Passover Haggadah

This is a condensed version, great for Messianic presentations!

Ceremonial items needed for Passover

1.  Two candle holders with candles

2.  A Matzah Tosh with 3 matzahs

3.  A linen cloth for the Afikomen

4.  Parsley to use as karpas

5.  Salt with water in a bowl

6.  Horseradish

7.  Grape juice or wine (with out leaven)

8.  Hawroeset

9.  Shank bone of a lamb

10. Bowls for washing

11. Hand towels for each person

Seder Service

Leader:

First remove all the bread from the house.

The lady leader will kindle the candles and recite the following prayer:

Lady Leader:

Baruch Attaw Adoni Elo-hay-new Meleck ha-oh-lam

aw-sher keed-shaw-new

B-meetz-oh-tawv v'nah-tah-new l'-hawd-leek-nehr shell yom tove.

The women will recite, in unison, the translation of the prayer in English.

Women:

Blessed art thou oh L-rd our G-d King of the universe, who has sanctified

us through His commandments and has allowed us to kindle the Seder candles.

Leader:

I will now recites the prayer of sanctification.

Baruch Attaw Adoni Elo-hay-new Meleck ha-oh-lam asher B'harbawnew,

Me-koal-awm. Baruch Attaw Adoni

mekawdesh Yeesrawale v-hawtz-mah-neem.

The men will recite in unison, the translation of the prayer in English

Men:

Blessed art Thou oh L-rd our G-d King of the universe who selected us from among all people. Blessed art Thou oh L-rd our G-d who sanctified Israel and the Passover.

Leader:

Before each of the four cups we will say the blessing for the wine.

Baruch Attaw Adoni Elo-hay-new Meleck ha-oh-lam

bo-ray p'ree ha-gaw-fen

The men will recite in unison, the translation of the prayer in English.

Men:

Blessed art thou oh L-rd our G-d King of the universe Creator of the fruit of the vine

Leader:

The first cup is called the 'Cup of Blessing' let us drink together.

Ur-hawtz

Leader:

First washing of the hands. Dip your fingers into the bowl and dry with the towel.

Kar-Paws

Leader:

On your plate is a sprig of parsley to represent the Eh-zove (hyssop) There is also a glass of saltwater to represent the tears our forefathers shed as slaves in the land of Egypt. The ehzove was used to sprinkle the blood of the Passover lamb on our doorposts so the L-rd would spare our firstborn.

I will now recite the blessing for the fruit of the earth.

Baruch Attaw Adoni Elo-hay-new Meleck ha-oh-lam

bo-ray p'ree ha-ah-daw-mah

The men will recite in unison the translation of the prayer in English.

Men:

Blessed art Thou oh L-rd our G-d King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the earth.

Leader:

Dip the parsley in the glass of saltwater and then we will partake together

Yaw-hawtz

Leader:

I will hold up the shank bone of a lamb and the Matzah Tosh with three matzahs in it.

The top matzah and the bottom matzah are said to represent the loaves of showbread which were used in the Temple. The middle matzah is said to represent the Passover lamb. The Passover as given to Moses by God, can no longer be observed since the Romans destroyed God's temple. The middle matzah, called the afikomen, in addition to the shank bone of a lamb has come to represent the Passover sacrifice.

It is common to break the middle matzah in 2 parts. The smaller part is returned to the plate and the larger piece is wrapped with 3 layers of a linen cloth. Then the leader of the Seder hides it.

THE AFIKOMEN IS HIDDEN

Leader:

After the meal, the youngest at the table will search for the afikomen and then bring it back to the table. The 2 parts will be matched together and it will be a sign: that which was broken off will not remain lost to our people.

I will now hold up the matzah tosh with the matzahs in it. Everyone will then say in unison:

ALL:

This is the bread of affliction that we and our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungered come and eat. Whosoever is in need, come and celebrate the Passover. Now here, next year in the land of Israel!

Leader:

Now pour the second cup.

MAH NEESH-TAH-NAH?

Leader:

Next, the four questions.

Even the youngest notices this flat bread used in the seder, the matzah. It is unleavened bread. Now let the youngest ask the 4 questions

Youngest:

Why do we eat matzah tonight?

Lady leader:

Because the L-RD commanded Moses to tell our fathers to keep the feast of unleavened bread, at Passover forever.

Youngest:

On all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs, why on this night only bitter herbs?

Leader:

Because the Egyptians made bitter the lives of out fathers. The Torah tells us in the book of Exodus: "And they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick." Exodus 1:14

Youngest:

Why do we dip the greens in the salt water?

Lady Leader:

To remember the tears our people shed as slaves in Egypt. And to remember the hyssop which was used to sprinkle the blood of the Passover lamb on our doorposts.

