Yeshua's Light

The Easter Haggadah

The Passover Haggadah is the story about the Jews escaping from slavery into freedom and it includes a seder meal. The word seder means, "order" in Hebrew, and most people are somewhat familiar with the Passover seder celebrated in the spring by Jews all over the world. The Jews begin their preparation for Passover at Purim, which usually comes sometime in March on our Gregorian calendar. All is completed by the time Passover is observed, which is on the fourteenth of Nissan between the two evenings.

The Christians begin preparation for Easter sometime in February on Ash Wednesday, when we enter into the desert of Lent. During this time, Christians empty their hearts so they may embrace the joy of Yeshua's Resurrection. This celebration feast begins at dawn, for it was at dawn that Yeshua was risen, according to the Gospel of Matthew. It is also found within all four Gospels that the women left before dawn to anoint the body of Yeshua with oils and spices. And ironically, we find that the Hebrew holiday HaOmer begins "on the morrow" after the Sabbath. This is the origin to which HaShem used to raise His beloved Son from the grave.

There are other contrasts to the Jewish Passover. Everything is prepared for the Hebrew feast, but not everything is prepared for the Christian feast. The reason for this is simple. Christ prepared the Apostles during the time he was still with them, but despite this they and the women were not fully prepared. The Apostles were hiding throughout the city, for when they struck the shepherd, the sheep scattered (Mt. 26:31). And it's clear that the Apostles were not expecting Christ to rise, even though he tried to prepare them. Why else would the women go to the tomb to anoint the body if he were alive? And in Luke's Gospel the Apostles viewed the women's story as an "idle tale" (Lk.24.11). John was perhaps the first of the Apostles to realize what had happened, but realized this only after he stood inside the tomb. And Mary Mag'dalene who also saw inside the tomb assumed that someone had taken the body and not that Christ had risen (Jn. 20:8&18). Even poor Luke and Cleopas had to be tutored by the Master themselves before they could wake up and see the obvious (Lk.23.13-33).

So if we are not quite prepared, a little out of it, and somewhat confused on Easter morning, then we know were in the right spirit for Easter.

The Symbols, Terms and Dishes Used During This Feast:

Haggadah: The Hebrew word Haggadah means "to tell" and this literally is the function of the Haggadah. It retells the story of the Exodus not only with words, but also songs, sights, smells and tastes. All these elements help to immerse the participants in the entire exodus experience and helps to build within them faith in the same G-d that Moshe followed and Who did great things there.

We created our own Haggadah to retell the story of Yeshua's passion and Resurrection. We have adopted elements from the Jewish Passover feast as well as the Tu B'Shevat seder.

Seder: The word seder means 'order' and at the seder, order is everything. For everything on the table has a place and a purpose; nothing is left to chance. We chose the Passover seder as our bench mark because Yeshua is our Paschal sacrifice and as Paul so put it, "These are just shadows of what is to come, hold fast to the spirit of what is to come in Christ Yeshua" (Col.2.16-23). We therefore include the 'shadow' in our seder because whenever a light is shining, a shadow can be seen and the perception of this shadow can help locate the direction in which the light is shining. Paul also tells us to look for the second coming, therefore we will end our seder with the anticipation of our L-rd by looking up.

A strict order does not preclude flexibility. In fact, we have included nine stations of the cross in the seder, but you may choose to have fewer or more depending upon your time and family. The changes you make can help inspire a greater desire and understanding for our L-rd. However, we do believe prayers should not be omitted, but discourse can be shortened or lengthened.

Ha-or: 'Ha' means 'the' and 'or' means 'light'. We use soft candlelight because we start before dawn as we remember the Passion, just as the disciples did. Traditionally two candles are lit, symbolic of the dualities in our faith: Life and death; husband and wife; creation and redemption and remember and observe. The mother lights them because the first mother, Eve, through her willful act of disobedience, brought darkness into the world. Later, another mother, Mary, brought the Light back into the world by accepting God's plan for her life. This gives us another duality, that woman is both folly and wisdom.

