One of the favorite hits from our salon, CROSSING OUR RED SEA, presented by The Braid in 2018

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Caged Bird

By Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps - on the back of the wind - and floats downstream - till the current ends - and dips his wing - in the orange sun rays - and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks - down his narrow cage - can seldom see through - his bars of rage - his wings are clipped and - his feet are tied - so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings - with a fearful trill - of things unknown - but longed for still - and his tune is heard - on the distant hill - for the caged bird - sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze - and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees - and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn - and he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams - his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream - his wings are clipped and his feet are tied - so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings - with a fearful trill - of things unknown - but longed for still - and his tune is heard - on the distant hill - for the caged bird - sings of freedom

you only run for the border when you see the whole city running as well.

no one would leave home unless home chased you, fire under feet, hot blood in your belly.

it's not something you ever thought about doing, and so when you did - you carried the anthem under your breath, waiting until the airport toilet to tear up the passport and swallow, each mouthful of paper making it clear that you would not be going back. you have to understand, no one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.

who would choose to spend days and nights in the stomach of a truck unless the miles travelled meant something more than journey.

and if you survive and you are greeted on the other side with go home blacks, refugees dirty immigrants, asylum seekers sucking our country dry of milk, dark, with their hands out smell strange, savage - look what they've done to their own countries, what will they do to ours?

for now, forget about pride your survival is more important. i want to go home, but home is the mouth of a shark home is the barrel of the gun and no one would leave home unless home chased you to the shore unless home tells you to leave what you could not behind, even if it was human. no one leaves home until home is a damp voice in your ear saying leave, run now, i don't know what i've become.

The courage to let go of the door, the handle. The courage to shed the familiar walls whose very stains and leaks are comfortable as the little moles of the upper arm; stains that recall a feast, a child’s naughtiness, a loud blistering storm that slapped the roof hard, pouring through.

The courage to abandon the graves dug into the hill, the small bones of children and the brittle bones of the old whose marrow hunger had stolen; the courage to desert the tree planted and only begun to bear; the riverside where promises were shaped; the street where their empty pots were broken.

The courage to leave the place whose language you learned as early as your own, whose customs however dangerous or demeaning, bind you like a halter you have learned to pull inside, to move your load; the land fertile with the blood spilled on it; the roads mapped and annotated for survival.

The courage to walk out of the pain that is known into the pain that cannot be imagined, mapless, walking into the wilderness, going barefoot with a canteen into the desert; stuffed in the stinking hold of a rotting ship sailing off the map into dragons’ mouths.

Cathay, India, Serbia, goldeneh medina, leaving bodies by the way like abandoned treasure. So they walked out of Egypt. So they bribed their way out of Russia under loaves of straw; so they steamed out of the bloody smoking charnelhouse of Europe on overloaded freighters forbidden all ports–

out of pain into death or freedom or a different painful dignity, into squalor and politics. We Jews are all born of wanderers, with shoes under our pillows and a memory of blood that is ours raining down. We honor only those Jews who changed tonight, those who chose the desert over bondage,

who walked into the strange and became strangers and gave birth to children who could look down on them standing on their shoulders for having been slaves. We honor those who let go of everything but freedom, who ran, who revolted, who fought, who became other by saving themselves.

On all other nights, we get biscuits and rolls,
Fluffy and puffy and full of air holes.
Why on this night, why, tell me why,
Only this flat stuff that’s always so dry.

On all other nights, we eat all kinds of greens,
And I’m starting to like them – except lima beans.
Why on this night, I ask on my knees,
Do we eat stuff so bitter it makes grownups wheeze?

On all other nights, we dip vegies just once –
Just try dipping twice and they’ll call you a dunce.
Why on this night, why, tell me true,
Why double-dipping’s the right thing to do.

On all other nights, we sit up when we munch.
You’ll choke if you slump! You’ll croak if you hunch!
Why on this night, if anyone knows,
Do we get to recline on my mom’s good pillows.

Why is this night so different from most?
Why do we do things so odd and so gross?
Why do we tell the same stories and stuff?
Because when it’s Pesach, it’s never enough!

Repair the World and Be’chol Lashon invite you to explore how the Jewish community, a multiracial and multiethnic people, can examine our past and present journeys from Exodus to freedom. Ask guests to read the questions aloud and share their own Passover traditions!

Question: Why do Jews from Gibraltar sprinkle a little bit of brick dust into their charoset? Answer: To remind them of the bricks that the Israelite slaves were forced to make.

Question: What do Hungarian Jews place on the Seder table to represent the precious gifts given to the Israelites as they departed Egypt? Answer: Gold and Jewelry

Question: When they read the piece of the Haggadah that begins “We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt” (In Hebrew “Avadim Hayinu”), Jews from this country take a pillowcase filled with heavy objects and carry it on their backs around the table. Answer: Syria

Question: Which symbol from the seder plate do the Kavkazi Jews of the Caucasus hide for the children to find instead of the matza? Answer: An Egg

Question: Why do many Middle Eastern Jewish families whip each other with scallions at the Seder table? Answer: To mimic the whips of slave drivers in Egypt.

