Monday, 25 March 2013

The son of David and the first day of the feast of unleavened bread


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“13  and coming into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, jesus asked his disciples, saying, who do men say me to be, the son of man? 14 and they said, some [say], John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. 15 he said to them, but who do you say I am? 16 and Simon Peter answered and said, you are the christ, the son of the living god. 17 jesus answered and said to him, you are blessed, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal [it] to you, but my father in heaven. 18 and I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and [the] gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 and I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven to you. and whatever you may bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in heaven, and whatever you may loose on earth shall occur, having been loosed in heaven. 20 then he warned his disciples that they should tell no one that he was jesus the christ. 21  from that time jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” (Matthew 16:13-21 MKJV)

 “17  and going up to Jerusalem, jesus took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said to them, 18 behold, we go up to Jerusalem. and the son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death. 19 and they shall deliver him to the nations to mock and to scourge and to crucify. and the third day he shall rise again.” (Matthew 20:17-19 MKJV)

 “1  and when they drew near Jerusalem, and had come to Bethphage, to the mount of olives, then jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, go into the village across from you. and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her. Untie [them] and bring [them] to me. 3 and if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, the lord has need of them, and immediately he will send them. 4 all this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your king comes to you, meek, and sitting on an ass, even a colt the foal of an ass. 6 and the disciples went and did as jesus commanded them. 7 and they brought the ass, even the colt, and put their clothes on them, and he sat on them. 8 and a very great crowd spread their garments in the way. others cut down branches from the trees and spread [them] in the way. 9 and the crowds who went before, and those who followed, cried out, saying, Hosanna to the son of David! blessed [is] he who comes in [the] name of [the] lord! Hosanna in the highest! 10 and when he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, who is this? 11 and the crowd said, this is jesus the prophet, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:1-11 MKJV)

 “1  and it happened when jesus finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 you know that after two days the passover comes, and the son of man is betrayed to be crucified. 3 then the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, assembled together to the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas. 4 and [they] consulted so that they might take jesus by guile and kill [him]. 5 but they said, not on the feast [day], lest there be an uproar among the people.” (Matthew 26:1-5 MKJV)

 “17  and on the first [day] of the [feast of] unleavened [bread], the disciples came to jesus, saying to him, where do you desire that we prepare for you to eat the passover? 18 and he said, go into the city to such a man, and say to him, the master said, my time is at hand. I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples. 19 and the disciples did as jesus had appointed them. and they made the passover ready. 20 and when evening had come, he sat down with the twelve. 21 and as they ate, he said, truly I say to you that one of you will betray me. 22 and grieving sorrowfully, they began to say, each one of them, lord, not I am [the one]? 23 and he answered and said, he who dips [his] hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. 24 the son of man goes, as it has been written of him, but woe to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed! it would have been good for that man if he had not been born. 25 and answering, the [one] betraying him, Judas, said, master, not am I [the one]? he said to him, you said [it]. 26  and as they were eating, jesus took bread and blessed [it], and broke [it], and gave [it] to the disciples, and said, take, eat, this is my body. 27 and he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, drink all of it. 28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 but I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it new with you in my father’s kingdom. 30 and singing a hymn, they went out to the mount of olives. 31  then jesus said to them, all of you will be offended because of me this night. for it is written, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 but after I have risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33 Peter answered and said to him, though all shall be offended because of you, I will never be offended. 34 jesus said to him, truly I say to you that this night, before the cock crows, you shall deny me three times. 35 Peter said to him, though I should die with you, yet I will not deny you. all the disciples also said the same. 36  then jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. and he said to the disciples, sit here while I go and pray there.” (Matthew 26:17-36 MKJV)

 “20 therefore when you come together into one place, [this] is not to eat [the] lord’s supper. 21 for in eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry, and another drunken. 22 for do you not have houses [in which] to eat and drink? or do you despise the church of god, and shame those who do not have? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you for this? I do not praise [you]! 23  for I received from the lord what I also delivered to you, that the lord jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; 24 and giving thanks, he broke [it] and said, "take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. 25 in the same way [he took] the cup also, after supping, saying, "this cup is the new covenant in my blood; as often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of me. 26 for "as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you show" the lord’s death until he shall come. 27 so that whoever shall eat this bread and drink [this] cup of the lord unworthily, he will be guilty of the body and blood of the lord. 28 but let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread and drink of that cup. 29 for he who eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation to himself, not discerning the lord’s body. 30 for this cause many among you [are] weak and sickly, and many sleep. 31 for if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 but when we are judged, we are chastened by [the] lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 so that, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 but if anyone hungers, let him eat at home, so that you do not come together to condemnation. and the rest I will set in order when I come.” (1 Corinthians 11:20-34 MKJV)

