As we rejoice at the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery, we acknowledge this freedom was hard-earned. We regret that freedom came at the cost of others’ suffering, for we are all made in the image of God. Therefore, we take away just a little bit of our joy of wine by placing a drop of it on our plates as we recite each of the Ten Plagues. 

Dip a finger or a spoon into your wine glass to get a drop for each plague.

דָּם    dam     Blood
צְפַרְדֵּֽעַ     tzfardeiya     Frogs
כִּנִּים     kinim     Lice
עָרוֹב     arov     Beasts
דֶּֽבֶר     dever     Cattle disease
שְׁחִין     sh’chin     Boils
בָּרָד     barad     Hail
אַרְבֶּה     arbeh     Locusts
חֹֽשֶׁךְ     choshech     Darkness
מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת     makat b’chorot     Death of the firstborn

Discussion Question

The Ten Plagues wreaked havoc on the country of Egypt and all its inhabitants, including the mighty Pharaoh. They ruined livestock and agriculture, water and health, staples in ancient society as well as today. While the plagues in our story have a clear message and purpose, they are still often things that plague our world today. What else might you add to this list? What are the plagues of our day? What work can we do to rid our world of them?