Question: Because Moses floated in the river what item do many Jews of Tunisia decorate with a colored cloth in this, and place on the Seder table? Answer: A basket

Question: At Passover, the Abayudaya Jews of what country celebrate the anniversary of the overthrow of the brutal dictator Idi Amin, who outlawed the practice of Judaism? Answer: Uganda

Question: At the beginning of the Seder, what do Jews from Morocco pass above their heads three times while reciting "In haste we came out of Egypt”? Answer: A Seder Plate

Question: Tunisian Jews place a fish bowl with live fish swimming in it on the Passover table. Which part of the Exodus story does this commemorate? Answer: The crossing of the Red Sea

Question: What do Iraqi Jews tie to the back of a small child while telling them to guard it until end of the Seder? Answer: The Afikomen

Question: In which country is the Seder “interrupted” by a knock on the door by a member of the family dressed up as a nomad. The leader of the Seder asks: “Where are you coming from?” (Egypt) Where are you going?” (Jerusalem). Answer: Iraq

-

According to research done by Be’chol Lashon, 20% of American Jews identify as African American, Latinx, Asian, mixed race, Sephardi and Mizrahi. This year, join us as we celebrate Passover rituals from diverse Jewish communities and traditions.

Download the PDF place cards here: https://werepair.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Passover_Place_Cards.pdf

אַדִיר בִּמְלוּכָה, בָּחוּר כַּהֲלָכָה, גְּדוּדָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ 
לְךָ וּלְךָ, לְךָ כִּי לְךָ, לְךָ אַף לְךָ, לְךָ יי הַמַּמְלָכָה, כִּי לוֹ נָאֵֶה, כִּי לוֹ יָאֶה. 

דָּגוּל בִּמְלוּכָה, הָדוּר כַּהֲלָכָה, וָתִיקָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ: 
לְךָ וּלְךָ, לְךָ כִּי לְךָ, לְךָ אַף לְךָ, לְךָ יי הַמַּמְלָכָה, כִּי לוֹ נָאֵֶה, כִּי לוֹ יָאֶה. 

זַכַּאי בִּמְלוּכָה, חָסִין כַּהֲלָכָה טַפְסְרָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ: 
לְךָ וּלְךָ, לְךָ כִּי לְךָ, לְךָ אַף לְךָ, לְךָ יי הַמַּמְלָכָה, כִּי לוֹ נָאֵֶה, כִּי לוֹ יָאֶה. 

יָחִיד בִּמְלוּכָה, כַּבִּיר כַּהֲלָכָה לִמוּדָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ: 
לְךָ וּלְךָ, לְךָ כִּי לְךָ, לְךָ אַף לְךָ, לְךָ יי הַמַּמְלָכָה, כִּי לוֹ נָאֵֶה, כִּי לוֹ יָאֶה. 

מוֹשֵׁל בִּמְלוּכָה, נוֹרָא כַּהֲלָכָה סְבִיבָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ: 
לְךָ וּלְךָ, לְךָ כִּי לְךָ, לְךָ אַף לְךָ, לְךָ יי הַמַּמְלָכָה, כִּי לוֹ נָאֵֶה, כִּי לוֹ יָאֶה. 

עָנָיו בִּמְלוּכָה, פּוֹדֶה כַּהֲלָכָה, צַדִּיקָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ: 
לְךָ וּלְךָ, לְךָ כִּי לְךָ, לְךָ אַף לְךָ, לְךָ יי הַמַּמְלָכָה, כִּי לוֹ נָאֵֶה, כִּי לוֹ יָאֶה. 

קָּדוֹשׁ בִּמְלוּכָה, רַחוּם כַּהֲלָכָה שִׁנְאַנָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ: 
לְךָ וּלְךָ, לְךָ כִּי לְךָ, לְךָ אַף לְךָ, לְךָ יי הַמַּמְלָכָה, כִּי לוֹ נָאֵֶה, כִּי לוֹ יָאֶה. 

תַּקִיף בִּמְלוּכָה, תּוֹמֵךְ כַּהֲלָכָה תְּמִימָיו יֹאמְרוּ לוֹ: 
לְךָ וּלְךָ, לְךָ כִּי לְךָ, לְךָ אַף לְךָ, לְךָ יי הַמַּמְלָכָה, כִּי לוֹ נָאֵֶה, כִּי לוֹ יָאֶה.

