Welcome to Pesach Seder!

I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free... so other people would be also free.
-Rosa Parks

Passover is a time we come together to celebrate Freedom.

Whether that freedom is from discrimination against neurodiversity, physical or mental illness, gender or sexual Identity or from addiction, climate change or religious, racial or any other type of persecution, Pesach is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on our current freedoms, and discuss how we might move towards a freer world this year.

Some people think that the Seder foretells the coming of the Messiah, an age where we all live free from discrimination, disease, loneliness, death or heartbreak. Others say its an opportunity to make the world a better place through sharing ideas, co-operation and addressing current global and social problems. 

There are 3 things we need to do after lighting the candles in order to call this a Pesach Seder:

1) Drink 4 Cups of Wine (these can be thimble-sized)

2) Eat a small quantity of bitter herbs (at least 30 grams)

3) Eat a piece of Matzah (at least the Size of an Olive)

I suggest we do these things right now so we can be liberated from hunger and enjoy the seder as we eat. We will explain the significance of each of these components as we go, but for now, let's say these prayers, do the things and then start enjoying the meal:

Lighting the Candles
בָּרוךּ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינו מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְשָּנו בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וצְִונָּו לְהַדלִיק נרֵ שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheynu Melech Ha’Olam Asher Kidishanu B’Mitzvotav V’Tzivanu L’Hadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, Rule of the universe, who sanctifies us with commandments and commands us to light the festival lights.

Prayer for wine

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.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, she-hechiyanu v’key’manu v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who has kept us alive, raised us up, and brought us to this happy moment.

Drink the first glass of wine!

Prayer for Bitter Herbs

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל אֲכִילַת מרוֹר

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al achilat maror.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who made us holy through obligations, commanding us to eat bitter herbs.

Prayer for Matzah and to Start the Meal:

Because we are using matzah instead of bread, we add a blessing.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמּוֹצִיא לֶֽחֶם מִן הָאָֽרֶץ

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who brings bread from the land.
 

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתַָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל אֲכִילַת מַצָּה

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al achilat matzah.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything for providing us with this matzah.

(Soup is Served)


haggadah Section: Introduction