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And The Meaning of The Passover Service
~ Exodus chapters 1 through 12 ~
Yahveh's unfailing help has sustained our ancestors and us. For not
only one enemy has risen up to destroy us, but in many generations, people have risen up to destroy us. But the Holy One,
blessed be He, delivers us from their hands.
THE STORY BEGINS WITH DEGRADATION AND ENDS WITH DIGNITY. MAY OUR
LIVES AND ENDEAVORS END AS OUR STORY, IN GLORY.
Approximately 4000 years ago, the people of Israel were slaves
in Egypt. If Yahveh had not brought them out of Egypt, they would still be slaves there. Every year we retell
the story to remind ourselves of the importance of freedom. The story of the Exodus from Egypt reassures us that freedom is
possible; deliverance will come; salvation is within our reach and the dream of redemption can become a reality.
Nearly 4000 years ago there was a famine in the Land of Israel. Our
ancestor Jacob took his family and settled in Egypt, where there was plenty of food. The children of Jacob lived well in Egypt.
They become a great nation, powerful and numerous. Some time later,
a new king came to the throne of Egypt. He feared the Israelites because there were so many of us. He said, "If there is a
war, they will join our enemies and fight against us." So Pharaoh forced our people to become his slaves. He ordered us to
make bricks and build buildings for him. Taskmasters were set over us; they imposed heavy labor and we built the cities of
Pithom and Raamses.
We cried out to Elohim for help and He heard our cry, saw our suffering
and responded to our oppression. Yahveh remembered the Covenant with our ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Pharaoh refused to let us go free, so Yahveh brought Ten Plagues
to the land of Egypt: blood, frogs, lice, insects, cattle disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and the slaying of the first-born
sons of the Egyptians. When Pharaoh's own son died he finally agreed to let us go.
"Yahveh alone executed the judgment of death: 'For I will go through
the land of Egypt in that night. I and not any intermediary.' The Holy One, blessed be He, could have given the Israelites
the power to avenge themselves upon the Egyptians, but He did not want to sanction the use of force for self-defense
even at that time. Therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He, took great pains to remove Israel completely from any participation
in the vengeance upon the evil-doers, to such an extent that they were not even permitted to see the events.
The Israelites left Egypt at midnight in such a hurry that they
did not have time to let their bread dough rise. They baked it immediately and it came out flat and hard -- the first matzah.
Our people escaped to the Reed Sea with the Egyptians in hot pursuit.
From the Reed Sea, our people traveled on to Mount Sinai where Yahveh
gave them the Torah. At Sinai, we entered into our covenant with Yahveh which sustains us to this day and teaches us
to cherish a vision of the world free of Pharaohs, slavery and plagues.
Yah did many wonderful things for us. He brought us
out of Egypt, gave us the Sabbath, gave us the Torah and brought us into the Promised Land of Israel. Each year we gather with family and friends to relive the story of the Exodus from Egypt. We do not merely retell
the story, we relive the event, spiritually.
We recall the Ten Plagues upon Egypt, we open our doors to admit Elijah the prophet, who will herald the
Messianic Age, the age of ultimate freedom and peace. A time when everything we cherish most and everything to which
we aspire, will come to fruition.
Seder ~ The Meaning of The Passover Service
"In every generation, each of us is obligated to see ourselves as having come out of Egypt."
CANDLELIGHTING
BA-RUCH A-TA A-DO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM A-SHER KI-DE-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV
VE-TZI-VA-NU LE-HAD-LIK NER SHEL (SHABBAT V') YOM TOV.
Blessed are You, Yahveh our Elohim, ruler of the universe who made us holy
with His commandments and comanded us to light the festival lights.
BA-RUCH A-TA A-DO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM SHE-HE-CHE-YA-NU VE-KI-YE-MA-NU
VE-HIG-I-YA-NU LAZ-MAN HA-ZEH.
Blessed are You, Yahveh our Elohim, ruler of the universe, who kept us
alive, sustained us and enabled us to celebrate this joyous occasion.
The 4 Cups of Wine
Wine, our symbol for joy and salvation, is an
important part of the Passover Service. Four cups of wine (or grape juice) are served during the Passover
service. These four cups symbolize the four-fold promise of redemption which Yahveh pledged to Israel in Exodus 6:6-7
The First Cup - "I will bring you out" (Exodus
6:6-7)
BA-RUCH A-TA A-DO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM BO-RAY PE-RI HA-GA-FEN.