Remember, this seder begins before the dawn, but if you are unable to start at that time (timing isn't right, just can't get out of bed in time, etc), then skip the candles all together.

Matzo: The three matzoth represent many things both to Jews and Christians. The rabbis call these three "unity". For example the unity of the patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and the unity of worship; the priests, the Levites, and the people of Israel.

Believers see the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We also see the unity of the Body, with Christ as high priest, the Jews and the Christian community.

Matzo is unleavened because leaven represents the spirit of the heart (see appendix under Hamatz). "Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Paschal Lamb has been sacrificed"(1Cor.5.6). Christ had a humble heart and we are asked to humble ourselves before G-d. Also the matzo is pierced and striped as Christ was also striped by the whip and pierced by a lance.

Kiddush: At Easter we celebrate with four cups of wine (or grape juice) during the Seder feast, which we say a special prayer called the Kiddush (Blessed are You O'L-rd Our G-d . . .). These cups represent to us: release, deliverance, redemption, and restoration. Their origin is from the following passage in Exodus where the Lord said, "I will bring you out from under the burdens of Egypt, I will deliver you from their bondage, I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and I will be your God and you shall know that I am the Lord your God" (Ex.6.6-7). This is why the Passover feast also has four cups. The symbols of Passover fit very well for Easter, because Christ is our Paschal Lamb whose blood was spilled out so that the first born of G-d might not die, but have life eternal. In the Passover, the wine also is the symbol of joy, "wine to gladden the heart of man"(Ps.104.15). This is why during the Passover, we dip our fingers into the wine to remove a portion from our joy as we recount the plagues brought upon Egypt. And so we will also remove from our joy as remember our Lord's Passion

Ha-k'arah: This is the Passover plate on which the following items are found: z'roah, beitzah, maror, kharoset and salt water. It is a festive plate with separate places for each of these symbolic foods. Some plates have Hebrew names for each of the items while fancier ones may have small dishes to keep them segregated. If you do not have one, then use any nice plate you have.

Z'roah: Like the Pesach seder, we use the shank bone called the Z'roah (which means arm). In Passover, the plate represented the lamb that was slain and whose blood covered the doorposts and lentils of the homes of the Jews, so that the sentence of death would pass over their firstborn. For us, this shank represents the Lamb who was slain and Whose blood saves us. After all, after the Egyptian saw the death of the firstborn they had no will to keep the Jews in slavery. In turn, once we saw Hashem's only Son die for our sins, we no longer could remain with them.

Beitzah: In the Passover seder, the egg (or beitzah) represents the hagigah, the ancient holiday sacrifice for all three pilgrim festivals- Pesach (Passover), Shavout (Pentecost), and Yom Kippur. It also represents the Temple sacrifices that were made daily before the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. However, the Easter egg is not broiled and roasted, it's hollowed. This is because the egg represents the tomb (keep this in mind if you decorate the egg) which was found empty (early Christians adopted this symbol from the Norse who said an egg was a rock out of which life came. Christians however saw the rock of the Tomb out of which Y'shua was resurrected in great power and glory. It was much later the egg took on the fertility symbols we that are so prevalent today). It can also still represent the Temple sacrifice that covered our sins (the sin offering), which Y'shua crushed on the cross by overcoming them through grace.

A story, as we are told is from the Midrash, notes that the egg is a lot like Jews. As things get hotter the egg gets harder as did the Jews. Christians should learn from their example and harden in persecution as well.

Maror: We eat bitter herbs (maror) because it reminds us of our slavery to sin (similar to the Jews being enslaved to Pharaoh) and the suffering of Christ to free us. You can use any bitter herb, but here are some ideas: grated horseradish, which is very bitter and makes the point of Christ's sacrifice very clear. There is also lettuces such as romaine lettuce, endive, chicory, and escarole which are at first sweet but become increasingly bitter as you eat them. The Rabbis prefer the lettuce because it was like the Jewish settlement in Egypt, first sweet under Joseph, but later very bitter under Ramses II and Merneptah his son. Sin is like this as well; it appears sweet at first, but in time it will lead us to our death. The herb you use depends on what you wish to focus upon.

