Pesach, Matzah, and Maror | Passover haggadah by Erin Dreyfuss

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Storytelling with Food

Rabban Gamliel used to say: Whoever has not explained the following three things on Passover has not fulfilled the holiday: Pesach (the Lamb Bone), Matzah (the Unleavened Bread), and Maror (the Bitter Herbs).

Point to the lamb bone on the seder plate.

Pesach - The Pesach recalls God's personal intervention on our behalf. On the last night in Egypt, our ancestors ate roasted lamb while God sent the tenth plague through the land. The plague "passed over" the houses of the people who were preparing for freedom.

Uncover the matzah (and leave it uncovered for now).

Matzah - Matzah is made of the same dough as bread, but we mix and bake it much faster. The whole process has to be done in less than 18 minutes. Matzah reminds us that when Pharaoh finally agreed to let us go, we had to leave Egypt quickly and could not wait for the bread to rise.

Lift up the maror from the seder plate.

Maror - This bitter herb reminds us of the bitterness of slavery. The bitter taste of the maror reminds us of the hard, painful labor of slavery, so that we can better appreciate our freedom.

In every generation, it is our duty to see ourselves as if we had personally gone out of Egypt.

Cover the matzah and lift your cup in a toast to our freedom while reciting this blessing:

Because of all this, we thank and praise God, who did all these miracles for our ancestors and for us.

God led us from slavery to freedom,

from despair to happiness,

from sadness to a joyful holiday,

and from darkness to a great light.

!וְנֹאמַר לְפָנָיו שִׁירָה חֲדָשָׁה. הַלְלוּיָהּ

Venomar lefanav shira chadasha. Hallelujah!

Let us sing a new song to God. Hallelujah!

Hallel is split in 2 during the seder. The first part is said now and the rest is said after the meal.

בְּצֵאת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִמִּרַָים , בֵּית יַעֲקֹב מֵעַם לֹעֵז, הָיְתָה יְהוּדָּה לְקָדְשׁוֹ, יִשְׂרָאֵל מַמְשְׁלוֹתָיו. הַיָּם רָאָה וַיַָּנֹס, הַיַרְדֵּן יִסֹּב לְאָחוֹר. הֶהָרִים רָקְדוּ כְאֵילִים, גְּבַָעוֹת - כִּבְנֵי צֹאן. מַה לְּךָ הַיָּם כִּי תָנוּס, הַיַּרְדֵן - תִּסֹּב לְאָחוֹר, הֶהָרִים - תִּרְקְדוּ כְאֵילִים, גְּבַָעוֹת - כִּבְנֵי צֹאן. מִלְּפְנֵי אָדוֹן חוּלִי אָרֶץ, מִלְּפְנֵי אֱלוֹהַ יַעֲקֹב. הַהֹפְכִי הַצּוּר אֲגַם מָיִם, חַלָּמִיש - לְמַעְיְנוֹ מָיִם

B’tzeit Yisrael mimitzrayim, beit Ya’akov mei’am lo’eiz, haytah yihudah likodsho, Yisrael mamshilotav. Hayam ra’ah vayanos, hayardein yisov l’achor. Heharim rakedu che’eilim, giva’ot – kivnei tzon. Mah l’cha hayam ki tanus, hayardein – tisov l’achor, heharim tirkedu che’eilim, givaot – kivnei tzon. Milifnei adon chuli aretz, milifnei eloha Ya’akov. Hahofchi hatzur agam mayim, chalamish – lemayno mayim.

When Israel went out of Egypt, When the household of Jacob left a people with a strange tongue, Judah became the place from which God’s holiness went forth, Israel became the seat from which the world would know of Gods rule. The sea looked and fled, The Jordan reversed its curse. Mountains skipped like rams and the hills jumped about like young lambs. What is happening that you turn back, O sea, Jordan, why do you reverse your course? Mountains, why do you skip like rams And hills why do you jump like lambs? You are beholding the face of your Creator, Before God, before the God of Jacob, Turning rocks into swirling waters and stone into a flowing spring.

.בָּרוּךְ אתה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ העוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר גְּאָלָנוּ וְגָּאַל אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ מִמִּצְרַים, וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה לֶאֱכָל בּוֹ מַצָּה וּמָרוֹר. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי גָּאַל יִשְׂרָאֵל

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher g’alanu v’ga’al et avoteinu mimitzrayim, v’higianu lalaylah hazeh le’echol bo matzah umaror. Baruch Atah Adonai, ga’al Yisrael.

Praised are you, Adonai, our God, sovereign of the universe, who has redeemed us and our fathers from Egypt and enabled us to reach this night that we may eat matzah and maror. Our God and God of our ancestors, enable us to reach also the forthcoming holidays and festivals in peace, rejoicing in the rebuilding of Zion your city, and joyful at your service. There we will eat of the offerings and Passover sacrifices which will be acceptably placed upon your altar. We will sing a new hymn of praise to you for our redemption and for our liberation. Praised are You, Adonai, who has redeemed Israel.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, borei p’ri hagafen.

Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Who created fruit from the vine.

Drink the second cup.

haggadah Section: -- Cup #2 & Dayenu