Minimalist Karpas/vegetable-Dipping

The Persian/Sanskrit word, Kirpas, means "a fine linen."

Remember Joseph's brothers dipped his fancy coat in blood after selling him into slavery Genesis 37:31

Another Persian word, Karafs, means "a plant of which a salad is made." A Greek word, Karpos, means "fruit of land/rivers."(Gevaryahu, G. & Wise, M. 1999 "Why Does The Seder Begin With Karpas" Jewish Bible Quarterly 27:104-110)

Rather than dipping fine linen in blood, dip the parsley or celery into salt water.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה.

Blessed are you, God, ruler of the universe, who brings forth fruit of the earth.

haggadah Section: Karpas

Featured clips

Yachatz

Afikomen t-shirt

by Stacey Bean

-- Ten Plagues

Ten Plagues of Public Transportation

by Veronica Ades

Door standers Manspreaders We are delayed in the station because of train traffic ahead of us Pole leaners Loud talkers Mouth noises No bikes at this location

Introduction

The Passover Pine Cone - Putting Prisons on the Seder Plate

by Temple Israel of Boston

-- Four Questions

Four Alternative Questions

by HIAS

Following the framework of the Four Questions of the Passover haggadah, we ask four alternative questions for discussion. These questions are meant to spark conversations that can happen throughout the seder. First Question Read this narrative aloud and then discuss the question below. “When I found out I got into the University, I immediately called my ‘real’ mom in Afghanistan, whom I haven’t seen since I was 14. My family, which belongs to the Hazaras, lived under the constant threat of...

Introduction

Introduction to Reproductive Rights Four Cups Insert

by Religious Action Center

From Oppression to Liberation: For the Pursuit of Reproductive Justice in this Generation The four cups of wine we drink this evening are symbols of our freedom and God's presence in our lives. But, as the seder ritual reminds us, freedom is an ongoing journey. True freedom can only be enjoyed when all our sisters, brothers and others are freed of the many burdens that would delay or deny their inherent dignity. As women, we still know the shackles of oppression...

-- Cup #2 & Dayenu

Dayenu

by Rachel Kann

had you-i been given but seconds in this unreal reality, and the ten-thousand things not made themselves known to me-you, daiyenu, had the ten-thousand things made themselves known to me-you, and your-my blood not thudded circuitously, stubbornly, daiyenu, had your-my blood thudded circuitously, stubbornly, and these atoms not stayed gathered into matter as me-you, daiyenu, had these atoms stayed gathered into matter as me-you, and you-i not been born earthly entity, daiyenu, had you-i been born earthly entity, and these lungs...

-- Exodus Story

Beyonceder - He Better Call Becky With the Good Hair

by Haggadot

-- Exodus Story

Bastet

by Nina Paley

Yachatz

by Haggadot

-- Cup #2 & Dayenu

Dayenu: Learn the words to the Passover Seder song

by BimBam

Yachatz

Finding Work Amidst Discrimination

by HIAS

The 1951 Refugee Convention clearly states that host countries must permit asylum seekers and refugees to engage in both wage-earning and self-employment. According to asylum experts, “the right [to work] has been recognized to be so essential to the realization of other rights that without the right to work, all other rights are meaningless.” Even with these legal protections, though, outside of the United States, “many of the world’s refugees, both recognized and unrecognized, are effectively barred from accessing safe and...

-- Four Questions

The Haggadah's Missing Page

by VBS

The Seder is all about answering questions. But one question remains unanswered, and that’s the most important question – Why? We are taught, “ In every generation, each person must see him/herself as if s/he were redeemed from Egypt.” But why? Why return to Egypt year after year? Why re-taste the bitterness of slavery? Ask the Torah – What difference does this experience make for me? How am I shaped by the experience of slavery and liberation? Here is the Torah’s...

Kadesh

First Cup of Wine

by Deb Putnoi

-- Four Questions

Four Questions: Worker's Rights

by Alex Sabo

Four Questions: Why should we be conscious of the people who we consider strangers? Why are human beings treated as if they are disposable based on their living circumstances? Why is it important to reach out to individuals who don’t have the same rights as us? Despite what we hear about the working conditions, why do we still support the industries?

Commentary / Readings

Barekh

by Pardes

Immediately following birkat hamazon (grace after meals) we drink the third of four cups of wine. We pour the fourth cup which will be for the upcoming completion of Hallel. We also pour a fifth cup that is situated in the middle of the table called Kos Shel Eliyahu (Elijah’s Cup). This cup is left undrunk until such time as the halakhic question is answered: Do the Jews in Israel drink the fifth cup which corresponds to the fifth redemptive expression...

More clips from Jon Kessler

Kadesh

Minimalist Kadesh/Sacred-making

by Jon Kessler

I am God - and I will take you out from under the burdens...Exodus 6:6. Prepare to drink the first 3.5 to 4.5 oz cup of sweet red wine (white only if you really have to). While drinking or eating this evening, liberally leaning to the left is a reminder of royalty from ancient times. בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵאת פְּרִי הַגָפֶן בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה Blessed are you, God, ruler of...

-- Cup #2 & Dayenu

Minimalist/Dayenu-singing

by Jon Kessler

It Would Have Been Enough For Us If God only brought us out of the Narrow Places but did not make judgement on our oppressors. . . If God only made judgement on our oppressors but did not make judgement on their gods . . . If God only made judgement on their gods but did not strike down their first-born . . . If God only struck down their first-born but did not give us their wealth. . . If...

Songs

Minimalist/Echad Mi Yodeah

by Jon Kessler

Who knows one/two/three/. . . /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...

Featured clips

More clips from Jon Kessler