I was not really surprised at the answers given by Senator Obama when interviewed by Pastor Warren at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, on Sunday, August 17th. Senator Obama is a likeable person and an excellent speaker, at least with a teleprompter. His answers are quite revealing if you actually examine what was said…and what was not. Here is some of the transcript. I am not going to go through all of the questions, just some of the more distressing answers.
WARREN: OK, all right. Let's talk about personal life. The Bible says that integrity and love are the basis of leadership. This is a tough question. What would be, looking over your life -- everybody's got weaknesses. Nobody's perfect -- would be the greatest moral failure in your life? And what would be the greatest moral failure of America?
After talking about growing up, he defined his greatest moral failure as being selfish when growing up. I can see that.
WARREN: Fundamental selfishness.
OBAMA: So that I think is my own failure.
WARREN: What about America?
OBAMA: I think America's greatest moral failure in my lifetime has been that we still don't abide by that basic precept in Matthew that whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me, and that notion of -- that basic principle applies to poverty. It applies to racism and sexism. It applies to, you know, not having -- not thinking about providing ladders of opportunity for people to get into the middle class. There's a pervasive sense, I think, that this country, as wealthy and powerful as we are, still don't spend enough time thinking about the least of us.
First you have to understand that for the last 20 years Obama has been getting a fatal dose of “Black Liberation Theology”. Liberation Theology started in Latin America around 40 years ago. A combination of Marxism with Christian terminology, it has been the motivation a dozens of revolutions, coups and terrorist attacks that have taken the lives of tens of thousands of people. Black Liberation Theology is even more fanatic in that it adds the element of “Black Supremacy” to mix which further stirs the hatred. Obama is very much into class warfare and the Marxist idea of redistribution of wealth…as apposed to a Capitalistic Free Enterprise System. Remember what he just quoted from Matthew 25:40, regarding our failure to care for the least of these.
WARREN: We've talked about this before, about the common good, and the common ground and common good. Can you give me an example of a time -- you know, I've seen that a lot of good legislation gets killed because of party loyalty. Can you give me a good example where you went against party loyalty, and maybe even win against your own best interest, for the good of America?
OBAMA: Well, you know, I'll give you an example that, in fact, I worked with John McCain on, and that was the issue of campaign ethics reform and finance reform. That wasn't probably in my interest or his, for that matter, because the truth was that both Democrats and Republicans sort of like the status quo. And I was new to the Senate and didn't necessarily engender a lot of popularity when I started saying, you know, we're going to eliminate meals and gifts from corporate lobbyists. I remember one of my colleagues, whose name will be unmentioned, who said, where do you expect us to eat, McDonald's? I thought, well, actually, a lot of your constituents probably do eat at McDonald's, so that wouldn't be such a bad thing.
But I think that we were able to get a bill passed that hasn't made Washington perfect, but at least has started moving things forward. I guess the other example where I'm not sure that this was a -- more of a partisan issue, but it was something I felt very deeply, was when I opposed the initial decision to go into war in Iraq. That was not a popular view at the time. And I was just starting my campaign for the United States Senate. And I think there were a lot of people who advised me, you should be cautious. This is going to be successful. The president has a very high approval rating and you could end up losing the election as a consequence of this.
Now remember he was not a Senator at that time and did not vote regarding our decision to go to war. He was just a new Illinois State legislator. It would not have been a hard or unpopular decision as he was representing one of the most liberal districts in his state. This comment is completed disingenuous.
WARREN: What's the most significant -- let me ask it this way. What's the most gut-wrenching decision you ever had to make and how did you process that to come to that decision?
OBAMA: Well, you know, I think the opposition to the war in Iraq was as tough a decision as I've had to make. Not only because there were political consequences, but also because Saddam Hussein was a real bad person, and there was no doubt that he meant America ill. But I was firmly convinced at the time that we did not have strong evidence of weapons of mass destruction, and there were a lot of questions that, as I spoke to experts, kept on coming up. Do we know how the Shia and the Sunni and the Kurds are going to get along in a post-Saddam situation? What's our assessment as to how this will affect the battle against terrorists like Al Qaida? Have we finished the job in Afghanistan?