Translation: Because it is proper for Him, because it befits Him. Mighty in sovereignty, rightly select. His minions say to Him: “Yours and Yours, Yours because it is Yours, Yours and only Yours— Yours, Adonai, is sovereignty!” Exalted in sovereignty, rightly glorious. His faithful ones say to Him: “Yours and Yours, Yours because it is Yours, Yours and only Yours— Yours, Adonai, is sovereignty!” Blameless in sovereignty, rightly powerful. His generals say to Him: “Yours and Yours, Yours because it is Yours, Yours and only Yours— Yours, Adonai, is sovereignty!” Singular in sovereignty, rightly strong. His learned ones say to Him: “Yours and Yours, Yours because it is Yours, Yours and only Yours— Yours, Adonai, is sovereignty!” Exalted in sovereignty, rightly awesome. Those who surround Him say to Him: “Yours and Yours, Yours because it is Yours, Yours and only Yours— Yours, Adonai, is sovereignty!” Humble in sovereignty, rightly saving. His righteous ones say to Him: “Yours and Yours, Yours because it is Yours, Yours and only Yours— Yours, Adonai, is sovereignty!” Holy in sovereignty, rightly merciful. His multitudes say to Him: “Yours and Yours, Yours because it is Yours, Yours and only Yours— Yours, Adonai, is sovereignty!” Strong in sovereignty, rightly supportive. His perfect ones say to Him: “Yours and Yours, Yours because it is Yours, Yours and only Yours— Yours, Adonai, is sovereignty!” 

Transliteration: 

Ki lo na’eh, ki lo ya’eh.

Adir bimlucha, bachur kahalcha, g’dudav yomru lo: l’cha u’l’cha, l’cha ki l’cha, l’cha af l’cha, l’cha Adonai hamamlachah, Ki lo na’eh, ki lo ya’eh.

Dagul bimluchah, hadur kahalachah, vatikav yom’ru lo: l’cha u’l’cha, l’cha ki l’cha, l’cha af l’cha, l’cha Adonai hamamlachah, Ki lo na’eh, ki lo ya’eh.

Zakai bimluchah, chasin kahalachah taf’srav yom’ru lo: l’cha u’l’cha, l’cha ki l’cha, l’cha af l’cha, l’cha Adonai hamamlachah, Ki lo na’eh, ki lo ya’eh.

Yachid bimluchah, kabir kahalachah limudav yom’ru lo: l’cha u’l’cha, l’cha ki l’cha, l’cha af l’cha, l’cha Adonai hamamlachah, Ki lo na’eh, ki lo ya’eh.

Moshail bimluchah, nora kahalachah savivav yom’ru lo: l’cha u’l’cha, l’cha ki l’cha, l’cha af l’cha, l’cha Adonai hamamlachah, Ki lo na’eh, ki lo ya’eh.

Anav bimluchah, podeh kahalachah, tzadikav yom’ru lo: l’cha u’l’cha, l’cha ki l’cha, l’cha af l’cha, l’cha Adonai hamamlachah, Ki lo na’eh, ki lo ya’eh.

Kadosh bimluchah, rachum kahalachah shinanav yom’ru lo: l’cha u’l’cha, l’cha ki l’cha, l’cha af l’cha, l’cha Adonai hamamlachah, Ki lo na’eh, ki lo ya’eh.

Takif bimluchah, tomaich kahalachah t’mimav yom’ru lo: l’cha u’l’cha, l’cha ki l’cha, l’cha af l’cha, l’cha Adonai hamamlachah, Ki lo na’eh, ki lo ya’eh.

Who Knows One? 
At some seders, people go around the table reading the question and all 13 answers in one breath. Thirteen is hard!

Who knows one?

I know one.

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows two?

I know two.

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows two?

I know two.

Three are the patriarchs

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows four?

I know four.

Four are the matriarchs

Three are the patriarchs

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows five?

I know five.

Five are the books of the Torah

Four are the matriarchs

Three are the patriarchs

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows six?

I know six.

Six are the orders of the Mishnah

Five are the books of the Torah

Four are the matriarchs

Three are the patriarchs

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows seven?

I know seven.

Seven are the days of the week

Six are the orders of the Mishnah

Five are the books of the Torah

Four are the matriarchs

Three are the patriarchs

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows eight?

I know eight.

Eight are the days for circumcision

Seven are the days of the week

Six are the orders of the Mishnah

Five are the books of the Torah

Four are the matriarchs

Three are the patriarchs

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows nine?

I know nine.

Eight are the days for circumcision

Seven are the days of the week

Six are the orders of the Mishnah

Five are the books of the Torah

Four are the matriarchs

Three are the patriarchs

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows ten?

I know ten.

Ten are the Words from Sinai

Nine are the months of childbirth

Eight are the days for circumcision

Seven are the days of the week

Six are the orders of the Mishnah

Five are the books of the Torah

Four are the matriarchs

Three are the patriarchs

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows eleven?

I know eleven.

Eleven are the stars

Ten are the Words from Sinai

Nine are the months of childbirth

Eight are the days for circumcision

Seven are the days of the week

Six are the orders of the Mishnah

Five are the books of the Torah

Four are the matriarchs

Three are the patriarchs

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows twelve?

I know twelve.

Twelve are the tribes

Eleven are the stars

Ten are the Words from Sinai

Nine are the months of childbirth

Eight are the days for circumcision

Seven are the days of the week

Six are the orders of the Mishnah

Five are the books of the Torah

Four are the matriarchs

Three are the patriarchs

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

Who knows thirteen?

