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.

What is a Haggadah?

A Haggadah is the book we read from at the Passover Seder. The word Haggadah means ‘telling’. On Passover we tell the story of the Exodus of the Jewish people from the land of Egypt. 

Passover is the English translation of the word Pesach, literally to pass over- in reference to the tenth plague God cursed the Egyptians with, but that was passed over the Jewish people. 

What is a Seder?

A Seder is the ritual meal that we consume at Passover. The word Seder means ‘order’, and the order of our Seder includes the consumption of several symbolic foods that represent the journey of the people of Israel. The purpose of the symbols is so that we can experience the bitterness and the sweetness of the Exodus because we, as Jews, are supposed regard ourselves as we were personally freed from the land of Egypt. 

We begin our Seder with the candlelighting. 

Ha Lachma Anya

This is the bread of affliction, the poor bread,

which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt.

Let all who are hungry come and eat.

Let all who are in want, share the hope of Passover.

As we celebrate here, we join with our people everywhere.

This year we celebrate here.

Next year in the land of Israel.

Now we are still in bonds.

Next year may we all be free.

"Who is mighty?"   Not one who can conquer his enemies but "One who can conquer himself." [Pirkei Avot 4:1]

איזה הוא גיבור הכובש את יצרו

Many things influence us:  our genes, our parents, our early childhood, our race, creed, culture, class, and the persuasions and pressures of our environment.

But influence is not control.

Judaism is in general, and Pesach is specifically, a tutorial in Freedom:  in the ability to say “No” ; to conquer instinct by conscience.

Pharaoh was born free but became a slave to his own passions.

Once a person has chosen a path of good habits or evil habits, he tends to continue along that path, and it becomes harder and harder to change his course.

We have bechira (free-will) to accept or refuse to accept the yoke of Heaven.

First we are Free.  Don’t blame others, or chance, or ill-fortune.  The Choice Is Yours; The Responsibility Is Yours

As we rejoice at our deliverance from slavery, we acknowledge that our freedom was hard-earned. We regret that our freedom came at the cost of the Egyptians’ suffering, for we are all human beings. We pour out a drop of wine for each of the plagues as we recite them.

Dip a finger or a spoon into your wine glass for a drop for each plague.

These are the ten plagues which God brought down on the Egyptians:

דָּם Blood | dam |

צְפַרְדֵּֽעַ Frogs | tzfardeiya |

כִּנִּים Lice | kinim |

עָרוֹב Beasts | arov |

דֶּֽבֶר Cattle disease | dever |

שְׁחִין Boils | sh’chin |

בָּרָד Hail | barad |

אַרְבֶּה Locusts | arbeh |

חֹֽשֶׁךְ Darkness | choshech |

מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת Death of the Firstborn | makat b’chorot |

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? 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? 

Pharaoh Hardened His Own Heart

Adaapted From Steve Fink

"Who is mighty?"  

Not one who can conquer his enemies; but  "one who can conquer himself."  

--[Pirkei Avot 4:1]

איזה הוא גיבור הכובש את יצרו

Many things influence us:  our parents, our race, culture, class, and the  pressures of our environment.

But influence is not control.  Passover is a tutorial in freedom:  in the ability to say “No”   - to conquer instinct by conscience.

Pharaoh was born free but became a slave to his own passions.

Pharaoh was asked ten times - let my people go.  Each time that he refused, his nation suffered worse and worse plagues. Yet he continued to refuse. Why? Once a person has chosen a path of what is right (or a path of immorality), the path tends to continue, and it becomes harder and harder to change course.

At first we are the most free.  The choice is ours.  We have free-will to accept or refuse the weight of doing what is right.

During the Exodus, God performed miracles every step of the way. At our Seder we sing a song,“Dayenu,” in which we list all of those miracles and after each one the refrain is “dayenu” “it would have been enough.” Is that true? Stuck in the desert between a charging army of Egyptians and the Red Sea, doesn’t seem like a point in which we would think, “It’s okay God, you did your part, I’m good.”

Perhaps the intention of this song is that we need to make sure to appreciate and be grateful for each and every thing others do for us. In order to do that, we must remember those events uniquely, and here at the Seder we get a chance to do that.

Discussion Question: In what ways have others helped you? Is there anyone you think you should make an extra effort to say "Thank you" to?

As we now transition from the formal telling of the Passover story to the celebratory meal, we once again wash our hands to prepare ourselves. In Judaism, a good meal together with friends and family is itself a sacred act, so we prepare for it just as we prepared for our holiday ritual, recalling the way ancient priests once prepared for service in the Temple.

Some people distinguish between washing to prepare for prayer and washing to prepare for food by changing the way they pour water on their hands. For washing before food, pour water three times on your right hand and then three times on your left hand.

After you have poured the water over your hands, recite this short blessing.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ  עַל נְטִילַת יָדָֽיִם

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al n’tilat yadayim.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who made us holy through obligations, commanding us to wash our hands.