We light Yom Tov candles to signal the beginning of the Seder. The steady flames demonstrate the peace of our household. The light they shed symbolizes the knowledge of humankind.
Baruch atah Adonai eluhenu melech haolom asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu le hadlich ner shel yom tov.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Yom Tov light.
Baruch haor b'olam, baruch haor b'adam, baruch haor shel tzedek v'shalom, baruch haor b'pesach.
Blessed is the light of the world, blessed is the light of humankind, blessed is the light of justice and peace, blessed is the light of Passover.
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
Preview
More
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?
We now enter the part of the seder that fulfills the mitzvah of reciting the Exodus story year after year. Why do we never tire of this?
b'khol dor vador chayav adam lir’ot et atzmo keilu hu yatzah mimitzrayim,
In every generation, each person is obligated to see themselves as if they had participated in the Exodus from Egypt,
It is a call to empathy, to feel the suffering and redemption of our ancient ancestors as our own.
It is also a command to to bring the story's meaning into our contexts, as we imagine ourselves being lifted out of despair and into freedom. This year, we face despair previously unseen in our lifetime: the reverberating trauma of October 7, ongoing war in Gaza, a thousand Israelis lost or in captivity, a thousand more displaced from their homes, tens of thousands of Gazan lives lost, the sanctity of each individual life superseded by the gross injustices of warmongering and nationalism.
The Talmud teaches us that whoever destroys one life has destroyed an entire world. In the same breath, we are told that whoever preserves one life has saved an entire world. When we despair over the sheer size of worldwide injustices, we must remind ourselves that we are obligated to use our voice and our actions tirelessly, no matter how small we think our impact may be.
Raise the glass of wine and say:
V’hi she-amda l’avoteinu v’lanu.
This promise has sustained our ancestors and us.
The glass of wine is put down.
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.
We light Yom Tov candles to signal the beginning of the Seder. The steady flames demonstrate the peace of our household. The light they shed symbolizes the knowledge of humankind.
Baruch atah Adonai eluhenu melech haolom asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu le hadlich ner shel yom tov.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Yom Tov light.
Baruch haor b'olam, baruch haor b'adam, baruch haor shel tzedek v'shalom, baruch haor b'pesach.
Blessed is the light of the world, blessed is the light of humankind, blessed is the light of justice and peace, blessed is the light of Passover.
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
Preview
More
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?
We now enter the part of the seder that fulfills the mitzvah of reciting the Exodus story year after year. Why do we never tire of this?
b'khol dor vador chayav adam lir’ot et atzmo keilu hu yatzah mimitzrayim,
In every generation, each person is obligated to see themselves as if they had participated in the Exodus from Egypt,
It is a call to empathy, to feel the suffering and redemption of our ancient ancestors as our own.
It is also a command to to bring the story's meaning into our contexts, as we imagine ourselves being lifted out of despair and into freedom. This year, we face despair previously unseen in our lifetime: the reverberating trauma of October 7, ongoing war in Gaza, a thousand Israelis lost or in captivity, a thousand more displaced from their homes, tens of thousands of Gazan lives lost, the sanctity of each individual life superseded by the gross injustices of warmongering and nationalism.
The Talmud teaches us that whoever destroys one life has destroyed an entire world. In the same breath, we are told that whoever preserves one life has saved an entire world. When we despair over the sheer size of worldwide injustices, we must remind ourselves that we are obligated to use our voice and our actions tirelessly, no matter how small we think our impact may be.
Raise the glass of wine and say:
V’hi she-amda l’avoteinu v’lanu.
This promise has sustained our ancestors and us.
The glass of wine is put down.
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.
showing
1-6
of
10
Page
1
of
2
