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Urchatz is rooted in the Hebrew word rachatz, meaning wash. In Aramaic, the language of the Talmud (an ancient collection of Jewish writings), the word for washing actually means 'trust'. We trust in the water, it purifies us. Traditionally now we wash our hands without blessing to prepare ourselves for the rituals. Water is connected to women in both Islam and Judaism: to Hajjar and to Miriam. Jewish legend tells of Miriam's Well, a well filled with 'living waters,' waters of...

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As we now transition from the formal telling of the Passover story to the celebratory meal, we once again wash our hands to prepare ourselves. In Judaism, a good meal together with friends and family is itself a sacred act, so we prepare for it as we prepared for our holiday ritual, recalling the way ancient priests once prepared for service in the Temple. Some people distinguish between washing to prepare for prayer and washing to prepare for food by changing...

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We're so thrilled you took part in our 4th Annual Passover in a Mosque! We thank you for opening your heart and taking a stand for solidarity and unity, for being curious and joining us to celebrate and learn together. It might not be a long exodus journey but these small steps that each of us takes will bring immense sustainable change. We stand up to hate by sharing our experiences, getting to know each other so we are not strangers...

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Passover is also called Hag HaAviv, the Spring holiday. We celebrate the newness, the hope, the possibility that spring brings. We pray for renewal, as our spring renews us and the world in which we live. We dip the Karpas in salt water to remember the tears that our ancestors shed as slaves. Before eating dip the Karpas (we'll be using parsley) in salt water and recite: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech...

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חֲסַל סִדּוּר פֶּסַח כְּהִלְכָתוֹ, כְּכָל מִשְׁפָּטוֹ וְחֻקָתוֹ. כַּאֲשֶׁר זָכִינוּ לְסַדֵּר אוֹתוֹ. כֵּן נִזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ. זָךְ שׁוֹכֵן מְעוֹנָה, קוֹמֵם קְהַל עֲדַת מִי מָנָה. בְּקָרוֹב נַהֵל נִטְעֵי כַנָּה. פְּדוּיִם לְצִיוֹן בְּרִנָּה The seder is complete, we have participated in its rituals. We have expanded on the stories of our ancestors and shared holy moments.  May our celebration of Passover enlighten and inspire us. May our gathering promote peace and blessings, in our hearts and in the world.  May our seder inspire us towards...

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We praise God, Spirit of the Universe, whose goodness sustains the world. God, thank you for this bounty. Thank you for this company. Thank you for the blessing of life. We praise you, God, may you live in us and through us. We recite the blessing for the third cup of wine: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree hagafen. We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of...

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One love! One heart! Let's get together and feel all right. Hear the children cryin' (One love!) Hear the children cryin' (One heart!), Sayin' give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right, Sayin' let's get together and feel all right. Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One love!) There is one question I'd really love to ask (One heart!) Is there a place for the hopeless sinners, Who has hurt all mankind just to...

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Our tradition speaks of four different types of children who might react differently to the Passover seder. The Hagaddah teaches us that we should speak to each child in the language that they can understand. We speak of wise, wicked, simple and innocent children, knowing that each of us can be at times of our lives one of these children. חָכָם מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מַה הָעֵדוֹת וְהַחֻקִּים וְהַמִשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶתְכֶם? וְאַף אַתָּה אֱמָר לוֹ כְּהִלְכוֹת הַפֶּסַח: אֵין מַפְטִירִין...

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We will now enjoy the festive meal. As you eat, remember that we came here to share, learn, and bond. Take the opportunity to discuss what we have done so far and feel free to ask questions. Approach anyone; no one here is a stranger.  Please consider sharing with others some of the following: your favorite holiday and family traditions, the meaning of liberation in your tradition and in your lives, what gives you hope, and what your big dreams are...

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The Sarajevo Haggadah A remarkable story of interfaith solidarity and care: The Sarajevo Haggadah is considered the most elaborately decorated codex remaining from Spanish Jewry’s Golden Age. It is named after the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sarajevo where it is kept in the National Museum.   The 14th century text is remarkable not only for its exquisite design, master-craftsmanship and rare drawings from pre-Inquisition Spain, but also for its own exodus story. It traveled through many different cultures and different people took care...

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We recite the traditional blessing for bread, with an additional blessing for the matzah: בְָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמּוֹצִיא לֶֽחֶם מִן הָאָֽרֶץ Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz. We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who brings bread from the land. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתַָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל אֲכִילַת מַצָּה Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al achilat matzah. We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who made us...

