You are on page 1of 79

PASSOVER

By Hillel ben David (Greg Killian)

PASSOVER..........................................................................................................................................................................................1
I. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................................................1
II. OUR REDEMPTION.....................................................................................................................................................................3
III. TORAH READINGS FOR PASSOVER.....................................................................................................................................5
IV. THE APPOINTED TIME.............................................................................................................................................................6
V. PASSOVER EVENTS....................................................................................................................................................................9
VI. HASHEM'S PASSOVER AND THE FIRSTBORN................................................................................................................32
VII. CHAMETZ.................................................................................................................................................................................37
A MYSTICAL INSIGHT..........................................................................................................................................................................38
THE PESACH EXPERIENCE.....................................................................................................................................................................41
VIII. NAMES GIVEN TO THE PASSOVER FESTIVAL............................................................................................................44
IX. PASSOVER VS. UNLEAVENED BREAD...............................................................................................................................44
X. PASSOVER CUSTOMS...............................................................................................................................................................47
XI. ELIJAH AND PASSOVER........................................................................................................................................................63
XII. THE SECOND PASSOVER.....................................................................................................................................................63
XIII. PASSOVER SYMBOLS..........................................................................................................................................................64
XIV. HALACHAH.............................................................................................................................................................................68
XV. THE HAGGADAH.....................................................................................................................................................................69
THE ORDER OF THE SEDER...................................................................................................................................................................69
THE FIRST SECTION.............................................................................................................................................................................71
THE SECOND SECTION..........................................................................................................................................................................74
THE THIRD SECTION............................................................................................................................................................................74
THE FOURTH SECTION..........................................................................................................................................................................75
THE FIFTH SECTION.............................................................................................................................................................................76
THE SIXTH SECTION.............................................................................................................................................................................76
IN CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................................................................................76
XVI. COUNTING THE OMER .......................................................................................................................................................78
XVII. QUOTES..................................................................................................................................................................................78
of the ancient Egyptian system and way of life, the
I. Introduction "abominations of Egypt." Thus we celebrate our
physical liberation together with our spiritual
Pesach, Hebrew for Passover, begins on the 15th freedom. Indeed, there cannot be one without the
day of the first month. The festival lasts for seven other: there can be no real freedom without
(eight days in the Diaspora) days, in eretz Israel, accepting the precepts of our Torah guiding our
and ends on the 21st (22nd for those in the daily life; pure and holy living eventually leads to
Diaspora) day of the first month, for those who real freedom.
live in eretz Israel.
Strong’s defines Passover, from its first usage in
On Passover we celebrate the liberation of Torah, as:
HaShem’s people from Egyptian slavery and,
together with it, the liberation from, and negation
1
Shemot (Exodus) 12:11 And thus shall ye We were in exile, estranged from our land and
eat it; [with] your loins girded, your shoes from our G-d. Therefore, HaShem, Blessed be He,
on your feet, and your staff in your hand; redeemed us with four:
and ye shall eat it in haste: it [is] HaShem’s
Passover. Shemot (Exodus) 6:6 Wherefore say unto
+----------------------------------------------+ the children of Israel,
6453 pecach, peh'-sakh; from 6452; a 1. I [am] HaShem, and
pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only 2. I will bring you out from under the
tech. of the Jewish Passover (the festival or burdens of the Egyptians, and
the victim):-Passover (offering). 3. I will rid you out of their bondage, and
4. I will redeem you with a stretched out
---------------- Dictionary Trace ---------------- arm, and with great judgments:
6452 pacach, paw-sakh'; a prim. root; to
hop, i.e. (fig.) skip over (or spare); by impl.
to hesitate; also (lit.) to limp, to dance:-halt, The redemption of Shemot 6:6 is represented by
become lame, leap, pass over. the four cups of wine.

One of the major festivals in the Torah is The Midrash Rabbah explains that the four cups of
Passover. It is a holiday of rejoicing when Jews all wine correspond to these four stages of
over the world recall their deliverance from redemption. By contrast, the Gemara says:
slavery in Egypt. The word Passover comes from
the idea that God passed over the houses of the Pesachim 117b R. Hanan said to Raba:
Israelites, who had marked their doorposts to This proves that Grace after meals requires
signify that they were children of God. This way a cup [of wine]. Said he to him: Our Rabbis
the firstborn sons of Israel were spared when God instituted four cups as symbolizing freedom:
smote the firstborn sons of the Egyptian let us perform a religious act with each.
taskmasters on the eve of the Exodus. The sons of
Israel were thus redeemed from the land of sin, The Gemara indicates that the number four
Egypt, and redeemed from Pharaoh to serve expresses freedom, and connects each cup to a
HaShem. particular mitzva of the seder night: the first cup is
that of Kiddush; over the second cup we recite the
The Number Four (4) haggadah; the third cup is that of birkhat Hamazon
(Grace after the Meal); and over the fourth cup we
As you study the Passover, notice how often the recite hallel.
number four shows up. The great Kabbalist, the
Maharal of Prague, teaches that when something is 4 cups of wine.
true, it is true on every possible plane. It is true
philosophically, linguistically, mathematically and The four questions reflect, that our redemption, if
spiritually. we are to be redeemed, must come about when we
leave exile and leave estrangement from HaShem.
And so we learn that the number four is the The question of the wise son reflects that we are
number more than any other that encapsulates the only truly free when we stop serving the world
message of exile and redemption, otherwise it and start serving HaShem:
would not be the one used. Keep in mind that our
Sages teach us that the Egyptian exile is the - If we are free, why do we still eat matza -- "the
prototype for all future exiles (see the redemption bread of affliction"?
study for more on this topic)..
- If we want to recall the bitterness of servitude by
eating bitter herbs, why do we recline like royalty?

2
- Why do we dip our food luxuriously in what We may eat chametz on Erev Pesach only until the
represents our tears? end of the fourth hour ("zemanis"), i.e., only
within the first third of the day.
4 questions.
The festival of Passover is given four different
This exile and estrangement from HaShem names in either the Bible and in the oral Torah:
embitters the wicked son. He wants to retreat back
into the comforting complacency of spiritual exile. 1. The Festival of Pesach - Shemot 34:25.
2. The Festival of Matzoth - Shemot 23:15.
It mystifies the son who no longer believes in 3. The Time of Freedom and Redemption -
answers. We must use the empathy and (Mishna Pesachim 10:5).
compassion that a mother would have for her child 4. The Festival of Spring - Devarim 16:1.
to free him enough to listen.
"four cups of comfort which HaShem will in the
But the same paradox frees the simple son to future give the Jewish people to drink."
redefine what the experience means to him.
In the first chapter of Yechezkel, the number four
The freest of all is the wise son. Once the door is in various ways, appears fourteen times. As the
open, he asks the most honest question of all Jews are going into the Babylonian exile, HaShem
"How shall I serve the God who has made me informs us that He is going into exile as well.
free?"
So, as you study Passover, notice how intimately
4 sons. the number four is woven into the fabric of this
feast. Remember:
The nation of Israel became full and complete
upon the fulfillment of the fourth utterance of The number four signals a
redemption, the fourth and final stage in their whole, a fullness, and a completion. It signals
development. exile, but, it also signals redemption!

Celebrated on the 10 + 4th day of Nisan. Forty (40) is 10 X 4 and is therefore intimately
associated with the number four. You will also see
The women came to His Majesty’s empty grave this number showing up repeatedly in the story of
on the fourth day of Passover. our exile and redemption. Some well known
examples are:
The Jews came out of Mitzrayim (Egypt) after 4 x
100 years: Moses was 40 years in Mitzrayim, 40 years in
Midian, and 40 years in the wilderness.
Bereshit (Genesis) 15:13 And he said unto
Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall Moses went up on mount Sinai three different
be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, times for 40 days each.
and shall serve them; and they shall afflict
them four hundred years; The spies spied out the land for 40 days.

The Jews came out of Mitzrayim in the 4th The Children of Israel were in the wilderness for
generation: 40 years.

Bereshit (Genesis) 15:13 But in the fourth II. Our Redemption


generation they shall come hither again: for
the iniquity of the Amorites [is] not yet full. The primary theme of Passover is
REDEMPTION. The Torah indicates that each of
3
God's people was redeemed from Egypt, therefore male offspring of every womb and redeem
each one of us must come to regard himself as each of my firstborn sons.' And it will be
though he had personally gone out of Egypt. like a sign on your hand and a symbol on
your forehead that HaShem brought us out
Micah 6:1-9 Listen to what HaShem says: of Egypt with his mighty hand."
"Stand up, plead your case before the
mountains; let the hills hear what you have As you study Passover, notice how often the
to say. Hear, O mountains, HaShem’s Torah addresses us personally.
accusation; listen, you everlasting
foundations of the earth. For HaShem has a Every redemption of the sons of Israel will be
case against his people; he is lodging a patterned after the redemption from Egypt, even if
charge against Israel. "My people, what it does not have the elements of miracles and
have I done to you? How have I burdened signs. In "Derishat Tzion," Rabbi Kalisher
you? Answer me. I brought you up out of includes a chapter advocating offering the Pesach
Egypt and redeemed you from the land of sacrifice in modern times, as if to emphasize that
slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also the Egyptian redemption is the source and the
Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember inspiration for all later events. Indeed, even the
what Balak king of Moab counseled and Prophets speak of our future redemption in
what Balaam son of Beor answered. relationship to our redemption from Egypt:
Remember [your journey] from Shittim to
Gilgal, that you may know the righteous Micah 7:12-17 In that day people will come
acts of HaShem." With what shall I come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,
before HaShem and bow down before the even from Egypt to the Euphrates and from
exalted God? Shall I come before him with sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.
burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will The earth will become desolate because of
HaShem be pleased with thousands of rams, its inhabitants, as the result of their deeds.
with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer Shepherd your people with your staff, the
my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit flock of your inheritance, which lives by
of my body for the sin of my soul? He has itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands. Let
showed you, O man, what is good. And what them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days
does HaShem require of you? To act justly long ago. "As in the days when you came
and to love mercy and to walk humbly with out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders."
your God. Listen! HaShem is calling to the Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived
city--and to fear your name is of all their power. They will lay their hands
wisdom--"Heed the rod and the One who on their mouths and their ears will become
appointed it. deaf. They will lick dust like a snake, like
creatures that crawl on the ground. They
Unless we see the Passover as though God had will come trembling out of their dens; they
personally redeemed each of us, we will fail to will turn in fear to HaShem our God and
understand what Passover is all about. Passover is will be afraid of you.
all about OUR redemption!
The Talmud also speaks of our future redemption
Shemot (Exodus) 13:14-16 "In days to in relation to Passover:
come, when your son asks you, 'What does
this mean?' say to him, 'With a mighty hand Rosh HaShana 11a On New Year the
HaShem brought us out of Egypt, out of the bondage of our ancestors in Egypt ceased;1
land of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly in Nisan they were redeemed and in Nisan
refused to let us go, HaShem killed every they will be redeemed in the time to come.
firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. R. Yahoshua (Joshua) says: In Nisan the
This is why I sacrifice to HaShem the first 1
Six months be-. fore the redemption.
4
world was created; in Nisan the Patriarchs instead, Pinchas/Elijah, who you have chosen to
were born; in Nisan the Patriarchs died; on redeem your people at the End of Days!"8 Moshe
Passover Isaac was born; on New Year was suggesting that the redemption from Egypt
Sarah, Rachel and Hannah were visited; on ought to be a full and final one. HaShem
New Year Joseph went forth from prison; on answered, that the time had not yet come for a
New Year the bondage of our ancestors final redemption.
ceased in Egypt; and in Nisan they will be
redeemed in time to come. Thus we see that the Targum associates the
“end of days” with the seventh day of Pesach!
Rosh HaShana 11b On New Year the
bondage of our ancestors ceased in Egypt’. Moshe himself, the greatest of the Prophets and
It is written in one place, and I will bring his sister, Miriam, who was also a great
you out from under the burdens of the Prophetess, sing / sang the “the Song of the Sea”,
Egyptians,2 and it is written in another place, which according to Chazal was not focused on the
I removed his shoulder from the burden.3 ‘In event that had just transpired, the splitting of the
Nisan they were delivered’, as Scripture sea, but actually on the future of the people of
recounts. ‘In Tishri they will be delivered in Israel, specifically at the time of "Acharit
time to come’. This is learnt from the two HaYamim," the "End of Days".
occurrences of the word ‘horn’. It is written
in one place, Blow the horn on the new III. Torah Readings for Passover
moon,4 and it is written in another place, In
that day a great horn shall be blown.5 ‘R. Ok, lets begin our study of Passover, by
Yahoshua (Joshua) says, In Nisan they were examining the traditional Torah, and Haftorah,
delivered, in Nisan they will be delivered in readings that the Sages have compiled for
the time to come’. Whence do we know Passover. These are the most important passages
this? — Scripture calls [the Passover] ‘a for us to remember as we look forward to our
night of watchings’,6 [which means], a night redemption. Remember that there are no Apostolic
which has been continuously watched for Writings associated in this list, because the
from the six days of the creation. What says Apostolic Writings were not yet written at the time
the other to this? — [He says it means], a that these readings were compiled.
night which is under constant protection
against evil spirits.7

As you study prophecy regarding the "Acharit


HaYamim”, the end of days, notice the striking
similarity of our future redemption, to our
redemption from Egypt.

The redemption from Egypt could have been the


Final Redemption. This helps us understand the
exchange between Moshe and HaShem at the
burning bush. Moshe asked HaShem, "Why do
you choose me to redeem your people? Send,

2
Ex. VI, 6.
3
Ps. LXXXI, 7 in reference to Joseph.
4
Ibid. 4.
5
Isa. XXVII, 13.
6
Ex. XII, 42.
7 8
I.e., on this night they are not allowed to roam as on other Shemot 4:13, according to Targum Yonatan, see also Rashi
nights. ad loc
5
Traditional readings for Passover

DATE TORAH9 NEVI'IM10 KETUVIM11

Nisan 14 Shemot (Exodus) 12:21-51 Yahoshua (Joshua) 3:5- Tehilim (Psalm) 113 - 118
7
Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:16-25 Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:2 -
6:1
Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:27
Nisan 15 Vayikra (Leviticus) 22:26 - Melakim alef (I Kings) Tehilim (Psalm) 113 - 118
23:44 23:1-9
Nisan 16-20 Tehilim (Psalm) 113, 114,
115:12-18,
Tehilim (Psalm) 116:12-19,
117, 118
(Half Hallel)
Intermediate Shemot (Exodus) 33:12 - 34:26 Yehezekel (Ezekiel) Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs)
Shabbat 36:37- 37:14
Nisan 21 Shemot (Exodus) 13:17 - 15:26 Shmuel bet (II Samuel)
22:1-51
Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25
Nisan 22 Devarim (Deuteronomy) 15:19 - Yeshayahu (Isaiah)
16:17 10:32 - 12:6
Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25

IV. The Appointed Time anniversary of the Exodus from Egypt.


(Midrash Mechilta, B'shalach 2).
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
begin late in the afternoon of Nisan 14. The Now, lets examine a chronology of Yeshua's last
Passover seder begins after sunset on Nisan 15. week of life as it relates to Passover: The Sages
Nisan 15, Passover, is therefore longer because we teach us that we do not celebrate Passover because
have added some time from Nisan 14 to Nisan 15. of the events which happened in Egypt during the
Lets see where this is defined in the scriptures: days of Moses. Rather, we celebrate Passover, on
Nisan 15, because this was the date, ordained
Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:5 HaShem’s before the creation of the world, for HaShem’s
Passover begins at twilight on the mighty acts of redemption.
fourteenth day of the first month.
The following is the chronology of the Passover
Shemot (Exodus) 13:4 Today, in the month week, in the days of Mashiach ben Yoseph, which
of Abib, you are leaving. I learned from my teacher, His Eminence Hakham
Dr. Yoseph ben Haggai.
5761, September 2001 through September 2002
(approximately), marks the 3,314th ***

9
The word Torah means instruction.
10
The word Nevi'im means Prophets.
11
The word Ketuvim means Writings.
6
NISAN 13
b.. Messiah is tried by Pilate and following the
EVENING (End of Nisan 12 Beginning of counsel of the illegitimate Priests is disposed off
Nisan 13) - Tuesday Evening that year by being sentenced to death

a.. Sadducees search for Chametz Afternoon (Nisan 14) - Thursday afternoon at
bout 3:00 p.m. that year:
MORNING (Nisan 13) - Wednesday morning
that year a.. Messiah dies hanging on a Roman cross at
Maqom Gilgulet for sedition
b.. Sadducees burn Chametz before mid-day
b.. Pharisees are killing their Korban Pesach
AFTERNOON (Nisan 13) - Wednesday about
or after 3:00 p.m. in that year c.. Mashiach is hurriedly laid in a borrowed tomb

c.. Sadducees kill the Korban Pesach ------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------ NISAN 15 - CHAG MATSAH (one day only in


Eretz Israel)
NISAN 14
Evening (Ending Nisan 14 and Beginning of
Evening (End of Nisan 13 Beginning of Nisan Nisan 15) - Thursday evening of that year
14) - Wednesday evening in that year:
a.. Pharisees eat their Korban Pesach and have
a.. Sadducees eat their Korban Pesach and have their Pesach Seder
the Pesach Seder
Morning and afternoon of Nisan 15 - Friday
b.. Mashiach partakes with his Talmidim of this morning and afternoon of that year
Korban Pesach (only on this year) since the
dispute on when the Korban Pesach was to be b.. Proper embalming of Messiah
killed was for the sake of heaven (i.e. that he could
eat one and die on the other). c.. Door of tomb is sealed by order of the
Kohanim with a great stone
c.. Pharisees search for the Chametz
------------------------------------------------------------

Late Evening (Nisan 14) Wednesday night that NISAN 16 - SHABBAT CHOL HAMOED
year: PESACH

a.. Messiah is apprehended by the Temple Evening (Ending Nisan 15 and Beginning Nisan
Garden at Gat-Sh'manim (Gethsemane) whilst 16) - Friday night of that year
praying.
a.. Kabbalat Shabbat for all (Sadducees,
b.. Messiah is interrogated by the illegitimate Pharisees and Nazareans) - no work allowed
High Priest and Priests and delivered to Pilate.
Evening (Ending Nisan 16 and Beginning Nisan
Morning (Nisan 14) - Thursday morning that 17) Saturday evening of that year
year:
a.. Messiah is risen from the dead sometime
a.. Pharisees dispose of the leaven during Shabbat
7
b.. Havdallah (many of the prayers in this service Afternoon Nisan 17 - Sunday afternoon of that
concern the topic of resurrection - and the ritual of year
extinguishing (transporting) a life (light) from the
day (dimension) which is all Shabbat and injecting a.. Mashiach returns back that same day to earth
it into the dimension of time of the living on earth and again transverses through the seven heavens
- the sea of wine on the dish) (a figure of the seven days a person unclean by
touching a corpse must wait before being purified,
------------------------------------------------------------ and composed like the waters of the Red Heifer of
Aish (fire) and Mayim (water) and is purified once
NISAN 17 - Yom Rishon [Chol HaMoed Pesach] more).

Evening (Ending Nisan 16 and Beginning Nisan b.. "That very day" His Majesty appears to two of
17) Saturday evening of that year his very terrified Talmidim on the way to a village
about seven miles from Yerushalayim called
a.. Pharisees cut the first of the first fruits and Amma'us and chats and teaches Torah to them.
start counting the Omer since the previous day
was Shabbat ------------------------------------------------------------

b.. Sadducees also start counting the Omer IYAR 18 - LAG BAOMER

Dawn - Early morning Nisan 17 - Sunday Morning/Afternoon


morning that year
After a period of 40 days teaching his Talmidim
a.. Women visit the tomb after his resurrection (2 Luqas (Acts) 1:3),
Mashiach ascends finally to the heavens (2 Luqas
b.. Big earthquake 1:6-11), awaiting his return at the time appointed
by Ha-Shem, Most Blessed be He!
c.. Soldiers guarding the tomb flee for their lives
and inform the corrupt Kohanim of that time Israel was forty years in the Sinai Wilderness. G-d
had shown Moshe the Heavenly Tabernacle, or
d.. Women are informed by an angel not to fear Temple, and had instructed Moshe to make a
and that their Master has risen Tabernacle in the wilderness alike the order of the
one shown to him at the mountain. It took one
e.. Miriam is asked not to touch him since he is year to build the Tabernacle of Israel, which Israel
"not yet ascended (presented) to the Father" used as the meeting place of G-d with them for the
remaining thirty-nine years. During those thirty-
Morning service Nisan 17 at the Temple - nine years, Israel spent six years moving about
Sunday Morning of that year with the Tabernacle dismantled and unused. This
brings us to the point that the Tabernacle of Israel
a.. The Omer is waved by the High Priest before was in use as the meeting place for G-d and His
Ha-Shem at the Bet HaMikdash people for exactly thirty-three years of the forty
years of the wilderness experience.
b.. Messiah ascends through the 7 heavens
(figurative of the seven days) and composed like In the Jewish year of 3828 on the ninth day of the
the ashes of the red heifer of "ESH" (fire) and month of Av, the Romans destroyed the Temple
"MAYIM" (water) and which purify him from his for the second time. However, Titus, alike
state of ceremonial uncleanness to present himself Nebuchadnezzar, put Jerusalem under siege on the
as the wave offering (first of the first fruits) before day of Lag B'Omer.
Ha-Shem's throne of Glory. Offering accepted.
8
Omer occurred coincidentally on the same day for
When His Majesty King Yeshua was Lag B'Omer both Pharisees and Sadducees.
in age (thirty-three years of age) his body (temple)
was put to death by the Roman execution of the c.. We further contend that the dispute
cross. concerning when to eat the Korban Pesach (the
night beginning, or the night ending the 14th of
Nisan) was one for the sake of Heaven, and which
I believe that when Yeshua ascended, He was G-d allowed so that His Mashiach could eat and
fulfilling His obligation to send us a Comforter to partake of the Korban Pesach of the Sadducees
instruct us in all wisdom. Amen and therefore and die at the same time that the Perushim were
triumph over Nebuchadnezzar and Pilate ... killing their Korban Pesach as Hakham Shaul
(himself a Perushim) informs us in 1 Cor. 5:7.
Notes:
a.. Nowadays, and after the calendrical reform at
the hands of the Pharisees who sit on Moshe’s seat V. Passover Events
of authority, the calendar has been so engineered
as to prevent the counting of the Omer according Because Nisan 15 is appointed as a day for
to the Pharisees to ever coincide with the counting redemption, we ought to be able to see other Torah
of the Omer according to the Sadducees as it events which have the same themes as the
happened that year. redemption from Egypt. Any event which mimics
these themes can be identified as occurring on
b.. Our contention is that in that year in which the Nisan 15. Lets examine a couple of the more
events of the death of His Majesty took place obvious events which took place on Nisan 15:
(before the calendrical reform) the counting of the

EVENT DELIVERED FROM: SCRIPTURE

Abram leaves Ur The exile in Ur Bereshit (Genesis) 15:6-16


Abram goes to Egypt Egyptian bondage and exile Bereshit (Genesis) 12:10 - 13:4
Angels visit Abraham Circumcision pain Bereshit (Genesis) 18:1-18
Angels visit Lot The Sodom exile Bereshit (Genesis) 19:1-29
Isaac is born and is Bound Jews delivered from death Bereshit (Genesis) 18:1-10
Yeshua is born and is bound Gentiles delivered from death Marqos (Mark) 15:37-42

In the Haggadah we read of the following Israel (Jacob) fought with an angel and overcame
Passover events: him by night.

Of old, You performed many miracles by night. At The first-born children of the Egyptians You
the beginning of the first watch of this night. crushed at midnight.

To the righteous convert (Abraham) You gave They did not find their host when they arose at
victory when there was divided for him the night. night.

You judged the king of Gerar (Abimelech with You swept away the army of the prince of
death) in a dream by night. Charoshes (Sisera) with the stars of night.

You frightened the Aramean (Laban) in the dark The blasphemer (Senacherib) had planned to raise
of night. his hand against Jerusalem; You laid low his dead
by night.

9
The idol Bel was overthrown, with its pedestal, in He satiated the angels with matza-cakes on
the darkness of the night. Passover.

To Daniel, in whom You delighted, the secret And he ran to the herd, symbolic of the sacrificial
vision was revealed at night. beast of Passover.

He who caroused from the holy vessels The Sodomites provoked (God) and were
(Belshazzar) was slain on that same night. destroyed by fire on Passover.

From the lions' den was rescued he who Lot was withdrawn from them, he had baked
interpreted the meaning of the terrors of the night. matzoth at the time of Passover.

Haman bore hatred in his heart and wrote You swept clean the soil of Moph and Noph
proscriptions at night. (Egypt) when You passed through onPassover.

You began Your triumph over him when You God, You crushed every firstborn of On (In
disturbed the sleep of his king at night. Egypt) on the watchful night of Passover.

You will tread the wine-press to help those who But Master, Your own firstborn, You skipped by
ask the watchman, 'Ah, when will there be an end merit of the blood of Passover.
to the long night?'
Not to allow the Destroyer to enter my doors on
He will exclaim, like a watchman and say" Passover.
'Morning will come after this night.'
The beleaguered (Jericho) was besieged on
Bring near the day (with the coming of Mashiach), Passover.
that is neither day nor night.
Show, Most High, that Yours is the day as well as Midian was destroyed with a barley cake from the
the night. Omer of Passover.

Appoint watchmen to Your city (Jerusalem) by The princes of Pul and Lud (Assyria) were
day and by night. consumed in a great conflagration on Passover.

Illumine as with the light of day, the darkness of He (Senacherib) would have stood that day at
the night. Nob, but for the advent of Passover.

The following is said on the second night of A hand inscribed the destruction of Zul (Babylon)
Pesach. On the first night, skip the next passage. on Passover.

You displayed wondrously Your mighty powers As the watch was set, and the royal table decked
on Passover. on Passover.

