As we rejoice at our deliverance from slavery, we recall 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 made in the image of God. Therefore we do not drink a full cup of wine.
We look back now upon the ancient plagues, the plagues of legend, the signs and wonders that haunt us still:
Dip a finger into your wine glass and remove a drop for each plague.
These are the ten plagues which God brought down on the Egyptians:
Blood | Dam | דָּם
We comfort and mourn those whose blood has been spilled
Frogs | Tzfardeiya | צְפַרְדֵּֽעַ
We protest the proliferation of violence
Lice | Kinim | כִּנִּים
We combat the infestations of hatred and fear
Beasts | Arov | עָרוֹב
We appeal to all people to act with humanity
Cattle disease | Dever | דֶּֽבֶר
We overcome the sickness of racism and bigotry
Boils | Sh’chin | שְׁחִין
We tend to those who suffer from disease
Hail | Barad | בָּרָד
We respond to the storms and disasters that claim lives
Locusts | Arbeh | אַרְבֶּה
We fill the air with calls for change
Darkness | Choshech | חֹֽשֶׁךְ
We bring light to those who live in the shadows
Death of the Firstborn | Makat B’chorot | מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת
We inspire the next generaiton to carry on the struggle for a better world.
