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On a plate or napkin, place: One Zeroah - roasted lamb shankbone or chicken wing or beet ( symbol of Passover sacrifice) One Beitzah - roasted, hard-boiled egg ( symbol of ancient Temple sacrifice and of spring) Three Matzot - covered (symbol of Israel, Levite and Cohen & the bread of affliction) Karpas - parsley for saltwater-dipping (symbol of slavery's tears) Maror -horseradish (symbol of slavery's bitterness) Chazeret -romaine lettuce (2nd symbol of slavery's bitterness) Charoset - made of apple, pear,...

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Washing at this point raises the question: why now?  Is it because slaves had no time to do it? Is it in gratitude for clean water? Rabbi Elazar said that Rav Oshaya said: Anything that is dipped in a liquid before it is eaten requires the ritual of washing of hands, preventing people from making food ritually impure. Talmud Pesachim 115b Wash this time without a blessing. Shulchan Aruch 158:4  Pour cup of water over one hand three times then the...

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The [Israelites] are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Numbers 9:11 Rabbi Hillel the Elder (who lived one generation before the 2nd Temple was destroyed by Roman Imperial General Titus) used to wrap the lamb and bitter herbs and unleavened bread together. Generations of rabbis then argued about dipping or not dipping this into charoset as well as including or leaving out the lamb. Remembering the affliction, the bitterness and the hardship, make the Hillel sandwich.

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Remember the importance of gearing answers to the questioning-style & learning-style of questioners. WISE ONE: if asked: “What is the meaning of the laws God has commanded you?” then answer: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in the Narrow Places, but God brought us out of there with a mighty hand. Before our eyes, God sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Pharaoh and his whole household. But God brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land...

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REMEMBER THIS DAY, when you went out of the Narrow Places, out of the house of bondage, for with a mighty hand, God took you out of here. Exodus 13:3. I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. Psalms 119:45. We shall live at last as free men on our own soil. Theodore Herzl Freedom often improves with order; thus the Seder: table-setting, candle-lighting, sacred-making, hand-washing, vegetable-dipping, Matzoh-breaking, question-asking, story-retelling, hand-washing again, motzi/matzoh/maror/Hillel-sandwich-making, EATING!, afikomen-finding, grace-reciting,...

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The Talmudic rabbis could not agree if there should be four or five cups of wine based on Exodus 6. . . Opening the door is a welcome to the spirit of the Prophet Elijah and to the hope for the best future. אֵלִיָהוּ הַנָבִיא, אֵלִיָהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּי, אֵלִיָהוּ הַגִלְעָדִי בִּמְהֵרָה יָבוֹא אֵלֵינוּ עִם מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָוִד Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah the Giladite, May he soon come to us, with the Mashiach (age) the child of David. ............ Next...

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כֹּל עוֹד בַּלֵּבָב פְּנִימָה נֶפֶשׁ יְהוּדִי הוֹמִיָּה, וּלְפַאֲתֵי מִזְרָח, קָדִימָה, עַיִן לְצִיּוֹן צוֹפִיָּה, עוֹד לֹא אָבְדָה תִּקְוָתֵנוּ, הַתִּקְוָה בַּת שְׁנוֹת אַלְפַּיִם, לִהְיוֹת עַם חָפְשִׁי בְּאַרְצֵנוּ, אֶרֶץ צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלַיִם.   As long as in the heart within, The Jewish soul yearns, And toward the eastern edges, onward, An eye gazes toward Zion. Our hope is not yet lost, The hope that is two-thousand years old, To be a free nation in our land, The Land of Zion, Jerusalem. - lyrics Naphtali Herz Imber,...

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To help find focus for the story-telling, the youngest person who is able asks 4-in-1 questions: What is different about this night from all (other) nights. . . מַה נִּשְּׁתַּנָה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹת . . . that in all (other) nights we are eating leavened or unleavened (foods) - this night only unleavened (foods)? שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה, הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כּוּלוֹ מַצָּה . . . that in all (other) nights we are eating all kinds of the vegetables...

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חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא One little goat, one little goat: Which my father brought for two zuzim. Then came the cat who ate the goat Then came the dog who bit the cat Then came the stick that beat the dog Then came the fire that burned the stick Then came the water that quenched the fire Then came the ox who drank the water Then came the butcher who killed the ox Then came the angel of death who slew...

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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...

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Remembering that the Israelites had no time to make preparations before leaving the Narrow Places, resulting in unleavened rather than leavened bread: Blessed are you, God, ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the land. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ Blessed are you, God, who makes us holy with your good rules, including the eating of unleavened bread. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל אֲכִילַת מַצָּה

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While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free. Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer: God bless America, land that I love, Stand beside her and guide her Through the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home. God bless America, my...

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Remembering laws, stories and customs, the Passover Seder is concluding. What a privilege and joy to celebrate  the Seder together - here and now.  !! לְשָנָה הַבָאָה בִירושַָלָיִם. . . לְשָנָה הַבָאָה בִירושַָלָיִם. . . לְשָנָה הַבָאָה בִירושַָלָיִם Next Year in Jerusalem! Now. . . sing!

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Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile: דםָ BLOOD ( for each of these, dip a finger in wine cup & put a drop on the plate, but don't lick the finger ) Fish died. The river smelled. There was no water for anyone. But Pharoah's court magicians did the same to the water, so Pharoah would not let the Israelites go. A week passed; Moses and Aaron returned to Pharoah to ask again. Aaron raised the...

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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...

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בָרוךְ אַתָה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינו מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַזָן אֶת הָעוֹלָם כֻלוֹ בְטובוֹ בְחֵן בְחֶסֶד ובְרַחֲמִים הוא נוֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל בָשָר, כִי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדוֹ. ובְטובוֹ הַגָדוֹל תָמִיד לֹא חָסַר לָנו וְאַל יֶחְסַר לָנו מָזוֹן לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. בַעֲבור שְמוֹ הַגָדוֹל כִי הוא אֵל זָן ומְפַרְנֵס לַכלֹ ומֵטִיב לַכלֹ ומֵכִין מָזוֹן לְכָל בְרִיוֹתָיו אֲשֶר בָרָא. בָרוךְ אַתָה יְיָ, הַזָן אֶת הַכלֹ. Sovereign God of the universe, we praise You: Your goodness sustains the world. You are the God of grace, love, and compassion, the Source...

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And God said, "Let there be light,"...Genesis 1:3. Lighting two candles separates time periods: from regular days to festival days. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל [שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל] יוֹם טוֹב Blessed are you, God, ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with your good rules such as lighting the candles of (Shabbat and of) a good day.

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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...

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Holding up the three matzot from the Seder plate is a reminder that there was no time for yeast in bread-dough to rise - the Israelites did not have time to prepare. Exodus 12:39 Together all are welcome to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread - now and for generations to come - because it was on this very day that God brought you and I out of the Narrow Places. Exodus 12:17 This year here; next year hopefully in Jerusalem....

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While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free. Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer: God bless America, land that I love, Stand beside her and guide her Through the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home. God bless America, my...

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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...