Karpas: Rebirth and Renewal

Reader:If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am for myself only, what am I? And if not now, when? - Hillel, Pirkei Avot 1:14.

Group: And if not with others, how? - Adrienne Rich, Blood, Bread, and Poetry.

Reader: The Passover festival of freedom developed from an even more ancient holiday: a celebration of the spring harvest.Spring is a time of rebirth. The snow of winter has melted. Once again the bare trees have begun to bud. Already the flowers have started to bloom, filling the air with their scent, and our hearts with their life.

The fresh greens of spring serve a special purpose at this time in our Seder. As we dip these vegetables, the karpas, into salt water, a symbol of the tears of slavery, we remember all those who still suffer under the yoke of oppression. May we open our eyes, our hearts, and our hands, and help to remove suffering and want from our world.

(Each person takes some greens and dips them in salt water) Before we eat it, we recite a short blessing:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה

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

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruits of the earth.

Prem on his work with child slavery in Pakistan


haggadah Section: Karpas