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The Hagaddah answers the four questions with the reminder that we have passed from slavery to freedom. Today, we are free! Yet, as we sit here, we know so many others are still not free. We offer gratitude for redemption and pray for a day when all people can proclaim these words: עֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ הָיִינו. עַתָּה בְּנֵי חוֹרִין Avadim hayinu hayinu. Ata b’nei chorin, b'nei chorin. Avadim hayinu, ata ata b'nei chorin, b'nei chorin We were slaves. Now we are free.

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The Israelites left Egypt in a haste and did not have time to let their bread dough rise, that is why during Passover we eat matzah, unleavened flatbread. Three matzahs are stacked on the seder table; the middle matzah of the three will now be broken in half. The larger piece is hidden somewhere in the house. Later, the children get to search for it, and whoever finds it gets a prize. The hidden broken piece is called the Afikoman, which...

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The four questions are traditionally read by the youngest child and are meant to inspire us to pause, question, and reflect. We question our actions and hope to honor those who came before us by learning from their experiences. מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילות Ma nishtana halaila hazeh mikol haleilot? Why is this night different from all other nights? שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָֽנוּ אוֹכלין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלּוֹ מצה Shebichol haleilot anu ochlin chameitz u-matzah. Halaila hazeh kulo matzah. On...

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Elijah's Cup- In Jewish tradition, Elijah is the harbinger of the Messiah, or the Messianic era, a time of peace, solidarity, friendship, and wholeness. Elijah's cup is filled and left untouched, waiting for his arrival. Miriam's Cup- A recent addition to the Passover table, Miriam’s Cup is filled with water and serves as a symbol of Miriam’s Well, which was the source of water for the Israelites in the desert. Matzah- The Israelites left Egypt in a haste and did not...

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Telling our Stories: Torah, Exodus 3:4,6,7,9,10 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said: 'Moses, Moses.' And he said: 'Here am I...' God then said: 'I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.'And God said: 'I have surely seen the...

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אִלוּ הוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִצְרַים, דַּיֵינוּ אִלוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַשַׁבָּת, דַּיֵינוּ אִלוּ נַָתַן לָנוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, דַּיֵינוּ Ilu hotzi’anu mimitzrayim, dayenu. Ilu natan lanu et hashabbat, dayenu. Ilu natan lanu et hatorah, dayenu. Had God only brought us out of Egypt, It would have been enough – Dayenu Had God only given us the Sabbath, It would have been enough – Dayenu Had God only given us the Torah, , It would have been enough – Dayenu -- The Seder reminds us...

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Raise the tray with Matzhas and recite: הָא לַחְמָא עַנְיָא דִי אֲכָלוּ אַבְהָתָנָא בְּאַרְעָא דְמִצְרָיִם. כָּל דִכְפִין יֵיתֵי וְיֵיכֹל, כָּל דִצְרִיךְ יֵיתֵי וְיִפְסַח. הָשַׁתָּא הָכָא, לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בְּאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל. הָשַׁתָּא עַבְדֵי, לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בְּנֵי חוֹרִין Ha lachma anya dee achalu avhatana b'ara d'meetzrayeem. Kol deechfeen yeitei v'yeichol, kol deetzreech yeitei v'yeefsach. Hashata hacha, l'shanah haba-ah b'ara d'yisra-el. Hashata avdei, l'shanah haba-ah b'nei choreen. This is the bread of affliction, which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who...

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Jewish celebrations usually include wine as a symbol of joy. Wine sanctifies an occasion and makes it holy. During the Passover Seder we drink four cups of wine, why four? In the Book of Exodus, God convinced the Jews to leave Egypt using four statements: I shall take you out I shall rescue you I shall redeem you I shall bring you We toast each of these statements with a cup of wine. Pour and raise your first cup of wine/grape...

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חֲסַל סִדּוּר פֶּסַח כְּהִלְכָתוֹ, כְּכָל מִשְׁפָּטוֹ וְחֻקָתוֹ. כַּאֲשֶׁר זָכִינוּ לְסַדֵּר אוֹתוֹ. כֵּן נִזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ. זָךְ שׁוֹכֵן מְעוֹנָה, קוֹמֵם קְהַל עֲדַת מִי מָנָה. בְּקָרוֹב נַהֵל נִטְעֵי כַנָּה. פְּדוּיִם לְצִיוֹן בְּרִנָּה The seder is complete, we have participated in its rituals. We have expanded on the stories of our ancestors and shared holy moments.  May our celebration of Passover enlighten and inspire us. May our gathering promote peace and blessings, in our hearts and in the world.  May our seder inspire us towards...

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Jewish tradition teaches us to rejoice at our liberation and to recognize that our liberation caused the pain and suffering of others. The rabbis taught that when the children of Israel sang songs of praise to God as the Egyptians drowned in the sea, the angels wished to join in these songs and were stopped by God: "These are my creatures who are drowning in the sea! For this you would sing songs of praise?". Thus we too lessen our joy...