Contributors

Shalom Center

Philadelphia , US

The Shalom Center is dedicated to inspiring the Jewish community to greater attention and action on questions of peace and justice for the planet and all who dwell on it; and as part of this effort, to making common cause with peace and justice advocates of all faiths. Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Ph. D., founded (in 1983) and directs The Shalom Center, a prophetic voice in Jewish, multireligious, and American life that brings Jewish and other spiritual thought and practice to bear on seeking peace, pursuing justice, healing the earth, and celebrating community.

When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land

by Shalom Center

When Israel was in Egypt’s Land, Let My people go; Oppressed so hard they could not stand, Let My people go; Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt’s Land, Tell old Pharaoh: Let My people go! When they had reached the other shore, Let My people go; They sang the song of freedom o’er, Let My people go. Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt’s Land, Tell old Pharaoh: Let My people go! New Pharaohs rise to scorch all Earth, Let...

Earth & Justice Freedom-Seder - The Blessings of Redemption

by Shalom Center

There are many "recipes" for charoset, all found in the Song of Songs - which mentions raisins and quinces, nuts and wine, a profusion of spices. We are taught to chant this Song Beyond All Songs during the week of Pesach, for the Song beckons us to the vision of an ahcievable future for which Passover is one working model. A future not absolutely perfect but one in which the ethic of love and equal dignity for all human beings with...

Freedom Together

by Shalom Center

Freedom Together BREATH RENEWED: PRAYER & RESPONSE You Who are the Breath of Life, At Sinai You taught us, You shall not take My Name with an empty heart. You shall not breathe My Name with empty Spirit. Every breath we take is Itself Your Name, Part of that great Breath that is the Holy One. You Who are the Breath of Life, Heal us to breathe. I Speak I Who free you from choking In the Tight and Narrow Place:...

Shulchan Oreich

Freedom Seder 1969 Cover

by Shalom Center

Freedom Seder 1969 Cover

MLK+50 Interfaith Freedom Seder: The Fifth Cup

by Shalom Center

The Fifth Cup: The Cup of Elijah, the Cup of Activism to Create the Beloved Community “On the Shabbat just before Passover, we read the last passage of the last of the Prophets, Malachi, who proclaims on behalf of the Breath of Life: “Before the coming of the great and awesome day when the Breath of Life may become a Hurricane of Change, I will send the Prophet Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to the children and the...

MLK+50 Interfaith Freedom Seder: The Fourth Cup

by Shalom Center

“American society is living now at the moment when an abused wife walks out of the household. It is the moment of greatest possibility for freedom, and the moment of greatest danger that the abusive husband will try to kill her. Freedom depends on her having a community to protect and nurture her. “Right now, many abused communities are walking out of their abusive households. Almost certainly, there will be attempts by those in power to choke these energies to death....

MLK+50 Interfaith Freedom Seder: The Third Cup

by Shalom Center

The Third Cup: Ending Militarism and Moving toward a Worldwide Fellowship There are three aspects to the growing militarization of America: (A) The military overseas, through great increases in military budgets and the longest war in American history; (B) The militarization of domestic U.S. police forces, especially those intended to deal with Black and Latino communities; and (C) the rising number of deaths by gunfire, including by weapons intended for war. Let us look at each: “A nation that continues year...

MLK+50 Interfaith Freedom Seder: Charoset

by Shalom Center

[Share a spoon of charoset to each person around the tables.] Why do we eat charoset? “Because by mixing apples, apricots, and raisins, nuts and cinnamon, wine and cloves, we embody the tastes and smells of the Song of Songs, the earthy poem of love and Eros—the springtime when flowers rise up against winter, the juices of love arise from the depths of depression, and the night-time of history gives way to the sunlight of Eden, the garden of delight; the...

-- Cup #2 & Dayenu

MLK+50 Interfaith Freedom Seder: The Second Cup

by Shalom Center

The Second Cup: We drink to ending Materialism and to celebrating Earth and Spirit through Empathy and Justice DAYENU: THE PATH OF MANY STEPS TOWARD FREEDOM What are the Ten Healings that can begin to make our world a Beloved Community? [For each of the Ten Healings, we drink some wine or grape-juice and then say L’Chaim!—To Life!] Create organic farms in countrysides and cities. Purchase home and company electric power from wind-based suppliers. Families buy hybrid or electric cars; convince...