Kharoset: In the Passover seder, kharoset represents the mortar the Jews used to build the pyramids. Here we view Christ, the living Word, as the mortar that binds together the body of Christ. It is God's revelation in Christ that sweetens the bitterness of the cross, making it easier to bear.

The ingredients for the recipe include apples, honey, dates, figs, pomegranates, wine and nuts. Each ingredient has a deep symbolic meaning. Our recipe concentrates upon the apple, honey, figs and red wine (or grape juice). The apple represents the fruit in the Garden of Eden (why this sweet fruit gained the dubious place as fruit of the knowledge of good and evil is unknown). Honey is often alluded to in the context of the sweetness of G-d's commandments; "How sweet are thy words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"(Ps.119.103), and of God's providence: "I would feed you with the finest of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you"(Ps.81.16). Dates, pomegranates, and figs are all found in the Song of Solomon and also represent Israel. Any one of these three can be used, but we prefer only figs because Christ mentioned the fig tree several times. As to the use of wine, remember it symbolizes joy. As you'll see in the Hagga'dah, when the Kharoset is made using the symbolic items, it has a rich meaning representing God's revelation to his people from Genesis to the New Covenant.

Salt water: This is to remind us of the tears our fathers cried when they thought their Savior was gone. In Pesach, it represents the waters of the Red Sea and the tears of the Israelite slaves.

The salad: The first to see HaMoshiach when He rose from the dead was Mary Magdalene and she saw Him in the garden. For this reason we include a garden salad in our meal. Rose petals mixed with the greens make a nice and delicious addition that brings the theme home, but finding organic petals are difficult unless you froze them ahead in season or have them growing this time of year in a green house.

Blintzes: (or crepes). We keep Chag HaMotzi (the Feast of Unleavened Bread) so we prefer blintzes. These blintzes are jelly filled and dusted with powdered sugar to symbolize the shroud, which covered Yeshua in the Tomb; the same that the disciples saw rolled up when they entered the tomb.

Barley: This day we call Easter actually represents a holiday in Torah called Omer. This wave offering consisted of a sheaf of barley, which was a tenth of an ephod of grain. This grain was ground and made into cakes and the cakes were waved and some flour burned. For more on this see Ha-Omer. For this reason we include something made of barley as part of our "special foods" (which we try to have prepared ahead of time) and if Easter falls during Pesach we only include a sheaf of the hay produced from barley (or a close facsimile).

Some may wonder over the prohibition of barley during Chag HaMotzi (the Festival of Unleavened Bread) because barley was harvested during Pesach and once it was sacrificed, it could be eaten. So why are there prohibitions against it in our day? We suspect the answer lies in the aged barley we eat (the barley our ancestors ate was "newly" harvested).

Misc. Details:

Blessing the children: Because this is a very special day, we say a special blessing over our children. You can use our blessings (these are the traditional blessings for Shabbos) or make up your own.

Four questions: In the traditional Pesach seder the youngest child asks four questions that will be answered during the course of the feast. We also include four questions in our own seder.

The Sorrows: In the original seder, Judah goes through the Plagues visited on Egypt and remove part of their joy (a full cup of wine) for the suffering of their enemy. We changed this a bit to have us remove part of our joy by reciting the stations of the cross because Yeshua had to suffer for us.

The Haggadah

While the sky is still dark, we light the candles, which represent hope. Traditionally it is a woman who lights the candles because a woman, Eve, brought darkness (sin) into the world, a woman should bring back the light. We begin with the following blessings:

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam asher kid'shanu bemitzvotav vitzivanu l'hadlik ner shel yom tov.

Holy One of blessing, your presence fills creation, making us holy with Your Commandments and calling us to kindle the festival lights.

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam Sheheheyanu vikiamanu vihigianu hazeh.

Blessed are You O'L-rd Our G-d, Who kept us alive, and sustained us and brought us to this festival season.

For the boys:

Y'simcha Elohim k'frayim v'chi M'nashi.

