We Were Slaves Haggadah

1

Introduction

This book is a Haggadah.

Haggadah means “the telling.”

On Pesah it is a mitzvah to tell the story of how God brought all the Jewish families who were slaves in Egypt to freedom in the land of Israel.

We read the story of Pesah in the Haggadah.

We had to flee from Egypt at the last moment. We didn’t even have time for the bread to rise. What was the one thing you grabbed and made sure you had to take with you? Have everyone answer.

3

Candle Lighting Before the Seder begins, we light and bless the festival candles.

These candles remind us that Pesah is a holy time.

When we light the candles and say the brakhah, we remember that it is a mitzvah for us to celebrate Passover and make it a time for learning.

Candles are sometimes lit before the family sits down to Seder.

1. Light the candles.

2. Say the brakhah for Kindling the Festival Lights.

3. Say the Sheheheyanu. We will repeat the Sheheheyanu when we make Kiddush.

4. Hug, kiss, shake hands, and wish each other Hag Sameah or Gut Yontiv.

4

Brakhah for Kindling the Festival Lights ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם‬ ִ ְ‫אׁשֶר קִּדְ ׁשָנּו ּב‬ ֲ ‫מצְ�ֹותָיו וְצִּוָנּו לְהַדְ ל ִיק נ ֵר‬ .‫שּבָת וְשֶׁל] יֹום טֹוב‬ ַ ֹ[ ‫שֶׁל‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam Asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel (Shabbat v’shel) Yom Tov.

Praised are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos Who made us holy with the mitzvot, and made it a mitzvah for us to light the lights of (Shabbat and of) the Festival.

Sheheheyanu ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם‬ ִ ְ‫חי ָנּו וְקִּיְמָנּו ו‬ ֱ ‫ה‬ ֶ ‫שׁ‬ .‫הּג ִיעָנּו לַּזְמַן הַּז ֶה‬ ֶ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam sheheheyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higi’anu la-z’man ha-zeh.

Praised are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who keeps us alive, Who keeps us going, and Who helps us come to experience this very moment.

5

Fifteen Steps to Freedom

‫ וּר חַץ‬Urhatz

‫ ַקדֵּשׁ‬Kadesh

There is a song that lists the fifteen steps in the Seder. Tonight we will do all of these things.

1. Kadesh

‫ ָמרֹור‬Maror

2. Urhatz 3. Karpas ‫ כֹּו ְך‬Korekh

4. Yahatz 5. Maggid 6. Rohtzah 7. Motzi 8. Matzah 9. Maror 10. Korekh 11. Shulhan Orekh

‫ ָצפוּן‬Tzafun

12. Tzafun

‫שׁ ְלָחן‬ ‫עֹו ְך‬

13. Barekh 14. Hallel

Shulhan Orekh

6

15. Nirtzah

‫ ַכּר פַּס‬Karpas ‫ ַמ ִגּיד‬Maggid

‫ ָיחַץ‬Yahatz ‫ ָרְחָצה‬Rohtzah

‫ מֹוִציא‬Motzi

‫ ַמָצּה‬Matzah

‫ַהֵלּל‬

Hallel

‫ִנ ָצה‬

Nirtzah

‫בָּ ְך‬

Barekh

7

1. Kadesh Kiddush is the brakhah over wine. Kiddush means “holy.” When we say the Kiddush, we use the brakhah to remember that Pesah is a holy time, a time set apart from the rest of the year.

1. Fill each glass with wine or grape juice.

Make sure the Matzot are covered.

2. Hold the Kiddush cup in your strong hand.

3. Say the brakhah before drinking.

4. Say the brakhah that sanctifies the festival.

(If the Seder is on Shabbat, add the parts in parentheses.)

5. Say Sheheheyanu.

The Brakhah Before Drinking Fruit of the Vine ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם‬ ַ ‫ּבֹוֵרא ּפְִרי‬ .‫הּגָפֶן‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam borei p’ri ha-gafen.

Praised are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, The One Who creates the fruit of the vine.

