The easiest Passover Seder around.
It properly fulfills the Biblical obligation to
recount the story of Exodus
Seder Plate
Charoses recipe:
1.
Sweet dried fruit
like raisins or dates
2.
Pulpy fruit like
apple or pear
3.
Nuts
4.
Sweet wine like
Manashevitz
5.
Spices as you like
for, cinnamon is very good
Chop everything together. It’s good if it comes
out like a paste. It should be sweet. Best if it looks brown like mortar.
Haggadah
Kiddush
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, borei p'ri
hagafen.
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G‑d, King of the
universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה, מְקַדֵּשׁ
הַשַּׁבָּת וְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַזְּמַנִּים.
Baruch atah Adonai, m'kadeish [ hashabat v' ] yisra-eil
v'hazmanim.
Blessed are You, G‑d, who sanctifies the Shabbat
and Israel and the festive
seasons.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן
הַזֶּה.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu
v'ki'manu v'higi-anu laz'man hazeh.
Blessed are You, G‑d, our G‑d, King of the
universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this
occasion.
Drink a cup of wine
Break the middle matzo
to make the Afikomen
Eating a Vegetable
Passover is an agricultural holiday, therefore
we eat a vegetable at the Seder. Parsley is common and many use a piece of
boiled potato. It is dipped in salt water, tasting like tears, to recall the
line in the Psalms, “He who sows with tears will reap with joy”.
Recite the Passover Story
Raise the tray with the matzot and say:
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This is the bread of affliction that our
fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Whoever is hungry, let him come and eat;
whoever is in need, let him come and conduct the Seder of Passover.
This year [we are] here; next year in the land of Israel. This year [we are]
slaves; next year [we will be] free people.
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מַה
נִשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה, מִכָּל
הַלֵּילוֹת?
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת, אֵין אָנוּ מַטְבִּילִין אַפִלּוּ
פַּעַם אַחַת; וְהַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה, שְׁתֵּי פְּעָמִים.
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת, אָנוּ אוֹכְלִים חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה;
וְהַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה, כֻּלּוֹ מַצָּה.
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת, אָנוּ אוֹכְלִים שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת;
וְהַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה, מְרוֹרִים.
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת, אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין בֵּין יוֹשְׁבִין
וּבֵין מְסֻבִּין; וְהַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה, כֻּלָּנוּ מְסֻבִּין.
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What makes this night different from all
[other] nights?
On all nights we need not dip even once, on
this night we do so twice!
On all nights we eat chametz or
matzah, and on this night only matzah.
On all nights we eat any kind of
vegetables, and on this night maror!
On all nights we eat sitting upright or reclining, and on
this night we all recline!
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The four sons:
1.
The wise one is the one
that is interested, so you answer all of his questions.
2.
The wicked one denies he is
part of the Jewish people, so you rebuke his saying you would have died in
Egypt way back when.
3.
The simple one asks what
this is all about, so you say it is an observance commemorating how G-d rescued
me from being a slave in Egypt
4.
The son that doesn’t ask.
To him you kindly tell him the Passover story.
The Story of the Exodus
The Passover story effectively starts with the birth of
Isaac in the year 2048 since the creation of man. At that time G-d told Abraham
that his children will be strangers in a land not their own. Later on the
brothers of Joseph sold him as a slave because they were jealous of him. He was
bought by an Egyptian noble who put him in charge of his house. Next he was
bought by Pharaoh who put him in charge of the country. This was because Joseph
correctly translated Pharaoh’s horrible dream that there would be a famine and
advised him to set aside food for it during the years of plenty
The famine in Canaan forced Jacob and his extended family
to go to Egypt. After Joseph severely rebukes his brothers, he forgives them,
supports them and gives them a good place in Egypt to live. They are at first
welcomed by the Egyptians, but when they grow in numbers the Egyptians can’t
stand the sight of them. However they still want the Hebrews to stay. To force
them to stay they enslave them. To reduce their numbers they throw Hebrew
children into the Nile.
To avoid this Moses’ mother puts him in a basket made to
float on the water. It is found by the princess of Egypt who adopts Moshe. G-d
appears to Moses in a burning bush and tells him to take the Hebrews out of
Egypt. When Pharaoh refuses, Egypt is struck with ten plagues.
We take a drop of wine out of our cups for each plague
because the Egyptians received us as friends when we were in need. Therefore we
should diminish the joy of our salvation a little bit due to their suffering.
These are the plagues:
1. Nile River turned to blood, 2. a plague of frogs, 3. a plague of lice,
4. a plague of wild animals, 5. pestilence that kills all
of their livestock, 6. an epidemic of boils,
7. a horrible hail storm, 8. a plague of locusts, 9.
darkness for three days,
10. killing of the first born.
