for the Passover

Robert A. Singer

CBNW Annual Meeting

March 2007

http://www.servantofmessiah.org

Bibliography

Bogot, Howard and Robert Orkland. A Children‟s Haggadah.

New York: Central Conference of American Rabbis,

1996.

Lipis, Joan R. Celebrate Passover Haggadah. San

Francisco:Purple Pomegranate Productions, 1996.

Lipson, Eric-Peter. Passover Haggadah, A Messianic

Celebration. San Francisco: JFJ Publishing, 1986.

Musleah, Rahel. Why on This Night? New York, Simon and

Schuster, 2000

Rosen, Ceil and Moishe Rosen. Christ in the Passover.

Chicago: Moody Press, 1978.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the New

International Version, ©1984

45


Why are we

celebrating Passover? PESACH xs;p,

Thousands of years ago, the Jewish people were commanded

to keep the Passover to remind them that God had freed

them from slavery in Egypt. Jesus himself celebrated the

Passover and we can understand more about His teaching as

we discover and celebrate the Passover ourselves.

Haggadah hd'G"h; TELLING

At your place setting you have a

booklet called a Haggadah (hd'G"h; -

telling). For the Gentile, this word is a

mouthful; for the Jewish person it is

what Grandpa pulled out, dusted off

and read every year at Pesach. It is

from the word used in Exodus 13:8

On that day tell your son,

„I do this because of what the LORD did for me

when I came out of Egypt.‟

We also find the same thought in 1 Corinthians 11:26

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup,

you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”

This is a festive celebration. For both children and adults

it is filled with seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and

touching.

So enjoy!

-1-

Everyone raise the fourth cup.

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Wnyhel{a/ yyØ hT'a;Ø %WrB' Melech ha-olam ~l'A[hØ %l,m, borei p‟ri hagafen. `!p,G"h;Ø yrIP.Ø areAB

Everyone says:

Blessed are you, O LORD our God,

King of the universe,

who creates the fruit of the vine.

Everyone: lean to the left and drink from the fourth

cup.

THE CLOSE OF THE SEDER

Our seder is now ending. We have said special words and

have eaten different foods. We know that once we were

slaves, but now we are free!

L‟shana haba-a bi-Y‟rushalayim! ~yIl'v'WryBi ha'B'h;Ø hn"v'l

Everyone says: NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!

When they had sung a hymn,

they went out to the Mount of Olives.

(Matthew 26:30)

You are invited to keep this copy of the Haggadah.

However, please return the kippa.

-44-


O LORD, save us; (literally: Hosanna!)

O LORD, grant us success.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

From the house of the LORD we bless you.

The LORD is God,

and he has made his light shine upon us.

With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession

up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will give you thanks;

you are my God, and I will exalt you.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

hk'r'B.Ø sAK Kos B’racha

THE CUP OF PRAISE

(THE FOURTH CUP)

Hosts: fill the fourth cup.

With this fourth cup we remember the fourth promise God

made to the Jewish people:

"I will take you as my own people."

(from Exodus 6:6-7)

We also praise God that all of us, Jew and Gentile, can

become his people by faith in Y‟shua.

After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree

that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature

were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,

how much more readily will these, the natural branches,

be grafted into their own olive tree!

(Romans 11:24)

-43-

Kadeish vDeq; BEING HOLY, SANCTIFICATION

We begin our Messianic Passover by praising God for this

festival of freedom from sin in Y‟shua (Jesus) and for this

special time with family and friends. This prayer sets apart,

or sanctifies, the meal as a memorial to our redemption by

God.

(PRAYER)

We have just celebrated Palm Sunday, the day when Jesus

Christ, Jesus the Messiah (x:yviM'h; ØØØØØØØ[:WvyE - Y‟shua Ha

Mashiach), rode into Jerusalem to these words inspired by

Psalm 118:25-26.

"Hosanna!"

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

"Blessed is the King of Israel!"

(John 12:13b)

Y‟shua celebrated His last Passover (xs;p, Pesach) with His

disciples on Thursday evening in the upper room. Exodus 12

tells us that the lamb for the meal had been chosen four

days earlier, on the day of His Triumphal Entry.

-2-


The observance of Passover is based on

requirements specified more than 3400 years

ago in the Torah, the five books of Moses

(particularly in Exodus 12; Leviticus 23:4-8;

Numbers 28:16-25; Deuteronomy 16:1-8)

and in Jewish tradition (the Mishnah and

Talmud).