MLK+50 Interfaith Freedom Seder: The First Cup

by Shalom Center

The First Cup: We drink to Ending Racism and Poverty, and Birthing Racial and Economic Justice We begin with the teaching of Dr. Martin Luther King 50 years ago, on the evening before his death. He came to Memphis, Tennessee to support the striking sanitation workers of the city, and he spoke to a gathered crowd: “The issue is the refusal of Memphis to be fair and honest in its dealings with its public servants, who happen to be sanitation workers....

Maggid - Beginning

MLK Quote

by Shalom Center

MLK Quote

Preparing For The Journey

by Shalom Center

For the Passover Seder, the ancient Rabbis for many years debated whether to drink four Cups of Liberation or five. They finally decided to prepare a fifth cup but set it aside, waiting for Elijah the Prophet to come to herald the Great Turning-point of history. Elijah would decide whether we should drink the fifth cup. So we will drink four cups of wine or grape juice, dedicating these four cups to facing the deadly triplets Dr. King named (Racism, Materialism,...

Freedom Seder- Halleluyah (hallel)

by Shalom Center

[Sing this translation of psalm 149 to the tune of "Michael Row the Boat Ashore."] Praise Yah in the heavens, halleluyah. Praise God in the heights, halleluyah. Praise God, all you angels, halleluyah. Praise Yah, all you hosts, halleluyah. Praise God, sun and moon, halleluyah. Praise Yah, you stars of light, halleluyah. Praise God, you high heavens, halleluyah. All that flows in all the world, halleluyah. Let them all praise God's Name, halleluyah. For God spoke and they appeared, halleluyah. With...

Commentary / Readings

Freedom Seder- By Praising (hallel)

by Shalom Center

[There are many different traditions of songs to sing, praising the Breath of Life Who brings freedom and justice to birth.) BY PRAISING [Read together:] All living are one and holy, let us remember as we eat, as we work, as we walk and drive. All living are one and holy, we must make ourselves worthy We must act out justice and mercy and healing as the sun rises and as the sun sets, as the moon rises and the stars...

Freedom Seder- Afikoman

by Shalom Center

At the end of the meal the children are invited to hunt for the Afikoman (the piece of matzah that was hidden earlier) and it is redeemed from the children who have found it, since it is necessary to have this taste of matzah as the last taste at the end of the meal. One way of redeeming it is to ask the children to name an organization that is working for social justice, freedom, peace, or healing of the earth,...

Freedom Seder- Elijah's Cup (maggid)

by Shalom Center

{At each table, someone pours juice from the Cup of Elijah, sitting untasted in the center of the table, into each person's glass. All say together:] I take responsibility to become the Prophet Elijah, "turning the hearts of the parents to the children and the hearts of the children to the parents, lest the earth be utterly destroyed." Barukh atah YHWH elohenu ruakh ha-olam boray p'ri eytz. Blessed are You, YHWH our God, Who creates the fruit of the vine. {All...

Commentary / Readings

Freedom Seder- Freedom

by Shalom Center

[All sing:] O Freedom! O Freedom! O Freedom over me! And before I'd be a slave I'd be buried in my grave And go home to my Lord and be free! No more killing...No more hunger ...No more pollution..., etc. [Someone says:] We join at the time of Passover to connect our separate stories in the telling of new freedom. Our telling cannot end tonight. We must name and number the different tribes to carry on the journey. We have a...

-- Cup #2 & Dayenu

Freedom Seder- Dayeinu

by Shalom Center

[Raise the cup. All sing or recite Dayenu:] Had You taken us out of slavery, but not torn the Sea apart for us, it would have been enough for us! Had You brought us through it dry, but not sunk our oppressors in its midst, it would have been enough for us! Had You sunk our oppressors in its midst, but not freely fed us manna, it would have been enough for us! Had You freely fed us manna, but not...

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Freedom Seder for the Earth

Freedom Seder for the Earth

by Shalom Center

Facing the Plagues & Pharaohs of our Generation: What are the Ten Plagues endangering the earth and human life today, and what are the Ten Blessings we ourselves can bring to heal the earth and our own societies?

MLK+50 Interfaith Freedom Seder

MLK+50 Interfaith Freedom Seder

by Shalom Center

Woven by The Shalom Center To Reawaken and Renew The Prophetic Wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. During Holy Week and Passover In this 50th Year Since His Death

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