Pesach

Haggadah

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Messianic Haggadah

reparing For Pesach

Leader: Let us ready our hearts for the Pesach Seder, the order of service.  Everyone take your Haggadah, please.

Haggadah means "the telling".  Pesach is a story that has been told and retold for thousands of years.  It is a story of miraculous transitions - from slavery to freedom, from despair to hope, from darkness to light.  Its greatness is the greatness of God.  Its timelessness comes from the eternal truth of His involvement with His people.  Just as God cared for the children of Israel in ancient times, He cares for all who are His today. Upon the table is a Seder plate, holding the ceremonial items of Pesach.  There are bitter herbs, a roasted egg, a sweet apple mixture, parsley and a bone.  All are part of the telling.  Let us allow our senses to fully participate, taking in the sights and smells, tasting each ingredient, listening to every word.

To see a video of the beginning of the Seder CLICK HERE

Leader: One of Messiah's last earthly acts was the celebration of Pesach.  Gathering His disciples in a small room in Jerusalem, He led them in a Seder.

"I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."  (Luke 22:15)

He passed the foods among them.  It was there, in the context of this celebration that Yeshua revealed to them the mystery of God's plan of redemption.  He spoke to them of His body and blood.  He explained to them that he would have to die.

It was no coincidence that Messiah chose the Passover for the setting of what is now celebrated as communion, the Lord’s Supper.  For in the story of the Passover lamb, Yeshua could best communicate the course he would be taking over the confusing hours that were to follow.  Here, as we participate together in the Passover Seder, may we experience once again God’s great redemption.

ighting the Candles

Leader: As we kindle the festival lights, we pray for the illumination of the Ruach Ha Kodesh, the Spirit of God, to bring great personal meaning to this, our Pesach celebration.

A Woman: (Lighting the candles) Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech ha’olam, asher kidshanu bidevaro u’vishmo anachnu madlikim haneyrot shel yom tov. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has set up apart by His Word, and in whose Name we light the festival lights.

our Cups of Wine

Leader: As the Lord spoke the following words of encouragement to Moshe, He revealed to His servant the plan by which He would redeem the children of Israel.

All: “…I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians… I will free you from being slaves… I will redeem you with an outstretched arm… I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God…” Leader: At Passover, we celebrate these promises of redemption and relationship by drinking from our cups four times.  With each cup, let us remember the union that Yahweh desires.

up of Sanctification

Leader: Let us now fill each other’s cup.  Pouring your neighbor’s wine symbolizes that in Yeshua your cup is filled to overflowing.  In ancient times nobility never poured their own cup.  As we each fill another’s cup, we are reminded that on this day each of us is a king before God.  During Passover we celebrate our freedom from the world and sin.

Leader: Let us lift our first cup together and bless the name of the Lord! All: Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech ha’olam borey pri hagafen. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who created the fruit of the vine. Leader: As he began His final Passover Seder, Yeshua the Messiah shared a cup with His disciples, and said to them…

"Take this and divide it among you.  For I tell you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  (Luke 22:17-18)

e Wash Our Hands

Leader: (Lifting the basin of water) We wash our hands during Pesach because we are priests before Yahweh and the table before us is His altar.  It is written...

Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord?  Or who shall stand in His holy place?  He that hath clean hands and a pure heart.  (Psalm 24:3-4)

Let us now offer the bowl of water to one another and share in this hand-washing ceremony.   (Pass the bowl of water) Let us also reflect upon the humility and the lesson of commitment made by Messiah Yeshua, when, on that night, he laid aside His garments and girded Himself with a towel.

After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.  “Do you understand what I have done for you” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:5, 12-14)

arsley

Leader: (Lifting the parsley) Passover is a holiday that comes in the springtime, when the earth is becoming green with life.  This vegetable, called karpas, represents life, created and sustained by Almighty God.

(Lifting up the salt water) Life in Egypt for the children of Israel was a life of pain, suffering, and tears, represented by this salt water.  Let us take a sprig of parsley and dip it into the salt water, remembering that life is sometimes immersed in tears.

All: Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech ha’olam borey pri ha’adamah. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who created the fruit of the earth.

Leader: Now let us eat the karpas together.