I know thirteen

Thirteen are the attributes of God

Twelve are the tribes

Eleven are the stars

Ten are the Words from Sinai

Nine are the months of childbirth

Eight are the days for circumcision

Seven are the days of the week

Six are the orders of the Mishnah

Five are the books of the Torah

Four are the matriarchs

Three are the patriarchs

Two are the tablets of the covenant

One is our God in Heaven and Earth

[Verse 1]
Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing "Hallelujah"

[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

[Verse 2]
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

[Verse 3]
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light in every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

[Verse 4]
Maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

[Verse 5]
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

[Chorus]
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

An Alternate Version of Who Knows One

Source: For This We Left Egypt?

Who knows one?

I know one. One is our God who is heaven and on earth

Or rather on earth, since that is the proper preposition

To modify earth

Though these rules are rather subjective

And only God knows why you are on Manhattan or in Brooklyn

Especially with the rents these days

You might as well move to Queens

Am I right?

Who knows two?

Two is the number of fingers in the peace sign

Which we display in photos

To remind us of the fallacy of wr

Or to make air quotes

If we are douche bags

Who knows three?

Three is the holy trinity

Of delicatessen fish options

Whitefish, lox and sable

Although an argument for kippers

Could also be made

Who knows 3.28?

3.28 is Wade Boggs’ lifetime batting average

I have no idea why I know that

But I will take it to my grave

Who knows four?

Four are the acceptable types of bagels:

Sesame, poppy, onion, and everything

Get out of here with your blueberry bagel

Your asiago cheese bagel

Your Saint-John’s-wort bagel

And all the rest of these

Fugazy bagels

Who knows five?

I know five

Five are the books of the Torah

And the boroughs of New York City

But none among us

Has the wisdom to say

Which book is Staten Island

Who knows six? I know six

Six are the books of Mishnah

Which is the most Jewish book ever

Even more Jewish than Portnoy’s Complaint

Because it is basically one long argument

Who knows seven?

Seven are the days of the week

For it was Adonai our God who gave us

The weekend to chill and created

Labor unions to enforce it

Who knows eight? I know eight

Eight is the punch line to that counting joke

That doesn’t really make any sense because

Who sevens a tree? What does that even mean?

Who knows nine? I know nine

Nine are the months of pregnancy

Which is how we make more Jews

Because going door to door is for schmucks

Who knows ten?

Ten are the commandments

Which Adonai our God gave Moses

At the rate of one commandment every days

Because chiseling stone is difficult

And presumably they also took breaks

To just hang out

Who knows eleven?

I know eleven

But I’ll be damned

If I tell you

Who knows twelve? I know twelve

Twelve are the tribes of Israel

Whom we honor by being

Unable to name more than like two

Who knows thirteen? I know thirteen

Thirteen is bar or bat mitzvah

When a Jewish child becomes an adult

Which maybe made sense when

The average lifespan was twenty-nine, but

Seriously, have you spoken

To a thirteen-year-old lately?

Eight Days? A Week?
(to the tune of “Eight Days a Week”)
(Just how long is Passover, anyway?)

Ooh, I need my bread, babe Guess you know it’s true. How long must I wait, babe? What’s your point of view?

Bagels, challah! Bagels, challah! I ain’t got nothing but matzah Eight days? A week?

Some Jews say it’s seven. Some Jews say it’s eight. Just how long is Pesach? How long must I wait?

Bagels, challah! Bagels, challah! I ain’t got nothing but matzah Eight days? A week?

Eight days? A week? Of Peeeeeeeeeeeeesach.
Eight days? A week? It’s long enough to show we care.

Ooh, I need my bread, babe Guess you know it’s true. How long must I wait, babe? What’s your point of view?

Bagels, challah! Bagels, challah! I ain’t got nothing but matzah Eight days? A week?
© 2012 Barbara Sarshik and Leah Pike

Those Were The Plagues

Sung to the tune of "Those Were the Days"

God sent Moses with a plea to Pharoah

Pharoah told him he should go away.

Next day, when the kids went to school in Egypt,

All the water in the fountains was type A!

( Chorus)

Those were the plagues, my friends

We thought they'd never end

The blood and frogs and hail and beasts and lice

And Pharaoh just says no

Won't let our people go

But keeping slaves just isn't very nice.

Later frogs infested all of Egypt

And when they left, the lice were spreading, too.

But worse than that were wild beasts that plagued us

God had opened all the cages in the zoo!

( Chorus)

Fifth, came outbreaks; later came the break-outs,

Boils, then winds of hail and locusts blew.

After that came darkness, total blackout

There was nothing the electric company could do!

Those were the plagues, my friends

We thought they'd never end,

But then they did, with tragedy and woe.

When all the firstborn died, then all of Egypt cried

(sing slowly)

And Pharaoh said he'd let my people go!

Sweet Kosher Wine (to the tune of “Sweet Caroline”)

Adonai said, “I never will forget you.

I will make Pharaoh set you free.” Now here we are, drinking the wine we savor

As we recall our slavery.

(Chorus)

Hands…pouring wine,

Reaching out, red for me, white for you.

Sweet kosher wine,

You make seders seem so good (so good, so good, so good)

We all recline

And we drink you like we should.

Adonai said, “If you can learn to trust me

Then in the end you’ll just be fine.”

