How To Do a Traditional Moshiach Feast When You’re Locked Away
As the final hours of Passover slip away, Jews in every part of the world celebrate the Feast of Moshiach (Moshiach’s Seudah in Yiddish), a custom of the Baal Shem Tov and his students. Just as we enter Passover with a celebration of the liberation from Egypt, so we sign off with a celebration of a much greater liberation yet to come.
Usually, many people gather for the feast, everyone sings, the rabbi talks a little, and everyone imbibes four cups of wine (or grape juice). Since the vast majority of us will be home this year due to Coronavirus, this means that you and I are now taking the place of the rabbis and communal leaders.
Not sure what to do?
Here’s a suggested program, comprising four readings, each of which may be followed by a cup of wine.
What You Will Need to Prepare in Advance
- Enough wine or grape juice for each participant to drink four cups.
- Wine glasses.
- Matzah.
- Kosher for Passover refreshments.
- Reading material (such as this page and the articles listed below) printed before the onset of the holiday.
- (Since it is customary to sing the Hopp Cossack melody at this meal, you may want to practice it or even print up the sheet music here in advance as well.)
How to Do Moshiach’s Feast
Pray the afternoon service on the final day of Passover earlier than usual, so you have enough time to set the table and wash for matzah well before sunset. The program is flexible, but we suggest you sing your favorite niggunim (Chassidic melodies) and read the following four articles, each one followed by a l’chaim over another (small) glass of wine or grape juice.
To start, here’s an explanation of this custom of Moshiach’s Meal from the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory:
The Feast of Moshiach
Next, a story about the Baal Shem Tov at one of his Moshiach Feasts:
The Baal Shem Tov and the Empty Glass
Now, to answer a question many of us have regarding this whole Moshiach idea:
Why Does Moshiach Have To Be a King?
And then let’s wrap things up with a personal, heartwarming story to illustrate just how powerful this feast really is:
One More Feast, One More Child
Next Year In Jerusalem!
