Spring Feast Printable Roundup

My first Passover was more than ten years ago. It was new to us and we had no idea what it was supposed to look like. I remember scouring the internet for something, anything to get a better idea of how to celebrate and finding almost nothing of help. You could hardly find anything online about Passover, let alone the Feasts of Unleavened Bread and First Fruits. Today it is so exciting to see other bloggers sharing their creativity to help us celebrate YHWH's feasts! Today I am sharing with you a few free resources that will help you celebrate the Spring Feasts this year, whether or not you are new to it.

1. Passover Printable - Land of Honey
- I shared this last year, but it's still a great way to decorate!

2. Passover Busy Book for Kids - Torah Sisters
- With puzzles, coloring pages, and mazes this will keep kids occupied at the Seder table or use it for fun throughout the week of Unleavened Bread.

3. Why Is It Place Cards - Almost Makes Perfect
-A quick way to make your Seder table a little more sophisticated and have the Ma Nishtana at the ready.

4. Ten Plagues Finger Puppets - Tori Avey
-Tori thoughtfully made two versions, one is in color ready to print, and the other is black and white to color yourself.

5. Happy Passover Cards - The Climbing Tree
-Since Passover things aren't easy to find, this is just what we need to spread the joy of the Spring Feasts and say, "Chag Sameach!"

6. Find the Afikoman Game - Joyfully Jewish
-This sounds so fun! Go on a treasure hunt and work on your Hebrew. Print off a set in a different color for each child participating.

7. Seder Plate Labels - Chai and Home
-An elegant addition to your Seder Plate that will teach a little Hebrew.

8. Four Cups of Wine Printable - Hebraic Roots Network
-A fun decoration to remind us of the Seder meal.

9. Unleavened Matzah Verse - Land of Honey
-Keep this up for the duration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

10. Count the Omer Calendar - Kosher on a Budget
-A simple way to count the days until Shavuot.

11. He is Risen Printable - Kraft and Mint
-Use this to celebrate First Fruits!

12. Passover Matching Cards - The Climbing Tree
-Two activities in one. Decorate the cards, then play memory games.

I would recommend printing on a thicker cardstock type of paper. It's sturdy and gives it a better look I think. Of course you can also opt to have these professionally printed if that works better for you. If you know of any other great printables for the Spring Feasts please share with us below!

DIY Count the Omer Flair Calendar

After Passover we are instructed to count fifty days to get to Shavuot.

And you shall count from the next day after the Shabbat, from the day that you brought the omer of wave offering; seven full weeks: until the next day after the last week shall you number fifty days, and you shall offer a new grain offering to YHWH. -Vayikra 23:25-26

Notice the use of the word 'you.' You shall count. Not let someone else count or just check the calendar to see when Shavuot falls. Count it out yourself.

Scripture does not specify exactly how to do this. In the past I have done a simple crossing off in my planner and I have also used Kosher on a Budget's printable calendar. You don't have to use a written count, paperchain, etc. The important thing is that you do it. This year I made a counting calendar to make it a little more fun. I also thought it would be a good use for some of the flair I have, uh, accumulated over the years. I've worked at summer camps and in the music industry; I have a decent collection of buttons, okay? Time to put them to work.

You will need:
-canvas, mine was 20" by 16"
-paint in your colors of choice
-letters to trace
-2 inch cut out circles (if you use a different canvas size, adjust accordingly)
-number stickers
-pushpins
-flair

Step 1: Paint your canvas the color of your choice and let dry.
Step 2: Once that's ready to go trace your letters on the top to say 'Count the Omer' or Sefirat Ha'Omer.
Step 3: Paint in your letters. If you mess up, no big deal you can always, paint back over it with your background color if needed.

Step 4: Put your number stickers on your cut out circles. This is one of those simple but tedious tasks where it's nice to talk to a friend or listen to a teaching. You could also write the numbers on with markers if you'd rather.

Step 5: Space your circles evenly on the canvas and use push pins or straight pins to hold them in place.
Step 6: Add a piece of flair underneath each and you're done!

What to use for flair?
-buttons
-stickers
-clay matzah
-beads or charms from jewelry (a menorah or a Shema piece would be perfect!)
-small patches
-handwritten Scriptures

Each day remove one of the number circles (they need a better name), to display more and more flair as we get closer to Shavuot! I'm excited to use this calendar this year! How will you count the omer?

PS - Sources for flair include Walk in Love, they have so many beautiful things, and Petite Paperie, who makes the lovely menorah stickers. Some are handmade, including the clay matzah, and others were acquired long ago.

Einkorn Matzah Bread for Passover

This is an easy recipe to make your own unleavened bread as an alternative to store-bought matzah for Passover. It is made with einkorn flour but can be adapted to use all-purpose or whole wheat flour.

"Seven days you shall eat matzah, for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste. Eat so you may remember this all your life."
-Deuteronomy 16:3


Though we usually see it in a box as a large cracker, matzah is bread that has been made without leavening, yeast, or fermentation. It is the flat bread the Hebrews ate when they came out of Egypt. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread we are to eat it each day as a reminder that YHWH so quickly changed the circumstances of the Israelites they didn't have time for their bread to rise before baking.