Now here we are, all of these long years later

Drinking our favorite seder wine.

(Repeat chorus)

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the songs of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

Will you join in our campaign?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?

Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the songs of angry men?
It is the music of the people

Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

Kol ha’olam kulo gesher tzar me’od, gesher tzar me’od, gesher tzar me’od. Kol ha’olam kulo gesher tzar me’od, gesher tzar me’od. V’ha’ikar v’ha’ikar, lo lifakeid, lo lifakeid klal. V’ha’ikar, v’ha’ikar, lo lifakeid klal.

The whole world is a very narrow bridge. The important thing is not to be afraid.

(To the tune of , of course, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame!")

Take me out to the Seder
Take me out with the crowd.
Feed me on matzah and chicken legs,
I don't care for the hard-boiled eggs.
And its root, root, root for Elijah
That he will soon reappear.
And let's hope, hope, hope that we'll meet
Once again next year!

Take me out to the Seder
Take me out with the crowd.
Read the Haggadah
And don't skip a word.
Please hold your talking,
We want to be heard.
And lets, root, root, root for the leader
That he will finish his spiel
So we can nosh, nosh, nosh and by-gosh
Let's eat the meal!!!  

[Sung to the tune of "These are a few of my favorite things"]

Cleaning and cooking and so many dishes
Out with the hametz, no pasta, no knishes
Fish that's gefillted, horseradish that stings
These are a few of our Passover things.

Matzoh and karpas and chopped up haroset
Shankbones and Kiddish 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 locusts and slaves with wheelbarrows
Matzoh balls floating and eggshell that cling
These are a few of our Passover things.

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.

Pharaoh

 to the tune of Adele’s “Hello”

Pharaoh, it’s me.

I was wondering if after all these

plagues, you’d set us free

To cross over, the Red Sea.

You’ve said that you’d decide to free us,

But you’ve done no freeing.

Pharaoh, can you hear me?

I’m in Egypt building pyramids with

the Jews in slavery

Who live in bondage, not free.

I have given you nine chances, this

is how it’s got to be.

There’s so much history, between us

Here in Mitzrayim.

Pharaoh won’t you let us go?

There’s one more plague I hate to show.

I’ll tell you, the worst one is still yet to come,

Our Adonai has promised to slay

your first son.

Pharaoh you have forced our hand,

There’s only so much we can stand.

I’ll tell you this Pharaoh, there’s no time to lose,

You should know that this last

plague will pass o’er the Jews, that’s

for sure.

Pharaoh, we’re fleeing.

We’ve gone biblical and packed up

all our things in such a hurry.

No time to bake bread.

We will eat our dough unleavened,

forming Matzah sheets instead.

It’s no secret, that all the Jews

Are crossing the Red Sea.

So now we’re on the other side,

We’ve made it safely to Sinai,

I’ll tell you, we’re free now to sing

out G-d’s praise,

Shake our timbrels, eat matzah, and

dance out our days.

Hello from the other side,

Our inner strength won’t be denied.

I’ll tell you, we’ll seek out God’s

Promised Land

Share the story and greatness of

Adonai’s plan, evermore…

Here’s a story from Exodus -

It’s about a group of Jews like us.

Took our bread, ran for the sea

To get out of slavery.

Ohhhhhhhhh -

Moses should have known from the very start -

Raised Egyptian with a Jewish heart,

Killed a slave-master, fled to a new land,

Then he kibitzed with a burning plant -

Brought a message down from God to Pharaoh,

Said “you better let those folks of mine go”

So if you don’t want 10 plagues plaguing you -

Let them become the runaround Jews

Blood and frogs and hail and lice, yeah

Boils and darkness, locusts and flies,

The cattle and the first-born died, yeah -

Pharaooooh had to realize -

Oh, the story concludes with Moses showing the way,

Then we would wander with two tablets of clay

For 40 years after flying the coop -

And we became the Runaround Jews

Oh . . . Moses had to choose

Could he be a Jew?

Did what he had to do!  Ohhhhhhhhh

We started traveling around, yeah

In Sinai when that mess went down

Now people eating matzah for lunch

We knooooow we’re God’s chosen bunch

Now you ask any simple child what to do

Just recline and sing Dayenu

Runaround jews are the crème de la creme

We’ll see you next year in Jerusalem

Oh - eretz yisrael

Oh that land is so swell

We’ll stay in a hotel!

All These Jews to the tune of “All That Jazz”

Come on, babe, it’s time to say a prayer

WITH ALL THESE JEWS.

Grab some matzah, lean back in your chair

WITH ALL THESE JEWS.

Tell a story from the days of old

When our people could be bought and sold.

Just sit back and let the tale be told

WITH ALL THESE JEWS.

God said, “Moses, take a look around.

AT ALL THESE JEWS.

Go tell Pharaoh that it’s way past time

TO FREE THESE JEWS.”

God showed Moses what he had to do,

Helped the Jews tell Pharaoh “Toodleoo.”

So tonight we’re singing Dayenu

WITH ALL THESE JEWS.

