Mishpachah Chavurah Haggadah
Pesach Seder
Family Fellowship Showing Forth
Passover Meal
This meal celebrates our freedom through Redemption!
& the Season of our Deliverance!
"And YHWH your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your sons, to love YHWH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:6)
“For YHWH will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake because it has pleased YHWH to make you His people.”
(1 Samuel 12:22)
15 Steps of Pesach Seder
(may be sung at the beginning)
1 Kadesh. Recite Kiddush over first glass of wine (There are 4 cups total.)
2 Urchatz. Wash Hands. Since the next step in the Seder will be the eating of a vegetable dipped in salt water or vinegar we wash our hands.
3 Karpas. Eat the green vegetable dipped in salt water. Salt water is symbolic of the tears shed during slavery and throughout history.
4 Yachatz. Break the middle matzah and hide half for Afikoman. The smaller piece, the “bread of affliction,” is returned to the Pesach plate to be eaten later for the Mitzva, Command, of Matzah. The larger piece, representing the Pesach Sacrifice, to be eaten at the end of the meal .
5 Maggid. Tell the story of Passover. The youngest child asks the four questions. We drink the second cup of wine. A new tradition of Miriam’s cup, which is filled with water, and the story of how she helped find water in the desert.
6 Rachtzah. Wash hands before meal. This is the regular blessing recited before every meal in which bread is eaten, but during Passover we only eat Matzah.
7 Motzi. Hamotzi, the blessing for bread. Hold the remaining Matzot.
8 Matzah. Special blessing for eating part of the top and the middle matzah.
9 Maror. Eat the bitter herb, lettuce leaves or stalks, dipped into Charoseth (a mix of nuts, apples, cinnamon, and sweet wine ).
10 Koresh. Eat the bitter herb and matza together.
11 Shulchan Orekh. Means “set table”. Serve the festive meal.
12 Tzafun. Eat the Afikoman at the end of the meal. Symbolizes the Pesach Sacrifice. Some traditions ransom it from the children who have “hidden” it. Other traditions put the Afikoman into a pillow case to s and pass it around to symbolize that when we left Egypt we carried everything on our backs.
13 Barekh. Say the grace after meal. The Third Cup of Wine is Drunk. The Cup of Elijah the Prophet is filled.
14 Hallel. Recite Hallel. Recite the second part of Hallel, the selection of chapters of Psalms used as special praise for our Creator and Deliverer.
15 Nirtzah. Conclude the Seder.
On the Karah, Seder Plate, we see:
- Roasted shank bone of a lamb. Zeroah, it means arm and it represents the outstretched arm of YHWH.
- Boiled egg. Baytzah, its symbolic name, hagigah means holiday sacrifice at the Temple and represents new life, hope, triumph over death.
- Three kinds of bitter herbs are present: Horseradish root, onion or large white radish, which is called Chazareth. Freshly ground horseradish called Maror. Lettuce, parsley or celery called Karpas and is the first herb eaten.
- Sweet mixture of chopped apples or figs, nuts, raisins, cinnamon and wine. Charoseth represents the mortar for making bricks in Egypt and the bitter labor with the knowing that redemption draws nigh. (The charoseth and baytzah are not mandated in Scripture, but eating them dates back to ancient times.)
Next we look at the rest of the Table to see three more items:
- Unleavened Bread called Matzah. It represents Messiah by bearing the Stripes whereby we are healed and the piercings: “he was pierced, wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zechariah 12:10) The Matzah is inside a bag called a Matzo Tash.
- Wine & Wine Goblets which are filled four times during the Seder and correspond to the four verbs in Exodus 6:6,7 I will BRING you out, I will DELIVER you I will REDEEM you, I will TAKE you to be my people. A goblet is even set at the empty setting that is reserved for Elijah who will announce Messiahs coming (Malachi 4:5)
- The Haggadah which is the booklet meaning The Telling or Showing Forth from Exodus 13:8 “And you shall show your son in that day” also in 1 Corinthians 11:26 “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you do show the Lord’s death till He comes”
Exodus 12 “YHWH said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 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 members 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 boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. 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 YHWH’s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am YHWH. 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. This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to YHWH—a lasting ordinance. For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do. Celebrate Chag HaMatzoth, the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 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. And anyone, whether foreigner or native-born, who eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel. Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread. Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. When YHWH goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that YHWH 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 YHWH, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’ Then the people bowed down and worshiped. The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. At midnight YHWH struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.” The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!” So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. YHWH had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves. Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all יהוה’s divisions left Egypt. Because יהוה kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor יהוה for the generations to come. YHWH said to Moses and Aaron, These are the regulations for the Passover meal: No foreigner may eat it. Any slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised him, but a temporary resident or a hired worker may not eat it. It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. The whole community of Israel must celebrate it. A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate יהוה’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat it. The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you. All the Israelites did just what יהוהhad commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.