So I agonized over that. And I think that questions of war and peace generally are so profound. You know, when you meet the troops, they're 19, 20, 21-year-old kids, and you're putting them into harm's way. There is a solemn obligation that you do everything you can to get that decision right. And now, as the war went forward, there are difficult decisions about how long do you keep on funding the war, if you strongly believe that it's not in America's national interest. At the same time, you don't want to have troops who are out there without the equipment they need.
Once again he references his decision on the war, even though it would be two years after that decision was made that he would become a Senator. The question should never have been asked if Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. They used them on 43,000 Kurds and over 150,000 Iranians. Both Sarin and mustard gas. As there has never been any evidence of there destruction, the only question should have been…”Where did you move them or hide them?” Information is now coming out from prisoners in Abu-Ghraib who were part of Saddam Hussein’s personal guard regarding the movement of hundreds of trucks containing WMD’s out of Iraq into the Syrian Becka valley during the two months prior to the invasion.
http://www.nysun.com/foreign/iraqs-wmd-secreted-in-syria-sada-says/26514/
The surge which Obama was against worked incredibly well and reduced Al Quida down to several hundred. With this removal of the intimidation to the people of Iraq by Al Quida, tribal leaders are not only working peacefully with other sects but now joining with Americans. An incredible victory in spite of Obama. He still refuses to give the credit to out troops and the fine job they have done.
WARREN: Now, let's deal with abortion; 40 million abortions since Roe v. Wade. As a pastor, I have to deal with this all of the time, all of the pain and all of the conflicts. I know this is a very complex issue. Forty million abortions, at what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?
OBAMA: Well, you know, I think that whether you're looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade.
WARREN: Have you --
OBAMA: But let me just speak more generally about the issue of abortion, because this is something obviously the country wrestles with. One thing that I'm absolutely convinced of is that there is a moral and ethical element to this issue. And so I think anybody who tries to deny the moral difficulties and gravity of the abortion issue, I think, is not paying attention. So that would be point number one.
But point number two, I am pro-choice. I believe in Roe v. Wade, and I come to that conclusion not because I'm pro-abortion, but because, ultimately, I don't think women make these decisions casually. I think they -- they wrestle with these things in profound ways, in consultation with their pastors or their spouses or their doctors or their family members. And so, for me, the goal right now should be -- and this is where I think we can find common ground. And by the way, I've now inserted this into the Democratic party platform, is how do we reduce the number of abortions? The fact is that although we have had a president who is opposed to abortion over the last eight years, abortions have not gone down and that is something we have to address.
Did you notice he NEVER answered the question of “at what point does a baby get human rights?” Second he is wrong….”convenience” is the primary reason for abortion and is in the high 90% range. And third, abortions have gone down dramatically over the last five years.
WARREN: Have you ever voted to limit or reduce abortions?
OBAMA: I am in favor, for example, of limits on late-term abortions, if there is an exception for the mother's health. From the perspective of those who are pro-life, I think they would consider that inadequate, and I respect their views. One of the things that I've always said is that on this particular issue, if you believe that life begins at conception, then -- and you are consistent in that belief, then I can't argue with you on that, because that is a core issue of faith for you.
What I can do is say, are there ways that we can work together to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, so that we actually are reducing the sense that women are seeking out abortions. And as an example of that, one of the things that I've talked about is how do we provide the resources that allow women to make the choice to keep a child. You know, have we given them the health care that they need? Have we given them the support services that they need? Have we given them the options of adoption that are necessary? That can make a genuine difference.
Wow. In his entire, short career he has never supported in any way restricting abortion, including partial birth abortions. He has the most liberal voting record in Washington DC. He said he is in favor of limits on late term abortion…so why did he vote against them?
Also remember the verse from Matthew 25:40. Are not the unborn in the wombs of their mothers easily the “least of these”? The most helpless and the those who need someone to stand to give them a voice that they do not have?
WARREN: OK, we've got one last time -- I've got a bunch more, but let me ask you one about evil. Does evil exist? And if it does, do we ignore it? Do we negotiate with it? Do we contain it? Do we defeat it?
