An Introductory Word on Passover,
the Seder and the Haggadah

The Passover festival commemorates the ancient story of God’s delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. In the era of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, 538 B.C.E.–70 C.E., the festival was celebrated with a pilgrimage to the city and a Passover sacrifice in the Temple on the afternoon before the festival began. After dark, the celebrants ate the roasted sacrifice with matzah and bitter herbs. They probably also recited several psalms. read more . . .

Pre-Seder Preparation by the Convener(s)

It’s important that each participant in a Passover Seder is provided with a printed copy of a Haggadah, which contains this liturgical protocol for the evening. Because our Haggadah exists only on our web site, you’ll need to be sure that your participants have a device that can easily access the internet throughout the Seder or that you’ll print for each participant a copy of the material you plan to use from our site. read more . . .

Passover Haggadah

The 15 Steps of the Seder

1. Sanctification, or Kiddush
2. Washing Hands without a Blessing
3. Dipping a Vegetable in Salt Water
4. Breaking the Middle Matzah
5. Recounting the Passover Story
6. Washing Hands for the Meal
7. Blessing over Bread
8. Blessing over Matzah
9. Dipping Bitter Herbs in Charoset
10. Sandwiching Bitter Herbs between Matzah
11. Setting the Table/Eating the Meal
12. Eating the Afikoman
13. Grace after the Meal
14. Completing the Hallel
15. Requesting that God Accept the Seder

We mark the beginning of the festival by lighting candles. Light the candles, and recite the blessing. On the Sabbath (Friday night) add the words in parentheses.

All recite:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light the candle of (the Sabbath) and the festival.

STEP ONE

Sanctification or Kiddush

Pour the first cup of wine for each participant.
On Friday night begin Kiddush here:

All recite:
And there was evening and there was morning. The sixth day. The heaven and the earth were finished, and all their array. On the seventh day God finished the work that He had been doing, and He ceased on the seventh day from all the work that He had done. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because on it God ceased from all the work of creation that He had done (Genesis 1:31 and 2:1-3).

Other than Friday night, begin Kiddush here:

All recite:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

The Festival Kiddush continues. If the Seder falls on Friday night, add the words in parentheses.

All recite:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has chosen and exalted us above all nations and has sanctified us with Your commandments. And You, Adonai our God, have lovingly bestowed upon us (Sabbaths for rest,) appointed times for happiness, holidays and seasons for joy, (this Sabbath day and this) Feast of Matzot, our season of freedom, a holy convocation recalling the Exodus from Egypt. You chose and sanctified us above all peoples. In Your gracious love, You did grant us Your times for happiness and joy. Blessed are You, Adonai, who sanctifies (the Sabbath) Israel, and the appointed times.

Drink the wine or grape juice while reclining ceremoniously to the left. Reclining symbolizes the luxury of the Seder in contrast to the Spartan meal eaten by slaves. Leaning to the left leaves the right hand free.*

The Ritual of Miriam’s Cup

When you set the table, place a large, empty glass goblet or wine glass beside the Cup of Elijah. This will serve as Miriam’s Cup.

All: Miriam’s Cup. Legend tells of a mysterious well filled with mayim chayim, living waters that followed the Israelites though their wandering in the desert while Miriam was alive.

Reader: Miriam’s Well was said to hold divine power to heal and renew. Its fresh waters sustained our people as we were transformed from a generation shaped by slavery into a free nation. Throughout our subsequent journeys, we have sought to rediscover these living waters.

All: Tonight at our Seder, let us remember that we are still on the journey. Just as the Holy One delivered Miriam and her people, just as they were sustained in the desert and transformed into a new people, so may we be delivered, sustained and transformed on our journey to a stronger sense of ourselves, both as individuals and as one people. May the Cup of Miriam refresh and inspire us as we embark on our journey through the Haggadah.

Miriam’s Cup is now filled. Each participant pours water from her or his own water glass into Miriam’s Cup. Miriam’s Cup is then returned to its place beside the Cup of Elijah. Participants will drink from it later.

All: This is the Cup of Miriam, the cup of living waters.

Reader: This is the Cup of Miriam, the cup of living waters. Let us remember the Exodus from Egypt. These are the living waters, God’s gift to Miriam, which gave new life to Israel as we struggled in the wilderness.

All: Blessed are You, God, Who brings us from the narrows into the wilderness, sustains us with endless possibilities, and enables us to reach a new place.

