The Eating of Bitter Herbs

A blessing is said over maror (bitter herbs—usually red or white horseradish).

[One raises the maror and says:]

Why do we eat this bitter herb?

It is because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our fathers in Egypt, as it is written:

They made life bitter for them with hard labor, with clay and bricks, and with all kinds of labor in the field; the work tasks they performed were backbreaking.

The maror also speaks of the bitterness of sin and its consequences, and the pain of those without a relationship with G-d.

Baruch atah Adonai, Eh-lo-hay-noo meh-lekh ha-olam,
Asher kidshanu b'mitsvotav v'tsivanu al akhilat maror.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe,
Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to eat bitter herbs.

[Dip a piece of matzah in the horseradish, and eat]


haggadah Section: Maror