Order of the Seder

Seder literally means order, from the Hebrew לסדר / l’sader, to arrange, and there’s a set order to the proceedings: 

קַדֵשׁ

Kadesh (Recite the kiddush): Initiate special time 

וּרְחַץ

 Urchatz (Wash the hands): Clear the grime 

כַּרְפַּס

 Karpas (Eat a green vegetable): Open senses to growing green 

יחץ

 Yachatz (Break the middle Matzah): Separate dessert from need 

מגיד

 Maggid (Tell the Pesach story): Tell a tale from your spiritual past 

רָחְצָה

 Rakhtzah (Wash the hands): Raise up the energy in your hands 

מוֹצִיא, מַצָּה

 Motzi (Say the Ha-Motzi): Call forth what nourishes you Matzah (Say the blessing for matzah): Increase faith/prepare to heal 

מָרוֹר

 Maror (Eat the bitter herb): Allow the bitter to move you 

כּוֹרֵךְ

 Korekh (Eat bitter herb with matzah): See the sandwich of both sides 

שֻׁלְחָן עוֹרֵךְ

 Shulkhan Orekh (Serve the festive meal): Feast and enjoy 

צָפוּן

 Tzafun (Eat the Afikoman): Nourish the self with mystery 

בָּרֵךְ

 Barekh (Say the grace after meals): Bless all nourishings in your life 

הלל

 Hallel (Recite the Hallel): Sing the song that is a prayer 

נרצה

 Nirtzah (Conclude the seder): Say “I am loved here today.”

Source: The Velveteen Rabbi's Haggadah for Pesach, page 6

Image source: Randy Orenstein


haggadah Section: Introduction
Source: The Velveteen Rabbi's Haggadah for Pesach, page 6