Haggadot Contributors

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Hallel is an opportunity to sing songs of praise and freedom. After Hallel, we drink the fourth cup of wine. Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree hagafen. We drink the fourth cup of wine in a reclining position. Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, for the vine and the...

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When the blessings after the meal have been said, finish with a blessing for the third cup of wine. Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree hagafen. Drink the third cup of wine.  Fill the fourth cup of wine. Open the door for Elijah the Prophet.  All rise and say together, Pour our Your...

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The word 'afkoman' is of Greek derivation, according to some authorities from ἐπὶ κῶμον (epikohmon) - a call for the after-dinner pastime (κῶμον) - or the ἐπικώμιον (epikomion, festal song).  This is the final part of the seder meal. The Hebrew word for this part of the seder, tzafun, means 'hidden', because now is the time to eat the larger piece of the middle matzah that was hidden earlier - the afikoman.  Each person at the seder table receives a piece....

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The Talmud records a debate from ancient times in which the foremost teachers and interpreters of the law debated how to eat the seder's required foods: meat from the Passover sacrifice, maror, and matzah.  Many rabbis wrote that each food should be eaten separately.  They said each food has its own blessing and its own symbolism. Eating them together would be unnecessary and even confusing. Rabbi Hillel, however, argued that by combining the symbol of slavery (maror), the symbol of redemption...

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During the course of a holiday about the joy of freedom, we make a special effort to turn the story of our bitter history into a sweet celebration. We recognize this by dipping our bitter herbs into the sweet charoset. We don’t totally eradicate the taste of the bitter with the taste of the sweet… but doesn’t the sweet mean more when it’s layered over the bitterness? The bitter herbs serve to remind us of how the Egyptians embittered the lives...

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Say the blessings over the matzah together: Blessed are you, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְ‑יָ אֱ‑לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha’Olam Hamotzi lechem min haaretz. Blessed are you, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, Who made us holy with mitzvot and commanded us concerning the eating of matzah. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל אֲכִילַת מַצָּה...

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Wash the hands, raise them in the air, and say: Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who has made us holy with mitzvot and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְ‑יָ אֱ‑לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדָים: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha’Olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim. One should not speak until after making the next two blessings and eating the matzah.

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Rabban Gamliel used to say: Whoever does not discuss the following three things on Passover has not fulfilled his duty, namely: The Passover Offering The Matzah The Bitter Herbs The Passover offering which our ancestors ate in the Temple days, what was the reason for it? It was because the Omnipresent passed over our ancestors' houses in Egypt, as it is said: "You shall say, It is a Passover offering to the Eternal, because God passed over the houses of the...

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Also on the table is a cup of wine left untouched for Elijah the prophet, Eliahu HaNavi. According to Jewish tradition, the Prophet Elijah was a brave man who denounced the slavery and wickedness, and he will return one day to lead everyone to peace and freedom. Jewish legends recall the mystical appearance of Elijah in times of trouble, to promise relief and redemption, to lift downcast spirits and to plant hope in the hearts of the downtrodden. It is customary...

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How thankful must we be to God, for all the good that the Omnipresent did for us. Had God brought us out from Egypt and not executed judgment against the Egyptians,It would have been enough! Dayenu! Had God executed judgment against the Egyptians and not destroyed their idols,It would been enough! Dayenu! Had God destroyed their idols and not slain their firstborn,It would been enough! Dayenu! Had God slain their first born and not given us their property,It would have been...

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Rabbi Yosi the Gallilean said: How do you know that the Egyptians were stricken by ten plagues in Egypt, and then were struck by fifty plagues at the sea? Of one of the plagues Egypt it is said, "The magicians said to Pharaoh `This is the finger of God.' At the Red Sea it is said, "Israel saw the great hand that the Eternal laid against Egypt; and the people feared the Eternal, and they believed in the Eternal and in...

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Rabbi Yehudah referred to the plagues by their Hebrew initials.  Spill three drops of wine. D'tzach דְּצ"ַךְAdash עַד"ַשׁB'achav בְּאַח"ַב

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"The Eternal took as out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with a great manifestation, and with signs and wonders." "The Eternal took us out of Egypt," not by a ministering angel, not by a fiery angel and not through a messenger, but only by the glory of God. Thus it is said: "In that night I will pass through the land of Egypt, and I will smite every first-born in the land of Egypt, from...

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In the beginning our ancestors served idols; but now the Eternal One has brought us into service, as it is said: "Joshua said to all the people: Thus said the Eternal God of Israel, `Your ancestors used to live on the other side of the river - Terach, the father of Abraham and the father of Nachor - and they served other gods. "And I took your father Abraham from beyond the river, and I led him throughout the whole land...

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We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Eternal our God, took us out from there with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm. If the God had not taken our fathers out of Egypt, then we, our children and our children's children might still have been enslaved to Pharaoh in Egypt. Therefore, if all of us were wise, all of us understanding, all of us learned in the Torah, we would still be obligated to discuss the exodus...

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How is this night different from all other nights? מַה נִּשְּׁתַּנָה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹתMah nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilot? On all other nights, we eat both leavened and unleavened bread. Why on this night, only unleavened bread? שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה, הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כּוּלוֹ מַצָּהSheb'chol haleilot anu ochlin chametz umatzah, halailah hazeh, kuloh matzah. On all other nights, we eat all vegetables. Why, on this night, only bitter herbs? שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת, הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מָרוֹר...