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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Thank you for joining us as we gather tonight to read the words of this Haggadah that has been designed to tell the story of Passover, guide us as we hear of the how the Jewish people were freed from being slaves in Egypt and engage us to think about our very own freedom.
For over 2000 years, the Jewish people have celebrated the Exodus from Egypt. Back nearly 4000 years ago, our people were slaves in the land of Egypt. Today we are free. Yet, there are many others who are not. We keep our prayers with these people in the wish that one day, they too will be free.
As history tells it, on a night such as this, our ancestors went forth out of Egypt, leaving behind slavery. Tonight we celebrate their freedom and ours. May this seder tonight inspire us and our children to light the torch of freedom for all the world.
The Seder Plate
Think of the Seder Plate as a “combination plate” dinner that formed the meal in ancient days. The foods were not merely symbolic, but were eaten—from the plate. As the Seder menu changed, the foods on the Seder Plate required explanation. (clockwise from the upper-right-of-center)
Zeroa (shankbone), represents the Passover offering made in Temple times.
Beitzah(boiled or roasted egg), represents the holiday offering made in the days of the Temple.
Maror (bitter herbs), is horseradish and represents the bitterness of slavery in Egypt.11 It will be explained during the Seder.
Charoset ( a mixture of chopped nuts, apples and wine (and other wonderful ingredients) represents the clay the Jews used to make bricks for the Egyptians.
Chazeret another bitter herb, a bitter lettuce.
Karpas any green vegetable (parsley, celery—some traditions suggest a boiled potato), represents the new
Our Passover Things
(To be sung to the tune of "My favorite things", from The Sound of Music)
Cleaning and cooking and so many dishes
Out with the hametz, no pasta, no knishes
Fish that's gefiltered,
horseradish that stings
These are a few of our Passover things.
Matzoh and karpas and chopped up haroset
Shankbones and kidish and Yiddish neuroses
Tante who kvetches and uncle who sings
These are a few of our Passover things.
Motzi and maror and trouble with Pharoahs
Famines and locust and slaves with wheelbarrows
Matzoh balls floating and eggshell that clings
These are a few of our Passover things.
CHORUS
When the plagues strike
When the lice bite
When we're feeling sad
We simply remember our Passover things
And then we don't feel so bad.
Our seder now is set to start
sweet juice from grapes to warm the heart
Four cups in all, we will soon drink
each time be sure, our minds should think...
Of that great and awesome time...
when God who's strong and wise and kind
gave us freedom and good laws to bind...
Each of us to one another...
parent, spouse, sister, brother.
The Torah tells us loud and clear
just listen now, you're sure to hear
Hey...Chaya, Eli, you there Chayim
Ho-tzei-tee et-chem mee ta-chat seev-lot meetz-ra-yeem.
(Shemot 6:6)
Our Torah teaches that God said: "I am the Lord. I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians." (Exodus 6:6)
Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, Bo-rei, pe-ree ha-ga-fen
O Holy One of Blessing, Your Presence fills creation, we praise You for creating the fruit of the vine.
Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam,
She-he-che-ya-nu, v'kee-ya-ma-nu, v'hee-gee-ya-nu, laz-man Ha-zeh
O Holy One of the Blessing, Your Presence fills creation thank You, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for bringing us to this happy time!
Urchatz is the time
We wash our hands, we wash them well
Who will be first, I will not tell?
Ok....I will choose if I must.
Whoever I pick will be neat, I trust.
Our tale to tell, both happy and sad,
like all great lore, some good, some bad
On our table the symbols abound
you needn't look far, they're all around
Look on your plate, for parsley green
a sign of Spring when it is seen.
And somewhere near there is salt water,
tears of slavery, hard work with mortar
And so together, we now recall
the green around, the tears that fall.
Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam,
Bo-rei pe-ree ha-a-da-mah.
Oh Holy One of Blessing, Your presence fills creation,
We praise You for creating the fruit of the ground!
source: A Family Pesach Seder In Rhyme
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.
