The Passover is a memorial meal for Israelites - for those who are of the covenant - and so the way I understand this, it is for all Israelites and their families, and under the New Covenant, all those who are born again of the Ruach in Yah'shua the Messiah and who are living the commamdments/mitzvot. This would include the children of Israelite families that are still living under the authority of their fathers at home.

There is division amongst Messiancs as to how to interpret this. We take the view that the Passover and "Lord's Supper" are two separate things - please see the second half of a sermon I gave on this subject.

To admit someone to our Passover meal I would have to be satisfied that they were a true believer in Yah'shua and were in submission to Torah to the best of their understanding.

A friend of mine from Israel who runs the website www.seedofabraham.net sent me this mail today (Thursday 26.feb):

" Shalom from Israel, Tonight, Thursday, February 26th, 2008 is new moon. It begins the 12th and last biblical month this year. It's approximately 3,449 years since Moses led the Sons of Israel out of Egyptian slavery (in 1440 B.C.) and we got our own calendar and didn't have to work on Shabat. Before that we had been on Egyptian Standard Time 24/7. Next month, on Friday night, March 27th will be the first new moon of the biblical year. In the days of Moses and King David it was called Aviv, the word Israelis now use for springtime. It was changed to Nisan after the Babylonian month of that time period after having spent a century in Babylon for our sins of idolatry. Two weeks after the 27th of March, on Friday night, April 10th, we will celebrate Passover on its biblical date (not according to the traditional Jewish community, who do not go by the sighting of the new moon, although this is a biblical requirement for when the proper dates are for the Feasts). The traditional Jewish community will be off by two days this year. "

Polycrates of Ephesus (194 AD) in a letter to the Roman Bishop Victor:

"A question of no small importance arose at that time. For the parishes of all Asia, as from an older tradition, held that the fourteenth day of the moon, on which day the Jews were commanded to sacrifice the lamb, should be observed as the feast of the Saviour's Passover...But it was not the custom of the churches in the rest of the world...But the bishops of Asia, led by Polycrates, decided to hold to the old custom handed down to them. He himself, in a letter which he addressed to Victor and the church of Rome, set forth in the following words the tradition which had come down to him.

"We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord's coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis; and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus; and, moreover, John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord, and, being a priest, wore the sacerdotal plate. He fell asleep at Ephesus. And Polycarp in Smyrna, who was a bishop and martyr; and Thraseas, bishop and martyr from Eumenia, who fell asleep in Smyrna. Why need I mention the bishop and martyr Sagaris who fell asleep in Laodicea, or the blessed Papirius, or Melito the Eunuch who lived altogether in the Holy Spirit, and who lies in Sardis, awaiting the episcopate from heaven, when he shall rise from the dead? All these observed the fourteenth day of the Passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven. I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord, and have met with the brethren throughout the world, and have gone through every Holy Scripture, am not affrighted by terrifying words. For those greater than I have said 'We ought to obey God rather than man'...I could mention the bishops who were present, whom I summoned at your desire; whose names, should I write them, would constitute a great multitude. And they, beholding my littleness, gave their consent to the letter, knowing that I did not bear my gray hairs in vain, but had always governed my life by the Lord Jesus"
(Eusebius. Eccl. Hist. 5:24).