Above all festivals You elevated Passover. Hadassah (Esther) gathered her people for a three
day fast on Passover.
To the Oriental (Abraham) You revealed the
future midnight of Passover. You caused the head of the evil clan (Haman) to
be hanged on a fifty-cubit gallows on Passover.
At his door You knocked in the heat of the day on
Passover.
10
Doubly, will You bring in an instant upon Utsis 3. The leaving of Sodom.
(Edom) on Passover. 4. Bereshit (Genesis) 18:14 contains the Hebrew
word, moed, which means an appointed time. This
Let Your hand be strong, and Your right arm is the Hebrew word that also is translated
exalted as on the night when You hallowed the "festival". All of God's festivals are called moed.
festival of Passover.
The Midrash agrees with this assessment:
The Bereshit (Genesis) Passover
Midrash Rabbah - Shemot (Exodus)
Bereshit (Genesis) 18:1-10 HaShem XV:12 AND THEY SHALL TAKE OF
appeared to Abraham near the great trees THE BLOOD, AND PUT IT ON THE
of Mamre while he was sitting at the TWO SIDE-POSTS (XII, 7): So that I may
entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. pass over you and protect you.’ Take care
Abraham looked up and saw three men that it be eaten that night, for it says: AND
standing nearby. When he saw them, he THEY SHALL EAT THE FLESH IN
hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet THAT NIGHT, ROAST WITH FIRE (XII,
them and bowed low to the ground. He 8); ‘this is for the sake of Abraham whom I
said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my saved from the fiery furnace. AND
lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little UNLEAVENED BREAD (ib.)-in honour of
water be brought, and then you may all Sarah who prepared cakes for the angels,
wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let though they did not taste bread.12 WITH
me get you something to eat, so you can be BITTER HERBS (ib.)13 in honour of Jacob;
refreshed and then go on your way--now for just as his sons were persecuted in
that you have come to your servant." "Very Egypt, so did Esau persecute him. AND YE
well," they answered, "do as you say." So SHALL LET NOTHING OF IT REMAIN
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. UNTIL THE MORNING (XII, 10). ‘Just as
"Quick," he said, "get three se’ahs of fine I will not leave one soul alive of the
flour and knead it and bake some bread." firstborn in Egypt, So YE SHALL LET
Then he ran to the herd and selected a NOTHING OF IT REMAIN UNTIL THE
choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, MORNING.
who hurried to prepare it. He then brought
some curds and milk and the calf that had As an aside: Why was HaShem visiting Abraham?
been prepared, and set these before them. If you look in the paragraph which precedes
While they ate, he stood near them under a chapter 18, you will notice that Abraham has just
tree. "Where is your wife Sarah?" they circumcised himself and his household. The third
asked him. "There, in the tent," he said. day after his circumcision is the most painful day.
Then HaShem said, "I will surely return to Therefore, HaShem was visiting His friend,
you about this time next year, and Sarah Abraham, who was sick. This is bikur cholim,
your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was visiting the sick!
listening at the entrance to the tent, which
was behind him. At any rate, Lot was celebrating a Pesach feast and
he served his angelic guests, matza. Now, the
The only kind of bread that you can make quickly Sages also link this Pesach seder with the Purim
is matza (unleavened bread). That same day the 12
Because it became unclean owing to the restoration of her
angels saw Lot: youth (Gen. R. XLVIII, 14). This was a miracle, and in
remembrance of that they were now to eat unleavened bread
Here we have an apparent Passover because of the (Mah.). The passage, however may simply mean that she
made them ‘cakes’, i.e. unleavened bread and they did not
1. Unleavened bread. taste (leavened) bread, because it was the Passover period, as
stated in Gen. R. XLVIII, 12.
2. The haste. 13
The word in the plural implies two persecutions.
11
seudah. They see that the same word used for the In Talmudic literature, the word Mishteh is ONLY
feast (Mishteh) that Lot had with the angels is also used in connection with the Pesach seder and the
used in connection with the Purim seudah: Purim seudah. The Sages, therefore teach that this
Pesach seder was also a Purim seudah! This was a
Bereshit (Genesis) 19:3 And he pressed combination feast!
upon them greatly; and they turned in unto
him, and entered into his house; and he Now lets see what two of those same angels did,
made them a feast, and did bake unleavened on that same day, for Lot:
bread, and they did eat.
Bereshit (Genesis) 19:1-3 The two angels
This feast this Mishteh that Lot served is also the arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot
feast, the Mishteh, that constituted the Purim was sitting in the gateway of the city. When
seudah: he saw them, he got up to meet them and
bowed down with his face to the ground.
Esther 8:17 And in every province, and in "My lords," he said, "please turn aside to
every city, whithersoever the king's your servant's house. You can wash your
commandment and his decree came, the feet and spend the night and then go on your
Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a way early in the morning." "No," they
good day. And many of the people of the answered, "we will spend the night in the
land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews square." But he insisted so strongly that
fell upon them. they did go with him and entered his house.
He prepared a meal for them, baking bread
Esther 9:17 On the thirteenth day of the without yeast, and they ate.
month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of
the same rested they, and made it a day of The sages understood that Isaac was born on
feasting and gladness. Passover. Take a look again at Bereshit (Genesis)
18:14, which is where we are told that Isaac will
Esther 9:18 But the Jews that [were] at be born on the festival which Abraham was now
Shushan assembled together on the celebrating. This began the 400 years spoken
thirteenth [day] thereof, and on the about in:
fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth
[day] of the same they rested, and made it a Bereshit (Genesis) 15:12-14 As the sun was
day of feasting and gladness. setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a
thick and dreadful darkness came over him.
Esther 9:19 Therefore the Jews of the Then HaShem said to him, "Know for
villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, certain that your descendants will be
made the fourteenth day of the month Adar strangers in a country not their own, and
[a day of] gladness and feasting, and a they will be enslaved and mistreated four
good day, and of sending portions one to hundred years. But I will punish the nation
another. they serve as slaves, and afterward they will
come out with great possessions.
Esther 9:22 As the days wherein the Jews
rested from their enemies, and the month The Talmud confirms this:
which was turned unto them from sorrow to
joy, and from mourning into a good day: Rosh HaShana 10b It has been taught: R.
that they should make them days of feasting Eliezer says: In Tishri the world was
and joy, and of sending portions one to created; in Tishri the Patriarchs14 were
another, and gifts to the poor. born; in Tishri the Patriarchs died; on
Passover Isaac was born; on New Year
14
Abraham and Jacob.
12
Sarah, Rachel and Hannah were visited; 15 location. The root letters of this Hebrew name
on New Year Joseph went forth from prison spell metzar, a word which means "confinement or
distress".
Rosh HaShana 11a Whence do we know
that Isaac was born on Passover? — To be in "Mitzrayim" is to be in a place of
Because it is written, On the [next] festival16 confinement or distress --physical and/or spiritual.
I will return unto thee.17 Now when was he
[the angel] speaking?18 Shall I say [he was With this in mind, lets examine the Passover that
speaking] on Passover and referring to took place in the days of Moses:
Pentecost? Could she bear in fifty days?19
Shall I say then that [he was speaking on] Shemot (Exodus) 12:1-14 HaShem said to
Pentecost and was referring to Tishri? Even Moses and Aaron in Egypt, "This month is
in five months could she bear? I must to be for you the first month, the first month
suppose then that he was speaking on of your year. Tell the whole community of
Tabernacles and referring to Passover.20 Israel that on the tenth day of this month
Even so, could she bear in six months? — It each man is to take a lamb for his family,
has been taught that that year was a leap one for each household. If any household is
year. All the same, if the Master deducts the too small for a whole lamb, they must share
days of uncleanness,21 the time is too short? one with their nearest neighbor, having
— Mar Zutra replied: Even those who hold taken into account the number of people
that when a woman bears at nine months there are. You are to determine the amount
she does not give birth before the month is of lamb needed in accordance with what
complete22 admit that if she bears at seven each person will eat. The animals you
months she can give birth before the month choose must be year-old males without
is complete, as it says, And it came to pass defect, and you may take them from the
after the cycle of days;23 the minimum of sheep or the goats. Take care of them until
cycles is two, and the minimum of days is the fourteenth day of the month, when all
two. the people of the community of Israel must
slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to
The Egyptian Passover: take some of the blood and put it on the
sides and tops of the doorframes of the
Egypt, in Hebrew, Mitzrayim, literally means a houses where they eat the lambs. That same
"Place of Narrowness." night they are to eat the meat roasted over
the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread
The Torah's name for Egypt is Mitzrayim, and this made without yeast. Do not eat the meat
name does not just refer to a geographical raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the
fire--head, legs and inner parts. Do not
15
I.e., remembered on high. leave any of it till morning; if some is left till
16
Heb. sgunk E.V. ‘at the set time’.
17 morning, you must burn it. This is how you
Gen. XVIII, 14. Said by the angel to Abraham with
reference to the birth of Isaac. are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into
18
Lit., ‘standing’. your belt, your sandals on your feet and
19
The interval between Passover and Pentecost. your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is
20
According to another tradition (based on the words, knead HaShem’s Passover. "On that same night I
and prepare unleavened cakes), the angels appeared to
will pass through Egypt and strike down
Abraham on Passover. Cf. Tosaf. s.v. tkt .
21
According to tradition, Sarah became niddah (v. Glos.) on every firstborn--both men and animals--and
that day. I will bring judgment on all the gods of
22
Lit., ‘defective (months)’. I.e., less than twenty-nine or Egypt. I am HaShem. The blood will be a
thirty days. sign for you on the houses where you are;
23
I Sam. I, 20 (E.V. ‘when the time was come about’). This and when I see the blood, I will pass over
is taken as proof by the Talmud that Hannah bore after six
months and two days. you. No destructive plague will touch you
13
when I strike Egypt. "This is a day you are Rameses to Succoth. There were about six
to commemorate; for the generations to hundred thousand men on foot, besides
come you shall celebrate it as a festival to women and children. Many other people
HaShem--a lasting ordinance. went up with them, as well as large droves
of livestock, both flocks and herds.
"This month shall be the beginning of months" is
the first commandment given to the entire nation So, not only Israelites, but Gentiles as well! This
of Israel. To obey this commandment requires that is significant because these were the same folks
you understand when a month begins and when who stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and received
the year begins. The written Torah never answers the Torah (instruction or law). As an aside, of the
these questions. The Talmud does address this 600,000 men who came out of Egypt, only two
issue. Unless Israel has the authority to declare the entered the promised land: one Israelite: Yahoshua
new moons, the Rosh Chodeshim, then they would (Joshua) the Benjamite, and one Gentile: Caleb the
not have the ability to carry out this command. son of Jephuneh, the Kenizzite. Please recall that
Unless this command is carried out, there would the Kennizzites are one the people who's land is
be no festivals. promised to Abraham in the covenant between the
parts.
According to this next passage, Israel entered
Egypt on Passover: Two of the first things that HaShem tells Moshe
when sending him To take the Jews out of Egypt
Shemot (Exodus) 12:40-42 Now the length are that He is rescuing them so as to bring them to
of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt Israel24 and that on their way out of Egypt, Moshe
was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, Should take them to Har Sinai25. Perhaps more
to the very day, all HaShem’s divisions left than any other holiday, Passover, as presented in
Egypt. Because HaShem kept vigil that night Tanakh, represents a major change in the Jewish
to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all people and their relationship to HaShem and the
the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor land of Israel. We read of Passover celebrations
HaShem for the generations to come. during the times of Yahoshua (Joshua), Samuel,
Hezekiah, Josiah, and Zerubbabel. In each case,
Notice who came out of Egypt: the celebration came along with "major changes".

Shemot (Exodus) 12:31-38 During the ***


night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron
and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and Here is another story which is very much like the
the Israelites! Go, worship HaShem as you story of Moses and the Egyptian Passover:
have requested. Take your flocks and herds,
as you have said, and go. And also bless Shoftim (Judges) 6:11-22 The angel of
me." The Egyptians urged the people to HaShem came and sat down under the oak
hurry and leave the country. "For in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the
otherwise," they said, "we will all die!" So Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was
the people took their dough before the yeast threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it
was added, and carried it on their shoulders from the Midianites. When the angel of
in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. HaShem appeared to Gideon, he said,
The Israelites did as Moses instructed and "HaShem is with you, mighty warrior."
asked the Egyptians for articles of silver "But sir," Gideon replied, "if HaShem is
and gold and for clothing. HaShem had with us, why has all this happened to us?
made the Egyptians favorably disposed Where are all his wonders that our fathers
toward the people, and they gave them what told us about when they said, 'Did not
they asked for; so they plundered the 24
Shemot (Exodus) 3:8
Egyptians. The Israelites journeyed from 25
Shemot (Exodus) 3:12
14
HaShem bring us up out of Egypt?' But now ***
HaShem has abandoned us and put us into
the hand of Midian." HaShem turned to him Bereshit (Genesis) 15:9-16 So HaShem said
and said, "Go in the strength you have and to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a
save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not ram, each three years old, along with a dove
sending you?" "But Lord," Gideon asked, and a young pigeon." Abram brought all
"how can I save Israel? My clan is the these to him, cut them in two and arranged
weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in the halves opposite each other; the birds,
my family." HaShem answered, "I will be however, he did not cut in half. Then birds
with you, and you will strike down all the of prey came down on the carcasses, but
Midianites together." Gideon replied, "If Abram drove them away. As the sun was
now I have found favor in your eyes, give setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a
me a sign that it is really you talking to me. thick and dreadful darkness came over him.
Please do not go away until I come back Then HaShem said to him, "Know for
and bring my offering and set it before you." certain that your descendants will be
And HaShem said, "I will wait until you strangers in a country not their own, and
return." Gideon went in, prepared a young they will be enslaved and mistreated four
goat, and from an ephah of flour he made hundred years. But I will punish the nation
bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a they serve as slaves, and afterward they will
basket and its broth in a pot, he brought come out with great possessions. You,
them out and offered them to him under the however, will go to your fathers in peace
oak. The angel of God said to him, "Take and be buried at a good old age. In the
the meat and the unleavened bread, place fourth generation your descendants will
them on this rock, and pour out the broth." come back here, for the sin of the Amorites
And Gideon did so. With the tip of the staff has not yet reached its full measure."
that was in his hand, the angel of HaShem
touched the meat and the unleavened bread. This word "generation" means:
Fire flared from the rock, consuming the
meat and the bread. And the angel of 1755 dowr, dore; or (short.) dor, dore; from
HaShem disappeared. When Gideon 1752; prop. a revolution of time, i.e. an age or
realized that it was the angel of HaShem, he generation; also a dwelling:-age, X evermore,
exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have generation, [n-] ever, posterity.
seen the angel of HaShem face to face!"
So, we can see that God is using this ambiguous
Here we see Gideon able to stand up to an angel word to not only indicate a generation, but, also to
and demand to know where his signs and wonders indicate the fourth millennium after Abram which
are. Throughout the Tanakh when a man would put us at the beginning of the seventh
encountered an angel, he would fall on his face millennium - The millennium ruled by Yeshua!
like a dead man. How did Gideon generate the
strength to talk to an angel like this? The Sages ***
teach us that it was the first day of Passover and
Gideon’s father had just inspired him at the seder The following is a summary of all Biblical events
table. Thus Gideon was imbued with the spiritual that occurred during Passover, that I have found so
strength to stand up to the angel. far:

14th
Fast-day of the first-born. Soferim 21
Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 104. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24
Cain and Able offer their sacrifices. Bereshit (Genesis) 4:3-5, PdRE, section 21, Yonaton b. Uziel
Mordecai and the Jews fast for the second day. Esther 4:16
15
Preparation day. Yochanan (John) 19:14, 31
Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 37. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.
Levites still consecrating the temple in Hezekiah's day, day 14. II Divrei Hayamim 29:17
Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem. Targum, Ruth 1:22
King Hezekiah fell critically ill. According to Seder Olam, King Hezekiah was taken ill three days before the defeat of King
Sennacherib - day 3. 2 Kings 20:1, Seder Olam 23
Yeshua has a Pesach seder. Yochanan (John) 13:1
Paschal lambs are killed at twilight. Shemot (Exodus) 12:1-6
Pilate releases Barabbas. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:15-21
Yeshua was crucified. Yochanan (John) 19:42
Curtain of the temple rent. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:51
Holy dead are raised to life. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:52-53
Darkness came over all the land from the sixth until the ninth hour. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:34-45

15th
Pesach / Hag ha-Matza. A Sabbath of Sabbaths (Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:6-7) (15 - 21) Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20
Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 105. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24
Abram leaves Haran Shemot (Exodus) 12:40-41, Bereshit (Genesis) 12:1-10
God makes the "covenant between the parts" with Abram. Bereshit (Genesis) 15:18, Seder Olam 5
Abraham learns of Lot’s captivity and defeats the 4 kings. “Legends of the Bible”, Ginzberg
God afflicts Pharaoh, orders Abram and Sarai to leave Egypt, with gifts. Bereshit (Genesis) 12:15-20, Yalkut Shimoni
God afflicts Abimelech in a dream, regarding Sarah. Bereshit (Genesis) 20, The Haggadah
G-d made a covenant, between the parts, with Abraham. Bereshit (Genesis) 15:18, Seder Olam 5, Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer
Abraham is visited by angels and told that Isaac will be born next year. Bereshit (Genesis) 18:10, Seder Olam 5
Lot entertains two angels, then Sodom is destroyed while Lot and his daughters are delivered. Bereshit (Genesis) 19:1, 18:14
Isaac was born after a 7 month pregnancy, in a leap year. Shemot (Exodus) 12:40-41, Bereshit (Genesis) 18, 19, Rosh
Hashanah 10b
Abraham binds Isaac (Akeida). Bereshit (Genesis) 22:1-18 (see the Zohar on Bereshit (Genesis) 28:11)
Isaac was sacrificed, according to the Rabbis. Bereshit (Genesis) 22
Isaac blesses Jacob. Bereshit (Genesis) 27:4; Yonatan b. Uziel; PdRE 2, Rashi on Bereshit (Genesis) 27:9
God tells Laban to leave Jacob alone, in a dream. Bereshit (Genesis) 31:24, The Haggadah
Jacob wrestles with an angel. Bereshit (Genesis) 32:24, The Haggadah
God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah. Bereshit (Genesis) 19
Death of Job. Jer. Sotah 5:8
Jacob and sixty-nine descendants enter Egypt. Shemot (Exodus) 12:40-42 - 2238 AM
Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 38. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.
Moses saw the burning bush. Shemot (Exodus) 3:2, Bahya, Bo
Israelites in Egypt celebrate the first Pesach (2448 BCE). Shemot (Exodus) 12:6-11
Egyptian officials beg Moses and the Israelites to leave. Shemot (Exodus) 11:8
Egyptians bury their firstborn. Shemot (Exodus) 33:3-4
Israelites leave Rameses and journey towards Succoth, day one. The Exodus begins! Shemot (Exodus) 12:48-51 - 2448 AM
All males to appear before HaShem in Jerusalem. Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:16
Israelites celebrate Pesach in the Sinai desert. Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:1-5
Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites celebrate Pesach at Gilgal. Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:10
Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites besiege Jericho and march around the city – day 1. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff
Gideon destroys Midian with the omer’s barley cake. Shoftim (Judges) 7, Midrash Yalkut 62, The Haggadah
HaShem swept away the army of the prince of Charoshes (Sisera) with the stars of night. Shoftim (Judges) 4 and 5, The
Haggadah
Levites still consecrating the temple in Hezekiah's day, day 15. II Divrei Hayamim 29:17
God heals the people. II Divrei Hayamim 30:1-20
Exiles celebrated with joy because Assyrian King to help with temple. Ezra 6:22
Josiah celebrates Pesach in the midst of removing idolatry. Melakim bet (Melakim alef (I Kings)) 23:19-25
The Assyrian army of Sennacherib, which threatened Jerusalem was destroyed. 2 Kings 19:35, Targum Rav Yosef
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about a statue of four metals. Daniel 2 and 3, The Haggadah

16
The hand writing on the wall delivers a message of judgment to Belshazzar. Daniel 5, The Haggadah
Daniel is thrown into the lion's den. Daniel 6, The Haggadah
Israelites who returned from Babylonian exile, celebrated Pesach. Ezra 6:19-22
Vashti is executed by King Xerxes. Esther 1:21; Derash le-Purim
King Achashverosh has his sleep disturbed. Esther 6:1
Mordecai is honored by Haman and king Achashverosh. Esther 5:1 - 6:10
Mordecai and the Jews fast for the third and last day. Esther 4:16
Esther invites the king to feast. Esther 5:1-4, Seder Olam 29
To be celebrated during the millennium. Yehezekel (Ezekiel) 45:21-24
Yochanan (John) the Baptist is born. Luqas (Luke) 1:24
Joseph and Mary celebrate Pesach in Jerusalem with 12 year old Yeshua. Luqas (Luke) 2:39-41
Yeshua performs miracles and is believed. Yochanan (John) 2:23
Yeshua's first day in the grave. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:62
Chief priests and Pharisees get Pilate to make the tomb of Yeshua secure. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:62-66
Peter is arrested. II Luqas (Acts) 12:3
The day of vengeance when the winepress is trodden. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 63, The Haggadah
The exile ends with unique day, without daytime or nighttime. Zechariah 16:6, Micah 7:15 and Tehilim (Psalm) 139:12, The
Haggadah
Double misfortune will You bring in an instant upon Utsis (Edom) on Passover. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 47, The Haggadah
Pesach will be celebrated in Yehezekel (Ezekiel)'s future. Yehezekel (Ezekiel) 45:21-22
Torah section is Shemot (Exodus) 12:21-51; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. Haftorah is Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:2 - 6:1.
Torah section, in the triennial cycle, is year 1: Bereshit (Genesis) 3:24 - 4:26. Haftorah is Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 42:8, Tehilim
(Psalm) 3
Torah section, in the triennial cycle, is year 2: Shemot (Exodus) 13:1-20. Haftorah is Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 46:3, Tehilim
(Psalm) 50
Torah section, in the triennial cycle, is year 3: Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:22 - 10:36. Haftorah is N/E, Tehilim (Psalm) 102

16th
Hag ha-Matza - Second day. A partial Sabbath (Mishna: Seder Moed: Tractate Moed Katan). Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20
The Omer or the day after Pesach - bread of the FIRSTFRUITS (Pharisees) Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:15
The Omer is offered. Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:14, Rambam, Temidin U'Musafin 7:2-17
Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 106. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24
Birth of Levi. Midrash Tadshe, Midrash Yalkut 1
Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 39. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.
Israelites leave Rameses and journey towards Succoth, for three days. Shemot (Exodus) 12:48-51
The supply of manna was exhausted. Kiddushin 38a
The Omer was offered for the first time by Jews in Israel. Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:11, Rosh Hashanah 13a
Israelites eat produce of the promised land (2488 BCE). Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:11
Bread from heaven (Manna) stopped. Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:12
Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 2. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff
An angel ordered Gideon to attack the Midianites. Shoftim (Judges) 6:19, Rashi
King Saul’s seven sons were killed. Midrash Rabbah, Naso, ch.8
David and his men eat consecrated bread. Luqas (Luke) 6:1-5 and 1 Samuel 21:1-6? 26
Hezekiah finishes consecrating the Temple, day 16. II Divrei Hayamim 29:17
Esther, Haman, and the king feast. King kills Haman. Esther 5:5-5
Haman was hanged. Esther 7:10, Seder Olam 29
Mordecai becomes chief minister in place of Haman. Esther 8:2
Cyrus, King of Persia, captured Babylon in 539 BCE.

26
From Luqas (Luke) 6:1
1207 deuteroprotos, dyoo-ter-op'-ro-tos; from 1208 and 4413; second-first, i.e. (spec.) a designation of the Sabbath immediately
after the Paschal week (being the second after Passover day, and the first of the seven Sabbaths intervening before Pentecost):-
second...after the first.
------------------------- Dictionary Trace ------------------------------
1208 deuteros, dyoo'-ter-os; as the comp. of 1417; (ordinal) second (in time, place or rank; also adv.):-afterward, again, second (-
arily, time).
4413 protos, pro'-tos; contr. superl. of 4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance):-before, beginning, best, chief (-est),
first (of all), former.
17
Yeshua's disciples pick grain on the day (partial Sabbath) after Pesach. Luqas (Luke) 6:1, Matityahu (Matthew) 12:1 - 13:30
2
Yeshua tells the parable of the wheat and the tares. Matityahu (Matthew) 13:24-30
Yeshua heals the man with the withered hand. Matityahu (Matthew) 12:9-16
Yeshua gives sight and hearing to a demon possessed man. Matityahu (Matthew) 12:22-23
Yeshua tells the parable of the wheat and the tares. Matityahu (Matthew) 13:24-30
Two Miryams prepared spices and perfumes to embalm Yeshua. Luqas (Luke) 23:56
Yeshua's second day in the tomb. Yochanan (John) 19:30-36
Torah section is Vayikra (Leviticus) 22:26 - 23:44; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. Haftorah is 2 Kings 23:1-9; 21-25.

17th
Hag ha-Matza - Third day. Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20
The Omer, day 2.
Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 107. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24
Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 40. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.
Israelites leave Rameses and journey towards Succoth, day two. Shemot (Exodus) 12:48-51
Moses collects Joseph's bones. Shemot (Exodus) 13:19
Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 3. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff
Haman’s plans came to naught. Esther 3:12, 4:16, 5:1, 7:2-9
Resurrection Sabbath. Yeshua rose from the dead, at the end of the third day. It is a Sabbath. Matityahu (Matthew) 12:48
Yeshua heals the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath after Pesach. Luqas (Luke) 6:6-11
Peter is arrested and imprisoned by Herod. II Luqas (Acts) 12:3
Torah section is Shemot (Exodus) 13:1-16; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. There is no Haftorah.

18th
Hag ha-Matza - Fourth day. Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20
The Omer, day 3.
Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 108. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24
Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 41. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.
Pharaoh was informed that the Hebrew slaves had escaped. Shemot (Exodus) 14:5, Rashi
Israelites journey from Succoth to Etham, day one. Shemot (Exodus) 13:20
Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 4. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff
Yeshua, at 12 years old, stays in Jerusalem, teaching, when His parents find Him. Luqas (Luke) 2:41-51
God removes Yeshua's grave covering stone. Marqos (Mark) 16:2-4
Two Miryams come to Yeshua's tomb to embalm Him. Yochanan (John) 20:1-9
Yeshua tells the women not to touch Him. Yochanan (John) 20:17
Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 1.
Yeshua opens the scriptures on the road to Emmaus. Luqas (Luke) 24:13
Yeshua shows Himself to ten apostles in the upper room, the evening of the first day of the week. Yochanan (John) 20:19
Torah section is Shemot (Exodus) 22:24 - 23:19; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. There is no Haftorah.

19th
Hag ha-Matza - Fifth day. Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20
The Omer, day 4.
Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 109. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24
Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 42. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.
Pharaoh set out in pursuit of the Israelites. Shemot (Exodus) 14:5, Rashi
Israelites journey from Succoth to Etham, day two. Shemot (Exodus) 13:20
Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 5. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff
Yeshua appears to the ten apostles. Yochanan (John) 20:19, Luqas (Luke) 24:21-36
Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 2.
Torah section is Shemot (Exodus) 33:12 - 34:26; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. There is no Haftorah.

20th
Hag ha-Matza - Sixth day. Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20
The Omer, day 5.
Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 110. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24

18
Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 43. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.
Israelites journey from Succoth to Etham, day three. Shemot (Exodus) 13:20
Pharaoh and his army caught up with the Israelites. Shemot (Exodus) 14:5, Rashi
Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 6. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff
Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 3.
Yeshua needs the sprinkling for touching the dead. Bamidbar (Numbers) 19:11-13
Torah section is Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:1-14; 28:19-25. There is no Haftorah.

21rst
Hag ha-Matza - Seventh day. Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20
The Omer, day 6.
Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 111. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24
HaShem wipes out the world with water in Noah's day. Noah and his family preserved. Bereshit (Genesis) 6:6-7 - TC, AC
Jacob left Laban’s home to return to Israel. Bereshit (Genesis) 31:17, Book of Jubilees.
Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 44. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.
Pharaoh’s decree against Israelite male infants was canceled. Sotah 12b
Israelites camp at the tower, towards the mouth of the gorges, opposite the hidden destroyer. Shemot (Exodus) 33:7
Moses tells the Israelites to see Yeshua HaShem. Shemot (Exodus) 14:13
Israelites are baptized in the Red sea. Shemot (Exodus) 14:26-29
God removes wheels from Egyptian chariots. Shemot (Exodus) 14:24-25
God destroys Pharaoh's army, chariots, and horses with water. Shemot (Exodus) 14:21-28, TC, AC
Moses and Miriam sing the song of Moses to HaShem. Shemot (Exodus) 15
God refines Israel with fire, destroying the outskirts. Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:1-3, TC
Israelites crave meat from God. Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:4, TC 27
God forms the Sanhedrin from the spirit of Moses. Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:16-25, TC
Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 7. Jericho’s walls recede. Jericho is destroyed. Yahoshua
(Joshua) 6:1ff
God destroys Sicera's army, chariots, and horses with water. Shoftim (Judges) 4:4 - 5:31, TC
Deborah holds court to decide disputes of the Israelites. Shoftim (Judges) 4:4-5, TC
Deborah sings a song to HaShem. Shoftim (Judges) 5, TC
David sings a song to HaShem. 2 Samuel 22, AC 28
Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 4.
Peter is freed by an angel. Act 12:3-10
Disciples were gathered together for prayer. II Luqas (Acts) 12:3-12
Peter is released from prison by an angel. Peter went to Mary's house (the mother of Yochanan (John) Marqos (Mark)) II
Luqas (Acts) 12:3-12
Herod searches for Peter, cross examines guards, executes guards, and travels from Judea to Caesarea. II Luqas (Acts) 12:18-
19
This is the day God will destroy the wicked and baptize the righteous with fire. Matityahu (Matthew) 3:11, 2 Peter 3:3-16,
TC
Solemn Assembly required on this last day of the Hag ha-Matza. Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:8
Torah TC section is Bereshit (Genesis) 5:1 - 6:8, Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 30:8-15, Tehilim (Psalm) 4 Year 1 - 10 Generations
and flood.
Torah TC section is Shemot (Exodus) 13:21 - 15:20, Shoftim (Judges) 4:4 - 5:31, Tehilim (Psalm) 51 Year 2 - Israelites
cross the Red Sea.
Torah TC section is Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:1-35, not extant, Tehilim (Psalm) 103 Year 3 - Manna, outskirts of the camp
are burn up.
Torah section is Shemot (Exodus) 13:17 - 15:26; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. Haftorah is 2 Samuel 22:1-51.