So here's the story ...
When history started
when people began
they would bow down to idols
that just looked like a man.
But then came a moment
a long time ago
when a fellow named Abraham
realized something ... so, soooo
...So amazing that it changed everything ...
one God, one Creator, one Lord, one King
that God cares for all that is found in our sight
every elephant, octopus, human and mite
To Abraham, God made a promise,
a brit so to speak
our people would find shelter
from a life short and bleak
And we Jews, we agreed,
to this God we'd be faithful
We respect all God's laws,
we'd avoid all that's hateful
Well in time Abraham died
but the brit, it lived on
first to Isaac then Jacob
from father to son
Then came Joseph
with all of his dreams and his style
his heroics saved Egypt
from the Red Sea to the Nile
But time went on
the years went fast
and as things happened
the good life passed
There arose in Egypt a Pharaoh new
he was mean and selfish and forgetful too
of Joseph's greatness, he knew not
so against our people he did plot
This Pharaoh, he looked 'round and 'round
and lots of Hebrews he sure found
he devised a nasty and most devious plan
to enslave each Hebrew
every child, woman and man
The slaves endured the work and toil
in the hot sun, they did broil
they had no peace; they had no choice
they thought that none would hear their voice
Just when it seemed as though all was a loss
that Pharaoh forever would be their cruel boss
God heard the cry, the wail of the slaves
and God is a caring Creator who saves
And God set about to change Pharaoh's mind
Sending messengers like Moses and Aaron to find ...
…To find out if perchance...
Pharaoh might behave as mentsch
and release all the Hebrews from servitude's clench
But Pharaoh was nasty, he thought it was funny
that a God yet unseen, a God without money
could actually tell him what to do
So Pharaoh laughed, and just wouldn't give
the slaves labored on, no live and let live
Now God has love and God cares too
God certainly looks out for me and you
But God can sometimes get mad
and Pharaoh ... he was worse and bad
God had to act
with plagues, in fact
that would make all of Egypt feel sad.
(Professor Eliezer Segal, http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/) Why is it only on Passover night we never know how to do anything right? We don't eat our meals in the regular ways, the ways that we do on all other days. `Cause on all other nights we may eat all kinds of wonderful good bready treats, like big purple pizza that tastes like a pickle, crumbly crackers and pink pumpernickel, sassafras sandwich and tiger on rye, fifty falafels in pita, fresh-fried, with peanut-butter and tangerine sauce spread onto each side up-and-down, then across, and toasted whole-wheat bread with liver and ducks, and crumpets and dumplings, and bagels and lox, and doughnuts with one hole and doughnuts with four, and cake with six layers and windows and doors. Yes-- on all other nights we eat all kinds of bread, but tonight of all nights we munch matzah instead. And on all other nights we devour vegetables, green things, and bushes and flowers, lettuce that's leafy and candy-striped spinach, fresh silly celery (Have more when you're finished!) cabbage that's flown from the jungles of Glome by a polka-dot bird who can't find his way home, daisies and roses and inside-out grass and artichoke hearts that are simply first class! Sixty asparagus tips served in glasses with anchovy sauce and some sticky molasses-- But on Passover night you would never consider eating an herb that wasn't all bitter.
מַה נִּשְּׁתַּנָה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹת
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה,
-הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כּוּלוֹ מַצָּה.
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת,
- הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מָרוֹר.
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אֵין אֶנוּ מַטְבִּילִין אֲפִילוּ פַּעַם אֶחָת,
- הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה שְׁתֵּי פְעָמִים.
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין בֵּין יוֹשְׁבִין וּבֵין מְסֻבִּין,
- הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלָנו מְסֻבִּין
On all other nights, we eat either leavened bread or matzah;
on this night ... only matzah.
On all other nights, we eat all kinds of greens;
on this night, we especially eat bitter herbs.
On all other nights, we do not dip our greens at all;
on this night we dip them twice.
On all other nights, we eat in an ordinary manner.