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English: Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey
Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Please do find to read:

  1. 1 -15 Nisan
  2. Deliverance and establishement of a theocracy
  3. Day of remembrance coming near 
  4. 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
  5. 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus 
  6. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast 
  7. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain 
  8. 14 Nisan a day to remember #5 The Day to celebrate
  9. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
  10. High Holidays not only for Israel
  11. Observance of a day to Remember
  12. Festival of Freedom and persecutions


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Friday, 22 March 2013

High Holidays not only for Israel

In Deliverance and establishement of a theocracy we saw that the Creator God provided twice in history a Passover lamb.

Map of the Land of Israel as defined in Number...
Map of the Land of Israel as defined in Numbers 34 and Ezekiel 47 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In coming together next Tuesday 26 March we bring glory to God and show how thankful we are for what He provided in this world. The 14th of Nisan, like that day is called according the directions of God, we commemorate two occasions of deliberation: 1. the liberation of God's People Israel from Egypt; 2. the liberation of all people, believers, heathen, non-believers by the sacrificial offer of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.


Many in Belgium know about this day, either from the Jews or from the Jehovah Witnesses. But they should know they are also welcome at our services to see how we honour God and how we share the love of Christ Jesus. As most Jews will gather with family and friends, at a Pesah or Pesach seder, we also will celebrate the liberation of God's chosen people from slavery.

William Blake's Holy Thursday (1794).
William Blake's Holy Thursday (1794). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The coming days several people may be annoyed that the shops are closed because of a Holy Day . This weekend it starts with the Cypriots and Greeks having free until Tuesday and the 5th of May for their Easter Sunday (Many Orthodox Christian churches, including the Greek Orthodox and the Russian Orthodox churches, celebrate the “miracle of Easter” on the Easter Sunday date in the Julian calendar.) The Jews, Messianic Jews, Unitarian Churches (like Church of God) and non-trinitarian Biblestudents (like the Russell and Christadelphian Biblestudents, Thomasites and Jehovah Witnesses) have coming Tuesday as the 'Preparation' date (14 Nisan) and the Wednesday until Thursday (15 Nisan) as Pesach, on Thursday and Friday the Old Catholics with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, on Sunday and Monday 31st of March and the 1st of April Easter for the Roman Catholics and several Protestant denominations and for the worshippers of the Celtic gods and those celebrating the goddess Estra (hence the name Easter). Also Hindus, Muslims, other believers and atheists may receive two paid holidays though they may not be interested in the reasons of the free days but will enjoy the family time.

For followers of the One and Only One God of gods  יהוה {Jehovah} it should be the most important time of the year, and not to celebrate the goddess of fertility, Estra, but to think of the liberation of the people God has given His creation.

In Belgium everybody knows  Israel “the place,” and Israel, “the people”but not many do know the position that Israel has to take in the universe. Also we, as Christians should be more aware of the function of Israel and what the position and role shall be for Jerusalem.

14 Nisan is a day when so many in Antwerp shall go into festivity days. Many Jews shall also invite non Jews to a dish with nice things for a special celebration. But we as Christians can also invite other believers to share our faith and to tell them about the liberation of the People of God and what we do expect from the bloodletting of the lamb. The mitzvah of Ahavat Yisrael, loving Israel, calls us to love both the land of Israel and Klal Yisrael, the people of Israel. Loving Israel links us to both the land and the people. We should show respect for the people who got first priority by God. But we should also love all those who are created in the image of God. That means that we also should be loving to people who believe different things than us, or who say they do not believe (though they perhaps mean that they do not believe that there exist a Divine Supremacy God Creator).

Like we should teach our children about “Israel” we also should teach others about the Divine Creator, Israel and the promises God has given the world. Such holidays are good opportunities to do that. We should make use of it.