OBAMA: Evil does exist. I mean, I think we see evil all the time. We see evil in Darfur. We see evil, sadly, on the streets of our cities. We see evil in parents who viciously abuse their children. I think it has to be confronted. It has to be confronted squarely, and one of the things that I strongly believe is that, now, we are not going to, as individuals, be able to erase evil from the world. That is God's task, but we can be soldiers in that process, and we can confront it when we see it.
Now, the one thing that I think is very important is for to us have some humility in how we approach the issue of confronting evil, because a lot of evil's been perpetrated based on the claim that we were trying to confront evil.
Once again did you notice he did not answer the question? The answers were to be one of the following about how we react to evil: ignore it, negotiate with it, contain it or defeat it. His answer was to confront it. Also note his examples of evil are all in America. McCain when asked the same question said: evil must be defeated. Also his examples of evil were those enemies of freedom that would kill 2,500 people in the World Trade Center, put children in bomb belts or cut of peoples heads on television.
WARREN: OK. The courts. Let me ask it this way. Which existing Supreme Court justice would you not have nominated?
OBAMA: That's a good one. That's a good one. I would not have nominated Clarence Thomas. [ applause ] I don't think that he -- I don't think that he was as strong enough jurist or legal thinker at the time for that elevation, setting aside the fact that I profoundly disagree with his interpretations of a lot of the Constitution. I would not nominate Justice Scalia, although I don't think there's any doubt about his intellectual brilliance, because he and I just disagree. He taught at the University of Chicago, as did I in the law school.
WARREN: How about John Roberts?
OBAMA: John Roberts, I have to say was a tougher question only because I find him to be a very compelling person, you know, in conversation individually. He's clearly smart, very thoughtful. I will tell you that how I've seen him operate since he went to the bench confirms the suspicions that I had and the reason that I voted against him, and I'll give you one very specific instance and this is not a stump speech.
WARREN: All right.
OBAMA: I think one of the -
WARREN: I think --
OBAMA: Right, exactly. I'm getting the cues. I'm getting the cues. One of the most important jobs of, I believe the Supreme Court is to guard against the encroachment of the executive branch on the other, the power of the other branches.
His reasons for not voting for Supreme court justices are primarily in that he feels that they have given Bush to much authority. And he does not think Clarence Thomas is a “thinker” or Scalia should be there because of his decisions. Both of them are constitutionalists. And even those who disagree with Clarence Thomas are impressed with the brilliance in his decisions. Obama supports those jurist that “legislate from the bench”. McCain brought this up. The Supreme courts job is not to make law…but to adjudicate law. Law is made by the people through the legislative branch of government.
With the question of taxes he again does not answer the question but does show his idea of redistribution of wealth. Somehow if a person works 16 hour days for 10 years in the restaurant business and becomes a success he should feel guilty because someone else that has not worked as hard or invested as much..is not successful. That’s sense if “guilt” at being successful…is right up the alley of someone who feels they are a victim, as seen in black liberation theology.
WARREN: OK. Taxes, this is a real simple question. Define rich. [ laughter ] I mean give me a number, Is it $50,000, $100,000, 200,000? Everybody keeps talking about who we're going to tax. How can you define that?
OBAMA: Look, the -- here's how I think about it. Here's how I think about it. And this is reflected in my tax plan. If you are making $150,000 a year or less, as a family, then you're middle class or you may be poor. But $150,000 down you're basically middle class, obviously depends on the region where you're living.
OBAMA: I don't know what housing practices are going. I would argue that if you're making more than $250,000, then you're in the top three percent, four percent of this country. You're doing well. What I can say is under the approach I'm taking, if you make $150,000 or less, you will see a tax cut. If you're making $250,000 a year or more, you're going to see a modest increase. What I'm trying to do is create a sense of balance, and fairness in our tax code.