22nd
The Omer, day 7, week 1.
Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 112. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24
Isaac is circumcised. Bereshit (Genesis) 21:4, Shemot (Exodus) 12:40-41, Bereshit (Genesis) 18, 19, Rosh Hashanah 10b
Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 45. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.
Israelites start crossing the desert of Etham, without any water. Day 1 Shemot (Exodus) 15:22, Bamidbar (Numbers) 33:8
Yahoshua (Joshua) begins his march around Jericho, day 1. Seder Olam 11
Zechariah and Elizabeth circumcise, and name, Yochanan (John) the Baptist. Luqas (Luke) 1:57-63

27
TC - Triennial Torah Cycle.
28
AC - Annual Torah cycle.
19
Yeshua, at 12 years old, stays in Jerusalem, teaching while look for Him. Luqas (Luke) 2:41-51
Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 5.
Paul leaves Phillipi after spending 3 months there. Day 1 II Luqas (Acts) 20:6

Yahoshua (Joshua) observed Passover just before the Passover to HaShem your God, as it is
eating the produce of the land: written in this Book of the Covenant." Not
since the days of the judges who led Israel,
Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:10-12 On the evening nor throughout the days of the kings of
of the fourteenth day of the month, while Israel and the kings of Judah, had any such
camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, Passover been observed. But in the
the Israelites celebrated the Passover. The eighteenth year of King Josiah, this
day after the Passover, that very day, they Passover was celebrated to HaShem in
ate some of the produce of the land: Jerusalem.
unleavened bread and roasted grain. The
manna stopped the day after they ate this Hezekiah celebrated Passover
food from the land; there was no longer any
manna for the Israelites, but that year they Divrei Hayamim 30:1-20 Hezekiah sent
ate of the produce of Canaan. word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote
letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting
The bread from heaven stopped the day after them to come to the temple of HaShem in
Passover...hmmm... Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to
In the time of Yahoshua (Joshua), Passover was HaShem, the God of Israel. The king and his
the time when the generation born in the desert officials and the whole assembly in
finally got circumcised29 bringing them into the Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover
covenant with HaShem. Passover also coincided in the second month. They had not been able
with the end, of the manna30. Many people think to celebrate it at the regular time because
that the point of the manna stopping was for the not enough priests had consecrated
Jews to learn how to eat "the hard way" by themselves and the people had not
planting and growing their own food. However, assembled in Jerusalem. The plan seemed
we are told explicitly31 that the food of Israel right both to the king and to the whole
which the Jews ate following the end of the manna assembly. They decided to send a
was spoon fed to them by HaShem. What made it proclamation throughout Israel, from
different than the manna was not that it was the Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to
result of hard labor by the Jews. Rather, it come to Jerusalem and celebrate the
represented the Jews' attachment to the land of Passover to HaShem, the God of Israel. It
Israel. We see that at the time of Passover, in the had not been celebrated in large numbers
days of Yahoshua (Joshua), the Jews became full according to what was written. At the king's
fledged members of The People of Israel by being command, couriers went throughout Israel
circumcised, and they also went from being and Judah with letters from the king and
nomads in the desert to settling Israel, which was from his officials, which read: "People of
expressed by their need to eat Israel's food. Israel, return to HaShem, the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may
Josiah celebrated Passover prior to his revival return to you who are left, who have
escaped from the hand of the kings of
Melakim bet (II Kings)) 23:21-23 The king Assyria. Do not be like your fathers and
gave this order to all the people: "Celebrate brothers, who were unfaithful to HaShem,
29
the God of their fathers, so that he made
Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:3
30 them an object of horror, as you see. Do not
Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:12
31
Yahoshua (Joshua) 24:13 be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; submit
20
to HaShem. Come to the sanctuary, which who is good, pardon everyone Who sets his
he has consecrated forever. Serve HaShem heart on seeking God--HaShem, the God of
your God, so that his fierce anger will turn his fathers--even if he is not clean according
away from you. If you return to HaShem, to the rules of the sanctuary." And HaShem
then your brothers and your children will be heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
shown compassion by their captors and will
come back to this land, for HaShem your The first major prophecies given for Judah's
God is gracious and compassionate. He will destruction and exile came during the time of
not turn his face from you if you return to Hezekiah. The Jews, who had taken Israel, and the
him." The couriers went from town to town Temple, for granted for so many years, were
in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as suddenly faced with the concept of exile and
Zebulon, but the people scorned and destruction. They knew that they had the potential
ridiculed them. Nevertheless, some men of to be thrown out of their land, if they didn't repent.
Asher, Manasseh and Zebulon humbled Although there had been some prophecies of exile
themselves and went to Jerusalem. Also in even earlier in the prophetic era32 and even in the
Judah the hand of God was on the people to time of Moshe33, the prophecies in the time of
give them unity of mind to carry out what Hezekiah seemed to stand out in the people's
the king and his officials had minds as the first major prophecies of the
ordered following the word of HaShem. A imminent destruction, as they are the first direct
very large crowd of people assembled in threats of exile mentioned in the first half of the
Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Books of the Prophets34. Hezekiah decided to start
Unleavened Bread in the second month. a massive Teshuva, repentance, movement and
They removed the altars in Jerusalem and keep Israel. Again, it was the observance of
cleared away the incense altars and threw Passover that symbolized the people of Judah
them into the Kidron Valley. They regaining their hold on their land35. This Passover
slaughtered the Passover lamb on the obviously was not quite as major event (perhaps
fourteenth day of the second month. The because the teshuva movement was undone only
priests and the Levites were ashamed and one generation later), and in fact it is omitted from
consecrated themselves and brought burnt the Book of Kings. Nonetheless, it symbolized the
offerings to the temple of HaShem. Then Jews averting exile at the last second. In fact, it
they took up their regular positions as was during this time that the Kingdom of Israel (as
prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of opposed to the Kingdom of Judah which Hezekiah
God. The priests sprinkled the blood handed ruled over and which makes up the modern day
to them by the Levites. Since many in the Jews) was exiled36. This event surely helped show
crowd had not consecrated themselves, the the people of Judah the need to strengthen their
Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all hold on their land. In fact, when the people
those who were not ceremonially clean and debated how to respond to Yeremyahu
could not consecrate [their lambs] to (Jeremiah)'s prophecies of destruction several
HaShem. Although most of the many people generations later, those in favor of teshuva used
who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, the response of the Jews to the predictions of
Issachar and Zebulon had not purified doom in the days of Hezekiah as a model for how
themselves, yet they ate the Passover, to return to HaShem and stay connected to the
contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah land37. Apparently the time of Hezekiah, which
prayed for them, saying, "May HaShem, included a major Passover observance, brought

32
e.g. Amos 1:1 & 2:5-6
33
Vayikra (Leviticus) 26
34
Melachim bet (II Kings) 20:17-18
35
Divrei Hayamim 30:15
36
Melachim bet (II Kings)18
37
Yiremyahu (Jeremiah) 26:18-19
21
out the connection between the Jews, HaShem, offer to HaShem, as is written in the Book of
and the land of Israel in a major way. Moses. They did the same with the cattle.
They roasted the Passover animals over the
Divrei Hayamim 35:1-19 Josiah celebrated fire as prescribed, and boiled the holy
the Passover to HaShem in Jerusalem, and offerings in pots, caldrons and pans and
the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the served them quickly to all the people. After
fourteenth day of the first month. He this, they made preparations for themselves
appointed the priests to their duties and and for the priests, because the priests, the
encouraged them in the service of HaShem’s descendants of Aaron, were sacrificing the
temple. He said to the Levites, who burnt offerings and the fat portions until
instructed all Israel and who had been nightfall. So the Levites made preparations
consecrated to HaShem: "Put the sacred ark for themselves and for the Aaronic priests.
in the temple that Solomon son of David The musicians, the descendants of Asaph,
king of Israel built. It is not to be carried were in the places prescribed by David,
about on your shoulders. Now serve Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun the king's seer.
HaShem your God and his people Israel. The gatekeepers at each gate did not need to
Prepare yourselves by families in your leave their posts, because their fellow
divisions, according to the directions Levites made the preparations for them. So
written by David king of Israel and by his at that time the entire service of HaShem
son Solomon. "Stand in the holy place with was carried out for the celebration of the
a group of Levites for each subdivision of Passover and the offering of burnt offerings
the families of your fellow countrymen, the on the altar of HaShem, as King Josiah had
lay people. Slaughter the Passover lambs, ordered. The Israelites who were present
consecrate yourselves and prepare [the celebrated the Passover at that time and
lambs] for your fellow countrymen, doing observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for
what HaShem commanded through Moses." seven days. The Passover had not been
Josiah provided for all the lay people who observed like this in Israel since the days of
were there a total of thirty thousand sheep the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings
and goats for the Passover offerings, and of Israel had ever celebrated such a
also three thousand cattle--all from the Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the
king's own possessions. His officials also Levites and all Judah and Israel who were
contributed voluntarily to the people and the there with the people of Jerusalem. This
priests and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah and Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth
Jehiel, the administrators of God's temple, year of Josiah's reign.
gave the priests twenty-six hundred
Passover offerings and three hundred cattle. Although the Book of Samuel makes no direct
Also Conaniah along with Shemaiah and mention of Passover’s observance, we are told38
Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah, that the Pesach celebration of Josiah was the
Jeiel and Jozabad, the leaders of the greatest one since the time of Samuel. The
Levites, provided five thousand Passover implication is that during Samuel's time Passover
offerings and five hundred head of cattle for was observed. In Shmuel alef (I Samuel) 7, we are
the Levites. The service was arranged and told of how Samuel got all the Jews to repent,
the priests stood in their places with the after which they were able to re-conquer parts of
Levites in their divisions as the king had Israel which had been lost to the Philistines in
ordered. The Passover lambs were battle. Samuel, in addition to leading this teshuva
slaughtered, and the priests sprinkled the (repentance) movement, had a major impact on
blood handed to them, while the Levites connecting the Jews to the land of Israel. The
skinned the animals. They set aside the Rambam39 writes that appointing a King,
burnt offerings to give them to the 38
Divrei Hayamim 35:18
subdivisions of the families of the people to 39
Hilchot Melachim 1:1
22
destroying Amalek, and building the Beit Ezra 6:19-21 On the fourteenth day of the
HaMikdash (The Temple) are the three mitzvot first month, the exiles celebrated the
required of the Jewish people when they settle Passover. The priests and Levites had
Israel. It was in Samuel's time that the Jews first purified themselves and were all
even attempted these mitzvot. Despite his initial ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered
hesitation, Samuel anoints the first King of Israel40, the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for
a task which the Midrash41 claims he was destined their brothers the priests and for
to do since creation. Samuel then commands this themselves. So the Israelites who had
king42 to destroy Amalek. It was also Samuel who returned from the exile ate it, together with
served as the Navi (Prince) required43 to select the all who had separated themselves from the
location of the Temple44. unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors
in order to seek HaShem, the God of Israel.
In the days of Josiah, it became clear that exile
was imminent. Josiah The King started a last gasp The Passover of Zerubbabel once again kept with
teshuva movement, but he was hardly trying to the theme of returning to HaShem and settling
avoid exile. After all, the prophetess Hilda had Israel. It was a major part of the return to Israel
already informed him that no matter how during the time when the Temple was rebuilt and
righteous he was, the biggest reward that HaShem is the first major event recorded after the
was offering was to bring the exile after Josiah's dedication of second Temple49. To further make
death45. No exile at all wasn't an option. So, Josiah evident the Passover's connection to the return to
wasn't trying to avoid exile. Rather, he was trying HaShem and Israel, the next event recorded50 is
to do what he knew was right, even though things Ezra's return to Israel, which involved a return to
seemed hopeless. Regardless of the approaching the Torah, as Ezra was primarily a religious
exile, he saw it necessary to make a new covenant leader. Even though Ezra's return took place much
with HaShem46. Much as the people settled the later51, it is thematically connected to the Passover
land with the observance of, they observed Pesach of Zerubbabel.
again when they knew things were hopeless. The
comparison47 between the Passovers of Josiah and
Samuel as the biggest Passovers brings out the Joseph and Mary celebrated the Passover
parallel between the gradual establishment of
Children of Israel in Israel and the gradual arrival Luqas (Luke) 2:41-52 Every year his
of the exile. The lesson to learned from Josiah and parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of
his Passover is that even when returning to the Passover. When he was twelve years
HaShem may seem futile, one must do so, and old, they went up to the Feast, according to
even when exile is a guaranteed thing, one must the custom. After the Feast was over, while
try and do whatever one can within reason48 to stay his parents were returning home, the boy
attached to Israel. Yeshua stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they
were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their
The returning Babylonian exiles celebrated company, they traveled on for a day. Then
Passover: they began looking for him among their
relatives and friends. When they did not find
him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for
40
him. After three days they found him in the
Shmuel alef (I Samuel) 8:ff
41 temple courts, sitting among the teachers,
Shemot Rabah 40:4
42
Shmuel alef (I Samuel) 15:3 listening to them and asking them questions.
43
Sifrei Re'eh 8 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his
44
Gemara Zevachim 52b understanding and his answers. When his
45
Melachim bet (II Kings) 22:20
46 49
Divrei Hayamim 35:31 Ezra 6
47 50
Divrei Hayamim 35:18 Ezra 7
48 51
see Divrei Hayamim 35:24-25 Da'at Mikra introduction to Ezra/Nechemiah
23
parents saw him, they were astonished. His God. And he will go on before HaShem, in
mother said to him, "Son, why have you the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the
treated us like this? Your father and I have hearts of the fathers to their children and
been anxiously searching for you." "Why the disobedient to the wisdom of the
were you searching for me?" he asked. righteous--to make ready a people prepared
"Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's for HaShem." Zechariah asked the angel,
house?" But they did not understand what "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man
he was saying to them. Then he went down and my wife is well along in years." The
to Nazareth with them and was obedient to angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in
them. But his mother treasured all these the presence of God, and I have been sent to
things in her heart. And Yeshua grew in speak to you and to tell you this good news.
wisdom and stature, and in favor with God And now you will be silent and not able to
and men. speak until the day this happens, because
you did not believe my words, which will
come true at their proper time."
Yochanan (John) the Baptist was born during Meanwhile, the people were waiting for
Passover. We can calculate his birthday from: Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so
long in the temple. When he came out, he
Luqas (Luke) 1:5-24 In the time of Herod could not speak to them. They realized he
king of Judea there was a priest named had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept
Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly making signs to them but remained unable
division of Abuja; his wife Elizabeth was to speak. When his time of service was
also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them completed, he returned home. After this his
were upright in the sight of God, observing wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five
all HaShem's commandments and months remained in seclusion.
regulations blamelessly. But they had no
children, because Elizabeth was barren; I think that the following parable is prophetic and
and they were both well along in years. speaks of Yeshua's resurrection, the Lamb of God,
Once when Zechariah's division was on duty on the Sabbath when His Father drew Him out of
and he was serving as priest before God, He the "pit":
was chosen by lot, according to the custom
of the priesthood, to go into the temple of Matityahu (Matthew) 12:9-13 Going on
HaShem and burn incense. And when the from that place, he went into their
time for the burning of incense came, all the synagogue, And a man with a shriveled
assembled worshipers were praying outside. hand was there. Looking for a reason to
Then an angel of HaShem appeared to him, accuse Yeshua, they asked him, "Is it lawful
standing at the right side of the altar of to heal on the Sabbath?" He said to them,
incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a
startled and was gripped with fear. But the pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of
angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, it and lift it out? How much more valuable
Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to
you are to give him the name Yochanan the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he
(John). He will be a joy and delight to you, stretched it out and it was completely
and many will rejoice because of his birth, restored, just as sound as the other.
For he will be great in the sight of HaShem.
He is never to take wine or other fermented and:
drink, and he will be filled with the Holy
Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Luqas (Luke) 14:3-6 Yeshua asked the
Israel will he bring back to HaShem their Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it
24
lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" But unity must be concentrated in one place. (Shemot
they remained silent. So taking hold of the 12:46)
man, he healed him and sent him away.
Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son 3) The Korban Pesach was taken from a 1 year old
or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath sheep or goat. The number one indicates unity.
day, will you not immediately pull him out?" (Shemot 12:5)
And they had nothing to say.
4) The Korban Pesach was taken from the goats or
Elijah is expected to return at Passover time as we sheep, but not from the cattle. A goat or sheep is a
can deduce from the above verses and from: more delicate and tender animal. If it received a
wound on one of its limbs, the animal itself would
Matityahu (Matthew) 11:7 As Yochanan suffer the pain of the injury. An ox or cow, due to
(John)'s disciples were leaving, Yeshua its bulk, would not be so affected by a similar
began to speak to the crowd about wound. It would only feel pain in that particular
Yochanan (John): "What did you go out into limb.
the desert to see? A reed swayed by the
wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A Israel is likened to a sheep. When one Jew
man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who transgresses (as in the case of Achan, see Joshua
wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. Then 7), the whole nation suffers. Israel, like the sheep
what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, have a presence which is less physical. An entity
I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is which more spiritual is naturally more sensitive.
the one about whom it is written: 'I will send (Shemot 12:5)
my messenger ahead of you, who will
prepare your way before you.' I tell you the 5) The Korban Pesach was roasted over the fire.
truth: Among those born of women there Cooking in water causes meat to become soggy
has not risen anyone greater than Yochanan and the pieces separate. Roasting over the fire
(John) the Baptist; yet he who is least in the draws out the juices and the meat becomes
kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From consolidated, another indication of unity. (Shemot
the days of Yochanan (John) the Baptist 12:8-9)
until now, the kingdom of heaven has been
forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay 6) It was prohibited to break any of the bones of
hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law the Korban Pesach. Again, any thing whole and
prophesied until Yochanan (John). And if not broken is an indication of unity. (Shemot
you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah 12:46)
who was to come.
By eating the Pesach according to all of it's laws, a
The Maharal points out how the Korban Pesach, Jew demonstrated his unity with Hashem. This is
with all its of laws, is an indication of unity the unity which He invested in Israel and thereby
between Israel, Mashiach, and HaShem. commanded them concerning the Korban Pesach.

1) It was a mitzvah to roast and eat the Korban Future Passover


Pesach "with its head on its knees". That is to say
complete, and not cut into smaller pieces (unlike Yehezekel (Ezekiel) gave new instructions for the
every other type of sacrifice). Something which millennium Passover:
indicates unity must be whole. (Shemot 12:9)
Yehezekel (Ezekiel) 45:21 "'In the first
2) The Korban Pesach was eaten in one house, and month on the fourteenth day you are to
only by the family group that was registered for observe the Passover, a feast lasting seven
that particular animal. Something which indicates days, during which you shall eat bread
made without yeast. On that day the prince
25
is to provide a bull as a sin offering for said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will
himself and for all the people of the land. betray me." They were very sad and began
Every day during the seven days of the to say to him one after the other, "Surely not
Feast he is to provide seven bulls and seven I, Lord?" Yeshua replied, "The one who has
rams without defect as a burnt offering to dipped his hand into the bowl with me will
HaShem, and a male goat for a sin offering. betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it
He is to provide as a grain offering an is written about him. But woe to that man
ephah for each bull and an ephah for each who betrays the Son of Man! It would be
ram, along with a hin of oil for each ephah. better for him if he had not been born."
"'During the seven days of the Feast, which Then Judas, the one who would betray him,
begins in the seventh month on the fifteenth said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Yeshua
day, he is to make the same provision for sin answered, "Yes, it is you." While they were
offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings eating, Yeshua took bread, gave thanks and
and oil. broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying,
"Take and eat; this is my body." Then he
took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to
Notice the different sacrifice requirements them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This
is my blood of the covenant, which is poured
Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:16-22 "'On the out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I
fourteenth day of the first month HaShem’s tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the
Passover is to be held. On the fifteenth day vine from now on until that day when I drink
of this month there is to be a festival; for it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
seven days eat bread made without yeast. When they had sung a hymn, they went out
On the first day hold a sacred assembly and to the Mount of Olives.
do no regular work. Present to HaShem an
offering made by fire, a burnt offering of Marqos (Mark) 14:12-26 On the first day of
two young bulls, one ram and seven male the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was
lambs a year old, all without defect. With customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb,
each bull prepare a grain offering of three- Yeshua' disciples asked him, "Where do you
tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with want us to go and make preparations for
oil; with the ram, two-tenths; And with each you to eat the Passover?" So he sent two of
of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city,
male goat as a sin offering to make and a man carrying a jar of water will meet
atonement for you. you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the
house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where
Yeshua and Passover is my guest room, where I may eat the
Passover with my disciples?' He will show
Matityahu (Matthew) 26:17-30 On the first you a large upper room, furnished and
day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the ready. Make preparations for us there."
disciples came to Yeshua and asked, "Where The disciples left, went into the city and
do you want us to make preparations for found things just as Yeshua had told them.
you to eat the Passover?" He replied, "Go So they prepared the Passover. When
into the city to a certain man and tell him, evening came, Yeshua arrived with the
'The Teacher says: My appointed time is Twelve. While they were reclining at the
near. I am going to celebrate the Passover table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth,
with my disciples at your house.'" So the one of you will betray me--one who is eating
disciples did as Yeshua had directed them with me." They were saddened, and one by
and prepared the Passover. When evening one they said to him, "Surely not I?" "It is
came, Yeshua was reclining at the table with one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who
the Twelve. And while they were eating, he dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of
26
Man will go just as it is written about him. with mine on the table. The Son of Man will
But woe to that man who betrays the Son of go as it has been decreed, but woe to that
Man! It would be better for him if he had man who betrays him." They began to
not been born." While they were eating, question among themselves which of them it
Yeshua took bread, gave thanks and broke might be who would do this. Also a dispute
it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take arose among them as to which of them was
it; this is my body." Then he took the cup, considered to be greatest. Yeshua said to
gave thanks and offered it to them, and they them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over
all drank from it. "This is my blood of the them; and those who exercise authority over
covenant, which is poured out for many," he them call themselves Benefactors. But you
said to them. "I tell you the truth, I will not are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest
drink again of the fruit of the vine until that among you should be like the youngest, and
day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of the one who rules like the one who serves.
God." When they had sung a hymn, they For who is greater, the one who is at the
went out to the Mount of Olives. table or the one who serves? Is it not the
one who is at the table? But I am among you
Luqas (Luke) 22:7-38 Then came the day of as one who serves. You are those who have
Unleavened Bread on which the Passover stood by me in my trials. And I confer on
lamb had to be sacrificed. Yeshua sent Peter you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred
and Yochanan (John), saying, "Go and one on me, So that you may eat and drink at
make preparations for us to eat the my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones,
Passover." "Where do you want us to judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "Simon,
prepare for it?" they asked. He replied, "As Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your
water will meet you. Follow him to the faith may not fail. And when you have
house that he enters, And say to the owner turned back, strengthen your brothers." But
of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you
the guest room, where I may eat the to prison and to death." Yeshua answered,
Passover with my disciples?' He will show "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows
you a large upper room, all furnished. Make today, you will deny three times that you
preparations there." They left and found know me." Then Yeshua asked them, "When
things just as Yeshua had told them. So they I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did
prepared the Passover. When the hour you lack anything?" "Nothing," they
came, Yeshua and his apostles reclined at answered. He said to them, "But now if you
the table. And he said to them, "I have have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if
eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and
you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not buy one. It is written: 'And he was
eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell
kingdom of God." After taking the cup, he you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes,
gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide what is written about me is reaching its
it among you. For I tell you I will not drink fulfillment." The disciples said, "See, Lord,
again of the fruit of the vine until the here are two swords." "That is enough," he
kingdom of God comes." And he took replied.
bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it
to them, saying, "This is my body given for Yochanan (John) 13:1-31 It was just before
you; do this in remembrance of me." In the the Passover Feast. Yeshua knew that the
same way, after the supper he took the cup, time had come for him to leave this world
saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my and go to the Father. Having loved his own
blood, which is poured out for you. But the who were in the world, he now showed them
hand of him who is going to betray me is the full extent of his love. The evening meal
27
was being served, and the devil had already going to betray me." His disciples stared at
prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to one another, at a loss to know which of them
betray Yeshua. Yeshua knew that the Father he meant. One of them, the disciple whom
had put all things under his power, and that Yeshua loved, was reclining next to him.
he had come from God and was returning to Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and
God; So he got up from the meal, took off said, "Ask him which one he means."
his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel Leaning back against Yeshua, he asked him,
around his waist. After that, he poured "Lord, who is it?" Yeshua answered, "It is
water into a basin and began to wash his the one to whom I will give this piece of
disciples' feet, drying them with the towel bread when I have dipped it in the dish."
that was wrapped around him. He came to Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it
Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as
you going to wash my feet?" Yeshua Judas took the bread, Satan entered into
replied, "You do not realize now what I am him. "What you are about to do, do
doing, but later you will understand." "No," quickly," Yeshua told him, But no one at the
said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." meal understood why Yeshua said this to
Yeshua answered, "Unless I wash you, you him. Since Judas had charge of the money,
have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon some thought Yeshua was telling him to buy
Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands what was needed for the Feast, or to give
and my head as well!" Yeshua answered, something to the poor. As soon as Judas had
"A person who has had a bath needs only to taken the bread, he went out. And it was
wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And night. When he was gone, Yeshua said,
you are clean, though not every one of you." "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is
For he knew who was going to betray him, glorified in him.
and that was why he said not every one was
clean. When he had finished washing their Yochanan (John) then records a long discourse by
feet, he put on his clothes and returned to Yeshua
his place. "Do you understand what I have
done for you?" he asked them. "You call me Points to remember
'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that
is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Matityahu (Matthew) 12:40 For as Jonah
Teacher, have washed your feet, you also was three days and three nights in the belly
should wash one another's feet. I have set of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be
you an example that you should do as I have three days and three nights in the heart of
done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant the earth.
is greater than his master, nor is a
messenger greater than the one who sent Matityahu (Matthew) 26:17-30 On the first
him. Now that you know these things, you day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the
will be blessed if you do them. "I am not disciples came to Yeshua and asked, "Where
referring to all of you; I know those I have do you want us to make preparations for
chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: you to eat the Passover?" He replied, "Go
'He who shares my bread has lifted up his into the city to a certain man and tell him,
heel against me.' "I am telling you now 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is
before it happens, so that when it does near. I am going to celebrate the Passover
happen you will believe that I am He. I tell with my disciples at your house.'" So the
you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I disciples did as Yeshua had directed them
send accepts me; and whoever accepts me and prepared the Passover. When evening
accepts the one who sent me." After he had came, Yeshua was reclining at the table with
said this, Yeshua was troubled in spirit and the Twelve. And while they were eating, he
testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will
28
betray me." They were very sad and began I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have
to say to him one after the other, "Surely not no king but Caesar," the chief priests
I, Lord?" Yeshua replied, "The one who has answered. Finally Pilate handed him over
dipped his hand into the bowl with me will to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took
betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it charge of Yeshua.
is written about him. But woe to that man
who betrays the Son of Man! It would be
better for him if he had not been born." Preparation day was the day BEFORE the high
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, Sabbath of Passover:
said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Yeshua
answered, "Yes, it is you." While they were Shemot (Exodus) 12:15-19 For seven days
eating, Yeshua took bread, gave thanks and you are to eat bread made without yeast. On
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, the first day remove the yeast from your
"Take and eat; this is my body." Then he houses, for whoever eats anything with
took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to yeast in it from the first day through the
them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This seventh must be cut off from Israel. On the
is my blood of the covenant, which is poured first day hold a sacred assembly, and
out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I another one on the seventh day. Do no work
tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the at all on these days, except to prepare food
vine from now on until that day when I drink for everyone to eat--that is all you may do.
it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
When they had sung a hymn, they went out because it was on this very day that I
to the Mount of Olives. brought your divisions out of Egypt.
Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance
for the generations to come. In the first
On Preparation day Yeshua is crucified and placed month you are to eat bread made without
in the tomb yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day
until the evening of the twenty-first day. For
Marqos (Mark) 15:42-46 It was seven days no yeast is to be found in your
Preparation Day (that is, the day before the houses. And whoever eats anything with
Sabbath). So as evening approached, yeast in it must be cut off from the
Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent member community of Israel, whether he is an alien
of the Council, who was himself waiting for or native-born.
the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate
and asked for Yeshua' body. Pilate was Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:2-8 Sacrifice
surprised to hear that he was already dead. as the Passover to HaShem your God an
Summoning the centurion, he asked him if animal from your flock or herd at the place
Yeshua had already died. When he learned HaShem will choose as a dwelling for his
from the centurion that it was so, he gave Name. Do not eat it with bread made with
the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened
linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it bread, the bread of affliction, because you
in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out left Egypt in haste--so that all the days of
of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the your life you may remember the time of your
entrance of the tomb. departure from Egypt. Let no yeast be found
in your possession in all your land for seven
Yochanan (John) 19:14 It was the day of days. Do not let any of the meat you
Preparation of Passover Week, about the sacrifice on the evening of the first day
sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said remain until morning. You must not
to the Jews. But they shouted, "Take him sacrifice the Passover in any town HaShem
away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall your God gives you Except in the place he
29
will choose as a dwelling for his Name. the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and
There you must sacrifice the Passover in the do no regular work.'"
evening, when the sun goes down, on the
anniversary of your departure from Egypt.
Roast it and eat it at the place HaShem your The plagues were God's judgment upon the
God will choose. Then in the morning return gods of Egypt:
to your tents. For six days eat unleavened
bread and on the seventh day hold an Shemot (Exodus) 12:12 "On that same
assembly to HaShem your God and do no night I will pass through Egypt and strike
work. down every firstborn--both men and
animals--and I will bring judgment on all
the gods of Egypt. I am HaShem.
The day AFTER Preparation day was a SPECIAL
Sabbath Difficulties

Yochanan (John) 19:31 Now it was the day Yeshua arose on the first day of the week?
of Preparation, and the next day was to be a
special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not Marqos (Mark) 16:9 When Yeshua rose
want the bodies left on the crosses during early on the first day of the week, he
the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of
legs broken and the bodies taken down. whom he had driven seven demons.

