After the Seder has been celebrated, the Jewish people look with anticipation for the fruits of the spring harvest.
"From the day after the Sabbath, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, then present an offering to the Lord." (Leviticus 23:15-16)
Starting the Sabbath after Pesach (Passover), the Jewish people engage in a time of "Counting the Omer." A period of 7-weeks, or 49-days, the Omer is counted every evening, which is the beginning of the new day.
An Omer was a measure of barley (2 quarts) that the Jewish people brought as an offering on the second day of Pesach.
At the end of the evening prayer on each of these 49-nights, the Jews recite a blessing and then call out the number of the day and the week. According to the authorities, if one missed counting one day, the whole 7-week period is considered 'incomplete.'
The Torah says it is a Mitzah (blessing) to "Count the Omer" every day of the 49-days, which leads up to the Festival of Shavuot.
This 49-day period is a reflection of the 40-days Yeshua remained with His disciples after His resurrection. Before He ascended back to His Father, He then the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Helper. His disciples waited in the Upper Room 9-days before He fulfilled that promise.
We too should wait with patience for the promises Yeshua made to us. Because He is faithful to do what He has promised.
Blessings,
Dawn
http://bit.ly/8XnLZc
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Hag HaMatzoh and Sfirat Haomer
Hag HaMatzoh (Feast of Unleaven Bread) celebrates that Yeshua, like the matzoh we eat, was without leaven (sin). Therefore only unleaven bread, matzoh, is eaten for the next 7 days following Pesach, in the feast called Unleaven Bread. It is to remember the Hebrews and their rushed escape from Egypt, where they didn't have time to wait for their bread to rise. It also recalls their years of wandering in the desert.
The third day after Pesach is called Sfirat Haomer (First Fruits). It is also the day Yeshua was resurrected as the First Fruits of the brethren. In the time of the Temple, First Fruits as a thanksgiving celebration for the early barley harvest. The priests were to wave a sheaf of barley before the Lord in a First Fruits offering. This would allow for the consumption of the rest of the early harvest.
Not only is Yeshua our Passover Lamb, He is our sinless sacrifice, and He is the first fruits of the resurrection. Because He lives, we too will live.
Blessings,
Dawn
The third day after Pesach is called Sfirat Haomer (First Fruits). It is also the day Yeshua was resurrected as the First Fruits of the brethren. In the time of the Temple, First Fruits as a thanksgiving celebration for the early barley harvest. The priests were to wave a sheaf of barley before the Lord in a First Fruits offering. This would allow for the consumption of the rest of the early harvest.
Not only is Yeshua our Passover Lamb, He is our sinless sacrifice, and He is the first fruits of the resurrection. Because He lives, we too will live.
Blessings,
Dawn
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Reminder of the Pesach SuperMoon
Just a quick post to remind everyone of the Super Moon on Pesach (Passover), Monday, April 18.
A Lunar Perigee, is when a new or full moon is at 90% of its closest distance to earth. However, a SuperMoon is when the moon is full or new, and is at its 100% closest distance to earth.
This will be the third Super Moon in the same number of months. The first being in February, the second occurred in March on the Jewish holiday of Purim. This third SuperMoon will fall on Pesach (Passover), one of the most important feasts on the Jewish calender.
Anytime an celestial event occurrs on one of the Jewish holidays, it was usually coincided with a major world event. The SuperMoon on March 19 brought us a war with Libya.
So have a great Pesach celebration, and take a minute to peek outside to see one of the 'signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars' that Yeshua said would precede His return to rescue His people.
Chag Shamach!
Dawn
A Lunar Perigee, is when a new or full moon is at 90% of its closest distance to earth. However, a SuperMoon is when the moon is full or new, and is at its 100% closest distance to earth.
This will be the third Super Moon in the same number of months. The first being in February, the second occurred in March on the Jewish holiday of Purim. This third SuperMoon will fall on Pesach (Passover), one of the most important feasts on the Jewish calender.
Anytime an celestial event occurrs on one of the Jewish holidays, it was usually coincided with a major world event. The SuperMoon on March 19 brought us a war with Libya.
