The First Cup

Haggadah Section: Kadesh

Tonight we drink four cups of wine. It is said that each cup represents something different. Some say they represent our matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. Others say they represent the Four Worlds: Physicality, emotions, thought and essence.

The most common representation is the four promises of liberation God makes in the Torah: 

I will bring you out, I will deliver you, I will redeem you, I will take you to be my people (Exodus 6:6-7).

The four promises, in turn, suggest four stages of liberation: becoming aware of oppression, opposing oppression, imagining alternatives and accepting responsibility to act.

The first cup of wine reminds us of God's first declaration: "I will bring  you  out from the oppression". 

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בָּנוּ מִכָּל-עָם, וְרוֹמְמָנוּ מִכָּל-לָשׁוֹן, וְקִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וַתִּתֶּן-לָנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּאַהֲבָה (לשבת שַׁבָּתוֹת לִמְנוּחָה וּ)מוֹעֲדִים לְשִׂמְחָה, חַגִּים וּזְמַנִּים לְשָׂשׂוֹן אֶת-יוֹם (לשבת הַשַּׁבָּת הַזֶה וְאֶת-יוֹם) חַג הַמַּצוֹת הַזֶּה. זְמַן חֵרוּתֵנוּ, (לשבת בְּאַהֲבָה,) מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ, זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם. כִּי בָנוּ בָחַרְתָּ וְאוֹתָנוּ קִדַּשְׁתָּ מִכָּל-הָעַמִים. (לשבת וְשַׁבָּת) וּמוֹעֲדֵי קָדְשֶׁךָ (לשבת בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן) בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְשָׂשׂוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּנוּ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְקַדֵּשׁ (לשבת הַשַׁבָּתוְ)יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַזְמַנִּים:

Baruch atah, Adonai, eloheynu melech ha’olam, asher bakhar banu mikol am, v’rom’manu mikol lashon, v’kidshanu b’mitzvotav. Va-titen lanu Adonai eloheynu, b’ahavah (shabatot limnucha u-) mo’adim l’simkha, hagim uz’manim l’sason, et yom (ha-shabbat hazeh v'et yom) chag ha-matzot hazeh, z’man cheruteinu,  (b'ahavah) mikra kodesh, zecher l’tziat mitzrayim.  Ki vanu vacharta, v’otanu kidashta, mikol ha’amim u-moadim kadshekha (b'ahavah uvratzon) v’simcha uv-sason hin-khal-tanu. Baruch atah, Adonai, m’kadesh (ha-shabbat v') Yisrael v’hazmanim

We praise You, Sovereign of Existence! You have called us for service from among the peoples, and have hallowed our lives with commandments. In love You have given us (Shabbat and) festivals for rejoicing, seasons of celebration, including this (Shabbat and this) Festival of Matzot, the time of our freedom, a commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt. Praised are You, our Eternal God, Who gave us this joyful heritage and Who sanctifies (Shabbat and) Israel and the Festivals.

If the seder falls on Saturday night, continue here...

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחֹל בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹשֶׁךְ, בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַמִים, בֵּין יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה. בֵּין קְדֻּשַּׁת שַׁבָּת לִקְדֻשַּׁת יוֹם טוֹב הִבְדַּלְתָּ. וְאֶת-יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִשֵּׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה קִדַּשְׁתָּ. הִבְדַּלְתָּ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ אֶת-עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּקְדֻשָּׁתֶךָ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַמַּבְדִּיל ומְגַשֵר בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְקֹדֶשׁ: 

Baruch atah, Adonai, eloheinu melech ha'olam, borei m'orei ha'esh. Baruch atah, Adonai, eloheinu melech ha'olam, hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol. Bein or l'choshech,  bein Yisrael l'amim, bein yom ha-shvi'i l'sheishet y'mei ha-ma'aseh. Bein k'dushat Shabbat likdushat Yom Tov hivdalta. V'et-yom ha-shvi'i m'sheishet y'mei ha-ma'aseh kidashta. Hivdalta  v'kidashta et-amcha Yisrael bikdushatecha. Baruch atah Adonai, hamavdil v'mgasher ben kodesh l'kodesh.

Praised are You, our Eternal God, who creates the lights of fire. Praised are You, our Eternal God, who separates holy from ordinary: light from dark,  the people Israel from other peoples, the day of Shabbat from the six days of work. Who separates the holiness of Shabbat from the holiness of this festival, and Who makes Shabbat and festivals holy time. Just so, you separate Israel in holiness. Blessed are You,  Adonai, who both separates and creates connections between holy time and holy time.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן.

Baruch atah, Adonai, eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.

Source:  
Velveteen Rabbi's Haggadah for Pesach

Inspired to create
your own Haggadah?

Make your own Haggadah and share with other Seder lovers around the world

Have an idea
for a clip?

People like you bring their creativity to Haggadot.com when they share their ideas in a clip

Support Us
with your donation

Help us build moments of meaning and connection through
home-based Jewish rituals.

OUR TOP CONTRIBUTORS

contributor image
Esther Kustanowitz
4 Haggadahs44 Clips
contributor image
JQ International
1 Haggadah40 Clips
contributor image
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
5 Haggadahs109 Clips
contributor image
18Doors
1 Haggadah13 Clips
contributor image
JewishBoston
1 Haggadah78 Clips
contributor image
Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
1 Haggadah36 Clips
contributor image
American Jewish World Service
1 Haggadah44 Clips
contributor image
JewBelong
3 Haggadahs57 Clips
contributor image
Repair the World
12 Clips
contributor image
HIAS
5 Haggadahs48 Clips
contributor image
Be'chol Lashon
2 Haggadahs27 Clips
contributor image
PJ Library
1 Haggadah17 Clips
contributor image
Jewish World Watch
3 Haggadahs42 Clips
contributor image
Secular Synagogue
10 Clips
contributor image
SVIVAH
1 Haggadah9 Clips
contributor image
The Blue Dove Foundation
20 Clips
contributor image
ReformJudaism.org
24 Clips
contributor image
Jewish Emergent Network
1 Haggadah22 Clips

Passover Guide

Hosting your first Passover Seder? Not sure what food to serve? Curious to
know more about the holiday? Explore our Passover 101 Guide for answers
to all of your questions.

Haggadot

Haggadot.com by Recustom, is a free resource for all backgrounds and experiences. Consider making a donation to help support the continuation of this free platform.

Copyright © 2024 Custom and Craft Jewish Rituals Inc, dba Recustom, dba Haggadot.com.
All Rights Reserved. 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. EIN: 82-4765805.