This verse should probably be read as:


The day AFTER Preparation day, Yeshua's tomb
was sealed Marqos (Mark) 16:9 Now after Yeshua had
risen, early on the first day of the week He
Matityahu (Matthew) 27:62-66 The next first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from
day, the one after Preparation Day, the whom He had cast out seven demons.
chief priests and the Pharisees went to
Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that
while he was still alive that deceiver said, How can Yeshua be the Passover lamb if He eats
'After three days I will rise again.' So give the Passover seder on Passover? Consider that
the order for the tomb to be made secure Yeshua started twenty-four hours early and
until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples finished taking the fourth cup on the cross! Right
may come and steal the body and tell the on time!
people that he has been raised from the
dead. This last deception will be worse than Matityahu (Matthew) 26:17 On the first day
the first." "Take a guard," Pilate answered. of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the
"Go, make the tomb as secure as you know disciples came to Yeshua and asked, "Where
how." So they went and made the tomb do you want us to make preparations for
secure by putting a seal on the stone and you to eat the Passover?"
posting the guard.
Marqos (Mark) 14:12 On the first day of
Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:6-8 On the fifteenth the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was
day of that month HaShem’s Feast of customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb,
Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days Yeshua' disciples asked him, "Where do you
you must eat bread made without yeast. On want us to go and make preparations for
the first day hold a sacred assembly and do you to eat the Passover?"
no regular work. For seven days present an
offering made to HaShem by fire. And on
30
Luqas (Luke) 22:7-8 Then came the day of
Unleavened Bread on which the Passover Mary and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on
lamb had to be sacrificed. Yeshua sent Peter the first day of the week.
and Yochanan (John), saying, "Go and
make preparations for us to eat the Luqas (Luke) 24:1 On the first day of the
Passover." week, very early in the morning, the women
took the spices they had prepared and went
to the tomb.
Marqos (Mark) 14:12 On the first day of
the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was
customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Why did Yeshua tell Mary not to touch Him?
Yeshua' disciples asked him, "Where do you
want us to go and make preparations for Yochanan (John) 20:16-17 Yeshua said to
you to eat the Passover?" So he sent two of her, "Mary." She turned toward him and
his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which
and a man carrying a jar of water will meet means Teacher). Yeshua said, "Do not hold
you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the on to me, for I have not yet returned to the
house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell
is my guest room, where I may eat the them, 'I am returning to my Father and your
Passover with my disciples?' He will show Father, to my God and your God.'"
you a large upper room, furnished and
ready. Make preparations for us there." Bamidbar (Numbers) 19:11-22 "Whoever
The disciples left, went into the city and touches the dead body of anyone will be
found things just as Yeshua had told them. unclean for seven days. He must purify
So they prepared the Passover. himself with the water on the third day and
on the seventh day; then he will be clean.
Luqas (Luke) 22:13 They left and found But if he does not purify himself on the third
things just as Yeshua had told them. So they and seventh days, he will not be clean.
prepared the Passover. When the hour Whoever touches the dead body of anyone
came, Yeshua and his apostles reclined at and fails to purify himself defiles HaShem’s
the table. And he said to them, "I have tabernacle. That person must be cut off from
eagerly desired to eat this Passover with Israel. Because the water of cleansing has
you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean;
eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the his uncleanness remains on him. "This is
kingdom of God." After taking the cup, he the law that applies when a person dies in a
gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone
it among you. who is in it will be unclean for seven days,
And every open container without a lid
Yeshua ate the Passover about 23 hours early fastened on it will be unclean. "Anyone out
without the lamb and with only three of the four in the open who touches someone who has
cups. He finished the fourth cup on the cross: been killed with a sword or someone who
has died a natural death, or anyone who
Yochanan (John) 19:29-30 A jar of wine touches a human bone or a grave, will be
vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge unclean for seven days. "For the unclean
in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop person, put some ashes from the burned
plant, and lifted it to Yeshua' lips. When he purification offering into a jar and pour
had received the drink, Yeshua said, "It is fresh water over them. Then a man who is
finished." With that, he bowed his head and ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop,
gave up his spirit. dip it in the water and sprinkle the tent and
all the furnishings and the people who were
31
there. He must also sprinkle anyone who son, And I told you, "Let my son go, so he
has touched a human bone or a grave or may worship me." But you refused to let him
someone who has been killed or someone go; so I will kill your firstborn son.'"
who has died a natural death. The man who
is clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on Israel is God's firstborn son. This is significant.
the third and seventh days, and on the
seventh day he is to purify him. The person Bereans (Hebrews) 12:22-24 But you have
being cleansed must wash his clothes and come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly
bathe with water, and that evening he will Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You
be clean. But if a person who is unclean have come to thousands upon thousands of
does not purify himself, he must be cut off angels in joyful assembly, To the church of
from the community, because he has defiled the firstborn, whose names are written in
the sanctuary of HaShem. The water of heaven. You have come to God, the judge of
cleansing has not been sprinkled on him, all men, to the spirits of righteous men made
and he is unclean. This is a lasting perfect, To Yeshua the mediator of a new
ordinance for them. "The man who sprinkles covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that
the water of cleansing must also wash his speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
clothes, and anyone who touches the water
of cleansing will be unclean till evening. God always deals with transgressions "in kind".
Anything that an unclean person touches Therefore, the firstborn of the wicked will be
becomes unclean, and anyone who touches killed because They are killing God's firstborn.
it becomes unclean till evening."
Shemot (Exodus) 11:4-8 So Moses said,
Could it also be that Yeshua was still experiencing "This is what HaShem says: 'About midnight
separation from His Father? I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn
son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son
Matityahu (Matthew) 27:46 About the ninth of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the
hour Yeshua cried out in a loud voice, firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her
<"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?">--which hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle
means, "My God, my God, why have you as well. There will be loud wailing
forsaken me?" throughout Egypt--worse than there has
ever been or ever will be again. But among
Marqos (Mark) 15:34 And at the ninth hour the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man
Yeshua cried out in a loud voice, <"Eloi, or animal.' Then you will know that HaShem
Eloi, lama sabachthani?>"--which means, makes a distinction between Egypt and
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken Israel. All these officials of yours will come
me?" to me, bowing down before me and saying,
'Go, you and all the people who follow you!'
After that I will leave." Then Moses, hot
VI. HaShem's Passover and the Firstborn with anger, left Pharaoh.

Passover and the firstborn are very closely linked. Notice (above) that God is going to kill EVERY
FIRSTBORN MALE for keeping God's firstborn
Shemot (Exodus) 4:21-23 HaShem said to males. This is important to note because of what
Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that God will require of the Israelites after this.
you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders
I have given you the power to do. But I will Shemot (Exodus) 13:1-16 HaShem said to
harden his heart so that he will not let the Moses, "Consecrate to me every firstborn
people go. Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is male. The first offspring of every womb
what HaShem says: Israel is my firstborn among the Israelites belongs to me, whether
32
man or animal." Then Moses said to the The above question, 'What does this mean', is
people, "Commemorate this day, the day ascribed to the 'simple son' in our Haggadah. So
you came out of Egypt, out of the land of one of the Passover questions deals with the
slavery, because HaShem brought you out redemption of the firstborn. God said that ALL
of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing firstborn belong to Him.
containing yeast. Today, in the month of
Abib, you are leaving. When HaShem brings Notice how often God links the firstborn with
you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Passover:
Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites--the land he
swore to your forefathers to give you, a land Shemot (Exodus) 22:29 "Do not hold back
flowing with milk and honey--you are to offerings from your granaries or your vats.
observe this ceremony in this month: For "You must give me the firstborn of your
seven days eat bread made without yeast sons.
and on the seventh day hold a festival to
HaShem. Eat unleavened bread during Shemot (Exodus) 34:18-21 "Celebrate the
those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days
to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast eat bread made without yeast, as I
be seen anywhere within your borders. On commanded you. Do this at the appointed
that day tell your son, 'I do this because of time in the month of Abib, for in that month
what HaShem did for me when I came out of you came out of Egypt. "The first offspring
Egypt.' This observance will be for you like of every womb belongs to me, including all
a sign on your hand and a reminder on your the firstborn males of your livestock,
forehead that the law of HaShem is to be on whether from herd or flock. Redeem the
your lips. For HaShem brought you out of firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do
Egypt with his mighty hand. You must keep not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem all
this ordinance at the appointed time year your firstborn sons. "No one is to appear
after year. "After HaShem brings you into before me empty-handed. "Six days you
the land of the Canaanites and gives it to shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall
you, as he promised on oath to you and your rest; even during the plowing season and
forefathers, You are to give over to HaShem harvest you must rest.
the first offspring of every womb. All the
firstborn males of your livestock belong to Bamidbar (Numbers) 3:11-13 HaShem also
HaShem. Redeem with a lamb every said to Moses, "I have taken the Levites
firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, from among the Israelites in place of the
break its neck. Redeem every firstborn first male offspring of every Israelite
among your sons. "In days to come, when woman. The Levites are mine, For all the
your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' firstborn are mine. When I struck down all
say to him, 'With a mighty hand HaShem the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself
brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of every firstborn in Israel, whether man or
slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused animal. They are to be mine. I am HaShem."
to let us go, HaShem killed every firstborn
in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why Bamidbar (Numbers) 3:40-51 HaShem said
I sacrifice to HaShem the first male to Moses, "Count all the firstborn Israelite
offspring of every womb and redeem each of males who are a month old or more and
my firstborn sons.' And it will be like a sign make a list of their names. Take the Levites
on your hand and a symbol on your for me in place of all the firstborn of the
forehead that HaShem brought us out of Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites in
Egypt with his mighty hand." place of all the firstborn of the livestock of
the Israelites. I am HaShem." So Moses
counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as
33
HaShem commanded him. The total number set at five shekels of silver, according to the
of firstborn males a month old or more, sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty
listed by name, was 22,273. HaShem also gerahs. "But you must not redeem the
said to Moses, "Take the Levites in place of firstborn of an ox, a sheep or a goat; they
all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar
of the Levites in place of their livestock. The and burn their fat as an offering made by
Levites are to be mine. I am HaShem. To fire, an aroma pleasing to HaShem. Their
redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the
exceed the number of the Levites, Collect wave offering and the right thigh are yours.
five shekels for each one, according to the Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings
sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty the Israelites present to HaShem I give to
gerahs. Give the money for the redemption you and your sons and daughters as your
of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his regular share. It is an everlasting covenant
sons." So Moses collected the redemption of salt before HaShem for both you and your
money from those who exceeded the number offspring."
redeemed by the Levites. From the firstborn
of the Israelites he collected silver weighing Bamidbar (Numbers) 33:3-4 The Israelites
1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of
shekel. Moses gave the redemption money to the first month, the day after the Passover.
Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded They marched out boldly in full view of all
by the word of HaShem. the Egyptians, Who were burying all their
firstborn, whom HaShem had struck down
Bamidbar (Numbers) 8:15-19 "After you among them; for HaShem had brought
have purified the Levites and presented judgment on their gods.
them as a wave offering, they are to come to
do their work at the Tent of Meeting. They Ok, now here are some places to start looking for
are the Israelites who are to be given wholly future Passover events. This first one because of
to me. I have taken them as my own in place the reference to firstborn:
of the firstborn, the first male offspring from
every Israelite woman. Every firstborn male Revelation 1:4-6 Yochanan (John), To the
in Israel, whether man or animal, is mine. seven churches in the province of Asia:
When I struck down all the firstborn in Grace and peace to you from him who is,
Egypt, I set them apart for myself. And I and who was, and who is to come, and from
have taken the Levites in place of all the the seven spirits before his throne, And from
firstborn sons in Israel. Of all the Israelites, Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the
I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the
and his sons to do the work at the Tent of kings of the earth. To him who loves us and
Meeting on behalf of the Israelites and to has freed us from our sins by his blood, And
make atonement for them so that no plague has made us to be a kingdom and priests to
will strike the Israelites when they go near serve his God and Father--to him be glory
the sanctuary." and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Bamidbar (Numbers) 18:14-19 "Everything I'd look closely at this one because the Song of
in Israel that is devoted to HaShem is yours. Moses was sung on the seventh day of Passover:
The first offspring of every womb, both man
and animal, that is offered to HaShem is Revelation 15:1-4 I saw in heaven another
yours. But you must redeem every firstborn great and marvelous sign: seven angels with
son and every firstborn male of unclean the seven last plagues--last, because with
animals. When they are a month old, you them God's wrath is completed. And I saw
must redeem them at the redemption price what looked like a sea of glass mixed with
34
fire and, standing beside the sea, those who sang the song of Moses the servant of God
had been victorious over the beast and his and the song of the Lamb: "Great and
image and over the number of his name. marvelous are your deeds, Lord God
They held harps given them by God And Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King
sang the song of Moses the servant of God of the ages. Who will not fear you, HaShem,
and the song of the Lamb: "Great and and bring glory to your name? For you
marvelous are your deeds, Lord God alone are holy. All nations will come and
Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King worship before you, for your righteous acts
of the ages. Who will not fear you, HaShem, have been revealed."
and bring glory to your name? For you
alone are holy. All nations will come and Our way to G-d is built on the tears we've shed.
worship before you, for your righteous acts When we sing the Shirah, it's the greatest moment
have been revealed." the Jewish people have ever experienced as a
nation, but two things undermine its glory. How
When it says that they “sang” the song of Moses. can the angels sing, G-d wants to know, if His
the Hebrew is in the future tense, literally they creatures (the Egyptians) are drowning. Second,
“will sing” the song of Moses. the Shirah is a great event, but forty years of
wandering in the desert await the Jews, wars with
Seven days after Passover the Israelites and Amalek, Midianites, spiritual tests, physical tests.
Moses sang the song of Moses. The road ahead is rough, this generation will have
to die out first before the people enter the
Shemot (Exodus) 15:1 Then Moses and the Promised Land. All this adds up to a Song aware
Israelites sang this song to HaShem: "I will that the future must contain a greater moment, an
sing to HaShem, for he is highly exalted. ultimate redemption. This idea is alluded to in the
The horse and its rider he has hurled into first two words. True, Moses 'sang' but there is
the sea. more that will be sung about—in the future. In the
present, in a world not yet redeemed, we cannot
Sang is not past tense. It literally means "will truly sing.
sing". The Apostle Yochanan (John) had the
following revelation where we learn when Moses Passover and "firstborn" are intimately linked. I
will again sing this song: believe that the events in Egypt happened on the
day that God ordained from eternity to be
Revelation 15:1-4 I saw in heaven another Passover. With this in mind, I suggest another
great and marvelous sign: seven angels with Passover event:
the seven last plagues--last, because with
them God's wrath is completed. And I saw Bereshit (Genesis) 4:1-8 Adam lay with his
what looked like a sea of glass mixed with wife Eve, and she became pregnant and
fire and, standing beside the sea, those who gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help
had been victorious over the beast and his of HaShem I have brought forth a man."
image and over the number of his name. Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
They held harps given them by God And Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the
soil. In the course of time Cain brought
some of the fruits of the soil as an offering
to HaShem. But Abel brought fat portions
from some of the firstborn of his flock.
HaShem looked with favor on Abel and his
offering, But on Cain and his offering he did
not look with favor. So Cain was very angry,
and his face was downcast. Then HaShem
said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is
35
your face downcast? If you do what is right, as to this master, surely it is written, ‘of the
will you not be accepted? But if you do not fat thereof’? — That means, of their fat
do what is right, sin is crouching at your ones.57 And as to the other master, surely it
door; it desires to have you, but you must is written, ‘Awake, O north [etc.]’? — That
master it." Now Cain said to his brother refers to the ingathering of the exiles.58
Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while
they were in the field, Cain attacked his The Passover sacrifice can be a peace offering, as
brother Abel and killed him. was alluded to in the above Talmudic reference.

And the righteous firstborn was killed... Zevachim 7b WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
And so the Talmud records: THE PASSOVER-OFFERING AND THE
SIN- OFFERING. How do we know it of
Zevachim 116a The master said: ‘And all the Passover-offering? — Because it is
offered burnt-offerings’. Only burnt- written, Observe the month of Abib, and
offerings, but not peace-offerings? Surely it prepare the Passover-offering;59 [this
is written, and sacrificed peace-offerings of intimates] that all its preparations must be in
oxen?52 — Say rather, all offered burnt- the name of the Passover-offering. We have
offerings and peace-offerings. But it was thus found [that] change in respect of
taught: But not peace-offerings, save only sanctity [disqualifies it]; how do we know
burnt-offerings? — That is in accordance [the same of] change in respect of owner? —
with the view that the Children of Noah did Because it says, Then ye shall say: It is the
not offer peace-offerings.53 For it was stated, slaughtering of HaShem's Passover,60 [which
R. Eleazar and R. Jose b. Hanina [disagree]. teaches] that the ‘slaughtering’ must be done
One maintained: The Children of Noah in the name of the Passover-offering. Now
offered peace-offerings; while the other since this teaching is redundant in respect of
maintained: They did not. What is the reason change in respect of sanctity,61 apply the
for the view that the Children of Noah did teaching to change in respect of owner. We
offer peace-offerings? — Because it is have thus found it as a regulation;62 how do
written, And Abel, he also brought of the we know that it is indispensable?63 —
firstlings of his flock and of the fat [heleb] Scripture saith, And thou shalt sacrifice the
thereof.54 What thing is it whose ‘fat’ [heleb] Passover-offering unto HaShem thy God.64
[only] is offered on the altar, but the whole To this R. Safra demurred: Does this
of it is not offered on the altar? Say, that is a [passage], ‘And thou shalt sacrifice etc.’
peace-offering. What is the reason of the come for this purpose: Surely it is required
view that the Children of Noah did not offer for R. Nahman's dictum? For R. Nahman
peace-offerings? — Because it is written, said in Rabbah b. Abbuha's name: How do
Awake, O north, and come, thou south:55 we know that the leftover of a Passover-
[this means,] Awake, O people whose rites
[were performed] in the north, and come, O
people who can sacrifice in the north and the south. — Cf.
people, whose rites [will henceforth be Gen. Rab. XXII, 5 (Sonc. ed. p. 183.)
performed] in the north and the south.56 But 57
Sc. the best.
58
It is a summons to the north and the south to bring in their
52
Ex. XXIV, 5. exiles.
53 59
V. n. 7, p. 571, on ‘the children of Noah’. But Ex. XXIV, Deut. XVI, 1.
60
5 was after Revelation. Ex. XII, 27.
54 61
Gen. IV, 4. As that has been derived from Deut. XVI, 1.
55 62
S. S. IV, 16. I.e., these verses teach that the Passover-offering must be
56
The burnt-offering was slaughtered on the north side of the sacrificed specifically as such and for its registered owner.
63
altar; the peace-offering, on any side. He renders: Awake, O In the sense that it is otherwise disqualified.
64
nation who hitherto, as Children of Noah, could only Deut. XVI, 2. This too has the same teaching as XVI, 1.
sacrifice on the north side of the altar (hence, burnt- Since however it is superfluous in that case, it must intimate
offerings) and now, by accepting the Torah, come as a that this regulation is indispensable.
36
offering is brought as a peace-offering?65 angered greatly, and the features of his face
Because it is said, ‘And thou shalt sacrifice were downcast. And the Lord said to Kain,
the Passover-offering unto HaShem thy Why hast thou anger, and why are the
God, of the flock and of the herd.’ Now features of thy face downcast? If thou doest
surely the Passover-offering comes only thy work well, will not thy guilt be forgiven
from lambs or from goats?66 Hence we learn thee? But if thou doest not thy work well in
that the left-over of the Passover-offering is this world, thy sin is retained unto the day of
to be [utilized] for something which comes the great judgment, and at the doors of thy
from the flock and from the herd; and what heart lieth thy sin. And into thy hand have I
is it? A peace-offering. — Rather, said R. delivered the power over evil passion, and
Safra: ‘And thou shalt sacrifice the unto thee shall be the inclination thereof,
Passover-offering’ [is required] for R. that thou mayest have authority over it to
Nahman's dictum; ‘Observe the month of become righteous, or to sin.
Abib’ [is required] for the regulation in
respect of changed sanctity; ‘ Then ye shall So, the Sages69 say that Cain and Abel both
say: [It is] the slaughtering of HaShem's brought their offerings on Nisan 14 - Passover.
Passover’ [is required] for the regulation Abel's offering, the fat portions of a firstborn lamb
relating to change in respect of owner; ‘it are accepted. Cain's offering, firstfruits, was not
is’67 teaches that it is indispensable, both in accepted. The reason that Cain's offering was not
the former and in the latter cases.68 accepted is because the first day that the Torah
permits the bringing of firstfruits is on Nisan 16,
Targum Pseudo Jonathan Genesis 4:1ff that is, the next day! On Nisan 15, Abel's is the
IV. And Adam knew Hava his wife, who had correct offering for Passover.
desired the Angel; and she conceived, and
bare Kain; and she said, I have acquired a
man, the Angel of the Lord. And she added VII. Chametz
to bear from her husband Adam his twin,
even Habel. And Habel was a shepherd of Why the emphasis on Pesach to be chametz-
the flock, but Kain was a man working in free (leaven-free)?
the earth. And it was at the end of days, on
the fourteenth of Nisan, that Kain brought of On Pesach (Passover) we are forbidden to own
the produce of the earth, the seed of cotton chametz (leavened bread -- i.e.., virtually any flour
(or line), an oblation of first things before product not especially produced for Pesach) or
the Lord; and Habel brought of the have it in our possession. On the evening
firstlings of the flock, and of their fat; and it preceding Pesach there is a serious search of the
was pleasing before the Lord, and He gave home for chametz.
(His) countenance to Habel and to his
oblation; but to Kain and to his oblation He Chametz is described by the Gemara as the Yetzer
gave no countenance. And Kain was HaRa, the evil inclination, which prevents us from
doing HaShem’s will:
65
E.g.,if an animal dedicated for a Passover-sacrifice was
lost, whereupon its owners registered for another animal, Berachot 17a R. Alexandri on concluding
and then the first was found after the second was sacrificed. his prayer used to add the following:
Or again, if a sum of money was dedicated to buy a paschal
Sovereign of the Universe, it is known full
lamb, but it was not all expended; then too the surplus must
be used for a peace-offering. well to Thee that our will is to perform Thy
66
But not from the herd, which means the larger cattle. will, and what prevents us? The yeast in the
67
Heb. ‘hu’, This is regarded as superfluous and hence dough3 and the subjection to the foreign
interpreted as emphasizing the regulation to the extent of Powers. May it be Thy will to deliver us
making it indispensable. from their hand, so that we may return to
68
A change either in respect of sanctity or owner invalidates
69
the paschal sacrifice. PdRE, section 21, Yonaton b. Uziel
37
perform the statutes of Thy will with a May we all merit on this Pesach to get free from
perfect heart! the "bad mouth," and to overcome the "loose
mouth" where too much of the wrong food and
Passover is the time of freedom -- spiritual drink come in and too many inappropriate words
freedom (which is the essence of why HaShem slip out.
brought us out of Egypt). The only thing that
stands between you and HaShem ... is you. To A Mystical Insight
come close to HaShem (which is the essence of
life and the opportunity of every mitzvah and The Torah indicates that Paro’s magicians could
holiday), one must remove his arrogance. This is not replicate the plague of kenim, lice:
the lesson of removing the chametz from our
possession. Shemot (Exodus) 8:18 And the magicians
did so with their enchantments to bring
Freedom means having the ability to use your free forth lice, but they could not: so there were
will to grow and develop. People think they are lice upon man, and upon beast.
free when really they are "slaves" to the fads and
fashion of their society. Slavery is non-thinking Why couldn’t the magicians bring forth lice? The
action, rote behavior, following the impulse Talmud brings us the answer:
desires of the body. Our job on Pesach is to come
out of slavery into freedom. Sanhedrin 67b Then the magicians said
unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: R.
One of the freedoms to work on during Pesach is Eleazar, said: This proves that a magician
"freedom of the mouth." The sages view the cannot produce a creature less than a barley
mouth as the most dangerous part of the body. It is corn in size. R. Papa said: By God! he
the only organ that can cause problems in both cannot produce even something as large as a
direction -- what comes in (food and drink) and camel; but these [larger than a barley corn]
what goes out (speech). It is so dangerous, it is he can [magically] collect [and so produce
the only part of the body that has two coverings -- the illusion that he has magically created
hard teeth and soft lips. Most of us are slaves to them], the others he cannot.
the mouth, both in what we eat and in what we
speak. So, a louse is too small to be reproduced by the
evil side, hmmmm. This suggest that size is
On Seder night we fix this. We have the mitzvah important to evil. Evil requires a certain size in
of speaking of the leaving Egypt to fix speech, and order to operate. This includes a certain size of
the matza and Four Cups of wine to fix eating and time! Now, since nearly all of the mitzvot of
drinking. Pesach deal with this issue of size, lets examine
some of the mitzvot and their implications.
The structure of the Hebrew language hints at the
goal of "freedom of the mouth." Pesach can be
divided into two words: Peh Sach, which means
.nj – Chametz
"the mouth speaks" -- we are commanded to tell vmn – Matza
the story of the Exodus the whole night. The
Hebrew word, Paro, (Pharaoh, the persecutor of Chametz (leaven) shares nearly the identical
the Jewish people in the Pesach story) can be letters with matza (unleavened bread). The only
divided into two words: Peh Rah, a "bad mouth."
Our affliction of the slavery in Egypt was j
difference is that one has a chet ( ) and the other
characterized as Perach, (difficult work) which
can be read as two words: Peh Rach, "a loose v
has a hay ( ). A careful examination of these two
mouth." letters will reveal that the only difference is one
very tiny line. A line so short it is just a point.
38
And the people took their dough before it
What is the difference between matza and was leavened, their kneading troughs being
chametz? To bake matza, we must have the matza bound up in their clothes upon their
cooked within 18 minutes of the time we first add shoulders.
water to the flour. If we go 18 minutes and one
seconds…. The matza becomes chametz. Now why did the children of Israel need to leave
so quickly?
The difference is one second! The same
ingredients that make matza, if left an extra Pesach was a time of an incredible, undeserved,
second will become chametz. Again, the outpouring of kindness and beneficence from
difference is very tiny. HaShem. The Bnei Israel had descended to the
49th level of impurity and had almost no merits
Keep in mind that the number 18 is written in with which to beseech HaShem for salvation.
Hebrew as: jh These two letters can be reversed Nevertheless, HaShem initiated a great
deliverance for Bnei Israel.
to spell: hj Which is the Hebrew word for life!
Therefore, the Torah says that the Bnei Israel left
Now if we eat chametz at Passover, the penalty is in haste.
spiritual excision:
Now, why did Bnei Israel have to leave in
Shemot (Exodus)12:15 Seven days shall ye “haste”? We have just had ten incredible miracles.
eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye We have had no work for the slaves for almost a
shall put away leaven out of your houses: month. The Egyptians are urging Israel to leave.
for whosoever eateth leavened bread from Why do they have to leave in a hurry? Their
the first day until the seventh day, that soul spiritual level is higher than it has been for
shall be cut off from Israel. generations. They have had the mitzvah of
Passover to lift them. Why do they have to leave
Shemot (Exodus) 12:19 Seven days shall in a hurry?
there be no leaven found in your houses: for
whosoever eateth that which is leavened, Some would say that if they had remained they
even that soul shall be cut off from the would have sunk beyond the 49th level of impurity,
congregation of Israel, whether he be a to reach a point of no return. I do not think that
stranger, or born in the land. there was “immediate” danger of this.

WOW! If we eat matza at Passover, it is a mitzva The Sages teach (one opinion) that if they had
derisa and we enter the sublime spiritual realms stayed another minute they would have become
because of the mitzva. But, if we eat the same like angels. They indicate that the spiritual energy
stuff that took a second longer to cook, we are was so great that it would have ushered in the
completely cut off from Israel! Such is the Messianic age before they had earned it. This is
transcendent level that Jews are to live. Time is why they had to leave in haste.
important!
This is where the Bnei Israel must live. They must
The Torah tells us that the Children of Israel left act when the spiritual energy is at its height.
so quickly that their dough was still matza and not
yet chametz: There is another thing to note in the hasty exodus:
The problem with one more minute in Egypt, is
Shemot (Shemot (Exodus)) 12:33-34 And ONE MORE MINUTE. HaShem’s people were
the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, called on to live at the transcendent moment when
that they might send them out of the land in there is a transfer of spiritual energy – the male
haste; for they said, We [be] all dead [men].
39
ecstatic experience. Them may not waste the male from Egypt: and none shall appear before
seed: me empty:)

Bereshit (Genesis) 38:9-10 And Onan knew Now Abib is the Hebrew term for the green ears of
that the seed should not be his; and it came barley. Pesach must be celebrated in the time of
to pass, when he went in unto his brother's the year when the Barley is in the green ear stage.
wife, that he spilled [it] on the ground, lest Pesach must take place at that time of the year
that he should give seed to his brother. And when the very first crop is ripening (as Israel was
the thing which he did displeased HaShem: ripening) when all of the other plants are just
wherefore he slew him also. beginning their new growth. It is at this
transitional point that the nation of Israel was
Jews are called to make the “seed” count. To live born. Israel was meant to be a nation which is
at that moment when there is a transfer of spiritual above time, constantly making themselves into
energy. This is why Avraham said that he was dust dust and ashes in order that they should have more
and ashes: new growth.

