Leader: On this night we eat green vegetables dipped in saltwater.
All: The parsley reminds us of the rebirth of nature in springtime and the growing of fresh foods. The saltwater reminds us of the tears of slavery and oppression.
Leader: Many people still suffer from malnutrition, hunger and starvation. We remember their tears as well. We renew our commitment to helping all who hunger to find sustainable sources of nourishment in this world, just as nature is renewed every spring.
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam borei p’ri ha’adamah.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the earth.
Barukh ha-or ba’olam, v’barukh ha-or ba’adam, borei p’ree ha-adama.
Let us bless the light in the world and the light in humanity that brings forth the fruit of the earth.
The tradition of Elijah’s cup comes from the debate among Rabbis regarding how many cups to drink. One interpretation was five, to match the Expressions of Redemption in God's promise to Moses. The first four are "I will take you out," "I will deliver you," "I will redeem you," and "I will acquire you." Each represents a distinct stage and level of redemption.
In addition to these four, the Torah uses a fifth expression of Redemption: "I will bring you into the land." In the time of the Temple of Jerusalem, the seder may have featured a fifth cup, when the Jewish people ruled a Torah-based society in Israel. After the second Temple was destroyed two thousand years ago, Jewish ways were no longer “in the land”, and the fifth expression remains unfulfilled.
We leave Elijah’s cup untouched and open the door, looking out to a future unknown. Our people looked for a prophet to help unite us and proclaim a coming messiah, to turn the tide in our favor and bring peace. But Judaism has always included a focus on today’s world, on the good we can do here and now. We may not see the prophet Elijah, but we may see someone hungry and alone that we can assist. We cannot wait for divine intervention to solve the problems that plague humankind. May we take the fifth cup with us into our daily lives, so that through our own actions, we may help bring about freedom and harmony for all.
As Jews, we tell the story of yetziat mitzrayim, the Exodus from Egypt, to remind ourselves annually that our people were enslaved in a land not our own. The classical Ashkenazi haggadah text goes even further. It declares that:
ְ Be'chol dor va’dor chayav adam lirot et atzmo ke’ilu hu yatzah miMitzrayim
“In every generation, we are obligated to see ourselves as though we personally came out of Egypt."
More than just ritual observance, we are directed to feel in our own bodies what it might have been like to escape from slavery to freedom. The Exodus story asserts unapologetically that oppresson and injustice can and must end, and it lays the foundation for the Jewish vision of a just society.
We read responsively:
Reader: Avadim Hayinu – We were slaves in Egypt
All: We remember our histories, we acknowledge our pasts.
Reader: Atah b’nei horin – Now we are free people
All: How will we use our freedom? We have a responsibility to fight for justice.
Leader and group alternate:
Kiddush means “sanctification” or “separation”. We leave our day-to-day lives behind and rededicate ourselves to our values.
We take a moment to acknowledge our place in this world and find gratitude. We set aside daily work and allow ourselves days of rest.
We come together with family and friends and connect with our ancestors.
We create new memories to join with those of the past.
We appreciate the freedom to relax and enjoy the full measure of our time on Earth.
We are fortunate to have celebrations and days of rest. There are many others alive today and throughout history who have not been so lucky. And let us say, Amen.
Today we celebrate the Festival of Passover. We are privileged to retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt as a reminder of our dedication to freedom.
Blessing over Wine
Traditional:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree hagafen.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Humanist:
Barukh ha-or ba’olam, v’barukh ha-or ba’adam, borei peri hagafen. Let us bless the light in the world and the light in humanity that brings forth the fruit of the vine.
Shehecheyanu
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam,
she-hechiyanu v’key’manu v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who has kept us in life, and sustained us, and enabled us to reach this festive season. Recline in comfort and drink the first cup of wine.
Kiddush - First Cup
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מַהנִּשְּׁתַּנָה
מַה נִּשְּׁתַּנָה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹת
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה, הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה - כּוּלוֹ מַצָּה
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת, - הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מָרוֹר
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אֵין אֶנוּ מַטְבִּילִין אֲפִילוּ פַּעַם אֶחָת, - הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה שְׁתֵּי פְעָמִים
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין בֵּין יוֹשְׁבִין וּבֵין מְסֻבִּין, - הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלָנו מְסֻ
Mah nish-ta-na ha-lai-lah ha-zeh mikol ha-lei-lot?
She-b'chol ha-lei-lot anu och'lin cha-meitz u-matzah. Ha-laylah hazeh kulo matzah.
Sheb'chol ha-lei-lot anu och'lin sh'ar y'rakot. Ha-lai-lah h-azeh maror.
Sheb'chol ha-lei-lot ein anu mat-beelin afee-lu pa-am echat.Ha-lai-lah hazeh sh'tei p'ameem.
Sheb’khol ha-lei-lot anu och-leem bein yo-shveen u-vein m’su-been, ha-lailah hazeh kulanu m’subeen.
Why is this night of Passover different from all other nights of the year?
On all other nights, we eat either leavened or unleavened bread, why on this night do we eat only matzah?
On all other nights, we eat vegetables of all kinds, why on this night must we eat bitter herbs?
On all other nights, we do not dip vegetables even once, why on this night do we dip greens into saltwater and bitter herbs into sweet haroset?
On all other nights, everyone sits up straight at the table, why on this night do we recline and eat at leisure?
