As we rejoice at our deliverance from slavery, we acknowledge that our freedom was hard-earned. We regret that our freedom came at the cost of the Egyptians’ suffering, for we are all human beings made in the image of God. We pour out a drop of wine for each of the plagues as we recite them.

Dip a finger or a spoon into your wine glass for a drop for each plague.

These are the ten plagues which God brought down on the Egyptians:

Blood | dam | דָּם

Frogs | tzfardeiya |  צְפַרְדֵּֽעַ

Lice | kinim | כִּנִּים

Beasts | arov | עָרוֹב

Cattle disease | dever | דֶּֽבֶר

Boils | sh’chin | שְׁחִין

Hail | barad | בָּרָד

Locusts | arbeh | אַרְבֶּה

Darkness | choshech | חֹֽשֶׁךְ

Death of the Firstborn | makat b’chorot | מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת

In many modern Passover Seders, we use this time to contemplate current plagues causing suffering in our world. We might name war, terrorism, food insecurity, homelessness, racism, etc. However, the 10 plagues that God brought upon the Egyptians weren't simply general issues facing humanity at the time. They were strategies used to convince Pharaoh to free the enslaved; they were the means to break down the oppressive regime. The plagues were God's protest to the inhumane system. Therefore, instead I'd like to take this moment to brainstorm modern plagues that can be used to work against the problematic systems that exist in our world today. We'll brainstorm as a group, so when you think of one, raise your hand.


haggadah Section: -- Ten Plagues