Passover Books

Although this book is small, it's packed with useful information on how Christians can incorporate the Passover Meal into their own holiday traditions. Full of ideas not only on the meal itself and the symbolism but other hints and helps. The only drawback is no recipes are included-but they are easy enough to find on the Internet. Delightful book!

The end of this book has some interesting observations about the Seder, such as her discussion of the Seder plate. She suggests that the Seder plate emphasizes the transformation of nature (e.g. wheat) into culture (e.g. matzoh), just as relevation turned Jews from ordinary homo sapiens into a holy people. But there was far too little discussion of the Seder and too much discussion of Judaism generally. Also, the author's discussion of Seder customs (and indeed of Judaism generally) focuses on the most traditional Jews, and thus fails to adequately describe the Seder as performed by the overwhelming majority of American Jews.

This book offers a new and fresh insight into the "notoriously difficult" book of John's Revelation. The rightly uses the "passover key(as is written in the book of Exodus)" to interpret the Revelation. In fact, the passover is a archetype of Christian experience of salvation to be fulfilled in the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and to be consummated in the eschatological deliverance of believers. I am sure the author's way of interpretation is biblically legitimate and plausible.

This 29-page story, originally published in 1965, provides a straightforward accounting of the Passover story, most appropriate for non-Jewish children who want to understand the celebration.

It explains the holiday that happens each spring, when Jewish people the world over celebrate their freedom from slavery with a Seder meal. Six pages are devoted to the Passover story itself--of how, more than 3,000 years ago, Egypt's ancient Pharaoh enslaved the Jewish, God brought ten plagues upon them and Moses led them forth to freedom and into the promised land.

Several pages are also devoted to how Passover is celebrated today.

The only weakness is that the text is dry. It doesn't convey the joy and spirit of this happy holiday. Alyssa A. Lappen

First written in 1923, this edition promotes the ideas and ideals of an American Judaism facing unions, women's rights, world war and a fast changing world. In its time it was used by what is now the largest organized identified Jewish population in existence. It is NOT modern, hip, or relative to the 21st century. but reflects the best efforts of a group of rabbis coming to grips with modernity. It provides an understandable ritual for English speakers who want to lean about Passover.

As a Messianic Jew, Rosen does a great job of explaining Passover to me, a non-Jew. It was explained in terms I could understand. From a Christian point of view, it was very helpful in helping me understand Passover and it's obvious link to the Savior.

Unfortunately, the Old Testament often gets the short end of the stick these days. All too often it is largely or completely ignored. Christians see it as too difficult, irrelevant, or legalistic, and pastors often see it as an embarrassment or too politically incorrect.

Without understanding the Old Testament, you will never really understand God. (Yes, I really do mean that - understanding the Old Testament is not optional for the Christian). Furthermore, trying to understand the New Testament without understanding the Old Testament is trying to understand the ocean without knowing the first thing about fish.

This book explores one of the many connections between the Old and New Testaments. People will usually be familiar with the connection between, say, Isaiah 53 and Jesus, but this book shows that that is not the only kind of connection. The Passover is filled with symbolism that points to Jesus. It's really a shame that so few Christians seem to be familiar with this, because I think that people would find it very beneficial to understand it. Without understanding the Passover, one cannot truly understand communion, the Last Supper, or a host of other New Testament passages and institutions. It will greatly enhance your understanding of Jesus (and how the Old Testament points to Him), the Passover, and a lot of the Old Testament too.

This book gives a very good overview of the Passover, the ceremony, its connection with Jesus, and many other important topics. It covers all the basics and is fairly well written. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to understand the issues I've mentioned better.

This is the best book I ever read on the Christian meaning of the Passover. The "Last Supper" was a Passover Seder and until this book I never knew the fullness of what Jesus was saying. What an eye opener!!!

I enjoyed this book, but it was not as detail as I would have liked. The portion on Pesach during the 2nd temple period was facinating.