Isaiah 31:5 “As birds flying, so will the LORD of HOSTS defend Jerusalem; defending also He will deliver it; and passing over He will preserve it.” Passing over means spreading the wings over, protecting. Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge” Luke 13:34 “O Jersualem, Jerusalem!.. How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen does gather her brood under her wings”
So we light the Sabbath Nerot for this Holy Day as it is also called a Sabbath Day. The lighting of the Holy Day candles separates the sacred from the mundane. The table is holy. The flickering glimmers in all our eyes. Hadlakat Nerot: Zakhor etyom haShabbat leqadesho. As it is written,"Call the Sabbath a delight & the Holy Day of יהוה honorable." Barukh atah יהוה Elohenu Melekh haOlam asher kid’shanu bid’varecha w’natan lanu et Yahshua M’shiychenu, w’tziwanu l’hiyot or la-olam. Blessed are You, O יהוה Elohenu, Sovereign of the universe, Who sanctifies us in Your WORD & has given us Yahshua our Messiah & commands us to be light to the world. Exodus,Shemoth 20:8 Isaiah,Yeshayahu 58:13
Barukh Atah Adonai Eloheynu Melekh ha'olam asher shehechey-nu v'kiyimonu v'higianu l'zman hazey. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us in life and has preserved us, and has enabled us to reach this season. Amen.
Customarily the Father or Grandfather leads the Meal wearing a long white cotton or silk Kitel, a burial garment, symbolic of Levitical purity and the robe of righteousness clothing the elect of YHWH (Isaiah 61:10 & Revelation 6:11, 7:9). The man also wears a Miter, a tall white silk head covering in the shape of a crown to show he is king and religious leader in his household.
Kadesh. Kiddush is said to usher in this day and express Thanksgiving to YHWH. Right arm pictures Messiah. “to whom is the arm of יהוה Revealed?” Wine is a picture of blood, joy & marriage. Messiah Yahshua’s blood makes us qadosh (holy, set apart unto יהוה). “the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath” Isaish,Yeshayahu 53:1 ; Luke,Luqas 6:5 Praised are You, Almighty God, our Father in Heaven, Who in Your loving favor has given us the Holy Sabbath as an inheritance, a memorial of creation, it being also the first of the Holy Convocations in remembrance of the Exodus from Mitzra'yim, Egypt. Blessed are You, O יהוה who sanctifies the Sabbath. Barukh atah יהוה Elohenu melekh haOlam Bo-reh pri hagafen. Blessed are You, O יהוה Elohenu, Sovereign of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Everyone drinks this FIRST CUP OF SANCTIFICATION which consecrates the meal.
Urchatz . A small towel and a silver bowl are brought in. We dip our fingers into the ceremonial washbasin which only has about a cup of water in it. Then we dry our fingers with the towel in preparation for handling the food.
Karpas. The leader picks up the Karpas (Celery, Parsley, or Lettuce) and hands a small portion to each person. Barukh Atah YHWH Elohenu Melekh haolam ahsher kidishanu bmitzwotav wtzwanu al ahcilaht maror. Blessed are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has sanctified us in Your commandments and commanded us to eat bitter herbs. Everyone dips the greens into salt water and eats twice. The greens represent life which is often immersed in tears, represented by the salt water.
Yachatz. Take middle Matzah out breaking it in half and putting smaller half back in and the other wrap into a white napkin or white silk bag. Host hides or ‘buries’ it while children cover their eyes. This hidden Matzah is called the Afikomen which comes from Greek word meaning ‘that which comes last’. ‘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.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-8) “So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing.” (Exodus 12:34)
Maggid. Host uncovers Matzah again and holds up the plate and all recite: “This is the Bread of Affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let all who are in need come and celebrate Passover. Hear, O Israel: יהוה our God, יהוה is one. Love יהוה your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) “In the future, when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws יהוה our God has commanded you?" tell him: We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but יהוה brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Before our eyes יהוה sent miraculous signs and wonders--great and terrible--upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. יהוה commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear יהוה our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. And if we are careful to obey all this law before יהוה our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness." (Deuteronomy 6:20-25) “ And when your children ask you, "What does this ceremony mean to you?" then tell them, "It is the Passover sacrifice to יהוה, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians." (Exodus 12:26-27)
Refill wine glasses. Youngest child asks the four traditional questions, Mah Nishtanah:Arba Kushyot
- Ma nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilot? Why is this night different from all other nights? Sheb’khol haleilot anu okhlin hametz umatzah; halailah hazeh, kuloh matzah. On all other nights we can eat bread or matzo. Why, tonight, only matzo?