Blessed are You, Yahveh our Elohim, Ruler of the universe, Creator of
the fruit of the vine.
Three Matzot
The matzah is also referred to as the bread of affliction, and recalls the story of
the Exodus in which the Israelites, lacking time to raise their dough properly on the night of their deliverance from
bondage, baked the unraised dough into flat, hard cakes, called matzot. Matzah is made with only flour and water, in such
a way that there is no possibility for the dough to rise: Once the flour has touched water, it must be in the oven within
18 minutes, before natural yeast forms.
Placed separately in the folds of an ordinary napkin are the three matzahs. To
the believer in Messiah they symbolize the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
BA-RUCH A-TA A-DO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM A-SHER KI-DE-SHA-NU
BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VE-TZI-VA-NU AL A-CHI-LAT MA-TZA.
Blessed are You, Yahveh our Elohim, ruler of the universe, who
made us holy with His Commandments and commanded us to eat matzah.
The Passover Plate
On the Passover Plate are found six items:
1. A Roasted Shankbone
The roasted shankbone commemorates the Passover Sacrifice which was made the night
our ancestors fled Egypt. Many Jews use chicken wing to signify Yahveh's
"outstretched arm" because the Torah tells us that Yahveh brought the Israelites out of Egypt with a "strong hand and an outstretched
arm."
2. Beitzah - Roasted Egg
The egg used on the seder plate can be roasted along with the shankbone. It reminds
us of the "Festival Sacrifice" which was brought to the Temple in Jerusalem on special occasions during the periods
of the First and Second Temples, along with the Paschal Lamb. It has also come to symbolize new life and freedom. (The number for Beitzah/egg is 8 = new begining)
3. Maror - Bitter Herbs
 What is the meaning of the maror? The bitter herbs symbolize the bitterness of Israel's bondage in Egypt. Horseradish is usually used with bitter
lettuce and salt water. The dipping of the greens in the salt water reminds
us of Israel's tears of affliction.
BA-RUCH A-TA A-DO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM A-SHER KI-DE-SHA-NU
BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VE-TZI-VA-NU AL A-CHI-LAT MA-ROR.
Blessed are You, Yahveh our Elohim, ruler of the universe, who
made us holy with His Commandments and commanded us to eat Maror.
4. chazeret - Another type
of maror
You can use romaine lettuce for this.
5. Charoset
Charoset is a mixture of chopped nuts, apples,
and wine which, to the eye, resembles the mortar used by the Israelite slaves to build the "treasure cities for Pharaoh". However,
its taste is sweet, thus symbolizing the redemptive transition from slavery to freedom.
When we eat the Charoset we remember the degradation our ancestors must have endured in the work
imposed upon them.
6. Karpas - Parsley
The karpas (a green vegetable) such as parsley, is
dipped into the salt water before being eaten, symbolizing the tears of suffering shed by the Israelite slaves. At
the same time, the green leaves remind us of spring's new begining and the hope of redemption. The message to us is that we must always be optimistic.
BA-RUCH A-TA A-DO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM BO-RAY PE-RI HA-A-DA-MAH.
Blessed are You, Yahveh our Elohim, ruler of the universe, Creator
of the fruit of the earth.
Why The Salt Water?
On Passover we use Salt Water for dipping the vegetables. Some say it represents Israel's
tears shed in Egypt. Others suggest that it also represents the tears shed by Yahveh when He had no choice but to punish
the Egyptians for oppressing His people, Israel.
The Cup of Elijah
Elijah has always been associated with the coming of the Messiah. Pesach, the
holiday of freedom, is an ideal time to usher in the Messianic Age, and so we invite Elijah to be present with us.
Exodus 6:8 states "I will bring you to the land." Throughout the ages the Jews
looked forward to this promised return to the Holy Land. In Jewish literature, Elijah was always a protective presence when
a community or individual was threatened; and his presence at the Seder was very welcomed throughout Jewish history in Europe
when this was an especially dangerous season for Jews.
Why Do We Wash Our Hands Prior To Eating The Vegetables At The Beginning of The
Seder?
The hand washing is a reminder that we must come to Yahveh's Table without sin. "Who
shall ascend into the hill of Yahveh? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart." Psalm
24:3-4
What Is The Afikoman?