To see a video of some of the ladies dipping their parsley into salt water CLICK HERE

our Questions

A Young Child: (Rising to ask the four questions) How different this night is from all other nights!

On all other nights we eat bread or matzah. Why on this night do we eat only matzah?

On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables. Why on this night do we eat only bitter herbs?

On all other nights we do not dip our vegetables even once. Why on this night do we dip them twice?

On all other nights we eat our meals sitting or reclining. Why on this night do we ear reclining?

nswer the Questions

Leader: On all other nights we eat bread with leaven, but on Passover we eat only matzah, unleavened bread.  As the children of Israel fled from Egypt, they did not have time for their dough to rise.  Instead, the hot desert sun baked it flat.  But even more than that, the scriptures teach us that leaven symbolizes sin.

All: Don’t you know that a little leaven works through the whole dough?  Get rid of the old leaven that you may be a new batch without leaven - as you really are.  For Messiah, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  Therefore let us keep the feast… (I Corinthians 5:7-8)

Leader: During this Passover season, let us break our old habits of sin and selfishness and reaffirm a fresh, new, and holy life.

Leader: (Lifting the container with three matzot)  These three matzot are wrapped together for Passover.  There are various explanations for this ceremony.  The rabbis call these three a “Unity”.   Some consider it a unity of the patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Others explain it as a unity of worship - the priests, the Levites, and the people of Israel.  We who know Messiah can also see in this the unique tri-unity of Yahweh – the Father, Yeshua – the Son, and Ruach Ha Kodesh – the Holy Spirit.  Three in one.  In the matzah we can see a picture of Messiah.  See how it is striped.

To see a video with the matzah CLICK HERE

All: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Leader:  See how the matzah is pierced.

All: I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication;  and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for his only son… (Zechariah 12:10)

Leader: (Removing and breaking the middle matzah in half) Just as the middle piece of the bread of affliction is broken, Messiah, too, was afflicted and broken.  One half is now called the Afikomen - the dessert.  It is wrapped in a white cloth just as Messiah’s body was wrapped for burial. (Wraps the Afikomen) If the children will cover their eyes, I will hide the Afikomen. (Does so)  Just as I have hidden the Afikomen, so Messiah was placed in a tomb, and hidden for a time. But just as the Afikomen  will return to complete our Passover seder, so the sinless Messiah rose from the dead to ascend into heaven and will return for His Bride. (Breaks a piece of matzah from the other half of the middle piece and distributes the remainder among the people at the table) Let us now share a piece of this unleavened bread of Passover. All:  Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu, Melech ha’olam hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

aror

Leader: On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables, but on Passover we eat only maror, bitter herbs.  As sweet as our lives are today, let us still remember how bitter life was for the children of Israel in the land of Egypt. (Lifting the horseradish)

So the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly.  They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields.  (Exodus 1:12-14)

As we scoop some maror onto a piece of matzah, let us allow the bitter taste to cause us to shed tears of compassion for the sorrow that the children of Israel knew thousands of years ago.

All: (Lifting the matzah with the maror) Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu Mekech ha’olam asher kidshanu bid-e-varo vet-zi-va-nu al ak-hi-lat maror. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has set us apart by His Word and commanded us to eat bitter herbs. (All eat)

ip Twice

Leader: On all other nights we do not dip our vegetables even once, but tonight we dip them twice.  We have already dipped the parsley into the salt water.  Now we dip the bitter herbs into the kharoset.   (Lifting the kharoset, the brown apple mixture)

The children of Israel toiled to make treasure cities for Pharaoh, working in brick and clay.  We remember this task in a mixture called kharoset, made from chopped apples, honey, huts, and wine.  Let us once again scoop some bitter herbs onto a small piece of matzah.  But this time, before we eat, let us dip the herbs into the sweet kharoset.

Leader: What is the spiritual meaning of eating the bitter herbs and kharoset together?  We have all had bitter experiences in our lives.  The message God is communicating to us is His desire for us to press through the bitterness to experience the sweetness.  The horseradish represents the trials and tribulations which come into our lives.  Like the horseradish, many trials and tribulations are so bitter they make us cry.  If we allow these trials and tribulations to make us bitter toward God, we will never experience the sweetness of God’s deliverance for our life.  However, if we press through them, with God’s help, we will taste and experience the sweetness of His promises contained in His Word for us.