The Passover seder has varied little in essentials for many

centuries. To preserve the knowledge of traditional practices,

a written outline was completed about 220 AD in the first

part of the Talmud known as the Mishnah. Recorded here

are the memories of Pesach as observed before 70 AD when

the Temple was destroyed and sacrifices could no longer be

offered.

The special meal for the Pesach is called

the “seder” which means “order”. There

is a set order for all the things done

during this meal. The seder as described

in the Mishnah is much like the one

practiced today in Jewish homes.

Y'shua Himself observed the Pesach throughout His life on

earth. Many of the prayers and blessings of this liturgy were

known to Him. As we repeat them in Hebrew we may hear

sounds similar to those that were on his lips and will praise

the Father in phrases our Lord Himself used.

This Messianic seder is divided into three sections. During

the first hour, we retrace the story of freedom for the Jewish

people from slavery in Egypt. The last hour we will be

reminded of our freedom from sin in Y‟shua and look forward

to the day when He will come back to claim His people.

What happens during the second hour? We eat!

-3-

It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in princes.

All the nations surrounded me,

but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

They surrounded me on every side,

but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

They swarmed around me like bees,

but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;

in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

I was pushed back and about to fall,

but the LORD helped me.

The LORD is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.

Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the

righteous:

"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!

The Lord's right hand is lifted high;

the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

I will not die but live,

and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

The LORD has chastened me severely,

but he has not given me over to death.

Open for me the gates of righteousness;

I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

This is the gate of the LORD

through which the righteous may enter.

I will give you thanks, for you answered me;

you have become my salvation.

The stone the builders rejected

has become the capstone;

the LORD has done this,

and it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

-42-


lLeh; Halleil

PRAISE

(PART 2)

We have already mentioned that

Psalms 113-118, known as the

Hallel, were sung in the temple

while the paschal lambs were

slain. We read the first of these

Psalms. Now we will read Psalm

118.

Leader: Blessed are You, O LORD our God

Everyone: Who bids us rejoice with Psalms of praise.

Psalms 118

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

Let Israel say:

"His love endures forever."

Let the house of Aaron say:


Let those who fear the LORD say:


In my anguish I cried to the LORD,

and he answered by setting me free.

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

The LORD is with me; he is my helper.

I will look in triumph on my enemies.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in man.

-41-

PREPARING FOR THE SEDER

The Search for Leaven

#MEX' (Chametz - that which is leavened)

Before pesach begins, all leaven in the home is searched out

and removed.

In the first month you are to eat bread

made without yeast,

from the evening of the fourteenth day

until the evening of the twenty-first day.

For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses.

(Exodus 12:18-19a)

This simple command has developed into a major and

important ritual in preparing for the Pesach. In many homes

the command has been expanded to include every speck of

baking powder or other leavening agents. The housewife,

who does not want to be guilty of disobeying this command,

also removes all grain products that have the capability of

becoming leavened.

The evening before the seder, the

master of the house searches by

candlelight for any crumbs that

might remain after his wife has

scrupulously cleaned the whole

house. A kindly spouse will leave a

morsel or two of leaven in a highly visible place. Then her

husband will sweep it away with a feather into a wooden

spoon and have maximum satisfaction in carrying out God's

ordinance by actually finding apparently overlooked

chametz. If mother occasionally places the offending

-4-


crumbs in an unusual spot, it is amusing for the children to

see dad hunting for chametz without immediate success and

to listen to his sounds of frustration, for during this

performance of the mitzvah (the God-given commandment)

he is not permitted to speak.

All bread or leaven found is wrapped together and the

following prayer is said:

“All leaven or leavened bread in my possession that I

have not seen, nor removed, nor known about is

annulled and is useless, like the dust of the earth.”

Early the next morning, the leaven is burned. Both Gentile

and Jewish children in Whitechapel, London used to carry

pierced tin buckets containing burning coals. As they passed

along the streets, loudly crying "Chametz," the householders

responded by bringing out their leaven to be burned, paying

a few coppers for the service.

Leaven may also be stored in an out-of the-way place and

sold to a Gentile neighbor for a dollar or two. After Pesach is

over, the leaven is bought back.

Utensils used daily are most rigorously cleaned or they are

set aside during Passover week. Many observant Jews keep

a set of utensils, crockery and cutlery reserved for Passover

use only.

-5-

Y‟shua, in speaking of Elijah, pointed both to John the

Baptist and to Elijah‟s coming that still is in the future.

The disciples asked him,

"Why then do the teachers of the law

say that Elijah must come first?"

Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes

and will restore all things.

But I tell you, Elijah has already come,

and they did not recognize him,

but have done to him everything they wished.