Bereshit (Genesis) 18:27 And Abraham This should not be too surprising when we
answered and said, Behold now, I have remember that the Bnei Israel are to live forever to
taken upon me to speak unto HaShem, serve HaShem. This is a state they earn by
which [am but] dust and ashes: constantly living beyond time, by constantly
making each moment new.
What are dust and ashes? Dust is the dirt that
nourishes new growth. Dust is what happens if we The Sages teach us that there is no punishment for
remove the water from a thing and put it through eating less that kasais, the bulk of an olive, of
fire. This implies that Avraham was constantly at forbidden food, if done accidentally. So, if a drom
the point of new growth. As soon as the new of milk accidentally falls in the beef stew, we are
growth took place, he would ash it and make it allowed to eat it. But one Torah prohibition does
into the fertilizer for new growth. He lived at the not follow this standard – chametz. If we even so
transitional point of the male ecstatic experience. much as posses, much less eat, the tiniest speck of
He was constantly changing himself to conform to chametz during Pesach, the punishment is keret,
the revelation of HaShem. spiritual excision. We have no other mitzvah like
it. This mitzvah declares that we are to live in the
From this, we can see why the Torah demands that moment which is beyond the reach of the Yetzer
Pesach should take place in the springtime: hara – a moment beyond time.

Shemot (Exodus) 12:2-3 This month [shall The Sages teach that the Yetzer hara, evil
be] unto you the beginning of months: it inclination, can not touch one who acts
[shall be] the first month of the year to you. immediately at the flash of inspiration from
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, HaShem. If we live at that transcendental moment,
saying, In the tenth [day] of this month they we will live beyond the reach of Paro’s magicians,
shall take to them every man a lamb, beyond the reach of evil. Then HaShem will
according to the house of [their] fathers, a reward us midda kneged midda, measure for
lamb for an house:.. measure.

Shemot (Exodus) 23:15 Thou shalt keep the The message is very clear: cross the spiritual
feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat threshold into the world above nature, and you are
unleavened bread seven days, as I untouchable by evil – by Amalek. Remain in the
commanded thee, in the time appointed of physical world of Amalek, and know that you will
the month Abib; for in it thou camest out be subject to the world and to evil..

40
The problem with one more minute in Egypt, was and finally the inspiration is fulfilled – and it is
one more minute! ours, we have earned it and its reward!

The Pesach Experience An example:

The Inspiration – The male ecstatic experience – The inspiration – the male ecstatic experience:
Our redemption is a gift from HaShem: Our wife on our honeymoon.

We are leaving slavery to serve HaShem! The death of the inspiration: Oh my! I married the
wrong woman!
Inspiration quashed:
The inspiration revived: We made up!
More work, no straw.
Double death of the inspiration: Fights, hassles,
The bad guys get 10 plagues. and money problems.

Inspiration revived! Inspiration fulfilled – the female ecstatic


experience: 50 years of hard work means that our
We go out of Egypt with a high hand! golden wedding anniversary and second
honeymoon are even better than our first. And this
Inspiration quashed with a vengeance! time all of our children are there too!

We are trapped between a sea and an army. Another example:

Inspiration Fulfilled – The gift is ours: The inspiration – the male ecstatic experience:
The teenager who knows everything, can be
The army is dead – we are free! anything he wants, and is impervious to bad
health.
The gift is removed – time to earn the
inspiration, time to build and prepare for birth The death of the inspiration: My first job, slinging
– The female ecstatic experience: hamburgers. I am NOT CEO of IBM. My fingers
all have burns and my back is aching.
50 days of hard work, then we will stand as
one at Mt. Sinai, then we will receive the The inspiration revived: I was made manager of
Torah. the hamburger joint.

Now, the inspiration has had its intended effect. Double death of the inspiration: Been working at
We have all attained to prophecy, we have the same hamburger joint for 15 years. I am not
united as one in our service of HaShem. The inspired, I have nothing to show for the last 15
female’s job of building has reached fruition years, I am getting a mid-life bulge, I found a gray
and a Torah nation is born! hair, and my wife needs more money.

This Passover pattern is repeated daily in our Inspiration fulfilled – the female ecstatic
lives: experience: 25 years later, I got promoted to CEO
The inspiration, of the burger joint. My gray hair is now a sign of
the death of the inspiration, my wisdom, I do not even notice the bulge, and
the revival of the inspiration, my wife and kids think that I am terrific!
the double death of the inspiration,
the hard work of earning what the inspiration So, what do we learn from this?
promised,
41
We learn that there is an overlap of the spiritual “for I am poor (’ani) and needy” (Ps. LXXXVI,
and the physical world: 1). Now this bread of affliction is called matza
(unleavened bread), symbolic of the female
principle, which without the male principle is, so
to speak, in poverty. Thus Israel were first brought
Spiritual Physical……... near the grade symbolized by matza. But
afterwards God caused them to enter other grades,
Where the spiritual overlaps the physical is where until the male principle joined the female
God’s people are supposed to live. They are principle, and so matza received the addition of
supposed to live in that moment of inspiration (the the letter vav, symbolic of the male principle, and
green area) before the evil has had the time to take became converted into mitzvah (command,
hold. We are called to act spiritually within the precept). So Scripture says: “For this
physical world. We are to live in that transcendent commandment” (Deut. XXX, 7): first matza
time which is too small for the evil inclination to (unleavened bread), then mitzvah
take hold. (commandment).’

We are supposed to ride that moment of


inspiration to the extent that we are so inspired Unleavened bread
that we never see the death of the inspiration, only
the constant building of that inspiration. We are to Shemot (Exodus) 12:15-20 For seven days
take the inspiration of Pesach and use it to build a you are to eat bread made without yeast. On
level that carries us through the entire year. 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
vmn – Matza at all on these days, except to prepare food
vumn – Mitzva for everyone to eat--that is all you may do.
"Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
because it was on this very day that I
Soncino Zohar, Bereshit, Section 1, Page 157a
brought your divisions out of Egypt.
As R. Hiya and R. Jose were once walking on the
Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance
road, the latter said: ‘Every time we walk together
for the generations to come. In the first
and discuss matters pertaining to the Torah, God
month you are to eat bread made without
performs for us miracles, and now that we have a
yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day
long road before us let us occupy ourselves in the
until the evening of the twenty-first day. For
Torah and so God will join us.’ R. Hiya then
seven days no yeast is to be found in your
opened with the verse: In the first month, on the
houses. And whoever eats anything with
fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat
yeast in it must be cut off from the
unleavened bread (Ex. XII, 18). ‘This unleavened
community of Israel, whether he is an alien
bread’, he said, ‘is called in another place “bread
or native-born. Eat nothing made with
of affliction” (Deut. XVI, 3), an expression on
yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat
which the companions have commented as
unleavened bread."
follows. When Israel were in Egypt they were
under an alien power; and when God desired to
Shemot (Exodus) 13:6-7 For seven days eat
bring them near unto Himself, He assigned them
bread made without yeast and on the
the region of the bread of ’oni (affliction), the term
seventh day hold a festival to HaShem. Eat
’oni admitting also of the reading ’ani (poor), and
unleavened bread during those seven days;
thus pointing to King David, who said of himself:
nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among
42
you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere regulations for the Passover: "No foreigner
within your borders. is to eat of it. Any slave you have bought
may eat of it after you have circumcised
Shemot (Exodus) 12:21-31 Then Moses him, But a temporary resident and a hired
summoned all the elders of Israel and said worker may not eat of it. "It must be eaten
to them, "Go at once and select the animals inside one house; take none of the meat
for your families and slaughter the Passover outside the house. Do not break any of the
lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the bones. The whole community of Israel must
blood in the basin and put some of the blood celebrate it. "An alien living among you
on the top and on both sides of the who wants to celebrate HaShem’s Passover
doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the must have all the males in his household
door of his house until morning. When circumcised; then he may take part like one
HaShem goes through the land to strike born in the land. No uncircumcised male
down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on may eat of it. The same law applies to the
the top and sides of the doorframe and will native-born and to the alien living among
pass over that doorway, and he will not you." All the Israelites did just what
permit the destroyer to enter your houses HaShem had commanded Moses and Aaron.
and strike you down. "Obey these And on that very day HaShem brought the
instructions as a lasting ordinance for you Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.
and your descendants. When you enter the
land that HaShem will give you as he Passover is the festival of "firsts"
promised, observe this ceremony. And when
your children ask you, 'What does this It is the first festival in the first month of the year.
ceremony mean to you?' Then tell them, 'It Shemot (Exodus) 12:2ff
is the Passover sacrifice to HaShem, who It is the festival of the firstborn of God, Israel.
passed over the houses of the Israelites in
Egypt and spared our homes when he struck It is the festival where the firstborn of the wicked
down the Egyptians.'" Then the people are destroyed.
bowed down and worshiped. The Israelites
did just what HaShem commanded Moses It is the festival where Israel is first called a
and Aaron. At midnight HaShem struck "congregation". Shemot (Exodus) 12:3
down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the
firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, It is the first sacred assembly.
to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in Shemot (Exodus)
the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the 12:16
livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his
officials and all the Egyptians got up during It is the festival where God first said that the first
the night, and there was loud wailing in male belongs to Him. Shemot (Exodus)
Egypt, for there was not a house without 13:2
someone dead. During the night Pharaoh
summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! The Passover memorial
Leave my people, you and the Israelites!
Go, worship HaShem as you have Shemot (Exodus) 34:25 "Do not offer the
requested. blood of a sacrifice to me along with
anything containing yeast, and do not let
"What does this ceremony mean to you?" - This is any of the sacrifice from the Passover Feast
the Haggadah question asked by the wicked son. remain until morning.

Shemot (Exodus) 12:43-51 HaShem said to Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:4-5 "'These are
Moses and Aaron, "These are the HaShem’s appointed feasts, the sacred
43
assemblies you are to proclaim at their from Egypt, has the ability to bring forth actual
appointed times: HaShem’s Passover begins redemption from the potential. Shabbat also has
at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first this ability to express and crystallize the latent
month. power of the week that follows it. Therefore, every
Shabbat HaGadol contains the capability of the
redemption from Egypt, for "the great and
Passover is to be celebrated forever...not just until awesome day of HaShem" -- the day of the final
Yeshua came! redemption, is already awakened in it.
(Maharal)
Shemot (Exodus) 12:17 "Celebrate the
Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was
on this very day that I brought your IX. Passover vs. Unleavened Bread
divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as
a lasting ordinance for the generations to Some have suggested that Passover and the Feast
come. of Unleavened bread are two different feasts on
two different days. I believe the scriptures teach
that these are two names for the same festival,
VIII. Names given to the Passover Festival observe that:

The festival of Passover is given four different 1. The day they came out of Egypt, which was
names in either the Bible or in the oral Torah: Passover day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
begins a festival that lasts for seven days and is to
1. The Festival of Pesach - Shemot (Exodus) be observed by eating unleavened bread.
34:25.
Shemot (Exodus) 13:3-8 Then Moses said
2. The Festival of Matzot - Shemot (Exodus) to the people, "Commemorate this day, the
23:15 & 34:18. day you came out of Egypt, out of the land
of slavery, because HaShem brought you
3. The Time of Freedom and Redemption - out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing
(Mishna Pesachim 10:5). containing yeast. Today, in the month of
Abib, you are leaving. When HaShem brings
4. The Festival of Spring (Devarim you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites,
(Deuteronomy) 16:1). Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites--the land he
swore to your forefathers to give you, a land
The first night of Passover is also called the "night flowing with milk and honey--you are to
of vigil" or the "night of seder" -- order. Where observe this ceremony in this month: For
does the "seder" come from? We are told that it is seven days eat bread made without yeast
in recognition of the fact that when the children of and on the seventh day hold a festival to
Israel fled Egypt -- though in great haste -- they HaShem. Eat unleavened bread during
did so with a sense of order rather than of chaos. those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is
to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast
"Behold! I send you Eliyahu the prophet before be seen anywhere within your borders. On
the great and awesome day of HaShem" (7:3).The that day tell your son, 'I do this because of
night of Pesach is called "A night of guardings," what HaShem did for me when I came out of
when the Jewish People are guarded from their Egypt.'
enemies. "A night of guardings" also implies that
the night of Pesach is `guarded' -- set aside for all 2. Passover is specifically said to last seven days70:
time -- as the night of the final redemption. In 70
other words, every year, the night of Pesach, See Chizkuni on Shmot 12:15 (in the middle of his pirush)
where he explains that chag ha'matzot is specifically seven
because it contains the power of the redemption days to correspond to the seven days that each plague lasted.
44
on this very day that I brought your
Yehezekel (Ezekiel) 45:21 "'In the first divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as
month on the fourteenth day you are to a lasting ordinance for the generations to
observe the Passover, a feast lasting seven come. In the first month you are to eat bread
days, during which you shall eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the
made without yeast. fourteenth day until the evening of the
twenty-first day. For seven days no yeast is
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:1-6 Observe to be found in your houses. And whoever
the month of Abib and celebrate the eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off
Passover of HaShem your God, because in from the community of Israel, whether he is
the month of Abib he brought you out of an alien or native-born. Eat nothing made
Egypt by night. Sacrifice as the Passover to with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat
HaShem your God an animal from your unleavened bread."
flock or herd at the place HaShem will
choose as a dwelling for his Name. Do not Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:5 HaShem’s
eat it with bread made with yeast, but for Passover begins at twilight on the
seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread fourteenth day of the first month.
of affliction, because you left Egypt in
haste--so that all the days of your life you Ezra puts the Feast of Unleavened Bread and
may remember the time of your departure Passover into the same context. This context
from Egypt. Let no yeast be found in your indicates both names, the fourteenth of the first
possession in all your land for seven days. month, and that it was celebrated for seven days.
Do not let any of the meat you sacrifice on Thus, Ezra gives evidence that even in his day
the evening of the first day remain until Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are
morning. You must not sacrifice the the same festival.
Passover in any town HaShem your God
gives you Except in the place he will choose Ezra 6:19-22 On the fourteenth day of the
as a dwelling for his Name. There you must first month, the exiles celebrated the
sacrifice the Passover in the evening, when Passover. The priests and Levites had
the sun goes down, on the anniversary of purified themselves and were all
your departure from Egypt. ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered
the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for
3. The Feast of Unleavened bread began on the their brothers the priests and for
fourteenth day of the first month as did Passover: themselves. So the Israelites who had
returned from the exile ate it, together with
Shemot (Exodus) 12:14-20 "This is a day all who had separated themselves from the
you are to commemorate; for the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors
generations to come you shall celebrate it in order to seek HaShem, the God of Israel.
as a festival to HaShem--a lasting For seven days they celebrated with joy the
ordinance. For seven days you are to eat Feast of Unleavened Bread, because
bread made without yeast. On the first day HaShem had filled them with joy by
remove the yeast from your houses, for changing the attitude of the king of Assyria,
whoever eats anything with yeast in it from so that he assisted them in the work on the
the first day through the seventh must be cut house of God, the God of Israel.
off from Israel. On the first day hold a
sacred assembly, and another one on the The disciples give us another clear example of
seventh day. Do no work at all on these how the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened
days, except to prepare food for everyone to Bread are the same festival in:
eat--that is all you may do. "Celebrate the
Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was
45
Matityahu (Matthew) 26:17 On the first day of single festival which lasts for seven days. A short
the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came look at any Jewish calendar will also verify the
to Yeshua and asked, "Where do you want us to understanding and command of the Pharisees.
make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
The Babylonian Talmud, Soncino edition, in
For those who say that Passover occurs BEFORE Mo'ed Katan 2a, contains a footnote which says:
the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the above passage
indicates otherwise. The above passage clearly has “I.e., during the middle period of the two
preparation for Passover beginning on the first longer Feasts, namely, the ‘Feast of
Day of Unleavened Bread! Unleavened Bread’ (Passover) and that of
Tabernacles, v. Introduction.”
This next passage put the Passover and the feast of
Unleavened bread together in terms of time; i.e. Which clearly indicates that Passover is just
they were BOTH two days away on the same day! another name for the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Marqos (Mark) 14:1 Now the Passover and the So, I believe I have sufficiently proven that
Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days Passover and the Feast of Unleavened both: Start
away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first
law were looking for some sly way to arrest month.
Yeshua and kill him.
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened both: Last
This next passage makes a Passover seder happen for seven days.
on the first day of Unleavened Bread.
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened both:
Marqos (Mark) 14:12 On the first day of Commemorate the day Israel, and a large mixed
the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was multitude, left Egypt.
customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb,
Yeshua' disciples asked him, "Where do you Passover and the Feast of Unleavened both: Are
want us to go and make preparations for the same festival according to the Pharisees.
you to eat the Passover?"
The Torah calls Pesach "Chag HaMatzot." But we
In this next passage, Luqas (Luke) flat out calls call it "Pesach." Why is this so? Rav Chaim
the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Passover: Volozhiner explains as follows:

Luqas (Luke) 22:1 Now the Feast of The word Matzot and the word Mitzvot are spelled
Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was exactly the same in Hebrew. Thus "Chag
approaching, HaMatzot" can be read "Chag HaMitzvot,"
meaning that by leaving Egypt and receiving the
Our Messiah, Yeshua, Torah, the Jewish People now have the
commanded us to obey the Pharisees in: opportunity to earn great reward by doing the
Mitzvot.
Matityahu (Matthew) 23:2-3 "The teachers
of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' Pesach, on the other hand, means Passover:
seat. So you must obey them and do HaShem "passed over" the houses of the Bnei
everything they tell you. But do not do what Israel. By calling it Pesach, we emphasize the
they do, for they do not practice what they good that HaShem has done for us.
preach.
Our Sages teach us not to serve HaShem with an
The Pharisees have commanded us to celebrate eye to the reward; rather we should serve Him out
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a of a sense of love and gratitude. By calling it
46
Pesach we de-emphasize the reward that each rags as a weary traveler, carry a satchel upon his
Mitzvah brings, and instead focus on the good that back go outside, and knock on the door. Upon
HaShem has done for us. entering the house, he would ask: "Where have the
Rabbi Reuven Lauffer children of Israel gone?" Those assembled would
reply: "To Eretz Israel -- the Land of Israel." The
"traveler" would then ask: "Who saved Israel?"
X. Passover Customs And receive the answer, "Our father Moses." After
this exchange, the "traveler" was made welcome
Ever since there has been a Passover to celebrate, and the seder would begin.
it has been an occasion marked by a variety of
customs and rites special to different Jewish In Libya, the head of the family would wrap half
communities throughout the world. Some of the Afikomen in cloth and place it upon his
traditions are held in common. On the first night shoulder. He would leave the room, return, and be
of Pesach, every Jew is required to perform five asked by those gathered: "Where have you been?"
mitzvot. Two are required by the Torah: To which he would reply: "In Egypt." He is next
asked: "Where are you going?" And would
1. To eat matza (Shemot 12:18); answer: "To Jerusalem." At this point, everyone
2. To recount the story of the Exodus from Egypt would sing out: "Next year in Jerusalem!"
(Shemot 13:8).
In other North African communities, the men
The other three are rabbinical ordinances: would gather in the streets, carrying walking
sticks, and greet each other by saying: "This is
1. To drink four cups of wine; how our forefathers left Egypt." The Jews of
2. To eat maror; Algiers would sing in the streets" "When Israel
3. To recite Hallel, the psalms of praise. left Egypt and Jacob left a foreign land." Such
customs, with slight variations, were common
Other traditions are characteristic of specific amongst the Jews of Babylon, Kurdistan, the
communities and we find a great diversity of Caucasus and Salonika.
eating customs, as well as what defines chametz
(leaven), between Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews. Several Hassidic communities in Europe followed
One of the traditions held in common is that of a similar custom by having a member of the
drinking four cups of wine. But whereas household present himself to the rabbi with a sack
Ashkenazi Jews have always poured a fifth cup in of matzo. The rabbi would ask: "Where have you
honor of the prophet Elijah, it is only in recent come from?" To which he was answered: "From
generations of Sephardim that we find this custom. Egypt." The rabbi would express astonishment by
Jews of western background have traditionally saying: "How is it possible to go beyond the
opened the door for the prophet as part of the closed gates of Egypt when you are but a slave?"
"vigil" and to demonstrate that on this night the The rabbi would be told: "Tonight is the night of
House of Israel knows no fear but we find this vigil, the night of order -- God has given us
custom in only a few Sephardic communities. wonders and miracles and has brought us from
slavery into freedom."
There can be no doubt that the deliverance of the
children of Israel from Egypt marks one of the During the Seder it is traditional for the youngest
most dramatic and pivotal events in Jewish child to ask four questions about the uniqueness of
history. Various communities throughout the Passover, which the leader answers. Children are
world, paying heed to the Haggadah's admonition encouraged to participate and to think of their
that each of us must feel as if we personally had history as if they themselves had been delivered
experienced this deliverance, have dramatized the from slavery. They are also taught in the
Exodus in highly personalized fashion. A member Haggadah that, because the Israelites were
of a Moroccan Jewish household would dress in
47
strangers in Egypt, Jews must remember to houses, for whoever eats anything with
welcome strangers in their midst. yeast in it from the first day through the
seventh must be cut off from Israel. On the
OF EGGS AND SYMBOLISM first day hold a sacred assembly, and
another one on the seventh day. Do no work
An egg is always placed upon the seder plate. at all on these days, except to prepare food
Some say that the round egg -- a symbol of for everyone to eat--that is all you may do.
mourning -- is eaten in memory of either the "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
destruction of the Temple, the exile of the Jews, or because it was on this very day that I
the death of Moses. Perhaps all of the above. brought your divisions out of Egypt.
Another explanation for this custom is that, Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance
according to tradition, the eating of eggs was for the generations to come. In the first
forbidden by Egyptian law at the time of the month you are to eat bread made without
Exodus and therefore it is eaten at the seder in yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day
celebration of freedom. The egg also represents until the evening of the twenty-first day. For
the Chagigah, the festival offering, offered at seven days no yeast is to be found in your
Pesach. houses. And whoever eats anything with
yeast in it must be cut off from the
Learned scholars of the mystical kabbala attach community of Israel, whether he is an alien
profound meaning to the symbols of Passover. or native-born. Eat nothing made with
Chametz, for example, which Jews traditionally do yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat
their best to be rid of before the seder, is symbolic unleavened bread."
of man's evil inclinations. The matzo, on the other
hand, symbolizes man's positive inclinations. Evening: same as the above definition
Different symbols, different customs and
traditions, all become part of the glorious Jewish Shemot (Exodus) 13:6-7 For seven days eat
mosaic which is the Festival of Passover. bread made without yeast and on the
seventh day hold a festival to HaShem. Eat
Unleavened bread unleavened bread during those seven days;
nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among
Shemot (Exodus) 12:15-20 For seven days you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere
you are to eat bread made without yeast. On within your borders.
the first day remove the yeast from your
This Mishna is cited as a support for establishing
The Mishna: the Halakhah according to the view of Rabbi
The olah (the burnt offering) is a sacrifice of the Elazar ben Azariah, whose position is that the
kodshei kodashim (the most sanctified category). Korban Pesach can only be eaten until midnight
Its blood is sprinkled upon the altar in two and not like the position of Rabbi Akiva that it can
applications which are like four. be eaten by Torah Law until dawn.

The Method: The Application:


The Korban (literally means "to draw near") Even though we have no Korban Pesach today this
Pesach (paschal lamb sacrifice eaten on the eve of ruling affects us in regard to the schedule of our
Pesach in the time of the Beit HaMikdash) may be Pesach Seder. The Sage Rava states (Pesachim
eaten only at night (not on the day it is slaughtered 120b) that since the Torah links the mitzvah of
as is the case in regard to all other sacrifices) and eating matza to that of Korban Pesach, one must
only until midnight. eat matza -- which is a mitzvah even when there is
no Korban -- before midnight according to Rabbi
The Halakhah: Elazar ben Azariah in order to fulfill the mitzvah.

48
Other Ramifications: slaughtered it before the daily afternoon offering,
Both Tosefot and Rabeinu Nissim extend this it is acceptable, provided that someone stir the
midnight deadline to the eating of the Afikomen as blood of the Pesach offering so that it will not
well since it is eaten as a remembrance of the congeal until the blood of the daily afternoon
Korban Pesach. In regard to the recital of Hallel offering will have been sprinkled, and then the
after the Afikomen, however, there is a difference blood of the Pesach offering is sprinkled once
of opinion. Rabeinu Nissim in Mesechta Megillah toward the base of the altar.
quotes a Tosefist opinion that it too should be
recited before midnight. But the Tosefot in How is it done? The shochet slaughters it, and the
Megillah 21a notes that since Hallel is only a first Kohen at the head of the line receives it and
rabbinic obligation one need not be so stringent hands it over to his colleague, and his colleague to
about saying it before midnight. his colleague, and the Kohen nearest the altar
sprinkles it once toward the base of the altar.
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 477:1) rules
that the Afikomen should be eaten before He returns the empty vessel to his colleague, and
midnight but makes no mention of Hallel. The his colleague to his colleague, receiving first the
Rama, however, adds that one should conduct the full vessel and then returning the empty one. 71

Seder early enough to allow for reciting Hallel


before midnight. Based on the aforementioned There were rows of silver vessels and rows of
sources we can well understand why the Mishna golden vessels, and the vessels did not have flat
Berurah points out that an effort should be made bottoms, lest they set them down and the blood
in regard to Hallel before midnight but that is not become congealed.
as serious a requirement as the Afikomen.
Zevachim 57b Afterwards they hung the Pesach offering, flayed
it completely, tore it open, cleansed its bowels
*** until the wastes were removed.

ORDER OF THE PESACH OFFERING They took out the parts offered on the altar,
SAID AFTER THE MINCHA (AFTERNOON) namely, the fat that is on the entrails, the lobe of
PRAYER the liver, the two kidneys with the fat on them, and
the tail up to the backbone, and placed them in a
"We offer the words of our lips in place of the ritual vessel.
sacrifice of bullocks."
The Kohen then salted them and burned them
The Mincha prayer is instead of the daily upon the altar, each one individually.
afternoon offering, and in the time of the Beit
HaMikdash the Pesach offering was sacrificed The slaughtering, the sprinkling of its blood, the
after the daily afternoon offering. Thus it is cleansing of its bowels and the burning of its fat
appropriate to study the order of the Pesach override the Shabbat, but other things pertaining to
offering after Mincha, and say the following: it do not override the Shabbat.

The Pesach offering is brought from yearling male Likewise, if [the fourteenth of Nissan] falls on
lambs or goats, and slaughtered anywhere in the Shabbat, the Pesach offerings are not carried
Temple court only after midday of the fourteenth home, but one group remains with their Pesach
of Nissan, after the slaughtering of the daily offerings on the Temple mount, the second group
afternoon offering and after the afternoon cleaning sits in the chel [an area just outside the Temple
of the cups of the menorah. 71
This sequence avoids delaying the fulfillment of a precept by doing
something else. [Receiving the full vessel involves the precept of sprinkling
One should not slaughter the Pesach offering the blood in it on the altar; thus must precede handing back an empty
vessel.]
while chametz is in his possession. If he
49
court], and the third stands in its place [in the If the Pesach offering was found to be unfit, one
courtyard]. did not fulfill his obligation until he brings another
one.
After nightfall they go to their places and roast the
Pesach offering. This is a very brief description of the order of the
Pesach offering. The God-fearing person should
The Pesach offering was slaughtered in three recite it in its proper time, that its recital shall be
groups, each group consisting of no less than regarded in place of its offering.
thirty men.
One should be concerned about the destruction of
The first group entered, the Temple court was the Beit HaMikdash, and plead before God, the
filled, they closed [its doors], and while they were Creator of the universe, that He rebuild it speedily
slaughtering it and offering its parts on the altar, in our days; Amen.
they [the Levi'im] recited the Hallel; if they ***
finished [Hallel] before all sacrificed, they
repeated it, and if they repeated it [and were not HaShem's Passover lamb can only be slain at the
finished yet], they recited it a third time. place where God put His name - The Temple:

Each time Hallel was recited, [the Kohanim, the Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:5-6 You must
priests] sounded three blasts of the trumpet: not sacrifice the Passover in any town
tekiah, Teruah, tekiah. HaShem your God gives you Except in the
place he will choose as a dwelling for his
When the offering was ended, they opened the Name. There you must sacrifice the
doors of the Temple court, the first group went out Passover in the evening, when the sun goes
and the second entered, and they closed the doors down, on the anniversary of your departure
of the Temple court. from Egypt.