May G-d make you as Ephraim and Menasheh

For the girls:

Y'simeycha Elohim k'Sara, Rivka, Rachel, v'Leah.

May G-d make you as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.

{optional- For both, the priestly blessing:

Y'varech-ch'cha Adonai v'yish-ma-recha Ya-er Adonai panav eilecha Vichuneka Yisa Adonai panav eilecha v'yasem l'cha shalom.

May the L-rd bless you and keep you, May He make His face to shine upon you, and turn His countenance toward you, and be gracious unto you and grant you His Peace.}

Leader: At this Easter vigil we celebrate the Seder feast with the four cups. These cups represent to us:

Release- Christ released us from the power of death by carrying our sorrows on His back (Is 53.4, Jn 19.17).

Deliverance- Christ delivered us from the power of satan so that we are no longer in bondage.

Redemption- Christ redeemed us by His outstretched hands (Eph 1.7).

Restoration- Christ will be our King and our high priest and we will be G'd's people (2Cor 6.16, 1Pet 2.9-10).

Leader: With each cup we drink may we remember G-d's command to His people: "Love one another as I have loved you". He loves us so much that he gave us his only Son so that we might not die, but have life everlasting (Jn.3.16). Through His death and resurrection we are released from our slavery of sin and covered by His grace. Let us lift up our cups together and bless the L-rd's name:

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Malech Ha-olam boray p'ree hagafen.

Blessed are You O'L-rd Our G-d, King of the Universe, Who formed the fruit of the vine.

Leader: (preferably male for he represents Christ) At Easter we celebrate with three unleavened breads. These represent unity between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The bread is unleavened because leavening represents the spirit of our hearts. Let us cleanse out the old leaven that we may start anew, for leaven represents sin. (1.Cor.5.7) Christ said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt.5.3). (The middle Matzah is taken out) In the same way, may we become like this bread, absent of the leavening of sin, so that G-d may form us with the leavening of His spirit and allow us to rise according to His precepts (lifting up the Matzah, say the following):

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Malech Ha-olam hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz.

Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who creates the bread of the earth.

Leader: (while holding up the middle matzo) Like this matzo, Christ was humble in spirit, striped for our transgressions, and pierced for our failings. (Break the matzo in half, and hold up the larger half.) This half is called the afikomen or dessert. It represents Christ in the wedding feast, triumphant and glorified. He is hidden away for we know neither the day nor the hour of His return, but a part is left uncovered so we can share in his glory even now (Mt.24.36 and 2.Cor.12.2-3). (Now wrap the matzo in a napkin leaving a part showing). Just as the afikomen will return at the end of this seder so shall Christ return in glory when all things are accomplished. (The afikomen is hidden away where part is left showing and where little people can hopefully find it later in the feast.)

Leader: (Holding up remaining piece of matzo) This represents Christ in His first coming as the suffering servant. It also represents the afikomen from the Last Supper of our L-rd. It was at the end of the Passover feast, when the Afikomen was returned that our L-rd " took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said,' Take, eat; this is my body'" (Mt.26.26).

(Break the matzo and give it to all those who sit at the table). As we eat this bread may we remember Christ's body hung on the cross for us all. (Everyone eats.)

Leader: (Holding up his cup) At the close of his Passover supper Christ shared this cup with his disciples, which would release us from our sins. "And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Mt.26.27-28). As we drink this cup may we hold in our hearts that Christ spilled his blood for all. (Everyone drinks of the first Cup).

Leader: (optional) After they ate, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him . . . And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name . . . that they may be one, even as we are one . . . I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word . . . I made it known, that the love with which thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them." (Jn.17)

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden and he prayed: "Father, if thou are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." (Luke 22.42)

Leader: (lifting up the parsley) Parsley represents the garden in which He prayed. It also reminds us of the life, which Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection gives to all who seek Him.

Leader: (lifting up the salt water) Salt water represents Christ's tears and sweat. As we eat, let us remember that Christ accepted to do the will of His Father, which was to die for our sake.

