Why is the Memorial Being Observed On Purim instead of the Passover, Nisan 14?

Ms_ladyblue

Well-known member
Today I saw on an ex jw witness video that the witnesses are celebrating the Memorial this year on March 24, which doesn’t fall on Nisan 14. To verify this I looked this up on the internet ( Googled it) and find that March 24 is a celebration of Purim, a Jewish holiday which has nothing to do with Jesus sacrificial death.
On the other hand, Nisan 14, according to the Gregorian calendar falls on April 22. Could someone help me to understand this please? Why are Jehovah’s Witnesses are celebrating the Memorial on March 24?
Here’s what the celebration of Purim is about:

“Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation at the hands of an official of the Achaemenid Empire named Haman, as it is recounted in the Book of Esther. Haman was the royal vizier to the Persian king Ahasuerus. Wikipedia
Date: Sat, Mar 23, 2024 – Sun, Mar 24, 2024”



Nisan 14 is actually on April 22 this year.
 

Nomex

Well-known member
Here's my knee jerk reaction..."Purim, or the Festival of Lots, is a joyous holiday that celebrates the Biblical story of the rescue of the Jews in ancient Persia.

It seems to me this is a rejection of Jesus sacrifice, in a similar vein as passing the bread and wine, and NOT partaking. I'm not making any argument that those with the earthly hope should partake, I just don't know enough about this subject to really give a strong opinion, but I will say this, passing the emblems, and "NOT partaking" seems extremely suspect...or as my kids would say, "suss"...LOL. The way the memorial is observed, seems to me almost like a Satanic ritual rejection of Jesus "this means my flesh, and this means my blood", where Jesus told his Apostles to partake.

Keep in ind the "Bible students" all believed they were going to heaven, and it wasn't until they realized there is also an earthly hope, and they reorganized the Memorial but they had no idea how it should be done. But March 24 doesn't even fall of the Jewish date for Nissan 14, and what's more, the Passover was replaced with "the Lord's evening meal", whereas Purim was not a Jewish Holiday that has ANY Christian significance in that in does not rel;ate in any way to Jesus fulfillment of the Law.


I was debating whether I would attend this year in person, but if it is not even the Memorial...well...NO!!! And NO!!! I just keep thinking the demonic influence is getting stronger and stronger...and let me add this gem...

It also seems odd to me, that this falls on a Jewish Holiday, from the book of Ester, (Ishtar, Easter), the ONLY Hebrew/Old testament BOOK in the Bible that does NOT contain the name Jehovah in the entire book! And, since it just happens that Ester, also just so happens to be the name of the Pagan god, Ishtar, (Easter), and I just looked this up, low and behold, Easter, falls on March 31st his year, which is the Sunday, (the traditional day Easter is celebrated, not the actual date), here's what the farmer's Almanac has to say about Easter...

"For example, if the equinox were to occur on March 21 and the full Moon were to occur two days later, on March 23, Easter would be observed on the first Sunday after March 23." (This is about this year 2024, in case anyone is wondering). So WT is actually observing the Pagan date for Easter...since Easter is observed...guess what Sunday occurs after March 21st? You guessed it...Easter Sunday.

To make things even weirder, guess when Passover for 2024 is? On the Jewish calendar of Nissan 14 which is April 22...which is the ACTUAL date for the memorial...or should be...

All I can say, is it seems to me once again, Jehovah is forcing them to reveal who they really are...beyond that, I have no idea...but to add to this...here's this...

"Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the “paschal full Moon.” In simple terms, this is the first full Moon immediately following the vernal (spring) equinox. However, that’s not the full story because Easter isn’t based on the actual Moon or equinox date! We’ll explain the curious connection between the Moon and Easter."

I do seem to remember however, that this "first full moon after the spring equinox", has always had something to do with the memorial, however, the memorial replaced the Passover, which has always been Nissan 14...and perhaps I remember...it "has always had something to do with the memorial" because that was what WT always said...but on one hand Nissan 14, on the other, first full moon after the spring equinox....and maybe, that's the real reason, is WT always observes, the memorial on the first full moon after the spring equinox...which would explain why some years it's March, other years April...but that doesn't explain why the Passover doesn't change dates...
 

Arctic Cat

Well-known member
good points batman 👍i think its good really they changed the date.. at least this gives me a chance to celebrate at home this year without creating any fuzz.. 😂

on a curious sidenote ever since i was a little kid one of the elder in our cong used to point to the fact of the timing of the memorial as a proof of god putting it in place.. because if it had been earlier in winter the sun is not up at all in the arctic.. while if a month later the sun never sets at all for 3 months. so if it had been in june or december it wouldnt have worked out.. (because no sunset)😅 but i guess 2 days wont make a diffrence in that regard to this particular case. ofc this does prob only apply for people in the polar regions. but he still maintain that argument today that the timing of memorial made sure it can be celebrated wherever in the world you are.
 

