Our Passover Celebration begins with the lighting of the candles.

As we light these candles,

May we rededicate ourselves

To keep alive the burning flame of justice.

May the festival lights we now kindle

Inspire us to use our power

To heal and not to harm,

To help and not to hinder,

To bless and not to curse,

To demand freedom for all

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב

Baruch Atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kideshanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu lehadlik neir shel Yom Tov. ְ

Blessed is the Source who sanctifies us with commandments and commands us to kindle the festival lights.

As we bathe in the light of these candles, we remember all the candles we’ve lit as Jews, as LGBTQI people and allies, and as those who struggle for freedom. Shabbat candles. Yahrtzeit candles. Candles at AIDS vigils. And candles at Take Back the Night Marches.

As we share in the light of these candles, we rededicate the flame each of us carries within, that small light that is ours to use as a beacon in our work of tikkun olam—repairing the world.

We rededicate this small spark that we can use as a match to give light to the hopes and dreams of all people.


haggadah Section: Kadesh