In the same way the Son of Man

is going to suffer at their hands."

Then the disciples understood that

he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

(Matthew 17:10-13)

-40-


do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup,

you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”

(1 Corinthians 11:25-26)

Everyone: lean to the left and drink from the third

cup.

WhY"liaeØ sAK Kos Eiliahu

THE CUP OF ELIJAH

There is an extra cup of wine on our seder table that is filled

to the brim. This is “Elijah‟s Cup.” It has been filled at each

seder and left untouched for over 2,400 years. During the

seder, in Jewish custom, a door is opened and all hope that

Elijah will come that night.

"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah

before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.

He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,

and the hearts of the children to their fathers;

or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

(Malachi 4:5-6)

One or more children: go to a door and open it, calling

out for Elijah.

Everyone, as the door opens:

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Leader: Oh, well perhaps next year!

Children: return to your seats.

-39-

(The Preparation of the Upper Room)

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,

when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb,

Jesus' disciples asked him,

"Where do you want us to go and make preparations

for you to eat the Passover?"

So he sent two of his disciples, telling them,

"Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water

will meet you. Follow him.

Say to the owner of the house he enters,

'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room,

where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'

He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."

The disciples left, went into the city

and found things just as Jesus had told them.

So they prepared the Passover.

(Mark 14:12-16)

The Seder Table

These items are on the

seder plate:

[:Arz> (Z‟roa - arm)

A lamb’s shank bone reminds

us of the special lamb brought

to the temple in Jerusalem on

Pesach as an offering to God; it

represents the Passover lamb

that was slain.

This lamb can no longer be

sacrificed so it is customary not

to eat lamb at the seder.

-6-


This bone also reminds us of Deuteronomy 26:8a

So the LORD brought us out of Egypt

with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm...

In Exodus we read:

“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.”

(Exodus 12:3)

“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 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

bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.”

(Exodus 12:6-8)

“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.”

(Exodus 12:11)

“It must be eaten inside one house;

take none of the meat outside the house.

Do not break any of the bones.”

(Exodus 12:46)

The lamb bone also reminds us of Y'shua, who was called

"the Lamb which takes away the sin of the world." When, by

faith, we apply his blood to our hearts, God's hand of

judgment passes over our sins and we are saved.

-7-

hl'WaG>Ø sAK Kos G’ula

THE CUP OF REDEMPTION

(THE THIRD CUP)

Hosts fill third cup.

With this third cup we remember the third promise God


"I will redeem you with an outstretched arm

and with mighty acts of judgment."

(from Exodus 6:6-7)

But more importantly we remember that Y'shua's blood was

shed for us.

Everyone raise the third cup.


Everyone says:




Again, the Apostle Paul writes:

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying,

"This cup is the new covenant in my blood;

-38-


Everyone says:



who brings forth bread from the earth.

The Apostle Paul writes:

For I received from the Lord what

I also passed on to you:

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was

betrayed, took 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."

(1 Corinthians 11:23-24)

Everyone: Eat the afikoman.

Nothing further is eaten at the seder after this. The

afikoman is our dessert. Its taste is to remain in our mouths

as long as possible to remind us of our freedom from sin in

Y‟shua.

%rEB' Bareich

THE BLESSING FOR THE MEAL

As in Jewish custom, we thank God after the meal for the

food we have eaten.

(PRAYER)

-37-

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him

and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes

away the sin of the world!

(John 1:29)

These things happened so that the scripture would be

fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken"

(John 19:36)

Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Therefore let us keep the Festival.

(1 Corinthians 5:7b-8a)

hc'yBe (Beitsa - egg)

The egg is usually referred to as the

"chagigah" (festival offering). In

ancient days, on the Jewish festivals of

Pesach, Shavuot (Pentecost) and

Sukkot (Tabernacles), the Jews would

bring an offering to the temple to be

roasted in honor of the holiday. At Pesach this offering also

supplemented the meat from the Passover lamb.

The roasted egg reminds us of that sacrifice which could no

longer be made after the destruction of the Temple in 70

AD.

sP;r>K; (Karpas)

A green vegetable, such as parsley,

reminds us that Pesach occurs during

the spring, when new life brings a

feeling of hope.

-8-


rArm' (Maror - bitter herb)

Bitter herbs, such as horseradish, remind

us of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt. It

seems fitting that this dish of maror should

be tear producing!

ts,r{x] (Charoset)

A mixture of nuts, apples and wine

reminds us of clay, the mud from which

Israel made bricks for Pharoah.

