Dear All, On a Good Friday/Blessed Easter post, Tracy Late Night Leader wrote in about Pesach.  This is what I wrote back to her:

Tracy, You are absolutely right that Pesach (like the PascAL Lamb) -- the English word is "Passover" -- comes soon -- it always cmoes one month after Purim.  THis year, it runs from 4/20-4/27.  The 1st seder will be held on 4/19.  Much cleaning needs to be done before Pesach, to get all leavened crumbs out of wherever they may lurk.  (We sell our stores of goods to a good Christian, & then buy them back after the holiday.  We don't actually transport anything.  We just cover everything up and tie it with string.  The synagogue's Rabbi arranges for the contract.) 

Questions?  Any & all!  I'm all ears, & hope the L-rd will help me to come up with the answers!  You folks ask some mighty good questions!

Yours in Him, Deb

The seven day sweep is to get all impurties out of the house,and the lamb shouldn't have no blemish on it means pure,Im doing the 7 day clean thing and to get the sedar plate out to shine once again along with the best china it touch no impure thing,this is done before the feast and the women do the cooking in the kitchen at the temple...

All of this is alot of hard work, I will do it until my grave love it...

Ohhhhhhhhhhh shoot the youngest at the end of the feast needs to open the door if he hears a knock and he opens the door that world be the messhia and if there not then wait tiill an another year to do over again ...

My hubby at the time was jewish still is we all go to the temple every holiday...

cynthia

Dear CheapChick, It is so admirable of you to be so observant, even though your own personal background is not Jewish.

I'd just like to put a word in on 2 things.  First, it generally takes a month, not a week, to clean a standard-sized house, as absolutely everything needs to have "spring-cleaning."  Secondly, we open the door for Elijah, who will prophesy that the Moshiach/Messiah is comign now; it isn't quite accurate to say that we think that Elijah himself is the Moshiach, else he would have been here in Elijah's time.

It is such a blessing to your home to mAke a seder when you aren't even obliged to!  Yours in Him, Deb

Hi there debra

sader is a prettty cool specially since I don't have kids its really good for them to learn about these kind of things...

Easter is part of christ risen from the dead children come to the church and learn just like most of us did in the past, and since I am a sucker for children its a great joy for them and for them to learn and observe and the knowledge we can gain from this is priceless...

But also I go to church besides the temple its great to obserbe all things..  :)

Have a great weekend,

cynthia

Deb, I would like  if The Feast of First Fruits and Passover are in the same week and if there is a connection of the two. Am I correct that this must be in the month of Nissen ?( is that how you spell it?)  Babs

Dear Babs, There are 50 days between the first evenings of Pesach (Passover) & Shavuot (the FeAst of Weeks.)  In between, we "count the Omer (count the number of days upon which a special offering ws given in the Temple daily).  There are a few special days in between, but, for the most part, it is a time of mourning.  No one gets A haircut or gets married (I know that sounds like the ridiculous to the sublime; it's just custom.). 

Pesach occurs on the 15th of the month of Nissan.  Shavuot has no fixed date.

The Feast of Weeks commemorates the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.  It also is a harvest festival, as you've said.  It's also the occasion for reading the Book of Ruth in the synagogue. 

There are 4 holidays held during the counting of the Omer.  One is very sAd -- the day of remembrance ofthe Holocaust.  One is jolly -- Lag B'Omer, which is a day off from Omer restrictions.  Two recall recent events in Israel -- one is Independence Day & the other marks the reunification of Jerusalem -- may the City remain unified!

I believe that Pentecost occurs 50 days after Easter???  Then IT would be the Shavuot equivalence, not EaSter.

Love in Him, Deb

 Yes that is true. Pentecost is the Greek Word for 50, that is where the name came from. That is all part of the Evangelical belief that Jesus is Messiah. That he was the Passover Lamb, he rose from the dead on First Fruits and the Holy Spirit came on the Feast of  Weeks. I understand the connection to the giving of the Law. At Mt. Sinai, G"d came down with torchs and voices, our Bible says lightning and thunder. Pentecost, the Holy Spirt came with tongues of fire and men spoke in languages that they didnt know.  Also both times there were 3,000 people who were affected. Babs

Then Easter must have another name, "First Fruits"?  Yours in Him, Deb

 Deb I will have to research the root of the word Easter. I am sad to say that I dont know where the word came from. My evening project, In Him, Babs

 Deb, yes I think that you are correct that Easter should be called First Fruits. The orgin of the word Easter apparently comes from the name of a goddess (idol). Christians shouldnt be using idol names at all. I am sure that many people do not know the connection. That send us right back to the Ten Commandments. Babs