For this celebration, we have a special ceremony.
You ask good questions
sung clear and loud
of each of you,
we all are proud
And now some answers you shall hear
this is your story
come, draw near.
No matter what your age ...
no matter how you think ...
from the sweet well of Torah, all can drink.
Perhaps you're wise, you want to know
from whence we've come
to where we'll go
Maybe you're rebellious,
could be you're rude,
if this is the case, yourself you exclude.
Some of us are simple,
basic questions we ask,
straightforward answers
no long drawn out task.
And then there are some
who are just very young ...
they don't even know what to say
we tell them of wonders,
God's strength, Pharaoh's blunders
the rest to be told another day
Cruel Pharaoh believed having slaves, it was fun
that's until God changed his mind with plague number one
Think where there's water
in oceans and sinks
in lakes and in clouds and in fountains for drinks
Now imagine the horror
to say nothing of dread
if all that clear water
should like blood become red
Well in Egypt it happened
the Nile turned to blood
all the people they panicked
as red seeped through the mud
Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plaque ended
and Pharaoh said "No!
Pharaoh was stupid, he hadn't a clue
But God caught his attention with plague number two
You may know a frog
a tadpole from birth
now imagine if frogs
covered all of the earth
Well in Egypt it happened
frogs everywhere
in gardens and basements
on clothes and in hair
No one could stand it
the green and the slime
and everywhere "ribbit"
certainly not a good time.
Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No!"
Pharaoh was foolish, believing the bad was no more
until there appeared plagues three and then four
After frogs, there came lice
causing itching and scratching
and then came the beasts
with their growling and snatching
With each plague, Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No!"
Pharaoh believed that the plagues were just tricks
until God opened his eyes with plagues five and then six
Along came a sickness that killed all livestock
the cattle, the camels, the sheep in the flock
And after that plague came boils o' so sore
all the people were screaming,
they could bear it no more.
And yet again with each plague, Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No!"
The worn out Egyptians then faced plague number seven
as hail it poured forth from the reaches of heaven
there was no escaping the hard ice as it struck
it seemed certain that Pharaoh had run out of luck
And again, Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No!"
Just when Pharaoh perceived a slight change in his fate
God tormented Egypt with a plague number eight
Locusts are insects,
in great swarms they do fly
hovering over the horizon
they darken the sky
Locusts cause trouble where ever they land
for they eat all the crops
and make fields become sand
Well in Egypt they landed
and they ate all the wheat
the people soon panicked
afraid of nothing to eat
And yet again, Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No"!
Pharaoh relaxed for he thought all was fine
But then God struck his kingdom with plague number nine
Try to think, if you will
of a day without light
incredible darkness
a terrible fright
Well, in Egypt it happened
the sun didn't shine
Not a thing could be seen,
just a horrible time
Once again, Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No!"
Pharaoh was stubborn,
he thought he was smart
with the end of each plague he would harden his heart
he was cruel, he was foolish, he was dumb, he was mean
to ignore all the warnings of that God yet unseen
The God of compassion had really no choice
for Pharaoh would not listen to God's clear holy voice
The Hebrews still suffered
slavery without end
God demanded freedom, but Pharaoh just wouldn't bend
I shudder to tell you of plague number ten
it was tragic and painful
it was it was very sad when ...
…When on that still and restless night ...
the angel of death passed through Egypt
causing sorrow, leaving fright.
All the first born Egyptians
where wealthy or poor
there were no exceptions
each went through death's dark door
The anguish was felt in every city and town
the kingdom was shattered
only death to be found
And then, in the shadow of that awesome tragedy
there emerged a small ray of hope
Pharaoh finally relented
he gave up and repented
no more plagues, nor more death could he cope
Pharaoh was defeated, his arrogance depleted
the moment of truth had arrived
the Hebrews went free
what a great victory!
That brit, God's great promise survived.