Youngest:

Why do we sit at ease on this night eating slowly, when our fathers ate quickly while standing?

Leader:

Then we were slaves getting ready to leave Egypt. Now we are free and again we have our own land.

(The leader holds up the hard-boiled egg.)

This egg is a symbol of the offerings brought to the temple in Jerusalem.

ALL:

May the temple be rebuilt in our time. Aw-main

Leader:

(The leader holds up the shank bone.)

This bone reminds us of the Passover lamb that the L-RD our G-d commanded our fathers to sacrifice this night and mark the doorposts with its blood. The L-RD passed over all the homes with the blood on the doorposts. In those homes not marked with the blood, the firstborn of each household died.

Maw-geed

Leader:

Next the Passover story.

Now you ask; how did our fathers come to be in Egypt? In ancient times our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob wandered as strangers in the land G-d had promised. In the time of Jacob a famine came to the land. Joseph, son of Jacob, had become leader of Egypt under Pharaoh. During the lifetime of Joseph the people were happy and prospered. Then Joseph died and a new Pharaoh arose which had not known Joseph.

Lady Leader:

The new Pharaoh began to fear the children of Israel and so he made them slaves and he ordered that all the male babies should be killed at birth. But Amram and Jochebed hid their baby boy in a basket on the river. One day while bathing, the Pharaoh's daughter found the child and brought him to the palace and named him Moses.

Moses lived in the palace but he knew of his background and he felt sorry for his people. One day he saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite and he killed the Egyptian. Then he had to flee Egypt and he lived in the desert many years herding sheep. About 40 years later, while leading his flock, he came upon a bush that was burning. Yet this bush did not burn up! He walked over to investigate and the L-RD spoke to him from the bush. G-d told him to return to Egypt and tell the Pharaoh to let the people of Israel return to the land of promise.

Leader:

But Pharaoh said "No!". The G-d of our fathers then sent 10 plagues on the Egyptians. The name of the first plague is "Dawm".

ALL:

And G-d turned the water of the Nile River into blood

Youngest:

But Pharaoh said "No! I wont let them go!"

Leader:

The name of the second plague is 'Tz-far-dee-ah'

All:

Then G-d sent frogs throughout all the land. At first Pharaoh said the Israelites could leave. Then G-d removed the frogs.

Youngest:

Then Pharaoh said "No! I wont let them go!"

Leader:

The name of the third plague is 'Kee-neem'

All:

Then G-d turned the dust of Egypt into lice.

Youngest:

Still Pharaoh said "No! I wont let them go!"

Leader:

The name of the fourth plague is 'Aw-rove'

All:

Then G-d sent dog flies throughout all Egypt. At first Pharaoh said the Israelites could leave. So G-d removed the dog flies.

Youngest:

Then Pharaoh said "No! I wont let them go!"

Leader:

The name of the fifth plague is 'Deh-vehr'

All:

Then G-d sent cattle disease on all the animals of the Egyptians.

Youngest:

Still Pharaoh said "No! I wont let them go!"

Leader:

The name of the sixth plague is 'Sh-heen'.

All:

So G-d sent boils on all the Egyptians

Youngest:

Still Pharaoh said "No! I wont let them go!"

Leader:

The name of the seventh plague is 'Baw-rahd'.

All:

G-d sent great hail and fire upon Egypt. Then the Pharaoh told Moses that the children of Israel could go. So G-d stopped the hail and fire

Youngest:

Then Pharaoh said "No! I wont let them go!"

Leader:

The name of the eighth plague is 'Awr-beh'.

All:

G-d sent locusts which covered the land of Egypt.

Again the Pharaoh said that the Israelites could leave. So G-d blew away the locusts with a great and strong wind.

Youngest:

Then Pharaoh said "No! I wont let them go!"

Leader:

The name of the ninth plague is 'Hoe-sheck'.

All:

Then G-d sent darkness over all the land of Egypt. But there was light where the children of Israel lived in Goshen.

Youngest:

Still Pharaoh said "No! I wont let them go!"

Leader:

The name of the tenth and final plague is 'Maw-coat B'hoe-rote'.

At last G-d came and slew the firstborn of each household which did not have the blood applied to the doorposts.

All:

Then Pharaoh and all Egypt said, "Yes, please go!!!"

Leader:

Let us remember and never forget. The promise of G-d to deliver our people has been kept again and again and again, throughout all the ages.

In every generation each individual is bound to consider themselves as if they had gone forth out of Egypt. For it is written: "On that day thou shalt tell thy son: "This is because of what the L-RD did for ME when I came out of Egypt."