When they finished, they opened the doors, the ***


second group went out and the third entered.
LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF PESACH
The procedure of each group was the same. Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson

After they all had left, they washed the Temple 1. Thirty Days Before The Festival
court, even on Shabbat, of the filth of the blood.
1. Our Sages of blessed memory instituted that 30
How was the washing done? A water duct passed days before Pesach, the laws of Pesach should
through the Temple court and had an outlet from begin to be expounded in public.
the court.
2. In our generation, however, when all the laws
When they wished to wash the floor, they shut the have been written in the "Shulchan Aruch," it is a
outlet and the stream overflowed its sides until the mitzvah for everyone to learn the laws of Pesach--
water rose and flooded the [floor] all around and until one knows them well and knows what to do.
all the blood and dirt of the court were gathered to
it. 3. Throughout the thirty days before Pesach, we
are careful that no chametz should become
Then they opened the outlet, everything flowed attached to anything to the extent that it cannot
out and the floor was completely clean; this is the easily be removed by Erev Pesach. There is also a
honor of the Temple. custom to begin cleaning the house and dishes
beginning 30 days before Pesach due to the large
amount of work involved.
50
Shabbat, they took the lamb they were going to
4. During the 30 days before Pesach, one should use for a sacrifice. When the Egyptian first- born
avoid eating matza. saw this, they asked the Jews why they were doing
so. The Jews answered: "This is a 'Korban Pesach'
2. The Month of Nissan for G-d who is going to kill the Egyptian
firstborn." The firstborn went to their parents and
1. We do not say "Tachanun" during the entire Pharaoh, and begged them to release the Jews in
month of Nissan, nor do we say "av harachamim" Egypt. When they refused, the firstborn fought a
or "tzidkoscho tzedek" on the "Shabbatot" of this war with them, and killed many of them. This is
month. the meaning of the verse: "Who struck Egypt
through its firstborn ..." i.e., G-d struck the
2. From Rosh Chodesh Nissan until the 12th of Egyptian through their own firstborn. This
Nissan inclusive in the morning after "shacharit," Shabbat was therefore designated as remembrance
we say the "nossi" of the day (in parsha "Nosso"). of this miracle, and is called "Shabbat HaGadol."

3. After the "nossi" we say the "yehi ratzon." 2. When "Shabbat HaGadol" is on Erev Pesach the
Kohanim and Leviim also say it. 4. On the 13th of "Haftorah" read is "V'orvoh." But if "Shabbat
Nissan we say from "Zos Chanukat hamizbeiach" HaGadol" falls on one of the previous days, we
until "ken osah et hamenorah" (in the beginning of read the "Haftorah" of that week's Torah portion.
parshat "Behaloscho"). This corresponds to the
tribe of Levi. 3. On "Shabbat HaGadol" (if it is not the day
before Pesach), it is customary for the Rabbi to
5. There is no fasting during the month of Nissan, teach his community the laws of Pesach, showing
except for the firstborn who do fast on Erev them the ways of G-d and instructing them what
Pesach and a bridegroom and bride who do fast on they should do.
the day of their wedding but not on "Isru Chag"
(the day after Pesach). 4. At "Mincha" on "Shabbat HaGadol" we recite
in the Haggadah from "avodim hoyinu" until
3. B’rakhah on the Trees "lechaper al kol avonoseinu," because the
redemption and miracles began on that Shabbat.
1. In the days of Nissan, when one sees trees in
bloom, one should say the following B’rakhah: 5. Mo'os Chittim (Money for Matzoths) and the
Matza Campaign
Blessed are You, L-rd, King of the universe,
who has caused nothing to be lacking in His 1. It is a Jewish custom that every Jew should
universe, and has created in it goodly contribute money for "mo'os chittim." This money
creatures and goodly trees wherewith to is distributed to the poor so that they can buy
bring delight to mankind. matzoth for Pesach.

2. This B’rakhah is only said when one first sees 2. The Lubavitcher Rebbe Shlita instituted that
the blossoming each year, and it is said only on before Pesach we should endeavor to send round,
seeing fruit-trees in bloom. hand-baked "sh'murah matzoth" to our
acquaintances to be used on Pesach (at least for
4. Shabbat HaGadol the "Sedorim"). Likewise, wherever communal
"sedorim" are organized (at hotels, etc.) the
1. The Shabbat before Pesach is called Shabbat organizers should ensure that the matzoth used are
HaGadol ("the Great Shabbat") because a great of this type.
miracle happened on that Shabbat. The Jews in
Egypt were commanded to sacrifice the "Korban 6. Prohibition of Chametz
Pesach." On the tenth of Nissan, which was then
51
1. Chametz includes grains or flour of the Five 2. Beginning one-half hour before nightfall, one
Species of Grain (wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt) should not begin a meal or any work that will take
that have become leavened, i.e., they have come in some time, in case one will miss the time assigned
contact with water and remained at least 18 to the beginning of the search.
minutes without any kneading or agitation
whatsoever. 3. The community should pray "Ma’ariv" as soon
as it is night, and then immediately begin the
2. Throughout the eight days of Pesach, we are search for chametz.
prohibited from eating or deriving any benefit
from chametz. Nor may chametz be found or seen 4. If a person is always accustomed to pray with a
in the home of a Jew. This is true even if it has "minyan," and this time he does not do so, he
been mixed with something else. Therefore, any should first pray and then search for chametz.
product containing the slightest amount of However, if he is always accustomed to pray
chametz of any derivative of these Five Species is alone, he should first search for the chametz.
considered chametz.
5. Before the search one should clean all the
3. A Jew who owns any chametz during Pesach is rooms well, so that one can search them properly.
at every moment transgressing the Torah One should also clean under the beds in case some
prohibition against chametz being in one's chametz was misplaced there. It is customary to
possession. When chametz is owned by a Jew sweep the house by 13 Nissan to enable the search
during Pesach, it is forbidden to derive any benefit to begin promptly at the nightfall of 14 Nissan.
from it forever, even if one nullified it before
Pesach. 6. Before the search, we should conceal the
chametz that we wish to eat later. This is to
4. The Torah commands us to destroy all chametz prevent small children or mice from taking the
in our possession on the day before Pesach. Our chametz into the places and rooms which have
sages added the obligation to search our already been searched.
possessions for chametz the night before Pesach
and burn whatever we have found on the 7. Before the search, we take 10 pieces of hard
following day. chametz, and place them in different places in the
house. Each piece should be wrapped in paper to
5. If we have a large amount of chametz, we may ensure that it will not crumble.
sell it to a Gentile before Pesach, as long as it is
still within the time that we may derive benefit 8. We use a wax candle and a feather for the
from it. search. We put any chametz found in the search in
a paper bag, and also to dig crumbs out from
6. It is forbidden to use any utensils, ovens or cracks, etc.
stoves, that were used during the year with
chametz, since the chametz has become absorbed. 9. Before the search, the head of the house recites
The custom is to use special equipment on Pesach. the following "B’rakhah":
However, someone who cannot obtain special
utensils can consult a competent Rabbi concerning Bo-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech
the methods of purging the chametz and rendering Ha-olam A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-
the utensils fit for Pesach use. sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Al Be-or Cha-metz. Blessed
are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe
7. Bedikat Chametz (Searching for Chametz)
Who has sanctified us with His
1. We must search for chametz on the night of commandments and commanded us
Erev Pesach immediately after nightfall. concerning the removal of chametz.

52
The members of the household should gather to
hear the "B’rakhah," with the intention that the "All leaven or anything leavened which is in
"B’rakhah" should cover them as well; they then my possession, which I have neither seen or
go and search their assigned places. removed, and about which I am unaware,
shall be considered nothing and ownerless
10. We may not talk between the "B’rakhah" and as the dust of the earth."
the beginning of the search--even about things that
concern the search. We may not talk about things 18. One who does not understand the Aramaic
that do not concern the search during the entire should say "kol chamirah" in any language one
search. understands. However, if one knows that the
intention of "kol chamirah" is to "m'vattel" the
11. Immediately after the "B’rakhah" we should chametz, one must say it in the original although
search the room closest to the place where the one does not understand the Aramaic.
blessing was heard.
19. The main idea behind the "bittul" is that one
12. The search must be conducted by the light of a decides with all one's heart that the chametz in
candle. one's possession should be "bottel" --i.e., belong to
no one, as the dust of the earth.
13. We must search for chametz in all rooms,
including the attic and the basement, and 20. After the search we must be very careful that
everywhere chametz may have been brought in the chametz kept for burning, as well as the
during the year. chametz left for eating, should not be carried
around. This is to ensure that it will not crumble.
14. We must search for chametz in the holes and We must also be careful that it should not be
cracks, in hidden places and in the corners. carried or dragged away by small children (or
mice!).
15. We need to search in the holes only as far as
the hand reaches; it will suffice to "m'vattel" [to 21. People leaving their home before Pesach must
make null and void. In relation to chametz it search for Chametz the night before their
means to render the chametz ownerless, thus departure without saying a "B’rakhah."
avoiding the prohibition against owning chametz
on Pesach] that which is further in. 22. Synagogues should be inspected on the night
of the 14th of Nissan by the light of a candle
16. After completing the search, we put the bag, because children bring chametz there all year
feather and the remains of the candle (if any), in a round.
wooden spoon. We wrap them all up in a paper,
and tie the paper tightly with string, with the 23. In the fifth hour ("zemanis") of erev Pesach
handle of the spoon protruding. when we may no longer eat chametz, we must
burn the chametz and at the same time say the
17. Soon after the search one must perform the second "kol chamirah."
ceremony of "bittul"--the nullification of the
hidden chametz (which might be located "kol ha-me-rah va-cha-me-ah d'e-cah ve-
somewhere in one's possession), and say the first r'shu-cee dah-cha-zee -tay u-d'lah cha-zee-
"kol chamirah" (the passage that forms the first tay da-cha-me-tay u-d'lah cha-me-tay d've-
stage in the process of "bittul"). ar-tay u-d'lah ve-ahr-tay le-bah-tayl v'leh-
heh-vay heph -kayr c'af-rah d'ar-ah"
"kol ha-me-rah va-cha-me-ah d'e-cah ve-
r'shu-cee d'lah cha-me -say u-d'lah ve-ar- "All leaven or anything leavened which is in
tay u-d'lah y'da-nah lay le-bah-tayl v'leh my possession, which I have seen it or not,
-heh-vay heph-kayr c'af-rah d'ar-ah" whether I have observed it or not whether I
53
have removed it or not shall be considered is divided into 12 equal "hours," each of which is
nothing and ownerless as the dust of the called an "hour zemanis"--as opposed to a clock
earth." hour which equals 60 minutes. E.g., if the daytime
is 15 hours, each "hour zemanis" is one and one
8. Chametz During Pesach quarter clock hours) before midday, one should
make sure that the transfer of the chametz to the
1. If one finds chametz in the house during the Rabbi takes place well before this time.
days of "Chol HaMoed Pesach" one should
remove it from the house and burn it. If the ****************************************
chametz is the size of a "kezayis" (lit. "like an
olive"--a measurement of volume; a "kezayis" of To avoid having Chametz in your possession
matza is one ounce), the "B’rakhah" "al biur during Passover, please fill out this "Mechiris
chametz" is recited at the burning. Chametz" form and give it to a competent Rabbi.

2. However, if chametz is found during the days of DELEGATION OF POWER FOR SALE OF
Yom Tov, or on "Shabbat Chol-HaMoed," when it CHOMETZ
may not be moved from its place (for it is
"muktzeh"), one covers it with a vessel until KNOW YE that I, the undersigned, fully empower
nightfall (of "Motzie Shabbat" or Yom Tov), and and permit Rabbi ____________________ to act
then burns it. in my place and stead, and in my behalf to sell all
chametz possessed by me (knowingly or
3. If one finds chametz on the last days of Yom unknowingly) as defined by the Torah and
Tov, one burns it on "Motzie Yom Tov" without a Rabbinic Law (e.g., chametz, possible chametz,
"B’rakhah"--even if it is the size of a "kezayis." and all kinds of chametz mixtures). Also chametz
that tends to harden and to adhere to inside
4. Pesach does not end until after nightfall of the surfaces of pans, pots or cooking and usable
8th day. All the laws of Pesach are binding until utensils. And to lease all places wherein the
that time. Therefore, absolute care should be taken chametz owned by me may be found, especially in
**not** to buy bread or any articles of chametz the premises located
until the holiday is entirely over. One should be at_______________________________________
careful **not** to buy bread or any other chametz _________________ and elsewhere.
even after Pesach, that was baked or prepared
during Pesach, because it is forbidden to use any Rabbi __________________ has the full right to
chametz that was owned by a Jew during Pesach sell and to lease by transactions as he deems fit
**even after** Pesach. and proper and for such time which he believes
necessary in accordance with all detailed terms
9. Mechiras Chametz (Selling The Chametz) and detailed forms as explained in the general
authorization contract which have been given this
1. It is prohibited to possess chametz on Pesach year to Rabbi _________________ full power and
and one is not allowed to derive any benefit from authority to appoint a substitute in his stead with
such chametz. Also, chametz which was in the full power to sell and to lease as provided therein.
possession of a Jew on Pesach may not be used The above given power is in conformity with all
even after the Yom Tov. Therefore, any chametz Torah, Rabbinical regulations and laws, and also
which cannot be eaten or disposed of before in accordance with laws of the State of
Pesach must be sold to a Gentile. _______________________ and of the United
States, or in accordance with the laws of
2. Since the Rabbi must sell the chametz on Erev _____________________. And to this I hereby
Pesach before the end of the fifth hour ("zemanis") affix my signature on the ______________ day of
which is one "sho'oh zemanis" (lit. "time hour"; Nissan in the year _____.
the day, beginning at sunrise and ending at sunset,
54
Signature:
________________________________________ 2. We do not say "mizmor Lesodah" on erev
___ Pesach and "Chol-HaMoed Pesach."

**Please Print** 3. We may eat chametz on erev Pesach only until


the end of the fourth hour ("zemanis"), i.e., only
Name____________________________________ within the first third of the day.
____________
4. We may, however, derive benefit from the
Address__________________________________ chametz until the end of the fifth hour
___________ City/State/Zip ("zemanis").
(City/Country)_______________________
5. Within the fifth hour ("zemanis"), and no later,
**************************************** we make a fire, burn the chametz, and "m'vattel"
the chametz, by saying the second "kol chamirah."
3. There are many legal intricacies covering this
transfer of property and only a competent Rabbi 6. We shake out the pockets of our own clothing
should be entrusted to actually sell the chametz to and those of our children to ensure that no crumbs
a Gentile. of chametz remain.

4. The Alter Rebbe instituted the practice of 7. We should be careful to take a haircut and cut
selling the chametz to a Gentile through an "agent- our nails before midday of erev Pesach. After
guarantor" ("orev kablan") and this practice has midday we may take a haircut only if given by a
spread among many communities. Gentile; we may, however, cut our nails ourselves
even after midday if we did not do so earlier.
5. If one is going abroad, or in case of emergency
when the chametz cannot be sold, a competent 8. We may not eat matza on erev Pesach. Even
Rabbi should be consulted. small children, if they are mature enough to
understand what they will be told at night about
6. All vessels which have been used with chametz, the Exodus from Egypt, may not be given any
as well as any chametz that will not be eaten matza on erev Pesach.
before Pesach but to be sold, should be put aside
in a secure place. The vessels should be 9. It is also customary that from erev Pesach until
thoroughly cleaned of any trace of chametz. If after "Karech" of the second seder, we do not eat
possible, these and other items included in the sale any of the types of food that make up the
of chametz should be stored in a locked room with "charoset" and the "maror."
the key out of reach.
10. On erev Pesach we must remember to separate
7. The custom of "Chasidim" is that when they challah from the matzoth (if it hadn't been
have received some article of food or drink from separated in the matza bakery).
their Rebbe and it cannot be kept on Pesach
(because of chametz), they are very careful not to 11. If the second day of Pesach is a Friday, then
sell it with the chametz, but to eat or drink it on erev Pesach (Wednesday) we must perform the
before Pesach. "Eruv Tavshillin" ceremony.

10. Erev Pesach 12. On erev Pesach after "Mincha," before sunset,
we say the "seder Korban Pesach."
1. We rise early for prayer on erev Pesach so we
can finish the chametz meal within the time we are 11. Taanit Bechorim (Fast of the Firstborn)
allowed to eat chametz.
55
1. When G-d killed the firstborn of Egypt, He dressed in their "Yom-Tov" clothes, and went to
spared the first- born of Jews. Therefore, all male bake the "matzos mitzvah."
firstborn Jews fast on the day before Pesach in
gratitude to G-d. 13. When Erev Pesach Falls On Shabbat

2. It has, however, been a custom for many 1. When "erev Pesach" falls on Shabbat, we search
centuries that the fast is broken by a "seudat for "chametz" on Thursday evening, the eve of 13
mitzvah," such as the meal at a "siyum." One may Nissan, with the blessing. After searching, we
then eat for the rest of the day. nullify the "chametz" and say the first "Kol
Chamirah."
3. If one is not a firstborn, but has a firstborn son
under 13, one should fast or partake in a "siyum." 2. On Friday morning, one should burn the
"chametz" at the same time that one burns it every
(The "siyum" takes place in the synagogue directly year on "erev Pesach," but without saying the
after "shacharit"). second "Kol Chamirah" waiting until Shabbat
morning after one finishes the morning meal
12. Matzoth’s Mitzvah (before the time it becomes forbidden to derive
benefit from the "chametz"). Even if one has no
1. The matzos with which we fulfill the mitzvah of "chametz" left after the Shabbat morning meal,
eating matza on the "seder" nights are called one should nevertheless nullify it again during the
"matzos mitzvah." It is customary to bake them fifth daylight "zemanis" hour as one would nullify
"erev Pesach" after midday, for the Pesach it every year, and say the second "Kol Chamirah."
sacrifice was offered at that time. 2. The foregoing
is the best way to fulfill the mitzvah. If, however, 3. The firstborn sons fast on the previous
we cannot bake them after midday, we can also Thursday.
fulfill the mitzvah of eating matza with the
"matzos mitzvah" baked earlier. 4. For Shabbat, one should leave only enough
"chametz" to suffice for the evening and morning
3. Those who knead and roll the dough for the Shabbat meals (taking care to leave it in a secure
matzos on the afternoon of "erev Pesach" (which place). One fulfills the obligation of eating a third
is in the time when "chametz" is forbidden) should Shabbat meal with meat, fish or fruit.
say: "I hereby declare any pieces that fall during
kneading and preparation of the matzos, and any 5. One should not cook any foods containing
dough that sticks to the utensils, to be ownerless "chametz" for this Shabbat, for they often stick to
and nullified." the pot and one is not allowed to wash the pot on
Shabbat) since it is not being washed for use on
4. While kneading and rolling the dough on "erev *this* Shabbat). If one transgressed and did cook
Pesach," it is customary to say "Hallel" in memory foods containing "chametz" and they stuck to the
of the "Korban Pesach," which was slaughtered pot, one may in that case wash the pot because this
while saying "Hallel." is for the purpose of a mitzvah--to remove the
"chametz" from the pot in order to destroy it. 6.
5. The Rebbe Rashab used to be present at the After the Shabbat morning meal, one should shake
matza bakery on "erev Pesach," and recited the tablecloth on which one has eaten, and wipe
"Hallel." He used to interrupt his recital--even in the utensils used for "chametz" well with his
the middle of a chapter--to give instructions hands so that no detectable "chametz" will be on
concerning the kneading, baking, etc. them, and he should hide the tablecloth and the
utensils in a room (or closet) which will not be
6. The custom in Lubavitch was that after burning used on Pesach. All remaining "chametz" should
the "chametz," the people went to "mikveh," be thrown into the toilet. One should take care not

56
to throw any "chametz" out of the house in a place 7. It is customary not to use the pot in which eggs
where there is no "eruv." have been boiled in their shells; however, it may
be used for boiling eggs again.
7. On this Shabbat, one prays "shacharit" early.
The "chazzan" should be warned not to prolong 8. If "chametz" becomes mixed with any food
the prayers, so that no one will eat "chametz" before Pesach, it is considered nonexistent if the
when it is forbidden. (The "Haftorah" of this "chametz" is a sixtieth or less than the rest of the
Shabbat is "V'orvoh.") food. However, if "chametz" becomes mixed with
food during Pesach--from the sunset before 15
8. It is forbidden to prepare on Shabbat for "Yom- Nissan until night- fall following the last day of
Tov." Therefore, one may not take out the matzos, Pesach--then even the slightest trace of "chametz"
wine and Pesach utensils or prepare the table for renders the mixture prohibited and no benefit may
the "seder" until after nightfall. be derived from it.

14. Seed Foods, Dried Fruits, Mixtures 15. Eruv Tavshillin


Containing Chametz
1. Our Sages decreed that when "Yom-Tov" falls
1. On Pesach, we do not eat rice, millet, corn on Friday, we should not cook on "Yom-Tov" for
(maize), buckwheat ("kashe"), beans, peas, sesame Shabbat (for we may not prepare anything on
seeds, mustard peanuts, and other types of seed "Yom-Tov" for the sake of Shabbat)--except when
foods. we have "placed" an "eruv Tavshillin" on "erev
Yom-Tov." The "eruv Tavshillin" shows that we
2. We also do not eat dried figs on Pesach, have already begun to cook for Shabbat on "erev
because flour may be used on the drying process, Yom-Tov," and the cooking on "Yom-Tov" only
nor raisins and other dried fruits because they are means that we are finishing the cooking of "erev
often dried in the same place as figs. However, Yom-Tov."
when they have been dried by a Jew known to
have been careful, we may eat them. 2. The mitzvah of "placing" an "eruv Tavshillin" is
performed in this way:
3. It is customary not to eat cloves, saffron, cassia,
ginger or cinnamon for the same reason, even if We take an amount of matza equivalent to the
the spices grew in one's own garden, because of weight of an egg, and a cooked dish weighing a
"mar'is ayin" [others unaware that one's spices are "kezayis" (note that we should take a "prize" dish,
free of "chametz" may unjustly suspect one of such as meat or fish). Holding the "eruv" (the
wrongdoing]. matza with the cooked dish), we recite the
following "B’rakhah":
4. Some are accustomed not to eat radishes or
garlic on Pesach. Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the
universe, who has sanctified us with His
5. It is a custom not to drink any liquor or liqueurs commandments, and commanded us concerning
on Pesach, even if they were specially produced the Mitzvah of "Eruv."
for Pesach.
Then say:
6. Those who use sugar on Pesach are accustomed
to boil it with water and strain it before Pesach. Through this it shall be permissible for us to
However, some meticulous Jews refrain from bake, to cook, to put away (a dish to
eating sugar altogether during Pesach. preserve its heat), to kindle a light and to
prepare and do on the Festival all that is
necessary for Shabbat--for us and all
Israelites who dwell in the city.
57
"conditional eruv." In other words, after saying the
The "eruv" must remain intact until we have blessing "concerning the mitzvah of eruv," he
finished all the cooking and baking for Shabbat. says: "If today is Yom-Tov" (according to the
Torah itself), "then tomorrow is a weekday and I
3. One who wishes to give others a share in one's do not need an eruv at all. And if today is a
"eruv" places the "eruv" (i.e., the matza and weekday and tomorrow is Yom-Tov, then through
cooked dish) into the hand of another Jew, through this it shall be permitted for us to bake, cook ..."
whom one gives others a share, and one says: continuing as above (paragraph 2).

I hereby grant a share in this "eruv" to 7. If one forgot even then to make the "eruv," he
anyone who wishes to participate in it and should consult a rabbi.
to depend upon it.
8. Permission to cook on "Yom-Tov" for Shabbat
The one who is granted a share takes the "eruv" in through making an "eruv" is conditional. All the
his hand and raises it one fist breadth. The one foods cooked for Shabbat should be ready to eat
making the "eruv" takes it back and says the early enough before Shabbat so that if a guest
blessing and statement: were to come late in the afternoon he would have
enough time to eat of these foods before sunset. If
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the the foods are ready only close to sunset, the "eruv"
universe, who has sanctified us with His is of absolutely no use. 9. The "cholent" which is
commandments, and commanded us concerning prepared on "Yom-Tov" for Shabbat must also be
the Mitzvah of "Eruv." cooked while it is still day.

Then say: 16. Lighting Shabbat And Yom-Tov Candles

Through this it shall be permissible for us to 1. Our Sages instituted that on Shabbat and Yom-
bake, to cook, to put away (a dish to Tov a light should burn in any room we use, for
preserve its heat), to kindle a light and to the purpose of "shalom bait" (domestic peace), to
prepare and do on the Festival all that is prevent anyone from tripping in the darkness. The
necessary for Shabbat--for us and all main obligation of lighting the candles is in the
Israelites who dwell in the city. dining room.

4. It is customary to use a whole matza for the 2. We are obliged to eat the Shabbat evening meal
"eruv," and to use it to make the "Hamotzi" by the light of the candles, because we are
blessing at one of the Shabbat meals (since commanded to enjoy the Shabbat.
something used for one mitzvah should be used
for another mitzvah). Some are accustomed to use 3. The obligation of lighting Shabbat candles rests
the matza for "Lechem mishneh" (literally: (primarily) upon the wife. It is praiseworthy for
"double bread"--the two loaves of matza (or the husband to assist his wife by preparing the
challah) over which "Hamotzi" is said on Shabbat wicks and candles, lighting and extinguishing the
and "Yom-Tov") at the first two Shabbat meals candles in order to singe the wicks before she
and to recite the blessing "Hamotzi" over it at lights them, for the purpose of the mitzvah, so that
"shalosh seudat" (the third meal of Shabbat). the wicks will burn more easily. 4. The custom is
5. If one forgot to make an "eruv" on "erev Yom- that unmarried girls light one candle and married
Tov" one can still make it "beyn hashmoshes" women two candles. Some women have the
(time period between sunset and nightfall). custom of adding an extra candle for each of their
children, in order to illuminate their children's life.
6. If "Yom-Tov" fell on Thursday and Friday, and
one reminded himself on Thursday that he had not 5. A young girl aged three years old who
yet made an "eruv," he may still make a understands the concept of lighting the Shabbat
58
candles should be taught to fulfill this mitzvah of that evening. When a man lights the candles, he
lighting Shabbat and Yom-Tov candles. should not say "Shehecheyanu."

6. Two women should not light candles on the 14. It is advisable to place the matzos (and the
same candlestick, even if it has many branches, same applies all year round to the challot) upon
because only one would be allowed to say the the table before lighting the Shabbat candles so
required blessing in this case. that the table will be a "base" to both the candles
and the matzos, thus enabling one to be permitted
7. It is a good custom to give one or several coins to move the table on Shabbat.
to charity before lighting the candles. One should
admonish women not to move the charity box 15. One may not produce a *new* fire on "Yom-
after lighting. Tov," by striking a match or lighter, for example.
One may only light from a fire already burning
8. Immediately after lighting, she should place her from before "Yom-Tov," such as a lighted candle,
hands in front of the candles, or spread her hands gas-stove or pilot-light.
over her face, so as not to see the light, and she
should say the blessing for lighting the candles. 16. If one uses a match to bring fire (from an
After the blessing, she should remove her hands existing flame to the "Yom-Tov" candles, etc.),
and enjoy from the light. All this applies both on one should be careful not to extinguish the burning
Shabbat and Yom-Tov. match or throw it anywhere after using it. One
should carefully put it down so that the movement
9. On Friday afternoon, the time of candle lighting will not extinguish it, and it can die on its own.
is at least 18 minutes before sunset.
17. On "Yom-Tov," it is forbidden to heat the
10. On "erev Yom-Tov," too, our custom is to bottom of the candle in order to stick it onto the
light candles before sunset. But when "Yom-Tov" candlestick. If the candle-holder is full of wax, one
falls on Saturday night, one should light candles may clean it with some object which is not
only after the stars can be seen. "muktzeh" (articles that may not handled on
Shabbat or Yom-Tov). The wax should not be
11. On the second evening of "Yom-Tov," moved once it has been removed, since it is
whether it falls on Saturday night or on any other "muktzeh."
day of the week, one should light candles only
after the stars have come out. If the second 18. A woman should light the candles with joy and
evening of "Yom-Tov" falls on Friday night, one eagerness, because in the merit of this mitzvah she
must light candles before sunset like every other will be rewarded with holy children who will
Friday afternoon. shine brightly with Torah knowledge and fear of
G-d and will increase peace in the world, and she
12. Before Shabbat, the blessing for candles will bring her husband long life.
concludes "to kindle the light of the holy
Shabbat"; on "Yom-Tov," "to kindle the Yom- 17. Hallel In The Prayers
Tov light"; when "Yom-Tov" falls on Shabbat, "to
kindle the Shabbat and Yom-Tov light" (see 1. It is customary on the first two nights of Pesach
"Siddur Tehilas HaShem," p. 127). for the congregation to say the entire "Hallel" in
"Ma’ariv."
13. On every "Yom-Tov" *except the last two
days of Pesach,* one follows the blessing for 2. We also say the entire "Hallel" in "shacharit" on
lighting the candles with the blessing of the first two days of "Yom-Tov."
"Shehecheyanu." The woman who lights candles
should then take care not to repeat
"Shehecheyanu" if she herself says Kiddush later
59
3. However, on "Chol-HaMoed" and the last two
days of Pesach we say only half-"Hallel" in 4. If one only became aware of the error after
"shacharit." concluding the blessing "mechayeh hamesim," one
must return to the beginning of "shemoneh esreh."
4. When the entire "Hallel" is said, each person
says the "B’rakhah" before "Hallel," and the 5. If one only became aware of the error after
"B’rakhah" at the conclusion of "Hallel" ("Baruch concluding the entire prayer, one should repeat the
atah HaShem Melech m'hullol batishbochos"). entire "shemoneh esreh." If one remembered only
When, however, we recite half-"Hallel," only the at the time of the next prayer, one should pray two
"chazzan" says the "B’rakhah," and the "shemoneh esrehs" at that time (as explained in
congregants answer "amen." They fulfill their the laws of making up omitted prayers).
obligation with the "chazzan's B’rakhah" (and the
congregation concludes "Hallel" with the words 6. If one is unsure whether one said "morid
"umeolom ad olam atah e'l"). hageshem," or "morid hatol" as required, it
depends what time of the year this happened. If
5. When praying alone, it is customary to recite this happened during the first thirty days of "morid
the "B’rakhah" even when one says only hatol" one must repeat "shemoneh esreh." After
half-"Hallel." these thirty days have passed, however, one need
not repeat it, for we assume that one has said
6. The "chazzan" says aloud the "pasuk" "Hodu "morid hatol" correctly since one is already
laShem ... ki l'olam chasdo," and the congregants accustomed to saying it.
repeat that "posuk," and say further "yomar noh ...
l'olam chasdo." The "chazzan" then says "yomar 19. Sefirat HaOmer
noh, etc." aloud, and the congregants say "Hodu
etc.," "yomru noh bait Aharon, etc." The same 1. From the second night of Pesach onward, after
applies to "yomru noh yirei HaShem, etc." "Ma’ariv" (i.e., after "Hallel" and before "aleinu"),
we begin to count "sefirah"; and we count each
7. The verse "Hodu LaShem" is said after each of night until Shavuot.
the three verses "yomar noh," even when one
prays alone. 8. "Hallel" should be said standing. 2. We say the "B’rakhah" and the "sefirah"
One may not talk during "hallel." standing.

