Welcome to Palsover! Disclaimer: This is very cheesy, but I hope you all enjoy. On this day, through our untraditional seder, we can celebrate the escape of our ancestors from slavery in Egypt by being with our buddies! Whether or not you believe in the story of the Exodus doesn't matter, Jews over time have faced different forms of slavery, and we have managed to escape the persecution. By having fun with each other today, celebrating old traditions, and making new ones, we can celebrate the perseverance of our ancestors throughout time. We are going to do a lot of untraditional things, so buckle up and get ready for our journey across the desert together!

We will now light the candles, a classic Jewish tradition to start a holiday. Each of you has tea lights in front of you, so can all light your own candles! 

We will start off the Seder with Kiddush, our first glass of wine. Find a pouring buddy who's glass you will fill up, and who will fill up your glass! Each of the four glasses symbolize a promise which God made to the Israelites. The first symoblizes the promise of sanctification. Let us now bless the wine. 

For the first hand-washing, there is no blessing. If you would like to wash your hands, go ahead! The reason we relatively randomly wash our hands is to prompt children to ask questions.

We will now say the blessing over the Karpas. The parsley symbolizes the humble beginnings of the Jewish people and the rebirth of spring. The salt water represents the tears shed during slavery. 

The middle Matzah is broken in half, and one half is put back in stack and the other half is set aside for dessert, the afikoman. 

The Maggid is the telling of the Passover story!

Why is this night different from all other nights?

1. On all other nights, we eat chameitz and matzah. Why on this night, only matzah?

2. On all other nights, we eat all vegetables. Why, on this night, maror? 

3. On all other nights, we don't dip even once. Why on this night do we dip twice

4. On all other nights, we eat either sitting upright or reclining. Why on this night do we all recline? 

Now comes the time of the Maggid where we tell the Exodus story. To do this, we'll play a game where we have a script, and 3 people at a time will act it out on the spot. Whenever anyone wants to play, say freeze, choose two people, and replace the actors. The actors joining will have to replace the three on stage and continue with the story. 

Each person draw a slip of paper, and act it out. No words or noises. Each person will be timed, and the person who has their plague guessed the fastest wins!

As we recite each of the ten plagues, take a drop of "wine" out of your cup. We do this as to not rejoice in the suffering of others. 

Fill her up! It's time for the 2nd cup! The 2nd cup symbolizes deliverance. 

Now is the time to eat the Matzah! After we say the blessing, we will make Matzah houses!

Some inspiration!

Now we make the Hillel Sandwich, made of matzoh, bitter herbs, and maror.

It's almost time to eat! Before we chow down, let's fill that third glass of wine and give thanks for the meal we're about to consume.

On Passover, this becomes something like an extended toast to the forces that brought us together:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree hagafen.

Group says: We praise force of the world, that created the fruit of the vine, that sustains the world.

[Everyone: Drink the third glass of wine.]

Now, LET'S EAT!

Time to find the Afikoman! Ready, set, go! After we find it, we will say the blessing over it. 

Time for Barech, the blessing after the meal. We will do an abbreviated version of the Birkhat! Also, fill her up! Time for the third glass of wine which symbolizes redemption.

Time for the fourth cup of wine, which symbolizes restoration. We also set aside a cup for Elijah. 

Now is the time of the Seder where we would sing! If anyone would like to perform their rendition of a Passover, go ahead. 

Time for the conclusion of the Seder! We say, next year in Jerusalem, L'shanah haba'ah V'yerushalayim. In my family, they love to do this chant. You'll pick up very quickly.