All: (Lifting the matzah with the maror and kharoset) We dip the bitter herbs into kharoset to remind ourselves that even the most bitter of circumstances can be sweetened by the hope we have in God. (All eat)

Leader:      While they were reclining at the table eating, Yeshua said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me - one who is eating with me."      They were saddened and one by one they said to Him, "Surely, not I?"      "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips unleavened bread into the bowl with me."  (Mark 14:18-20)

ecline

Leader: On all other nights we eat either sitting or reclining, but tonight we eat reclining if possible. The first Pesach was celebrated by a people enslaved.

All: Once we were slaves, but now we are free! Leader: The children of Israel were instructed to eat the Passover in haste, their loins girded, their staffs in their hands, their sandals upon their feet, awaiting departure from the bondage of Egypt.  Today we all may recline and freely enjoy the Passover Seder. All: Messiah said…

"Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

assover Story

Leader: The story of Passover is a story of miracles, a story of redemption, a story of the mighty power of Yahweh to overcome evil.

Reader 1: The Lord had promised the land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Yet here were their children in Egypt.  The Pharaoh who had come to power feared them.  “These foreigners in our midst are prospering and have grown numerous,” he thought.  “Suppose they join with our enemies and turn against us!”  Pharaoh decided to exert greater control over this people, imposing harsh and bitter slavery upon the Israelites.  Still, Yahweh blessed His people in strength and number.

Reader 2: Pharaoh grew more frightened and ordered every baby boy among the Israelites to be drowned in the Nile River.  One Israelite couple hid their little boy for three months.  Finally, entrusting his future to Yahweh, they set him in a basket and placed him upon the river.  His sister, Miriam, watched as he floated downstream.  Coming upon the basket, Pharaoh’s daughter took pity on the child and chose to raise him as her own son.  She called him Moses, Moshe in Hebrew, meaning “drawn from the water.”

Reader 3: Moshe grew and became aware of the travail of his people.  One day, in a rage, he lost control of himself and killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave.  Fleeing the palace and the eye of Pharaoh, Moshe became a shepherd in the land of Midian, far from the cries of his suffering brothers.

Reader 4: The Lord, however, saw the affliction of the children of Israel and heard their groaning.  He would raise up a deliverer to lead them out of bondage.  It was then that He appeared to Moshe in the midst of a bush that burned with fire, yet was not consumed.  Moshe drew close and listened as Yahweh commissioned him to go to Pharaoh.  Fearful and reluctant, still Moshe agreed to bring Yahweh’s message to the king of Egypt, “Let my people go!”

up of Plagues

Leader: Moshe left the wilderness to return to Pharaoh’s palace, the very place where he had been raised.  He returned with the message which the Lord had given him.  But Yahweh Himself warned Moshe of the resistance that he would encounter.

All: "But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him.  So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them.  After that, he will let you go." (Exodus 31:19-20)

Leader: Yahweh sent plagues, one by one, yet with each plague, Pharaoh hardened his heart.  The Egyptians became afflicted with discomfort and disease.  Still, Pharaoh would not relent.  With the tenth and most awful plague, Yahweh pierced through the hardness of Pharaoh’s impenetrable heart.

All “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn – both men and animals – and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt;  I am the Lord.” (Exodus 12:12)

Leader: Let us fill our cups a second time.  A full cup is a symbol of joy and indeed on this occasion we are filled with joy at Yahweh’s mighty deliverance.  But let us also remember the great cost at which redemption was purchased.  Lives were sacrificed to bring about the release of Yahweh’s people from the slavery of Egypt.  But a far greater price purchased our redemption from the slavery of sin – the death of Messiah Yeshua. As we recite each plague three times, let us dip a finger into the cup allowing a drop of liquid to fall, reducing the fullness of our cup of joy this night.

All: (Each plague is recited three times)

Blood, Frogs, Lice, Beast, Cattle Disease, Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness, Death of the Firstborn!