18. Morid Hatol (He Causes The Dew To 3. If one forgot to count the "sefirah" on one of the
Descend) nights, one should count it during the following
day without a "B’rakhah"; one may then resume
1. On the first day of Pesach, before the "mussaf" the count on the following nights with a
prayer the "Shamash" announces "morid hatol" "B’rakhah."
and we begin saying "morid hatol" in "mussaf."
4. But if one forgot to count during the following
2. We say the Prayer for Dew in the "chazzan's" day as well, he must count on all the following
repetition of the "mussaf" of the first day of nights until Shavuot without a "B’rakhah."
Pesach.
5. If one is unsure if he counted or not, he may
3. If one mistakenly said "morid hageshem" (He count the following nights with a "B’rakhah."
causes the rain to fall"), and became aware of
one's error before saying G-d's Name at the 6. When, after sunset, one is asked: "What is the
conclusion of the blessing "mechayeh hametim," 'sefirah' today?" he should answer: "Yesterday was
one should return to "ata gibor" (and it does not such and such." The other person will then
help to say "morid hatol" at the place where one understand what today's "sefirah" is. The reason
remembered). for answering this way is because if one answers,
60
"Today is such and such," he has fulfilled his
obligation of counting the "sefirah" and thus 21. Ya'aleh V'Yovo In The Chol-Hamoed
forfeits the opportunity to recite the "B’rakhah." Prayers

7. Those who "daven Ma’ariv" when it is still day, 1. If one forgets to say "ya'aleh v'yovo" in
but say "Shema" after the stars appear, should also "Shemoneh Esrei" during "Chol Hamoed"--or is
count "sefirah" then. Those who "daven Ma’ariv" unsure whether he said it--and remembers before
and count "sefirah" when it is still day should saying G-d's Name in the blessing "hamachazir
arrange that they count again during "shacharit" of shechinoso l'tzion," he should say "ya'aleh v'yovo"
the following morning without a "B’rakhah." there, and then begin from "v'sechezenoh."

20. V'Sein B’rakhah (And Give Blessing) 2. If one remembers after concluding the blessing
"hamachazir shechinoso l'tzion," but before saying
1. During the entire summer, beginning from "modim," he should say "ya'aleh v'yovo" there,
Pesach, we do not say "v'sein tal u'motor" (give and then begin saying "modim" (and he should not
dew and rain) in the blessing "bareich aleinu" of repeat "v'sechezenoh").
the weekday "Shemoneh Esrei," but instead we
say "v'sein Berachoth." 3. If, however, he had already begun "modim," he
should return to "r'tzeh."
2. If one said "v'sein tal u'motor" in summer, and
immediately became aware of his error, he must 4. If he remembered only after he finished
begin again from "boreich oleinu." (It does not "Shemoneh Esrei"--i.e., after having said the
help to immediately say "v'sein B’rakhah.") second "yihyu l'rotzon"--he must return to the
beginning of "Shemoneh Esrei."
3. It makes no difference whether he realized his
mistake immediately after he made it, or whether 5. These laws apply equally to all three prayers on
he is already much further on the "Shemoneh "Chol Hamoed: shacharit, Mincha and ma'ariv."
Esrei." If he has not yet said the second "yihyu
l'rotzon" (after "elokai netzor"), he must return to 6. If he remembers that he did not say "ya'aleh
"boreich oleinu." v'yovo" when it is already time to say the next
prayer, he should say two "Shemoneh Esrei" at the
4. If one realized his mistake after finishing the next prayer. This, however, applies only to the
entire "Shemoneh Esrei," he must repeat the entire "Mincha" and "ma'ariv" prayers.
"Shemoneh Esrei."
7. The law is different when one forgets to say
5. If he realized his mistake only after praying, "ya'aleh v'yovo" at "shacharit," and remembers
when it is already time to say the next prayers, he only after he has said "musaf." In such a case, he
must say two "Shemoneh Esrei" at the next prayer. need not repeat the "Shemoneh Esrei" of
"shacharit."
6. If he is unsure whether he said "v'sein
B’rakhah," the law is the same as for "Morid 22. Ya'aleh V'yovo In Birchat HaMazon
Hatol"--[If one is unsure whether one said "morid (Blessing After The Meal) on Yom-Tov and
hageshem," or "morid hatol" as required, it Chol Hamoed
depends what time of the year this happened. If
this happened during the first thirty days of "morid 1. If one forgets to say "ya'aleh v'yovo" in "birchat
hatol" one must repeat "Shemoneh Esrei." After HaMazon" on "Yom-Tov," and remembers after
these thirty days have passed, however, one need finishing "boneh b'rachamov Yerushalayim
not repeat it, for we assume that one has said amen," one should say the blessing of "Boruch ...
"morid hatol" correctly since one is already asher nosan yomim tovim ...", as written in the
accustomed to saying it.]
61
Siddur. If it is "Chol Hamoed," one should say the place on this day--and that same day Haman was
"B’rakhah" "Boruch ... asher nosan moadim ..." hung.

2. If, however, one remembers after saying the 24. The Seventh And Eighth Days of Pesach
word "Boruch" of the "B’rakhah hatov v'hametiv,"
he must, at the first two meals of "Yom-Tov," 1. In the kiddush (and in the "b'rochoh"on lighting
repeat "birchat HaMazon." the candles) said on the seventh and eighth nights
of Pesach, we do not say "Shehecheyanu."
3. However, if one eats a third "Yom-Tov" meal,
he should not repeat it. The same applies to every 2. The miracle of the splitting of the "Yam-Soof"
"Chol Hamoed" meal. happened on the night of the seventh of Pesach.
Early the next morning the Jews sang the song
23. The First Ma'ariv of Chol Hamoed "Oz Yoshir." Therefore we read this song in the
Torah on the seventh day of Pesach."
In the first weekday "Shemoneh Esrei" (in
"ma'ariv") of "Chol HaMoed," the following 3. It is customary in Lubavitch to remain awake
things must be said: the entire night of the seventh of Pesach, and to
learn the Torah the entire night.
1. "morid hatol" 2. "atoh chonantonu" 3. "v'sein
B’rakhah" 4. "ya'aleh v'yovo" If one forgets 4. The Rebbe Shlita instituted that on the seventh
one of these four things, and remembers after day of Pesach we should go to distant Shuls to
concluding "Shemoneh Esrei," which omissions participate with other Jews in the Yom Tov joy,
force him to repeat the "Shemoneh Esrei," and discussing with them ideas of Chassidus and
which do not? matters of inspiration in the service of G-d.

ANSWERS 5. Despite our custom to avoid eating Matza that is


wet (shruya) during Pesach, we are accustomed to
If one said "morid hageshem," he must repeat it. If make a point of eating wet Matza on the eighth
one forgot "atoh chonantonu," he should not day of Pesach. When washing one's fingers at the
repeat it. If one said "v'sein tal umotor," he must end of a meal ("mayim acharonim"), he passes the
repeat it. If one forgot "ya'aleh v'yovo," he must wet fingers over his lips once again.
repeat it.
6. The Baal Shem Tov was accustomed to eat a
23. The Meal Of The Second Day of Pesach third meal on the last day of Pesach, which he
would call the "Mashiach’s Seudah--the meal of
[There is no need to repeat the "Shemoneh Esrei" Mashiach" for on this day the "radiance" of
as long as one does not do any work or taste any Mashiach is manifest.
food before making "havdallah." **Work** is
permitted in this case. However, by saying 7. It is also our custom to celebrate Mashiach’s
"Boruch Hamavdil bain kodesh lechol"--"Blessed Seudah, after "Mincha." At this meal, we drink
is He Who makes a distinction between sacred and four cups of wine, corresponding to the "four cups
profane." In all cases, one may not eat or drink of comfort which G-d will in the future give the
until after "havdallah." If one did not say "Boruch Jewish people to drink."
Hamavdil" and performed work, the "Shemoneh
Esrei" must be repeated.] ____________________________________
From "Laws And Customs of Pesach: According
At the meal of the second day of Pesach, it is to the Traditions of Chabad" by Rabbi Shmuel
proper to "do" (eat) something that serves as a Hurwitz, Second Edition, 5749.
reminder of the meal of Queen Esther which took

62
XI. Elijah and Passover expecting Elijah at Passover we can understand
why Yochanan (John) came on that day.
The Haggadah opens with the words:
Yochanan (John) the Baptist sent some disciples
“Let all who are hungry come and eat.” to Yeshua to find out if He was the "Expected
One" who would resurrect God's people and free
Among the awaited guests is the prophet Elijah them from bondage. Yeshua's answer indicated
who, according to the scripture, never died, but that He would be the expected one later. God's
was carried up to heaven in a whirlwind. The life people are now looking for Yeshua to return.
of no other character in the bible is so surrounded Before Yeshua returns, we should look for Elijah
with a halo of mystery and wonder as is that of to come at Passover. When we see Elijah we are
Elijah. He is the champion of the oppressed, he probably only six months from beholding Yeshua.
brings hope, cheer and relief to the downtrodden;
and he performs miracles of rescue and Let us open the door and rise, in the hope that
deliverance. Elijah will enter. With the salutation reserved for
distinguished guests:
The Prophet Malachi says of him: “He will turn
the hearts of parents to their children, and the
hearts of children to their parents.” Elijah is the

harbinger of good tidings of joy and peace. His
name is especially associated with the coming of 
the Messiah, whose advent he is expected to Baruch HaBa
announce. Blessed is he who comes!
The door is closed...
A part of the Passover seder has always been to set
a place for Elijah and to open a door to look for
him during the feast. We look for Elijah just XII. The second Passover
before we take the fourth cup to symbolize that
Elijah is expected just before God comes to take Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:1-14 HaShem spoke
His people for Himself. to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first
month of the second year after they came
Those who recognize that Yeshua, the Anointed out of Egypt. He said, "Have the Israelites
One, came nearly two thousand years ago, should celebrate the Passover at the appointed
also recognize "Elijah" who came to prepare the time. Celebrate it at the appointed time, at
way according to the prophecy in: twilight on the fourteenth day of this month,
in accordance with all its rules and
Malachi 4:5 "See, I will send you the regulations." So Moses told the Israelites to
prophet Elijah before that great and celebrate the Passover, And they did so in
dreadful day of HaShem comes. the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the
fourteenth day of the first month. The
Yeshua named Yochanan (John) the Baptist as the Israelites did everything just as HaShem
Elijah who was to come in Matityahu (Matthew) commanded Moses. But some of them could
11:7-15. not celebrate the Passover on that day
because they were ceremonially unclean on
It was a biblical custom to begin your occupation account of a dead body. So they came to
on your thirtieth birthday. Yochanan (John) and Moses and Aaron that same day And said to
Yeshua both followed this custom. If we look Moses, "We have become unclean because
carefully at the Apostolic Writings we can see that of a dead body, but why should we be kept
Yochanan (John) the Baptist was born on Passover from presenting HaShem’s offering with the
and began his ministry on Passover. Since we are other Israelites at the appointed time?"
63
Moses answered them, "Wait until I find out possession in all your land for seven days.
what HaShem commands concerning you." Do not let any of the meat you sacrifice on
Then HaShem said to Moses, "Tell the the evening of the first day remain until
Israelites: 'When any of you or your morning. You must not sacrifice the
descendants are unclean because of a dead Passover in any town HaShem your God
body or are away on a journey, they may gives you Except in the place he will choose
still celebrate HaShem’s Passover. They are as a dwelling for his Name. There you must
to celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the sacrifice the Passover in the evening, when
second month at twilight. They are to eat the the sun goes down, on the anniversary of
lamb, together with unleavened bread and your departure from Egypt. Roast it and eat
bitter herbs. They must not leave any of it it at the place HaShem your God will
till morning or break any of its bones. When choose. Then in the morning return to your
they celebrate the Passover, they must tents.
follow all the regulations. But if a man who
is ceremonially clean and not on a journey
fails to celebrate the Passover, that person XIII. Passover symbols
must be cut off from his people because he
did not present HaShem’s offering at the Passover is intimately associated with tefillin as
appointed time. That man will bear the we can see from the following pasuk:
consequences of his sin. "'An alien living
among you who wants to celebrate Shemot (Exodus) 13:5-9 And it shall be
HaShem’s Passover must do so in when the LORD shall bring thee into the
accordance with its rules and regulations. land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and
You must have the same regulations for the the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the
alien and the native-born.'" Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers
to give thee, a land flowing with milk and
Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:16-17 "'On the honey, that thou shalt keep this service in
fourteenth day of the first month HaShem’s this month.
Passover is to be held. On the fifteenth day 6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened
of this month there is to be a festival; for bread, and in the seventh day shall be a
seven days eat bread made without yeast. feast to HaShem.
7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven
This passage might account for why Yeshua began days; and there shall no leavened bread be
His Passover seder on the fourteenth. seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven
seen with thee in all thy quarters.
8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day,
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:1-7 Observe saying, This is done because of that which
the month of Abib and celebrate the HaShem did unto me when I came forth out
Passover of HaShem your God, because in of Egypt.
the month of Abib he brought you out of 9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon
Egypt by night. Sacrifice as the Passover to thine hand, and for a memorial between
HaShem your God an animal from your thine eyes, that HaShem’s law may be in thy
flock or herd at the place HaShem will mouth: for with a strong hand hath HaShem
choose as a dwelling for his Name. Do not brought thee out of Egypt.
eat it with bread made with yeast, but for
seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread
of affliction, because you left Egypt in I Corinthians 5:7 Get rid of the old yeast
haste--so that all the days of your life you that you may be a new batch without yeast--
may remember the time of your departure as you really are. For Christ, our Passover
from Egypt. Let no yeast be found in your lamb, has been sacrificed.
64
had not been circumcised on the way. And
Yahoshua (Joshua) 4:19-24 On the tenth after the whole nation had been
day of the first month the people went up circumcised, they remained where they were
from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on in camp until they were healed. Then
the eastern border of Jericho. And HaShem said to Yahoshua (Joshua), "Today
Yahoshua (Joshua) set up at Gilgal the I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt
twelve stones they had taken out of the from you." So the place has been called
Jordan. He said to the Israelites, "In the Gilgal to this day. On the evening of the
future when your descendants ask their fourteenth day of the month, while camped
fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' Tell at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the
them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry Israelites celebrated the Passover. The day
ground.' For HaShem your God dried up the after the Passover, that very day, they ate
Jordan before you until you had crossed some of the produce of the land: unleavened
over. HaShem your God did to the Jordan bread and roasted grain. The manna
just what he had done to the Red Sea when stopped the day after they ate this food from
he dried it up before us until we had crossed the land; there was no longer any manna for
over. He did this so that all the peoples of the Israelites, but that year they ate of the
the earth might know that the hand of produce of Canaan. Now when Yahoshua
HaShem is powerful and so that you might (Joshua) was near Jericho, he looked up
always fear HaShem your God." and saw a man standing in front of him with
a drawn sword in his hand. Yahoshua
Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:1-15 Now when all (Joshua) went up to him and asked, "Are
the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither,"
the Canaanite kings along the coast heard he replied, "but as commander of the army
how HaShem had dried up the Jordan of HaShem I have now come." Then
before the Israelites until we had crossed Yahoshua (Joshua) fell facedown to the
over, their hearts melted and they no longer ground in reverence, and asked him, "What
had the courage to face the Israelites. At message does my Lord have for his
that time HaShem said to Yahoshua servant?" The commander of HaShem’s
(Joshua), "Make flint knives and circumcise army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the
the Israelites again." So Yahoshua (Joshua) place where you are standing is holy." And
made flint knives and circumcised the Yahoshua (Joshua) did so.
Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. Now this is
why he did so: All those who came out of Yochanan (John) 6:25-71 When they found
Egypt--all the men of military age--died in him on the other side of the lake, they asked
the desert on the way after leaving Egypt. him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"
All the people that came out had been Yeshua answered, "I tell you the truth, you
circumcised, but all the people born in the are looking for me, not because you saw
desert during the journey from Egypt had miraculous signs but because you ate the
not. The Israelites had moved about in the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for
desert forty years until all the men who were food that spoils, but for food that endures to
of military age when they left Egypt had eternal life, which the Son of Man will give
died, since they had not obeyed HaShem. you. On him God the Father has placed his
For HaShem had sworn to them that they seal of approval." Then they asked him,
would not see the land that he had solemnly "What must we do to do the works God
promised their fathers to give us, a land requires?" Yeshua answered, "The work of
flowing with milk and honey. So he raised God is this: to believe in the one he has
up their sons in their place, and these were sent." So they asked him, "What miraculous
the ones Yahoshua (Joshua) circumcised. sign then will you give that we may see it
They were still uncircumcised because they and believe you? What will you do? Our
65
forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it man give us his flesh to eat?" Yeshua said
is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat
to eat.'" Yeshua said to them, "I tell you the the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his
truth, it is not Moses who has given you the blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats
bread from heaven, but it is my Father who my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal
gives you the true bread from heaven. For life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
the bread of God is he who comes down For my flesh is real food and my blood is
from heaven and gives life to the world." real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and
"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this drinks my blood remains in me, and I in
bread." Then Yeshua declared, "I am the him. Just as the living Father sent me and I
bread of life. He who comes to me will never live because of the Father, so the one who
go hungry, and he who believes in me will feeds on me will live because of me. This is
never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have the bread that came down from heaven.
seen me and still you do not believe. All that Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he
the Father gives me will come to me, and who feeds on this bread will live forever."
whoever comes to me I will never drive He said this while teaching in the
away. For I have come down from heaven synagogue in Capernaum. On hearing it,
not to do my will but to do the will of him many of his disciples said, "This is a hard
who sent me. And this is the will of him who teaching. Who can accept it?" Aware that
sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he his disciples were grumbling about this,
has given me, but raise them up at the last Yeshua said to them, "Does this offend you?
day. For my Father's will is that everyone What if you see the Son of Man ascend to
who looks to the Son and believes in him where he was before! The Spirit gives life;
shall have eternal life, and I will raise him the flesh counts for nothing. The words I
up at the last day." At this the Jews began have spoken to you are spirit and they are
to grumble about him because he said, "I life. Yet there are some of you who do not
am the bread that came down from heaven." believe." For Yeshua had known from the
They said, "Is this not Yeshua, the son of beginning which of them did not believe and
Joseph, whose father and mother we know? who would betray him. He went on to say,
How can he now say, 'I came down from "This is why I told you that no one can come
heaven'?" "Stop grumbling among to me unless the Father has enabled him."
yourselves," Yeshua answered. "No one can From this time many of his disciples turned
come to me unless the Father who sent me back and no longer followed him. "You do
draws him, and I will raise him up at the not want to leave too, do you?" Yeshua
last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered
will all be taught by God.' Everyone who him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have
listens to the Father and learns from him the words of eternal life. We believe and
comes to me. No one has seen the Father know that you are the Holy One of God."
except the one who is from God; only he has Then Yeshua replied, "Have I not chosen
seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!"
believes has everlasting life. I am the bread (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot,
of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the who, though one of the Twelve, was later to
desert, yet they died. But here is the bread betray him.)
that comes down from heaven, which a man
may eat and not die. I am the living bread Devarim (Deuteronomy) 8:1-3 Be careful
that came down from heaven. If anyone eats to follow every command I am giving you
of this bread, he will live forever. This bread today, so that you may live and increase and
is my flesh, which I will give for the life of may enter and possess the land that
the world." Then the Jews began to argue HaShem promised on oath to your
sharply among themselves, "How can this forefathers. Remember how HaShem your
66
God led you all the way in the desert these It is also note worthy that the only piece of matza
forty years, to humble you and to test you in that was specifically "broken" was the middle
order to know what was in your heart, piece which is known as the dessert matza or
whether or not you would keep his "Afikomen".
commands. He humbled you, causing you to
hunger and then feeding you with manna, AFIKOMEN
which neither you nor your fathers had a. The matza is broken before reciting the
known, to teach you that man does not live Haggadah, because the recital is to be over a
on bread alone but on every word that matza suitable for the obligation of Haggadah,
comes from the mouth of HaShem. namely Lechem oni (bread of poverty) - which is a
broken piece.

The Passover Covenant [Lechem oni means "bread of poverty", but is also
interpreted as "Lechem she'onim alav" - the bread
Shemot (Exodus) 6:6-7 "Therefore, say to the over which we answer (discuss; recite) many
Israelites: things. Combining both meanings, then, the
Cup #1 (The cup of blessing or sanctification): Haggadah is to be said over matza, and in
particular a matza which is noticeably "bread of
I am HaShem, and I will bring you out from under poverty" - i.e., a broken piece of matza. (Pesachim
the yoke of the Egyptians. 115b)]
Cup #2 (The cup of deliverance):
19. The matza is to be broken while it is yet
I will free you from being slaves to them, and covered by the cloth.
Cup #3 (The cup of Redemption):
20. It is customary to wrap the Afikomen in a
I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and cloth - in commemoration of "The people took..
with mighty acts of judgment. the remainders [of the matza and maror] wrapped
Cup #4 (The cup of completion or glorification): up in their garments" (Shemot (Exodus) 12:34; see
Rashi), and to hide it among the pillows so that it
I will take you as my own people, and I will be will not be eaten inadvertently during the meal.
your God. Then you will know that I am HaShem
your God, who brought you out from under the The Rebbe R. Sholom Ber - (and also his son, the
yoke of the Egyptians. Rebbe R. Yoseph Yitzchak) - used to break the
Afikomen into five pieces. It once happened that it
broke into six pieces, so he put one aside. [e]
FULFILLMENT
Some have the custom that the children "snatch"
Cup number one (1) is found in: the Afikomen (and ransom it for some present),
but this is not done in Bet Harav. [f]
I Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of
blessing for which we bless a participation
in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread b. The larger piece is set aside, because Afikomen
that we break a participation in the body of is a significant mitzvah: [it is eaten as the very last
Christ? thing at the Seder] representing for us the Pesach-
offering.
Notice that this is NOT the third (3) cup that
Messiah said was the new covenant in His blood The term Afikomen is said to mean "afiku - bring
(Luqas (Luke) 22:20). This is plainly the first cup out- to the table all kinds of food.
known as the cup of blessing.

67
Tishby and Mussaf He'aruch state that Afikomen Others say that "Afikomen" means dessert because
is a Greek term for foods eaten at the conclusion it is derived from "epikomon" or "epikomion"
of a meal (dessert).

c. The smaller piece is the one we recite the XIV. Halachah


Haggadah over, as stated above note "e".
The Mishna:
d. The broken piece must be between the two The olah (the burnt offering) is a sacrifice of the
whole Matzot, because the motzi - which takes kodshei kodashim (the most sanctified category).
precedence to the blessing for "eating the matza" Its blood is sprinkled upon the altar in two
(see section on MOTZI and note "g" there) - is to applications which are like four.
be recited over a whole matza; and as "one must
not by-pass mitzvot," the upper [thus first The Method:
accessible] matza must therefore be whole. The Korban Pesach (paschal lamb sacrifice eaten
on the eve of Pesach in the time of the Beit
e. The Rebbe explained that the middle matza HaMikdash) may be eaten only at night (not on
represents Isaac (who signifies the attribute of the day it is slaughtered as is the case in regard to
Gevurah - severity; strict judgment). Thus there all other sacrifices) and only until midnight.
has to be a "breaking" of this matza, and into five
pieces, signifying a "sweetening" of the five The Halachah:
aspects of Gevurah. This Mishna is cited as a support for establishing
the Halakhah according to the view of Rabbi
This "sweetening" then manifests itself in Elazar ben Azariah, whose position is that the
Afikomen [for the pieces constitute the Korban Pesach can only be eaten until midnight
Afikomen], which means "afiku man" - bringing and not like the position of Rabbi Akiva that it can
out manna - that is, an emanation of nourishment - be eaten by Torah Law until dawn.
signifying the attribute of "chesed (kindness;
benevolence) of Abraham". The Application:
Even though we have no Korban Pesach today this
f. It has been suggested that the children's ruling affects us in regard to the schedule of our
snatching of the Afikomen is alluded in the Pesach Seder. The Sage Rava states (Pesachim
Gemara: "chotfin matza' - the matza is taken in a 120b) that since the Torah links the mitzvah of
hurry (i.e., eaten; or removed) on the night of eating matza to that of Korban Pesach, one must
Pesach on account of the children, so that they eat matza -- which is a mitzvah even when there is
should not fall asleep. no Korban -- before midnight according to Rabbi
Elazar ben Azariah in order to fulfill the mitzvah.
The Rebbe R. Yoseph Yitzchak related that the
older daughter of the Rebbe R. Shmuel, when still Other Ramifications:
a child, once snatched the Afikomen. Both Tosefot and Rabeinu Nissim extend this
midnight deadline to the eating of the Afikomen as
However, it would seem that this was an well since it is eaten as a remembrance of the
exceptional event, and in Bet Harav they do not Korban Pesach. In regard to the recital of Hallel
"snatch?" the Afikomen. In this context one can after the Afikomen, however, there is a difference
refer to the saying of our sages: "Even if you steal of opinion. Rabeinu Nissim in Mesechta Megillah
from a thief, you also have a taste [(of theft);" that quotes a Tosefist opinion that it too should be
is, there remains a trace of illegitimacy, with the recited before midnight. But the Tosefot in
possibility of negative after- effects]. Megillah 21a notes that since Hallel is only a
rabbinic obligation one need not be so stringent
Some have said that "Afikomen" means "I came". about saying it before midnight.

68
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 477:1) rules
that the Afikomen should be eaten before
midnight but makes no mention of Hallel. The
Rama, however, adds that one should conduct the
Seder early enough to allow for reciting Hallel
before midnight. Based on the aforementioned
sources we can well understand why the Mishna
Berurah points out that an effort should be made
in regard to Hallel before midnight but that is not
as serious a requirement as the Afikomen.
Zevachim 57b

***

The Shabbat before Pesach is called "Shabbat


HaGadol" (the Great Shabbat). It was in Egypt
that the Jewish people celebrated the very first
Shabbat HaGadol, on the tenth of Nisan - five
days before their redemption. On that day the
Children of Israel were given their first mitzvah, a
mitzvah which applied only to that Shabbat, but
not to future generations.

***

XV. The Haggadah 72

How do we fulfill the mitzvah (Shemot (Exodus)


13:8) to recount the story of the Exodus?

For this mitzvah we have the Haggadah. The


Haggadah is the book we follow on the first and
second nights of Passover, for the seder meal.

