All over the world tonight, people are celebrating at a Seder, which commemorates the festival of Passover and the Jews' freedom from slavery in Egypt.  The word 'seder' means order and is derived from the fact that the rituals are performed in a precise order.  The book we're reading from is called the Haggadah, which is Hebrew for 'narration' and provides us with the guidelines for the order of the Seder.  

Welcome to our seder, where we recognize that Jews are not the only ones who have suffered oppression.  This is why we invite friends and family--Jewish or not--to share this night.  It's an opportunity to celebrate all religious freedom, belief systems, and to pray for the freedom of those who remain oppressed, wherever and whomever they may be.  It's also an opportunity to take the time and think about how we can personally become more 'free'--to live a more creative or fulfilling or interesting life.  

May we take this evening to reflect on our lives this year and soften our hearts to those around us. Another year has passed since we gathered at the Seder table and we are once again reminded that life is fleeting. We are reminded to use each precious moment wisely so that no day will pass without bringing us closer to some worthy achievement as we all take a moment to be aware of how truly blessed and fortunate we are.

Our faith gives us many holidays to celebrate throughout the year and they are all times for self reflection, gently guiding us to a better path in life. We are each given a chance to reflect on our past year; to think about where we have been and how we will live our lives in the year to come. Perhaps this is a good time to reaffirm our commitment to lead good and meaningful lives, making peace wherever we go.


haggadah Section: Introduction