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The Torah speaks of four types of children: one is wise, one is wicked, one is simple, and one does not know how to ask. At the Passover seder, we are all commanded to ask questions about the story in order to fulfill the mitzvah of retelling the Passover story as if we, ourselves, were freed from Egypt. Our tradition speaks of four children: the wise child, the wicked child, the simple child, and the child who does not know how...

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We now say grace after the meal, thanking God for the food we’ve eaten. Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam, hazan et ha’olam kulo b’tuvo b’chen b’chesed v’rachamin. Hu noten lechem l’chol basar ki l’olam chasdo. Uv’tuvo hagadol tamid lo chasar lanu v’al yech’sar lanu mazon l’olam va’ed. Ba’avur sh’mo hagadol ki hu zan um’farnes lakol umetiv lakol umechin mazon l’chol b’riyotav asher bara. Baruch Atah Adonai hazan et hakol. We praise God, Spirit of Everything, whose goodness sustains the world....

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“Why on this night when we remember the oppression and resistance of Jews should we also think about the lives of people of color?” Because many Jews are people of color. Because racism is a Jewish issue. Because our liberation is connected. This clip about the experience of Jews of color is written in the first person by Leo Ferguson. As we read it, please feel free to use "we" or "they" pronouns as feels appropriate for you. White Ashkenazi Jews...

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1. Once upon a time our people went into exile in the land of Egypt. During a famine our ancestor Jacob and his family fled to Egypt where food was plentiful. His son Joseph had risen to high position in Pharaoh’s court, and our people were well-respected and well-regarded, secure in the power structure of the time. 2. Generations passed and our people remained in Egypt. In time, a new Pharaoh ascended to the throne. He found our difference threatening, and...

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Adir Hu - This Passover hymn lists attributes of God, with the refrain asking God to“build your House soon, speedily, in our time.” Today, we will sing “Adir Hu” both in praise and as a call for righteousness and compassion in our time. Adir hu, adir hu, (refrain) yivneh beito bekarov. Bimherah, bimherah, beyameinu bekarov. El bneh, el bneh, bneh beitcha bekarov. Bachur hu, gadol hu, dagul hu, (refrain) Hadur hu, vatik hu, zakai hu, (refrain) Chassid hu, tahor hu, yachid...

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by Miriam Grossman May it be your will Our God and God of our ancestors that you lead us in peace and direct our steps (our marching, Rebellious, organized, queer dance-partying, prayerful steps) in peace and guide us in peace and support us in just peace (and in the tearing down of walls, and in the rising up of peoples), and cause us to reach our destination in life and joy and peace (all of us together, no one left behind)....

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At this point in the Seder, we fill one additional cup and set it aside for the prophet Elijah. Traditionally, Elijah - Eliyahu in Hebrew - will come to herald the coming of the Messiah. It would be much easier to think that liberation will come because of some outside force - whether it be Elijah, the Messiah, or an idea of inevitable historical progress. But, in some traditions, Elijah's visit to our Seder is to check the work  we  are...

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We are gathered around this seder table as b'nei khorin, free people who still remember the long years of oppression. We have vowed never to become oppressors ourselves. Yet, we know how easy it is to harden our hearts to those who have paid an excessive price for our people's prosperity and security. Tonight we leave a place at our table for those who remain victims of oppression. Take a moment now to think about a cause you care about and...

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"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a...

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Because on all other nights we are either Jewish or GLBTQA, but on this night we are both. 1) Because on all other nights we eat leavened bread – representative of the “airiness” and artificial nature of our lives – but on this night we eat matzah – representative of transparency and plain honesty. 2) Because on all other nights we enjoy a variety of tastes and vegetables, but on this night we focus on the maror – the bitterness of...

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Ilu ho-tsi, ho-tsi-a-nu,  Ho-tsi-a-nu mi-Mitz-ra-yim,  Ho-tsi-a-nu mi-Mitz-ra-yim,  Da-ye-nu! .. CHORUS:  .. Dai, da-ye-nu,  .. Dai, da-ye-nu,  .. Dai, da-ye-nu,  .. Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!  ..  .. Dai, da-ye-nu,  .. Dai, da-ye-nu,  .. Dai, da-ye-nu,  .. Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu! Ilu na-tan, na-tan la-nu,  Na-tan la-nu et-ha-Sha-bat,  Na-tan la-nu et-ha-Sha-bat,  Da-ye-nu! .. (CHORUS) Ilu na-tan, na-tan la-nu,  Na-tan la-nu et-ha-To-rah,  Na-tan la-nu et-ha-To-rah,  Da-ye-nu! .. (CHORUS) Translation: If G-d had only brought us out of Egypt, it would have been enough! If G-d had only...

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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. We pour out a drop of wine for each of the plagues as we recite them to signify having a little less sweetness in our celebration. Dip a finger or a spoon into your wine glass for a drop for each plague. These are the ten plagues...

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Now we move to Karpas. Karpas is the Hebrew word for green vegetable. Traditionally, the karpas is either parsley or lettuce and represents the renewing of the seasons. Passover takes place during spring, and the karpas represents the beginning of a new season and the beginning of nature’s flowering. We hope the American Jewish community will renew its commitment to freedom and dignity for all peoples. The Karpas is also dipped in salt water to remind us of the bitterness of...

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Break up into groups of two to discuss the following questions: Have you or your family ever had the experience of being a stranger? Each person take a minute to share a story. Can you think of any contemporary examples of oppression of the stranger? What parallels or tensions exist between these examples, the Passover story, and the story you just shared with your partner? In today's world, what can we do, concretely, to follow the commandment to love the stranger?...

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The Cup of Elijah We now refill our wine glasses one last time and open the front door to invite the prophet Elijah to join our Seder. In the Bible, Elijah was a fierce defender of God to a disbelieving people. At the end of his life, rather than dying, he was whisked away to heaven. Tradition holds that he will return in advance of messianic days to herald a new era of peace, so we set a place for Elijah...

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Adir Hu - This Passover hymn lists attributes of God, with the refrain asking God to“build your House soon, speedily, in our time.” Today, we will sing “Adir Hu” both in praise and as a call for righteousness and compassion in our time. Adir hu, adir hu, (refrain) yivneh beito bekarov. Bimherah, bimherah, beyameinu bekarov. El bneh, el bneh, bneh beitcha bekarov. Bachur hu, gadol hu, dagul hu, (refrain) Hadur hu, vatik hu, zakai hu, (refrain) Chassid hu, tahor hu, yachid...