8

The Brakhah that Sanctifies the Festival ִ ‫אׁשֶר ּבָחַר ּבָנּו‬ ֲ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם‬ ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ .‫מּכָל עָם‬ ֲ ‫א‬ ַ ְ‫ וַּתִתֶּן ל ָנּו יי אֱֹלהֵינּו ּב‬.‫מצְ�ֹותָיו‬ ִ ְּ‫מּכָל ל ָׁשֹון וְקִּדְ ׁשָנּו ב‬ ִ ‫ממָנּו‬ ְ ‫וְרֹו‬ ‫הבָה‬ ַ ְ ‫חּג ִים ּוז‬ ַ ‫מחָה‬ ְ ‫ׂש‬ ‫מּנ ִים לְׂשָׂשֹון [אֶת יֹום‬ ִ ְ ‫ׁשּבָתֹות לִמְנּוחָה ּו] מֹועֲדִ ים ל‬ ַ [ ִ ]‫הבָה‬ ַ ‫ּׁשבָת הַּז ֶה וְ] אֶת־יֹום חַג‬ ֲ ‫א‬ ַ ְ‫הּמַּצֹות הַּז ֶה זְמַן חֵרּותֵנּו [ּב‬ ַ ‫מקְָרא‬ ַ ‫ה‬ ִ ָּ‫ּת וְאֹותָנּו קִּדַ ׁשְת‬ ָ ‫ ּכִי בָנּו בָחְַר‬.‫מצ ְָרי ִם‬ ִ ‫קֹדֶ ׁש זֵכֶר ל ִיצִיאַת‬ ‫מּכָל‬ ָ ְ‫אל ינּו קֵָרב‬ ָ ַ ְ‫ [ו‬,]‫ּת וְאֹותָנּו קִּדַ ׁשְתָּ לַעֲבֹודָ תֶָך‬ ‫ [ּכִי‬,‫העַּמִים‬ ‫ׁשּבָת] ּומֹועֲדֵ י‬ ַ ְ ‫הנ‬ ִ ‫מחָה ּובְׂשָׂשֹון‬ ְ ‫ש‬ ִֹ ְִ‫הבָה ּובְָרצֹון] ּב‬ ֲ ‫א‬ ַ ְ‫קָדְ שֶָׁך [ּב‬ .‫חלְּתָנּו‬ ְ ‫אּתָה יי‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ ַ ְ ‫ׂשָראֵל וְהַּז‬ ַ [ ‫מקַּדֵ ׁש‬ ַ ‫ה‬ .‫מּנ ִים‬ ְ ִ ‫ּׁשּבָת וְ] י‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam asher bahar banu mi-kol am, v’rom’manu mi-kol lashon. v’kid’shanu b’mitzvotav. Va-titen lanu Adonai Eloheinu b’ahavah [Shabbatot lim’nuhah u’] mo’adim l’simhah, hagim u’z’manim l’sason. Et Yom [ha-Shabbat ha-zeh v’et yom] hag hamatzot ha-zeh, z’man heiruteinu [b’ahavah], mikra kodesh, zekher l’tziyat mitzrayim. Ki vanu Vaharta, v’otanu kiddashta mi-kol ha-amim, [Ki eleinu karatata v’otanu kiddashta la’avodatekha] [v’Shabbat] u’mo’adei kod’shekha [b’ahavah u’v’ratzon] b’simhah u’v’sason hinhaltanu.

Barukh Attah Adonai, m’kadesh (ha-Shabbat v’) Yisrael v’ha-zmanim.

Praised are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who has chosen us from all nations and made us different from all other groups by making us holy through the mitzvot.

You have given us in love, Eternal our God, [Shabbat for rest and] festivals for celebrations, including this Festival of Matzah, the time of our freedom [in love], a holy day of gathering together, a reminder of the Exodus from Egypt. You have chosen us and made us holy from among all other people [For you called to us, and made us holy for your service] by giving us [Shabbat and] Your holy Festivals [in love and with will] in joy and happiness.

Praised are You, Eternal, The One Who makes Holy [the Shabbat and] Israel and the Festivals.

Reconstructionist version.

9

The Sheheheyanu ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם‬ ִ ְ‫חי ָנּו וְקִּיְמָנּו ו‬ ֱ ‫ה‬ ֶ ‫שׁ‬ .‫הּג ִיעָנּו לַּזְמַן הַּז ֶה‬ ֶ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam sheheheyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higiyanu la-z’man ha-zeh.

Praised are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who keeps us alive, Who keeps us going, and Who helps us come to experience this very moment.

What is your favorite Seder memory? Have everyone answer.

10

2. Urhatz Usually we wash our hands to get them clean.

Sometimes there are other reasons. At the Seder we wash our hands as a way of getting ready. It is a way of making the Seder a special, different, holy event.

During Urhatz we say no brakhah.

1. The leader takes a cup or pitcher of water and pours the water over each of his or her hands.

2. The leader dries his or her hands. No blessing is said.

3. Option: Everyone at the Seder can wash his or her hands.

11

3. Karpas

At bar mitzvah events, weddings and big, formal meals people serve a little bit of food before the real meal. They serve things like little hot dogs, dips, meatballs, and gefilte fish. Usually we eat these foods with our fingers or with toothpicks. These foods are called appetizers. Their job is to tease our appetites and get us ready for the meal.

At the Seder Karpas is our appetizer. Its job is to tease our minds. We take parsley and dip it in salt water. Karpas gets us ready for the Seder by starting us thinking about the story of how we left Egypt.

12

Some people think that the salt water tastes like the tears that Jewish families shed when we were slaves in Egypt. Other people think that it tastes like the Reed Sea that divided when we crossed into freedom.

The Brakhah Before Eating a Vegetable ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם‬ ָ ‫ּבֹוֵרא ּפְִרי‬ .‫האֲדָ מָה‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam, borei p’ri ha-adamah.

Praised are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, The One Who creates the fruit of the ground.

1. Dip the parsley into salt water.

2. Say the brakhah before eating the karpas.

3. Lean to the left and eat the karpas.

One thing that caused me to cry in Egypt was . . . Have everyone answer.

13

4. Yahatz On the Seder table we have three pieces of matzah. During Yahatz the leader takes the middle matzah and breaks it in half. Half of this matzah is taken away from the table and hidden. It becomes the afikomen, the last thing eaten at a Seder. Whoever finds the afikomen gets a prize.

During Yahatz not a word is spoken.

1. Take the middle matzah.

2. Break it into two uneven pieces.

3. Wrap the larger piece in a napkin or place in a special bag. Then hide it as the afikomen.

4. Put the smaller piece of matzah back between the other two matzot.

14

5. Maggid

1. Uncover the three matzot.

2. Read this paragraph.

3. Cover the three matzot again and pour the wine for the second glass.

Maggid means “the story.” This is the part of the Seder where we tell the story of how God brought our families from slavery to freedom. In four different places in the Torah we are taught that telling this story is a mitzvah. In the Haggadah we tell the story four different ways. Each time we ask questions, give answers, and praise God.