It’s funny God asked us for a tithe of 10%. If you did not make much…you did not tithe a lot. But if you made a lot you obviously paid more. 10% of $5,000 is a lot less that 10% of 100.000. But it was fair..all across the board. But if you feel the success is evil, then they should be punished, because they have it and you don’t. Right. Under $150,000 a tax cut…and over $250.000 a tax increase. Why is that right? Also if you actually look at what Obama has proposed you see, first he will end the Bush tax cuts and then increase taxes across the board. He makes it sound like Capital gains tax increase effects on the super rich when in fact everuyone that as an IRA, personal retirement investments through their company…just regular guys will feel the increase. If you want to give more money to government, Obama is your man. Right Obama is in support of a Global Poverty Act which would take .07% of tax payer money and give it to 3rd world countries. That does not seem like a lot but when you add it up it is in the billions of dollars. His love of the United Nations and being a global citizen was reflected in his European tour and in his question concerning war.
WARREN: What would be the criteria that you would commit troops to end the genocide, for instance, it's like what's going on in Darfur or could happen in Georgia or anywhere else?
OBAMA: You know -- I don't think that there is a hard and fast line at which you say, OK, we are going in. I think it is always a judgment call. I think that the basic principle has to be that we have it within our power to prevent mass killing and genocide, and we can work in concert with the international community to prevent it, then we should act.
As I look at the answers of both candidates I see a man of integrity, wisdom and experience …..and a young child with no experience, little knowledge and less wisdom. The choice is clear.
Feast of the Passover (Final)
XI Shulchan Orekh…..The Festive Seder Dinner!!
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Those demonstrations or teachings on the Seder conducted without a dinner can use many of the traditional songs during this interim.
The following are some songs taken from the “Judasim 101: Peasach” website:
Many people think of Pesach as a time of deprivation: a time when they cannot eat bread or other leavened foods. This is not the traditional way of viewing the holiday. Pesach is Z'man Cheiruteinu, the Time of Our Freedom, and the joy of that time is evident in the music of the season. There are many joyous songs sung during the seder.
Mah Nishtanah (Why is it Different?)
This is the tune sung during the youngest participant's recitation of the Four Questions:
Why is this night different from all other nights, from all other nights? Mah nishtanah ha-lahylah ha-zeh mi-kol ha-layloht, mi-kol ha-layloht?
1) On all other nights, we may eat chametz and matzah, chametz and matzah. On this night, on this night, only matzah. She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin chameytz u-matzah, chameytz u-matzah. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, kooloh matzah.
2) On all other nights, we eat many vegetables, many vegetables. On this night, on this night, maror. She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin sh'ar y'rakot, sh'ar y'rakot. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, maror.
3) On all other nights, we do not dip even once. On this night, on this night, twice. She-b'khol ha-layloht ayn anu mat'bilin afilu pa'am echat, afilu pa'am echat. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, sh'tay p'amim.
4) On all other nights, we eat either sitting or reclining, either sitting or reclining. On this night, on this night, we all recline. She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin bayn yosh'bin u'vayn m'soobin, bayn yosh'bin u'vayn m'soobin. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, koolanu m'soobin.
Dahyenu (It Would Have Been Enough For Us)
This is one of the most popular tunes of the seder, a very up-beat song about the many favors that G-d bestowed upon us when He brought us out of Egypt. The song appears in the haggadah after the telling of the story of the exodus, just before the explanation of Pesach, Matzah and Maror. I provide just two sample verses from a rather long song. The English does not include all of the repetition that is in the Hebrew.
Had He brought us out of Egypt and not judged them, it would have been enough for us. Ilu hotzi-hotzianu hotzianu mi-Mitzrayim, v'lo asah bahem s'fateem dahyenu.
(Chorus) It would have been enough for us. Dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu.
Dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu!
Had He judged them and not done so to their idols, it would have been enough for us. Ilu asah bahem s'fateem, v'lo asah beyloheyhem, v'lo asah beyloheyhem dahyenu.
Chorus, etc.
Eliyahu Ha-Navi (Elijah, the Prophet)
Many people sing this song when the Cup of Elijah is poured and the door is opened in anticipation of his return.
Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah, Elijah, Elijah the Gileadite Eliyahu ha-Navi, Eliyahu ha-Tishbi, Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Eliyahu ha-Giladi.
Speedily and in our days, come to us, with the messiah, son of David, with the messiah, son of David. Bimhayrah v'yamenu, yavo aleynu, im Moshiach ben David, im Moshiach ben David.