All: May we, like Christ, abide always in the will of G-d. (Dip parsley in salt water and eat it.)

(Refill the cups and do not drink at this time)

Four Questions (optional):

1. At all other meals we eat both leavened and unleavened breads. Why at this meal do we eat only unleavened bread?

2. At all other meals we prepare everything ahead for an important meal. Why for this meal do we prepare almost nothing?

3. For all other meals we dress up in nice clothes, why for this meal do we dressed hurriedly or stay in bedclothes?

4. At all other nights we eat our special dinner at night. Why do we get up before dawn this day to eat this meal?

Leader: Now while Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas Iscariot came from the chief priest with a crowd of men caring clubs and swords. They arrested Jesus and took him first to the chief priest and then to Pilate where He was unjustly accused, spat upon and scourged.

Leader: (Lifting the shank bone) In traditional Passover feasts, this roasted shank bone represents the lamb that was slain and whose blood marked the houses of those who were in obedience to G-d's command. "When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt" (Ex.12.13). For us, this shank bone represents Jesus, "For Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed."(1Cor.5.8) and his blood was poured out for our sins.

Leader: (Leader removes top Matzah and holds it up) This Matzo represents the Father in the Holy Trinity. It rests on the top because G-d is above all. Even Christ said "...I go to the Father; for the father is greater than I." (Jn.14.28)(Leader breaks the matzo and passes a portion of it to everyone at the table.)

Leader: (Leader points to the Maror) These are the bitter herbs, which represent the pains and sufferings of slavery. The Egyptians oppressed the Jews and made their "lives bitter with hard service." (Ex 1.14) In the same way, slavery to sin is bitter even unto death. The L-rd Jesus Christ paid a bitter price for our sins as well. As we scoop up some of the maror onto our Matzah, let us allow the bitter taste to cause us to shed tears of compassion for those whose have suffered slavery- our ancestors in Egypt, those even today who are held in captivity and most of all for our L-rd who suffered so that we all might live. Let this taste remain in our mouths as we remember our L-rd's Passion.

(Drawing attention back to the cup of wine):

Leader: As we recite each station let us dip our fingers into our cup and allow one drop to fall, thus reducing our Joy this day. (If you prefer more or fewer stations, please insert them in their appropriate place)

Reader 1: Jesus is condemned to death and was made to bear his cross. (For Jesus was scourged, crowned with thorns and unjustly condemned to death. In His suffering He bore this cross of our sins).

Reader 2: Simon the Cyrenian helps Jesus carry the cross. (The Roman soldiers realizing Jesus cannot carry the cross any further constrain Simon the Cyrenian to carry the cross for Him).

Reader 3: Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem; "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children." (The drops we let fall here are for all mothers who have lost their children to persecution, just like the Jewish mothers who have lost their children in 70 A.D. as foretold by Jesus).

Reader 4: Jesus is offered wine to ease his pain. (Wine was offered to numb the pain of those crucified. Jesus tasted the wine, but would not drink it for he said, "I tell you I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.").

Reader 5: Jesus is stripped then nailed and raised on the cross. (Imagine the bitter pain Christ felt as they drove the nails into his Him before they divided His garments).

Reader 6: Jesus is mocked. (many of the people gathered around mocked Jesus, "You who would destroy the temple, save yourself." As well as "He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross.").

Reader 7: Saint John and Mary the Mother of Jesus stand beneath the cross. (Remember the deep and piercing pain both would have felt, even as Jesus says to Mary, "Woman, behold your son"; and to John, "Behold, your mother.").

Reader 8: Jesus cries out for the first time- "Eli, Eli, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?", which means "My G-d, My G-d, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

Reader 9: Jesus bows His head and gives up His spirit. (The sun was darkened and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, cried with a loud voice, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." And having said this He expired).

Leader: It is the first day of the week, very early in the morning at the tomb. An earthquake shakes the earth as Christ breaks forth from the very gates of hell and an angel descends from heaven to roll away the stone. (As the leader reads this passage, the egg on the seder plate is crushed for death is no more).