ְ ַ ‫הָא ל‬ .‫חמָא עַנ ְי ָא‬ ִ ְ‫תנ ָא ּבְאְַרעָה ּד‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ְ‫אב‬ ַ ‫אכָלּו‬ ֲ ‫ּדִ י‬ .‫מצ ְָרי ִם‬ .‫ ּכָל ּדִ צְִריְך יֵיתֵי וְיִפְסַח‬.‫ּכָל ּדִ כְפִין יֵיתֵי וְיֵיכֹול‬ ָ ‫ׁשנ ָה‬ ָ ‫ׁשּתָא‬ ָ .‫ׂשָראֵל‬ ְ ִ‫הּבָאָה ּבְאְַרעָה דְ י‬ ָ ְ ‫ ל‬.‫הכָא‬ ַ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ׁשנ ָה‬ ָ .‫הּבָאָה ּבְנ ֵי חֹוִרין‬ ָ ְ ‫ ל‬.‫ׁשּתָה עַבְדֵ י‬ ַ ‫ה‬ Ha lahma anya di akhalu a’vahatana b’ar’a d’Mitzrayim Kol dikhfin yei’tei v’yeikhul Kol ditzrikh yei’tei v’yifsah Ha-shata hakha. L’shanah ha-ba’ah b’ar’a d’Yisrael.

Ha-shata avdei, l’shanah ha-ba’ah b’nei horin.

Tell about your job in Egypt. Have everyone answer.

This is the bread of the poor that our families ate in the land of Egypt.

All who are hungry are invited to come and eat with us. All who are in need are invited to come and celebrate Pesah.

Now we are here.

Next year we will be in the land of Israel.

Now we are slaves. Next year we will be free.

15

The First Telling ַ ‫מּכָל‬ ִ ‫הּלַיְל ָה הַּז ֶה‬ ַ ‫ּתּנ ָה‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬ ?‫הּל ֵילֹות‬ ְ ִ ‫מַה ּנ‬ Mah nishtanah ha-lailah ha-zeh mi-kol ha-leilot?

ַ ‫חמֵץ ּו‬ ָ ‫הּל ֵילֹות אָנּו אֹוכְל ִין‬ ַ ‫ׁשּבְכָל‬ .‫מּצ ָה‬ ֶ ַ ‫הּלַיְל ָה הַּז ֶה ּכֻּלֹו‬ ַ ?‫מּצָה‬ She-b’khol ha-leilot anu okhlin hametz u’matzah.

Ha-lailah ha-zeh kulo matzah?

ַ ‫ׁשּבְכָל‬ .‫ׁשאָר י ְָרקֹות‬ ְ ‫הּל ֵילֹות אָנּו אֹוכְל ִין‬ ֶ ַ ?‫הּלַיְל ָה הַּז ֶה מָרֹור‬ She-b’khol ha-leilot anu okhlin sh’ar y’rakot.

Ha-lailah ha-zeh maror?

ֲ ‫מטְּבִיל ִין‬ ַ ‫הּל ֵילֹות אֵין אָנּו‬ ַ ‫ׁשּבְכָל‬ ‫אפִילּו‬ ֶ ַ ‫אחָת‬ ֶ ‫ּפַעַם‬ ?‫ׁשּתֵי פְעָמִים‬ ְ ‫הּלַיְל ָה הַּז ֶה‬ She-b’khol ha-leilot ein anu matbilin afilu pa’am ehat. Ha-lailah ha-zeh sh’tei f’amim?

ַ ‫ׁשּבְכָל‬ ‫ׁשבִין ּובֵין‬ ְ ‫הּל ֵילֹות אָנּו אֹוכְל ִין בֵּין יֹו‬ ֶ ְ ‫הּלַיְל ָה הַּז ֶה ּכֻּל ָנּו‬ ַ ‫מסֻּבִין‬ ְ ?‫מסֻּבִין‬ She-b’khol ha-leilot anu okhlin bein yoshvin u’vein m’subin. Ha-lailah ha-zeh kulanu m’subin?

16

1. The youngest child asks these four questions in Hebrew, if possible.

2. OPTIONS. In some families these questions are asked twice, once in Hebrew and once in English. In other families everyone at the Seder asks the questions.

The Four Questions Why do we make this night very different from all other nights?

1. On all other nights we can eat either hametz or matzah. Why, on this night, can we eat only matzah?

2. On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables. Why, on this night, must we eat bitter herbs?

3. On all other nights we do not dip vegetables even once. Why, on this night, do we dip them twice?

4. On all other nights we can eat either sitting up or resting on our side. Why, on this night, do we eat resting on our side?

My Passover question is‌Have everyone ask a question and then have the group answer as many questions as you can.