After that the Egyptians let the Hebrews leave. When the
children of Israel are camped by the Red Sea, the Egyptians relent and chase
after them. The sea parts and the Israelites cross it. When the Egyptians
follow them in pursuit the sea returns to its natural state drowning the
Egyptians. The children of Israel leave Egypt in the year 2448 like Hashem said that they would leave for the promised land after 400 years.
Sing Dayanu:
If He had brought us out from Egypt, |
Ilu hotzianu mimitzrayim,
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אִלּוּ הוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם
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and had not carried out judgments against them
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v'lo asah bahem sh'fatim,
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וְלֹא עָשָׂה בָּהֶם שְׁפָטִים
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— Dayenu, it would have sufficed!
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dayeinu!
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דַּיֵּנוּ
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Symbols of Passover
- the shank bone which symbolizes the festive Passover
meal in Jerusalem when the Temple stood. The word Pesach in
Hebrew means skip. In this case we remember that G-d skipped the Jews when he
hit the Egyptians.
- Matzo which reminds us that our ancestors left Egypt in such haste that they did not have time to let the bread rise.
- Bitter Herbs to remind us of the bitterness of slavery.
Advanced Discussion of the
Plagues and
Passover Story for Talmedey
Chachmim:
When we are eating our sumptuous meal, we can more easily
appreciate the kindness the Hashem has bestowed on us. For this reason the
Mishna recommends that we view the story of Passover through the prism of
bringing our first and finest fruits to the Temple.
A major point of
the story of the exodus is the Ten Plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. If
they are said just mentioned once, it may not make such a strong impression.
Therefore the Hagada embellishes the story. Using Biblical quotes it says that
the Ten Plagues were just on finger of Hashem but at the parting of the Red
Sea, HaKadosh Baruch Hu hit the Egyptians with his full hand or five fingers.
Therefore it was like 50 plagues. After that the Hagada brings a verse form the
book of Psalms with four of five expressions of punishment. Therefore the ten
plagues are multiplied by four then five coming up with 40 or 50 in Egypt and
200 or 250 at the Red Sea. This all strengthens the idea that it was Hashem
himself that was striking Egypt and it was not nature, or chance, a human
messenger, or a heavenly messenger. The idea is to teach belief in G-d and
explain how it guides Jewish history and our personal lives.
Blessing on the Matzoh
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ
הָעוֹלָם, הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, hamotzi
lechem min ha-aretz.
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G‑d, King of the
universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר
קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְווֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ עַל אֲכִילַת מַצָּה.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher
kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al achilat matzah.
Praised are you, Adonai, our God, sovereign of the
universe, who has taught us the way of holiness through commandments,
commanding us to eat matzah.
Maror- Bitter Herbs
Eat horse radish or lettuce with matzo to remember the
bitterness of slavery.
Eat Charosis with matzo to remember the mortar that the
children of Israel used for building in Egypt
Eat a Festive Meal
Afikomen
Hide the Afikomen and give a box of chocolates to the one
that finds it.
Break up, distribute, and eat the afikomen
Grace after Meals
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
הַזָּן אֶת הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בְּטוּבוֹ בְּחֵן בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים , הוּא נֹתֵן
לֶחֶם לְכָל-בָּשָׂר כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ הַגָּדוֹל תָּמִיד לֹא חָסַר
לָנוּ וְאַל יֶחְסַר לָנוּ מָזוֹן לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל כִּי
הוּא אֵל זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לַכֹּל וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל וּמֵכִין מָזוֹן לְכָל-בְּרִיּוֹתָיו
אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ הַזָּן אֶת הַכֹּל.
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G‑d,King of the universe, who, in His goodness, feeds the whole
world with grace, with kindness and with mercy. He gives food to all flesh, for
His kindness is everlasting. Through His great goodness to us continuously we
do not lack food, and may we never lack it, for the sake of His great Name. For
He is a [benevolent] G‑d who feeds and sustains all, does good to all, and
prepares food for all His creatures whom He has created, as it is said: You
open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Blessed are You
L-rd, who provides food for all.
IF THIS IS TOO LONG SAY
Blessed is the master of this bread
Drink a cup of wine
Open the Door for Elijah and say
Pour out Your wrath upon the nations
that do not acknowledge You, and upon the kingdoms that do not call upon Your
Name. For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.Pour out Your
indignation upon them, and let the wrath of Your anger overtake them. Pursue
them with anger, and destroy them from beneath the heavens of the L-rd.