On the seder table we will also find:

!yIy: (Yayin - wine)

During the seder meal we will drink four cups of

wine (grape juice). They remind us of four of

God‟s promises of freedom for the Jewish people.

xl;m,-yme (Mei-melach - salt water)

The salt water reminds us of the sad and bitter tears shed by

the Jews when they were slaves. We will dip the karpas in

the salt water.

hC'm; (Matzah - unleavened bread)

The matzah in the unity (the matzah cloth

with three pockets) reminds us that the Jews

left Egypt before their bread could rise. The

three matzot (plural) remind us that God is

one, yet three.

-9-

!Wpc' Tsafun

THE SEARCH FOR THE AFIKOMAN

Children age 12 and under:

search for the afikoman and

bring it to the main table.

Each child will receive a small

“ransom.”

Hosts: Come to the main table, get the afikoman and

return to your seats.

It was during Y‟shua‟s last Pesach that He took the afikoman

and the third cup, and gave them a greater significance.

Passover, the retelling of Israel's liberation from bodily

slavery, was transformed into a remembrance of

regeneration and redemption, whereby we could be freed

from the slavery of sin.

The afikoman was broken, hidden away and brought back.

In like manner Messiah was broken, buried and brought back

to life.

Hosts: Break the afikoman into small pieces and give

one to each person.

(A GOSPEL INVITATION AND SILENT PRAYER)

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Wnyhel{a/ yyØ hT'a;Ø %WrB' Melech ha-olam ~l'A[hØ %l,m, hamotsi lechem min ha-arets. `#r<a'h'Ø !miØ ~x,l,Ø ayciAMh;

-36-


%rEA[Ø !x'l.vu Shulchan Oreich THE TABLE IS SPREAD

Dinner is served!

Enjoy!

-35-

(The Arrival of Jesus and the Twelve)

When the hour came, Jesus 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 God."

(Luke 22:14-16)

tArNeh;Ø tq;l'd>h; Hadlaqat Ha-Neirot

LIGHTING THE FESTIVAL CANDLES

According to tradition, the Israelites were redeemed from

Egypt because of the pious women of that generation,

considered to be more righteous than the men. It is

therefore a woman's privilege to kindle the Sabbath and

festival lights in the home.

Hostesses stand and cover their heads.

At sunset, to usher in the new day and to sanctify the seder,

the lady of the house lights the candles with blessings.

Hostesses may now light the candles and then recite:

-10-


Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Wnyhel{a/ yyØ hT'a;Ø %WrB' Melech ha-olam ~l'A[hØ %l,m, asher natan lanu et mitzvotav wyt'Ac.mi-ta,Ø Wnl'Ø !t;n"Ø rv,a] v‟kidshanu b‟Yeishua Mishicheinu WnxeyvimiØ [:WvyEB.Ø Wnv'd>qiw> or ha-olam. `~l'A[h'Ø rAa

Anachnu madlikot tAqylid>m;Ø Wnx.n;a] neirot shel Pesach xs;PeØ lv,Ø tArnEØ l‟zecher g‟ulateinu miavdut. `tWdb.[;miØ Wnytel'Wag.Ø rk,z<l.

Blessed are You O LORD our God,


Who gave us His commandments

and sanctified us by Y‟shua our Messiah,

the light of the world.

We kindle the lights of Passover

for a remembrance of our redemption from bondage

Hostesses may now uncover their heads and sit down.

The Four Cups

Though not commanded in the Torah, the four cups of the

Pesach are a very ancient tradition of the seder. In the

Pesach story we are told four times (Exodus 6:6-7) that God

promised freedom to His people. We remember each of

those promises with a cup of wine.

First Cup: The Cup of Sanctification

"I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians."

Second Cup: The Cup of Judgment

"I will free you from being slaves to them."

-11-

John 13:21b-32

Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you

the truth, one of you is going to betray me."

His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know

which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom

Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter

motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he

means."

Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who

is it?"

Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this

piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then,

dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son

of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered

into him.

"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told

him but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this

to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought

Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast,

or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had

taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of

Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified

in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify

him at once.”

-34-


Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Wnyhel{a/ yyØ hT'a;Ø %WrB' Melech ha-olam ~l'A[hØ %l,m, asher kid‟shanu b‟Yeishua Ha Mashiach

WnxeyvimiØ [:WvyEB.Ø Wnv'd>qi rv,a\ v‟tsivanu al achilat maror. `hC'm;Ø tl;ykia]Ø l[;Ø WnW"ciw>

Everyone says:



who has sanctified us by Yeshua our Messiah

and bid us to eat maror.

