First Cup:

Four is a holy number is Judaism.

It is the number of the four directions and the four elements. It is the number of matriarchs in the Torah and also the number of patriarchs.  It is the number of glasses of wine traditional at many Jewish celebrations.

Tonight we will drink four glasses of wine (or other red beverage) each representing a different aspect of the Passover evening.

The first glass is for the grapes. We raise this glass to the grapes that are a holy fruit in Judaism and to all the fruits that are beginning to grow and climb and bud in these Springtime days. We raise this glass to the spirits of the land that hold us and sustain us. Who come before us and will be here long after us.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree hagafen.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Hail to the Land Weights!


haggadah Section: Kadesh