Mah-coat

Leader:

The second cup is called the "Cup of Plagues"

Now for the blessing for the second cup

Baruch Attaw Adoni Elo-hay-new Meleck ha-oh-lam

bo-ray p'ree ha-gaw-fen

The men will recite in unison the translation of the prayer in English

Men:

Blessed art thou oh L-rd our G-d King of the universe Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Leader:

All drink the second cup after drinking the cup pour the third cup.

Rah-hatz

Leader:

Now the second washing of the hands and dry with towel

Mo-tzee-Mat-zah

Leader:

It is the time to recite the blessing for the unleavened bread.

Baruch Attaw Adoni Elo-hay-new Meleck ha-oh-lam

Hamotzee lehem meen ha-aw-retz

Men:

Blessed art Thou oh L-RD our G-d King of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth.

Mah-roar

Leader:

Now the blessing for the bitter herbs

Baruch Attaw Adoni Elo-hay-new Meleck ha-oh-lam awsher keedshawnu b-meetz-ohtawv vtzee-vaw-new Awl Aw-kee-lawt Mah-roar

Men:

Blessed art Thou oh L-RD our G-d King of the universe who has sanctified us through His commandments and has commanded us concerning the eating of bitter herbs

Koe-raych

Leader:

Let each one scoop up the haw-roe-set, using the matzah as a spoon, and then place a bit of mah-roar (bitter herbs) on top. Bite off the part of the matzah with the haw-roe-set and mah-roar and eat them. Use the remaining matzah as a spoon to eat all the rest of the haw-roe-set.

Shool-hawn O-raych

Leader:

At this time the Passover meal is eaten. The meat dish is usually chicken and the vegetables are carrots, yams, and other vegetables that do not contain natural leaven.  Bowls of nuts and fruits are set out and for dessert, sponge cake.

Tzaw-foon

Leader:

The youngest now searches for the afikomen. It is brought back to the leader and it is carefully unwrapped from the linen cloth and matched up with the part from which it was broken off. The leader matches up the two parts and holds them up. And says,

"See, nothing is lost. The L-RD our G-d will restore Israel and bring back all those that are dispersed to the land of promise."

Baw-raych

Leader:

Now the thanksgiving grace following the meal.

Baruch Sheh-aw-kal-new  meesh-low oov-too-voe Ha-yee-new. Ha-rah-hah-mawn Who Y'-zah-kay-new Lee-mote HaMashiach

Men:

Blessed is the Eternal One whose bounty we have been fed and through whose love we are given life. May He who is most compassionate make us worthy to behold the day of Messiah.

Leader:

The third cup is the cup after the meal it is called the "Cup of Redemption". Now the blessing for this cup.

Baruch Attaw Adoni Elo-hay-new Meleck ha-oh-lam

bo-ray p'ree ha-gaw-fen

Men:

Blessed art Thou oh L-RD our G-d King of the universe Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Leader:

All drink the third cup. The 4th cup is then filled also the cup of Elijah is filled. The

youngest is sent to the front door to see if Elijah the prophet has come to announce the coming of Messiah.

It is written: Behold I will send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. And He shall turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers

(Here you can sing some songs. Some popular songs for this time are the "Da-yay-new" song also "The Song of Elijah".)

Leader:

The fourth and final cup is called the "Cup of Praise"

Baruch attaw adoni elohaynu meleck haolam boray poree hagawfen

All:

Blessed art thou oh L-RD our God King of the universe creator of the fruit of the vine

Leader:

All arise and hold up the fourth cup and say together

All:

Lah-shah-nah ha-bahah be Yerushalim

Next year in Jerusalem!

Leader:

All drink the fourth cup

Neer-tzah

Leader:

The closing prayer

Oh Holy one, ended is the Passover Seder according to custom, statute and law. As we were worthy to celebrate it this year so may we be found worthy to celebrate it in future years.

Righteous One in heaven above, restore the congregation of Israel to Your love. Speedily lead your redeemed people to Zion in joy.

All:

Aw-main

This concludes the Seder

Now there are some things I'd like you to notice. First we saw that the opening of the Seder was brought in by the lady leader. It's the same with the Shabbat (Sabbath). Women play an important part in Judaism. You would also notice that the lady leader (usually the wife) is seated on the left of the leader of the Seder. That position is the most important position (other then the one leading the seder) at the table. This is where Peter sat at the last supper. There was a dispute about who should sit there in Luke 22:24 this led into Yeshua talking about who would be the greatest and least in Heaven.

