We begin our seder with Kos Miryam, Miriams Cup, symbolically filled with mayyim hayyim, living waters from Miriams Well. In the years of wandering in the desert, Miriam's well accompanied the Israelites. According to tradition, Miriam's well is still with us. Elijahs Cup, of which we speak at the end of the seder, represents our future redemption, when peace will fill the world. Miriams Cup represents our past redemption, when our people were brought out of Egypt and delivered from slavery. Miriam and her waters sustain us as we await Elijah. She remains with us to provide healing, inspiration, and wisdom.

Miriams Well was said to hold Divine power to heal, sustain, and renew. It became a special source of transformation for a people leaving slavery to form a new identity. Throughout our journey as a people, we have sought to rediscover these living waters for ourselves. With this cup of clear spring water, we remember Gods gift of living waters from Miriams Well.

Tonight at our seder, we continue this journey. Just as the Holy One delivered Miriam and her people, just as they were sustained in the desert and transformed into a new people, so may we be delivered, sustained and transformed on our own journey to a stronger sense of ourselves as individuals and as one community. May the living waters of Miriams Well nourish us and give us inspiration as we embark on our journey through the haggadah.

(lift cup)

Reader:       

Zot Kos Miryam, Kos Mayyim Hayyim.

Zekheir ltzi-at Mitzrayim.

This is the Cup of Miriam, the Cup of Living Waters.

 Let us remember the going out from Egypt.

All:            

These are the living waters, Gods gift to Miriam, which gave new life

to Israel as we struggled with ourselves in the wilderness.

Blessed are You God, Who brings us from the narrows into the wilderness, sustains us with endless possibilities, and enables us to reach a new place.

(blessing for drinking water)

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיָה בִּדְבָרוֹ

Barukh Atah Adonay, Eloheynu Melekh ha-Olam, she-ha-kol nhi-ye bi-dvaro

Blessed are You our God, Majestic Spirit of the Universe, by Whose word everything is created. 

(drink)


haggadah Section: Introduction
Source: Mark Federman