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Elijah the prophet challenged injustice and overthrew the worship of idols. He healed the humble sick and helped the widowed. Elijah declared that he would return once each generation in the guise of someone poor or oppressed, coming to people's doors to see how he would be treated. Thus would he know whether or not humanity had become ready to participate in the dawn of the Messianic age. Tonight we welcome two prophets: not only Elijah, but also Miriam, sister of...

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It is customary to begin the meal with hard-boiled eggs flavored with salt water. This was the practice in Roman times. The egg has come to be symbolic of new growth, of new life, of hope. The roasted egg on the Seder plate has come to represent the ancient Temple service in Jerusalem, the holy city. 

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Tonight we drink four cups of wine. It is said that each cup represents something different. Some say they represent our matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. Others say they represent the Four Worlds: Physicality, emotions, thought and essence.The most common representation is the four promises of liberation God makes in the Torah:  I will bring you out, I will deliver you, I will redeem you, I will take you to be my people (Exodus 6:6-7). The four promises, in turn,...

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.אדיר הוא. אדיר הוא. יבנה ביתו בקרוב. במהרה. במהרה. בימינו בקרוב. אל בנה. על בנה. בנה ביתך בקרוב Adir hu. Adir hu. Yivneh beito b'karov. Bimheyrah. Bimheyrah. V'yameynu b'karov. El b'nei. El b'nei. B'nei b'eitcha b'karov. בחור הוא. גדול הוא. דחול הוא. יבנה ביתו בקרוב. במהרה. במהרה. בימינו בקרוב. אל בנה. על בנה. בנה ביתך בקרוב Bachur hu. Gadol hu. Dachol hu. Yivneh beito b'karov. Bimheyrah. Bimheyrah. V'yameynu b'karov. El b'nei. El b'nei. B'nei b'eitcha b'karov.   נאור הוא. סגיב הוא. עזוז...

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Here concludes the Passover seder, In accordance with its rules, All its laws and dictums.Just as we were fortunateenough to make this seder,so may we be fortunateenough to do it again.Pure One who dwells on highraise up a community, A people beyond counting.May You soon guide those sturdy stems,Those freed people, on to Zion with songs of joy.Next year in Jerusalem! Next year, may we all be free!  L'shanah haba'ah birushalayim                                                                                 לֹשָנָה הָבאָה ּזבווּשָלָים

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דְזַבִּין אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָאוְאָתָא שׁוּנְרָא, וְאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְזַבִּין אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָאוְאָתָא כַלְבָּא, וְנָשַׁךְ לְשׁוּנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְזַבִּין אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַדגַּדְיָאוְאָתָא חוּטְרָא, וְהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשׁוּנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְזַבִּין אַבָּא בִּתְרֵיזוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָאוְאָתָא נוּרָא, וְשָׂרַף לְחוּטְרָא, דְהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשׁוּנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְזַבִּיןאַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָאוְאָתָא מַיָּא, וְכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחוּטְרָא, דְהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשׁוּנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָהלְגַדְיָא, דְזַבִּין אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָאוְאָתָא תוֹרָא, וְשָׁתָא...

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1.  Who knows one?  I know one!One is our God!In Heaven and the Earth.אחד אלוהינו שבשמיים ובארץ2.  Who knows two?  I know two!Two are the tablets of the commandmentsOne is our God!In Heaven and the Earth. שני לוחות הברית3.  Who knows three?  I know three!Three are the number of the patriarchs,Two are the tables of the commandmentsOne is our God!In Heaven and the Earth שלושה אבות4.  Who knows four?  I know four!Four are the number of the matriarchs, Three are the...

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We dedicate this fifth cup to our hopes that the Israelis and Palestinians will be released from the bondage of hatred and violence; that the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael may live as brothers, not enemies.  Isaac Luria taught that, when the world was made, God’s infinity was too great to be contained, and creation shattered. The world that we know consists of broken vessels, with sparks of God trapped inside. We bless this cup to remind us of our obligation...

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The fourth cup of wine represents God’s fourth declaration of redemption: “I will claim you for me as a people, and I will be your Godבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶןBaruch atah, Adonai, eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei pri hagafen. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.

