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. We pour out a drop of wine for each of the plagues as we recite them. This year, as these drops spread across our plates, let us turn our hearts toward the millions of people around the world still suffering today’s plagues of hatred, prejudice, baseless violence, and war.

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

Blood | dam | דָּם  We comfort and mourn those whose blood has been spilled.

Frogs | tzfardeiya |  צְפַרְדֵּֽעַ  We protest the proliferation of violence.

Lice | kinim | כִּנִּים  We stop infestations of hatred and fear.

Beasts | arov | עָרוֹב   We appeal to all people to act with humanity.

Cattle disease | dever | דֶּֽבֶר  We overcome the sickness of racism and bigotry.

Boils | sh’chin | שְׁחִין  We tend to those who suffer from disease.

Hail | barad | בָּרָד  We respond to storms and disasters that claim lives.

Locusts | arbeh | אַרְבֶּה  We fill the air with voices for change.

Darkness | choshech | חֹֽשֶׁךְ  We bring light to those who live in the shadows.

Death of the Firstborn | makat b’chorot | מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת  We inspire the next generation to carry on the struggle for a better world. 


haggadah Section: -- Ten Plagues