Interfaith

To be read after the telling of the Exodus story and before the second cup of wine

Introduction

As we recount our people's journey from oppression to freedom, we are reminded that the story of the stranger seeking refuge is as relevant today as it was in ancient times. The Torah commands us no less than 36 times to welcome the stranger, "for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Tonight, as we celebrate our liberation, we take a moment to consider those who still seek freedom and dignity in our own time.

Reading

Reader 1: We read in Exodus 23:9, "You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt."

Reader 2: Today, millions of people flee violence, persecution, and poverty. They cross deserts and oceans, risk their lives, and leave behind everything they know—just as our ancestors did—in search of safety and a better life for their children.

Reader 3: At our borders and in our communities, families are separated, children are detained, and those seeking asylum are turned away. Our current immigration system is broken, causing needless suffering and denying basic human dignity to those who come seeking refuge.

Reader 4: As Jews who have known the bitterness of oppression and the sweetness of freedom, we cannot stand idly by. We are called to create a more just and compassionate immigration system—one that treats every person with dignity, keeps families together, and provides a path to citizenship for those who have made their homes here.

Reflection

Let us dip a finger in our wine and place a drop on our plates for each of these modern plagues affecting immigrants today:

• Family separation
• Detention of children
• Deportation of those who have lived here for decades
• Denial of asylum to those fleeing violence
• Exploitation of undocumented workers
• Xenophobia and racism in our public discourse
• The militarization of our borders
• Lives lost in dangerous desert and ocean crossings
• The pain of living in fear and in the shadows
• The trauma carried by those who have fled war and persecution

Communal Pledge

Together, we commit ourselves to:

• Advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship
• Support organizations that provide legal aid and humanitarian assistance to immigrants
• Speak out against policies that criminalize and dehumanize immigrants
• Welcome newcomers into our communities
• Remember that we, too, were once strangers

Blessing for Immigration Reform

May we have the courage to open our hearts and our doors to those seeking refuge. May we work to build a society that honors the humanity in every person, regardless of where they were born. And may we never forget that our own freedom is bound up with the freedom of all people.

Raise the second cup of wine

We lift this cup in solidarity with all who seek freedom, and we commit ourselves to working for a world where no one must flee their home in search of safety, and where every stranger is welcomed as a neighbor and friend.

Why is this night different from all other nights? On this night, we celebrate the beautiful tapestry of traditions that have been woven together in our family.

1. On all other nights, we may call our spiritual practices by different names. Why on this night do we come together to honor our shared journey? We gather tonight because love transcends all boundaries. In our home, we celebrate the miracle of finding each other across different faiths and traditions. This Passover, we honor both the ancient story of liberation and the modern story of our family, united in love and respect.
2. On all other nights, we may have grown up with different stories and symbols. Why on this night do we share this sacred narrative together? Tonight, we recognize that at the heart of all our traditions lies the universal human desire for freedom, dignity, and connection. In sharing the Passover story, we find echoes of our own journeys and create new meanings that embrace all the wisdom our family carries.
3. On all other nights, we might wonder how to honor multiple heritages. Why on this night do we find harmony in our diversity? On this night, we celebrate the unique gifts that each tradition brings to our table. Our different backgrounds don't divide us – they enrich us. Like the charoset on our Seder plate, our interfaith family blends many sweet elements into something greater than the sum of its parts.
4. On all other nights, we might worry about belonging. Why on this night do we affirm that everyone has a place at this table? Tonight, we declare that love makes room for everyone. Our Seder is a testament to the family we've chosen to build – one where questions are welcomed, differences are celebrated, and every person is essential to our story. In opening our hearts to one another, we experience the truest meaning of freedom.

Let this Passover remind us that our interfaith family is not just accepted but celebrated – a living example of how love can create new traditions while honoring ancient ones. May our table always be a place of joy, understanding, and boundless welcome.

Transform your Passover celebration into an immersive experience by hosting a Costume Seder where guests dress up as characters from the Exodus story.

The Invitation

Send invitations 4-6 weeks in advance with these key elements:

• Explain the costume concept: Guests should come dressed as a character from the Maggid (the Exodus story)
• Provide character suggestions: Moses, Miriam, Aaron, Pharaoh, the Hebrew slaves, Egyptian taskmasters, the midwives Shifra and Puah, Pharaoh's daughter, even the burning bush!
• Encourage creativity: Guests can also dress as symbolic elements like the 10 plagues, the parting sea, or matzah
• Remind guests that costumes should be respectful of the holiday's significance

Take It One Step Further

• Create a photo area with a desert backdrop or the pyramids
• Set up a costume touch-up station with additional props like:
• Shepherd's staffs (for Moses)
• Tambourines (for Miriam)
• Crown and collar (for Pharaoh)
• Simple head coverings and sashes to enhance basic costumes

Enhance the Seder Experience

• During introductions, have each guest share which character they chose and why
• When reading the corresponding parts of the Haggadah, invite costumed guests to act out their character's role
• Create character-specific discussion questions, such as:
• To "Moses": What was it like confronting Pharaoh?
• To "Miriam": How did it feel to lead the women in song?
• To "Pharaoh": What made your heart so hard?

