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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
The long history of our people is one of contrasts — freedom and slavery, joy and pain, power and helplessness. Passover reflects these contrasts. Tonight as we celebrate our freedom, we remember the slavery of our ancestors and realize that many people are not yet free.
Each generation changes — our ideas, our needs, our dreams, even our celebrations. So has Passover changed over many centuries into our present
holiday. Our nomadic ancestors gathered for a spring celebration when the sheep gave birth to their lambs. Theirs was a celebration of the continuity of life. Later, when our ancestors became farmers, they celebrated the arrival of spring in their own fashion. Eventually these ancient spring festivals merged with the story of the Exodus from Egypt and became a new celebration of life and freedom.
As each generation gathered around the table to retell the old stories, the symbols took on new meanings. New stories of slavery and liberation, oppression and triumph were added, taking their place next to the old. Tonight we add our own special chapter as we recall our people’s past and we dream of the future.
For Jews, our enslavement by the Egyptians is now remote, a symbol of communal remembrance. As we sit here in the comfort of our modern world, we think of the millions who still suffer the brutality of the existence that we escaped thousands of years ago.
The meaning of Kadesh is actually "Recongnition of the Kiddush."
This is the first out of four cups throughout the whole seder.
This is the part of the seder where we all go wash our hands BUT we do not say a blessing.
Karpas is where we take that little piece of green vegetable on the table and dip it into the salt water.
Did you know that the karpas symbolizes how the Jews left Egypt in the spring?
Also, the salt water represents the tears of the Jewish people in Egypt.
Now we get on to the part when we break the middle matzah into 2.
The bigger piece is the afikomen and the smaller piece goes back into the middle spot of the matzah.
We now tell the story of Passover. I made it very brief so we don't have to sit around whining about not getting food yet.
At the end of the biblical book of Genesis, Joseph brings his family to Egypt. Over the following centuries, the descendants of Joseph's family (the Hebrews) become so numerous that when a new king comes to power he fears what might happen if the Hebrews decide to rise against the Egyptians. He decides that the best way to avoid this situation is to enslave them (Exodus 1). According to tradition, these enslaved Hebrews are the ancestors of modern day Jews.
Despite pharaoh's attempt to subdue the Hebrews they continue to have many children. As their numbers grow, pharaoh comes up with another plan: he will send soldiers to kill all newborn male babies who were born to Hebrew mothers. This is where the story of Moses begins.
Moses
In order to save Moses from the grisly fate pharaoh has decreed, his mother and sister put him in a basket and set it afloat on the river. Their hope is that the basket will float to safety and whomever finds the baby will adopt him as their own. His sister, Miriam, follows along as the basket floats away. Eventually it is discovered by none other than pharaoh's daughter. She saves Moses and raises him as her own, so that a Hebrew child is raised as a prince of Egypt.
When Moses grows up he kills an Egyptian guard when he sees him beating a Hebrew slave. Then Moses flees for his life, heading into the desert. In the desert he joins the family of Jethro, a Midian priest, by marrying Jethro's daughter and having children with her. He becomes a shepherd for Jethro's flock and one day, while out tending the sheep, Moses meets God in the wilderness. The voice of God calls out to him from a burning bush and Moses answers: "Hineini!" ("Here I am!" in Hebrew.)
God tells Moses that he has been chosen to free the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. Moses is not sure he can carry out this command. But God reassures Moses that he will have help in the form of God's aide and his brother, Aaron.
The Ten Plagues
Soon afterward, Moses returns to Egypt and demands that pharaoh release the Hebrews from bondage. Pharaoh refuses and as a result God sends ten plagues upon Egypt:1. Blood - The waters of Egypt are turned to blood. All the fish die and water becomes unusable.2. Frogs - Hordes of frogs swarm the land of Egypt. 3. Gnats or Lice - Masses of gnats or lice invade Egyptian homes and plague the Egyptian people. 4. Wild Animals - Wild animals invade Egyptian homes and lands, causing destruction and wrecking havoc.5. Pestilence - Egyptian livestock is struck down with disease.6. Boils - The Egyptian people are plagued by painful boils that cover their bodies.7. Hail - Severe weather destroys Egyptian crops and beats down upon them.8. Locusts - Locusts swarm Egypt and eat any remaining crops and food.9. Darkness - Darkness covers the land of Egypt for three days.10. Death of the Firstborn - The firstborn of every Egyptian family is killed. Even the firstborn of Egyptian animals die.
The tenth plague is where the Jewish holiday of Passover derives its name, because while the Angel of Death visited Egypt it "passed over" Hebrew homes, which had been marked with lambs blood on the doorposts.