Adir Hu (He is Mighty)
Adir Hu is a great sing-along song, because it has a lot of repetition. You don't need to know much Hebrew to get by with this one! It's also got a catchy tune. It's sung as the seder comes to a close. It expresses our hope that the messianic age will begin soon, and the Temple will be rebuilt. Each line of praise begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in alphabetical order, a common gimmick in Jewish hymns.
He is mighty, He is mighty Adir hu, adir hu
Chorus:
May He soon rebuild his house
Speedily, speedily and in our days, soon.
G-d, rebuild! G-d, rebuild!
Rebuild your house soon! Chorus:
Yivneh vayto b'karov
Bim'hayrah, bim'hayrah, b'yamenu b'karov
E-yl b'nay! E-yl b'nay!
B'nay vayt'kha b'karov
He is distinguished, He is great, He is exhalted
(Chorus) Bachur hu, gadol hu, dagul hu,
(Chorus)
He is glorious, He is faithful, He is faultless, He is righteous
(Chorus) Hadur hu, vatik hu, zakay hu, chasid hu,
(Chorus)
He is pure, He is unique, He is powerful,
He is wise, He is King, He is awesome,
He is sublime, He is all-powerful, He is the redeemer, He is all-righteous
(Chorus) Tahor hu, yachid hu, kabir hu,
Lamud hu, melekh hu, nora hu,
Sagiv hu, izuz hu, podeh hu, tzaddik hu
(Chorus)
He is holy, He is compassionate, He is almighty, He is omnipotent
(Chorus) Kadosh hu, rachum hu, shaddai hu,
takif hu
(Chorus)
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XII Tzafun: The Afikoman
The father or leader of the Seder now brings forth the hidden piece of Matza that had been broken, wrapped in white linen and buried. If during the Seder, the Matza, called the “Afikoman”, which means, “that which comes after”, has been taken from its hidden place by one of the children, then the father or leader of the Passover Seder will have to redeem it in silver. The piece of Matza is the last thing eaten at the Seder…and is called the “dessert”.
As I said before, the Matza is taken out of the Matza cover at the beginning of the Seder. The Matza cover is divided into three compartments. This represents the one God who has revealed Himself in three specific persons: the Father (Jehovah), the Son (Yeshua – Jesus)and the Holy Spirit (Ruach Hokodesh). The same is seen in the Old Testament description of the three courts of the Tabernacle. They call the Afikoman, the hidden bread.
The son (center piece Matza) is hidden between the other two pieces..”the Father and the Holy Spirit”. The Jewish people understood the Father and the Spirit, but they did not understand the Son. He was hidden. I am reminded of the (1 Colossians 3:3) “your life is hid with Christ in God.” Timothy calls Christ the “mystery of the ages” (1 Tim 3:16). This middle piece is broken. Jesus said at that last Passover, “this is my body broken for you;” (1 Corinthians 11:24) And like Jesus, the Matza is wrapped in white linen and buried. (Matthew 27:59) “And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in clean linen cloth.” (Matthew 27:60) “And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock:” With the third cup of wine….redemption, the bread is brought forth from its entombment and all at the table eat of it with the wine. It is the last thing eaten, as if “he who eats of this bread, shall never hunger.” (John 6:35)
The parallels between the Messiah and the hidden bread are obvious and in the ancient copies of the Haggadah, this was reflected in it writing. One of them, written over 100 years ago reflects that connection.
“I am ready and prepared to keep the commandment eat the Afikoman for the sake of the G_d and His presence, may it be counted as done in the name of all Israel. I am observing the commandment so that I may remember the Passover lamb that was eaten at the end of the Seder before midnight, may the eating of the Afikoman also achieve all the spiritual things accomplished in the Passover lamb itself. May it be thy will O Lord our G_d and the G_d of our Fathers, that you build the holy temple soon during our lifetime. May we be able to bring our offerings there and eat of the Passover lamb during our lifetime, as the Torah says. And then, of the first year, roasted over the fire, together with the Matza and Moror, may we be able to do this in our holy city of Jerusalem soon in our lifetime.”
Jesus, as the father of the Passover, took the bread and He blessed it, saying, “ Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.” This is another prophetic utterance reflecting His resurrection to come three days later.