Though many have tried everything to get rid of Israel it is still a large family spread all over the world. They are a diverse group with different opinions, cultures, lifestyles, levels of observance, and beliefs. However, they are still all one family with responsibilities to each other. Those who want to become under the custody of the Creator God should also be prepared to take others under their care and should unite with each other as children of God, feeling to be part of the one Big Family.

Having been an enslaved and pursued people the Jews should know what it is to be put aside or to be discriminated. The Festival of Liberation coming in a few days time, they should, as we should, take some time to consider what cruelty can be done to people and how God can protect people and give them plural chances to make something good of their life.They should have esteem for their Liberator and show their gratitude to that Protector to others. Their children should come to understand and adopt as part of their vocabulary and their growing Jewish identity  ensch, brakhah, Torah, mitzvah, boker tov, Shabbat, tzedakah, shalom , and Israel and Klal Israel. Young children may not fully comprehend what something happening “long ago” means, but they can have an understanding that what they do now has been done for a long time. First, it happened in Eretz Yisrael, the land of Israel. And now, today, Jews living all over the world continue to observe these mitzvot/practices. This must be important if their family, their teachers and friends give it such meaning.

Others around them should also get to know why those festivities are. And those who are willing to be partakers of the Kingdom of God with Israel as the capital, should show their respect to that Jewish tradition and follow the Law of God.

The same as the Jews connect with those they care about when they share a Passover Seder with family and friends, we should take the occasion of 14 Nisan, the preparation day to the 15 th of Nisan and Pesach, the Passover Meal, to invite others to share a meal with us and to share our prayers and songs to God.

By the action of the Jew Jeshua from Nazareth, Jesus Christ, those following him have become part of the people of God. And as such they also should like the Jews, communally give voice to our shortcomings and our wishes for peace and good health in the coming year during the High Holidays.


Simon Ushakov's icon of the Mystical Supper.
Simon Ushakov's icon of the Mystical Supper. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Like Jesus who came together with his talmidim to prepare themselves for the celebration of the Passover meal at twilight on the fourteenth day of Nisan as ordered in the Law of Moses, we come together according the ordinances given by God and by the request of His son to remember that evening of Jesus his Last Supper. As followers of Christ, believing in his death and resurrection, accepting his offer for us, we believe we have now also become part of those chosen by God to be part of His family. And for this we are very grateful and wish to let the world know about the Wonders God did for His people.

Passover in 2013 will start on Tuesday, the 26th of March and will continue for 7 days until Monday, the 1st of April.
In the USA, Passover ends one day later, so in 2013, Passover will end on Tuesday, the 2nd of April.

This year it was a little bit difficult to consider which day to be taken, because their where different opinions and some confusion in the world, having some Jews and Bible students taking the 14th Nisan Tuesday the 26th and others like in Israel celebrating Passover on the sunset in Jerusalem of Monday, the 25th of March.

We accordingly invite you for our Memorial Meal on 14 Nisan or Tuesday the 26th of March at 7.30 pm.

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You may find more information about Easter and 14 Nisan:

  1. Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality
  2. Religious Practices around the world
  3. Anointing of Christ as Prophetic Rehearsal of the Burial rites
  4. The Weekend that changed the world
  5. A Great Gift commemorated
  6. Jesus begotten Son of God #1 Christmas and Christians
  7. Jesus begotten Son of God #2 Christmas and pagan rites
  8. A Messiah to die
  9. The Song of The Lamb #3 Daniel and Revelation
  10. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ
  11. Festival of Freedom and persecutions
  12. Seven days of Passover
  13. 1 -15 Nisan
  14. Day of remembrance coming near 
  15. Pesach
  16. Korban Pesach
  17. 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
  18. 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus
  19. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
  20. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
  21. A Jewish Theocracy
  22. Observance of a day to Remember
  23. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
  24. Observance of a day to Remember 
  25. Pesach and solidarity 
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 Also of interest:

Faith Without Obedience
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Thursday, 21 March 2013

Deliverance and establishement of a theocracy

On Purim, the Jewish people recall their miraculous deliverance from their enemies 2,400 years ago. But newt week we start a festival week of an important occasion for Jews and Christians we should not forget.