STEP TWO

Washing Hands without a Blessing

STEP THREE

Dipping a Vegetable, or Karpas, in Salt Water

The leader takes pieces of the vegetable from the Seder Plate, dips them in salt water, and distributes a piece to each participant.

All recite and then eat the green vegetable.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who creates the fruit of the earth.

STEP FOUR

Breaking the Middle Matzah

The Seder leader breaks the middle matzah and reserves the larger piece for the Afikoman. This piece of matzah is said to symbolize the ancient Passover sacrifice. It will be eaten following the meal. Lift all the matzah and recite the paragraph below, “This is the bread of affliction…”

STEP FIVE

Recount the Passover Story

All recite:
This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let all who are needy come and celebrate the Passover. Now we are here; next year may we be in Israel. Now we are slaves; next year may we be free.

The second cup of wine is poured.

The Four Questions

It is customary to remove the Seder plate from the table in order to prompt children to ask why. One of the younger Seder participants recites the Four Questions.

Why is this night different from all other nights?

On all other nights we eat leavened bread and matzah. Tonight, we eat only matzah.

On all other nights we eat any kind of herbs. Tonight, we eat only bitter herbs.

On all other nights we do not dip even once. Tonight, we dip twice.

On all other nights we eat sitting or reclining. Tonight, we all recline.

The Haggadah now begins to explain what makes the night of Passover different from all other nights. Participants can take turns reading aloud the paragraphs that follow.

We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt (Deut. 6:21). But Adonai our God took us out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Had not God taken our ancestors out of Egypt, then we, our children and grandchildren would still be enslaved to Pharaoh in Egypt. Even if we all were wise, and perceptive, experienced and versed in Torah, it would still be our duty to tell about the Exodus from Egypt. And all who elaborate on telling the story of the Exodus deserve praise.

It once happened that Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Joshua, Rabbi Elazar ben Azar’ya, Rabbi Akiva, and Rabbi Tarfon were reclining in B’nei B’rak. They were discussing the Exodus from Egypt the entire night, until their students came and said to them: Our teachers, the time has arrived for reading the morning Sh’ma.*

The Four Children

Take turns reading the following paragraphs aloud:

Blessed be the Omnipresent; blessed be God. Blessed be God who has given the Torah to His people Israel; blessed be God. The Torah speaks of four children: one who is wise, one who is wicked, one who is simple, and one who is not able to ask a question.

The wise child asks: “What is the meaning of the testimonies, statutes and laws which Adonai our God has commanded you?” (Deut. 6:20). To him, explain the laws of Passover: One may not conclude the Passover meal (by saying), “Now to the after dinner entertainment.”

The wicked child asks: “What does this service mean to you?” (Ex. 12:26). “To you,” and not to him. By excluding himself from the community, this child denies God. So respond bluntly: “It is because of this—what Adonai did for me when I came out of Egypt” (Ex. 13:8). For me, not for him; had he been there, he would not have been redeemed. “

The simple child asks: “What is this all about?” Tell this child, “With a strong hand Adonai brought us out of Egypt from the house of slavery” (Ex. 13:14).

As for the child who is unable to ask a question, you must open up the subject to this child, as it is written: “You shall tell your son in that day: This is on account of what Adonai did for me when I came out of Egypt” (Ex. 13:8).

Take turns reading the following paragraphs aloud.

At first our ancestors worshiped idols, but now the Omnipresent has brought us near to His service, as it is written: “Joshua said to all the people: so says Adonai God of Israel—your ancestors have always lived beyond the Euphrates River, Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor; they worshiped other gods. I took your father Abraham from the other side of the river and led him through all the land of Canaan. I multiplied his family and gave him Isaac. To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau; to Esau I gave Mount Seir to inherit, however, Jacob and his children went down to Egypt” (Joshua 24:2-4).

Blessed be God who keeps His promise to Israel. Blessed be God. For the Holy One of Blessing determined the end of the bondage, thus fulfilling what God said to Abraham our father in the Covenant between the Pieces. As it is said, “He said unto Abram [his name had not yet been changed to Abraham]: Know well that your offspring shall be strangers in a land not theirs, and they shall be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years; but I will execute judgment on the nation they shall serve, and in the end they shall go out with great wealth” (Gen. 15:13-14).

Raise the cup of wine and all say:

This promise has sustained our ancestors and us. For not only one enemy has risen against us to annihilate us, but in every generation they rise against us. But the Holy One of Blessing rescues us from their hand.