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.אליָהוּ הןביא, אֵליָהוּ התשׁבּי,  אליָהוּ,  אליָהוּ,  אליָהוּ הגלעָדי, בּנהרָה ביָמֵנוּ יָבא אֵלֵינוּ עם מָשיח בּן דָוד,  עם מָשיח בּן דָוד     Eliyahu hanavi, Eliyahu hatishbi, Eliyahu hagiladi.  Bimheirah b'yameinu,  yavo eileinu,  im Mashiach ben David. May Elijah the prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah of Gilead, quickly in our day come to us heralding redemption. מִרִיַם הַנְבִעאה עז בְזִמְרָה בְיָדָהמִרִיַם תִרְקד אִתָנוּ לְתַקֵן אֶת הֵעולַםבִמְהֵרַ ה בְיָמֵנוּ הִיא תְבִיאֵנוּ !אֶל מֵי הַיְשוּעָה, אֶל מֵי הַיְשוּאָהMiriam tirkod itanu l'taken et ha-olam. Miriam ha-n'vi'ah oz...

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Elijah the prophet challenged injustice and overthrew the worship of idols. He healed the humble sick and helped the widowed. Elijah declared that he would return once each generation in the guise of someone poor or oppressed, coming to people's doors to see how he would be treated. Thus would he know whether or not humanity hadbecome ready to participate in the dawn of the Messianic age. Tonight we welcome two prophets: not only Elijah, but also Miriam, sister of Moses....

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The third cup of wine represents God’s third declaration of redemption: וגאלתי / V'go'alti —“I will liberate you with an outstretched arm…” בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן: Baruch atah, Adonai, eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei pri hagafen. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.

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PSALM 114בֵּצֵאת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם, בֵּית יַעֲקֹב מֵעַם לֹעֵז: הָיְתָה יְהוּדָה לְקָדְשׁוֹ. יִשְׂרָאֵל מַמְשְׁלוֹתָיו: הַיָּם רָאָה וַיָּנֹס, הַיַּרְדֵּן יִסֹּב לְאָחוֹר: הֶהָרִים רָקְדוּ כְאֵילִים. גְּבָעוֹת כִּבְנֵי–צֹאן:מַה–לְּךָ הַיָּם כִּי תָנוּס. הַיַּרְדֵּן תִּסֹּב לְאָחוֹר: הֶהָרִים תִּרְקְדו כְאֵילִים.  גְּבָעוֹת כִּבְנֵי–צֹאן: מִלִּפְנֵי אָדוֹן חוּלִי אָרֶץ. מִלִּפְנֵי אֱלוֹהַּ יַעֲקֹב: הַהֹפְכִי הַצּוּר אֲגַם–מָיִם. חַלָּמִישׁ לְמַעְיְנוֹ–מָיִם. B'tzeit Yisrael mi-Mitzrayim, beit Ya'acov me'am loez: haita y'hudah l'kodsho, Yisrael mamshelovav: Hayam ra'ah vayanos, ha-Yarden yisov l'achor: heharim rakdo k'eilim. G'vaot  kivnei-tzon: mah-lecha hayam ki tanus, ha-Yarden tisov l'achor: heharim tir'kdu ch'eilim, g'vaot...

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שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלות בְּשׁוּב ה' אֶת שִׁיבַת צִיּון הָיִינוּ כְּחלְמִים:אָז יִמָלֵא שחוק פִּינוּ וּלְשׁונֵנוּ רִנָּהאָז יאמְרוּ בַגּויִם הִגְדִּיל ה' לַעֲשות עִם אֵלֶּה:הִגְדִּיל ה' לַעֲשות עִמָּנוּ הָיִינוּ שמֵחִים:שׁוּבָה ה' אֶת שְׁבִיתֵנוּ כַּאֲפִיקִים בַּנֶּגֶב:הַזּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה בְּרִנָּה יִקְצרוּ:הָלוךְ יֵלֵךְ וּבָכה נשא מֶשֶׁךְ הַזָּרַע בּא יָבא בְרִנָּה נשא אֲלֻמּתָיו: Shir Hama'alot, b'shuv Adonai et shivat tziyon hayinu k'chol'mim. Az Y'male s'chok pinu ulshoneinu rina. Az yom'ru vagoyim higdil Adonai la'asot im eleh; higdil Adonai la'asot imanu hayinu s'meicheim. Shuva Adonai et shiviteinu ka'afikim banegev. Hazor'im b'dimah...