So have a great Pesach celebration, and take a minute to peek outside to see one of the 'signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars' that Yeshua said would precede His return to rescue His people.
Chag Shamach!
Dawn
Netanyahu Preparing to Divide Jerusalem
I discovered this article from Thursday, April 15. Netanyahu is preparing to accept the conditions of the Palestinians, to create a State of Palestine along side Israel.
During a visit to Israel last week, Rep. John Boehner, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about his upcoming trip to the US.
Netanyahu will be here to speak at the annual AIPAC conference, May 22-24, in Washington, DC. During his speech, Netanyahu is expected to reiterate his conditions for the establishment of a Palestinian State.
Netanyahu’s office has hinted that he intends to use the visit to outline a new “peace proposal” aimed at wooing the Palestinian Authority into the direct talks that it walked out of in September, supposedly because Netanyahu refused to extend a freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria.
There is reported expectation in the Administration that Netanyahu will announce his willingness to accept President Obama’s ideas, according to which the PA state would be established on all of the land that was occupied by Jordan in 1948-1967, and to renew the anti-Jewish building freeze.
This would hand East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount over to the sovereignty of the Palestinians.
ISRAEL, April 15, 2011 (KATAKAMI.COM / Israelnationalnews.com) — http://bit.ly/e6z631
During a visit to Israel last week, Rep. John Boehner, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about his upcoming trip to the US.
Netanyahu will be here to speak at the annual AIPAC conference, May 22-24, in Washington, DC. During his speech, Netanyahu is expected to reiterate his conditions for the establishment of a Palestinian State.
Netanyahu’s office has hinted that he intends to use the visit to outline a new “peace proposal” aimed at wooing the Palestinian Authority into the direct talks that it walked out of in September, supposedly because Netanyahu refused to extend a freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria.
There is reported expectation in the Administration that Netanyahu will announce his willingness to accept President Obama’s ideas, according to which the PA state would be established on all of the land that was occupied by Jordan in 1948-1967, and to renew the anti-Jewish building freeze.
This would hand East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount over to the sovereignty of the Palestinians.
ISRAEL, April 15, 2011 (KATAKAMI.COM / Israelnationalnews.com) — http://bit.ly/e6z631
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The Third Passover
As we have explored in earlier posts, the events that occur in association with Pesach (Passover) and the Seder meal, converge in such a way as to tie the present to the past, as well as the present to the future.
Passover is to remember God's deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. It is also to remember God's deliverance of believers from slavery from sin through Messiah Yeshua.
In the last days, there will be another 'passing over' for the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
In reference to the last great war in the middle east, when all of the armies of the world are gathered against Jerusalem, Isaiah 32:4-5 (NIV) reads:
"As a lion growls, a great lion over his prey - and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against him, he is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor - so the Lord Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will "pass over" it and will rescue it."
The great Lion of the tribe of Judah will rise up to vindicate His people against the hoards of people who seek to destroy Israel and wipe her off the face of the map. (Psalm 83:4) Yeshua isn't bothered by their taunts, God laughs and scoffs at them, saying "I have installed My King on Zion." (Psalm 2:4-6) The Lord will come and fight for Israel, and He will rescue them from their enemies.
As the Hebrews were protected from the death of the first born, believers are protected from eternal death, and Israel will be protected from death by their enemies.
The Lord is faithful to His people.
Chag Sameach! Happy Passover!
Dawn
Passover is to remember God's deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. It is also to remember God's deliverance of believers from slavery from sin through Messiah Yeshua.
In the last days, there will be another 'passing over' for the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
In reference to the last great war in the middle east, when all of the armies of the world are gathered against Jerusalem, Isaiah 32:4-5 (NIV) reads:
"As a lion growls, a great lion over his prey - and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against him, he is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor - so the Lord Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will "pass over" it and will rescue it."
The great Lion of the tribe of Judah will rise up to vindicate His people against the hoards of people who seek to destroy Israel and wipe her off the face of the map. (Psalm 83:4) Yeshua isn't bothered by their taunts, God laughs and scoffs at them, saying "I have installed My King on Zion." (Psalm 2:4-6) The Lord will come and fight for Israel, and He will rescue them from their enemies.