A Sample of How the Haggadah Expounds on the Exodus

Read the following paragraph aloud:

“. . . My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt few in number and sojourned there; but there he became a great and very populous nation. The Egyptians dealt harshly with us and oppressed us; they imposed hard labor upon us” (Deut. 26:5-6). . . . “And oppressed us,” as it is written: “They set taskmasters over them in order to oppress them with their burdens; the people of Israel built Pithom and Raamses as store cities for Pharaoh” (Ex. 1:11).

Read the following paragraph aloud:

“We cried to Adonai, the God of our ancestors, and Adonai heard our plea and saw our plight, our misery, and our oppression” (Deut. 26:7) . . . “Our misery” refers to the drowning of the sons, as it is written: “Every son that is born you shall cast into the river, but you shall let every daughter live” (Ex. 1:22).

Read the following paragraph aloud:

“Adonai took us out from Egypt by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm and awesome power, and by signs and portents” (Deut. 26:8). “Adonai took us out of Egypt,” not by an angel, not by a seraph, not by a messenger, but the Holy One, blessed be He, Himself, as it is written: “I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night; I will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt from man unto beast; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments; I am Adonai” (Ex. 12:12).

Spill one drop of wine from your cup as you say each acronym:

D’tzach, Adash, B’achav

The Multiplication of Plagues at the Red Sea

Rabbi Yose the Galilean says: How does one derive that after the 10 plagues in Egypt, the Egyptians suffered 50 plagues at the Red Sea? Concerning the plagues in Egypt the Torah states, “the magicians said to Pharaoh, it is the finger of God” (Ex. 8:15). However, at the Red Sea, the Torah relates that “Israel saw the great hand which Adonai wielded against the Egyptians, and the people revered Adonai and they believed in Adonai and in His servant Moses” (Ex. 14:31). If they suffered 10 plagues in Egypt, they must have been made to suffer 50 plagues at the Red Sea.

Dayeinu

Had God satisfied our needs in the desert for 40 years, and not fed us the manna,

It would have been enough— Dayeinu, da, da yeinu . . .

Had God fed us the manna, and not given us the Sabbath,

It would have been enough— Dayeinu, da, da yeinu . . .

Had God given us the Sabbath, and not brought us to Mount Sinai,

It would have been enough— Dayeinu, da, da yeinu . . .

Had God brought us to Mount Sinai, and not given us the Torah,

It would have been enough— Dayeinu, da, da yeinu . . .

Had God given us the Torah, and not brought us into Israel,

It would have been enough— Dayeinu, da, da yeinu . . .

Had God brought us into Israel, and not built the Temple for us,

It would have been enough—Dayeinu, da, da yeinu . . .

Defining the Symbols of Passover

All recite:

Rabban Gamaliel used to say: Anyone who has not explained these three things on Passover has not fulfilled his duty, namely: the Passover Offering, Matzah, and bitter herbs.

The Passover Offering: Why did our ancestors eat the Passover Offering during the period of the Temple? It is because the Holy One of Blessing passed over the houses of our ancestors in Egypt, as it is written: “You shall say: It is the Passover offering for Adonai, who passed over the houses of the children in Egypt when he smote the Egyptians and spared our houses. The people knelt and bowed down” (Ex. 12:27).

Raise the matzah and say:

Matzah: Why do we eat this matzah? It is because the Sovereign of Sovereigns, the Holy one, revealed Himself to our ancestors and redeemed them before their dough had time to ferment, as it is written: “They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into unleavened cakes; for they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provision for their journey” (Ex. 12:39).

Raise the bitter herbs and say:

Bitter Herbs: Why do we eat this bitter herb? It is because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors in Egypt, as it is written: “They made life bitter for them with hard labor, with clay and bricks, and with all kinds of labor in the field; whatever work tasks they performed were backbreaking” (Ex. 1:14).

In every generation each individual should feel as if he or she had personally come out of Egypt. As it is written: “You shall tell your son on that day: This is on account of what Adonai did for me when I came out of Egypt” (Ex. 13:8). It was not only our ancestors whom the Holy One redeemed from slavery; we, too, were redeemed with them, as it is written: “He took us out from there so that He might take us to the land which He had sworn to our ancestors” (Deut. 6:23).

Lift your cups of cup of wine or grape juice and say:

Therefore it is our duty to thank and praise, pay tribute and glorify, exalt and honor, bless and acclaim the One who performed all these miracles for our ancestors and for us. God took us from slavery to freedom, from sorrow to joy, from mourning to a festival, from darkness to great light, from oppression to redemption. We will recite a new song before Him! Halleluyah!

Return the cup to the table.

