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,...