{ "clip_details": { "clip": { "is_admin": 0, "is_owner": 0, "handle": "introduction-442068", "title": "Introduction", "author": "Debbie Deren", "author_handle": "debbie-deren", "author_initials": "DD", "covertext": "Welcome to our Seder! Tonight we are gathered as friends and loved ones. Tonight we observe a most ancient and significa...", "user_image": "", "user_image_original": "", "body": "<p>Welcome to our Seder! Tonight we are gathered as friends and loved ones. Tonight we observe a most ancient and significant festival. In the telling of our tale, we are linked with countless generations, past and yet to come. The Seder takes us back to those events which occurred more than three thousand years ago. Our story is one of great power. Slaves leave Egypt and become a free people.</p>\n\n<p>History tells us that many other peoples were also enslaved by tyrants. But the Israelites were the first to rebel against slavery and to institute a holiday dedicated to freedom. Most nations observe an Independence Day, but the observance of the birthday of Jewish freedom is unique because of its profoundly religious character. Every Jewish home becomes a sanctuary, every table an altar where gratitude is expressed to God, the author of liberty. Through prayer and song, ritual and symbol, custom and ceremony, we look upon ourselves as though we were among those enslaved and then brought forth into freedom.</p>\n\n<p>Identifying with the past helps us to better appreciate the freedom that is ours and to more fully empathize with those still living under the shadow of tyrants. The Seder calls upon us to do all in our power to free them from tyranny.</p>\n\n<p>As we step into this historical experience, we cannot help but draw to mind the 65 million displaced people and refugees around the world today fleeing violence and persecution, searching for protection. Like our ancestors, today’s refugees experience displacement, uncertainty, lack of resources, and the complete disruption of their lives.</p>\n\n<p>Over the past few years, we have read almost daily about humanitarian crises, watched horrific hate crimes increase, and been overwhelmed by the sheer number of people being persecuted. We now have the opportunity this evening to move beyond the headlines and the statistics to focus on the individual experiences behind the numbers and policies. These are the experiences of people around the world who, like the ancient Israelites, are fighting for peace, acceptance and liberation amidst brokenness and rebuilding their lives. Tonight, as we embrace the experience of our ancestors, we also think of the experiences of those who still wander in search of safety, acceptance, and freedom.</p>\n\n<p>The Seder, which keeps alive in us the love of liberty, has a significance for all mankind. Freedom, which is one of man's most precious gifts, must not be taken for granted. In every age it must be won anew. The Pharaoh of the Exodus is symbolic of the tyrants in every era in history.</p>\n\n<p>If a people anywhere are exploited and oppressed, then nowhere is man really secure. The Seder expresses the need for our eternal vigilance in the struggle to preserve and advance the cause of freedom and human dignity. Let us take a moment to think about our sacrifices as a country and of our servicemen who are fighting today for this very cause. We think of them and their families on this very day and we pray for their safe return. May we take into our hearts the memory of all who have and continue to enrich our lives and to remember those who still suffer the pain of war, oppression, tyranny, and prejudice.</p>\n\n<p>Our wish:  May God grant that freedom become the lot for all mankind.</p>\n\n<p>A word about God: everyone has his or her own understanding of what God is. For some people, there is no God, while for others, God is an integral part of their lives. While we may not agree on a singular concept of God, we share a common desire for goodness to prevail in the world. And this is the meaning of tonight:  freedom winning out over slavery, good prevailing over evil.</p>\n\n<p>Please consider the source of benevolence in your life, be it God, or a belief in humanity, and hold that source in your hearts as we move through the evening.</p>\n\n<p>Now in the presence of loved ones and friends, we gather for our sacred celebration. We gather to observe the Passover, as it is written: You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of Egypt. You shall observe this day throughout generations as a practice for all times.</p>\n\n<p>Pesach is a time of inclusion. On Seder night, there are two moments when we open our doors and invite others in. One is at the opening of the Magid portion of the Seder when we say, \"All who are hungry come and eat.\" The beautiful message here:  we were once slaves; poor and hungry and we remember this by sharing what we have with others. The other comes towards the end of the Seder, when we have the custom of pouring a fifth cup of wine, which we claim is for Elijah, the Prophet. This is a statement that says that although we are a free people, our redemption is not complete and we believe that it will come. From the most downtrodden to the most celebrated, the message is clear:  everyone is welome and everyone is necessary.</p>", "cliptype": "text", "clipsource": null, "featured": 0, "featuredIn": null, "is_public": 1, "is_published": 1, "media": { "image": null, "audio": null, "video": null }, "thumbnail": null, "clip_section": [ { "haggadah_section": "Introduction", "slug": "introduction" } ], "likes": 0, "downloads": 297, "tags": [], "themes": [], "language": "0", "is_bookmarked": "0", "is_liked": 0, "meta_tags": { "title": "Introduction | Passover haggadah by Debbie Deren", "description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "keywords": "", "og:type": "article", "og:url": "https://www.haggadot.com/clip/introduction-442068", "og:title": "Introduction | Passover haggadah by Debbie Deren", "og:description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "og:image": "" } } }, "contributed_by": { "author": "Debbie Deren", "handle": "debbie-deren", "author_initials": "DD", "total_books": 0, "total_clips": 3, "total_followers": 0, "is_following": 0 }, "user_book": null, "clips_by_author": [ { "clip": { "is_admin": 0, "is_owner": 0, "handle": "lighting-of-the-candles-addition", "title": "Lighting of the Candles Additional Blessing", "author": "Debbie Deren", "author_handle": "debbie-deren", "author_initials": "DD", "covertext": "Baruch atah Adonai, eloheynu melech haolam, shecheyanu, v'keymanu, v'higeeyanu, lazman hazeh. Blessed are You, oh Lord o...", "user_image": "", "user_image_original": "", "body": "<p>Baruch atah Adonai, eloheynu melech haolam, shecheyanu, v'keymanu, v'higeeyanu, lazman hazeh.