Haggadot Contributors

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ChorusAnd the women dancing with their timbrels,Followed Miriam as she sang her song,Sing a song to the One whom we've exalted,Miriam and the women danced and danced the whole night long Verse OneAnd Miriam was a weaver of unique varietyThe tapestry she wove was one which sang our history.With every strand and every thread she crafted her delight!A woman touched with spirit, she dances toward the light Chorus And the women dancing with their timbrels,Followed Miriam as she sang her song,Sing...

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As each plague is said, some people dip their pinky in the wine (or grape juice.) We do this because we are happy for our freedom, but sad for the Egyptian's pain.HebrewEnglishWhatWhyדםBloodAll of the Egyptian’s water turned to bloodThe Egyptians forced the Jews to carry their waterצפרדעFrogsFrogs jumped all over Egypt, croaking loudlyThe Egyptians screamed at the Jews non-stopכיניםLiceEvery bit of dust turned to lice that would bother the EgyptiansThe Egyptians made the Jews clean their dirty, dusy placesערובWild BeastsWild animals...

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The chacham asks, "What are the rulings, the laws, and the traditions which God has commanded us?"We answer, "With a strong hand, God took us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."You are the bright child, sure and clear and eager. Your questions are your strength. Keep asking, and going deeper, turning each question so it yields a new response.The rasha asks, "What is this service to you?"We answer: "to you" and not "to him. Jews from the community...

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מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילותMa 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 bread and matzah. Tonight we only eat matzah.שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָֽנוּ אוֹכְלִין שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה מָרוֹר:Shebichol haleilot anu ochlin shi’ar yirakot haleila hazeh maror.On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables, but tonight we...

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Each Pesach, the four questions asked by the youngest child are exactly the same. Why do we aks them year after year? Because as we grow and change, our questions take on new meanings, and the answers to them differ. Because as we grow and change, we understand that there is no one right answer. Because as we grow and change, a different one among us may be asking the questions for the first time.To ask questions is to acknowledge first...

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Lift the plate with the three matzot and raise the middle matzah for all to see. Then break the middle matzah in two and set aside the larger piece as the afikoman, because more is hidden than is revealed. Even before we speak about the matzah, we break it. Why do we begin our seder by breaking the matzah? Our Rabbis teach that Israel was redeemed from Egypt because of these merits: our ancestors did not change their names; our ancestors...

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הא לחמא עניא- Ha Lachma AnyaMagid starts with Ha Lachma Anya. We invite anyone to come join us at our seder. Ha Lachma Anya is not said in Hebrew, like the rest of the Hagada. It is in Aramaic. Why is it in Aramaic?                 1. One answer is that at the time, most people spoke Aramaic. We want to invite anyone who wants to come, and if the people do not understand, our invitation is pointless.                                                                                                    2. Another answer is that...

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Dipping a green vegetable in salt water |  karpas  | כַּרְפַּסPassover, like many of our holidays, combines the celebration of an event from our Jewish past with a recognition of the nature around us. As we remember the liberation from Egypt, we also recognize the begining of spring and rebirth happening in the world around us. The symbols on our table bring together elements of both kinds of celebration.We now take a vegetable, representing our joy at the dawning of spring...

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Pass a pitcher, basin, and towl around the table. Rinse and dry your hands, saying: Let our telling pour forth like water, strengthening spirits, refreshing souls.