After the rabbi Jeshua (Jesus) was triumphantly welcomed as a king, seated on a donkey,  in the city of Jerusalem, he called his talmidim or disciples to look for a room to celebrate an even more important deliverance and a confirmation of the promise to Abraham and corroboration to Moses that God had prepared Him a people to be sanctified and to receive a Holy Land.

Purim may remind us of our human frailty and vulnerability. We see how close all the Jews in the Persian Empire came to being wiped out overnight at the whim of a foolish, capricious leader. Jews are particularly reminded of the precariousness of their condition. Yet, Purim also affirms that while oppressors come and go, God’s promise and covenant with his people, Israel, is everlasting. The Jews of the Persian Empire, after all, were saved, reminding us that God never deserts His people.

When the Judaic people were slaves in Egypt God tried to convince the Pharao to let them go, but the plagues God had send to him and his people did not bother him so much. For that reason, not wanting God's people go and not recognising the Most High Elohim, God took to the bloodsign which all people after this occasion should remember for always.

People should know what god has everything under control and that His Word shall always become reality. And those who do not listen at the end shall always come to know and see what the Hand of God shall establish.

We all know different songs, musicals and shows where the song “Let My People Go!” catches the full attention of everybody in the theatre.

Egypt had the People of God to go.

In 40 chapters, 1,213 verses the Holy Scriptures brings us in the Book of Exodus the greatest adventure story ever told.


The Israelites Leaving Egypt
The Israelites Leaving Egypt (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The book of Exodus continues the story of the redemptive history that God began in the book of Genesis. The original purpose of Exodus was to help the people of Israel understand their identity as God’s special people, and to learn about their covenant obligations to him. They were to see themselves as God’s “firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22-23) and as a “kingdom of priests” (19:5-6), called to bring God’s blessings to the nations. Exodus describes how the Lord delivered Israel from Egyptian oppression (chs. 1-15), brought her into covenant relationship with himself at Mount Sinai (chs. 16-24), and came to dwell in her midst in the tabernacle (chs. 25-40).
It is that deliverance from Egypt,  the paradigm for salvation in the Old Testament we are going to celebrate soon. But for us there is an extra dimension to the festival week.  It also sets the pattern for the full and final salvation that God has provided in Israel’s Messiah.


The Nazarene Jeshua, who had done many miracles and as such saved already many people from their problems was the one send by God, long ago promised. He was the Christos or Christ who became the new Moses of a greater exodus by going down into Egypt, passing through the waters of baptism, enduring temptation in the wilderness, and going up on the mountain to give people God’s law (see Matthew 2-7). Like Moses, Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant (see Hebrews 9:15).

The Creator-King’s original intention was that he might dwell among His people, who would be a flourishing human community in a paradise-kingdom beginning in Eden and spreading throughout the whole world.
God established the Mosaic covenant with Israel at Sinai to carry forward His purpose as expressed within the earlier covenant with Abraham (Exodus 2:24; 3:6, 15, 16; 6:2-8). God’s promises to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 function as His solution to the problem of the human sin and rebellion that we read about in Genesis 3-11.

Jehovah  repeatedly referred to the slaves of the Pharao as “my people” (Exodus 3:7; 5:1). The Elohim is indicating both to Pharaoh and to the people that, although they have been enslaved in Egypt for a long time, it is His covenant promise to them as Abraham’s offspring that truly governs their identity.

After overwhelming disasters (the plagues), the putting blood on the sides of the entrance door of the houses of the people who followed the God of Abraham and Moses, as a final sign (Exodus 11:1-15:21), safeguarded the first-borns in those houses. (Exodus 7:8-15:21) in what was going to be the first month of the year in the future for them (Exodus 12:1-2).

In that first of months, the first month of the year all the children of Israel had to come together and in the tenth day of that month every man had to take a lamb, by the number of their fathers’ families, a lamb for every family. It had to be a spotless lamb, without any mark, a male in its first year. They than had to keep it till the fourteenth day of the same month, when everyone who was of the children of Israel was to put it to death between sundown and dark. Then they had to take some of the blood and put it on the two sides of the door and over the door of the house where the meal was to be taken. That night they had to eat the flesh of the lamb, cooked with fire in the oven, together with unleavened bread and bitter-tasting plants. Those following God had to take their meal dressed as if for a journey, with their shoes on their feet and their sticks in their hands. They had to take it quickly, because it was to be the Lord’s Passover. For on that night God went through the land of Egypt, sending death on every first male child, of man and of beast, and judging all the gods of Egypt so that they could know that Jehovah is the Elohim Hashem, the most Mighty of all gods.