Let’s take a closer look at the bread.
….It’s STRIPPED (Isaiah 53:51) “By His stripes we are healed”.
….It’s PIERCED (Zech 12:10) “And they shall look upon Him who they have pierced.”
….It’s PURE, without leaven. (1 John 3:5) “In him was no sin”.
….It was PLACED On DISPLAY. (Exodus 5:22/John 12:32) “If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.”
….Jesus was born in Bethlehem (which mean the “HOUSE OF BREAD”)
….Jesus was raised in Nazareth (Which means a stalk of grain)
….Jesus used images of bread all though his teaching. He was “baked in the fire”, judged on our behalf. And He was buried of the 2nd feat day, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and risen on the Festival of First Fruits.
XIII The Third Cup……….Redemption
The Third Cup of wine….the cup of redemption is represented by a silver chalaise. Like in the Tabernacle and the Temple, silver always represents redemption. Traditionally the wine was mixed with a little water. Some Rabbis feel this was done so the children also could partake of the wine. I am reminded that as the Roman soldier pierced the side of Jesus with a spear, out from His side flowed blood and water. (John 19:34)
Jesus took the wine and He blessed it. Does anyone know what that blessing was? First let’s look at the Jewish wedding.
-Parallels in Jewish Tradition-
a. A contract is made with the bride, which they both sign. The groom pays the bride’s father a dowery. Often the price is very high, but under the advise of the groom’s father, the price is paid in full.
b. The groom goes to “prepare a place for her. Their new home.
c. The bride waits at home of her father…consecrated, bought with a price, with oil in her lamp, as the groom might come at night. She wears a veil if she goes out because is no longer her own.
d. With the groom, things are going as fast as possible, but even he does not know the day or the hour of the wedding, as it is in his fathers hands.
e. The big day comes. The groom gets his groomsmen ready and his best man and off they go. He sends the best man ahead to warn others of his impending arrival, who gives a great shout, “Behold the bridegroom cometh.”.
f. The best man would wait outside the room for the voice of the groom and would be told when the marriage had been consummated. (John 3:29)
g. They would have a seven day celebration that would end….with a great marriage supper. Sometimes they would even run out of wine…..unless there was someone to turn the water into wine.
Wedding/ New Testament Comparisons
a. Jesus (Yeshua) approached us with a contract as we see in Jeremiah 31:31-34, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
b. As we can see the contract is particularly advantageous to us as it forgives us of all sin and is paid in full, by Jesus Himself.
c. Jesus found the price very high, but because it was the will of the Father and because of His great love for us, the bride, He paid the price in full.
d. Then He “went to prepare a place for us, that where He is we might be also”. He went to prepare a mansion for us.
e. Like the Jewish wedding, the day and the hour are in the Fathers hands.
f. The believer is to be set-apart, sanctified, bought with the blood of Christ Himself. We are no longer our own…we belong to Him.
g. Like the bride we are to have oil in our lamps (the Holy Spirit).
h. Jesus will let us know of His coming. He sent John the Baptist before Him to tell the people that the “kingdom of God was at hand”. Before He takes the church home He will let us know, “with the trump of God and the voice of an Archangel.”
i. And we will wear beautiful white linen, which represents “the righteousness of saints”
All this is to demonstrate that blessing upon the wine, is also a toast to the bride in the lifting up the cup with the right hand and sealing the contract.
The blessing was: Blessed art thou, I Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.”
“Baruck ato Adoni, Eluhaynu meleck haw olam, borey paree agophen.”
Jesus said, “I am the true vine.” We are the branches. Before Jesus comes into our lives our branches are withered from the decay of sin and we were barren of any fruit. But the Father grafted us onto the true vine of His Son so that now as we abide with Him we become a “fruitful bough…hanging over the wall” The fruit of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and patience, witnessing to the world the character of Christ.
XIV Barekh: Grace after Meals
Reading from the Haggadah: “Y’hee shaym Adoni m’vo-roch v’ad olam”.
“Let is bless G_ds name forever and ever.
“Blessed art thou, O Lord our G_d, King of the universe, who in thy goodness feedest the entire world, and in mercy providest sustenance for all living creatures.&