(Leaving a drop of wine/juice for each plague:
Dam/Blood, Tzfardeya/Frogs, Kinim/Lice, Arov/Wild Beasts, Dever/Blight, Sh'hin/Boils, Barad/Hail, Arbeh/Locusts, Hoshech/Darkness, Makat B'chorot/Slaying of the First Born
Our ancestors found freedom
on that incredible night
by the thousands they left Egypt
what a staggering sight!
There's much more to our story
of traditions so dear
of wonders to tell you
so much you should hear
But for the moment, at least, I think that we've told
enough of our story, of our God strong and bold
The story is wondrous
it's yours and it's mine
it's my hope and my prayer
that in freedom you'll find ...
... All of the opportunity
to learn and to grow
to read and to listen
more Torah you'll know
Two times so far we've talked about
this matzah here to figure out
And now's our chance to take a bite
to remind us of the slaves rushed flight
But first some blessings say we should
Thank God for our gifts so good
Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam,
Ha-mo-tzee le-chem meen ha-a-retz.
O Holy One of Blessing, Your Presence fills creation;
Thank you for the nourishing goodness of bread.
Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam,
a-sher keed-sha-nu be-meetz-vo-tav, vee-tzee-va-nu
al a-chee-lat ma-tzah.
O Holy One of Blessing, your Presence fills creation;
You have made us special with your Mitzvot, and You have
Instructed us to eat Matzah during Pesach
A wise Rabbi Gamliel, long ago taught
These symbols each Seder must have a clear thought
First Pesach reminds us that on the night we went free
God "passed over" our houses,
no death did we see
While all Egypt suffered,
while each home saw great strife
in the homes of our ancestors,
there were new signs of life
And the Matzah we eat to remember through taste
that from Egypt our ancestors departed in haste
they didn't have time to pause and surmise
they hadn't a moment to let their bread rise
And then there's the maror, the meal's bitter herb
a reminder of slavery, our senses disturb
The maror's a symbol intended to teach
that enslavement is evil wherever its reach
In each generation we are called and commanded
to do more than just read and then eat
our Seder is special, our gathering quite sacred
for our tradition we actually meet
At a time such as this, we really should feel
that it was we who went free on that night
For with that sensation
we are one, we're a nation
we're together for all that is right
Now let's take a deep breath
let's pause and let's think
and from the sweet cup of freedom
we'll then take a drink
We're thankful and lucky to be in this place
where the blessing of freedom
brings joy to the face
A free people are we
we're both happy and proud
we thank God for the goodness
with our prayer, clear and loud
For our Torah, it tells us
that our God strong and calm
heetz-chal-tee et-chem me-a-vo-da-tam
(Our Torah teaches that God promised our enslaved ancestors that: “ I will
deliver you from the Egyptian bondage.” Exodus 6:6)
Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu, Me-lech Ha-o-lam
Bo-rei, pe-ree ha-ga-fen.
O Holy One of Blessing, Your Presence fills creation,
We praise you for creating the fruit of the vine.
Some time ago, as we spoke
this matzah here we held and broke
It's called afikomen -- desert by and by
a fun tradition now to try
Well that matzah has now been hidden
for the moment at least, it's been lost
but I'll make you a deal, I'll give you my word
if you can find it, we'll pay the cost
(Young participants search for Afikomen.)
Our Seder's joyous interlude
our celebration soon conclude
we hope the day so soon to come
when songs of freedom all will hum
When God, the Brit did reaffirm
a promise made, in time's good turn
one day in freedom, peace and calm
"La-kach-ti et-chem lee l'am"
(Our Torah teaches that God said: "I will take you to be my people." Exodus 6:7)
Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam
Bo-rei, pe-ree ha-ga-fen.
O Holy One of Blessing, Your Presence fills creation,
We praise you for creating the fruit of the vine.
Now's the time to say good bye
we soon depart, our head held high
We pray a day when we shall see
that all God's children will be free
Perhaps next year we'll celebrate
an end to war and fear and hate
We pray as well, dear Chaya and Chaim
L'shana ha-ba-ah b'Ye-ru-sha-la-yeem
Next year in Jerusalem!!!