(pause for a moment, then say:)

We thank You O'L-rd Our G-d, who gave us Your only Son, that if we believe in Him, we shall be saved. Thank You for releasing us from the bonds that enslaved us to sin by Your most sacred blood.

(We now bless the second cup, which we filled back at the four questions, representing the cup of deliverance:)

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Malech Ha-olam boray p'ree hagafen.

Blessed are You O'L-rd Our G-d, King of the Universe, Who formed the fruit of the vine.

(If you are playing The Hunt For the Risen Christ Game you can send the children out to find the other broken that starts the hunt or have another activity planned while you prepare the food for the remaining feast (we've got some easy recipes in the "Holiday Recipe" section under Pesach.)

The meal:

(When all are gathered back at the table, the leader blesses the pitcher of water and basin so all may wash their hands.)

Leader:

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam asher kid'shanu bemitzvotav vitzivanu al netilat yadayim.

Blessed are You O' L-rd G-d, King of the Universe, Who calls us to wash our hands.

Leader: (taking piece of matzo in his hands he pronounces the blessing:)

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Malech Ha-olam hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz.

Blessed are you, L'rd our G'd, King of the universe, who creates the bread of the earth.

Leader: The women, Mary Magdalene, Joan'na, Mary the mother of James and others were on their way to the tomb when the earthquake happened. When they reached the tomb they were startled to find the stone rolled back and two men dressed in dazzling apparel. And one spoke, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how He told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise. Go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead"

We dip our Matzah in the bitter herbs one last time for it was in great bitterness that the women went to anoint His body, but their bitterness was sweetened by the words of the angel that Yeshua was not there, but had risen from the dead. So now we dip our second piece in the Kharoset, which sweetens the bitterness of the cross. (Scoop up some on the second piece of Matzah you have and put the bitter piece to the sweet, thus making a sandwich). The cross is bitter, yes, but the resurrection makes it good to eat. Just as the Kharoset binds these crackers, in the same way G-d's revelation, completed in Yeshua HaMoshiach, binds together all of G-d's people- both Jew and Gentile. Remember this as you eat your sandwich.

(Now the seder plate is removed and three plates are put down.)

Leader: (Pointing to the plate with crepes/Passover blintzes) This is the plate of revelation.

(Each person takes one crepe/blintzes)

Leader: Mary Mag'dalene told Peter and John that Yeshua was not in the tomb, so Peter and John rushed to the tomb to see what had happen. When they reached the tomb they found it empty. Peter entered first and John followed. They found the linen cloth rolled up like this crepe (blintz) and not unwound. John knew then that HaMoshiach had risen, for the cloth could not have been wound this way unless a body was in it. As we eat this crepe (blintz) may we realize that this was the first evidence to His resurrection.

Leader: (Now pointing to the salad plate) This is the plate of redemption. (The salad is passed and everyone fills his/her bowl). Mary Mag'dalen stood out weeping in the garden, which is why we eat a garden salad. It is to remember her pain when she pleaded with the man who she thought was the gardener.

Woman/Reader: "They have taken away my L-rd, and I do not know where they have laid him." and "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."

Leader/Reader: In her grief she could not see our L-rd until he called her by name: "Mary".

Leader: Merciful L-rd, when we are in grief or mourning, may we never fail to see you and may we always hear you when you call out our name.

Leader: (now pointing to the food with barley) And this represents the wave offering that was offered in the days before the Temple was destroyed. It was a sacrifice of the first fruit, just as Yeshua is the first fruit of all who would follow in faith. In the Midrash, we find the rabbis speak of this barley sacrifice as a representation of the manna that came down from heaven. And as Believers we see this as a foreshadowing to the time Yeshua spoke to the crowd when He said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever: and the bread which I give for the life of the world is My flesh" (Jn.6.51).