The Exodus
After the tenth plague pharaoh relents and releases the Hebrews. The quickly bake their bread, not even pausing for the dough to rise, which is why Jews eat matzah (unleavened bread) during Passover.
Soon after they leave their homes pharaoh changes his mind and sends soldiers after the Hebrews, but when the former slaves reach the Sea of Reeds the waters part so that they can escape. When the soldiers try to follow them, the waters crash down upon them. According to Jewish legend, when the angels began rejoicing as the Hebrews escaped and the soldiers drowned God reprimanded them, saying: "My creatures are drowning, and you're singing songs!" This midrash (rabbinic story) teaches us that we should not rejoice in the sufferings of our enemies. (Telushkin, Joseph. "Jewish Literacy." pgs 35-36).
Once they have crossed the water, the Hebrews begin the next part of their journey as they search for the Promised Land. The story of Passover recounts how the Hebrews gained their freedom and became the ancestors of the Jewish people.
The tradition of the Ma Nishtana is to have the youngest person at the seder table lead the singing of Ma Nishtana.
| Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hey-nu Me-lech ha-o-lam, Ha-motzi le-chem min ha-a-retz. | Praised are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings bread from out of the earth. |
| Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hey-nu Me-lech ha-o-lam, A-sher ki-d’-sha-nu b’-mitz-vo-tav, v’-tzi-va-nu Al a-chilat ma-tzah. | Praised are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy through Your commandments, and commands us to eat Matzah. |
At the point of Motzi Matzah one should have three Matzot on the Seder plate. The top Matzah and the bottom Matzah is full, and the middle Matzah is the Matzah that was broken for the procedure of Yachatz larger piece of the broken Matzah is off the table hidden away to be used later for the Afikoman, and the smaller piece is in between the two full pieces.
It is a positive commandment to eat matzah on the Seder night. To fulfill one's obligation, one must eat a correct measure described as the size of an olive.
What is matzah maid out of? And why do we make it out of it?
Maror
Bad times. Chewing on bad times.
In our family, we have a custom of biting into a big chunk of horseradish during the Seder. Faces turn red; eyes wince; we're burning from the inside.
And then it is over. A big "Aahhh". Everyone takes a big breath. We've survived maror .
The bitterness of maror is an essential part of Seder. The Torah tells us that the Paschal sacrifice should be eaten together with maror to remind us how the Egyptians embittered our lives with hard, mind-numbing work.
Slavery imprinted trauma on our souls that did not disappear when we crossed the Red Sea. Generations of anguish - physical and spiritual - do not just vanish. They linger in the inner recesses of our lives, waiting to be triggered. They can control us.
The bitterness of disempowerment and persecution is still with us, whether or not we choose to acknowledge it. We need to revisit the bitterness every year - to face it, taste it, and conquer it.
With the exhaling of the "Aahhh" comes fresh hope of moving ahead. We will not let lingering bitterness paralyze or diminish us. We have confronted it head on, and survived to tell the Haggada.
Activity for Seder:
Is there any difficult moment in Jewish History that gives you hope?
We do the Koreich step so we can fulfill our obligation of Matzah and Maror according to all sides of an argument regarding the performance of the commandments of eating matzah and maror at the time when we had the Holy Temple.
Take the bitter herb and place it in between two pieces of matzah (One piece from the top matzah and one piece from the bottom matzah)
Some people dip the bitter herb in the charoset.
At this time we say the words: “This is what Hillel did, at the time that the Temple stood. He wrapped up some Pesach lamb, some matzah and some bitter herbs and ate them together.”
Alex: My family eats the matzah with the charoset as a sandwich. I don’t think it’s that good so I only have a small bite.
Hannah: I think the sandwhich has a spicy and bitter taste and should be consumed in small quantities.
Discussion Question:
Did you know that Moses isn't mentioned in the haggadah. In your opinion, why do you think Moses isn't mentioned in the haggadah?
Now the kids all go look for the afikoman. When the afikoman is found we will eat it as a dessert. It is obligated to eat one small piece of it.
This is the part where we say grace to God for giving us the food that we just ate.
So, why do we have these random things on the seder plate?
Each thing actually represents something.
That disgusting bitter herb over there symbolizes the bitterness of the Jewish people.
The shankbone symbolizes the strong arm of God that took us out of Egypt.
The egg is the cirle of life.
Probably the best tasting thing on the seder table which is the charoset represents the cement that the Israelites would havre to mush up by steppin in it.
Our favorite song!!!