All: Eat the maror.

Hillel, a famous rabbi who died in 10 AD, established the

custom of combining bitter herbs and matzah with a piece of

the paschal lamb to literally fulfill the Scripture:

That same night they are to eat the meat

roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs,

and bread made without yeast.

(Exodus 12:8)

It is commonly called "the sop." As it is no longer customary

to eat lamb during the seder, a special sandwich of matzah,

maror, and charoset is eaten.

Host: Break two pieces of the lower matzah for each

participant. Make a sandwich of matzah, maror and

charoset from them and distribute to all.

All: Eat the korech without saying a special blessing.

-33-

Third Cup: The Cup of Redemption

"I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty

acts of judgment."

Fourth Cup: The Cup of Praise

"I will take you as my own people."

vWDqiØ sAK Kos Kiddush

THE CUP OF SANCTIFICATION

(THE FIRST CUP)

Hosts: Fill the first cup for everyone.

With this first cup we remember the first promise God made

to the Jewish people.

"I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians."

(from Exodus 6:6-7)

The word sanctification means "to separate." The LORD

separated Israel as His people. It is Y‟shua who sanctifies us

by grace through faith and separates us to live holy lives.

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 of the fruit of the vine

until the kingdom of God comes."

(Luke 22:17-18)

(Notice this is not the same cup as mentioned in Luke

22:20)

Everyone raise the first cup.

-12-



Everyone says:




Everyone: lean to the left and drink from the first cup.

Why do we lean? This will be explained later.

#x;r>W Urchatz

WASHING THE HANDS

Ancient Jewish tradition required that hands must be washed

before dipping food into any liquid.

At this time only the hosts will ceremonially wash their

hands in preparation to serve the meal by dipping their

fingertips into the water and then drying them with the

towel.

All hosts: Ceremonially wash your hands.

sP;r>K; Karpas

EATING OF GREENS

As we say a blessing and eat a green herb or vegetable, we

remember that it was springtime when the Pesach, and

Y‟shua‟s sacrifice, took place.

-13-

Host: Break half of the uppermost matzah into small

pieces and distribute to all.

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Wnyhel{a/ yyØ hT'a;Ø %WrB' Melech ha-olam ~l'A[hØ %l,m, hamotsi lechem min ha-arets. `#r<a'h'Ø !miØ ~x,l,Ø ayciAMh;

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Wnyhel{a/ yyØ hT'a;Ø %WrB' Melech ha-olam ~l'A[hØ %l,m, asher kid‟shanu b‟Yeishua WnxeyvimiØ [:WvyEB.Ø Wnv'd>qi rv,a\ v‟tsivanu al achilat matzah. `rArm' tl;ykia]Ø l[;Ø WnW"ciw>

Everyone says:



who brings forth bread from the earth.



who has sanctified us by Y’shua

and bid us to eat matzah.

All: Eat the Matzah.

Let us remember the bitterness of slavery by eating the

maror.

Host: Break the remaining half of the uppermost

matzoh into small pieces, dip each piece in the maror,

and distribute to all.

-32-


needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And

you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew

who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not

every one was clean.

When he had finished 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 rightly 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. I have set you an

example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell

you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a

messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that

you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have

chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my

bread has lifted up his heel against me.'

"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when

it does happen you will believe that I am He. I tell you the

truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and

whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."

%rEAK rArm' hC'm;Ø ayciAm Motzi, Matzoh

Maror, Korech EATING THE PESACH FOODS

Motzi: Blessing the matzoh

Matzoh: Eating the matzoh

Maror: Eating the matzoh with bitter herb

Korech: Eating combination of matzoh, maror and charoset

We understand the meaning of our Pesach foods. Now we

are ready to eat them. First the matzah.

-31-

We dip the greens in salt water to remind us of the tears of

slavery. The Jews were slaves in Egypt and we were all born

slaves to sin.

Host: take a sprig of parsley from the seder plate and

dip it into the salt water. Break off a piece of parsley

for each person.

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Wnyhel{a/ yyØ hT'a;Ø %WrB' Melech ha-olam ~l'A[hØ %l,m, borei p‟ri ha-adama `hm'd'a]h'Ø yrIP.Ø areAB

Everyone says:



who creates the fruit of the earth.

Everyone: eat the parsley dipped in salt water.

#x;y: Yachats

BREAKING THE MATZOH

The matzah, or unleavened bread, that is used in the seder

is kept in a linen cloth. Tonight each table has one. You can

see that the cloth has three compartments to hold three

matzot, which symbolizes a unity (dx'a,) echad). This is a

whole, consisting of three parts.