Ms_ladyblue

Well-known member
well if14th nisan is on 22 then i can celebrate it at home without any drama from the rest of the family😉 seeing they will go to the kingdom hall 2 days later? or did i misunderstand completely😅 srry i was being tongue in cheek
The actual Memorial is on April 22, which is Nisan 14…not March 24 as the witnesses are celebrating it. Refer to the information I posted.
 

Watchman

Moderator
Staff member
The Hebrews determined the Passover to be on the first full moon after the spring equinox. (Actually, Jehovah fixed it to that) This year the first full moon falls on March 25th check it out However, there is an issue this year because it is a lunar Leap Year on the Hebrew calendar. That may have something to do with the discrepancy. Check it out. Keep in mind the Jewish Passover is not a single day but a week-long observance. This year the week running up to Nisan 14 begins before the first post-equinox full moon, so they bumped it back to the second full moon in April. I doubt the Watchtower goes by the Jewish calendar and rabbinic determinations. Observing the death of Christ on the first full moon after spring is not some grand conspiracy to move the Memorial. True, the Watchtower has been involved in plenty of nefarious conspiracies, but this ain't one of them.
 
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Ms_ladyblue

Well-known member
The Hebrews determined the Passover to be on the first full moon after the spring equinox. (Actually, Jehovah fixed it to that) This year the first full moon falls on March 25th check it out However, there is an issue this year because it is a lunar Leap Year on the Hebrew calendar. That may have something to do with the discrepancy. Check it out. Keep in mind the Jewish Passover is not a single day but a week-long observance. This year the week running up to Nisan 14 begins before the first post-equinox full moon, so they bumped it back to the second full moon in April. I doubt the Watchtower goes by the Jewish calendar and rabbinic determinations. Observing the death of Christ on the first full moon after spring is not some grand conspiracy to move the Memorial. True, the Watchtower has been involved in plenty of nefarious conspiracies, but this ain't one of them.
But I’ve never noticed that them doing this before. Last year for example, there wasn’t a full moon the evening of the Memorial. Others took note of this too. No, I don’t think this has anything to do with being a conspiracy.
 
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StopTheInsanity

Well-known member
Today I saw on an ex jw witness video that the witnesses are celebrating the Memorial this year on March 24, which doesn’t fall on Nisan 14. To verify this I looked this up on the internet ( Googled it) and find that March 24 is a celebration of Purim, a Jewish holiday which has nothing to do with Jesus sacrificial death.
On the other hand, Nisan 14, according to the Gregorian calendar falls on April 22. Could someone help me to understand this please? Why are Jehovah’s Witnesses are celebrating the Memorial on March 24?
Here’s what the celebration of Purim is about:

“Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation at the hands of an official of the Achaemenid Empire named Haman, as it is recounted in the Book of Esther. Haman was the royal vizier to the Persian king Ahasuerus. Wikipedia
Date: Sat, Mar 23, 2024 – Sun, Mar 24, 2024”



Nisan 14 is actually on April 22 this year.
“For more adult audiences, I have read that they represent fertility, especially when they have a red filling, like raspberry. It is an early spring holiday, after all!” Lev Meirowitz Nelson, the director of leadership and learning at T’ruah, said.

Yuck. All I have to say.
 

Ms_ladyblue

Well-known member
“For more adult audiences, I have read that they represent fertility, especially when they have a red filling, like raspberry. It is an early spring holiday, after all!” Lev Meirowitz Nelson, the director of leadership and learning at T’ruah, said.

Yuck. All I have to say.
I saw that too STI. Yuck!
 
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Nomex

Well-known member
The Hebrews determined the Passover to be on the first full moon after the spring equinox. (Actually, Jehovah fixed it to that) This year the first full moon falls on March 25th check it out However, there is an issue this year because it is a lunar Leap Year on the Hebrew calendar. That may have something to do with the discrepancy. Check it out. Keep in mind the Jewish Passover is not a single day but a week-long observance. This year the week running up to Nisan 14 begins before the first post-equinox full moon, so they bumped it back to the second full moon in April. I doubt the Watchtower goes by the Jewish calendar and rabbinic determinations. Observing the death of Christ on the first full moon after spring is not some grand conspiracy to move the Memorial. True, the Watchtower has been involved in plenty of nefarious conspiracies, but this ain't one of them.
Thanks Robert...this is exactly what I remember now that you reminded me...LOL, but could not remember all the details.
 
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