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Find the afikoman and distribute it to all who are seated at the table. When the Temple still stood in Jerusalem, it was customary to make an offering of a paschal lamb at this season. Now we eat the afikoman in memory of the offering. Tzafun means “hidden,” and the afikoman is usually hidden for children to find. Why end the meal thus? Because we want the dinner to end with the taste of slavery/freedom in our mouths—thus the taste of...

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Why do we eat matzah?   Because during the Exodus, our ancestors had no time to waitfor dough to rise.  So they improvised flat cakes without yeast, which could be bakedand consumed in haste.  The matzah reminds us that when the chance for liberationcomes, we must seize it even if we do not feel ready—indeed, if we wait until we feel fully ready, we may never act at all ברוך אתה יי אלהינו העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץברוך אתה יי אלהינו העולם...

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Rabban Gamaliel has said: one who has not explained the following three symbols has not fulfilled their duty: Pesach (the paschal lamb), matzah, and maror. Jewish tradition grows by accretion. Rabban Gamaliel cherished three symbols; tonight we will explain seven! The Maror, bitter herb or horseradish, which represents the bitterness of slavery. The Haroset, a mixture of apples and nuts and wine, which represents the bricks and mortar we made in ancient times, and the new structures we are beginning to...

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The second cup of wine represents God’s second declaration of redemption: והצלתי /V'hitzalti— “I will free you from slavery.” ַהַּגָפֶן. ְּפרִי ּבֹורֵא הָעֹולָם, רּוחַ אֱלֹהֵינּו יְיָ, אַּתָהּבָרּוךְBaruch atah, Adonai, eloheinu ruach ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Breath of Life, creator of the fruit of the vine. 

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What does this mean, "It would have been enough"? Surely no one of these would indeed have been enough for us. Dayenu means to celebrate each step toward freedom as if it were enough, then to start out on the next step. It means that if we reject each step because it is not the whole liberation, we will never be able to achieve the whole liberation. It means to sing each verse as if it were the whole song—and then...

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In remembrance of the 2011 protests in Tunisia, Egypt, Gabon, Bahrain, Libya, and elsewhere. Liberation comes when people gather by the tens and by the thousands demanding that the despot who's held the reins step down, and in between the slogans they dish out lentils cooked over open flame, and homes open up so the protestors can shower and members of one faith link hands to protect members of another faith at prayer. Liberation comes at a cost: not only the...

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Midrash teaches us that, while watching the Egyptians succumb to the ten plagues, the angels broke into songs of jubilation. God rebuked them, saying "My creatures are perishing, and you sing praises?"As we recite each plague, we spill a drop of wine - a symbol of job - from our cups. Our joy in our liberation will always be tarnished by the pain visted upon the Egyptians                  דָם                               Blood                                                  Dam Frogs                                             Tzfarde’ah                                      צְפַרְּדֵעַLice                                                  Kinim                                              כִּנִי Wild Beasts                                          Arov                                            עָרֹובBlight                                                 Dever                                           דֶבֶרBoils                                                   ...

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That's the difficult in these times: ideals, dreams, and cherished hopes rise within us, only to meet the horrible truth and be shattered.It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the...

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I am a Jew because, born of Israel, and having lost her, I have felt her live again in me, more loving than myself.I am a Jew because, born of Israel and having regained her, I wish her to live after me, more living than myself.I am a Jew because the faith of Israel demands of me no abdication of the mind.I am a Jew because the faith of Israel requires of me all the devotion of my heart.I am a...