There is no agreement among Jews as to why there are

three matzot. But believers in Y'shua know that it could

easily represent the tri-unity of God: the Father, the Son and

the Holy Spirit.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

(Deuteronomy 6:4)

-14-


We take the middle matzah and break it in two. We then

put the smaller piece back between the other two pieces and

wrap the larger piece in a separate napkin. This larger piece

is now called the afikoman, which means "dessert." We will

hide the afikoman until after the meal. Later we will find the

afikoman and everyone will be invited to share a taste of it.

Hosts: Break your middle matzah in two. Place one

half of the matzah in the unity and lay it on the table.

Bring the other half to the head table.

All the children must now close their eyes while the afikoman

is hidden. Once it is hidden, they may open their eyes.

Hosts: pour the second cup for everyone.

hN"T;v.NIØ hm;

Ma Nishtanah WHY IS IT DIFFERENT?

This next section is developed from Exodus 12:25-27a.

When you enter the land

that the LORD will give you as he promised,

observe this ceremony.

And when your children ask you,

'What does this ceremony mean to you?'

then tell them,

'It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD,

who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt

and spared our homes

when he struck down the Egyptians.'

-15-

#x;r" Rachatz

WASHING THE HANDS

We all wash our hands now in preparation for the eating of

the Passover elements.

Host: Take cleansing water and towel around the

table so that all my dip their fingertips into the water

and dry them with the towel.

John 13:2-20

The evening meal was

being served, and the devil had

already prompted Judas

Iscariot, son of Simon, to

betray Jesus.

Jesus knew that the

Father had put all things under his power, and that he had

come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from

the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel

around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin

and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the

towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are

you going to wash my feet?"

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am

doing, but later you will understand."

"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."

Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with

me."

"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet

but my hands and my head as well!"

Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath

-30-


jp;v'Ø sAK Kos Shapat

THE CUP OF JUDGMENT

(THE SECOND CUP)

With this second cup we remember the second promise God


"I will free you from being slaves to them."

(from Exodus 6:6-7)

The LORD freed Israel through His judgment on Egypt. And

God freed us from darkness and brought us into the kingdom

of Y‟shua.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness

and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

(Colossians 1:13-14)

Everyone raise the second cup.


Everyone says:




Everyone: lean to the left and drink from the second

cup.

-29-

The Four Questions

Child #1: Why is this night different from all other nights?

On all other nights we may eat either leavened bread or

matzah. Why on this night only matzah?

Child #2: On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables.

Why on this night do we eat a bitter herb?

Child #3: On all other nights we are not required to dip our

vegetables even once. Why on this night two times? First

we dip karpas in salt water and then we dip maror in

charoset.

Child #4: On all other nights we sit straight in our chairs.

Why on this night do we lean to one side?

The Four Children

The Torah commands four

times that the Jews must

teach their children about the

Exodus from Egypt. These

four commands suggest that

there are four kinds of

children, each of whom learns

in a different way.

God's Word will call to mind four types of sons:

The wise, the wicked, and the simple one,

The fourth who cannot ask why things are done.

The wise son questions the father thus:

"What mean these many laws to us

Our God has given?" Tell him all

There is to tell of the Festival.

-16-


In the future, when your son asks you,

"What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws

the LORD our God has commanded you?" tell him...

(Deuteronomy 6:20-21a)

The wicked son asks, "What's this to you,

The slavery of all you do?"

The father answers sadly, "Lo!

It seems God's love you do not know;

He ransomed me long years ago."

And when your children ask you,

'What does this ceremony mean to you?'

then tell them,

'It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD,

who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt

and spared our homes

when he struck down the Egyptians.'"

(Exodus 12:26-27a)

The simple son cries, "Dad, what's this?"

Complexities you may dismiss,

But simply and with patience tell

How God delivered Israel.

"In days to come, when your son asks you,

'What does this mean?' say to him,

'With a mighty hand the LORD brought us

out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

(Exodus 13:14)

And as for him who cannot ask,

The father has a happy task:

He takes the symbols one by one

And shows them to his silent son.


-17-

lLeh; Halleil

PRAISE

(PART 1)

Psalms 113-118, known as the

Hallel, were sung in the temple while

the paschal lambs were slain. We

begin by reading the first of these

Psalms before we eat the meal.

Leader: Blessed are You, O LORD our God

Everyone: Who bids us rejoice with psalms of praise.

PSALMS 113

Praise the LORD.