 “1  And Jehovah spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household: 4  and if the household be too little for a lamb, then shall he and his neighbor next unto his house take one according to the number of the souls; according to every man’s eating ye shall make your count for the lamb. 5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old: ye shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats: 6  and ye shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at even. 7  And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side-posts and on the lintel, upon the houses wherein they shall eat it. 8  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9  Eat not of it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roast with fire; its head with its legs and with the inwards thereof. 10  And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11  And thus shall ye eat it: with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is Jehovah’s passover. 12  For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am Jehovah.” (Exodus 12:1-12 ASV)

In Exodus, God advances his solution to the fall by establishing Israel as a theocracy (a nation governed directly by God). Through the Mosaic covenant, Israel becomes the initial fulfilment and next stage of the promise that in Abraham’s lineage all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3). God’s “Firstborn Son”

 Like the Passover lamb or the offering sprinkled on the ark of the covenant, the blood of his sacrifice is the atonement for our sin. Like the tabernacle, he is the dwelling place of God with us (see John 1:14, where the word for “dwell” is the Greek word for tabernacle). Like Aaron the high priest, he brings us into the Most Holy Place, where we can meet with God. If we know Christ, therefore, we can trace the story of the exodus somewhere in the spiritual geography of our own souls. Through the waters of baptism, we have been delivered from our bondage to sin. Now God is guiding us on our pilgrimage through the wilderness, feeding us our daily bread, teaching us his law, receiving our worship, and leading us to his glory in the Promised Land.

What Purim and Pesach or Pascha reaffirm to Christians and Jews alike is the fact that the everyday order is infused with God’s presence and is under His control.

About the day God liberated the slaves from Egypt God wanted them to remember it for ever.

“14  And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to Jehovah: throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 15  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16  And in the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you. 17  And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day throughout your generations by an ordinance for ever. 18  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 19  Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a sojourner, or one that is born in the land. 20  Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.” (Exodus 12:14-20 ASV)

Because it had to be remembered for ever and Jesus remembered it, we also should do that. But for us there is an extra touch. We have to keep it as a feast to Jehovah our God through all our generations, as an order for ever, but we also do have to commemorate the night Jesus took the bread and the cup of wine, saying thanks to His Father and giving it to his closest friends as a sign of a new covenant, which had to be remembered as well.

The broken bread was as the body of Christ Jesus, which was slaughtered like the lambs in Exodus, but this time given for the whole world by the servant of those faithful Jews at the beginning of our common time, and of his Father in heaven. Those who have kept with this Nazarene through his troubles will be given a kingdom as his Father has given one to him, so that they may take food and drink at Jesus his table in his and his Father His kingdom, and be seated like kings, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

 “And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the passover, his disciples say unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and make ready that thou mayest eat the passover?” (Mark 14:12 ASV)

 “15  And he will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready: and there make ready for us. 16  And the disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 17  And when it was evening he cometh with the twelve. 18  And as they sat and were eating, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you shall betray me, even he that eateth with me. 19  They began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? 20  And he said unto them, It is one of the twelve, he that dippeth with me in the dish. 21  For the Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born. 22  And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body. 23  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it. 24  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” (Mark 14:15-24 ASV)
On the 14th of Nisan this gathering of Jesus and his best friends we got the inauguration of that New Covenant. Because that it our liberation and our exodus of the slavery of this world, we should also commemorate that evening and the Lamb of God, Jesus who was betrayed and brought to death a few hours later.

Like the apostles and first Christians came together to remember the night the talmidim where there with Christ in the preparation for the Pesach and Feast of unleavened bread, we also should come together.