The Rosens' book does discuss some of the rituals of the Passover Seder, however, their description of Jewish law and the meanings behind the symbols are at best a gross simplification and at worse completely off-target, which I attribute to the disparity between Jewish and Christian theology. One glaring example is a discussion found on pages 51 and 84 - the Rosens contend that the wine of the Passover Seder `... graphically represent[s] the blood of the Passover lamb ...' based off their reading of Pesakhim 7:13 (Pesakhim is a tractate of codified Jewish Law which describes the laws of Passover) and other unnamed `ancient commentaries' and thus connect it to the wine of the Eucharist. However, the verse they reference in Pesakhim does not exist, and this concept is anathema to Judaism which proscribes the consuming of life-blood in any measure.
Other discussion in their work also falls short of describing Jewish understanding, as brief examples, I would cite the following:
- The leaven is not necessarily a representation of sin, but of preoccupation in the material world. The three matzot do not connote the Trinity (p 70, 76, etc), but rather the three stages of liberation from Egypt - freedom from slavery, the splitting of the Reed Sea, and the journey through the wilderness. The translations of verses from Isaiah 53 and Zechariah 12 (p 70, 86) are wrong and out of context, and the related discussion of `striping' on the matzot (p 70) does not apply.
- The description of the preparation of the Paschal sacrifice beginning on page 25 is inaccurate. The offering is unblemished as is every other offering, but was not brought into the household for adoration. The Paschal sacrifice is by no means a redemption from sin (`G-d's holiness demands that He judge sin, and the price is costly indeed', p 26) but rather recognition of G-d's sovereignty.
- The discussion of the blessings on the fourth cup of wine is misleading; the concept of the Divine Messiah and Savior and the Second Coming are Christian concepts, the Melekh haMoshiakh of Judaism is wholly human and there is no indication of a Second Coming in Jewish Scripture.
- The description of the kittel on page 73 is fairly accurate, but the `crown' or `mitre' discussed on pages 73-75 (to denote the `leader of the feast' as king and religious leader) is a distortion of a mitre worn by Reform Judaism cantors in synagogue worship. Actual Jewish practice is that at Passover we are all `kings and free men', and we are all enjoined to participate and lead discussion during the Seder.
- The liturgy of the Sephardic Seder discussed on page 91 does not include symbolism relating to `perfect, sinless life' of the Messiah and sacrificial death related to the Paschal lamb as presented. The discussion on page 82 regarding the afikomen goes astray when it brings in the verse from Luke 22:19 `This is My body ...'
In my opinion, the Rosens are not qualified to address many of the examples they give in their book; although Judaism encourages inspection and analysis to foster understanding by the individual, I think the Rosens' discussion is misguided with the preconceived notion of reconciling the Jewish themes of Passover with Christian theology. Presenting this book as an application of what they consider `Orthodox Jew[ish]' learning is, by any measure, a stumbling block.

I very nice friend of mine started to look more deeply into the issue of the Passover. At the time he only had the 1993 edition, but we soon purchased 5 copies of the 1999 expanded edition. This book is about 520 pages long, and we love every page. This book is an adventure to read, and he writes it very simply. Despite what the 15th passover advocates like to say, this book is excellent. He really shows from the OT and NT, in both the Hebrew and Greek text that its impossible to have the Passover and the First Day of Unleavened Bread on the same night of the 15th, IMPOSSIBLE!!!
I really encourage everyone to read this beautiful book. The only objection I have to this book is the fact that he gives the credit to Lord, God, Jesus and Christ for everything. This is Wrong, and he knows it. The true family name of the Father is YAHOWAH, and His Son YAHO-Hoshu-WAH our Saviour, who died for our sins. YAHO-Hoshu-WAH is our Passover Lamb, not jesus christ.
(...)
I would be more than happy to talk to you about this.Thank you for your time. rs