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וְרַּבִי ּבֶן–עֲזַרְיָה, אֶלְעָזָר וְרַּבִי יְהֹוׁשֻעַ, וְרַּבִי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, ּבְרַּבִימַעֲׂשֶה ּבִיצִיאַת מְסַּפְרִים וְהָיּו ּבִבְנֵי–בְרַק, מְסֻּבִין ׁשֶהָיּו טַרְפֹון, וְרַּבִיעֲקִיבָא, רַּבֹותֵינּו, לָהֶם: וְאָמְרּו תַלְמִידֵיהֶם ׁשֶּבָאּו עַד הַּלַיְלָה, ּכָל–אֹותֹומִצְרַיִם, ׁשַחֲרִית: ׁשֶל ׁשְמַע, קְרִיאַת זְמַןהִּגִיעַ It came to pass that Rabbi Eliezer, and Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Elazar son of Azarya, and Rabbi Akiva, and Rabbi Tarfon were in Bnei Brak discussing the Exodus from Egypt. They discussed it all night, until their students came to them to say, "Our teachers, the time has come for saying...

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Said the father to the children "At the Seder you will dine, You will eat your fill of matzoh, You will drink four cups of wine." Now this father had no daughters, But his sons they numbered four, One was wise, and one was wicked, One was simple and a bore. And the fourth was sweet and winsome, He was young and he was small, While his brothers asked the questions, He could scarcely speak at all. Said the wise one...

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At the time the Haggadah was created, it was safe for the rabbis to assume that most Jewish adults had the knowledge available to teach their children about the Exodus. At that time, perhaps, all adults did know about the Exodus from Egypt and the Jews' struggle against Pharaoh. However, in subsequent generations, not all adults are familiar with the story told in the Haggadah, with the people of Israel, with their history. It isn't only the children that need to...

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The Torah speaks of Four Students:The Sharp Student says “What are the testimonies, the statutes and the laws which our God has commanded you” and so you shall answer them according to the capacity of their sharpness of wit. The High EQ one says “What is this service to you?” So you will make an effort to reign in their longings, for s/he also wants to be a part of the integrity and perfection that comes with meaningful rituals. If you...

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HE FOUR CHILDREN (option one; there's an alternative on p. )21 Four times the Torah bids us tell our children about the Exodus from Egypt. Four times the Torah repeats: “And you shall tell your child on that day” From this, our tradition infers four kinds of children... ׁשֶאֵינֹו וְאֶחָד ּתָם, וְאֶחָד רָׁשָע, וְאֶחָד חָכָם, אֶחָד תֹורָה. ּדִּבְרָה בָנִים אַרְּבָעָהּכְנֶגֶדלִׁשְאֹול:יֹודֵעַThe Torah speaks of four kinds of children: one wise, one wicked, one simple, and one who does not yet know how...

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"So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls    wrapped in their cloaks upon their shoulders." —Exodus 12:34You’ll need to travel light.Take what you can carry: a book, a poem,a battered tin cup, your child strappedto your chest, clutching your necklacein one hot possessive fist.So the dough isn’t ready. So your heartisn't ready. You haven’t said goodbyeto the places where you hid as a child,to the friends who aren’t interested in the journey,to the graves you’ve tended.But...

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 הַּלֵילֹות? מִּכָל הַּזֶה הַּלַיְלָה ּנִׁשְּתַּנָהמַה מַּצָה: ּכֻּלֹו הַּזֶה הַּלַיְלָה ּומַּצָה. חָמֵץ אֹוכְלִין אָנּו הַּלֵילֹותׁשֶּבְכָל מָרֹור: הַּזֶה הַּלַיְלָה יְרָקֹות ׁשְאָר אֹוכְלִין אָנּו הַּלֵילֹותׁשֶּבְכָל פְעָמִים: ׁשְּתֵי הַּזֶה הַּלַיְלָה אֶחָת. ּפַעַם אֲפִילּו מַטְּבִילִין אָנּו אֵין הַּלֵילֹותׁשֶּבְכָל מְסֻּבִין: ּכֻּלָנּו הַּזֶה הַּלַיְלָה מְסֻּבִין. ּובֵין יֹוׁשְבִין ּבֵין אֹוכְלִין אָנּו הַּלֵילֹותׁשֶּבְכָל Mah nishtanah halaila hazeh mikol halaylot? Shebakhol halaylot anu okhleen khamaytz u’matzah, halaila hazeh kulo matzah. Shebakhol halaylot anu okhleen sh’ahr y’rakot, halaila hazeh maror. Shebakhol halaylot ayn anu matbeeleen afeelu pa’am akhat, halaila hazeh sh’tay f’ameem....