17

ִ ְ‫היִינּו לְפְַרעֹה ּב‬ ָ ‫עֲבָדִ ים‬ ‫ וַּיֹוצִיאֵנּו יי‬.‫מצ ְָרי ִם‬ ִ ‫אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ‫ וְאִּלּו‬.‫מּׁשָם ּבְיָד חֲזָקָה ּובִזְֹרעַ נ ְטּויָה‬ ַ ‫ֹלא הֹוצ ִיא‬ ‫אֲבֹותֵינּו‬-‫הּקָדֹוׁש ּבָרּוְך הּוא אֶת‬ ְ ‫מִמִּצְַרי ִם הֲֵרי אָנּו ּובָנ ֵינּו ּובְנ ֵי בָנ ֵינּו‬ ‫ׁשעְּבָדִ ים‬ ֻ ‫מ‬ ֲ ‫אפִילּו ּכֻּל ָנּו‬ ֲ ַ‫ ו‬.‫מצְָרי ִם‬ ִ ְּ‫הי ִינּו לְפְַרעֹה ב‬ ָ ‫חכָמִים‬ ‫כֻּּל ָנּו נ ְבֹונ ִים ּכֻּל ָנּו ז ְ ֵקנ ִים ּכֻּל ָנּו יֹודְ עִים אֶת הַּתֹוָרה‬ ַ -‫ וְכָל‬.‫מצְָריִם‬ ִ ‫מצְוָה עָל ֵינּו לְסַּפֵר ּבִיצ ִיאַת‬ ִ ‫המְַּרּבֶה‬ ְ ‫מצְָרי ִם הֲֵרי ז ֶה‬ ִ ‫לְסַּפֵר ּבִיצ ִיאַת‬ .‫ׁשּבָח‬ ֻ ‫מ‬

1. Uncover the three matzot.

They are a symbol of the story we are telling.

2. Recite the answer.

We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt and the Eternal, our God, took us from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

If the Holy One Who is to be praised had not taken our families out of Egypt, then we, and our children, and our children’s children would still be slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt.

Now even if all of us were scholars, even if all of us were elders, even if all of us were well learned in the Torah, it would still be a mitzvah for us to tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt.

The more we tell the story of the Exodus, the more we deserve to be honored.

18

ַ ‫ּבָרּוְך‬ .‫הּמָקֹום בָּרּוְך הּוא‬ .‫ׂשָראֵל‬ ְ ִ ‫ׁשּנָתַן ּתֹוָרה לְעַּמֹו י‬ ֶ ‫ּבָרּוְך‬ .‫ּבָרּוְך הּוא‬ Barukh ha-Makom, Barukh Hu, Barukh she-natan Torah l’amo Yisrael, Barukh Hu.

Praised be the One Who is in all places.

Praised be the One. Praised be the One Who gave the Torah to Israel.

Praised be the One.

19

The Second Telling

The Four Children The Torah teaches about four kinds of children: one who is wise, one who is wicked, one who is simple, and one who does not know how to ask.

The Wise Child:

What are the laws and rules of Pesah that the Eternal, our God, made into mitzvot?

Answer:

You should teach this child all the laws of Pesah, including the rule “Nothing should be eaten after the afikomen.”

The Wicked Child:

What does this Seder mean to you?

Answer:

Since this child says “to you” and not “to us,” the child thinks that he or she is separate from everyone else and not part of our Jewish family.

You should tell this child, “We do this because of what the Eternal did for me when I went out of Egypt.”

20

The Simple Child:

What is all this?

Answer:

You should tell this child, “God took us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, with a mighty hand” (Exodus 13:3).

There is also a child who does not know how to ask.

Answer:

With this child you must begin the discussion.

Tell this child, “It is because of that which the Eternal did for me when I went free from Egypt” (Exodus 13:8).

21

1. Cover the matzot.

2. Raise wine cups (as if you are making a toast).

3. Recite this statement of praise.

,‫ׁשעָמְדָ ה לַאֲבֹותֵינּו וְל ָנּו‬ ֶ ‫וְהִיא‬ ֶ ‫ׁשֶֹּלא‬ ‫אחָד ּבִלְבָד עָמַד עָל ֵינּו לְכַּלֹותֵנּו‬ ֵ ‫ׁשּבְכָל ּדֹור וָדֹור עֹומְדִ ים עָל ֵינּו לְכַּלֹותֵנּו‬ ֶ ‫אּל ֶא‬ ִ ‫מּצִיל ֵנּו‬ ַ ‫הקָדֹוׁש ּבָרּוְך הּוא‬ ַ ְ‫ו‬ .‫מּיָדָ ם‬ There is One Who stood by our ancestors and by us, and not just once, when enemies stood against us to destroy us; but in every generation there are those who stand against us to destroy us, and the Holy One Who is to be Praised saves us from their hands.

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The Third Telling Next the Haggadah has us study four verses from the Torah.

1. My father was a wandering Aramean.

He went down to Egypt with a few people and lived there.

There he became a great, mighty and numerous nation.

2. The Egyptians were mean to us and made us suffer and gave us hard slavery.

3. We shouted out to the Eternal, the God of our families; and the Eternal saw our suffering, our unhappiness, and our oppression.

4. Then the Eternal took us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, with awesome power, with signs, and with wonders. (Deuteronomy 26:5–8)

Have each family at the Seder answer: How did our family come to America?

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The Ten Plagues ַ ‫הבִיא‬ ֵ ‫ׁש‬ ‫הּקָדֹוׁש בָּרּוְך הּוא‬ ֶ ‫אֵּלּו עֶׂשֶר מַּכֹות‬ ִ ְ‫ּמצְִרי ִים ּב‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫עַל‬ ‫ וְאֵּלּו הֵן׃‬.‫מצ ְַרי ִם‬ Eilu eser makot heivi ha-Kadosh Barukh Hu al ha-Mitzrim b’Mitzrayim. V’eilu hein:

There were ten plagues that the Holy One Who is to be Praised brought upon the Egyptians, and here they are:

 Dam

Blood

 Tzefardei’a

Frogs

 Kinnim

Lice

 Arov

Insect swarms

 Dever

Cattle disease

 Sh’hin

Boils

 Barad

Hail

 Arbeh

Locusts

 Hoshekh

Darkness

  Makkat B’khorot Death of the Firstborn

What was your biggest memory of the plagues? Have everyone answer.

