Salvation

To symbolize the works of the Lord, we dip our finger in the wine, and put a drop on the plate every time we mention a plague.

It is said in the book of Joel: “Before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes, I will set wonders in the sky and on the earth… blood, fire and pillars of smoke: The sun shall turn to darkness and the moon into blood.” (Joel 3:3)

These are the Plagues that the holy one, blessed be he, brought upon Egypt.

Blood | Dom | דָּם

Frogs | Tzfardeyah | צְפֵרְדֵּע

Lice | Kinim | כִּנִים

Beasts | Arov | עָרוֹב

Cattle Plague | Dever | דֶּבֶר

Boils | Sh’chin | שְׁחִין

Hail | Barad | בָּרד

Locusts | Arbeh | אַרְבֶּה

Darkness | Choshech | חשֶׁךְ

Slaying of First Born |Makat Bechorot | מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת

Since ancient versions varied as to the nature and number of the plagues, it is believed that Rabbi Jehudah instituted these three phrases or acronyms to confirm the version in Exodus. Accordingly we now remove another three drops of wine from our cup of joy.

Rabbi Yehuda would assign the plagues three mnenomic signs:

דְּצַ״ךְ עַדַ״שׁ בְּאַחַ״ב. D’TZ”KH A-Da”SH B’AH”V