Blessing the Fruit of the Vine

We drink four glasses of wine during this pesach seder. Why do we drink four glasses of wine? To remember the four promises that God made to the Israelites during the Exodus:

1. I shall take you out. 2. I shall rescue you. 3. I shall redeem you. 4. I shall bring you.

Tonight, at this LGBTQ seder, we drink four glasses of wine for the four promises we make ourselves.

1. I will be myself. 2. I will find a safe place to live and thrive. 3. I will create a welcoming space for others. 4. I will fight for freedom.

Kiddish

The promise we make for our first glass of wine is this: I will be myself.

What does it mean to be ourselves?

I invite you to turn to people at your table and discuss what it means to be ourselves. Consider what it took to discover your identity as a queer person. Did you see other queer people growing up? In the media? What steps did you take to become who you are today.

We read together:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

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

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

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם ,שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam,
she-hechiyanu v’key’manu v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything,
who has kept us alive, raised us up, and brought us to this happy moment.

Drink the first glass of wine!


haggadah Section: Kadesh
Source: Galia Godel