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Pour the second glass of wine for everyone. The Haggadah doesn’t tell the story of Passover in a linear fashion. We don’t hear of Moses being found by the daughter of Pharaoh – actually, we don’t hear much of Moses at all. Instead, we get an impressionistic collection of songs, images, and stories of both the Exodus from Egypt and from Passover celebrations through the centuries. Some say that minimizing the role of Moses keeps us focused on the miracles God...

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One of most beloved songs in the Passover seder is "Dayenu". A few of us will read the stanzas one at a time, and the everyone else will respond, "Dayenu" – meaning, “it would have been enough”.How many times do we forget to pause and notice that where we are is exactly where we ought to be? Dayenu is a reminder to never forget all the miracles in our lives. When we stand and wait impatiently for the next one to...

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GARLIC ON THE SEDER PLATE  Dori Midnight I began placing garlic on our seder plate a few years ago, as it has been central to my work of reconnecting to and re-enlivening Jewish folk healing traditions and a lifelong love. After the birth of Nishmat Shoom (the queer, radical, non-zionist minyan project I am part of, whose name, inspired by this work, means Breath or Soul of Garlic), many of the Garlic Eaters in our community began adopting this practice and...

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CUP OF REDEMPTION At a traditional seder we fill a cup of wine for the prophet Elijah who is a symbol of redemption. At this seder we are raising a cup of water as a symbol of the redemption that women have brought through the generations. All: Water is the symbol of life. Reader: The biblical prophet Miriam saved her brother from the waters of the Nile, she led the song of victory aber the waters of the red sea parted...

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THE MATZAH OF HOPE and PEACE Neal Borovitz Avadim Hayinu:  Not only were we slaves to the Pharaoh of Egypt, we have also been enslaved and persecuted by other Pharaohs.  Among these Pharaohs of every age were the Kings of Babylonia, the Emperors of Greece and Rome, the Churchmen and Nobles of Medieval Spain, Hitler and his Nazi followers, the Pharaohs of Moscow, and the dictators, potentates and terrorists of the contemporary Arab world.  The Babylonian exile was followed by a...

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Some of Passover’s most appealing aspects are its simplest, which makes it easy for interfaith families to enjoy.  On the surface, the story fits that classic “Jewish Haiku” distributed in e-mails worldwide: “They tried to kill us; we won; let’s eat.”  Underpinning this oversimplified (though not necessarily inaccurate) version and the more traditional Passover story found in the Haggadah is a real sense of optimism.  We can share this optimism with all our friends and family members, regardless of their faith...

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It is not surprising that more North American Jews celebrate Passover than any other holiday, including Hanukkah.  The spectrum of Passover holiday observance is rather wide and even the most traditional observers welcome a healthy measure of creativity to its celebration.  Adding to its appeal is that Passover is primarily home-based (not synagogue-centered) and family-oriented (welcoming of children).  Outreach to guests is affirmed as well.  And of course, it includes a major-league meal! Passover, more than any other one rite or...

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By Rabbi Kerry M. Olitzky and Adam Bronfman By gathering each year to listen to the story of Passover we re-experience our enslavement and eventual emancipation. Reminded where we come from, our motivation is renewed to fight for liberation and redemption for all. It’s one of the reasons why “social justice” is such a high priority for so many Jews. As we work to combat grave global social justice issues, we must also address the issues of social equity and full...