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

3

kinim lice

 blood





frogs

4

1 dam

2

tzefardei'a

arov insects

  

10

makat b'khorot death of the firstborn

5

dever cattle disease



9

hoshekh darkness



6 7

sh'hin boils

 barad hail

 locust

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arbeh

8

Dayyenu ַ ‫ּכַּמָה‬ .‫מעֲלֹות טֹובֹות לַּמָקֹום עָל ֵינּו‬ Kammah ma’alot tovot la-Makom aleinu:

God has given us many gifts:

ִ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫אִּלּו הֹוצ ִיאָנּו‬ ‫ ּדַ ּיֵנּו׃‬.‫ּמצ ְַריִם‬ Ilu hotzi’anu mi-mitzrayim—Dayyenu.

Had God only taken us out of Egypt and not divided the sea for us:

DAYYENU

Had God only divided the sea for us and not permitted us to cross on dry land:

DAYYENU

Had God only permitted us to cross on dry land and not taken care of all our needs:

DAYYENU

Had God only taken care of all our needs for forty years in the wilderness and not fed us with manna:

DAYYENU

Had God only fed us with manna and not given us Shabbat:

DAYYENU

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ַ ‫אִּלּו נָתַן ל ָנּו אֶת‬ ‫ ּדַ ּיֵנּו׃‬.‫ּׁשּבָת‬ ַ ‫ה‬ Ilu natan lanu et ha-Shabbat—Dayyenu.

Had God only given us Shabbat and not brought us to Mt. Sinai:

DAYYENU

Had God only brought us to Mt. Sinai and not given us the Torah:

DAYYENU

‫ ּדַ ּיֵנּו׃‬.‫אִּלּו נָתַן ל ָנּו אֶת הַּתֹוָרה‬ Ilu natan lanu et ha-Torah—Dayyenu.

Had God only given us the Torah and not led us to the land of Israel:

DAYYENU

ֵֶ ְ ‫הכְנ ִיסָנּו ל‬ ִ ‫אִּלּו‬ ‫ ּדַ ּיֵנּו׃‬.‫ׂשָראֵל‬ ְ ִ ‫אֶ​ֶרץ י‬ Ilu hikh’ni’sanu l’Eretz Yisrael—Dayyenu.

Had God led us into the land of Israel and not built the Temple for us:

DAYYENU

Had God built the Temple for us and not sent up prophets of truth:

DAYYENU

Had God sent us prophets of truth and not made us a holy people:

DAYYENU

1. All of Dayyenu can be sung, but it is easiest to just sing the four sections for which we’ve included Hebrew and transliteration.

2. We suggest that you first read the English text and then sing these four sections.

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The Fourth Telling

Rabban Gamliel’s Seder Rabban Gamliel was one of the Rabbis who wrote down and put together the Seder we use today.

The Haggadah takes us back in time to Rabban Gamliel’s Seder.

Rabban Gamliel taught: “The right way to have a Seder is to explain these three things—Pesah, matzah, and maror.”

On our last night as slaves in Egypt, each Jewish family had its own Seder.

Each family roasted and ate its own Pesah lamb with matzah and maror.

Today, at our Seder, Pesah, matzah, and maror still have lessons to teach us.

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Pesah 1. Even though it is logical to pick up the roasted lamb bone when we speak of the Pesah, it is a tradition not to touch it or even point to it.

Not pointing to the lamb bone is a reminder that with the Temple destroyed, we can no longer offer a Pesah sacrifice.

2. Read the following question and its answer.

Q: The Pesah was “The Passover Offering,” which our ancestors ate when the Holy Temple still existed. Why did they eat it? Why do we have a roasted bone on our Seder table?

A: The Pesah is a reminder that the Holy One Who is to be Praised passed over the houses of Jewish families when they lived in Egypt.

This lesson is taught in the Torah when it says (Exodus 12:27): “The Passover Offering is offered to the Eternal because God passed over the houses of the Jewish families in Egypt. When God killed the Egyptians, God spared our homes.”

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Matzah

1. Lift up the three ceremonial matzot.

2. Read the following question and its answer.

Q: Matzah is bread that is not allowed to rise before it is baked.

Why do we eat it on Passover?

A: Matzah reminds us that before the dough that our ancestors were baking had time to rise, the Ruler of Rulers, the Holy One Who is to be Praised, came to them and redeemed them.

The Torah explains this when it says (Exodus 12:39): “And they baked the dough that they had brought from Egypt into matzah, because they hurried out. The dough did not have time to rise, and they could not wait. They did not have any other food to take with them.�

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1. Lift the maror (bitter herb) from the Seder plate.

2. Read the following questions.

Maror Q: Maror is the bitter herb. Why do we eat it at the Seder?

A: Maror reminds us that the Egyptians made our lives bitter when we were slaves in Egypt.

This lesson is taught in the Torah, where it says (Exodus 1:14): “And the Egyptians made their lives bitter with hard slavery—slaving with cement and bricks and in the field. They cruelly made them slaves at their work.”

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The Complete Answer: We Were There In each generation, every individual should feel as though he or she had personally been redeemed from Egypt.

As it says in the Torah (Exodus 13:8): “On that day you shall tell the story of the Exodus to your children, saying: ‘It is because of what the Eternal did for me when I went free from slavery in Egypt.’”