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 הַּלֵילֹות? מִּכָל הַּזֶה הַּלַיְלָה ּנִׁשְּתַּנָהמַה מַּצָה: ּכֻּלֹו הַּזֶה הַּלַיְלָה ּומַּצָה. חָמֵץ אֹוכְלִין אָנּו הַּלֵילֹותׁשֶּבְכָל מָרֹור: הַּזֶה הַּלַיְלָה יְרָקֹות ׁשְאָר אֹוכְלִין אָנּו הַּלֵילֹותׁשֶּבְכָל פְעָמִים: ׁשְּתֵי הַּזֶה הַּלַיְלָה אֶחָת. ּפַעַם אֲפִילּו מַטְּבִילִין אָנּו אֵין הַּלֵילֹותׁשֶּבְכָל מְסֻּבִין: ּכֻּלָנּו הַּזֶה הַּלַיְלָה מְסֻּבִין. ּובֵין יֹוׁשְבִין ּבֵין אֹוכְלִין אָנּו הַּלֵילֹותׁשֶּבְכָל Mah nishtanah halaila hazeh mikol halaylot? Shebakhol halaylot anu okhleen khamaytz u’matzah, halaila hazeh kulo matzah. Shebakhol halaylot anu okhleen sh’ahr y’rakot, halaila hazeh maror. Shebakhol halaylot ayn anu matbeeleen afeelu pa’am akhat, halaila hazeh sh’tay f’ameem....

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בְּכָל–דּוֹר וָדוֹר חַיָּב אָדָם לִרְאוֹת אֶת–עַצְמוֹ, כְּאִלּוּ הוּא יָצָאמִמִּצְרָיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר: בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂהיְיָ לִי, בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם. לֹא אֶת–אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בִּלְבָד, גָּאַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ...הוּא, אֶלָּא אַף אוֹתָנוּ גָּאַל עִמָּהֶםIn every generation on emust see oneself as if one had personally experienced the Exodus from Egypt. As it is written: "You shall speak to your children on that day, saying, this is how the Holy Blessed One redeemed me from Egypt. It wasn't merely my ancestors who were redeemed,...

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When the founder of modern Hasidism, the Baal Shem Tov, saw misfortune threatening the Jews, it was his custom to go into a certain part of the forest to meditate. There he would light a special fire, say a special prayer, and the trouble would be averted. Later, when his disciple, the Rabbi Maggid of Mezritch, had occasion for the same reason to intercede with heaven, he would go to the same place in the forest and say: "Master of the...

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Arise my beloved, my fair one                                                                                                                           ענה דודי ואמר ליAnd come away;                                                                                                                              :קימי לך רעיתי יפתי ולכי–לך                                                             For lo, the winter is past.                                                                                               צי–הנה הסתו עבר הגשמ חלף הלך לו  Flowers appear on the earth                                                                                                          הנצנימ נראו בארץ עת הזמיר  The time of singing is here                                                                                                          הגיע:וקול התור נשמע בארזנו The song of the doveIs heard in our land.Let us go down to the vineyards                                                                                                                        נשכימה לכרמים To see if the vines have budded.                                                                                                                נראה אמ פרחה הגפןThere will I give...

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This symbolic washing of the hands recalls the story of Miriam's Well. Legend tells us that this well followed Miriam, sister of Moses, through the desert, sustaining the Jews in their wanderings. Filled with mayimei chayyim, waters of life, the well was a source of strength and renewal to all who drew from it. One drink from its waters was said to alert the heart, mind and soul, and make the meaning of Torah become more clear.6 In Hebrew, urchatz means...

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THREE QUESTIONS There is a Sefardic (Iraqi or Afghani) custom of turning to the person beside you, asking these three questions, and offering the three brief answers. Who are you? (I am Yisrael.) Where are you coming from? (I am coming from Mitzrayim.) Where are you going? (I am going to Yerushalayim.)Who are you? I'm Yisrael. I'm a God-wrestler. I'm someone who wrestles with the holy, with the Source of All Being, with my understanding of ultimate reality, and I expect...