Oscar Stern was a young, Jewish emigrant in New York in the last twenties when he was converted to Christ. He returned to Germany and became a wealthy insurance executive. In 1938 he was imprisoned by the Nazis, severely injured by a guard and later escaped from a hospital. He eventually reached America and was not reunited with his German, gentile wife until two years after the war. The following is a part of his famous talk that he presented in many Christian churches around the US on the Passover. I recorded his talk and published the following edited copy so he would have a handout for his lectures...
     In these modern times, the preparations for observance of the Passover are still attended to fastidiously by the orthodox Jew. In preparation for this day of Unleavened Bread, the Jewish housewife completely cleans the entire home, from the attic to the basement. Everything that is leaven must go since leaven means uncleanliness. Everything is made new ¾ dishes, pots, pans, silverware; all must be changed. It is hoped that if everything is without blemish, surely a heavenly guest will come to their home on the morrow during the celebration.
     Here again we see a wonderful spiritual meaning. The whole purpose of the Law of Moses was to prepare Israel for Christ. If we want Christ to dwell within us, as He promised to do, then WE, TOO must make a complete cleaning out before He can enter in!!! All uncleanliness must be removed. We must remove malice, hatred, pride, envy, jealousy, doubt, fear!!!
     So the Jews, in preparation for the Lord's Passover, are cleaning out! When the husband comes home, on the eve of the Passover, he takes a paper bag and small feather brush, and inspects every room to make sure all leaven has been removed. His wife, anticipating this procedure, leaves a few crumbs of bread around so that he will have something to deposit in his bag. By ten o'clock the next morning the last remnant of leaven is burned, and this completes the preparations.

     The Jews believe that the angels in Heaven are pleased when they see much light. So my people light candles for every occasion, even for the ushering in of the Sabbath each Friday evening after sunset. There is much ceremony connected with candle lighting. It is the duty of the Jewish women to perform this function, one of the few religious duties granted her.
     A Jewish woman has practically no spiritual rights whatsoever. She is not permitted to read in the synagogue out of the Torah, the five books of Moses. She is not even permitted to touch them. In every orthodox synagogue, the Jewish women must sit far in the rear, separated from the men folks many times by a curtain.
     But they do permit her to light the candles. This she does very faithfully, little realizing that it is one part of the ceremony that is not scriptural, that it is not God's command, that it only has been handed down by their Rabbis.
     The Rabbis have granted this right to women explaining it this way: "Through the transgression of our first parents in the Garden of Eden the Heavenly light was quenched, and since woman was the primary transgressor in that fall, it is up to her to rekindle the heavenly light."
     While lighting the candles, she puts a little white shawl on her head. The Torah does not require this, but we know it is a very old custom. Paul mentions it in the New Testament wherein women are instructed to cover their heads when praying.
     The Jewish mother, with her shawl upon her head, raises her hands towards heaven, and prays fervently, "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, rekindle the heavenly light so it may shine all over Israel, that it may shine all over the world, never, never to be quenched again!" Then she retires quietly, awaiting the coming home of the head of the house from the Synagogue.
     It is the custom for the Jewish male members to prepare for the Passover by offering prayers to God in the Synagogue, thanking Him for having spared their lives and having given them the privilege of once again celebrating the Passover. As the sun sets¾ starting the Sabbath day¾ the family stands around the table eagerly awaiting the ritual.

     At one end of the table is a chair with arms. This is the so called Prophet Elijah Chair. No one sits in this chair. The Rabbis have told my people for many generations that on each Passover night the Messiah would surely come. And He is to be preceded by a forerunner, the Prophet Elijah.

     The expected visitor's place is set just like the places of the rest. His cup of wine is there, next to his plate. And as a precaution, a second cup of wine is in reserve in case something should happen so as to save the family any embarrassment.

     In the middle of the table is a plate containing three cakes of unleavened bread. The Jews call this bread, Matzos. No doubt you may have seen it in the stores. Some Christian churches use this unleavened bread in their communion Service. It is necessary that there always be three cakes to represent the true symbolism required. The Rabbis explain it this way: "The top cake represents God, and it is picked up and laid aside. The middle cake is the all important one and represents the High Priests. The bottom cake represents the children of Israel and it also is laid aside. Only the middle cake becomes part of the Feast of Unleavened bread."
     You will recall that in the Old Testament times only the High Priests could enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple¾ only they could offer the sacrifices and shed the innocent blood of the lamb. They were the intercessors, the mediators, between God and the children of Israel. Therefore, the High Priests were the symbols of the coming Messiah who would once enter into the Holy of Holies for all and make offering for the sins of His people.
     To the Christian, the three cakes of unleavened bread actually represent the Holy Trinity. The top cake symbolizes God the Father, the middle cake is for God the Son, and the third or bottom cake symbolizes God the Holy Ghost.
     As the Passover celebration begins, the head of the household picks up the three cakes, pulls out the middle cake, and lays the top and bottom cake back on the table where they will remain for the rest of the service. Why is it that the Jewish man reaches for this middle cake and not one of the other two? If you were to ask him, he would have to tell you it is because that is the way it has always been done. However, he does not know why. The true symbolic meaning has long since been lost. But when we see what he is supposed to do with this middle cake, the significance is easily observed.
     First, the middle cake is gently broken into two equal parts. One half of this middle cake is passed around to the members at the table, each one breaking off a piece and eating it. Even the plate prepared for Elijah must have a piece, for he is expected to arrive soon.

