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Passover Week Readings
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Torah Readings for Pesach
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The Torah Reading cycle is suspended for the holiday week of Unleavened Bread (called “Passover Week” in the Jewish tradition), with each day of the week (from Nisan 15 through Nisan 22) assigned additional readings from the Torah and Haftarah.
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Because the Jewish calendar is solar-lunar, the dates for each day’s readings are not fixed, but vary from year to year. This means that the intermediate days of Passover, called chol hamo’ed (CH”M) will vary from year to year. To ensure the accuracy of a particular day’s readings, always check a good Jewish holiday calendar.
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Click on the links to display the Scriptures:
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Note: When one of the days falls on a Shabbat, the “Intermediate Shabbat” readings are recited at the synagogue.
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In Exodus 12:21-51, Moses instructs the elders of Israel in the laws of Pesach. All generations to come are to observe the Passover traditions. In addition, the children of succeeding generations are to be instructed at Passover as to the origin and significance of the festival.
The Haftarah is taken from the Book of Joshua (Joshua 5:2-6:1, 6:27) and describes the historic Passover that the Israelites observed at Gilgal after they had crossed the Jordan River. It was the first celebration of Passover in the Holy Land. (In the Reform tradition Isaiah 43:1-15 is the prophetic reading for the first day of Passover.)
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In Leviticus 22:26-23:44, Moses instructs the Israelites in the observance of the Sabbath and festivals, including Passover, Shavu’ot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.
The Haftarah for the second day of Passover (II Kings 23:1-9, 21-25) regards great Passover celebrated after the good King Josiah initiated reformation among apostate Judah.
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In Exodus 13:1-16 Moses calls for the consecration (and redemption of) the firstborn and instructs the Israelites regarding the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The resurrection of the Mashiach Yeshua corresponds to Reishit Katzir (first fruits) and the tenufah (wave offering) that marked the countdown to Shavu’ot (the day the Ruach HaKodesh was given to the Church).
Nisan 14 - Yeshua crucified
Nisan 15 - Yeshua in the tomb
Nisan 16 - Yeshua in the tomb
Nisan 17 - Yeshua resurrected
Yeshua rose from the dead on the 1st day of the week, after being in the tomb three days and three nights. The disciples then encountered the risen Lord on Nisan 17, a Sunday morning (Matt 28:1-10). In short, He was crucified on Nisan 14 and resurrected on Nisan 17 (the corresponding Gregorian dates for these dates vary from year to year).
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In Exodus 22:24-23:19 various laws are given, including the laws regarding shelosh regalim (the three pilgrimage festivals), beginning with Passover/Unleavened bread.
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The fifth day’s reading has to do with Moses’ intercession for Israel and God’s response (as given in the Shelosh Esrei Middot - the 13 attributes of God’s mercy). The LORD then renewed the Sinai covenant after Israel’s sin of the Golden Calf. The Maftir (from Numbers) details the specific offerings to be made at the mishkan during Passover.
The Haftarah from Ezekiel speaks of the famous “dry bones” vision - a picture of Israel’s future restoration after the Mashiach returns to establish the millennia kingdom.
It also customary to read the Song of Songs (Shir HaShirim) on the Intermediate Sabbath of Passover. Rabbinic tradition interprets the book as a love song where the “beloved” is taken to mean God and “the bride” is Israel (though the picture of Yeshua and His bride, the Church, is also a fitting analogy, especially because the Beloved Son comes disguised to woo and win his bride).
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The sixth day’s reading has to do with the first anniversary of the original Passover in Egypt. Moses repeated God’s law that Passover was to be observed at its appointed time every year by every Jew. A second chance for observing Passover (Pesach Sheni) was given to accommodate those who are ritually unclean for the seder. This second day would be one month later, on Iyyar 14.
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The Torah reading (Exodus 13:17-15:26) describes Israel’s experiences following the Exodus. Pharaoh mobilized the Egyptian army and began his pursuit of the fleeing Israelites. When the Israelites reached the Red Sea, Moses raised his rod, the waters split apart, and the Israelites were miraculously saved. When the Egyptians reached the water, they became bogged down, sank to the bottom, and drowned. Moses and the Israelites sang a magnificent song of thanksgiving (the Song of Moses).
In the Haftarah, King David composes a song of thanks to God for all of his victories over his enemies. The Haftarah concludes with this sentence, which is also included at the conclusion of the grace after meals, “A tower of salvation of His king, who shows mercy to His anointed, to David and to his Seed forever” (2 Samuel 22:51).
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The Torah reading for the eighth day of Passover (Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17) deals with a variety of laws, including those related to tithes, the year of release (Yovel), the release of slaves, and further description of Shelosh regalim, the three pilgrimage festivals.
The Haftarah (Isaiah 10:32-12:6) gives Isaiah’s message of hope that the Israelites will be gathered together from lands of exile and return to Israel. Several allusions to the exodus from Egypt are given. It includes a vision of the Millennial Kingdom era when peace and harmony will reign supreme among all people.
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Passover, or Pesach, begins during the full moon in the first month of the year, namely on the 15th day of Nisan. Passover is called the “Feast of our Freedom” since it celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt and memorializes the night when the faithful were protected by the blood of the lamb - a clear picture of the sacrifice of Yeshua the Mashiach as Seh Elohim - the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
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Jewish tradition considers Pesach to be the start of Chag HaMotzi - the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and therefore no chametz is eaten for the eight days from Nisan 14 (erev Pesach) through Nisan 22. For more information, click here.
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Blessing after reading Torah:
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