These are the Plagues that the holy one, blessed be he, brought upon Egypt.

דָּם וָאֵשׁ וְתִימְרוֹת עָשָׁן

   Dam V’eish V’tim’ro ashan
 “Blood, and fire and pillars of smoke…”

“Before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes, I will set wonders in the sky and on the earth… blood, fire and pillars of smoke: The sun shall turn to darkness and the moon into blood.” Joel 3:3

A PERSONAL STORY OF LIBERATION

When I was in likely the most stressful period of my life thanks to a job in a toxic work environment and the loss of someone very close to me, I sought therapy for the first time as an adult. After just a couple of sessions, I was free from my preconceived notions that needing therapy is shameful, or only for people with problems bigger than my own. I also came to understand that therapy isn’t all about major revelations, suppressed memories and mood-flattening medication; for most people it’s just about self-care and maintenance. Since then, my anxiety has decreased significantly and I am in the best mental condition of my life.  

What are the most important elements in freeing yourself from the fire within and the darkness of the soul?

:אֵלּוּ עֶשֶׂר מַכּוֹת שֶׁהֵבִיא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל הַמִּצְרִים בְּמִצְרַים , וְאֵלוּ הֵן

Eilu eser makot sheheivi hakadosh baruch hu al hamitzrim b'mitzrayim, v'eilu hein:

These are the Plagues that the holy one, blessed be he, brought upon Egypt.

Blood |   Dom  | דָּם

Frogs |   Tzfardeyah  | צְפֵרְדֵּע

Lice |   Kinim  | כִּנִים

Beasts |   Arov  | עָרוֹב

Cattle Plague |   Dever  | דֶּבֶר

Boils |   Sh’chin  | שְׁחִין

Hail |   Barad  | בָּרד

Locusts |   Arbeh  | אַרְבֶּה

Darkness |   Choshech  | חשֶׁךְ

Slaying of First Born |  Makat Bechorot  | מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת

Since ancient versions varied as to the nature and number of the plagues, it is believed that Rabbi Jehudah instituted these three phrases or acronyms to confirm the version in Exodus. Accordingly we now remove another three drops of wine from our cup of joy.

:רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הָיָה נוֹתֵן בָּהֶם סִמָּנִים

Rabi Y'hudah hayah notein bahem simanim.

Rabbi Yehuda would assign the plagues three mnenomic signs:

דְּצַ״ךְ עַדַ״שׁ בְּאַחַ״ב

D’TZ”KH A-Da”SH B’AH”V


haggadah Section: -- Ten Plagues