I am so glad I decided to bake my own matzah! This is a food that you can eat and enjoy, not choke down like the boxed version. It is soft and chewy, an unleavened cousin to India's naan bread. It wouldn't be out of place next to a bowl of soup or curry. Since it is soft you can use this as sandwich bread, without it being attack of the crumbs. Eat it with hummus or dip it into your eggs at breakfast. Also, it's much more nutritious than the boxed version. Einkorn is an ancient form of wheat that has never been hybridized, and much more similar to what the Israelites were eating than modern red wheat. In my opinion, einkorn products are much more filling and don't cause that crave/crash cycle that carbohydrates are infamous for. I hope you will give it a try!

Why should you try this recipe?

1. It's delicious. Can we be candid and admit boxed matzah is not very good? Homemade matzah will have you looking forward to Unleavened Bread week instead of dreading it.
2. For the Biblical experience. I think there is a lot of value in doing Bible things in Bible ways. While we are not commanded to bake our own matzah, it can give us a glimpse into Scripture from the practical vantage point of food. 
3. It's healthier. Einkorn contains more protein and less starch than typical commercial wheat. It is also a good source of minerals and vitamin B. Even if you don't use my recipe, making matzah yourself gives you control over the ingredients. Those can be organic, whole grain, allergy friendly, etc.

Did I mention there are lots of options for this bread? I tried baking it three different ways to compare the differences. I baked it on a cast iron pan in the oven, used the cast iron pan on the stove, and baked it on a regular baking sheet. All three were delicious but my favorite was cast iron baked. It stayed softest that way. If you'd prefer crisper matzah the baking sheet is the best bet. The stove top method gets the strongest flavor (and is easiest to burn). If you wanted to change it up, you could mix in black pepper, green onions, smoked paprika, or any herb or spice of your preference into the dough and go from there. 

Be sure to make this when you have time to do it all at once. Letting the dough sit would make it innapropriate for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 

Einkorn Matzah Recipe
2 cups hot water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
2-1/2 teaspoons sea salt
5 cups einkorn flour (I use this kind), plus more if needed

Preheat your oven to 450°. If using cast iron, put your pan in the oven now so it can get hot.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the water, olive oil, honey, and salt. Then slowly mix in the flour until you have a dough that is soft but not sticky. Sprinkle your counter with a little extra flour then knead for five minutes.
Divide your dough into approximately 3 ounce portions (in between a golf and tennis ball in size). You should get 12-14 pieces.
Roll each piece out into a flat circle, around six inches across, and 1/8th inch thick.
Use a fork to perforate the dough. 
If using cast iron in the oven - Carefully place into your preheated pan and put it back in the oven for 2 minutes. You want the matzah to just start looking brown in spots. Flip the piece over and bake an additional 2 minutes, until golden brown to your desired liking.
If using a regular baking sheet - Line your pan with parchment then bake your matzah 4 minutes, then flip and bake for an additional  4 minutes, until it's as golden brown as you like.
If using cast iron on the stove - Put your pan on medium heat and give it time to warm up. Five minutes was plenty for me. Place a piece of matzah in the skillet and cook for one minute, it will start to look very dark in places. Flip and cook the other side for one minute.
Cool on a wire rack.
Repeat as needed. You will end up with 12 - 14 matzahs.

These are best fresh but they will store in an airtight container for several days and stay soft.

Up your homemade matzah with these tips:
-Warm it up! You can make your pieces of unleavened bread small enough to go in the toaster if you want, otherwise try toasting it in a skillet or the oven. Warm bread is always great, and it makes a big difference with older bread.
-Make it crunchy! Craving crackers or pita chips? Cut your matzah into small pieces, and then toss into the oven for a few minutes until you have crunchy matzah that's great for hummus or other dips.
-Make it salty! Using the same method as above, cut your matzah into pieces. Then toss with a tablespoon or so of olive oil, and a sprinkle of sea salt. You can also play around with different seasoning combinations...taco seasoning, cinnamon and sugar, smoked paprika, or ranch seasoning all sound promising. Then bake for a few minutes until crisp to your liking.

What do you eat with your homemade einkorn matzah bread?
-Any toppings you would normally put on toast or bagels.
-As a side with any soup.
-Curry or other Indian food where you would normally have naan.
-Serve the crispy version with dip, cheese, or hummus as you would pita chips or crackers.
-Make wraps with cheese, veggies, lunchmeat, hardboiled eggs, etc.
-Use it as base for pizza or flatbreads!

Here are recipes to use your homemade matzah in.

Bible Reading for Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits

These are Scripture passages about the Biblical spring holidays of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits. These verses will give you more insight into the Biblical information about these holidays, as well as events that happened at these times. Reading these passages is a great way to prepare for these holidays, and it's also a great way to celebrate and honor God on the actual days. Saturating yourself in the pertinent Scriptures is a great way to build anticipation for these special times and to calibrate yourself to our Creator's calendar! Here are Scriptures to read for Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits. They would also be great to study on the day of or to have children act out as part of the festivities.