Praise, O servants of the LORD,

praise the name of the LORD.

Let the name of the LORD be praised,

both now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the LORD is to be praised.

The LORD is exalted over all the nations,

his glory above the heavens.

Who is like the LORD our God,

the One who sits enthroned on high,

who stoops down to look

on the heavens and the earth?

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.

He settles the barren woman in her home

as a happy mother of children.

Praise the LORD.


We dip the matzoh in the charoset to remind us of the

sweetness of freedom, which the LORD brought about

through the Exodus and through Y‟shua.

4. Why do we lean in our

chairs at the seder?

On this night we recline because in ancient times that was

the posture of free people at meals. Those whom God

liberated in the Exodus were no longer slaves.

It is helpful to know that the tables of that time did not look

like the famous painting of Leonardo da Vinci. Instead they

were horseshoe shaped and were very close to the ground.

Since there were no chairs people sat on the ground. On

Passover, to demonstrate freedom, pillows were placed

around the table and Jews would recline rather than sit

upright.

Jesus, at the Last Supper, would have reclined upon

cushions, leaning on his left elbow.

-27-

'I do this because of what the LORD did for me

when I came out of Egypt.'

(Exodus 13:8)

As believers in Y‟shua we must also be sensitive to how our

children are asking about salvation and answer them

appropriately.

dyGIm; Maggid THE STORY

The leader now begins to reply to the Ma Nishtanah by

telling the story of freedom from bondage in Egypt.

This Pesach seder is a special way to relive a time when the

Jewish people were slaves. With God's help, they became

free.

Jacob's son, Joseph, had been

sold into slavery in Egypt by his

brothers, but God had blessed

him. He became second only to

Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. With

God‟s help Joseph was able to

help all the Egyptian people avoid

a famine.

When Jacob discovered that Joseph was alive in Egypt and

that there was plenty of food there, he came with his family

from Canaan.

-18-


In those days, the Jewish people were called Hebrews, and

they were a small group when they arrived in Egypt. It was

the best of times, and the Hebrews grew in number and

were happy.

About 400 years passed.

“Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph,

came to power in Egypt.”

(Exodus 1:8)

He was afraid of the large number of Hebrews in his country.

He was afraid that the Jewish people would turn against him.

The Pharaoh ordered that the Hebrew people become slaves.

They were forced to work day and night to make bricks and

build cities. It was a terrible time for the Jewish people!

They made their lives bitter

with hard labor in brick and mortar...

(Exodus 1:14a)

But the Jewish people continued to multiply, so the king

ordered that every newborn boy be killed. But in

faithfulness to His people, the LORD raised up a deliverer.

His name was Moses.

God spoke to Moses from the burning bush.

The LORD said,

"I have indeed seen the misery

of my people in Egypt.

I have heard them crying out

because of their slave drivers,

and I am concerned

about their suffering.

So I have come down

to rescue them

from the hand of the Egyptians

and to bring them up out of that land

-19-

2. Why do we eat maror

at the seder?

Maror is the bitter herb on our seder plate. It reminds us

that the Egyptians made the lives of the Jews bitter when

they were slaves.

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 1:14)

Each year, as we sit together at the seder table, we imagine

that each of us went out of Egypt. The Torah teaches us:


'I do this because of what the LORD did for me

when I came out of Egypt.'

(Exodus 13:8)

Similarly, as believers in Y‟shua we remember the bitterness

of the bondage to sin and death from which He has freed us.

3. Why do we dip foods twice?

On this night we dip the greens into salt water to remind us

of the tears shed in bondage.

Charoset is the sweet mixture on the seder plate. It looks

like the clay the Jews used to make the bricks for the

Pharaoh. We dip the maror in the charoset to remind us

that the Jewish slaves worked very hard in Egypt. When we

combine something bitter with something sweet, we

remember that even when people are sad there is always

hope for a happier time.

-26-


The Three Essentials and Four Answers

Rabbi Gamaliel, president of the Sanhedrin and Paul's

teacher, used to say, "Whoever does not explain the

following three essentials of the Passover has not fulfilled his

duty." These are pesach (the Passover lamb), matzoh (the

unleavened bread) and maror (the bitter herbs).

We have already explained the meaning of the Passover

lamb. Now we will learn about the matzoh and the maror by

answering the four questions asked by the children.

1. Why do we eat matzah

on Pesach?

Matzah is made with carefully prepared flour

mixed with water. It has no yeast. Matzot are baked until

crispy, brown and flat. To ensure that it does not become

leavened during baking, it is pierced in many places. Jewish

tradition states that the baking of matzot may only take 18

minutes from the moment the flour meets the water until it

is tossed into the oven. Originally matzah was round.