©2003 Barbara Sarshik

Super-kosher Manischewitz, Exodus and Moses
The story of the Passover our Seder meal discloses
Reminds us that the life of slaves was not a bed of roses
Super-kosher Manischewitz, Exodus and Moses

Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ai
Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ai

The Jews were bound in Egypt and were feeling rather low
So Moses went to Pharaoh and said "Let my people go."
Pharaoh said "Be gone with you," which wasn't very nice
So God commenced a run of plagues including frogs and lice

Super-kosher Manischewitz, Exodus and Moses
The story of the Passover our Seder meal discloses
We will eat gefilte fish, though some will hold their noses
Super-kosher Manischewitz, Exodus and Moses

Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ai
Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ai

The plagues were unrelenting and included hail and boils
Not to mention dreadful fates for Egypt's boys and goils
Pharaoh he surrendered, then with slightly soggy feet
The Jews walked to their freedom and that's it, come on, let's eat

Super-kosher Manischewitz, Exodus and Moses
The story of the Passover our Seder meal discloses
Finish the Haggadah before anybody dozes
Super-kosher Manischewitz, Exodus and Moses

Hey Jews, don't make it bad

Take a sad song and make it better

Remember to let her into your heart

Then you can start to make it better

Hey Jews, don't be afraid

You were made to go out and get her

The minute you let her under your skin

Then you begin to make it better

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jews, refrain

Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool

By making his world a little colder

Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah

Hey Jews, don't let me down

You have found her, now go and get her

Remember to let her into your heart

Then you can start to make it better

So let it out and let it in, hey Jews, begin

You're waiting for someone to perform with

And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jews, you'll do

The movement you need is on your shoulder

Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah yeah

Hey Jews, don't make it bad

Take a sad song and make it better

Remember to let her under your skin

Then you'll begin to make it

Better better better better better better, oh

Nah nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah, hey Jews

There's no seder like our seder, 

There's no seder I know. 

Everything about it is Halachic 

nothing that the Torah won't allow. 

Listen how we read the whole 

Haggadah It's all in Hebrew 

'Cause we know how. 

There's no Seder like our seder, 

We tell a tale that is swell: 

Moses took the people out into the heat 

They baked the matzoh 

While on their feet 

Now isn't that a story T

hat just can't be beat? 

Let's go on with the show!

One morning when Pharaoh woke in his bed,

There were frogs in his bed and frogs on his head,

Frogs on his nose, frogs on his toes,

Frogs here, frogs there

Frogs were jumping everywhere!!!

~ To the tune of “Maria”~

Elijah!

I just saw the prophet Elijah!

And suddenly that name

Will never sound the same to me

Elijah!

He came to our seder

Elijah!

He had is cup of wine

But could not stay to dine

This year –

Elijah~

For your message all Jews are waiting

That the time’s come for peace and not hating

Elijah

Next year we’ll be waiting

Elijah!

This Little Light of Mine

I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Down in my heart
I'm gonna let it shine
Down in my heart
I'm gonna let it shine.

Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

~ To the Tune of “There’s No Business Like Show Business”

There’s no seder like our seder

There’s no seder I know

Everything about it is halachic!

Nothing that the torah won’t allow

Listen how we read the whole hagaddah

It’s all in Hebrew, ‘cause we know how!

There’s no seder like our seder

We tell a tale that is swell

Moses took the people out into the head

They baked the matzah standing on their feet

Now isn’t that a story that just can’t be beat

Let’s go on with the show!

Am Yisrael chai!
Am Yisrael chai!
Am Yisrael chai!
(repeat x3)
 

Od Avinu
Od Avinu
Od Avinu
Chai
(repeat x3)
Od Avnu Chai!

עם ישראל חי

עם ישראל חי
עוד אבינו חי
 

The Jewish People Live

Our Father in Heaven Lives

As we feel how wonderful and important it is for us to come together,
let us recite and then sing the words of HINNEH MAH TOV.

HINNEH, MAH TOV - BEHOLD, HOW GOOD! (Adaptation* of T'hillim / Psalms 133.1)

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
when peoples* dwell together in unity!

Hinneh, mah tov u-mah naim
shevet ammim gam yahad!

עֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ לְפַרְעֹה בְּמִצְרָיֽם עַתָּה - בְּנֵי חוֹרִין

Avadim hayinu lepharo bemitzrayim, ata – benei chorin

We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt – now we are free

ADIR HU (MIGHTY IS GOD)

Adir hu, adir hu
Yivneh veito bekarov,
Bimheirah, bimheirah,
Beyameinu beka'rov.

Ehl benei, Ehl benei
Benei veit-cha beka'arov.

Bachur hu, gadol hu, dagul hu 

Yivneh veito bekarov,
Bimheirah, bimheirah,
Beyameinu beka'rov.

Ehl benei, Ehl benei
Benei veit-cha beka'arov.

Hadur hu, vatik hu, zakai hu 

Bachur hu, gadol hu, dagul hu 

Yivneh veito bekarov,
Bimheirah, bimheirah,
Beyameinu beka'rov.

Ehl benei, Ehl benei
Benei veit-cha beka'arov.

