Marror in a bitter time

Travel cancelled, businesses struggling, health workers overstretched, people suffering. We've all had reasons to feel a little bitter these days. During Passover, we eat bitter herbs like horseradish to remind ourselves of the hardships of slavery. So let's take a moment to taste that pain.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל אֲכִילַת מרוֹר

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al achilat maror.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who made us holy through obligations, commanding us to eat bitter herbs.


But we do not allow the bitterness to consume us entirely. After that sting, we mix a little sweetness from the charoset into the maror. Ironically, the charoset is also a reminder of hard times. But sometimes, memory makes even the hard times seem sweeter.

Have some charoset. There is no specific prayer on this one.


haggadah Section: Maror