To see a video of some of the ladies dipping their finger in the wine/juice and reciting the plagues CLICK HERE

(Do NOT drink the second cup at this time)

assover Lamb

Leader: We have eaten the matzah to remind us of the haste with which the children of Israel fled Egypt.  We have tasted the bitter herbs to remind us of the bitter slavery they experienced there.

Leader: (Lifting the shankbone of the Lamb) This roasted shankbone represents the lamb whose blood marked the houses of the children of Israel, signifying their obedience to Yahweh’s command.

Reader 1: “On the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.” “The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect…” “Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.” “Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs.” (Exodus 12:3, 5-7)

Reader 2: “That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs and bread made without leaven.” “This is how you are to eat it:  with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand.  Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.” “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.  No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”  (Exodus 12:8, 11, 13)

Leader: We are reminded by Moshe that it was the Lord Himself who redeemed the children of Israel from slavery.

“So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders.” (Deuteronomy 26:8)

Leader: “On that same night I will pass through Egypt…” All: I, and not an angel. Leader: “…and strike down every firstborn – both men and animals –“ All: I, and not a seraph. Leader: “…and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt;” All: I, and not a messenger. Leader: “I am the Lord.” All: I, myself, and none other.

Leader: Since the Temple in Jerusalem no longer stands, lamb is not usually eaten at Passover.  This shankbone remains to remind us of the sacrificial Pesach lamb. (Lifting the egg) Likewise, the roasted egg reminds us of the daily sacrifices which were to be offered from the flock and the herd.  An egg, due to its shape, cannot stand on its end without help.  From this we are reminded that the Jews needed help from Yahweh to stand up against Pharaoh.

All: We who have trusted Yeshua the Messiah, believe He is the Lamb of God, our Passover.  Like the ancient Israelites, we know that it was Yahweh Himself, and not an angel, Yahweh Himself, and not a seraph, Yahweh Himself, and not a messenger, who achieved final redemption from sin and death.  Yahweh Himself, through Yeshua, who takes away the sin of the world.

ayenu

Leader: How great is Your goodness to us, Yahweh! Blessed be Your name!  For each of His acts of mercy and kindness we declare “Dayenu” – it would have been enough.

Leader: If the Lord had merely rescued us, but had not judged the Egyptians, All: Dayenu! Leader: If He had only destroyed their gods, but had not parted the Red Sea All: Dayenu! Leader: If He had only drowned our enemies, but had not fed us with manna, All: Dayenu! Leader: If He had only led us through the desert, but had not given us Shabbat, All: Dayenu! Leader: But the Holy One, blessed be He, provided all of these blessings for His people.  And not only these, but so many more. All: Blessed are You, O Yahweh, for You have, in mercy, supplied all our needs.  You have given us Messiah, forgiveness for sin, life abundant and life everlasting.  Hallelujah! (Drink the second cup)

Dayenu (Song) I-lu Ho-tzi, Ho-tzi-a-nu, Ho-tzi-a-nu, Mi-Mitz-ra-im, Ho-tzi-a-nu, Mi-Mitz-ra-im, Dayenu! (If God had merely rescued us from Egypt, it would have been enough.) I-lu Na-tan, Na-tan la-nu, Na-tan la-nu et ha Torah, Na-tan la-nu et ha Torah, Dayenu! (If God would have merely given us the Torah, it would have been enough) Da-da-ye-nu!  Da-da-ye-nu!  Da-da-ye-nu! Da-ye-nu, Da-ye-nu!  (Repeat) (It would have been enough) I-lu Na-tan, Na-tan la-nu, Na-tan la-nu et Ha Aretz, Na-tan la-nu et Ha Aretz, Dayenu! (If God had merely given us the land, it would have been enough) I-lu Na-tan, Na-tan la-nu, Na-tan la-nu et Yeshua, Na-tan la-nu et Yeshua, Dayenu! (If God had merely given us Yeshua, it would have been enough) Da-da-ye-nu!  Da-da-ye-nu!  Da-da-ye-nu! Da-ye-nu, Da-ye-nu!  (Repeat) (It would have been enough) I-lu Na-tan, Na-tan la-nu, Na-tan la-nu et Ma-shi-ach, Na-tan la-nu et Ma-shi-ach, Dayenu! (If God had merely given us the Messiah, it would have been enough) I-lu Na-tan, Na-tan la-nu, Na-tan la-nu et Yeshua, Na-tan la-nu et Yeshua, Da-ye-nu! (If God had merely given us Yeshua, it would have been enough) Da-da-ye-nu!  Da-da-ye-nu!  Da-da-ye-nu! Da-ye-nu, Da-ye-nu!  (Repeat) (It would have been enough)

assover Meal

Leader: "...ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord..." (Exodus 12:14)

