Some scholars believe there are four kinds of parents as well. The Wise Parent is an utter bore.“Listen closely, because you are younger than I am,” says the Wise Parent, “and I will go on and on about Jewish history, based on some foggy memories of my own religious upbringing, as well as an article in a Jewish journal I have recently skimmed.” The Wise Parent must be faced with a small smile of dim interest. The Wicked Parent tries to...

As our seder comes to an end, we fill the fourth cup of wine.  This year more than ever we see that this is not the end of a journey, but only a beginning.  Rabbi Tarfon teaches us: "Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it. " Group: Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech...

CHAD GADYA  Chad gadya, chad gadya. dizabin aba bitrei zuzei, chad gadya, chad gadya. Vih-ah-tah shun-ra,  vi-ah-hal li-gad-yah dizabin aba bitrei zuzei, chad gadya, chad gadya. Vih-ah-tah chal-bah,  vi-nah-shah leshunra di-ah-hal legadya dizabin aba bitrei zuzei, chad gadya, chad gadya. Vi-ah-tah chu-trah vi-hee-kah li-chalba, di-nah-shah leshunra di-ah-chah legadya dizabin aba bitrei zuzei, chad gadya, chad gadya. Vih-ah-tah nura, vi-sah-raf lechutra, dehikah lechalba, di-nah-shah leshunra di-ah-chah legadya dizabin aba bitrei zuzei, chad gadya, chad gadya. Vih-ah-tah maya, Vi-kih-vah lenura, desaraf lechutra, dehikah...

ADIR HU (MIGHTY IS GOD) Adir hu, adir hu Yivneh veito bekarov, Bimheirah, bimheirah, Beyameinu beka'rov. Ehl benei, Ehl benei Benei veit-cha beka'arov. Bachur hu, gadol hu, dagul hu  Yivneh veito bekarov, Bimheirah, bimheirah, Beyameinu beka'rov. Ehl benei, Ehl benei Benei veit-cha beka'arov. Hadur hu, vatik hu, zakai hu  Bachur hu, gadol hu, dagul hu  Yivneh veito bekarov, Bimheirah, bimheirah, Beyameinu beka'rov. Ehl benei, Ehl benei Benei veit-cha beka'arov. Chassid hu, tahor hu, yachid hu  Hadur hu, vatik hu, zakai hu ...

We also set aside a special cup of wine: The Cup of Elijah. In these times, we are told not to open the door for anyone. Yet, there is one exception - the mystical figure of Elijah. As he enters our homes, he is our sole guest, reminding us that next year, or even sooner, we will be able to welcome him in together with our families and friends.  We will sing together, and then we will each open our doors...

After the meal we drink the third cup of wine for the third promise of Adonai: I will redeem you... ... Redemption means not only rescuing us from slavery into freedom, but protecting us and building our lives. As God provided for our needs on the long journey from Egypt, let us work today to make sure our communities have what they need for protection and rebuilding.  Blessed are You, Adonai our God, who gives us the opportunity to be your...

Participant: The bitter herbs, maror, recall the bitterness of slavery. We may eat the maror with haroset, because the trials of slavery were sweetened by the hope of freedom. We cannot forget either hardship or hope.  (all take some maror, and some haroset if you wish, and eat it on a piece of lettuce) All: Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al achilat maror. Participant: On Passover, in the days of the Temple in Jerusalem, Rabbi Hillel...

Participant: We each take a piece of parsley and dip it twice in salt water.  The salt water represents the tears of suffering, while the green vegetable is the promise of new life that will come with spring time. [ Dip the green vegetable in salt water and pass it around. When everyone has a piece of it, all say: ] בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה. Barukh atah Adonai, eloheynu melekh ha'olam, borey pri ha'adamah. Blessed art...

We drink the second cup of wine and give thanks for freedom.  In this time of global crisis, we remember that the world's struggles are our struggles, and what God has done for us, we must do for others in need.   Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p'ri ha'gafen.   (Drink the second cup)

The Israelites got ready very quickly. They didn't even have time to bake bread for their journey. Instead, they carried the raw dough on their backs, and the sun baked it into hard matzah crackers. The people followed their leader, Moses. When they got to the Red Sea, God told Moses to hold up his walking stick. As he did, a strong wind parted the sea and made a path for the Israelites to pass through. Thus Adonai our God brought...

Abraham was the first Jew. He became a believer in the One God, who promised him and his wife Sarah that their descendants would become a great people, as numerous as the stars in the sky. God led Abraham and Sarah to the land of Israel (then called Canaan) but warned that their descendants would be strangers in a strange land, enslaved for 400 years. Indeed, this prophecy came true. Joseph, the great-grandson of Abraham, and the son of Jacob and...

Participant: Asking questions helps us to learn. There are four questions to ask at the seder. The youngest child often asks these questions, but the Talmud states that anyone may ask. \ מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילות Ma nishtana halaila hazeh mikol haleilot? Why is this night different from all other nights? שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָֽנוּ אוֹכלין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלּוֹ מצה  Shebichol haleilot anu ochlin chameitz u-matzah. Halaila hazeh kulo matzah. On all other nights we eat both leavened...

(At each home, a leader uncovers a plate of three matzah and breaks the middle into two pieces) Leader: This matzah is the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. All who are hungry, come and eat. All who are needy, come and celebrate Passover with us. Now we are slaves. Next year may we all be free. Participant: We break the matzah as a symbol that our freedom is incomplete: none of us is truly...

Participant: The priests in the Temple washed their hands before all holy duties. In this time of our lives, we are all reminded to wash our hands repeatedly each day. Perhaps the priests understood that these twenty seconds of handwashing could be a time to reflect on our connection to others and our wish for health and safety for ourselvse and the world. In this difficult time, we can recite the following prayer together before the Urchatz: With these hands, I...

KIDDUSH Participant: The seder's four cups of wine carry many meanings. They symbolize the four promises God made to the people of Israel: “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will deliver you from slavery. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God." With the first cup we remember God's promise that He will bring His people out from under the...

Leader: Welcome to our Passover Seder! Together with Jews everywhere, tonight we recount a story told for the last 3,000 years. It is a story about the community of Israel, and it is also a story of humanity's deep wish for justice and liberty. Tonight we remember the Exodus from Mitzrayim -- the escape from the "narrows" of the biblical land of Egypt. Tonight, we celebrate during a time of suffering -- a time when we ourselves are constrained and afraid ...