We eat the maror, or bitter herbs, to remind ourselves that the Egyptians embittered the lives of our people. Even today, oppression remains in the world, and we are meant to taste its bitterness. As we eat the bitter herbs, we are reminded to remove any bitterness from our own lives, for bitterness will kill even sooner than death. If we become used to bitterness in our lives, it is very hard to ever leave it behind.

During this festival of life, it's important for us to remember our lost sisters and brothers - the millions who died, victims of the Holocaust. Their anguish and death must be with us, even in our times of celebration. We resolve that we will remember them.

ברוּךְ אַתָּה יְיַָ 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.


haggadah Section: Maror
Source: Issie Berish