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A Practical Guide for Believers in Messiah Many previously described customs can be meaningful when observed by followers of Yeshua. Those who desire to enter into the full celebration of the holy day begin before the arrival of the seder by cleansing all leaven from the house. Floors are swept, vacuumed and mopped. Cupboards are cleared of leavened products and cleaned. Pots and dishes are thoroughly washed to remove any possible fragments of leaven. The spirit of the law is to remove all leaven from our houses (Exodus 12:19–20). This is also symbolic of the spiritual cleansing of our hearts (I Corinthians 5:6–8). My suggestion, in that spirit of freedom, is to adapt the preparation to a comfortable degree. For some, this may mean all of the above cleaning. For others, it may mean a cursory cleaning to merely symbolize the truth of Passover. Let every person be convinced in his own mind (Romans 14). After a general cleaning in the first weeks of Nisan, the attention becomes more focused as the day of Pesach approaches. After sundown on the fourteenth of Nisan, a special ceremony called bedikat khameytz (the search for the leaven) takes place in the home. The last little bits of leaven are found and removed from the premises. The details of this process are intriguing. Since the house has previously been cleaned, the leader of the house must purposely hide some leaven (bits of cookie or bread) in various places. Then the leader takes a feather, a wooden spoon and a lighted candle, and the family begins searching for the final leaven. This can be a great time to get children involved because it is like a game of hide-and-seek. The spiritual lessons are quite striking, however. The leaven (sin) must be cleansed from our dwellings (and hearts). The method itself is informative. The light of the candle (the Word of God) illumines our sin (Psalm 119:11). The leaven is scooped onto the wooden spoon for removal (like the wooden cross of the Messiah). The following morning, this last bit of collected leaven is burnt outside the home (in a can or bag) to symbolize its final destruction. This symbolizes Messiah’s destroying sin “outside the camp,” and making freedom from the power of sin available for all who believe. These customs may seem strange to the uninitiated, but the deep spiritual truth will be evident to discerning believers in Yeshua. Even something as unusual as bedikat khameytz can become a meaningful ceremony for those whose hearts have been cleansed by the Messiah. On the day of 14 Nisan, as the first day of Passover approaches, final preparations for the seder must be made. By now, the preliminary arrangements, such as shopping for “Kosher For Passover” products (matzah, wine or grapejuice, and any other unleavened food substitutes) should be completed. A traditional seder plate and ceremonial items will also be needed. The zeroah is a lamb shankbone representing the lamb sacrifice. If no lamb shankbone is available, a turkey or chicken bone that has been roasted by fire may be substituted. The baytzah is a roasted, hardboiled egg representing the burnt offerings of the Temple period. The maror (bitter herbs) is usually horseradish, which is a reminder of the bitterness of slavery to sin. Kharoset (the sweet apple/nut mix) is a wonderful reminder of the sweetness of our redemption. The karpas (parsley), a green vegetable, speaks of life. All these seder plate elements can be purchased or prepared from the recipes included later in this chapter. A kiddush cup (goblet) for each person plus the cup of Elijah with its own placesetting is also needed to prepare the seder table. A matzah tash and ceremonial washing bowl of water are also essential items. Each reading participant will need a haggadah. If the leader feels comfortable, it is possible to use a traditional haggadah available through any Jewish bookstore. Many believers prefer to use a messianic Jewish haggadah. These contain most of the traditional readings, but are also accompanied by relevant New Covenant passages and explanations. One resource I recommend to messianic believers is The Messianic Passover Haggadah by Lederer Messianic Ministries. It is a quality messianic haggadah. Lederer also has a very helpful preparation guide for the seder meal. Pesach officially arrives as the sun sets on the 15th of Nisan. Since most Jewish communities outside Israel celebrate the first two nights of Passover with a traditional seder, many messianic believers have different types of seders each night. Our congregational custom is to have a large community seder the first night of Pesach for our members, and to reach out to those who need to hear the message of redemption. The second night is usually spent at a smaller, home seder with family and close friends. Whatever your options, I encourage you to make plans to celebrate this wonderful festival! The seder is the focal point of the celebration of Passover, yet it is an eight-day holy day. The Torah says we are to remove the leaven from our homes and eat matzah during this time. For some, this might be the ultimate inconvenience. What? No bagels for eight days? Yet, when spiritually appraised, even something like eating matzah crackers for a week can be an uplifting experience. Remember the symbolism. It is not just spring housecleaning; it is to remind us of our need for spiritual cleansing and repentance. Hence, every time we eat a matzah sandwich during Pesach, we are reminded of the meaning of the holy day. Every time we long for a leavened cookie we are reminded of this great spiritual truth? It is my prayer that Pesach will become a source of joyful celebration as believers experience Messiah our Passover in an intimate and practical way. Let us therefore celebrate the feast (I Corinthians 5:8). Recipes for Passover As you might imagine, after some 3500 years of observing the Passover, the Jewish community has become pretty creative in its celebration. We have found 1001 ways to use matzah in our regular meals. Recipes for the Passover Seder meal can be found in the guide published by Lederer Messianic Ministries. Here are some of our favorites to help make the remainder of Pesach a little more tasty. For breakfasts, Matzah Pancakes can be made by using 1 cup of matzah meal, 1 cup milk and 3 eggs to form a batter. The pancakes (like everything else at Pesach) are heavier than your normal buttermilk variety. Matza Brie, the Passover equivalent to French Toast, is made by softening matzahs in water, squeezing the liquid out, then breaking the matzahs into a mixture of beaten eggs and a small amount of milk. This is then fried until the egg mixture is cooked through. This can be eaten with sugar, jams or syrup. Some people eat it with salt and pepper. A Kasdan tradition that is useful is what we call the “Egg McMatzah”...a little crunchy but not bad. Lunch is a good time to eat a-la-carte. Hardboiled egg slices, salads, tuna, cheese wedges and fresh fruits can go a long way in filling the Passover menu. You can even try a number of matzah sandwiches with appropriate fillings. Look at it this way: you’ll really appreciate the convenience of the fastfood hamburger at the end of the week! Dinner suggestions include chicken and fish dishes. An interesting meal can be made by substituting matzah for noodles in a Lasagne recipe. This can be done by soaking whole matzahs for a short time in water then gently pressing the water out. Likewise, matzah meal can replace bread crumbs in a Meatloaf recipe. Perhaps the most difficult part of the “fast” of Passover is surviving dessert and snacks. Not to worry! After 3500 years of matzah the Jewish people have come up with some pretty creative answers. You will find a number of desserts in the following recipes. Above all, remember the meaning of Passover through all these foods. It is a time to clean out the leaven and to restore a pure walk with Messiah (I Corinthians 5:6–7). May every crunchy bite remind us of the spiritual beauty of the season! Apple Cake Ingredients: Directions: Moist Brownies Ingredients: Directions: Apple Matzah Kugel Ingredients: Directions: Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Ingredients: Directions: Passover Crafts Matzah Holder Materials: sewing machine Directions: The materials here were taken directly from God's Appointed Times with the publisher's permission. Return to Passover |