Interactive Elements

• Award small prizes for:
• Most creative costume
• Best character portrayal
• Most historically accurate outfit
• Most innovative plague representation
• Take a group photo recreating the crossing of the Red Sea
• Have children in costume ask the Four Questions
• Create character name tags with famous quotes from the Haggadah

Tips for Success

• Have extra costume elements on hand for last-minute or forgotten costumes
• Prepare conversation starters related to each character's perspective
• Consider dietary restrictions when planning costume elements (no costume pieces that would make eating or drinking difficult)
• Document the evening with photos (with guests' permission)
• Remember that while fun, the focus should remain on the meaning of Passover

May your Costume Seder bring new energy and engagement to your Passover celebration while honoring the profound significance of the holiday!

As we gather tonight to recount the ancient story of the Exodus, we also recognize that each of us carries our own stories of liberation, struggle, and renewal. The journey from slavery to freedom is not just a historical tale—it's a universal human experience that continues to unfold in our lives today.

Invitation to Share

Take a moment to reflect on your own "Exodus story." Consider the following prompts:

• Family History: Has your family ever had to flee persecution, hardship, or danger? How did they find their way to freedom, and what wisdom from that journey has been passed down to you?
• Personal Liberation: What bondage have you personally broken free from? This might be an addiction, a harmful relationship, a limiting belief, or anything that once held you captive.
• Ongoing Struggles: What are you still trying to liberate yourself from? What is your personal "Egypt" today, and what would crossing your "Red Sea" look like?
• Helping Others: Have you helped someone else find their way to freedom? How did that experience change you?

Writing Your Story

On the provided papers, write a brief personal Exodus story. You might begin with:

"My journey from narrow places began when..."

"I found my freedom when..."

"The wilderness I wandered through taught me..."

"I am still seeking liberation from..."

Share your story with those at your table, if you feel comfortable doing so. Listen with an open heart as others share theirs.

Why We Do This

By finding our own stories within the ancient narrative, we make the Passover story truly timeless. We honor both our collective history and our individual journeys. In doing so, we recognize that the work of liberation—both personal and communal—continues in every generation.

As we say each year: "In every generation, each person must see themselves as if they personally came out of Egypt." Tonight, we make that teaching real.

Gathered here in warmth and light,

We share in ancient stories tonight.

From hands both new and weathered with time,

We weave tradition's rich design.

For some, these customs feel like home—

The wine, the food, the sacred tome.

For others, fresh to Passover's ways,

These rituals spark wonder's blaze.

From Egypt's chains to freedom's shore,

We tell a tale told countless times before.

Yet each retelling brings insight anew,

A sparkle fresh as morning dew.

"Seder" means order, a path we'll trace

Through this evening's gathering, at our own pace.

Questions welcome, voices clear—

So ask away, all who gather here.

We'll break the matzah, sip the wine,

Taste bitter and sweet combine.

Each symbol holds a story true

Of freedom's journey, old and new.

So whether first or fiftieth year

You've joined our celebration here,

Tonight we all from Egypt flee—

Each soul discovering what it means to be free.

Let peace and joy fill every heart

As we prepare for our Seder to start.

For freedom's call still rings today,

And so we begin—now let us pray.

After singing and a few short talks / conversation about the reason they are there, they return to the original gathering-place for an —

INTERFAITH FREEDOM SEDER FOR THE EARTH

We take into ourselves the foods & meanings of the Seder.

First question: “Mah nishtanah haSeder hazeh miKol Sedarim? Why is this Seder different from all other Seders?”  Because every other Seder recalls the oppression of human beings by a ruler who thinks himself a god, but this Seder faces the oppression of God’s Creation, our Mother Earth.”

WE LIGHT UP THE PATH OF THE SEDER AND OUR LIVES—
[All say together:]

It is our task to make from fire
 

Not an all-consuming blaze

To scorch our planet,

But the light in which we see each other;

Each of us different,
 

 All of us made in the image of God.

We light this fire to see more clearly

That the Earth, the human race, 
are not for burning.

We light this fire to see more clearly

The rainbow in our many-colored faces:

The rainbow of all cultures and all life-forms.

We light this fire to see more fully

The great round Mother of us all,

Pregnant with all life, all possibility.

Blessed are you, Yahh our God, Breathing Spirit of the Universe, who gives us light that we who gather here today may become a light for peace and freedom and healing for all peoples and our planet.
Blessed are you, Yahh, Breathing Spirit of the Universe, who has breathed life into us, lifted us up, and carried us to reach this moment.

 [Light candles at each table. Pass the globe from person to person around the table/s. As each person receives the globe, s/he stands to hold it gently for a moment or two, then hands it to the next person.]

Someone says:

Lit by this light, our Seder will walk a path that begins with joy and celebration of our sacred Mother Earth; then turns in grief to see the grievous wounds inflicted on our Mother; and turns again toward action, covenant, and commitment to heal her from these wounds. 
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