There is yet another journey that we all must take in order to be freed from the slavery of sin, which is much more serious.  Messiah's self-sacrifice has provided redemption for us just as the lamb that was used on that first night of Pesach provided redemption.  The Passover story was recorded by Moshe for us so that we might foresee what Messiah would do.  What a beautiful picture of an even greater redemption destined to come.  Just as no bones of those first Pesach lambs were broken, so none of Messiah's bones were broken.  Rabbi Sha'ul wrote in Colossians 2:17 that the Feasts of Israel are "...a shadow of things that are coming...". The Seder shows Yahweh’s plan for redemption.  The first two cups and events prior to the eating of the Passover Seder meal speak of His redeeming us from Egypt, the bondage of sin, through the death and burial of Yeshua. The Passover Service following the meal speaks of the resurrection of Yeshua, the outpouring of His Holy Spirit, and the events surrounding His second coming.  The Passover Seder is a rehearsal of Yahweh’s complete redemptive plan.  All of us, whether Jew or Gentile, may be redeemed from bondage through faith in the Messiah of Israel.  Through Yeshua, we may all "pass-over" from death to life.

Leader: (Thanks before the meal)

Pause for the Pesach/Passover Meal

esume

Leader: It is written… When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.  (Deuteronomy 8:10)

All: We give thanks unto You, O Lord our God, because You did give our fathers a pleasant, good, and spacious land as a possession.  We give thanks that you, O Lord our God, did bring us forth from Egypt and did deliver us from the house of bondage, and for your covenant which You did seal in our hearts.  We give thanks unto You, O Lord our God that You did teach us Your Torah and Your statutes which You have made known to us; and for the life, grace and lovingkindness which You have given as a gift to us.  We thank you for the food with which You support and sustain us continually, every day, at all times and at every hour.

Leader: Have mercy, O Lord our God, upon Your people Israel, upon Jerusalem Your city, upon Zion, where Your glory dwells.  Your mercy endures forever. All: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

fikomen

(If the afikomen has been found by one of the children, it may be ransomed back at this time.)

Leader: It is time for us to share the afikomen, the dessert, the final food eaten at Pesach.  It is shared as the Passover lamb was shred from the time of the exodus until the destruction of the Temple.  It is said that the taste of the afikomen should linger in our mouths.

Messiah broke matzah and gave thanks unto the Lord.

All: Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu, Melech ha’olam hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Leader: The Passover Seder is a rehearsal.  Messiah commanded us…

“Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

Let us now eat matzah, meditating on the broken body of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Let us allow the taste to linger in our mouths.

up of Redemption

Leader: Let us fill our cups for the third time this evening.

(Lifting the cup)

This is the Cup of Redemption symbolizing the blood of the Passover lamb.  It was this cup "after supper" which Messiah Yeshua identified Himself.

All: "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm..."

Leader: The prophet Isaiah reminds us...

"Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save..." (Isaiah 59:1)

Yeshua the Messiah lifted the cup saying...

"This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."  (Luke 22:20)

Yeshua also said...

"I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."  (Matthew 26:29)

Just as the blood of the lamb brought salvation in Egypt, so Messiah's atoning death can bring salvation to all who believe.

All: Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu, Melech ha’olam, borey pri hagafen. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who created the fruit of the vine.  Let us gratefully drink. (All drink)

lijah's Cup

Leader: (Lifting Elijah's Cup) This cup is for Elijah the Prophet, Eliyahu Ha Navi.  At this time let one of the children open the door to welcome Elijah to the Seder. (A child opens the door)

All: “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.”  (Malachi 4:5)

Leader: Elijah did not see death, but was swept up to heaven by a great whirlwind, in a chariot of fire.  It has been our hope that Elijah would come at Passover, to announce the Messiah, Son of David.

Before the birth of John the Baptizer, an angel of the Lord said...

