The intended use of this Haggadah is for young women who are in treatment centers for eating disorders. However, this Haggadah is applicable to anyone who knows someone with unhealthy body images or for someone who has struggled or is still struggling with this issue herself. Although the many eating disorders affect not only women, but men too, this Haggadah focuses on young women who are preparing for marriage in a traditional Orthodox manner. Families are encouraged to use this Haggadah as well. Since many Orthodox Jews may not want to change the Haggadah that is already used in their homes, it is my hope that this Haggadah can at least be used as a suppliment to the tradition, perhaps being performed before or after the nights of the Seder. It is my hope that through the use of this Haggadah, the Seder will be a time of healing, and the realization that they are daughters of God.

Leader: On this night of remembrance, we look at how God delivered us from oppression. We were once slaves in Egypt and God heard us and saved us from our enslavement. Just as God freed us in Egypt, so too can He free us now from the many chains that bond us. Let us be free from the oppressions of this world, and fight the stigmas of what it means to be beautiful. Let us learn how the Exodus story applies to our lives today.

(Raise the cup of wine)

Group: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, borei p'ri hagafen.

Group: Praised are you, Adonai, our God, sovereign of the universe, who has created the

fruit of the vine.

Praised art Thou, Lord God, King of the Universe: who chose us from all peoples, and exalted us above all tongues, and hallowed us by Thy commandments. Thou didst give us, Lord God, in Thy love, anniversaries for rejoicing, festivals and seasons for happiness: this feast of Passover, the anniversary of our freedom, in love, a holy convocation, as a memorial of our departure from Egypt. For us didst thou choose, and us didst Thou hallow of all peoples: and Thou gavest us as heritage Thy holy seasons in love and in favor, in joy and in gladness. Praised art Thou, Lord Hallower of the Sabbath and Israel and the festive seasons.

Praised art Thou, Lord God, King of the Universe, who didst preserve us and sustain us and enable us to reach this season.

 (Drink the first cup of wine)

Each person takes the water jug and washes the hands of the person next to them.

Leader: As we wash, let us remember to be servants of one another, yet know that we are worthy to have our hands washed by others.

Each person takes the Karpas and dips it in salt water.

Group

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה.

Praised are you, Adonai, our God, sovereign of the universe, who creates the fruit of the earth.

Leader: We remember the tears of the slaves in Egypt and we remember the tears of our daughters.

Leader: When we abuse our bodies, we too become broken. We do not treat our bodies with love and honor and so our souls die within us. Let us continue on in our brokenness with the hope that we can be made whole again.

This is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. All who are hungry- let them come and eat: all who are needy- let them come and celebrate the Passover. Now we are here, but next year we shall be in the land of Israel. Now we are slaves, but next year we shall be free men and women.

Group:

Praised are you, Adonai, our God, sovereign of the universe, who has taught us the way of holiness through commandments, commanding us to wash our hands.

Leader:

This time we wash our own hands to wash away the stereotypes of beauty that have been placed on us and we wash away our incorrect responses to our suffering.

 Group:

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, hamotzei lechem min ha’aretz.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread form the earth. 

Praised are you, Adonai, our God, sovereign of the universe, who has made us holy through His commandments, commanding us to eat matzah.

(Dip the Maror in the Charoset and make a sandwich with Matzah)

Leader:

This carries out the practice that was done at the time of the Temple.

"With unleavened bread and with bitter herbs, they shall eat it."

Group:

BORUCH ATTO ADONOI ELOHENU MELECH HO‘OLOM ASHER KIDD’SHONU B’MITZVOSOV V’TZIVONU AL ACHILAS MOROR.

Praised are you, Adonai, our God, sovereign of the universe, who has made us holy through His commandments, commanding us to eat the bitter herb.

Leader: 

For us, the Maror represents the bitterness we have felt about what is valued for us women. 

For us, the Charoset represents the physical hardships we go through to try and meet these values. 

 (Eat the festive meal)

 Everyone searches for the Afikoman

Finding the Afikoman is symbolic of healing.

Leader:

The story is eternal -- it repeats itself again and again. After the Exodus, we continue to wander in the desert on our way to the Promised Land.

In every generation there are those who seek our destruction, but the Holy One saves us from their hands.

We, therefore, are in duty bound to thank, praise, adore, glorify, extol, honor, bless, exalt and revere Him, who performed for us and for our forefathers all these wonders. He brought us forth from bondage unto freedom; from sorrow unto joy; from mourning unto festivity; from darkness unto great light; and from servitude unto redemption; and therefore let us chant unto Him a new song. Hallelujah!

 Leader:

Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield.

Group:

I love the Lord, because He hears my voice, my prayers. For He turned His ear to me; all my days I will call upon Him. The pangs of death encompassed me, and the agonies of the grave came upon me, trouble and sorrow I encounter and I call upon the Name of the Lord: Please, Lord, deliver my soul! The Lord is gracious and just, our God is compassionate. The Lord watches over the simpletons; I was brought low and He saved me. Return, my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt kindly with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my foot from stumbling. I will walk before the Lord in the lands of the living.

 Our Seder now ends. Together we say, “Next year in Jerusalem. Next year in Health. Next year may we all be free!”

Group:

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.

Praised are you, Adonai, Lord of the universe, who has created the fruit of the vine.

Praised are you, Adonai, King of the universe, who has created our bodies in unique ways. Our bodies honor You when we treat them as gifts that You have given us. Help us be only concerned with what is pleasing to You, and not with what is pleasing to this world. Strengthen us to have the courage to be healthy. Have mercy, Adonai our God, on your people. Heal our bodies and rebuild our minds.

(Drink the fourth cup of wine)

And the women dancing with their timbrels followed Miriam as she sang her song.

Sing a song to the One whom we’ve exalted, Miriam and the women danced and danced the whole night long.

And Miriam was a weaver of unique variety, the tapestry she wove was one which sang our history, with every strand and every thread she crafted her delight,

A woman touched with spirit she dances toward the light.

Chorus

And Miriam the prophet took her timbrel in her hand, And all the women followed her just as she had planned, And Miriam raised her voice in song She sang with praise and might, We’ve just lived through a miracle, we’re going to dance tonight.

When Miriam stood upon the shores and gazed across the sea,

the wonder of this miracle she soon came to believe,

whoever thought the sea would part with an outstretched hand,

and we would pass to freedom and march to the Promised Land.

Chorus

And Miriam the prophet took her timbrel in her hand, And all the women followed her just as she had planned, And Miriam raised her voice in song She sang with praise and might, We’ve just lived through a miracle, we’re going to dance tonight.