I wish I could give this book a lower review. Not only is the scholarship suspect, the majority of the scripture references are either from the KJV (which has its own set of scholarly issues) or the author's own translation. Of course, there are a lot of references, so that's a lot of translating, and there are NO credentials given by Mr. Coulter as to his fluency in Greek OR Hebrew OR his ability to translate. For that matter, how can he be translating Hebrew and Greek when he can't even write well in English? Most of the book is written in capitals and/or bold/italics, making for a very, very hard read. It gets better: the ideas and theology of Coulter are unorthodox at best and lean more towards heretical. Coulter is anti-Semitic, anti-Judaism, and anti-Traditional, all of which come across boldly, proudly in this book. He demonstrates a complete lack of historical understanding of the Passover ritual DESPITE pleading to history to legitimize his beliefs. In short, this book isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Trust me, you're better off not being able to buy it because it's out of print. This book essentially amounts as venomous rage and misunderstanding masquerading as legitimate scholarship. I only wish I were allowed to give a negative rating...wait, I can do that here. This book gets -2 stars. Oh, and do yourself a favor...don't ever buy any of this guy's stuff...it only encourages him.

From a historians view It's great book, and a must read for anyone who is interested in truth. Just get it and see for yourself, anyone who has a thirst for history will love this book.

This book is meant to mislead readers by claiming that it is possible to be Jewish and believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Readers should be aware that the Jewish community has shunned so-called "Messianic Judaism" because it intends to convert Jews to Christianity.

Those who are truly interested in learning about the Jewish religion should steer clear of the "Jews for Jesus" movement, and head towards the major mainstream movements of Judaism: Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Reconstructionist, which offer authentic Jewish practice and Jewish life, or should consult a real rabbi or synagogue.

This Haggadah is simple to follow and presents the reader with some excellent insights into the "Last Supper" that Yeshua (Jesus) celebrated with His talmidim (disciples).

I not only recommend this book for Messianic Congregations to follow in celebrating their Passover Seder, but also to Christian churches who wish to celebrate the Lord's Table in a manner that comes close to that in the early "church" before it lost its Jewishness.

Here's something that was actually a good idea: how to have a Seder. Now, that's not to say that there are not other books out there that explain how to make a Seder, and some that do so more in-depth, but for the individual who are just getting into the business of making a Passover Seder will be more than overwhelmed, especially the Christian who just wants to experience Pesach because of the Last Super. In my experience, there are very few guides that tell a Christian how to make a Seder in practical terms and do so with a Christian nod. And it are the practical terms that are the most important part of the book. Most Jewish leader's guides or commentaries presuppose a basic knowledge of how Passover works, whereas most Christians do not even know what a Baytzah is let alone where it goes on the Seder plate. For this reason, the Preparation Guide is great because of the very basic way the information is presented, and that the presentation is made in a Christian context. Of course, my biggest complaint with this pamphlet (and that's what you've got here) is that it's not a full sized book. There is so much information that is either glossed over or just completely ignored for whatever reason, but I suppose mostly for reasons of space. Still, for the price, it can't be beat.

This book won the National Jewish Book Award from the Jewish Book Council and was named a Sydney Taylor Honor Book by the Association of Jewish Libraries in 2004. In addition, Eric Kimmel was named the 2004 Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award winner for his overall contributions to Judaic children's literature.

This "Passover companion" follows the order of the seder but inserts explanations, background information, interpretations, and illustrative stories that flesh out the meaning of each traditional step. The book provides a very complete package, and the author explains that it should be read before the holiday and used as a resource during the seder, as it is too long to be used as a haggadah.

The reader is immediately struck by the sumptuousness of the illustrations, which are reproduced in vibrant color from many sources. We see details from medieval haggadot, photographs of Judaic ritual objects, paintings, and even a few modern book illustrations. Captions tell us the source of each illustration and explain the significance of the objects or actions depicted. The book's design includes thick paper, plenty of white space, and decorative elements in gold.