The last supper was a Passover Seder. The youngest would sit at the right hand of the leader. This would've been John the Beloved. Why did we all lean to the left when we drank our wine? We do that in remembrance of the days of old when we didn't sit on chairs but rather we laid down on mats eating from a table (one with very short legs) the mats would shoot out from the center of the table like spokes on a wheel. It wasn't like Michael Angelo's depiction of the Last Supper where they were all sitting on chairs. While reclining on these mats they would be leaning on their left side and eating with their right hand. So in the case of the last supper Yeshua would've had His back towards Peter and John the Beloved would've been in front. If John were to ask a question, he would have to lean backwards to be able to have Yeshua hear him. Leaning back like that would put his head on Yeshua's breast. In John 13:4 Yeshua had just washed the disciples feet at verse 21 it says

21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

What does it mean Jesus dipped the sop? He was dipping the Chawroset.

it was right after that that Jesus said in John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

You can see how important it is to understand Judaism when interpreting Scripture. Without knowledge of Jewish custom, you can't really have a good understanding of the Bible.

Next we'll look at the drinking of the wine.

Luke 22:20 "Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." This is what we call in Church "Communion"

This is the cup after the meal the third cup. What was that 3rd cup called? "The cup of Redemption". He said this cup was his blood. It was His blood that redeemed us. He never did drink the fourth cup, that is the cup that he will drink with all of us when He comes back, just like He said. Mathew 26: 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Then he broke bread. He broke the matza and said, "this is my body which I have given for you" You'll notice we took out the middle Matza and we broke it. This part of the Seder is very important to believers it tells the entire story of the death and resurrection of Yeshua. There were 3 matzahs just as there is a triune G-d god the father, son and Holy Spirit. Jesus took out the middle matza which represents himself he broke it just as he was broken for us it is wrapped in linen just as Yeshua's body was wrapped in linen before he was laid in the tomb. He was in the tomb for 3 days just as the afikomen is wrapped 3 times. Then later it is brought out just as Jesus was brought out from the grave. The matza was held up and it was said that all was restored just as Jesus restored us into right relationship with G-d. If you take a close look at the matza you will see that it is striped, just as he was striped for our iniquities and it is also pierced just as he was pierced for our transgressions. Our people do this every year and they don't realize what they're doing. There are Sephardim hagadas that say the 3 matzas represent the thinking, the word and the action. This is exactly how the Triune god is! The Father is the originator of all things Jesus is the Word of G-d and the Holy Spirit is the action part of the G-d head.

Next we see where the door is opened for Elijah the Prophet.  We read in Mal 4:5

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD" It was John the Baptist who came in the spirit of Elijah. The spirit of Elijah rested on John the Baptist just as Elijah's spirit had rested on Elisha in 2Ki 2:15 where it says

"And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha.

When we hold up the shank bone of a lamb we remember the sacrifice at the Temple. Jesus was our sacrifice. Over and over again in Scripture He is in fact called the Passover Lamb.

Why do we eat unleavened bread? That was because when Moses was delivering the Israelites out of Egypt, they were in a hurry. They left quickly and didn't have time to allow the bread to rise. Leaven in the Bible also represents sin and incorrect doctrine.

Matthew Chapter 16: 6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.  It goes on vs12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Also in Mark 8:14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

What Jesus was talking about was not bread!

Exodus 13:6 says, Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.

7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

That's in the Torah so the Jews do this every year. All the leaven is taken out of the house. What they did in Biblical times was they would burn all their leavened bread but the Rabbis changed this later on and allowed the Jews to ceremonially sell it to their Gentile neighbors and then ceremonially buy it back after Pasach (Passover)

Galatians 5:9 Paul said, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." what he was saying was that a little sin like a little leaven it doesn't take much leaven for bread to rise. A little sin is all it takes to pollute the entire soul. So we don't want any sin in the house.

One thing that many don't realize is that some of the most important things that Yeshua Jesus said was said during the Passover Seder. It was then that He said I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

John 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

This is when He said he'd send the Holy Spirit to the Disciples.

I am the vine you are the branches

14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me.

Here He was again declaring His divinity. Why at Passover? Why would He state that? Because the story of Exodus is recited at that time. The story of Moses when He was told by G-d at the burning bush to go deliver the Israelites. Moses said who should I tell them sent me? And God said tell them I am who I am. Then later Jesus was asked Who are you? And Jesus said I am that I am. That's who Moses was talking to. It wasn't the Father it was Yeshua. Moses wasn't aware of that that's why the scriptures say he hid his face. He knew that no man could see the face of G-d and live.

Also notice that there was a time when we were to sing some songs. Just before Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mt. of Olives in Mathew 26:30 while still at the last supper it says,  "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives." So this is a tradition which has some very old roots

One other minor thing is to notice the prayer after the meal. Saying grace before the meal is not Biblical. Saying it after the meal is how it was done.

We'll conclude by having Communion.