Leader: On this night we eat green vegetables dipped in saltwater.
All: The parsley reminds us of the rebirth of nature in springtime and the growing of fresh foods. The saltwater reminds us of the tears of slavery and oppression.
Leader: Many people still suffer from malnutrition, hunger and starvation. We remember their tears as well. We renew our commitment to helping all who hunger to find sustainable sources of nourishment in this world, just as nature is renewed every spring.
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam borei p’ri ha’adamah.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the earth.
Barukh ha-or ba’olam, v’barukh ha-or ba’adam, borei p’ree ha-adama.
Let us bless the light in the world and the light in humanity that brings forth the fruit of the earth.
The tradition of Elijah’s cup comes from the debate among Rabbis regarding how many cups to drink. One interpretation was five, to match the Expressions of Redemption in God's promise to Moses. The first four are "I will take you out," "I will deliver you," "I will redeem you," and "I will acquire you." Each represents a distinct stage and level of redemption.
In addition to these four, the Torah uses a fifth expression of Redemption: "I will bring you into the land." In the time of the Temple of Jerusalem, the seder may have featured a fifth cup, when the Jewish people ruled a Torah-based society in Israel. After the second Temple was destroyed two thousand years ago, Jewish ways were no longer “in the land”, and the fifth expression remains unfulfilled.
We leave Elijah’s cup untouched and open the door, looking out to a future unknown. Our people looked for a prophet to help unite us and proclaim a coming messiah, to turn the tide in our favor and bring peace. But Judaism has always included a focus on today’s world, on the good we can do here and now. We may not see the prophet Elijah, but we may see someone hungry and alone that we can assist. We cannot wait for divine intervention to solve the problems that plague humankind. May we take the fifth cup with us into our daily lives, so that through our own actions, we may help bring about freedom and harmony for all.
As Jews, we tell the story of yetziat mitzrayim, the Exodus from Egypt, to remind ourselves annually that our people were enslaved in a land not our own. The classical Ashkenazi haggadah text goes even further. It declares that:
ְ Be'chol dor va’dor chayav adam lirot et atzmo ke’ilu hu yatzah miMitzrayim
“In every generation, we are obligated to see ourselves as though we personally came out of Egypt."
More than just ritual observance, we are directed to feel in our own bodies what it might have been like to escape from slavery to freedom. The Exodus story asserts unapologetically that oppresson and injustice can and must end, and it lays the foundation for the Jewish vision of a just society.
We read responsively:
Reader: Avadim Hayinu – We were slaves in Egypt
All: We remember our histories, we acknowledge our pasts.
Reader: Atah b’nei horin – Now we are free people
All: How will we use our freedom? We have a responsibility to fight for justice.
Leader and group alternate:
Kiddush means “sanctification” or “separation”. We leave our day-to-day lives behind and rededicate ourselves to our values.
We take a moment to acknowledge our place in this world and find gratitude. We set aside daily work and allow ourselves days of rest.
We come together with family and friends and connect with our ancestors.
We create new memories to join with those of the past.
We appreciate the freedom to relax and enjoy the full measure of our time on Earth.
We are fortunate to have celebrations and days of rest. There are many others alive today and throughout history who have not been so lucky. And let us say, Amen.
Today we celebrate the Festival of Passover. We are privileged to retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt as a reminder of our dedication to freedom.
Blessing over Wine
Traditional:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree hagafen.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Humanist:
Barukh ha-or ba’olam, v’barukh ha-or ba’adam, borei peri hagafen. Let us bless the light in the world and the light in humanity that brings forth the fruit of the vine.
Shehecheyanu
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam,
she-hechiyanu v’key’manu v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who has kept us in life, and sustained us, and enabled us to reach this festive season. Recline in comfort and drink the first cup of wine.
Kiddush - First Cup
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מַהנִּשְּׁתַּנָה
מַה נִּשְּׁתַּנָה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹת
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה, הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה - כּוּלוֹ מַצָּה
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת, - הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מָרוֹר
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אֵין אֶנוּ מַטְבִּילִין אֲפִילוּ פַּעַם אֶחָת, - הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה שְׁתֵּי פְעָמִים
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין בֵּין יוֹשְׁבִין וּבֵין מְסֻבִּין, - הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלָנו מְסֻ
Mah nish-ta-na ha-lai-lah ha-zeh mikol ha-lei-lot?
She-b'chol ha-lei-lot anu och'lin cha-meitz u-matzah. Ha-laylah hazeh kulo matzah.
Sheb'chol ha-lei-lot anu och'lin sh'ar y'rakot. Ha-lai-lah h-azeh maror.
Sheb'chol ha-lei-lot ein anu mat-beelin afee-lu pa-am echat.Ha-lai-lah hazeh sh'tei p'ameem.
Sheb’khol ha-lei-lot anu och-leem bein yo-shveen u-vein m’su-been, ha-lailah hazeh kulanu m’subeen.
Why is this night of Passover different from all other nights of the year?
On all other nights, we eat either leavened or unleavened bread, why on this night do we eat only matzah?
On all other nights, we eat vegetables of all kinds, why on this night must we eat bitter herbs?
On all other nights, we do not dip vegetables even once, why on this night do we dip greens into saltwater and bitter herbs into sweet haroset?
On all other nights, everyone sits up straight at the table, why on this night do we recline and eat at leisure?
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