Pesach (Passover) 2025

The term Pesach means to "pass over". The story of Passover occurs in the Book of Exodus (Chapters 1-14) and details the time between the death of Joseph, the Hebrew bondage/slavery, subsequent freedom by the hand of God through Moses via 10 plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, and ultimately the arrival at Mt. Sinai. Concurrent with Pesach are the  Feast of Unleavened Bread (7 days), the Fast of the First Born (Ta’anit B’chorim, 1 day), and Firstfruits (Yom Bikkurim). When Pesach is over, we enter into a time called the Counting of the Omer (40 days), which brings us to Shavuot (Pentecost).

The story of Passover teaches us about Yeshua’s death on the cross and the plan of God to redeem all people. Yeshua was crucified on Passover. Three days later he rose from the dead. Three days after the original Passover and exodus from Egypt, the children of Israel were passing through the Red Sea, coinciding with Yeshua’s resurrection from the grave. Themes of this Feast include freedom bondage, protection, redemption, and remembrance. It is a time to both tell and be a part of the biblical narrative of God’s plan of salvation. It was celebrated in the Brit Chadashah in John 13:1-3, Luke 22:15, Matt 26:17-28.

Before Passover, many homes are cleaning in preparation for the Feast to clear out leaven (symbolic of Israelite slavery and oppression) and getting rid of leavened products. This can be made a playful time where the children moan, lament, or complain as dramatically as possible while dong their chores, pleading for relief from oppression.

The day before Passover a search is conducted for any leaven left in the house. For children pieces of candy are “hidden” for them to find. This is formal search is called bedikat hametz and takes place right after sundown on the night before Pesach. A blessing is said, “Blessed are you O Lord who has sanctified us and commanded us to search out the leaven on Passover”. The search is done by candlelight or flashlight, with a small bag to sweep up the crumbs, usually by using a feather. Since the house has already been cleaned thoroughly, it is customary to put crumbs in a few places where they can be easily found.  The following morning, the leaven is burned (biur hametz) and the second blessing recited. No hametz is eaten after this ritual until the end of Passover.

Blessing:

Any leaven that may still be in my house, which I have not seen or have not removed, shall be ownerless, and as the dust of the earth. Praised are You, Yeshuah our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has made us holy by your shed blood and instructed us concerning the burning of the Chametz.

There is a spiritual lesson for us in declaring leaven ownerless. We can never be completely leaven free in all respects. In our lives, leaven is the carnality and sin that often besets us and hinders us. When we want to be free, Yeshsua can set us free from the pull and bondage of sin and sinful desires, the pain of our past, and the constant pull of negative emotions. Walking in newness of life requires that we forsake and disown all of that and render it ownerless. That starts with repentance and confession where we renounce it, forsake it, and disown it and ask for God’s empowering and cleansing. This is a powerful truth!

Passover (Pesach) is the most widely recognized Jewish feast mainly because of its connection to the Last Supper and the Crucifixion.  Central to celebrating this feast is the Passover Seder. It is not just a family meal. It is a time of family worship. During this sacred dinner, the best dishes and often flowers are placed on the table. The family, friends, and guests show up in their nicest cloths.

The table is set with the Seder which includes some specific food items intended to serve as a teaching tool for the story of Passover (Pesach). Seders can be different. Not all Seders use the same Haggadah (a book that helps set the order and process for the Passover meal). Some don’t use one at all. What is important is to explain what is on the Seder plate, tell the Passover story from Exodus and walk through the story of Yeshua’s crucifixion. The Passover Seder helps us to live these stories out and be a part of the ongoing biblical narrative. It is also a good time to testify individually about how we (and our family) came to God and how God called us out of our own bondage into life with him.

Seder plates have the following items:

Zeroa-                          Roasted meat (Passover Lamb)

Beitzah-                       Boiled Egg (A type of new life)

Karpas-                        Celery, parsley. or radish (freshness and promise of spring)

Maror-                         Romaine Lettuce (bitterness of our ancestors in slavery)

Cup of Salt Water-      Ancestors tears

Haroset-                       Mixture of nuts and honey as a symbol of the mortar the Israelites made to

build the storehouses of Pithom and Ramses.

Grape Juice-                Blood of Christ, New Birth.

Matzah-                       Bread of Affliction without leaven because they left quickly

Pesach 2025 is upon us. We will celebrate our redemption and look for Yeshua’s coming.

Chag Pesach Sameach!

Rav Calev