- Sheb’khol haleilot anu okhlin sh’ar y’rakot; halailah hazeh, maror. On all other nights, we can eat any kind of herbs. Why, tonight, bitter herbs?
- Sheb’khol haleilot ein anu matbilin afilu pa’am ehat; halailah hazeh, shtei f’amim. On all other nights we don’t dip herbs we eat into anything. Why, tonight, do we dip twice?
- Why do we eat only meat which is roasted? (Traditional seders say instead: Sheb’khol haleilot anu okhlin bein yoshvin uvein m’subin; halailah hazeh, kulanu m’subin. On all other nights we can eat either sitting up straight or reclining. Why, tonight, do we all recline?)
For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord. Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this Torah of יהוה is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year. (Exodus 13:6-10) The Ten Plagues. With mention of each plague use your pinky finger to dip one drop of wine out from goblet onto the saucer which is known as the cup. When the saucer is filled with the ten drops of wine it is called THE CUP OF INIQUITY. Moses and Aaron repeatedly come before Pharaoh to demand in יהוה, "Let My people go, so that they may serve Me in the wilderness." Pharaoh repeatedly refuses. Aaron's staff turns into a snake and swallows the magic sticks of the Egyptian sorcerers. Pharaoh still refuses to let the Jews go. Moses warns him that יהוה will smite Egypt. In the throes of each plague, Pharaoh promises to let the Children of Israel go; but he goes back on his word each time. 1) Dam-Blood Aaron strikes the Nile, the waters turn to blood; 2) Tzfardeiyah-Frogs overrun the land; 3) Kinim-, Lice infest all men and beasts. Still, Pharaoh remains stubborn; 4) Arov-WildBeasts invade the cities, 5) Dever-Pestilence kills the domestic animals, 6) Sh'chin-Boils afflict the Egyptians. 7) Barad-Hail Fire and ice combine to descend from the skies as a devastating hail. Still, "the heart of Pharaoh was hardened and he would not let the children of Israel go; as God had said to Moses." The people of Egypt have suffered too much. They beg Pharaoh to let the Jews go. When Moses comes to warn Pharaoh of the eighth plague, Pharaoh says: You say that you want to go serve your God? I'll let the men go, as long as the women and children stay behind. No, says Moses, we must all go, men women and children, cattle and herds. Pharaoh once again refuses. The next plagues descends upon Egypt. 8) Arbeh- a swarm of Locusts devours all the crops and greenery; 9) Choshech- a thick, palpable Darkness envelops the land. The Israelites are instructed to bring a Passover offering" to God: a lamb or kid is to be slaughtered and its blood sprinkled on the doorposts and lintel of every Israelite home, so that God should pass over these homes when He comes to kill the firstborn wherein the homes are not covered by the lamb’s blood. The roasted meat of the offering is to be eaten that night together with matzah (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs. Then God brings the tenth plague upon Egypt, 10) Makat b'chorot -Slaying of the First-born Egypt at the stroke of midnight of the 15th of the month of Aviv, (Abib, Nissan- the first Biblical month of the year meaning Tender Green in early Spring).