The Holy One Who is to be Praised didn’t redeem only our ancestors from Egypt; we were redeemed with them.

This is what the Torah teaches when it says (Deuteronomy 6:21): “God brought us out of there so that we could be brought to the Land that God promised to our ancestors.’”

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Praise of God Therefore we should revere, adore, glorify, and praise completely the One Who performed all these miracles for our ancestors and us.

God took us:

from slavery to freedom

from sadness to joy

from being unhappy to celebrating

from darkness to light

from being slaves to being redeemed.

ַ .‫וְנֹאמַר לְפָנ ָיו ׁשִיָרה חֲדָ ׁשָה‬ .‫הל ְלּוּי ָה‬ V’nomar l’fanav shira hadashah: Hallelujah!

And so we sing a new song to God: Hallelujah!

When we were led out of Egypt my biggest feeling was . . .Have everyone answer.

33

The Second Cup of Wine To end Maggid we say brakhot and drink the second cup of wine.

ַ ‫ּבָרּוְך‬ .‫ׂשָראֵל‬ ְ ִ ‫אּתָה יי גָּאַל י‬

Barukh Attah Adonai, ga’al Yisrael.

Praised are You, Eternal, Redeemer of Israel.

ַ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם ּבֹוֵרא ּפְִרי‬ ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ .‫הּגָפֶן‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam borei p’ri ha-gafen.

Praised are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, The One Who creates the fruit of the vine.

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6. Rohtzah 1. Remove any rings.

2. Fill a cup or pitcher with water.

3. Take the cup in your left hand and pour the water on your right.

4. Now take the cup in your right hand and pour the water on your left hand.

5. Lift up your hands and say the brakhah.

6. Dry your hands.

7. Do not speak again until you say the two brakhot before eating matzah.

Now we are almost ready to eat. Every Jewish meal begins with bread. Since we are just about ready to eat the matzah, we wash our hands as a way of preparing.

This time we do say a brakhah.

ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם‬ ִ ְ‫אׁשֶר קִּדְ ׁשָנּו ּב‬ ֲ ‫מצְ�ֹותָיו‬ .‫וְצִּוָנּו עַל נְטִיל ַת י ָדָ י ִם‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al netilat yadayim.

Praised are You, Eternal, our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who made us holy with the mitzvot, and made it a mitzvah for us to wash our hands before eating bread.

35

7. Motzi / 8. Matzah 1. Lift up all three matzot and recite the ha-Motzi (the first brakhah).

2. Put the bottom matzah down. Recite the matzah brakhah while holding the top and middle matzot.

3. Break the top matzah and distribute it to everyone at the table. (If there is not enough, it can be mixed with the other matzot.)

4. Eat while reclining.

Because we are about to eat the matzah we say ha-Motzi, the brakhah said before eating any kind of bread.

ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם הַּמֹוצִיא‬ ָ ‫לֶחֶם מִן‬ .‫האֶָרץ‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam ha-motzi lehem min ha-aretz.

Praised are You, Eternal, our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, The One Who brings forth bread from the earth.

36

Matzah is very simple. It is just flour and water that has been mixed together and baked in a hurry.

Matzah teaches us many lessons. It was the food baked the last night in Egypt. It reminds us of when we were slaves. It urges us to help the poor and those in need.

This brakhah reminds us that eating matzah and learning its lesson is a mitzvah.

ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם‬ ַ ‫אכִיל ַת‬ ֲ ‫מצְ�ֹותָיו וְצִּוָנּו עַל‬ ִ ְ‫אׁשֶר קִּדְ ׁשָנּו ּב‬ ֲ .‫מּצָה‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al akhilat matzah.

Praised are You, Eternal, our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who made us holy with the mitzvot and made it a mitzvah for us for us to eat matzah.

37

9. Maror In the Torah we are told, “The Egyptians made slaves of the families of Israel. They made their lives bitter with hard slavery—slaving with cement and bricks in the fields” (Exodus 1:14).

On Pesah it is a mitzvah to eat maror, the bitter herb, and remember.

1. Dip some maror into the haroset.

2. Recite the brakhah.

3. Recline and eat the maror.

ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם‬ ֲ ‫מצְ�ֹותָיו וְצִּוָנּו עַל‬ ִ ְ‫אׁשֶר קִּדְ ׁשָנּו ּב‬ ֲ .‫אכִיל ַת מָרּור‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-Olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al akhilat maror.

Praised are You, Eternal, our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, Who made us holy with the mitzvot and made it a mitzvah for us for us to eat maror.

38

10. Korekh At the very first Seder in Egypt our families ate the Pesah offering together with matzah and maror. In the Seder described in the Talmud, they added haroset. Haroset is a special mixture of nuts, fruits, and wine (or grape juice). It reminds us of the cement we used to glue the bricks together when we were slaves in Egypt.

Hillel was another one of the Rabbis who helped write down and put together the Seder we now follow.

He used to eat matzah and maror together, just as they did at the first Seder. We do just as he did.

Many families also mix in the haroset.

1. Take the bottom one of the three matzot. Break it into pieces. (If there is not enough, additional matzah can be used.)

2. Add maror. It is traditional to use the hazeret, the second kind of bitter herb found on the Seder plate.

Adding haroset is an option.