Most spreads include an illustration, but there are a few that are somewhat text-heavy. Some of the longer sections, especially those that retell the stories of Joseph and Moses, are a bit dry. The text is clearly written but frequently employs sophisticated vocabulary; the book is aimed at families rather than at child-readers. Older children and teens (and adults) will come away from this book with a deeper understanding of Passover and its rituals.

This beautifully presented book, with its lovely art printed on fine paper, seduces the buyer into thinking that it will be a perfect Seder companion. But, though it has useful information, its scholarship is only randomly reliable. Kimmel is unaware of the primary symbolism of the roasted egg, imagines that Ashkenazic Jews refrain from serving lamb at their Seders only because it was absent from their diets in eastern Europe and, in a misbegotten stab at ecumenism, makes the astonishing assertion that "the
Exodus is as important for Christians as it is for Jews." The book can make a pleasant addition to the Passover meal if it's served with a grain of salt.

This beautiful and unique guide to the Passover Seder, and winner of the National Jewish Book Award, will enchant anyone who sees it. It is a compendium of stories, songs, poems, prayers and commentaries on the ancient Jewish festival of freedom that will surely make its way into the homes of Jews and Gentiles alike. Jewish families will happily use it annually at their Seders, relishing in the lush detail, simple explanations, and outstanding artwork, while others will enjoy it for the beautiful compilation of story, song and historical art that spans three thousand years.

"Seder" means "order" in Hebrew and, as anyone who has ever participated in one knows, the order of the prayers, songs and stories recited there are prescribed in the book called the "Haggadah," which means, "The Telling." There are dozens of different styles of Haggadahs, but all of them follow the same order. However, not all Haggadahs (especially ones used by families with small children) come with clear explanations and commentaries on the various rituals associated with the holiday. Kimmel understands this perennial situation and it is here where this book truly shines.

Kimmel spent seven years compiling this book. He has illuminated each aspect of the ritual Seder with a poem here, an explanation there, and glowing throughout the text, gorgeous paintings or illuminated manuscript reproductions that have been chosen with perfection. Short stories or songs by noted authors and musicians are included, and will surely be a welcome addition to any Seder where squirmy children are in attendance.

The book's opening entices the reader with Kimmel's original prose poem entitled, "Night Journey".

Get ready. We are going on a journey. It will last only one night, but it will take us a long, long way.
We will travel from slavery to freedom.
From sorrow to joy.
From a country not our own to the land given to God to our ancestors.
For this is the night of Passover, the night when our ancestors left Egypt, the House of Slavery.
They left on foot in haste, carrying their belongings on their backs, driving their flocks and herds before them.
We are going with them. Our journey is called the Seder. Our guide is a special book called the Haggadah. It tells the Passover story.
Get ready. We are leaving soon.
Our journey is about to begin.

Child or adult, who can resist that opening? This is a book destined to become a classic of Jewish children's literature.

This book gives the history behind where Passover came from. The author writes about the story of Moses, and how his life was saved. One day a burning bush spoke to him in the words of God, and told Moses that he would be the new leader. As much as Moses pleaded for the Pharaoh to release the slaves, he declined and pushed them harder. As a reult Moses put a plague onto Egypt. These ten plagues swept through Egypt that attact various things. The Pharaoh soon let the slaves free, and sent Mmoses away. However, the Pharoah felt he had made a great mistake, and went after the slaves. Moses parted the sea for the slaves to get away from the Pharoah, and as the Pharoah proceeded across Moses commanded the sea to go back. As a result the Pharoah and his followers were killed. Tthe Israelites became a free nation. This became a celebrated holiday called Passover.us

This book is a very good way to prepare a child for Passover. It starts with the story of the Exodus, beginning with Jacob's dreams, and continuing through the Israelites journey out of Egypt. It ends with a quick description of the Passover rituals and seders. This book has just the right amount of detail -- not too superficial, but not so much a child (or an adult) will not understand. I definitely need to add this to my collection of children's books of Jewish Holidays.