A question is asked “Is it for this the judgements that we praise יהוה?” The answer follows “No, for YHWH loved the Egyptians even as He loved us. But it is for יהוה’s infinite mercies that we praise Him.” Dayenu דַּיֵּנוּ which means, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT, is recited upon recounting YHWHs numerous acts of love and mercy upon Israel. We all say “Then how much more, doubled and re-doubled, is the claim the Omnipresent has upon our thankfulness! For He did take us out of Egypt and execute judgements and justice and did tear the sea apart for us to satisfy our needs in the desert and give the Sabbath and the Torah and bring us into the land of Israel and build us the House of His choosing to atone for all our sins. If He had brought us out from Egypt, Ilu hotzianu mimitzrayim, ;ִלּוּ הוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם;and had not carried out judgments against them v'lo asah bahem sh'fatim, וְלֹא עָשָׂה בָּהֶם שְׁפָטִים;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ ;If He had carried out judgments against them, Ilu asah bahem sh'fatim אִלּוּ עָשָׂה בָּהֶם שְׁפָטִים;and not against their idols v'lo asah beloheihem, וְלֹא עָשָׂה בֵּאלֹהֵיהֶם ;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ ;If He had destroyed their idols, Ilu asah beloheihem, אִלּוּ עָשָׂה בֵּאלֹהֵיהֶם ;and had not smitten their first-born v'lo harag et b'choreihem;ְלֹא הָרַג אֶת בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם ;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ ;If He had smitten their first-born, Ilu harag et b'choreihem, אִלּוּ הָרַג אֶת בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם;and had not given us their wealth v'lo natan lanu et mamonam, וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת מָמוֹנָם ;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ ;If He had given us their wealth, Ilu natan lanu et mamonam, אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת מָמוֹנָם;and had not split the sea for us v'lo kara lanu et hayam, ןלא קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת הַיָּם ;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ ;If He had split the sea for us, Ilu kara lanu et hayam, אִלּוּ קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת הַיָּם ;and had not taken us through it on dry land v'lo he'eviranu b'tocho echaravah, וְלֹא הֶעֱבִירָנוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ בֶּחָרָבָה;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ ;If He had taken us through the sea on dry land, Ilu he'eviranu b'tocho becharavah, אִלּוּ הֶעֱבִירָנוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ בֶּחָרָבָה;and had not drowned our oppressors in it v'lo shika tzareinu b'tocho, וְלֹא שִׁקַע צָרֵינוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ ;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ ;If He had drowned our oppressors in it, Ilu shika tzareinu b'tocho אִלּוּ שִׁקַע צָרֵינוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ;and had not supplied our needs in the desert for forty years v'lo sipeik tzorkeinu bamidbar arba'im shana, וְלֹא סִפֵּק צָרַכֵּנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה ;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ ;If He had supplied our needs in the desert for forty years, Ilu sipeik tzorkeinu bamidbar arba'im shana, אִלּוּ סִפֵּק צָרַכֵּנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה;and had not fed us the manna v'lo he'echilanu et haman, וְלֹא הֶאֱכִילָנוּ אֶת הַמָּן ;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ ;If He had fed us the manna, Ilu he'echilanu et haman,;לּוּ הֶאֱכִילָנוּ אֶת הַמָּן and had not given us the Shabbat v'lo natan lanu et hashabbat, ; ְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת ;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ ;If He had given us the Shabbat, Ilu natan lanu et hashabbat, אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת;and had not brought us before Mount Sinai v'lo keirvanu lifnei har sinai, וְלֹא קֵרְבָנוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי ;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ ;If He had brought us before Mount Sinai, Ilu keirvanu lifnei har sinai, אִלּוּ קֵרְבָנוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי ;and had not given us the Torah v'lo natan lanu et hatorah, וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ;If He had given us the Torah, Ilu natan lanu et hatorah, אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה;and had not brought us into the land of Israel v'lo hichnisanu l'eretz yisra'eil, וְלֹא הִכְנִיסָנוּ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu! דַּיֵּנוּ;If He had brought us into the land of Israel, Ilu hichnisanu l'eretz yisra'eil, אִלּוּ הִכְנִיסָנוּ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל;and not built for us the Holy Temple v'lo vanah lanu et beit hamikdash, וְלֹא בָּנָה לָנוּ אֶת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ;— Dayenu, it would have been enough! dayeinu!
The Passover sacrifice symbolized by the Shank bone (Don’t lift up.) Hold up the bitter herbs and Matzah and say: In every generation let each man look on himself as if he came forth out of Egypt. As it is sad: “And you shall tell your son…it is because of the YHWH did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.” Exodus 13:8 The Exodus and Redemption are not only history but it is personal for each of us. What Messiah did 2000 years ago is very personal to each of us today. Raise Wine glass and proclaim “Let us then recite before Him a new song: Hallelujah!” Put the glasses down without drinking and recite Psalms 113 & 114 then recite an ancient prayer by Rabbi Akiba
Psalm 113 Praise יהוה. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of יהוה be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of יהוה is to be praised. יהוה 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 his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise יהוה.
Psalm 114 When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs. Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back? Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs? Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool.
Prayer: Blessed art thou O Lord who redeemed us and brought us to this night so O Lord bring us to other festivals happy in the building of thy city and there may we eat of the sacrifices and the paschal offerings, whose blood will come unto the walls of the altar for acceptance. Then shall we give thanks to thee with a new song, for our redemption and the liberation of our soul. Blessed are You Lord Redeemer of Israel Blessed are you Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Drink the CUP OF PRAISE
Rachtzah. Pass around the basin and wash hands again. Host breaks off pieces of unleavened bread and passes them to all at the table.