הלל Praise
Psalm 136
הוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
הוֹדוּ לֵאלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
הוֹדוּ לַאֲדֹנֵי הָאֲדֹנִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
לְעֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת גְּדֹלוֹת לְבַדּוֹ
כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
לְעֹשֵׂה הַשָּׁמַיִם בִּתְבוּנָה כִּי
לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
לְרֹקַע הָאָרֶץ עַל הַמָּיִם כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
לְעֹשֵׂה אוֹרִים גְּדֹלִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
אֶת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לְמֶמְשֶׁלֶת בַּיּוֹם
כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
אֶת הַיָּרֵחַ וְכוֹכָבִים לְמֶמְשְׁלוֹת
בַּלָּיְלָה
כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
לְמַכֵּה מִצְרַיִם בִּבְכוֹרֵיהֶם
כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
וַיּוֹצֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתּוֹכָם כִּי
לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה
כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
לְגֹזֵר יַם סוּף לִגְזָרִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
וְהֶעֱבִיר יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹכוֹ כִּי
לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
וְנִעֵר פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ בְיַם סוּף
כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
לְמוֹלִיךְ עַמּוֹ בַּמִּדְבָּר כִּי
לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
לְמַכֵּה מְלָכִים גְּדֹלִים כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
וַיַּהֲרֹג מְלָכִים אַדִּירִים כִּי
לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
לְסִיחוֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
וּלְעוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
וְנָתַן אַרְצָם לְנַחֲלָה כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
נַחֲלָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדּוֹ כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
שֶׁבְּשִׁפְלֵנוּ זָכַר לָנוּ כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
וַיִּפְרְקֵנוּ מִצָּרֵינוּ כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
נֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל בָּשָׂר כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
הוֹדוּ לְאֵל הַשָּׁמָיִם כִּי לְעוֹלָם
חַסְדּוֹ:
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1. Give thanks to the Lord because He is good, for His
kindness is eternal.
2. Give thanks to the God of the angels, for His
kindness is eternal.
3. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His kindness
is eternal.
4. To Him Who performs great wonders alone,
Ki l’olam chasdo
5. To Him Who made the heavens with understanding, for
Ki l’olam chasdo.
6. To Him Who spread out the earth over the water, for
His Ki l’olam chasdo.
7. To Him Who made great luminaries, Ki l’olam chasdo .
8. The sun to rule by day, for His kindness is eternal.
9. The moon and stars to rule at night,
for His kindness is eternal.
10. To Him Who smote the Egyptians with their
firstborn,
for His kindness is eternal.
11. And He took Israel from their midst, for His
kindness is eternal.
12. With a strong hand and with an outstretched arm,
for His kindness is eternal.
13. To Him Who cut the Sea of Reeds asunder, for His
kindness is eternal.
14. And caused Israel to cross in its midst, for His
kindness is eternal.
15. And He threw Pharaoh and his host into the Sea of
Reeds,
for His kindness
is eternal.
16. To Him Who led His people in the desert, for His
kindness is eternal.
17. To Him Who smote great kings, for His kindness is
eternal.
18. And slew mighty kings, for His kindness is eternal.
19. Sihon the king of the Amorites, for His kindness is
eternal.
20. And Og the king of Bashan, for His kindness is
eternal.
21. And He gave their land as an inheritance, for His
kindness is eternal.
22. An inheritance to Israel His servant, for His
kindness is eternal.
23. Who remembered us in our humble state, for His
kindness is eternal.
24. And He rescued us from our adversaries, for His
kindness is eternal.
25. Who gives bread to all flesh, for His kindness is
eternal.
26. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His kindness
is eternal.
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Drink a cup of wine
Conclusion
Sing Chad Gadya
One little goat,
one little goat:
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא
Chad gadya,
chad gadya,
Which my father
bought for two zuzim.
דְּזַבִּין אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי
dizabin abah
bitrei zuzei.
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא
The cat came, and
ate the goat,
וְאָתָא שׁוּנְרָא,
וְאָכְלָה לְגַּדְיָא
ve-ata shunra
ve-akhlah le-gadya
Which my father
bought for two zuzim.
דְּזַבִּין אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי
dizabin abah
bitrei zuzei.
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא
The dog came, and
bit the cat, that ate the goat,
וְאָתָא כַלְבָּא ,וְנָשַׁךְ לְשׁוּנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַּדְיָא
ve-ata kalba
ve-nashakh le-shunra, de-akhlah le-gadya
Which my father
bought for two zuzim.
דְּזַבִּין אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי
dizabin abah
bitrei zuzei.
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא
The stick came,
and beat the dog,
וְאָתָא חוּטְרָא,
וְהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא
ve-ata chutra,
ve-hikkah le-khalba
that bit the cat,
that ate the goat,
דְּנָשַׁךְ
לְשׁוּנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַּדְיָא
de-nashakh
le-shunra, de-akhlah le-gadya
Which my father
bought for two zuzim.
דְּזַבִּין אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי
dizabin abah
bitrei zuzei.
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא
Say “Next Year in Jerusalem
Drink a cup of wine