 “Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 ASV)

 “23   For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; 24  and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25  In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord’s death till he come. 27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28  But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. 29  For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-29 ASV)

That what God promised in the Garden of Eden came to fulfilment with Jesus birth, his offering his body to all those who where under the spell of death. It reaffirms that God’s hand is indeed at work in human history. Renewing our belief in a God who acts in history and continues to perform miracles is one of the most fundamental affirmations we can make. And knowing we believe in a God of miracles is indeed cause for celebration at Purim and Pesach or any time of year! But with 14 Nisan asking us to remember the breaking of the bread and his offering his body as an instalment of a New Covenant, we should be glad to come together on such an evening to Break Bread with all our brethren and sisters and welcoming those who want to know God.

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Please also do read:

  1. Festival of Freedom and persecutions
  2. Seven days of Passover
  3. 1 -15 Nisan
  4. Day of remembrance coming near 
  5. Pesach
  6. Korban Pesach
  7. 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
  8. 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus
  9. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
  10. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
  11. A Jewish Theocracy
  12. Observance of a day to Remember
  13. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
  14. Observance of a day to Remember 
  15. Pesach and solidarity 
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Festival of Freedom and persecutions


Rabbi Joseph B. SoloveitchikA group cannot be called am [nation] if there is no solidarity says Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Am is indicative of a readiness to share, a sense of compassion. The Jews were taken out of Egypt and were freed not because of their spiritual grandeur, but simply because they were charitable to one another; there was a feeling of solidarity among them, and they were prepared to follow the instructions of the God of Mozes.

Soon the Jews will be celebrating the Festival of Freedom. For us Christians that is also an important occasion to remember.

We have to remember all the wonders God brought unto the earth to show His Greatness. Though even today the Wonders of God on this earth can be seen every day, not many people do want to see them or do not believe in the Hand who is behind all those blessings.

Today we are confronted with a lot of wars going on all over the world. When we hear and see how many earthquakes and natural disasters are coming over the world where children oppose their parents and religions fight against other religions, than we have the free choice to either see the signs God is giving to the universe or to ignore what is happening as a prophesied element in the history of the creation.

The climax of the Exodus story is the construction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem:
If He had brought us into the land of Israel, and had not built for us the Beit Habechirah (Chosen House; the Beit Hamikdash) Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
The central importance of Holy Temple in the Passover story and in Judaism must never be forgotten:
Thus did Hillel do at the time of the Beit HaMikdash: He would combine Passover — lamb, Matzah and Maror and eat them together, as it said: “They shall eat it with Matzah and bitter herbs.”
The nexus of the City of Jerusalem, the Holy Temple and the Kingdom of Israel in Judaism must never be forgotten:
Have mercy, L-rd, our G-d, upon Israel Your people, upon Jerusalem Your city, upon Zion the abode of Your glory, upon the kingship of the house of David Your anointed, and upon the great and holy House which is called by Your Name.
Jerusalem will be fully rebuilt:
Rebuild Jerusalem the holy city speedily in our days. Blessed are You, L-rd, who in His mercy rebuilds Jerusalem. Amen.

Lots of Europeans recoil the way “Israel” the country is setting up a wall and is discriminating other people. Often they forget that those secular Jews and the fundamentalist Jews are not presenting a proper picture of the active believing Jewish people, the People of God.

In Belgium we are confronted enough with real religious Jews, who act totally different from those we see battling in Israel. Though some Jews over here also may take on an attitude of considering themselves a more important and 'clean' people than the heathen population.Because many cut themselves off from the civil world they often have like many Muslims a wrong idea about Christians and Christendom. They should not forget how it where many Christian believers in the 1930ies and 1940ies saw what was happening in Europe and tried to save those who also believed in the God of Israel.
At the same time it where their own brethren in the New World who perhaps where not so interested in those Jewish brethren of the Old World. If in the 1940s those American Jews had responded to the call for help that came across the ocean from the ghettos in Poland, Lithuania, and the Baltic lands, they might have saved hundreds of thousands of Jews. Rabbi Soloveitchik  also thinks that the Jewish community did not respond to that call. "I thought at the time that the Jewish community was falling apart," he says," that there was no sense of solidarity, of being together, of suffering together." Today he agrees: "It was a terrible crime on our part…and we have not purged ourselves from the great crime we committed, tolerating the destruction of six million Jews."

I bring up this holocaust drama because somehow it was also part of God His Plan and the start of the new Israel. It should also be a lesson for many of us. As Pesach nears, these words should set our consciences aflame. Today, some of the world’s most inspirational Jews suffer continual persecution and brutality. Masked troops destroy their communities under cover of darkness and jail their children without due process, traumatizing families and empowering the enemies of Am Yisrael.