Chassid hu, tahor hu, yachid hu 

Hadur hu, vatik hu, zakai hu 

Bachur hu, gadol hu, dagul hu 

Yivneh veito bekarov,
Bimheirah, bimheirah,
Beyameinu beka'rov.

Ehl benei, Ehl benei
Benei veit-cha beka'arov.

AND LET'S JUST JUMP TO THE END -- All together...

Kabir hu, lamud hu, melech hu 

Nora hu, sagiv hu, iizuz hu 

Podeh hu, tzadik hu, kadosh hu

Rachum hu, shaddai hu, takif hu

Chassid hu, tahor hu, yachid hu 

Hadur hu, vatik hu, zakai hu 

Bachur hu, gadol hu, dagul hu 

Yivneh veito bekarov,
Bimheirah, bimheirah,
Beyameinu beka'arov.
Ehl benei, Ehl benei
Benei veit-cha beka'arov!

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Come gather around people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
And if your breath to you is worth saving
Then you better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changing

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no telling who that it's naming
For the loser now will be later to win
Cause the times they are a-changing

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's the battle outside raging
It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changing

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly aging
Please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand
Cause the times they are a-changing

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slowest now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is rapidly fading
And the first one now will later be last
Cause the times they are a-changing

Songwriters: Bob Dylan

By Jeff Buckley

Well I heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well it goes like this: the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah [x4]

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah [x8]

V’asu li mikdash
V’shachanti b’tocham
V’anachnu n’varech Yah
Mei-ata v’ad olam

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You

All God's critters got a place in the choir
Some sing low, some sing higher
Some sing out loud on the telephone wire
And some just clap their hands, or paws or anything they got now

Well, listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom
Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus
Moans and groans with a big to do
And the old cow just goes, 'Moo'

Well, the dogs and the cats they take up the middle
The honeybee hums and the crickets fiddle
The donkey brays and the pony neighs
The old coyote howls

All God's critters got a place in the choir
Some sing low, some sing higher
Some sing out loud on the telephone wire
And some just clap their hands, or paws or anything they got now

Well, listen to the top where the little bird sings
The melody with the high voice ringing
The hoot owl hollers over everything
And the jaybird disagrees

Singing in the nighttime, singing in the day
The little duck quacks and he's on his way
The 'possum don't have much to say
And the porcupine talks to herself

All God's critters got a place in the choir
Some sing low, some sing higher
Some sing out loud on the telephone wire
And some just clap their hands, or paws or anything they got now

Everybody here is a part of the plan
We all get to play in the great critter band
From the eagle in the sky to the whale in the sea
It's one great symphony

All God's critters got a place in the choir
Some sing low, some sing higher
Some sing out loud on the telephone wire
And some just clap their hands, or paws or anything they got now

All God's critters got a place in the choir
Some sing low, some sing higher
Some sing out loud on the telephone wire
And some just clap their hands, or paws or anything they got now

If I Had A Hammer

(Pete Seeger / Lee Hays)

If I had a hammer I'd hammer in the morning
I'd hammer in the evening all over this land
I'd hammer out danger, I'd hammer out warning
I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

If I had a bell I'd ring it in the morning
I'd ring it in the evening all over this land
I'd ring our danger, I'd ring out warning
I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

If I had a song I'd sing it in the morning
I'd sing it in the evening all over this land
I'd sing out danger, I'd sing out warning
I'd sing out love between my sisters and my brothers
All over this land

When I've got a hammer, and I've got a bell
And I've got a song to sing all over this land
It's a hammer of justice, it's a bell of freedom
It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

(to the tune of “I Could Have Danced All Night”)

I could have eaten more,
I could have eaten more,
but it’s afikomen time.

The Seder rituals
and all those victuals,
the evening was sublime.

I had my matzo with charoset
and matzo dipped in chocolate too.

I drank down all my wine
and now I’m feeling fine.
How good to share this meal with you!

Oh Mary don't you weep no more,
Oh Mary don't you weep no more,
Pharaoh's army got drownded,
Oh Mary don't you weep.

Well Moses stood on the Red Sea shore,
Smote the water with a two by four,
Pharaoh's army got drownded,
Oh Mary don't you weep.

Oh Mary don't you weep no more...

Well one of these nights about 12 o'clock,
This old world is gonna rock,
Pharaoh's army got drownded,
Oh Mary don't you weep.

Oh Mary don't you weep no more...

Brothers and sisters, don't you cry,
There'll be good times by and by,
Pharaoh's army got drownded,
Oh Mary don't you weep.

We shall overcome, we shall overcome,
We shall overcome someday.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.

The truth will make us free, the truth will make us free,
The truth will make us free someday,
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.

We’ll walk hand in hand, we’ll walk hand in hand,
We’ll walk hand in hand someday.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.

We are not afraid, we are not afraid,
We are not afraid today.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.

The truth will make us free, the truth will make us free,
The truth will make us free someday,
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.

We shall overcome, we shall overcome,
We shall overcome someday.
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,
We shall overcome someday.