HaMotzi, Matzah the Prayer for bread and eat. Barukh atah, יהוה Elohenu, Melekh haolam hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz. Blessed are You, O יהוה Elohenu, Sovereign of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth. Barukh atah יהוה eloheynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav w’tzivanu al-achilat matzah. Praised are you, יהוה Elohenu, Sovereign of the Universe, Who made us holy by His law, And commanded us about the eating of unleavened bread. Yahshua, Jesus is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) Chometz is the Hebrew word for leaven and it means bitter or sour. Leaven increases volume, but not weight. We don’t want to be puffed up, but rather a weighty people of sincerity and truth! 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 “Purge out therefore the old leaven that you may be a new lump as ye are unleavened. For even Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us. Matzo, unleavened, means sweet, without sourness.”
Maror. Host dips some bitter herb into the sweet Charoseth mixture and offers a piece to each person. Bitterness represents death and mourning. The first born lived because of the death of the Paschal Lamb. Before eating it pronounce a benediction: thank You YHWH for commanding the eating of bitter herbs.
Koresh. Host makes a sandwich of bitter herbs and unleavened bread, eats it and says: In memory of the Temple, “They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.”
Shulchan Orekh.Bring the hard boiled eggs dipped in salt water. Next can be the gefilte fish and Matzo ball soup. Then the main course is Lamb. Can have salad and dried fruits, nuts, cookies.
Tzafun. After meal the children find the Afikomen and the host unwraps it and gives out olive-sized pieces to everyone. “This is my body which is given for you” Luke 22:19 Jesus said: "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35) The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup."(1 Corinthians 11:28) All partake with quite reverence. After this no more food is eaten except for the third and fourth cups of wine.
Read Psalm 126 one of the Songs of Accent. When YHWH restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
Berakhah, the final table grace is recited. Pour third cup and recite the blessing. ‘May the name of YHWH be blessed from now unto eternity. Let us bless Him of whose food we have eaten. Take pity oh יהוה on Israel on Zion the habitation of Your Glory and on the Kingdom of the House of David Your anointed. May there arise and come the remembrance of us, our fathers, the Messiah the son of David Your servant, Jerusalem Your Holy City, all your people and House of Israel on the festival. The Compassionate One sends Eliyahu, that is Elijah the prophet, to us that he may bring us good tidings of salvations and consolations.’
Drink third CUP OF REDEMPTION also called the CUP OF BLESSING or CUP OF ELIJAH. This cup represents the blood of the Paschal Lamb. "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (Luke 22:20) God gave us many signs and prophecies about our coming Messiah. Yeshua fulfilled all the prophecies foretold of the first coming of the Messiah, in the Torah, the prophets and the writings. Just as the lamb's blood protected the Israelites from death, Yeshua's blood will protect us from death. 1 Corinthians 10:16 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Messiah? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Messiah?” Prophecy: Fulfilled: Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Prophecy: Now: Micah 5:3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. Prophecy: Future: Micah 5:4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of YHWH, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him-- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness-- so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 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. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 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 before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. (Isaiah 52:13-53:8)
At this point traditionally the host sends on of the children to open the door to see if Eliyahu is coming, but we know Messiah said John the Baptist was he. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of YHWH!”
Hallel. Read Psalm 115, 118 & 136 the Great Hallel, Praise. ”The breath of every living thing shall bless Your Name and Blessed are You, O YHWH Elohenu, W’Melek, who are mightily Praised, God of thanksgivings, Lord of wonders, who chooses song and psalm, King God, the life of the world.”
Psalm 115 Not to us, יהוה, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. All you Israelites, trust in יהוה —he is their help and shield. House of Aaron, trust in יהוה —he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in יהוה —he is their help and shield. יהוה remembers us and will bless us: He will bless his people Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the Lord—small and great alike. May יהוה cause you to flourish, both you and your children. May you be blessed by יהוה, the Maker of heaven and earth. The highest heavens belong to יהוה, but the earth he has given to mankind. It is not the dead who praise יהוה those who go down to the place of silence; it is we who extol יהוה, both now and forevermore. Praise יהוה.