3. Sandwiches may be eaten either open-faced or closed. Recline and eat. There is no brakhah.

39

11. Shulhan Orekh: The Feast

40

12. Tzafun Tzafun means hidden. This is where the children look for the afikomen that was hidden all the way back at the beginning of the Seder. The finder usually gets a reward.

41

13. Barekh 1. Fill the glasses for the third cup of wine.

2. Recite Birkat ha-Mazon.

3. Immediately recite the brakhah over the third cup of wine.

It is a mitzvah to say brakhot both before and after eating. We call the brakhot said after the meal Birkat ha-Mazon. Barekh is when we say Birkat ha-Mazon.

ַ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם הַּז ָן אֶת‬ ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫ּבָרּוְך‬ .‫הּכֹל‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melkeh ha-Olam ha-zan et ha-kol.

Praised are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos The One Who feeds all.

ַ ‫מל ְֶך הָעֹול ָם ּבֹוֵרא ּפְִרי‬ ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ .‫הּגָפֶן‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam borei p’ri ha-gafen.

Praised are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, The One Who creates the fruit of the vine.

42

14. Hallel The word “Hallelujah” comes from the Hebrew word Hallel. It means “Praise the Eternal.” Hallel is a group of songs that thank God for everything that was done for us.

Just before Hallel we open the door for Elijah and invite him to drink from a cup that has been waiting for him since before the Seder began.

Elijah was a prophet. Stories tell that he will come back to us and announce the beginning of a time when everyone will live in peace.

1. Fill the cups for the fourth glass of wine.

2. Open the door for Elijah.

3. Stand and sing “Eliyahu ha-Navi.”

4. Close the door.

ַ ‫אלִּי ָהּו‬ ֵ ,‫הּנָבִיא‬ ַ ‫אלִּיָהּו‬ ֵ ,‫הּתִׁשְּבִי‬ ַ ‫אלִּיָהּו‬ ֵ ‫הּגִלְעָדִ י‬ ֵ ‫מהֵָרה ּבְיָמֵינּו יָבֹא‬ ְ ִ‫ּב‬ ‫אל ֵינּו‬ ַ ‫מׁשִיי‬ ָ ‫עִם‬ .‫ח ּבֶן ּדָ וִד‬ Eliyahu ha-Navi, Eliyahu ha-Tishbi, Eliyahu (3x) ha-Giladi.

Bim’hei’rah b’ya’meinu, yavo eileinu, Im mashiah ben David (2x).

Elijah the prophet, Elijah the Tishibite, Elijah the Galeadite, come to us, in our day bring the Messiah.

43

Hallel ַ ‫ כִּי ל ְעֹול ָם‬,‫הֹודּו ל ַיי כִּי טֹוב‬ .‫חסְּדֹו‬ ַ ‫ כִּי ל ְעֹול ָם‬,‫ׂשָראֵל‬ .‫חסְּדֹו‬ ְ ִ‫יֹאמַר נ ָא י‬ ַ ‫ כִּי ל ְעֹול ָם‬,‫אהֲֹרן‬ ַ ‫יֹאמְרּו נ ָא בֵית‬ .‫חסְּדֹו‬ ַ ‫ כִּי ל ְעֹול ָם‬,‫יֹאמְרּו נ ָא יְִראֵי יי‬ .‫חסְּדֹו‬ Hodu l’Adonai ki tov, ki l’olam hasdo.

Yomar na Yisrael, ki l’olam hasdo.

Yomru na veit Aharon, ki l’olam hasdo Yomru na yir’ei Adonai, ki l’olam hasdo.

Give thanks to the Eternal, for God is good.

God’s love lasts forever.

Let the house of Israel say, “God’s love lasts forever.”

Let the house of Aaron say, “God’s love lasts forever.”

Let those who believe with all their hearts says, “God’s love lasts forever.”

44

15. Nirtzah ‫ שָׁלֹום‬Shalom

is the Hebrew word for peace.

‫ י ְרּוׁשָלָי ִם‬Jerusalem is the name of the capital of Israel.

1. Fill the glasses for the fourth cup of wine.

2. Recite the brakhah over the fourth cup of wine.

If you look very closely at the Hebrew letters that spell Jerusalem, you can see the word shalom.

Jerusalem is the city of peace.

Nirtzah is the final step in the Seder. We drink the fourth cup of wine and sing: L’shanah ha-ba'ah b’Yirushalayim. Next year in Jerusalem—next year may we all live in the city of peace.

The Fourth Cup of Wine

ֶ ‫אּתָה יי אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫בָּרּוְך‬ ‫מל ְֶך‬ ַ ‫הָעֹול ָם ּבֹוֵרא ּפְִרי‬ .‫הּגָפֶן‬ Barukh Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam borei p’ri ha-gafen.

Praised are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Cosmos, The One Who creates the fruit of the vine.

45

The Passover Seder is completed.

We have followed all its rules.

We have done all its customs.

Just as we have had the privilege of completing all of its steps, may we be privileged to live out all of its wishes in the future.

ַ ‫לַׁשָּנ ָה‬ .‫ׁשלָיִם‬ ָ ‫הּבָאָה ּבִירּו‬ L’shanah ha-ba’ah b’Yirushalayim.

Next year in Jerusalem.

Have everyone tell their hope for the coming year.