Square matzah came into predominance during the 20th

century. It was quite a hullabaloo. The rabbis were not sure

if it was kosher or not.

Eating matzah reminds us that when the Jewish people were

escaping to freedom, they did not have time to let their

dough rise.

The matzoh also reminds us of Y'shua.

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)

-25-

into a good and spacious land, a land

flowing with milk and honey...”

(Exodus 3:7-8a)

“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)

The ten plagues that the LORD inflicted upon Egypt punished

them for their harsh treatment of His people and humiliated

their "gods."

The Ten Plagues

As we name the plagues together, take a drop of wine from

your cup with your finger and allow it to drip onto your plate.

~D' (Dam - blood)

There was BLOOD in all the water of Egypt.

The Egyptians could not bathe. They could

not take a drink. They could not water their

flowers or crops. They could not enjoy a

refreshing swim. The fish died and the river

smelled horrible.

[:Der>p;c. (Ts‟fardei-a - frogs)

Frogs hopped and croaked everywhere. No

one could sleep, walk or play in peace.

They were even in their kitchens and ovens.

-20-


~yNIKi (Kinim - gnats)

Gnats made everyone scratch their skin so hard

that people hurt all over.

bAr[' (Arov - flies)

Swarms of stinging FLIES landed on the

Egyptians, poured into their houses and

covered the ground. The land was ruined by

them.

rb,D, (Dever - disease)

The Egyptians‟ livestock got DISEASES that could not be

cured. Horses, donkeys, camels, sheep and goats died. But

not one animal belonging to the Israelites died.

!yxiv. (Sh‟chin - boils)

Boils burst from their skin. They were so uncomfortable!

The Egyptians could not even get dressed without screaming

from the pain. Their animals got boils too.

dr"B' (Barad - hail)

Hail rained down as dangerous balls of ice and lightning

flashed. The hail smashed roofs and damaged crops. It

broke everything the Egyptians owned.

hB.r>a; (Arbeh - locusts)

Locusts swarmed over all the trees and

blades of grass. The buzzing and sound of

flapping wings frightened everyone.

Vegetables and fruits were gobbled up and

only dust remained on the ground.

-21-

`WnYED;Ø ~yIr;c.Mimi ØWna'yciAhØ Wlai If He brought us

If He brought us

If He brought us out of Egypt

If He brought us out of Egypt

Dayeinu

`WnYED;Ø hr"ATh;-ta,Ø Wnl'Ø !t;n" Wlai If He gave us

If He gave us

If He gave to us the Torah

If He gave to us the Torah

Dayeinu

`WnYED;Ø x:yvim.-ta,Ø Wnl' xl;v'" Wlai If He sent us

If He sent us

If He sent to us Messiah

If He sent to us Messiah

Dayeinu

-24-


Dayeinu (It would have been enough for us)

This song is an expression of thankfulness for the many gifts

that God has given to us. One author explains,

Picture a box with a beautiful bow.

Open it… it‟s a present you‟ve

been dreaming of!

Wait… there‟s more inside: another

box with a second gift.

“How many kindnesses you show

me!” you say.

Inside the second gift, there‟s a third. “This is beyond

my hopes!” you exclaim. Inside the third gift there‟s a

fourth, and then a fifth—a whole series of gifts.

“If you had just given me one gift,” you say, shaking

your head in disbelief, “that would have been enough.

But for all these gifts I say, thank you.”

Pesach is a time to thank God for making our lives better.

We are grateful for all of His gifts!

-23-

%v,x{ (Choshech - darkness)

Darkness blotted out the sun. People were always cold.

Moonlight and stars did not appear. Every day was pitch

black.

tArAkB.Ø tK;m; (Makat B‟chorot - death of the first-born)

The firstborn son in every Egyptian family DIED. Also the

firstborn of their animals DIED.

"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.”

(Exodus 12:12)

Finally, the Pharaoh was convinced that the Hebrew people

had to go and he allowed them to leave Egypt. And God

brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold.

But after they left Pharaoh changed his mind.

The armies of Egypt were behind the Jews and the great Red

Sea was in front of them. The sea held them back, but with

God's help, the sea parted and the Jewish people passed

through on dry land. Pharaoh's

chariots and horses and all his

army were trapped and

drowned in the sea.

A new and happy time began

for the Jews. As they stood on

the other side of the sea they

sang.

-22


Messianic Haggadah by Singer

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