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Shabbat Kol Hamoed Pesach
“Shabbat Intermediate Passover”
3 April 2010
Exodus 33:12-34:26
Numbers 28: (16) 19-25
Ezekiel 36:37-37:14
I Cor.5:6-8
Pesach,
Passover, following biblical law, is observed seven days
(eight days outside of land of Israel), beginning on the eve
of the 15th and ending on the 21st Of
Nisan. The first and last days are holy convocations. The
intervening days, known as Chol Hamoed, are half-holy
days, observations without a holy convocation. The holiday is
celebrated in memory of G-d bringing freedom to His people
from the Egyptians. This was a momentous time in which
G-d brought forth His people from slavery to freedom.
The name Pesach means “passing over”,
referring to when the Malach HaMavet (angel of death) passed
over. G-d spared the Israelites when the blood was seen on
the door lintel. This observance has been observed since the
Exodus from Egypt over thirty-five hundred years.
The Passover Feast celebrates of the birth of
Israel and that G-d chose them to convey His Holiness. No
other god's exists and He alone is to be worshiped. "Thou shall
not have any other G-d."
As time went on, Passover also came to be a
holiday in which the Jewish people hoped and prayed that one
day the long exile would end, and the Kingdom be reestablished
under Mashiach Ben David.
The Haggadah Tells us, that we have
suffered in other lands, and that we have prayed and hoped to
be a free people in our own land. The hope is declared at the
end of every Seder, “This year we are slaves; next year may we
be free men.”
A long time ago I read an article in which the
writer stated, "Freedom is not just a political and civil
condition; it is one (a condition) of the spirit."
We, who worship the One G-d of Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob in spirit and truth, have been "called out of
darkness into His marvelous Light." We need to always have
faith and remember His faithfulness in bringing us into His
covenant. He set us free from our spiritual Egypt, or
whatever oppression we had. We are now free and await the
return of Messiah to Jerusalem in hope and observance of His
Torah.
Let us declare now, not only next year in
Jerusalem; but next year in the New Jerusalem in which Messiah
will rule and His Torah will go forth to all nations.
Shavua Tov
Rabbi Z.
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