Tonight we drink four cups of wine. Maybe they represent our matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. Maybe they represent the Four Worlds: physicality, emotions, thought and essence.

Maybe they represent the four promises of liberation G-d makes in the Torah: I will bring you out, I will deliver you, I will redeem you, I will take you to be my people. The four promises, in turn, suggest four stages of liberation: becoming aware of oppression, opposing oppression, imagining alternatives, and accepting responsibility to act.

This first cup of wine reminds us of G-d's first declaration: V'hotzaiti - "I will bring you out from the oppression..."

May this first cup of wine rouse each of us to the injustice that persists in our world today. May we recognize our own capacity to make a difference and commit ourselves to building a better world.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

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

We praise G-d, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Drink the first glass of wine!


haggadah Section: Kadesh