46

Passover Songs ַ‫יֹודע‬ ֵ ‫מי‬ ִ ‫חד‬ ָ ‫א‬ ֶ ֶ ?ַ‫אחָד מִי יֹודֵ ע‬ ֲ ‫אחָד‬ ֶ .ַ‫אנ ִי יֹודֵ ע‬ ֶ ‫אחָד אֱֹלהֵינּו‬ ַ ‫ּׁש‬ .‫מי ִם ּובָאֶָרץ‬ ָ ַ‫ׁשּב‬ ֶ ?ַ‫ׁשנַיִם מִי יֹודֵ ע‬ ְ ֲ ‫ׁשנַי ִם‬ .ַ‫אנ ִי יֹודֵ ע‬ ְ ַ ‫ׁשנ ֵי ל ֻחֹות‬ .‫הּבְִרית‬ ְ .‫ׁשְלׁשָה אָבֹות‬ ִ ‫אְרּבַע‬ ַ .‫אּמָהֹות‬ ְ ‫ח‬ ֻ ‫מּׁשָה‬ ִ ‫ח‬ ֲ .‫מׁשֵי תֹוָרה‬ ִ ‫ׁשּׁשָה סִדְ ֵרי‬ .‫ׁשנ ָה‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ִ .‫ׁשּבְּתָא‬ ַ ‫שִׁבְעָה יְמֵי‬ .‫שְׁמֹונ ָה יְמֵי מִיל ָה‬ ִ ִ .‫ׁשעָה י ְַרחֵי ל ֵידָ ה‬ ְ ‫ּת‬ .‫עֲׂשָ​ָרה ּדִ ּבְַרּי ָה‬ ַ .‫אחַד עָׂשָר ּכֹוכְבַּיָא‬ .‫ׁשבְטַּי ָא‬ ִ ‫ׁשנ ֵים עָׂשָר‬ ְ .‫ׁשְֹלשָה עָׂשָר מִּדַ ּי ָא‬

Ehad mi yode'a?

Who knows one?

Ehad ani yode'a.

I know one.

Ehad Eloheinu

One God

she-ba-shamayim u'var-aretz. in heaven and on earth.

Shna'yim mi yode'a?

Who knows two?

Shna'yim ani yode'a.

I know two.

Shnei lu'hot ha-brit.

Two tablets of the Covenant.

S'loshah avot.

Three Fathers.

Arba imahot.

Four Mothers.

Hamishah humshei Torah.

Five books of Torah.

Shishah sidrei Mishnah.

Six parts of the Mishnah.

Shivah y'mei Shabta.

Seven days of the week.

Sh'monah y'mei milah.

Eight days before circumcision.

Tish'ah yarhei lei'dah.

Nine months of pregnancy.

Asarah dibra'yah.

Ten Commandments.

Ahad asar kokh'vaya.

Eleven stars in Joseph’s dream.

Sh'neim asar shiv'taya.

Twelve tribes of Israel.

Sh'loshah asar mi'daya.

Thirteen are God’s attributes of mercy.

47

ַ ‫חד גּ ַ ְדיָא‬ .‫ חַד ּג ַדְ י ָא‬.‫חַד ּג ַדְ י ָא‬ ַ ‫ּדְ זַּבִין‬ .‫אּבָא ּבִתְֵרי זּוז ֵי‬ .‫ חַד ּג ַדְ י ָא‬.‫חַד ּג ַדְ י ָא‬ ָ ְ‫אתָא ׁשּונ ְָרא ו‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ …‫אכְל ָה לְג ַדְ י ָא‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ …‫אתָא כַלְּבָא וְנָׁשְַך ל ְׁשּונ ְָרא‬ ִ ְ‫אתָא חּוטְָרא ו‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ …‫הּכ ָה לְכַלְּבָא‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ …‫אתָא נּוָרא וְׂשָ​ָרף ל ְחּוטְָרא‬ ַ ‫אתָא‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ …‫מּי ָא וְכָבָה ל ְנּוָרא‬ ַ ְ ‫ׁשתָא ל‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ …‫מּי ָא‬ ָ ְ‫אתָא תֹוָרא ו‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ …‫ׁשחַט ל ְתֹוָרא‬ ָ ְ‫אתָא הַּׁשֹוחֵט ו‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְאְַך‬ ַ ‫אתָא‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ ‫ּמוֶת‬ …‫ׁשחַט ל ְׁשֹוחֵט‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ ַ ‫אתָא‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬ ‫הּקָדֹוׁש ּבָרּוְך הּוא‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫מלְאְַך‬ ַ ְ ‫ׁשחַט ל‬ …‫ּמוֶת‬ ָ ְ‫ו‬

Had Gad'ya. Had Gad'ya.

D'zabin aba bi'trei zuzei.

Had Gad'ya. Had Gad'ya.

V'ata shun'ra v'akhla l'gad'ya…

V'ata khal'ba v'nashakh l'shun'ra…

V'ata hut'ra v'hikah l'khal'ba…

V'ata nu'ra v'saraf l'hut'ra…

V'ata ma'ya v'khava l'nu'ra…

V'ata tora v'shata l'ma'ya…

V'ata ha-sho'het v'sha'hat l'tora V'ata ha-mal'akh ha-mavet v'sha'hat l'sho'het…

V'ata ha-Kodesh Barukh Hu v'Sha'hat l'mal'akh ha-mavet…

An only kid, an only kid that my father bought for two zuzim An only kid, an only kid Then came the cat and ate the kid…

Then came the dog and ate the cat…

Then came the stick and beat the dog…

Then came the fire and burnt the stick…

Then came the water and put out the fire…

Then came the ox and drank the water…

Then came the butcher and killed the ox…

Then came the angel of death and killed the butcher.

Then came the Holy One and killed the angel of death…

48