“And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah … to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  (Luke 1:17)

Later Yeshua spoke of John...

“And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.” (Matthew 11:14)

It was this same John who saw Yeshua and declared...

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

Eliyahu Ha-Navi (Song) Eli-ya-hu Ha-na-vi, Eli-ya-hu Ha-tish-bi, Eli-ya-hu, Eli-ya-hu, Eli-ya-hu ha-gil-a-di. Bim-he-rah, v’-ya-mei-nu, Ya-vo e-lei-nu, Im Ma-shi-ach ben David, Im Ma-shi-ach ben David. (Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah the Gileadite. May he come quickly, In our days, With the Messiah, the Son of David, With the Messiah, the Son of David.)

up of Praise

Leader: Let us fill our cups for the fourth and final time and give thanks to Yahweh, our great Redeemer.

Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: Give thanks to the God of gods.

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: To Him who alone does great wonders,

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: Who by His understanding made the heavens,

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: Who spread out the earth upon the waters,

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: Who made the great lights,

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: The sun to govern the day,

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: The moon and stars to govern the night;

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: To Him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: And brought Israel out from among them,

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: With a mighty hand and outstretched arm;

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: To Him who divided the Red Sea,

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: And brought Israel through the midst of it,

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: To Him who led His people through the desert,

All: His love endures forever.

Leader: Give thanks to the God of Heaven.

All: His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-16, 26)

Leader: (Lifting the cup) Let us lift our cups and bless the Name of the Lord!

All: Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheynu, Melech ha'olam, borey pri hagafen. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who created the fruit of the vine.

(Drink the 4th Cup)

Leader: Our Passover Seder is now complete, just as our redemption is forever complete.  Let us conclude with the traditional wish that we may celebrate Passover next year in Jerusalem.

All: La’sha-na ha-ba’ah bi Yerushalayim. Next Year in Jerusalem!

(Below) The Lion's Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem

Next Year In Jerusalem (Song) Next Year in Jerusalem, When Messiah comes, we will be with Him, Our Celebration will be full and sweet, For Yeshua makes our Passover complete. Come and drink the fruit of the vine, Red as blood to save, The blood of God’s New Covenant, Messiah freely gave. Come and taste the bitter herbs, Remember slavery’s tears, Messiah saves us from our sin, And frees us from our fears. Come and see the unleavened bread, Yeshua had no sin, Afikomen, Our sacrifice, Our new life found in Him. La’Shana Ha Ba B’Yer-u-sha-la-yim, La’Shana Ha Ba B’Yer-u-sha-la-yim, La’Shana Ha Ba B’Yer-u-sha-la-yim, La’Shana Ha Ba B’Yer-u-sha-la-yim. Next Year in New Jerusalem, When Messiah comes again, We will be with Him, In celebration we will shout and sing, For the Lamb of God will reign as Israel’s King.

Next Year In Jerusalem (Song by Zola Levit) Take us there, take us there, to the land of Zion, Next year in Jerusalem, La’Shana Ha Ba’Ah B’Yer-u-sha-la-yim, Next year in Jerusalem. O hear O Israel, O Israel hear, O Lord Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done next year, La’Shana Ha Ba’Ah B’Yer-u-sha-la-yim, Next year in Jerusalem. Over there, over there in the land of Zion, Next year in Jerusalem, La’Shana Ha Ba’Ah B’Yer-u-sha-la-yim, Next year in Jerusalem. O Lord You’re near to us, O Lord You’re near, O Lord Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done next year, La’Shana Ha Ba’Ah B’Yer-u-sha-la-yim, Next year in Jerusalem. A land of rest, of Thee I sing, Of Zion blessed, receive Thy King, A promised land, of thee I tell, Receive thy kingdom Israel. When we’re there, when we’re there in the land of Zion, Next year in Jerusalem, La’Shana Ha Ba’Ah B’Yer-u-sha-la-yim, Next year in Jerusalem. O Lord we’ll be with You, and no more tears, O Lord Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done next year, La’Shana Ha Ba’Ah B’Yer-u-sha-la-yim, Next year in Jerusalem. La’Shana Ha Ba’Ah B’Yer-u-sha-la-yim, Next year in Jerusalem.