The First Psalm of the Hallel

Psalm 113

All recite:

Praise Adonai Praise, you servants of Adonai, praise the name of Adonai. Blessed be the name of Adonai from this time forth and forever. From the rising of the sun to its setting, Adonai’s name is to be praised. High above all nations is Adonai; above the heavens is His glory. Who is like Adonai our God, who enthroned on high, looks down upon heaven and earth? God raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the trash heap, to seat them with nobles, with the nobles of His people. God turns the barren wife into a happy mother of children. Halleluyah!

The Second Cup of Wine

Lift the cup of wine and all recite:

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has redeemed us and our ancestors from Egypt and enabled us to reach this night that we may eat matzah and maror. So Adonai our God and God of our ancestors, enable us to reach also the forthcoming holidays and festivals in peace, rejoicing in the rebuilding of Zion Your city, and joyful at Your service. There we shall eat of the offerings and Passover sacrifices, the blood from which will reach to the walls of Your altar for acceptance. We shall sing a new hymn of praise to You for our redemption and for our liberation. Blessed are You, Adonai, Redeemer of Israel.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Drink the wine or grape juice while reclining to the left.

STEP SIX

Washing Hands for the Meal

One or more of the younger participants in the Seder hides the Afikoman while the adults are washing their hands.

All recite:

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and commanded us concerning washing of
the hands.

STEP SEVEN

Blessing over Bread

The Seder leader lifts the remaining matzot and all say:

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

STEP EIGHT

Blessing over Matzah

The Seder leader lifts the remaining half-piece of matzah and all say:

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and commanded us concerning the eating of matzah.

A piece of this matzah is distributed and eaten while participants recline to the left.

STEP NINE

Dipping Bitter Herbs in Charoset

If you are using slices of horseradish, dip them into the charoset so that each slice contains a bit of charoset. If you are using grated horseradish make a sandwich of matzah, bitter herbs and charoset. In any case, each participant receives a portion.

All recite:

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and commanded us concerning the eating of bitter herbs.

Eat the bitter herbs and charoset without reclining.

STEP TEN

Sandwiching of Bitter Herbs and Matzah

Sandwich bitter herbs between two pieces of the bottom matzah and all say:

A remembrance of the Temple according to Hillel [a great sage who lived during the first century B.C.E.] Thus did Hillel in Temple times; he combined matzah and bitter herbs in a sandwich and ate them together, to fulfill what is written: “They shall eat it with matzot and bitter herbs” (Numbers 9:11).

Eat the sandwich while reclining to the left.

STEP ELEVEN

Setting the Table

The festive meal is served and the Seder plate is removed until after dinner.

STEP TWELVE

Eating the Afikomen

After the meal, the Seder plate is returned to the table.

This part of the Seder is called Tsafun, literally ‘hidden.’ The Seder leader searches for the Afikoman because the Seder cannot be completed without it. Typically the Seder leader pays a ransom to obtain the Afikoman from whomever has hidden it. A piece of the Afikoman is then distributed to each guest.

STEP THIRTEEN

Grace after the Meal

We have included only a short part of the Grace After Meals in this Haggadah. The entire Grace is available in any standard Jewish prayer book.

All recite:

Blessed are You, Adonai, Sovereign of the universe, who nourishes the whole world with grace, kindness and mercy. You give food to all creatures, for Your kindness endures forever. Through this great goodness we have never been in want; may we never be in want of sustenance for Your great name’s sake. It is God who sustains all, does good to all, and provides food for all the creatures which God has created. Blessed are You, Adonai, who sustains all.

The Third Cup of Wine

All recite:

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Drink the wine or grape juice while reclining to the left. Then pour the fourth cup.

Opening the Door for Elijah the Prophet and the Cups of Elijah and Miriam

Fill the Cup of Elijah with wine or grape juice. We do not drink from this cup. The leader asks a participant to open the front door of the apartment or house in which the Seder is being held. While the door is open, read the following aloud.

Reader: At this point in the Seder, Jewish communities, beset by persecution during the Crusades, opened their doors and recited the angry plea:

“Pour out Your wrath upon the nations that do not know You, upon the governments which do not call upon Your name. For they have devoured Jacob and desolated his home. Pour out Your wrath on them; may Your blazing anger overtake them, destroy them from under the heavens of Adonai” (Psalms 79:6-7 and 69:25, and Lamentations 3:66).

All: In other communities during the same period, the hope for redemption was so intense that they sang to invoke the Prophet Elijah, who, according to legend, would herald an era of messianic peace, justice and healing.