Bible Reading for Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits:

Exodus 12 - The Passover story of the Israelites leaving Egypt

Leviticus 25:5-12 - Instructions for keeping Passover and Unleavened Bread

Numbers 9:14 - All believers should celebrate the Biblical holidays

Deuteronomy 16:1-8 - Overview of the Spring Feasts 

Matthew 26-28 - The Last Supper and Death of the Messiah 

Mark 14 - The Passover meal of the Messiah 

Luke 22 - Passover meal and interrogation of the Messiah 

John 13-17 - The words of Messiah at the Passover meal

Acts 12 - YHWH frees Peter from prison during the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Acts 20:6 - After Unleavened Bread, Paul and Luke left Philippi

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 - Paul admonishes believers in the Messiah to celebrate the Bible holidays

More on the Biblical holidays:
The Beginner's Guide to Passover
The Beginner's Guide to Unleavened Bread
How to Celebrate First Fruits

Celebrating Passover Seder

We took a different approach to our Seder meal this year. It was smaller, more relaxed, not quite as long. Somehow the Haggadah was condensed to a single page. There were fresh flowers, real china, and two lit menorahs. We set aside some of the traditions of hand washing, and salt water. More emphasis was placed on the Messiah than on the story of the Exodus. The evening was a beautiful celebration of the redemption of YHWH in days past, like the Israelites leaving Egypt, and of his redemption in our own lives.

We used real china for place settings and couldn't have been happier. It was a special touch in an elegant evening.

This year we had just sixteen people. The smaller group made it more like a dinner party (like the last supper).

Lighting the menorah.

Another pre-guest table shot. Each guest had a Hagaddah, a 10 Plagues coaster, and a fresh almond that I remembered to add after I took this photo. Haha.

This year's reading: "The Story of Israel."

Passing of the matzah, symbolizing his body broken for us.

I like to describe the items on the Seder plate as the Gospel in six courses. Extra points if you can see the tired little pup laying beneath the table.

 Our miracle one page Hagaddah! Nes gadol hayah sham.

 Our Passover meal included the mandatory grilled lamb, matzah, and bitter herb salad, as well as add ins like roasted asparagus and peppers, charoset, potato salad, and hummus with veggies.

 Both plates had the same things, I promise.

Our cutest attendee.

Oh these coasters? They're from Matanote on Etsy.

The third cup of wine, "I will redeem you."

Instead of afikomen we had pavlova with fresh berries and whipped cream for dessert.

Party favors?

I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Passover and Feast of Matzah!

Matzah Week Pictures

Happy Feast of Unleavened Bread! My sister arrived in town a half hour before our Seder started, and it's been a great week having her here!

Remains from the Seder meal are my new centerpiece. Obviously couldn't bring myself to eat the chocolate Seder plate.

My new favorite way to eat matzah. Cream cheese and mushrooms and kale sauteed in garlic and shallots.

A friend surprised me with a copy of Paula Shoyer's The Holiday Kosher Baker. It's so fun to have a book devoted to sweet treats for the Feasts!

Another great way to eat matzah: cream cheese, smoked salmon, red peppers, and arugula.

The Passover section of The Holiday Kosher Baker.

Counting the Omer! And putting the Passover stickers to good use.

 This was not a bad situation.

Pavlova, chocolate ganache, cheesecake (sans crust), raspberries, and freshly whipped cream. All organic! Perfection.

The Passover pup!

Messiah our Pesach

Passover starts tomorrow night! Are you guys ready? For the past few years I have made the Seder meal for 25+ people. This year we are having a potluck style meal so I actually have less to do than usual. I am bringing the grape juice I made last summer, and dessert, and I also made a four hour round trip to pick up the matzah and lamb. As promised here is another Passover printable! Use it to decorate or as a bookmark in your Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 5:8 - For Messiah our Pesach was sacrificed for us: so then let us keep the Feast, not with old chametz; but with the unleavened matzah of sincerity and truth.

This is free for your personal use. Download it here.

Hebrew Holidays Calendar

We aren't done with free printables! It's a bit of a challenge to figure out when the Hebrew dates correspond on the Gregorian calendar so I have made a list that you can print off to keep in your planner, Bible, or on the fridge. 

Most of us think of the Festivals of YHWH as "Jewish holidays" because they are mostly the people who have kept them. However Scripture teaches that these holy days are for both the natural born Israelite and for anyone who wishes to be grafted into YHWH's family of Israel. I chose to call these Hebrew because that is a word that means, "one who has crossed over to YHWH's ways."

These are the dates that the congregation that I attend goes by. A lot of studying has gone into this and this is our best understanding of what is when. The date for First Fruits comes from Vayikra 23:11 which says, "on the next day after the first day." The first day being the start of the Feast of Matzah, or the second day after Passover. Fifty days after that takes us to May 24 for Shavuot.

How it works: Since Hebrew days begin in the evening, the dates listed start in the evening. So Passover starts the evening of April 3 and goes until sundown the next day. The Feast of Matzah starts the evening of April 4 and goes until sundown on April 11.

See the pink one beneath it? That's another Passover printable that I'm sharing later this week! 

I hope this will help you celebrate and prepare for the Festivals of YHWH! Download it here!