Afikoman is a Greek word, meaning, "He Came"
Here it is a piece of the middle matzah set aside at the beginning of the seder, representing the sacrificial
lamb (Yashua) and eaten at the conclusion of the meal. It is hidden during the seder, representing Yashua's death, and
brought out at the end of the service, pointing to Yashua's resurrection.
The Second Cup - "I
will deliver you" (Exodus 6:6-7)
BA-RUCH A-TA A-DO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM BO-RAY PE-RI HA-GA-FEN.
Blessed are You, Yahveh our Elohim, Ruler of the universe, Creator
of the fruit of the vine.
Ma Nish-ta-nah
- The Four Questions
Passover (Pesach) is a very special holiday. We do many things
differently during Passover. Why is this night different from all other nights?
- On all other nights we eat both leavened bread and unleavened bread;
why on this night do we eat only unleavened bread?
- On all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs; why on this night
do we eat especially bitter herbs?
- On all other nights we do not usually dip our foods even once;
why on this night do we dip twice?
- On all other nights we eat while sitting up straight or relining; why
on this night do we only recline?
Why Do We Dip Herbs Twice?
We dip parsley in salt water because it reminds us of the "tears of affliction". We
dip the bitter herbs in the sweet charoset as a sign of hope. Our ancestors were able to withstand the bitterness of slavery
because it was sweetened by the hope of freedom.
Why Do We Recline At The Passover Table?
We recline because reclining at the table was a sign of a free man in biblical
times. Since our ancestors were freed on this night, we recline at the Passover table.
The
Third Cup - "I will redeem you" (Exodus 6:6-7)
BA-RUCH A-TA A-DO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM BO-RAY PE-RI
HA-GA-FEN.
Blessed are You, Yahveh our Elohim, Ruler of the universe,
Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Why Are There 4 Different Kinds of Children?
On four occasions, the Torah instructs parents to teach their children the story of the Passover.
Thus the Sages inferred that there are four types of children.
Wise Child asks: "What is the meaning of the duties,
laws and rules which Yahveh has commanded us?" Such children should be taught everything, for their minds are open to
learning and appreciating their heritage.
Wicked Child asks: "What does this service mean
to you?" To you and not to us. Since such children cut themselves off from the community of Israel, we respond:
"I do this because of what Yahveh did for me when I came out of Egypt." For me and not for them, for had
they been there, they would not have left Egypt with us.
Simple Child asks: "What does this mean?" To them we
say: "With a mighty hand Yahveh led us out of Egypt, out of the House of Bondage."
And to child who does not know how to ask, we
begin by explaining that our Torah commands: "You shall tell your child on that day..."
Why Do We Read The Hallel (Praise) Psalms?
We recite Hallel because of our awareness that our freedom comes from Yahveh,
and we relate our exodus from Egypt to His power. Therefore, we praise Him with the traditional psalms of praise
- Psalms 113 to 118.
Why Do We Pour A Little Wine Out of Our Cups As We Say The 10 Plagues?
Even though the Egyptians persecuted us, we still feel sorry that they suffered so
much through the plagues. We, therefore, diminish our joy by pouring out the wine.
Blood, Frogs, Lice, Insects, Cattle Disease, Boils,
Hail, Locusts, Darkness, Slaying of the First Born.
Why Do We Wash Our Hands With A Blessing Before The Meal?
This is the usual ritual washing which is done at every meal where bread
or matzah is eaten prior to the blessing over the bread. The table is regarded as an altar where proper conversation and decorum
is maintained. Just as the priest in the past washed his hands in preparation to approaching the altar, so do we.
The Forth Cup - "I will take you" (Exodus 6:6-7)
BA-RUCH A-TA A-DO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM BO-RAY PE-RI HA-GA-FEN.
Blessed are You, Yahveh our Elohim, Ruler of the universe,
Creator of the fruit of the vine.
THE AFIKOMEN IS SHARED BY ALL
Without the Afikoman the service cannot be completed. This is the time when the
children are excused from the table to search for the Hidden Matzah. The one who finds it will give it to the Magid
(the master of ceremony) in exchange for a reward.
In Conclusion
Why Do We Say "Next Year in Jerusalem?"
This blessing has always been associated with Israel's redemption as well as the redemption
of all mankind, and the soon coming of The Messiah.
Together, let us say:
LE-SHA-NAH HA-BA-AH BI-RU-SHA-LA-YIM!
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