Psalm 118 Give thanks to יהוה, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” Let those who fear יהוה say: “His love endures forever.” When hard pressed, I cried to יהוה; he brought me into a spacious place. יהוה is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? יהוה is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in יהוה than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in יהוה than to trust in princes. All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of יהוה I cut them down. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of יהוה I cut them down. They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of יהוה I cut them down. I was pushed back and about to fall, but יהוה helped me. יהוה is my strength and my defense; 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. יהוה has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to יהוה. This is the gate of יהוה 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 cornerstone; יהוה has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. יהוה has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. יהוה, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of יהוה. From the house of יהוה we bless you. יהוה is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 136 Give thanks to יהוה, for he is good. Kiy l’olam chas-do. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. To him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. Who made the great lights—His love endures forever. The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. To him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, His love endures forever. And brought Israel out from among them. His love endures forever. With a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever. To him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever. And brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever. But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever. To him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever. To him who struck down great kings, His love endures forever. And killed mighty kings—His love endures forever. Sihon king of the Amorites His love endures forever. and Og king of Bashan— His love endures forever. And gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever. An inheritance to his servant Israel. His love endures forever. He remembered us in our low estate. His love endures forever. And freed us from our enemies. His love endures forever. He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
Nirtzah. Lift fourth cup. The Fourth Cup recalls us to our covenant with the Eternal One to the tasks that still await us a s a people called to the service of God to a great purpose for which the people of Israel live. "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes") (1 Corinthians 11:20 & 26) In Egypt had they not trusted God and applied the blood of the Lamb to their doors, They would have died. So also, God must see the blood of the Lamb, Yahshua Jesus our Messiah Savior at the door of our heart. That we may Passover from death to life. It was by God's Grace and for His name sake that Israel was redeemed, not by their own righteousness. So it is also with our redemption from sin and spiritual death, for those who have put their faith in Yahshua, the Lamb of God.
Drink the Fourth Cup of Acceptance to be His people. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And He said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:7-9).
Messiah Yahshua Our Righteousness is called the Second Adam. We know according to the Creation account in Genesis that יהוה created Adam in His image on the Sixth Day. The Sixth Day on the Biblical Calendar is in the Spring, Aviv (Abib, Nissan 6). Messiah, fulfilling the role of the Second Adam, was also born on the Sixth Day of the Biblical Calendar. He was born among the Temple Lambs in Bethlehm Ephrathah at the Watch Tower of the Flock where the Shepherds kept watch in the fields and wherein the Temple Lambs were wrapped in Swaddling Cloth. This is the same place where Rachel, wife of Jacob who became known as Israel, gave birth to her second born son. Upon giving birth to him she called him Benoni meaning Son of My Sorrow, but Jacob said instead to call him Benjamin which means Son of My Right Hand. Here, in this very place Messiah was born to Mary and He fulfills both Son of My Sorrow and Son of My Right Hand. Mary was going to see what her son had to go through in order to be at the Right Hand of the Heavenly Father. He was born on a Sabbath Day. Eight days after His Birth He was Circumcised on the next Sabbath Day which was also a Passover Sabbath Day. It is interesting how important Circumcision is to our Heavenly Father; so much so, that Scripture says even on the Sabbath Day, if it is the Eighth Day of a newborn male, he is to be Circumcised. "I have done one work and you are all surprised at it. Moses gave you circumcision--not that it comes from Moses, but from the fathers--and even on the Sabbath you give a child circumcision. If a child is given circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?" (John 7:21-23) Circumcision is a sign of Blood Covenant with YHWH. "And God said unto Abraham: 'And as for thee, thou shalt keep My covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations. This is My covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt Me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner, that is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised; and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant…'Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahsof the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.’ "(Genesis 17:9-14; 18:6,7, 14). We understand that Passover is a Blood Covenant. We know this because those who obediently put their lamb’s blood on the doorframes of their homes and those who put their faith in Messiah as the Lamb of God who was crucified at the stake on Passover to atone for the sins of fallen man were protected. Passover is tightly linked to Circumcision. Uncircumcised males could not attend this special Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Messiah was born on the Sixth Day, Circumcised Eight days later on the Fourteenth Day which was A Passover Sabbath Day. He had the Seal of the Blood Covenant on the same day as the Crucifixion thirty-three years later. In Arabic the word for Bridegroom means both Circumcision and Protect. How interesting that Passover, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, is where Messiah our Bridegroom fulfills both Circumcision and Atonement for our Protection from being Cut-Off from Israel! Moses Wife Called him a Bridegroom of Blood after circumcising their second Son Gershom. This was actually a good statement from her about Moses! (Exodus 4:25,26)