As the Hebrews were protected from the death of the first born, believers are protected from eternal death, and Israel will be protected from death by their enemies.
The Lord is faithful to His people.
Chag Sameach! Happy Passover!
Dawn
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Afikomen
In the early part of the Pesach (Passover) Seder the rabbi, or head-of-household, will place three whole pieces of matzah into a three-pocket pouch, called a Matzah Tosh. This is to demonstrate echad (unity or oneness) between the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For believers, this would bring to mind the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The rabbi will then remove the middle piece of matzah from the pouch, break it in half, and place one half back into the pouch. The other half, called the Afikoman - al-fee-ko-men - is wrapped in a piece of cloth and hidden.
Later in the Seder, at the time of the third cup, the Cup of Redemption, the youngest at the table is instructed to find the afikomen. When he finds it, he gets a prize.
That middle piece of matzah (which is pierced, bruised, and has stripes - but is without sin) is taken out [of the presence of the Father]. Yeshua was broken for us on the cross. He was wrapped in a cloth, and placed in a borrowed tomb where He was hidden for three days. On the third [cup] day, he arose from the dead to give all His children redemption from sin.
There is so much meaning in this one short segment, but the Seder experience is like this throughout the whole meal.
Pesach is Monday, April 18. Find a Messianic Seder being hosted in your community and experience the Seder for yourself. It's amazing!
Chag Sameach! Happy Passover!
Dawn
The rabbi will then remove the middle piece of matzah from the pouch, break it in half, and place one half back into the pouch. The other half, called the Afikoman - al-fee-ko-men - is wrapped in a piece of cloth and hidden.
Later in the Seder, at the time of the third cup, the Cup of Redemption, the youngest at the table is instructed to find the afikomen. When he finds it, he gets a prize.
That middle piece of matzah (which is pierced, bruised, and has stripes - but is without sin) is taken out [of the presence of the Father]. Yeshua was broken for us on the cross. He was wrapped in a cloth, and placed in a borrowed tomb where He was hidden for three days. On the third [cup] day, he arose from the dead to give all His children redemption from sin.
There is so much meaning in this one short segment, but the Seder experience is like this throughout the whole meal.
Pesach is Monday, April 18. Find a Messianic Seder being hosted in your community and experience the Seder for yourself. It's amazing!
Chag Sameach! Happy Passover!
Dawn
The Four Cups
The Seder meal shared at Pesach (Passover) is a visual retelling of Moses delivering the Hebrews from 400 years of slavery in Egypt, as told in the Tanakh (Old Testament book of Exodus).
In the last few posts, I have identified some of the elements used in the Seder and their significance. What they mean to the Jewish people and what they mean to believers in Yeshua (Jesus).
Of vital importance to the Seder experience is the Four Cups. Four cups of wine are placed before each participant to be drank during the meal. This is taken from the Four Promises Adonai made to the the Hebrews shortly before their Emancipation, as recorded in Exodus 6:6-7.
"I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God."
The first cup is Sanctification - I will bring you out
The second cup is Judgment - I will rescue you
The third cup is Redemption - I will redeem you
The fourth cup is Praise - I will take you
What Christians refer to as The Last Supper was actually a Passover Seder.
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread [matzah], gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the [third] cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28) This new covenant was foretold by Jeremiah 31:31-34.
During a Seder, at the time of the third cup, a piece of matzah is passed around the table and each person breaks off a little piece, and is eaten along with the cup. This is the portion of the Seder where Yeshua proclaimed the New Covenant, and this is the portion believers call Communion.
“I tell you, I will not drink [the fourth cup] of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you [the Marriage Supper, a Seder] in my Father’s kingdom.” This fourth cup Yeshua referred to is the Cup of Praise. (Matthew 26:29)
The experience of participating in a Seder is rich indeed. Not only does it tie the present to the past, it also connects the present to the future.
Blessings in Yeshua,
Dawn
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