Haggadot Contributors

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Reader: Each cup we raise this night is an act of memory and of reverence. The story we tell, this year as every year, is not yet done. It begins with them, then; it continues with us, now. We remember not out of curiosity or nostalgia, but because it is our turn to add to the story.GroupOur challenge this year, as every year, is to feel the exodus, to open the gates of time and to become one with those who...

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The Fourth Cup of Wine The Cup of Elijah, The Cup of Hope Reader 1: Let us all fill our wine glasses. Reader 1 picks up Elijah's cup for all to see. This is the cup of Elijah. According to Jewish tradition, the Prophet Elijah was a brave man who denounced the slavery of his day. Legend teaches that he will return one day to lead everyone to peace and freedom. It was customary during the Passover Seder to open the...

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The Third Cup(Pour the third cup of wine)Reader 1: The swords have not yet been put aside, and the time of the plowshare and the pruning hooks is still to come. But the journey has begun. Towards that redemption, let us lift once again our glasses of wine andjoin in the blessing: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam boreh p’ri ha-gafen. We praise You, O God, Sovereign of the Universe, Who brings forth the fruit of the vine.(Leaning to the left,...

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The blessing over the meal and matzah הBaruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz.We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who brings bread from the land.Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al achilat matzah.We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who made us holy through obligations, commanding us to eat matzah. Distribute and eat the top and middle matzah for everyone to eat. Reader 1: We are meant to fully experience the flatness and blandness of...

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Second cup of wine: Reader: The second cup of wine is dedicated not only to the struggles of the Jewish people, but to all people seeking a secure life free of fear and persecution. In particular, may the Israelis and the Palestinians come to enjoy freedom and peace. For, as the prophet Isaiah said:Group: They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not take up sword against nation, they shall never again know war....

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Let us all fill our cups with wine... Reader 1: Tonight we drink four cups of the fruit of the vine. There are many explanations for this custom. They represent, some have said, the four terms God to describe the redemption in Exodus: "I shall take you out...", "I shall rescue you...",  "I shall redeem you...", "I shall bring you..."  The four cups might also reprsent the four corners of the earth, for freedom must live everywhere; the four seasons of...

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Reader 1: It is written that long ago, during a time of famine, the ancient Israelites traveled to Egypt. According to this legend, the Israelites at that time were all in a single family – Jacob and his children. One of Jacob's sons was Joseph, whose wisdom caused the Pharaoh – the ruler of Egypt – to make him a leader over all the people of Egypt.Reader 2: But as time passed, another Pharaoh became the ruler of Egypt. He did...

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FOUR QUESTIONS Traditionally, the youngest person present asks: Why is this night different from all other nights?1. On all other nights we eat either bread or matsah. Why, on this night, do we eat only matsah?2. On all other nights we eat herbs of any kind. Why, on this night, do we eat only bitter herbs?3. On all other nights, we do not dip our herbs even once. Why, on this night, do we dip them twice?4. On all other nights,...

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TELLING THE STORY OF PASSOVER: Magid Pour the second glass of wine for everyone. Reader 1: The Haggadah doesn’t tell the story of Passover in a linear fashion. We don’t hear of Moses being found by the daughter of Pharaoh – actually, we don’t hear much of Moses at all. Instead, we get an impressionistic collection of songs, images, and stories of both the Exodus from Egypt and from Passover celebrations through the centuries. Some say that minimizing the role of...

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Breaking the matzah There are three pieces of matzah stacked on the table. We now break the middle matzah into two pieces. The host should wrap up the larger of the pieces and, at some point between now and the end of dinner, hide it. This piece is called the afikomen, literally "dessert." After dinner, the guests will have to hunt for the afikomen. Reader 1: Ha lachma anya—this is the bread of affliction. At the seder we begin as slaves....

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KADESH - The blessing over wine All Jewish celebrations, from holidays to weddings, include wine as a symbol of our joy – not to mention a practical way to increase that joy. The seder starts with wine and then gives us three more opportunities to refill our cup and drink.  This is a symbol of transcendence and sancification. Reader: Traditionally, the four cups represent God’s four promises to the Israelites. God’s first promise, “I will bring you out from under the...

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Introduction: Reader: We have come together this evening for many reasons.We are here because Spring is all around, the Earth is reborn, andit is a good time to celebrate with family and friends. We are herebecause we are Jews and friends of Jews. We are here to honorthe Jewish nation’s deep historic roots and its old importantmemories. Group: We are here to remember the old story of the liberation ofthe ancient Hebrews from slavery in Egypt – a great struggle forfreedom...