The Haggadah is divided into the following


sections:

72
Many aprts of this section were excerpted from The
Malbim Haggadah. Targum/Feldheim. Jerusalem 1993.
Translated by Jonathan Taub and Yisroel Shaw.
69
70
Although we commonly refer to the entire book as Pesach night for every Jew to tell the story of the
the Haggadah, the term "Haggadah" technically Exodus from Egypt.
refers to the middle part of the Haggadah, or what
we commonly call the "Maggid" section. Since Since this verse is the source for the mitzvah to
this section is where we fulfill the mitzvah to recount the Exodus and, therefore, the basis for the
recount the story of the Exodus, it is upon this Haggadah, the compiler of the Haggadah
section that our discussion is initially focused. composed its content and order to correspond with
the phrases in the verse V'higadita.
The Maggid Section of the Haggadah (the order of
paragraphs for easier reference) This "Source Verse" has six parts:

1. Ha Lachma Anya 1) And you shall relate to your child


2. Mah Nishtana 2) On that day
3. Avadim Hayinu 3) Saying
4. Maaseh B'Rabbi Eliezer 4) It is because of this
5. Amar Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah 5) HaShem acted for me
6. Baruch Hamakom 6) When I came forth out of Egypt
7. Arbah Banim (the four sons)
8. Yachol m'rosh chodesh The Haggadah, too, is divided into six sections,
9. Mit'chilah Ovdei Avodah Zarah Hayu Avoseinu corresponding to these six phrases. Through the
10. Baruch Shomer Havtachaso lens of this simple assumption we will begin to see
11. V'hi sh'amda the true colors and pattern of this marvelous
12. Tzei u'lmad masterpiece we call the Haggadah.
13. Kammah Maalos Tovos
14. Rabban Gamliel haya omer The First Section
15. B'chol Dor va'Dor
16. L'fichach (Hallel) And You Shall Relate To Your Child -- V'higadita
l'vincha
The source for the obligation to recount the story
of the Exodus is the verse: The first eight paragraphs, beginning with
"Avadim Hayinu" and concluding with "The son
Shemot 13:8 V'higadita l'vincha ba'yom who does not know how to ask", were placed at
ha'hu leimor, ba'avur zeh asah HaShem li the beginning of the Haggadah to correspond with
b'tzeisi m'Mitzrayim. "V'higadita l'vincha -- And you shall relate to your
child", the first phrase of the Source Verse. Each
Shemot (Exodus) 13:8 And you shall relate paragraph contributes an essential element to
to your child on that day, saying: "It is describe the words "V'higadita l'vincha", "And
because of this that HaShem acted for me you shall relate to your child".
when I came forth out of Egypt."
When we read the paragraph of "Avadim Hayinu",
Although there are other verses in the Torah which it sounds to us to be the beginning of the story.
command us to recount the story of the Exodus, Indeed, many commentators on the Haggadah
this is the only verse which requires us to tell the maintain that the paragraph "Avadim Hayinu" is a
story regardless of whether or not we are narrative account, the first episode in the saga of
prompted by a child's question. The other verses our slavery in Egypt. However, if we step back
command us to tell the story only if a child asks and view "Avadim Hayinu" in the broad
about the Exodus. Since the commandment of this perspective with the entirety of the Haggadah, we
verse, however, applies whether or not a child will see that it is, in fact, not part of the story of
asks, it serves as the source for the mitzvah of the Exodus. (Footnote: It is so widely accepted to
be a narration that the custom has evolved to
71
preface the recitation of "Avadim Hayinu" by renewed recognition inspires us to strengthen our
saying, "The answer to the four questions of Mah love, awe, and service for God.
Nishtana is as follows...".)
It is unquestionable that this is a seemly
The easy-to-make misinterpretation arises from explanation for the obligation to recount the
the innuendo of the first twelve words of "Avadim Exodus. But still -- there seems to be something
Hayinu", which certainly do sound like a story: more to this mitzvah, for if its purpose was solely
to enhance our devotion to HaShem, then why are
We were slaves unto Pharaoh in Egypt, and the wise, holy, righteous Jews, who are constantly
HaShem our God took us out from there with a cognizant of HaShem’s greatness, obligated to
strong hand and an outstretched arm. recount the Exodus? There must be some greater
purpose behind this mitzvah. It is this purpose
Aside from these few words, however, nothing which will give us profound insight into the
else in this paragraph, or the following seven Mitzvah of recounting to insure that we do not
paragraphs, even slightly resembles a narrated forget what God did for us, but we also guarantee
story. We find no story until we come to the that our children and future generations will recall
paragraph "Mit'chilah Ovdei Avodah Zarah Hayu the Exodus and realize that their lives, too, were
Avoseinu" (nine paragraphs later!). But now we fundamentally affected by that cataclysmic event,
are left with a question. If "Avadim Hayinu" is not and they will, as a consequence, acknowledge
telling us part of the story, then what is it telling their personal responsibility to praise and thank
us? The answer has profound implications. the Almighty. To ensure this perennial awareness
of what God did for His people, every Jew is
The sentence, We were slaves unto Pharaoh in commanded to tell and elaborate upon the events
Egypt, and HaShem our God took us out from of the Exodus, regardless of his wisdom and
there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, knowledge, for it is not only for his benefit, but for
is not the beginning of the story of the Exodus, but the benefit of the future generations of the Jewish
is the declaration of the fundamental reason WHY people.
we are all obligated to recount the Exodus story.
If particular individuals had been exempted from
BECAUSE we were slaves unto Pharaoh in Egypt, this obligation, it would have been conceivable for
we are obligated to tell the story of the Exodus and the Exodus to be forgotten. Any Jew acquainted
to express our enormous gratitude to our with history would exempt himself by justifying
Redeemer, for had He not brought us forth from that he already knows the historical events.
Egypt we would still be there. "Avadim Hayinu" is Exempt from telling the story of the Exodus, he
the reason WHY we have the mitzvah to tell the would leave his children ignorant of the
story; it is not the story itself. meaningfulness of their past, and unaware of their
purpose for the present and their responsibilities
Let us delve deeper into this idea by asking for the future. By requiring every person to
another basic question: Why must every Jew recount the Exodus, regardless of his knowledge,
recount the Exodus, why must even the wisest the Torah circumvents this problem. The
sages tell the story, each and every year, which continued consciousness of our collective history
everyone already knows? and the responsibilities and privileges that it bore
is guaranteed.
At first thought, we could say that the reason for
this obligation is for everyone to recognize that We now understand the paragraph "Avadim
our lives and our freedom come from HaShem. Hayinu". The sole but critical purpose of "Avadim
Through remembering the Exodus, we are Hayinu" is to inform us that the obligation to tell
reminded that it is HaShem’s omnipotent open the story of the Exodus falls upon every Jew, even
hand which gives us everything we need. This if he already knows it and has no need to retell it.
For it is not only for his sake that he must tell it,
72
but for the sake of all following generations. statement, but the corollary of the preceding
"Avadim Hayinu" therefore says: sentence, "... our children, and our children's
children, would still have been subjugated to
We were slaves to an oppressive king and to an Pharaoh in Egypt". Once we know that the raison
oppressive nation. Only God, through His d'etre of the obligation is for the sake of our
miraculous Divine providence, took us out from children, to ensure that they will know that they
there. Had God not delivered us, we, our children, were redeemed as well, it follows logically that
and our children's children would still have been every one of us must recount it, "and even if we
subjugated to Pharaoh in Egypt. All subsequent were all wise... we would nevertheless be
generations would have been born into the obligated to recount the story of the Exodus from
oppression of Egypt. Therefore, since all later Egypt."
generations were also included in the redemption,
they are also obligated to praise and thank God for The Torah itself subtly implied this reason for the
the deliverance from slavery to freedom. In order obligation when it phrased the command,
to ensure that they will be aware of their "V'higadita l'vincha -- And you shall TELL
privileged responsibility, we are all obligated to YOUR CHILD...", using the verb "tell" and
recount the Exodus "and even if we were all emphasizing telling "your child". If the purpose
wise". For that is the failsafe strategem to keep was for us and not for our children, the command
alive the events of the Exodus in the mind and would be phrased, "V'zacharta -- And YOU shall
heart of the Jewish people. remember...".

1) "Avadim Hayinu" has an unmistakable purpose The Rabbis, following the Torah's lead that the
and is not out of order in the Haggadah. Since it is purpose of telling the story of the Exodus is not
not meant to be part of the story but rather the only for us but for our children, introduced
impetus to tell the story, it is appropriately placed additional customs for the sake of the children,
at the beginning of the Haggadah, before the such as removing the Seder plate before the meal
telling of the story. begins, and having the children snatch away the
Afikomen. These customs were introduced to
The statement "And if the Holy One, blessed be capture the attention and interest of the children
He, had not taken our fathers out of Egypt, then and to encourage their questions, thereby assisting
we, our children, and our children's children us to instill in them the awareness of the Exodus.
would still have been subjugated to Pharaoh in
Egypt" is not repeating the idea that appears later In conclusion, "Avadim Hayinu" is not the
in "B'chol Dor va'Dor", that we must view beginning of a story, but a pedagogical statement
ourselves as if we were personally redeemed from giving the reason why we are obligated to recount
Egypt. Rather, it is declaring the purpose for our the Exodus even if we are all wise. The inclusion
obligation to recount the Exodus -- if not for of "Avadim Hayinu" here is based on the words
ourselves, then for our children who were also "V'higadita", the first words in the verse which
affected by the event. stands as the basis for the Mitzvah of Seder night.
"Avadim Hayinu" encapsulates the essence of
2) Once we understand that the purpose of "V'higadita k'vincha -- And you shall relate to
recounting the Exodus is not only for ourselves, your child": the purpose for recounting the Exodus
but for our children and future generations, we can is for our children to be aware of what God did for
understand why we must recount the Exodus even us, and for them.
if we were all wise -- "V'afilu kulanu chachamim".
The purpose of the recounting is not for us, but for The seven paragraphs that follow are also based
our children. Requiring every individual to on the words "V'higadita l'vincha":
recount the Exodus, regardless of his level of
knowledge, is the infallible method to ensure that "Maaseh B'Rabbi Eliezer" is an example of telling
our children arem" is not a self-contained the story "even if we were all wise." Five of the
73
greatest Tannaim, Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, Therefore, following the order of words in the
Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya, Rabbi Akiva, and Rabbi Source Verse, "And you shall relate to your child
Tarfon, eminent sages whose minds were on that day", this is certainly the fitting place for
immersed in the depths of every realm of Torah, the paragraph "Yachol m'rosh chodesh". This
nevertheless elaborated upon the Exodus story answers our sixth question.
throughout the night. They knew that the purpose
of the obligation was not solely for the individual, The Third Section
but for ensuing generations -- "And you shall
relate to your child." Saying -- Leimor

"Amar Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah" is also an We now come to the third section of the
important addition to this part of the Haggadah. Haggadah, which corresponds to the third phrase
Although there is an obligation to mention the "Leimor -- saying" in the Source Verse. We have
Exodus every night of the year, the obligation on seen that the compiler of the Haggadah established
Passover night is different. Every other night one the order of the Haggadah based upon the
is required merely to mention the Exodus to sequence of words in the Source Verse,
himself, whereas on Passover night he must tell "V'higadita...". We have seen that he place
the story to someone else, and even if there is no compiler of the Haggadah consistent with the
one else present, he must tell the story to himself order of words in the Source Verse, but he also
in order to safeguard against it ever being achieved a logical progression by first introducing
forgotten. the obligation to recount the Exodus ("V'higadita
l'vincha"), then instructing when to fulfill this
The paragraphs dealing with the four sons follow, obligation ("Bayom Hahu"), and then including
depicting the responses to the questions of the four the actual fulfillment of the obligation ("Leimor").
types of children. These paragraphs appropriately
appear in the section of the Haggadah which This section of the Haggadah starts with the
corresponds to "And you shall relate to your paragraph "Mit'chilah Ovdei Avodah Zarah Hayu
child". The response to the last son, the son who Avoseinu" and continues with "Tzei u'lmad".
does not know how to ask, is the very verse which Here, the Haggadah begins its analysis of the
is the source for the obligation to tell the story of verses in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 26:5-8 which
the Exodus -- an appropriate ending to this section describe the history of the Exodus. Each word of
of the Haggadah. these verses encapsulates the essence of the
Exodus story -- the suffering of slavery, the relief
The Second Section of redemption, and the awesome miracles and
wonders which God wrought for our sake. The
On That Day -- Bayom Hahu Haggadah cites each verse and shows how the
details of the Exodus are inherent in each word.
After the section which corresponds to the words
"V'higadita l'vincha" and which describes the Following the elucidation of the verses comes the
obligation to recount the Exodus, comes the paragraphs "Kammah Maalos Tovos" and "Al
section which corresponds to the next words achas kamma v'kamma". These paragraphs list the
"Bayom Hahu", on the day, and which describes bountiful kindnesses God bestowed upon us when
the proper time for this obligation. He brought us forth from Egypt, when He guided
us through the wilderness, and when He escorted
The Haggadah derives from the words "Bayom us into the Holy Land. They were placed at the
Hahu" that the obligation of "V'higadita l"vincha" conclusion of the recounting of the story of the
-- telling about the Exodus -- must be fulfilled "on Exodus because they include additional accounts
that day", the day "when matza and maror are in of God's benevolence which were not mentioned
front of you" -- i.e. the Fifteenth of Nissan. in the verses which the Haggadah cited, such as
God's enriching us with the wealth of Egypt, the
74
splitting of the Sea, the provision of our needs in your child on that day, saying: "It is because of
the wilderness, and additional acts of kindness this that HaShem acted for me when I came forth
which the Exodus led to, including the giving of out of Egypt".
the Sabbath, the receiving of the Torah, the entry
into the land of Israel, and the building of the Holy Rabban Gamliel, however, translates the verse as
Temple. follows:

In conclusion, the compiler of the Haggadah And you shall relate to your child on that day,
placed this section -- beginning with "Mit'chilah saying: "this is because of what God acted for me
Ovdei Avodah Zarah", ending with "Al achas when I came forth out of Egypt".
kamma v'kamma", and containing the actual
telling of the story of the Exodus -- as the third Rabban Gamliel translates "Ba'avur Zeh" as "this
section of the Haggadah. It appropriately is because" or "tRabban Gamliel's way is whether
corresponds to the third phrase of the Source the word "Zeh", "this", is the subject or the object
Verse upon which the Haggadah is based: the of the subordinate clause. Rabban Gamliel learns
phrase "Leimor -- saying" in the verse, V'higadita that it is the subject ("this thing is because") and
l'vincha ba'yom ha'hu leimor, ba'avur zeh asah not the object ("because of this thing"). To
HaShem li b'tzeisi m'Mitzrayim -- And you shall illustrate, it is as if the phrase reads "Zeh Ba'avur"
relate to your child on that day, saying: "It is instead of "Ba'avur Zeh", and as if the verse reads,
because of this that HaShem acted for me when I And you shall relate to your child on that day,
came forth out of Egypt." saying: "This is because of what HaShem did for
me when I came forth out of Egypt.
The Fourth Section
What does "this" refer to? "This" is the object on
Because of This -- Ba'avur Zeh The fourth section the table to which one can point and say, "THIS is
corresponds to the fourth phrase, "Ba'avur Zeh -- it because...", referring to the Paschal offering, the
is because of this", in the Source Verse. With this matza, and the maror.
simple assumption we can answer the seventh and
eighth questions. To summarize, Rabban Gamliel's rule is clearly
written in the verse itself: And you shall relate to
Rabban Gamliel's rule that one must explain the your child on that day, saying: "This [the Paschal
Pesach, matza, and maror, corresponds to the offering, matza, and maror] is because of what
phrase "Ba'avur Zeh", which is why the compiler God acted for me when I came forth out of
of the Haggadah placed the paragraph of Rabban Egypt". In order to fulfill the obligation of relating
Gamliel at this point in the Haggadah. the story of the Exodus to one's child, one must
also relate the reason for the Paschal offering
Rabban Gamliel's rule states that if one does not ("Because the Holy One, blessed be He, passed
explain these three objects -- Pesach (the Paschal over the houses of our fathers in Egypt"), the
offering), matza, and maror, then one has not reason for the matza ("Because the dough of our
fulfilled the obligation to recount the Exodus. fathers did not have time to become leavened"),
What is the source for this rule? His source is none and the reason for the maror ("Because the
other than the phrase to which this section of the Egyptians embittered the lives of our fathers in
Haggadah corresponds -- "Ba'avur Zeh". Egypt"). This obligation is part and parcel of the
obligation to recount the Exodus, as is evident by
How does Rabban Gamliel derive from these its presence in the verse commanding us to
words the obligation to recite the explanation of recount the Exodus.
the Paschal offering, matza, and Maror? Rabban
Gamliel reads the verse "V'higadita" differently This also explains why we must say "THIS matza"
from the common reading. The common and "THIS maror", for "this" is the language of the
translation of the verse is, And you shall relate to verse, "Ba'avur Zeh -- this is because". (Footnote:
75
We do not say "THIS Paschal lamb" because we The Sixth Section
no longer have the Pesach sacrifice to which we
could point and say "this Paschal lamb". Since the When I came forth from Egypt -- B'tzeisi
destruction of the second Holy Temple, the text M'Mitzrayim
was changed from "This Paschal lamb which we
eat" to "The Paschal lamb that our fathers used to The sixth section of the Haggadah begins with the
eat at the time when the Holy Temple was still paragraph "L'phichach -- Therefore we are obliged
standing". to avow thanks", an introduction to the recital of
Hallel, the psalms of praise to God for the
The Fifth Section miracles of the redemption from Egypt.

HaShem Acted for Me -- Asah HaShem Li This paragraph states that we are duty-bound to
thank God with abundant expresses of praise and
After the section of the Haggadah based on the exaltation for all the acts of kindness He bestowed
phrase "Ba'avur Zeh", we come to the section and continually bestows upon us. This paragraph
based on the next words in the verse, "Asah ends with the imperative, "Hallelukah -- Praise
HaShem Li". These words are the source for the God!", a befittingm'Mitzrayim -- when I came
obligation for each person to consider himself as if forth out of I Egypt", the sixth and final phrase of
he personally had been redeemed from Egypt. the Source Verse. The Hallel of the Seder
Therefore, the compiler of the Haggadah placed commemorates the miracles of the redemption
the paragraph "B'chol dor v'dor", which discusses from Egypt and gratefully declares, "B'tzeis
this obligation, at this point in the Haggadah Yisrael m'Mitzrayim -- When Yisrael went forth
following the order of the verse. This answers our from Egypt", echoing the words upon which its
ninth question. inclusion in the Haggadah is based, "B'tzeisi
m'Mitzrayim". This answers our eleventh
This paragraph states, "In every single generation question.
one is obligated to look upon himself as if he
personally had gone forth out of Egypt." The And our final question -- why is this book called
paragraph continues to prove this obligation from the Haggadah -- has long since disappeared. Since
the words "Asah HaShem li -- HaShem acted for the book's foundation from beginning to end is
me" in the Source Verse. based on the words of the verse "V'higadita
l'vincha", it is needless to say that the most fitting
We asked that the idea of viewing oneself as title for this book is the first word of that verse,
having personally left Egypt already appeared at "Haggadah".
the beginning of the Haggadah in "Avadim
Hayinu -- We were slaves... And if the Holy One, In Conclusion
Blessed be He, had not taken our fathers out of
Egypt, then we, our children, and our children's With a single, clear, simple answer, we have
children would still have been subjugated to discovered an overwhelmingly logical and
Pharaoh in Egypt". We already explained that the organized order in the Haggadah. The order of the
purpose of that statement is to explain why every Haggadah is the order of words in the verse which
individual is obligated to recount the Exodus stands as the source for one of the Pesach Seder's,
"even if we were all wise". It does not come to and, indeed, one of the year's, most important
express the idea that one must view oneself as Mitzvot:
having personally left Egypt. For that comes the
fifth section of the Haggadah, the paragraph And you shall relate to your child On that day
"B'chol dor va'dor", which corresponds to the Saying It is because of this HaShem acted for me
phrase "Asah HaShem Li" -- the fifth phrase in the When I came forth out of Egypt.
Source Verse, "V'higadita".
***
76
refers to the war of Gog and Magog.80 R.
The Haggadah remains the key document whose Nahman b. Isaac said: [Hallel is recited]
raison d'etre seems to be use of the question. It because it contains [an allusion to] the
begins with four, shifts to three types who ask deliverance of the souls of the righteous
questions and one who doesn't, and during the rest from the Gehenna, as it is said, I beseech
of the Seder, with the help of unique foods and Thee, HaShem, deliver my soul.81 Hezekiah
special rituals, questions abound as a narrative said: Because it alludes to the descent of the
spell of Jewish history is woven. righteous82 into the fiery furnace and their
ascent from it. ‘Their descent,’ for it is
Hallel written, Not unto us, HaShem, not unto us:
[this] Hananiah said; ‘But unto Thy name
The Gemara in Pesachim 118 tells us that Hallel give glory’ was said by Mishael; For Thy
was singled out because it has five special facets; mercy, a rid for Thy truth's sake, by
it refers to: Azariah; Wherefore should the nations
say?83 by all of them. ‘Their ascent from the
(1) Shemot (Exodus) fiery furnace,’ for it is written, O praise
(2) Splitting of Yam Soof, HaShem, all ye nations;84 [this] Hananiah
(3) Giving of Torah, said; Laud Him, all ye peoples, was said by
(4) War of Gog and Magog, and Mishael; For His mercy is great toward us,85
(5) Revival of the Dead and the Pangs of by Azariah; ‘And the truth of HaShem
Messiah endureth for ever,’ by all of them. Others
maintain [that] it was Gabriel who said,
Pesachim 118a Now since there is the great ‘And the truth of HaShem endureth for
Hallel, why do we recite this one?73 Because ever.’ [For] when the wicked Nimrod cast
it includes [a mention of] the following five our father Abraham into the fiery furnace,
things: The Exodus from Egypt, the dividing Gabriel said to the Holy One, blessed be He:
of the Red Sea, the giving of the Torah ‘Sovereign of the Universe! Let me go
[Revelation], the resurrection of the dead, down, cool [it], and deliver that righteous
and the pangs of Messiah.74 The Exodus man from the fiery furnace.’ Said the Holy
from Egypt, as it is written, When Israel One, blessed be He, to him: ‘I am unique in
came forth out of Egypt;75 as the dividing of My world, and he is unique in his world: it
the Red Sea: The sea saw it, and fled;76 the is fitting for Him who is unique to deliver
giving of the Torah: The mountains skipped him who is unique. But because the Holy
like rams;77 resurrection of the dead: I shall One, blessed be He, does not withhold the
walk before HaShem [in the land of the [merited] reward of any creature, he said to
living];78 the pangs of Messiah: Not unto us, him, ‘Thou shalt be privileged to deliver
HaShem, not unto us.79 three of his descendants.’86

R. Johanan also said: ‘Not unto us, HaShem, Why is Hallel split on Pesach night? The Hallel
not unto us’ refers to the servitude to shows us both the past redemption and the future
[foreign] powers. Others state, R. Johanan redemption. Thus, before the meal, we recite those
said: ‘Not unto us, HaShem, not unto us’ parts of Hallel which pertain to the past, and after

73 80
Viz., Ps. CXIII-CXVIII. V. Ezek. XXXVIII and Sanh., Sonc, ed. p. 630. n. 7.
74 81
I.e,, the suffering which must precede his coming. Ps. CXVI, 4.
75 82
Ibid. CXIV, 1. Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
76 83
Ibid. 3. Ps. CXV, 2.
77 84
Ibid. 4; cf. Judg. V. 4f. Ps. CXVII, 1.
78 85
Ps. CXVI, 9 Ibid. 2.
79 86
Ibid. CXV, 1. This is now interpreted as a prayer to be And when that promise was fulfilled, Gabriel said ‘and the
spared the great distress of that time; cf. Sanh. 97a. truth’ etc.
77
the meal we recite those parts of the Hallel which Passover. The implication of this interpretation is
pertain to the future. that Shavuot, which falls on the day after the omer
count of forty-nine days, would always occur on a
Midrash Rabbah - Vayikra (Leviticus) Sunday. It would also occur on different days of
XXX:5 And tell of all Thy wondrous works the month since the first Shabbat during Passover
(ib.). This, said R. Abin, applies to the could be, for instance, the third day of Passover
Hallel87 which contains references to the (Nisan 17) or the fifth day (Nisan 19). This view is
past, references to the future, references to incorrect in light of Yeshua's exhortation of
the present generations, references to the Matityahu (Matthew) 23:2-3.
days of the Messiah, and references to the
days of Gog and Magog.88 Thus: When Yochanan (John) 19:31 The Jews
Israel came forth out of Egypt (Ps. CXIV, 1) therefore, because it was the preparation,
is a reference to the past; Not unto us, that the bodies should not remain upon the
HaShem (ib. CXV, 1) to the present cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath
generations; I love that HaShem should day was an high day,) besought Pilate that
hear (ib. CXVI, 1) to the days of the their legs might be broken, and [that] they
Messiah; All nations compass me about (ib. might be taken away.
CXVII, 10) to the days of Gog and Magog;
Thou art my God, and I will give thanks 4521 sabbaton, sab'-bat-on; of Heb. or.
unto Thee; Thou art my God, I will exalt [7676]; the Sabbath (i.e. Shabbath), or day
Thee (ib. CXVIII, 28) to the future. of weekly repose from secular avocations
(also the observance or institution itself); by
extens. a se'nnight, i.e. the interval between
XVI. Counting the Omer two Sabbaths; likewise the plur. in all the
above applications:-sabbath (day), week.
The Omer Controversy: A sharp controversy
existed between the rabbis and a variety of Jewish ---------------- Dictionary Trace ----------------
sects over the interpretation of the words THE 7676 shabbath, shab-bawth'; intens. from
DAY AFTER THE SABBATH in the verse 7673; intermission, i.e. (spec.) the Sabbath:-
commanding the counting of the omer. According (+ every) Sabbath. Sabbath week
to the rabbis, "the Sabbath" refers not to the
seventh day of the week but rather to the first 7676 shabbath shabbawth'; intens. from
festival day of Passover; hence the omer begins on 7673; intermission, i.e. (spec.) the Sabbath:-
the second night of Passover. Yeshua exhorted us (+ every) Sabbath. x
to do what the Pharisees said in:
----------------- Dictionary Trace ---------------
Matityahu (Matthew) 23:2-3 "The teachers 7673 shabath, shaw-bath'; a prim. root; to
of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' repose, i.e. desist from exertion; used in
seat. So you must obey them and do many impl. relations (caus., fig. or spec.):-
everything they tell you. But do not do what (cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate,
they do, for they do not practice what they cause (make) to fail, keep (Sabbath), suffer
preach. to be lacking, leave, put away (down),
(make to) rest, rid, still, take away.
Various groups, beginning with the first-century
Sadducees and continuing with the Karaites of the 7676 shabbath, shab-bawth'; intens. from
early middle ages, interpreted the word Sabbath in 7673; intermission, i.e. (spec.) the Sabbath:-
different ways. Most commonly, it was interpreted (+ every) Sabbath.
as the first Shabbat after the beginning of
87
Pss. CXIII ff.
88
Cf. Ezek. XXXVIII, 1 ff.
78
The date accepted by the Pharisees is the same
date which is observed by Orthodox Jews. The This study was written by Hillel ben David
date that we begin counting the omer is Nisan 16. (Greg Killian).
Comments may be submitted to:

XVII. Quotes Greg Killian


227 Millset Chase #
"Anti-Jewish polemics (theological differences) San Antonio, Texas 78253
figure largely in the Didache (an early church
manual, 120 C.E.) which wars against Jewish Internet address: gkilli@aol.com
fasting and prayers, but at the same time takes Web page: http://members.aol.com/gkilli/home/
over Jewish elements for the liturgy of HaShem's
Supper." (210) 277-8649

"It was generally agreed that the Savior ate the Return to The WATCHMAN home page
Pesach (Passover meal) on the fourteenth day of Send comments to Greg Killian at his email
the Jewish month of Nisan, corresponding to the address: gkilli@aol.com.
fourteenth day of the March moon. The Christians
of Asia stuck to that date, and on that day merely
substitute the Eucharistic Supper for the Jewish
ritualistic repast."

"It appeared an unworthy thing that in the


celebration of this most holy feast we should
follow the practice of the Jews... Let us then have
nothing in common with the detestable Jewish
crowd." - Constantine's Nicene Letter, 325 C.E.

"The idea of going from a church to a synagogue


is blasphemous; and to attend the Jewish Passover
is to insult Christ." - Yochanan (John)
Chrysostom, Sermons II and III, 387 C.E.

"No bishop, presbyter, or deacon, or any other


member of the clergy is to share in Jewish fast or
feast, or to receive from them unleavened bread or
other material for a feast."
- Apostolic Canon 69, 4th Century.

79

You might also like