     The other half of the middle cake is hidden under a small white pillow. After all have been served and eaten of the unleavened cake, the part which has been hidden under the pillow is wrapped in a white cloth and fastened to the ceiling of the room to remain there for the rest of the year, or until the Messiah should come.
     This very act is a real revelation for us Christians. Notice that they start with three cakes. The top one, symbolizing God the Father is not broken for the Father did not die for our sins. Nor do they take the third cake, which represents the Holy Ghost, for He did not die for our sins. But they take the second, representing the second member of the Godhead, Jesus Christ. It is He that was broken, and they break and eat, partaking of the symbol of eternal life. The other half shows the separation of Christ's spirit from his body at His death. The body was laid in the tomb as the middle piece was laid under the pillow.

     As the buried piece is taken from its symbolical grave, it is wrapped in a white cloth and raised to the ceiling, where it remains until the next passover. In this, we have a beautiful portrayal of the death and resurrection of the Son of God.

     Now, let us look at the other Passover symbols. On the table is a plate containing bitter herbs, mostly horseradish. This is eaten to remind my people of all the bitterness and heartache experienced during the Egyptian bondage, which in turn symbolizes our individual bondage under sin and darkness.

     Also on the table are three small cups of wine. This is to remind the people of the last great plague of death to the first born in Egypt. The wine represents the blood which was taken from the unblemished lamb and splashed upon the door posts so that God's judgment would pass by the household. The whole symbolism stands as a clarion call to each of us. God has prepared for us the eternal Passover, that our sins may be passed over and the judgment of God not bring us under the second death. To do this, He sacrificed the Lamb of God, His only begotten, whose blood was shed that our sins might be washed pure and clean. But it is up to us to accept the redeeming and saving power of His blood and to sprinkle it upon the door-posts of our hearts. As the Lord said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you!" Each of us must face squarely the question, "Can God see it? Is it there on our hearts?"

     Also on the table is an apple which is crushed or sliced, representing the bricks Israel was forced to make in building the wicked cities of Pharaoh. You recall that after Moses returned to Egypt with his demand that his people be set free, the Israelites were punished by being forced to make bricks without having straw furnished.

     Also on the table are some eggs that have been hard-boiled and the shell removed. When they are sliced, they are to represent the human eye. Everyone around the table takes a piece of the bitter herb and a slice of the egg. These are dipped into a dish of salted water.

     The salt water reminds the Jews of the bitter tears shed by all the Hebrews during the oppressive slavery in Egypt.

     The egg and herbs used to be dipped in the salt water with the fingers, but for some unknown reason the Rabbis have felt this to be unwise so a spoon is now used.

     I feel very sad when I think about the meaning of this next symbol. It is a dry, fire blackened shank bone of a lamb resting on a silver tray. This is all that is left of the Passover lamb of Moses' time. The Rabbis explain that after the Jews had lost Palestine and the temple had been destroyed, there were no more high priests who could properly prepare and kill the unblemished lamb. Therefore, the actual lamb would no longer be necessary, for a shank bone of a lamb would suffice when burned in a fire for many hours. Thus, the Feast of Unleavened bread is no more a feast. Perhaps the bone is the most fitting symbol for my people. The dried bone is truly analogous to the spiritual condition of the people. All they have left of a wonderful promise from God is a bare bone with no meat on it.
     As I stated earlier, the feast starts just after sunset and lasts until after midnight. During these evening hours there is constant singing, chanting, and praying.

     Shortly after midnight each one at the table picks up the large wine-filled cup near his plate. This particular cup is called the Messiah's cup. The youngest member of the family, with cup in hand, begins the final climax of the evening by going to the door and throwing it wide open. Then each member of the family follows with his own Messiah cup in hand, gong out into the darkness.
     In a very loud voice, the head of the house shouts to the Heavens repeating these words three times: "Borouch Habo Eljenova! Borouch Habo Eljenova!!! Welcome Elijah! Welcome Elijah!!!" It is now that they expect the heavenly visitor to come, free the children of Israel and lead them back to their promised land. For generations the Rabbis have been promising them that on this Passover night the heavenly visitor would surely come.
     Of course, Elijah does not come. After waiting for some time, hoping for a great miracle, they at last return to the house. There is much weeping and sadness which lasts for a considerable length of time. Then the head of the house, with a very sad face, cries out from the depths of his heart: "How long, oh God, must we suffer for our transgressions? How long shall we be persecuted and mocked by the heathen? When will the Messiah come? How long? How long, oh God?"
Realizing that all their expectations have been shattered again, the father says: "Well, oh God, it has been thy will that we are disappointed again. But next year, yes, next year, we will celebrate the Passover in Palestine."
     This great tragedy has been taking place for over 1,900 years. The Messiah did come. So let us turn back the pages of time to remember that Passover in 34 AD when God did fulfill his promise.