Our world should make a big difference between Zionism and True Israel.

Rabbi Soloveitchik says: "Zionism means defending Jews and building Eretz Yisrael. People who hurt Jews and surrender Israel to Islamist neo-Nazis are not Zionists, no matter how fluent their Hebrew is." But does he not forget that fundamentalist Jews taking over the land of others, though they might think it is given by God, should ask for the land and come to the land to use it as it is instructed by the Most High Elohim Hashem?

All people should be aware that nobody shall be able to hinder God His Plan. Soon we shall be confronted with the reality of the prophesies coming to conclusion.
No matter what happens Israel shall be the Land of the Israelites, Israel God's People.

As on the night the blood of the lambs was brought on the doorposts to give a sign to the messengers of God, we today should give the right sign to God. We should bring the blood of the Lamb on the virtual doorpost of our Faith life. With the Passover the Jews began their unique relationship with God. On Passover God redeemed their but also our ancestors from the slavery of Egypt. And on Passover Jehovah made a commitment to stand by Israel, his chosen people, forever. They should become more aware of that and act to this special position. They should more to seek to fulfil their mission to be “a light unto the nations.”

As God liberated the Judaic slaves from Egypt He will save the slaves of this world, who confine to Him and follow His Instructions. Those that keep to the Law of God shall be saved. They shall be able to look forward to the Greatest Feast of Freedom. The Great Passover.

We should light our candles and be ready to see the light of God and be worthy to welcome the Lamb of God when he, Jeshua (Jesus) returns.

The Seder should be a moment of gathering where all those who know God, love the Most High, are wiling to celebrate the liberation of slavery in Egypt, share the love of God and want to show others that Jehovah is a God of love inviting all to the dish on which Jesus also sat a few hours before his death.

The Seder, like many festive occasions, provides a great opportunity to get others to know the wonders God did, to share family experiences and exchange personal stories of traditions (our own and others) so that it  will help to diminish the fear that comes from difference and misunderstanding which divides this world of people, who are all created in the image of God.

Edgar Bronfman, Sr.  looked at the long book with many different ideas. Jews spend hours discussing its profound teachings. Yet there is one theme that stands out as cardinal concept. 
For not only one has risen up against us, but in every generation they rise up against us to annihilate us, but the Most Holy One, blessed be he, always delivers us out of their hands.
Bronfman  has produced a new Haggadah for himself and other American Jewish critics of how Israel defends itself against it enemies.
Bronfman rewrites the standard, family favorite “Dayenu” song stating
“And if we deliver peace between ourselves, the Palestinians, and our Arab neighbors … that will be enough!”
He concludes with
 “commit ourselves to supporting every idea, every effort, and every carefully crafted plan that seeks to lead Palestinians and Israelis, Jews and Arabs—indeed all of the world’s clashing people—out of the dark and narrow straits of fear and violence, out of the strictures of hatred and war, and into the spiritual Jerusalem—the true Promised Land—an open and peaceful place flowing with the milk and honey of justice, compassion, and freedom for all.”



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Please do find to read:

  1. A Jewish Theocracy
  2. Observance of a day to Remember
  3. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
  4. Observance of a day to Remember 
  5. Day of remembrance coming near 
  6. Pesach 
  7. Korban Pesach
  8. 1 -15 Nisan
  9. 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
  10. 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus
  11. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
  12. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
  13. Pesach and solidarity 
  14. Seven days of Passover

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A start for learning the Hebrew language

shalom = שלום

דוגמא לגופן "פרנק-ריהל" הגופן ששימש ...
דוגמא לגופן "פרנק-ריהל" הגופן ששימש לדוגמא: Frank-Ruehl, של קולמוס. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)



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For those who would like to read the Torah and siddurs (prayer books) in Hebrew or compare the Hebrew text with the translation in their language, they shall have to learn the language. Perhaps a place to start with > jewfaq
Ten letters in less than ten minutes! See the first ten letters of the Hebrew alphabet, learn how they are pronounced in synagogues in the northeastern U.S., and see an example of the letter in a useful Hebrew word.
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