Follow the Drinking Gourd

When the sun comes back and the first quail calls

Follow the drinking gourd

The old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom

Follow the drinking gourd

Follow the drinking gourd

Follow the drinking gourd

For the old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom

Follow the drinking gourd

Riverbed makes a mighty fine road

The dead trees will show you the way

And it’s left foot, peg foot traveling on

Follow the drinking gourd

The river ends between two hills

Follow the drinking gourd

There’s another river on the other side

Follow the drinking gourd

Follow the drinking gourd

Follow the drinking gourd

For the old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom

Follow the drinking gourd

I thought I heard the angels say

Follow the drinking gourd

The stars in the Heavens’ gonna show you the way

Follow the drinking gourd

Follow the drinking gourd

Follow the drinking gourd

For the old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom

Follow the drinking gourd

Follow the drinking gourd

Follow the drinking gourd

For the old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom

Follow the drinking gourd

Song: We Shall Overcome

    (Traditional African-American Spiritual)

We shall overcome, we shall overcome,

We shall overcome someday;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, 

We shall overcome someday.

The Lord will see us through, The Lord will see us through,

The Lord will see us through someday;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We shall overcome someday.

We'll walk hand in hand, we'll walk hand in hand,

We'll walk hand in hand someday;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We'll walk hand in hand someday.

We are not afraid, we are not afraid,

We are not afraid today;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We are not afraid today.

We shall live in peace, we shall live in peace,

We shall live in peace someday;

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,

We shall live in peace someday.

to the tune of “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover”

We build the pyramids. We live in pain and fear.

We’re beaten and we’re bullied by the brutal overseer.

So Moses, can you help us, cause we really need to hear

About the Fifty Ways to Leave Mitzrayim.

Fifty Ways to Leave Mitzrayim.

So Moses said, I’ve seen the way a bush can burn.

And Adonai has told me that the Jews are my concern.

So if you listen closely, I believe that you will learn

About the Fifty Ways to Leave Mitzrayim.

Fifty Ways to Leave Mitzrayim.

(Chorus)

Don’t move a brick, Rick,

Make sure to pray, Ray,

Bring on a plague, Gregg,

Listen to me.

Leave in the night, Dwight,

Don’t wait for the bread, Ned,

Cross the Red Sea, Lee,

And get yourself free.

Moses continued, We can flee our evil foe.

And Adonai will lead us to the land where we can go.

So pack your matzah quickly if you really want to know

About the Fifty Ways to Leave Mitzrayim.

Fifty Ways to Leave Mitzrayim.

(Chorus)

Don’t move a brick, Rick,

Make sure to pray, Ray,

Bring on a plague, Gregg,

Listen to me.

Leave in the night, Dwight,

Don’t wait for the bread, Ned,

Cross the Red Sea, Lee,

And get yourself free.

Ufros Aleinu Sukkat, Sukkat Sh'lomecha

Ufros Aleinu Sukkat, Sukkat Sh'lomecha

Spirit of the Universe, spread over us your canopy of Peace.

to the tune of “Hey Jude”

Hey, Jews, don’t be afraid.

You were made to Escape Mitzrayim.

In Sinai, the Lord will help you to live

And He will give you all some mayim.

Hey, Jews, it’s time to start.

God will part all The Red Sea waters.

Remember, pack matzah and be real brave.

God’s gonna save your sons and daughters.

The Lord will free you from your pain,

The whip, the chain. Have faith,

and you’ll all be happy later.

Hey, Jews, your tales from days of old will all be told

By all your descendants at their seder.

Da da da da da Da da da da.

Hey, Jews, don’t be afraid.

You were made to

Escape Mitzrayim. I

n Sinai, the Lord will help you to live

And He will give you all some mayim

Mayim, mayim, mayim, mayim, mayim, mayim, wooow!

Da da da da da da da Da da da da

Hey, Jews

Etc.

Avadim hayinu l’pharoh b’mitzrayim. Vayotzieinu Adonai Eloheinu misham, b’yad chazakah uvizroa netuyah
We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and Adonai, our God, brought us out from there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm.

Jews are a people of memory and action. On Passover, we use stories and rituals to remember and retell the narrative of our collective liberation. We share the ancient Exodus story, year after year, so that it resonates through the generations as a narrative of deliverance from slavery to freedom. In Hebrew, Egypt is called Mitzrayim, which means “a narrow place.” Every year, the Haggadah asks us not only to share the story of the Exodus, but challenges us to actively engage in the process of combating oppression. We are encouraged to connect the biblical story of Exodus to communal and individual struggles for liberation, and are reminded that the fight for freedom is ongoing.

Let’s discuss the process of Exodus, moving from “a narrow place” to a place of freedom. Every day, people fight for freedom on interpersonal, systemic, global and local levels. What are modern struggles for liberation? Discuss the following questions either in pairs or as a group to inspire thought, conversation and action:

Why do you think the text starts with “We were slaves” instead of “Our ancestors were slaves?” How does this quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. "no one is free until we are all free," connect to Avadim Hayinu? How are we free today? How are we still struggling? Share something that you are doing or can commit to doing to help move yourself or others from “a narrow place” to a place of shared freedom.