Passover-page 4

ROASTING ON A SPIT

As soon as we arrived back at the courtyard, we placed the lamb into the oven, on a spit. We are commanded only to roast our Passover offering, and not to cook it any other way.

THE LAMB IS COOKED

When the lamb was cooked, we took it out of the oven.

CARVING THE LAMB

When the lamb was finished roasting, my uncles carved it up carefully into servings. This was so that no one would be tempted to break the bones while they were dining, as that is forbidden.

FAMILIES BEGIN THE SEDER

Finally - the moment to begin the Seder had arrived! Families and friends gathered together to begin the telling of the Haggadah. Everyone made certain to sit on soft pillows, and lean to their left - like free men!

THE SEDER TABLE

On our table were matzot, bitter herbs and charoset. And , of course, the roasted Passover offering!

THE FOUR QUESTIONS

And then I stood to ask the four questions, including, "On all other nights we eat meat either roasted, boiled or cooked, but tonight only roasted!"

THE FOUR CUPS OF WINE

And, of course, we drank the four cups of wine.

THE FIRST PASSOVER IN EGYPT

We talked about the very first Passover in Egypt, when our ancestors, still slaves, slaughtered a lamb, as G-d had commanded them, and painted the blood on the doorposts, so that G-d would know, and protect them as they left Egypt.

SINGING HALLEL

Before midnight we finished our meal and blessed G-d. We then climbed to our rooftop, and, facing the Holy Temple, sung together the Hallel song of praise.

SAYING HALLEL

We weren't the only ones! Everybody made certain to finish their meal before midnight, and then go outside and climb to their rooftops to sing the Hallel while facing the Holy Temple, under the light of the full moon.

HARVESTING THE BARLEY

We got some rest the next day, but the night following the Seder, we all went out to the fields to take part in the barley harvest, for on the night after the first day of Passover, (the 16th of Nisan), the barley harvest begins.

USING A SCYTHE TO HARVEST THE BARLEY

A scythe was used to harvest the barley. The barley was then brought up to the Holy Temple.

THE OMER OFFERING

Then the three kohanim stood before the altar and as one held the pan full of the omer, (barley), the other two poured in olive oil and frankincense, as we are instructed to do. (Leviticus 2:15)

OFFERING THE OMER

The kohen took the pan containing the omer, (the barley offering), and, scooping out a handful of the meal-offering, poured it onto the fire. He took his time, and was very careful, even though it must have been very hot so close to the fire! After burning the handful on the altar, the kohanim would prepare and eat the rest of the grain that they had gathered.

VIEWING THE MENORAH AND TABLE OF THE SHOWBREAD

During each of the three annual pilgrimage festivals, Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, the priests carry out from the Kodesh, (the Sanctuary), the golden Menorah, and the golden Table of the Showbread. Every other day of the year, only the kohanim, who are allowed to enter the Kodesh, can see them. Saba says that G-d wants to share with all His people these beautiful objects, as a sign of His affection.

THANKS

Now the forty nine days of the offering of the Omer had begun, which would be followed by Shavuot. We spent the rest of the week-long Passover festival with our hosts in Jerusalem, and celebrated together on the seventh and final day - the day that commemorates the crossing of the Sea of Reeds by our ancestors. But now it was time to say goodbye to our hosts in Jerusalem. Jerusalemites are not allowed to accept payment for their generosity, so we expressed thanks by giving them a wine jug and a goat-skin from one of our holiday offerings. Now we started on the long road back home. I'll never forget this Passover. I can't wait to get back home to my pens and sketch pad... I've got lots of work to do!

The Temple Institute Wishes All a Joyous Passover!