</p>\n\n<p>Blessed are You, oh Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has kept us alive and well so that we can celebrate this special time. </p>\n\n<p>In the light in which we see each other, all of us are different. It is our task to kindle the sacred fire within the human spirit that illuminates every life with love. </p>", "cliptype": "text", "clipsource": null, "featured": 0, "featuredIn": { "title": "2019 Favorites", "slug": "2019-favorites", "author": "Haggadot" }, "is_public": 1, "is_published": 1, "media": { "image": null, "audio": null, "video": null }, "thumbnail": null, "clip_section": [ { "haggadah_section": "Introduction", "slug": "introduction" } ], "likes": 0, "downloads": 472, "tags": [], "themes": [], "language": "0", "is_bookmarked": "0", "is_liked": 0, "meta_tags": { "title": "Lighting of the Candles Additional Blessing | Passover haggadah by Debbie Deren", "description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "keywords": "", "og:type": "article", "og:url": "https://www.haggadot.com/clip/lighting-of-the-candles-addition", "og:title": "Lighting of the Candles Additional Blessing | Passover haggadah by Debbie Deren", "og:description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "og:image": "" } } }, { "clip": { "is_admin": 0, "is_owner": 0, "handle": "the-ten-plagues-13", "title": "The Ten Plagues", "author": "Debbie Deren", "author_handle": "debbie-deren", "author_initials": "DD", "covertext": "A full cup of wine symbolizes complete happiness. Midrash tells us that when God heard the angels rejoicing over the Egy...", "user_image": "", "user_image_original": "", "body": "<p>A full cup of wine symbolizes complete happiness. Midrash tells us that when God heard the angels rejoicing over the Egyptian's losses, he was angry and said, \"Are not the Egyptians my people too? When all people are brothers and sisters, we mourn loss and pain no matter who suffers.\" 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 made in the image of God. We pour out a drop of wine for each of the plagues as we recite them.</p>\n\n<p>Dip a finger or a spoon into your wine glass and spill a drop for each plague. Let us deny ourselves a portion of our wine, for while we rejoice for those who are free of their oppressors, our joy is diminished by the death of their enemies. </p>\n\n<p>These are the ten plagues which God brought down on the Egyptians:</p>\n\n<p>Blood | dam | <strong>דָּם</strong></p>\n\n<p>Frogs | tzfardeiya |  <strong>צְפַרְדֵּֽעַ</strong></p>\n\n<p>Lice | kinim | <strong>כִּנִּים</strong></p>\n\n<p>Beasts | arov | <strong>עָרוֹב</strong></p>\n\n<p>Cattle disease | dever | <strong>דֶּֽבֶר</strong></p>\n\n<p>Boils | sh’chin | <strong>שְׁחִין</strong></p>\n\n<p>Hail | barad | <strong>בָּרָד</strong></p>\n\n<p>Locusts | arbeh |<strong> אַרְבֶּה</strong></p>\n\n<p>Darkness | choshech | <strong>חֹֽשֶׁךְ</strong></p>\n\n<p>Death of the Firstborn | makat b’chorot | <strong>מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת</strong></p>\n\n<p>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? Make up your own list. 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? </p>\n\n<p>If you believe that freedom for the oppressed can come from the struggle to overcome the evils of dictatorship, prejudice, greed, and fear, in addition, we must long for what is not yet accomplished. We look forward to the day that all are free from hunger, free from war, free to say what they believe, free to practice their own religious beliefs, and free to live in dignity. </p>\n\n<p>What hopes for today's world would give us great satisfaction to see accomplished?</p>\n\n<p>When all people throughout the world, live freely without interference or persecution.</p>\n\n<p><strong>It will be accomplished.</strong></p>\n\n<p>When the environment that sustains us is healthy so that it can sustain the generations to come.</p>\n\n<p><strong>It will be accomplished</strong>.</p>\n\n<p>When food and shelter are accepted as basic human rights and available to all.</p>\n\n<p><strong>It will be accomplished</strong>.</p>\n\n<p>When children grow up in freedom, and have the love and support to realize their full potential.</p>\n\n<p><strong>It will be accomplished</strong>.</p>\n\n<p>When all people have the means to care for their physical, social, and spiritual well-being.</p>\n\n<p><strong>It will be accomplished</strong>.</p>\n\n<p>When all people, are free of the threat of violence, abuse, and domination.</p>\n\n<p><strong>It will be accomplished</strong>.</p>\n\n<p>When no person has to fear hunger, cold, or loneliness.</p>\n\n<p><strong>It will be accomplished</strong>.</p>\n\n<p>When people throughout the world cherish each other's differences so that all can live in dignity.</p>\n\n<p><strong>It will be accomplished</strong>.</p>\n\n<p> <em>Raise glasses</em> </p>\n\n<p>Tonight, let all of us look for the world to be a better place. Let us sow the seed of commitment so that one day all people can experience the joy and freedom we feel celebrating with family and friends here today.</p>\n\n<p> <em>Drink toast</em> </p>\n\n<p>Peace. </p>", "cliptype": "text", "clipsource": null, "featured": 0, "featuredIn": null, "is_public": 1, "is_published": 1, "media": { "image": null, "audio": null, "video": null }, "thumbnail": null, "clip_section": [ { "haggadah_section": "-- Ten Plagues", "slug": "ten-plagues" } ], "likes": 0, "downloads": 297, "tags": [], "themes": [], "language": "0", "is_bookmarked": "0", "is_liked": 0, "meta_tags": { "title": "The Ten Plagues | Passover haggadah by Debbie Deren", "description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. 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