The traditional seder celebrates Jewish redemption from
slavery. According to mystical sources the power of redemption is the greatest
the last days of Passover. The Hasidim celebrate an event called the meal of
Messiah as they believe that evil will be completely extinguished when the
Messiah arrives, this includes slavery and religious persecution. The ultimate
goal of Judaism is for individual to get out of spiritual or physical
exile. There are many concepts related to the last day of Passover Seder
or meal of messiah. This simple celebration includes a small meal of Matzah and
wine or juice. The Talmudic rabbis or sages instituted the traditional seder which includes drinking a cup of wine, for each section of the seder. We recite the Kiddush over the first cup, we read the Exodus story from the Haggadah over the second cup, we recite the Grace after Meals over the third cup, and we sing the "big Hallel" (Psalms and hymns of praises to G-d) over the fourth cup.
The history of this meal goes back to the Baal Shem Tov (1700, died 22 May 1760), called
the Bescht started the meal. Other sages like The Tzemach Tzedek
said that the Meshiach prepares a chamber for the lowly in the world to come or
the kingdom of Heaven.
The meal of messiah comes from the haftorah passage in
which includes Isaiah 10 and 11 which discusses a time of freedom and no more
oppression:
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy
mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the
waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:9
In contemporary thought the idea of the sea of reeds
being split open seems farfetched, however the concept of a Jewish messiah or
Meshiach or a time of complete redemption seems unbelievable as well. We hope
for a messianic time when we will dance
with Messiah as Hashem was depicted dancing in the mountains as the Hebrews
were coming out of Egypt.
Orthodox Jews ask themselves questions related to
Eschatological redemption including why is Meshiach not mentioned in the Torah,
what is the “Or Meshiach” or Light of Messiah. This concept relates to the end of the exile of all Jews, we have been given a foretaste of the Torah's secrets, which will be fully revealed only in time to come. This serves as a preparation for the Days of Meshiach when the knowledge of G-d will increase. As Moses Maimonides, also known as the Rambam " The occupation of the entire world will be solely to know G-d..., and the Jews...will again an understanding of their Creator..." all this will take place during the times of the Messiah.