Reader: We open our doors now with the need to act on both impulses. The crimes of humanity that we continue to see—the rape and torture of innocents, ethnic cleansing, the destruction of entire cities and cultures—cry out for just retribution beyond our limited capacity. And our longing for peace, for healing of earth, body, and spirit, still brings the hope-drenched melody of Eliyahu Hanavi, Elijah the Prophet, to our lips.

All: Elijah the Prophet, come to us soon, for you herald messianic days. Miriam the Prophet, strength and song are in her hand. Miriam will dance with us to strengthen the world’s song. Miriam will dance with us to heal the world. Soon, and in our time, she will lead us to the waters of salvation.

All drink from the cup of Miriam.

STEP FOURTEEN

Completing the Hallel

Rather than include the remaining psalms of Hallel in their entirety (Psalms 115-118 which traditionally follow the Grace after Meals), we include a verse from Psalm 116 and the short Psalm 117.

All recite:

You have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before Adonai in the lands of the living (Psalms 116:8)

Give thanks to Adonai, all you nations; praise God, all you peoples! For God’s kindness overwhelms us, and the truth of Adonai is forever, Halleluyah! (Psalm 117).

The Fourth Cup of Wine

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Drink the wine or grape juice while reclining to the left.

STEP FIFTEEN

Requesting that God accept the Seder

All recite:

The Seder now concludes according to Jewish law, complete in all laws and ordinances. Just as we were privileged to arrange it tonight, so may we be granted to perform it again. O Pure One who dwells in the heights above, establish us as a countless people once again. Speedily guide the offshoots of Your stock, redeemed to the land of Zion with song.

Next Year in Jerusalem

Two Seder Songs

Who Knows One? (Echad Mi Yodei’a?)

Who knows one? I know one. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows two? I know two. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows three? I know three. Three is the patriarchs. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows four? I know four. Four is the matriarchs. Three is the patriarchs. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows five? I know five. Five is the books of the Torah. Four is the matriarchs. Three is the patriarchs. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows six? I know six. Six is the orders of the Mishnah. Five is the books of the Torah. Four is the matriarchs. Three is the patriarchs. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows seven? I know seven. Seven is the days of the week. Six is the orders of the Mishnah. Five is the books of the Torah. Four is the matriarchs. Three is the patriarchs. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows eight? I know eight. Eight is the days of circumcision. Seven is the days of the week. Six is the orders of the Mishnah. Five is the books of the Torah. Four is the matriarchs. Three is the patriarchs. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows nine? I know nine. Nine is the months of birth. Eight is the days of circumcision. Seven is the days of the week. Six is the orders of the Mishnah. Five is the books of the Torah. Four is the matriarchs. Three is the patriarchs. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows ten? I know ten. Ten is the commandments. Nine is the months of birth. Eight is the days of circumcision. Seven is the days of the week. Six is the orders of the Mishnah. Five is the books of the Torah. Four is the matriarchs. Three is the patriarchs. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows eleven? I know eleven. Eleven is the stars. Ten is the commandments. Nine is the months of birth. Eight is the days of circumcision. Seven is the days of the week. Six is the orders of the Mishnah. Five is the books of the Torah. Four is the matriarchs. Three is the patriarchs. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows twelve? I know twelve. Twelve is the tribes. Eleven is the stars. Ten is the commandments. Nine is the months of birth. Eight is the days of circumcision. Seven is the days of the week. Six is the orders of the Mishnah. Five is the books of the Torah. Four is the matriarchs. Three is the patriarchs. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

Who knows thirteen? I know thirteen. Thirteen is the attributes. Twelve is the tribes. Eleven is the stars. Ten is the commandments. Nine is the months of birth. Eight is the days of circumcision. Seven is the days of the week. Six is the orders of the Mishnah. Five is the books of the Torah. Four is the matriarchs. Three is the patriarchs. Two is the tablets of the covenant. One is our God in heaven and on earth.

One Kid (Chad Gad’ya)

The Angel of Death came and slaughtered the slaughterer that slaughtered the ox that drank the water that quenched the fire that burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the kid that father bought for two zuzim; just one kid, just one kid. Chad gad’ya, chad gad’ya.

The Holy One of blessing came and slaughtered the Angel of Death who came and slaughtered the slaughterer that slaughtered the ox that drank the water that quenched the fire that burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the kid that father bought for two zuzim; just one kid, just one kid. Chad gad’ya, chad gad’ya.