ECHAD MI YODEA | WHO KNOWS ONE |
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| Echad mi yode'a Echad ani yode'a Echad Elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Shnaim mi yode'a Shnaim ani yode'a shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Shlosha mi yode'a, Shlosha ani yode'a. Shlosha avot, shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Arba mi yode'a arba ani yode'a arba imahot Shlosha avot, shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Chamisha, mi yode'a Chamisha, ani yode'a Chamisha chumshei torah arba imahot Shlosha avot, shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Shisha, mi yode'a? Shisha, ani yode'a Shisha, sidre mishna Chamisha chumshei torah arba imahot Shlosha avot, shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Shiv'ah mi yode'a shiv'ah ani yode'a. shiv'ah yemei shabatah Shisha, sidre mishna Chamisha chumshei torah arba imahot Shlosha avot, shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Shmonah mi yode'a shmonah ani yode'a shmonah yemei milah shiv'ah yemei shabatah Shisha, sidre mishna Chamisha chumshei torah arba imahot Shlosha avot, shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Tish'ah mi yode'a tish'ah ani yode'a. tish'ah chodshei leidah shmonah yemei milah shiv'ah yemei shabatah Shisha, sidre mishna Chamisha chumshei torah arba imahot Shlosha avot, shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Asara mi yode'a asara ani yode'a asara dibraya tish'ah chodshei leidah shmonah yemei milah shiv'ah yemei shabatah Shisha, sidre mishna Chamisha chumshei torah arba imahot Shlosha avot, shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Achad asar mi yode'a achad asar ani yode'a achad asar kochvaya asara dibraya tish'ah chodshei leidah shmonah yemei milah shiv'ah yemei shabatah Shisha, sidre mishna Chamisha chumshei torah arba imahot Shlosha avot, shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Shneim-asar mi yode'a shneim-asar ani yode'a shneim-asar shivtaya achad asar kochvaya asara dibraya tish'ah chodshei leidah shmonah yemei milah shiv'ah yemei shabatah Shisha, sidre mishna Chamisha chumshei torah arba imahot Shlosha avot, shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. Shlosha-asar mi yode'a Shlosha-asar ani yode'a Shlosha-asar midaya shneim-asar shivtaya achad asar kochvaya asara dibraya tish'ah chodshei leidah shmonah yemei milah shiv'ah yemei shabatah Shisha, sidre mishna Chamisha chumshei torah arba imahot Shlosha avot, shnei luchot habrit echad elokeinu shebashamaim uva'aretz. | 1 - who knows 1 1 - I know 1 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 2 who knows 2 2 I know 2 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 3 who knows 3 3 I know 3 3 are our forefathers 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 4 who knows 4 4 I know 4 4 are our matriarchs, 3 are our forefathers 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 5 who knows 5 5 I know 5 5 are the books of the torah, 4 are our matriarchs, 3 are our forefathers 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 6 who knows 6 6 I know 6 6 are the orders of the mishnah 5 are the books of the torah, 4 are our matriarchs, 3 are our forefathers 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 7 who knows 7 7 I know 7 7 are the days in a week till Shabbat 6 are the orders of the mishnah 5 are the books of the torah, 4 are our matriarchs, 3 are our forefathers 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 8 who knows 8 8 I know 8 8 are the days to the brit milah 7 are the days in a week till Shabbat 6 are the orders of the mishnah 5 are the books of the torah, 4 are our matriarchs, 3 are our forefathers 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 9 who knows 9 9 I know 9 9 are the months before birth, 8 are the days to the brit milah 7 are the days in a week till Shabbat 6 are the orders of the mishnah 5 are the books of the torah, 4 are our matriarchs, 3 are our forefathers 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 10 who knows 10 10 I know 10 10 are the commandments 9 are the months before birth, 8 are the days to the brit milah 7 are the days in a week till Shabbat 6 are the orders of the mishnah 5 are the books of the torah, 4 are our matriarchs, 3 are our forefathers 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 11 who knows 11 11 I know 11 11 are the stars in Joseph's dream 10 are the commandments 9 are the months before birth, 8 are the days to the brit milah 7 are the days in a week till Shabbat 6 are the orders of the mishnah 5 are the books of the torah, 4 are our matriarchs, 3 are our forefathers 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 12 who knows 12 12 I know 12 12 are the Tribes of Israel 11 are the stars in Joseph's dream 10 are the commandments 9 are the months before birth, 8 are the days to the brit milah 7 are the days in a week till Shabbat 6 are the orders of the mishnah 5 are the books of the torah, 4 are our matriarchs, 3 are our forefathers 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. 13 who knows 13 13 I know 13 13 are the attributes of God 12 are the Tribes of Israel 11 are the stars in Joseph's dream 10 are the commandments 9 are the months before birth, 8 are the days to the brit milah 7 are the days in a week till Shabbat 6 are the orders of the mishnah 5 are the books of the torah, 4 are our matriarchs, 3 are our forefathers 2 are the tablets of the commandments 1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth. |
One little goat, one little goat!!!
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