Maror

Haggadah Section: Maror

This is the way to experience bitterness: take a big chunk of raw horseradish, let the burning turn your face all red.

This is the way to experience bitterness: dig back to a time of raw wounds, remember how it felt before the healing began, years or months or days ago.

This is the way to experience bitterness: hold the hand of a friend in pain, listen to her story, remember Naomi who renamed herself Mara, bitterness, because she "went away full but God brought [her] back empty" (Ruth 1:21).

This is the way to experience bitterness: recall the pain and exclusion that is part of the legacy of Jewish women. Listen to the words of Bertha Pappenheim, founder of the German Jewish feminist movement, who said, "No continuing education can repair how the souls of Jewish women - and thus Judaism in its entirety - have been sinned against..."

Or the words of Henrietta Szold, founder of Hadassah, who wrote, "But do not speak to me of the progressiveness of Judaism! Why isn't there one prayer in all the books to fit my modern case - not one to raise up the spirit of the so-called emancipated woman?"

How big a piece of maror must we eat to re-experience this bitterness?

And what if I've known enough pain this year already? And what if exclusion is not just a memory for me?

​And what if I eat the whole root and my tongue catches on fire and my ears burn? Then will I know slavery?

~~~

ברוּךְ אַתָּה יְיַָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל אֲכִילַת מרוֹר:

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al achilat maror.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who made us holy through obligations, commanding us to eat bitter herbs.

Source:  
The Journey Continues: The Ma'yan Passover Haggadah

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 Haggadahs • 44 Clips
contributor image
JQ International
1 Haggadah • 40 Clips
contributor image
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
5 Haggadahs • 109 Clips
contributor image
18Doors
1 Haggadah • 13 Clips
contributor image
JewishBoston
1 Haggadah • 78 Clips
contributor image
Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
1 Haggadah • 36 Clips
contributor image
American Jewish World Service
1 Haggadah • 44 Clips
contributor image
JewBelong
3 Haggadahs • 57 Clips
contributor image
Repair the World
12 Clips
contributor image
HIAS
5 Haggadahs • 48 Clips
contributor image
Be'chol Lashon
2 Haggadahs • 27 Clips
contributor image
PJ Library
1 Haggadah • 17 Clips
contributor image
Jewish World Watch
3 Haggadahs • 42 Clips
contributor image
Secular Synagogue
10 Clips
contributor image
SVIVAH
1 Haggadah • 9 Clips
contributor image
The Blue Dove Foundation
20 Clips
contributor image
ReformJudaism.org
24 Clips
contributor image
Jewish Emergent Network
1 Haggadah • 22 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 Š 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.