These fresh new greens or karpas are signs of spring. They remind us of all the little green stems quietly and secretly pushing up out of the earth now that the long, cold winter is over. The karpas reminds us that each year in spring, the earth is reborn.

Dipping karpas in salt water reminds us of all the tears cried by our people when we were slaves In Egypt. The salt water also reminds us of the many children, women, and men who are still slaves right now, today. They cry enough tears in one day to fill this bowl to overflowing. We dip our greens in salt and water as a way of paying attention to their tears.

Leader:

Everyone may now take some greens and get ready to dip them in salt water. We recite together:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה

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

Blessed are You, Eternal God, Creator of the Universe, who gives us the fruit of the earth


haggadah Section: Karpas