The Ceremonial Matzahs are now covered.

Tonight we drink four cups of wine. There are many explanations for this custom. They could represent the four corners of the earth, for freedom must live everywhere; or the four seasons of the year, for freedom must last through all the season; or the four matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel.

A full cup of wine symbolizes complete happiness. The triumph of Passover is diminsihed by the sacrifice of many human lives when the ten plagues were visited upon the people of Egypt. In the ancient story the plagues that befell the Egyptians resulted from the decisions of tyrants, but the greatest suffering occurred among those who had no choice but to follow. It is fitting that we mourn their loss of life, and express our sorrow over their suffering. We cannot take joy in the suffering of others. Therefore, let us diminish the wine in our cups as we recall the ten plaques that befell the Egyptian people.We pour out a drop of wine for each of the plagues as we recite them.

As each plague is named dip a finger into your wine glass, then touch your plate or napkin to remove the drop.

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

The Egyptians needed ten plagues because after each one they were able to come up with excuses and explanations rather than change their behavior. Could we be making the same mistakes? Make up your own list. What are the plagues in your life? What are the plagues in our world today? What behaviors do we need to change to fix them? 


haggadah Section: -- Ten Plagues