Blessing Over the Wine (Kiddush)

It's a Passover tradition to drink 4 cups of wine during the Seder.  Why four cups?

Some people believe that each cup corresponds to each of God's four promises to Moses--I will bring you out of Egypt; I will redeem you; I will deliver you from bondage; I will take you to be my people.  

Others believe that the 4 cups correspond to the four corners of the earth, because freedom should exist everywhere.  Or perhaps the four cups correspond to the four seasons--because freedom must be scrupulously guarded year round.  Others have said that the four cups represent the four ancient empires that tyrannized the Jews and have since disappeared.

Please let's all say the blessing for the wine:

בָּרוּךְאַתָּהיְיָאֱלֹהֵינוּמֶלֶךְהָעוֹלָםבּוֹרֵאפְּרִיהַגָּפֶן

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree hagafen.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it--Thomas Paine


haggadah Section: Kadesh