Heavenly L-rd, may we seek your desires; may we hold in our hearts your precious words that guide our footsteps in our lives and may we also remember the great gifts of life and love that have been bestowed upon us through Yeshua HaMoshiach who is L-rd and Savoir forever. (Here an appropriate hymn is sung such as " Jesus Christ is Risen Today", "Singers, sing", or even "Dayanoo" with Easter verses added.) Leader: When Mary and the others returned to the disciples, they told the disciples of what they had seen, but the disciples found it hard to believe them. Later in the day two of the disciples started out on a journey to a remote town known as Emma 'us. They talked of the events that had happened on that day as well as what had happened before when a traveler joined them and asked them what they were speaking about. They responded

Reader: "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these past few days?"

Leader: And so they outlined all that had happened since the Passover up to the testimony of the women and Peter and John. The traveler said

Reader: "O Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary that the HaMoshiach should suffer these things and enter into His Glory."

Leader: The traveler was really Yeshua, but the two did not recognize him. He went on to tell them everything spoken about him from the Torah, including through to the prophets. (Lk.24.13-35).

What passages did Yeshua allude to on the trip to Emma 'us. What questions of the apostles did he answer? What did he reveal? Reflect upon these and other questions as we eat the bounty of G-d's providence.

(Some questions you may be able to use- Why did Christ have to die such a brutal death to free us of our sins? Why did he have to die at all? Could not G-d find a different way to save his people or did we, unknowingly pick the death that our Savior had to die? Why did G-d send his Son to be our King? Isn't it enough to have our G-d as our King? Why do we have to have a human king? If HaMoshiach came to call the unrighteous than what about the righteous? If only those who know Yeshua can be saved than how did G-d save the prophets?)

(Serve the breakfast and eat as you share some of these questions. You can also say a special blessing for the resurrection)

(After you eat, a desert can/is served. Because this takes place early in the day, fresh fruit salads or sweet breakfast treats should be used. But remember, there is still another desert . . .)

(After the meal/desert)

All: "To him who conquers I will give some hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it." (Rev.2.17).

Leader: Yeshua is the manna G-d sent from heaven, that if we believe in Him we will have eternal life. Yet despite this, many answers were hidden form the apostles on that glorious morning. They worried, cried and wandered about in confusion. Even after the women had returned with news from the angels, their doubt persisted. May we always be open to the hidden manna that You O L-rd place within our hearts.

(At this time, the children are sent to seek out the Afikomen. Small gifts can be given at this time for the Afikomen's return or if you are playing The Hunt For the Risen Christ Game, the children can be given the game puzzles from activity one.)

Leader: (holding the Afikomen in his hands): On the night Yeshua was betrayed, he took bread, and raising His eyes unto His Father recited the blessing:

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Malech Ha-olam hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz.

Blessed are you, L'rd our G'd, King of the universe, who creates the bread of the earth.

Leader: We have been told that it was at the third cup of the Passover feast, that Yeshua HaMoshiach, the Son of the Most High G-d, took the cup into His hand and pronounced for the last time this blessing:

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Malech Ha-olam boray p'ree hagafen.

Blessed are You O'L-rd Our G-d, King of the Universe, Who formed the fruit of the vine.

(We partake of the Afikomen and drink the third cup.)

(Now the fourth cup is filled)

Leader: This cup is for Elijah and Moses- the two witnesses who will precede Yeshua's return when He shall restore all things. We offer it, not because all have been fulfilled, but because that the "L-rd's promises will not come back empty". Someday He will indeed return to defend Judah and they will look upon Him Whom they had pierced, and they shall be saved- just as we have found salvation in Him.

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Malech Ha-olam boray P'ree hagafen.

Blessed are You O'L-rd Our G-d, King of the Universe, Who formed the fruit of the vine.

"The L-rd will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and aliens will join them and will cleave to the house of Jacob." (Is.14.1). My servant David shall be their King over them; and they shall have one Shepherd . . . My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will be their G-d, and they shall be My people." (Ez.37. 24,27).

(We all shout:)

L'shanah haba-ah Bi-Yerushala-yim Habb'nuyah Uv'yamaynu B'zo Hachadashah.

Next year in Jerusalem built anew and in our days the new Jerusalem.

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together.)

(The seder is over. We now prepare to go to Church services).