Judaism is a religion and culture based on memory. Upon one festival to another, Jews are rminded of what brought them to the land of Israel after so many years, and how they have survived throughout their history. Passover is a day entirely one of memory as well as obedience to the command to honor the Passover!
Considered the Crown Jewel of Judaism, Passover, it is the first of the three great annual festivals held in Nisan 14th to 21st, all Jewish people were required to gather in Jerusalem. Because it is the first of the Spiritual New Year it is called the Crowning Jewel, as the entire spiritual year is celebrated by it.
Passover first became known by several distinct passages relating to the Passover in Exodus and Deuteronomy. Its original intention, the unleavened breadand, the first-born sanctified, are mentioned as well as the paschal lamb. In Exodus 23: 14-19 we see the paschal lamb as "My Sacrifice and, the feast called "unleavened bread." The redemption of the first-born is also noticed in 24:18-20; Exodus 8:8.
Then in Deuteronomy 26:1-8, the command is given to keep the Passover in Jerusalem. In Exodus 5:1, "And afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh; "thus saith the Lord God of Israel, let my people go that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness."
So important was this historical event, Yeshua chose the Passover to outline the course of events that would follow during the last days of His ministry. In other words: Passover was the pre-arranged framework for his final days!
The ceremonial meal came to be known as the "Seder" meal, together with the whole evening it revolves around the telling of the story of the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt. The entire ceremony unfolds like acts in a play. Filled with drama, it invites participation and learning for all ages.
Preparation for Passover during the times of the Israelites in Egypt required that each Jewish household roast a lamb, and it was required to be roasted whole. * It was written that there were so many lambs in the fields for Passover surrounding Jerusalem two thousand years ago that the fields looked pure white.
Great care was taken that not a bone of the sacrificial lamb should be broken. One of the names of Passover PESACH, means "limping," which comesfrom the limping of the lamb when it hobbled just before it was killed. The animal was bound and wounded there before it was killed. Then the lamb was to be eaten entirely the same night with bitter herbs. Any remaining portion was to be burned. Then the blood of the victim was to be sprinkled on the doorpost.
Gathering together during this time with this Passover Haggadah will engage all ages for a time of observance and richness. Both Jew and Gentile will experience the unity and beauty of Passover.
Author Biography:
Felix Halpern was born in 1952 in the Netherlands. As a child his family immigrated to the United States, where he was raised in the Northern New Jersey area. Prior to full-time ministry, he established a lucrative career in the precious metals and diamond industries located in the International Diamond Center of New York City. There immersed for nearly two decades in the Orthodox and Hassidic Jewish communities, he understands well the heart of the Jewish people. Coming from a rich Jewish heritage himself, it is one that is also rooted in Nazi resistance. Rabbi Halpern's paternal Grandfather was an Orthodox rabbi and leader of his own synagogue in Germany, and his maternal Grandparents established one of the many underground resistance movements against Hitler throughout the Netherlands. It is also where his Father received the knowledge and understanding of his Messiah while being hidden with other Jews, after miraculously escaping Germany. Throughout a large portion of his life, Rabbi Halpern lived outside of Judaism. But later due to God's sovereign intervention, he was brought back to his heritage to carry out his destiny to the "Lost Sheep of the House of Israel." From this experience, he distinguishes himself as a "Moses Jew," or, Jews who have lived for large portions of their lives unaware of their Judaism. Like Moses who lived most of his life as an Egyptian and unaware of his Judaism until later in life, Felix reclaimed his birthright as a "Moses Generation" Jew. He notes; "I myself had little knowledge for most of my life that my destiny to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel would be rooted in this seed of Jewish identity, one that remained dormant for half my life. It was then through a sovereign encounter of the spiritual suffering of our people that thrust myself and family into a full-time call. Characteristic of many Jewish believers in Messiah, he was influenced by the notion that Jews are Following three months of earnest prayer, the Lord miraculously responded with a dynamic restoration of new vision, and new understanding of the Scriptures. Particularly, those passages relating to Israel, the church and the last days. Further, breaking down the walls that Replacement Theology erects in fully understanding Scripture. In obedience to the Lord's call and restoration, Felix immediately resigned his position as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for a multimillion-dollar international company, liquidated his family's savings and retirement monies, and embarked upon a life of faith and complete dependency on the Lord's provision. With over a decade of God's sufficiency and provision, their lives testify to the wonderful faithfulness of God, as well as the Lord's restoration of his Jewish heritage that characterizes his life and family today. Ministry Today Today, Felix Halpern ministers internationally with a message of restoration between Jew and Gentile, and a strong burden to bring the Father's Love to the nations. Ministering on restoring the Jewish roots of New Covenant faith and a strong emphasis on the election of Israel, Felix fulfills this role to the Church with a zeal and fervor of the end times. Over the last decade, he was instrumental in forming the first National Jewish Fellowship of the Assemblies of God and has served the first four years as its President. He has also served as a General Presbyter for the Assemblies of God, on the AG Board of Ethnicity, and also on the board of Lost Lamb Evangelistic Association. In 2013 God provide the means to form the first Resource Office for Jewish Ministry within the Assemblies of God in the Greater New York, and New Jersey Metropolitan region. Felix Halpern serves as a nationally appointed missionary to the Jewish people, and for twenty years he and his wife Bonnie served as Senior leaders of a Messianic Congregation that they founded, Beth Chofesh, (House of Freedom.
