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Matt: We are about to begin the recitation of the ancient story of Israel's redemption from bondage in Egypt. The purpose of this Seder is to afford us the opportunity to recall the dramatic and miraculous events which led to the exodus from an ancient land of slavery. The Bible, centuries ago, instructed us to meet, as we do tonight, when it declared: "And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: It is because of that which the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt." By this, the Bible means that young and old should gather on the eve of Passover, in order that we might relate to the children, and to all, this thrilling chapter in the history of our people.
Matt: (Points to Seder Plate) We have before us the Seder Plate. On it have been placed the main symbols of this Service.
Chuck: First, we have three MATZOS, commemorating the bread which our forefathers were compelled to eat during their hasty departure from Egypt. We use three Matzos to represent the three religious groupings of the Jewish people Kohen, Levi and Yisroayl. They are placed together to indicate the unity of the Jewish people. In unity, we find our strength and power to survive.
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Andree & Ivo: The second symbol is the ROASTED SHANKBONE which reminds us of the Paschal Lamb, a special animal sacrifice which our ancestors offered on the altar of the great Temple in Jerusalem, on the Passover holiday.
Nancy: The third symbol is a ROASTED EGG, which reminds us of a second offering brought to the Temple on Passover. It was known as the "FESTIVAL OFFERING," for it was brought on each of the three Festivals–Pesach, Shavuos and Succos.
Travis: The fourth symbol is the MOROR, the bitter-herbs, which reminds us of the bitterness of slavery, which our ancestors were compelled to endure.
Elyse: The fifth symbol is the CHAROSES, made to resemble mortar, used at this time to remind us of the mortar with which our forefathers made bricks for the building of Egyptian cities.
Craig: The final symbol is the KARPAS, a green vegetable, used to remind us that Pesach coincides with the arrival of Spring and the gathering of the Spring harvest. Passover, in ancient times, was also an agricultural festival and an occasion on which our ancestors gave thanks for the earth's rich bounties.
Micah: Four times, in the course of this Service, we shall partake of the wine, symbol of joy and thanksgiving. The four cups represent the four-fold promise which the Lord made to the Israelites in Egypt. In the following words, He assured them that they would be freed from servitude: "I will bring you forth;" "I will deliver you;" "I will redeem you;" "I will take you."
Brittany: These are the symbols of Passover–echoes of the past and reminders for the present. As we partake of them, may we remember the events which they recall, and may we embody their spirit in our present-day endeavors. We shall now sanctify the holiday with the recitation of the Kiddush.
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Assembled: BO-RUCH A-TOH A-DO-NOY, E-LO-HAY-NOO ME-LECH HO-O- LOM, SHE-HE-CHE-YO-NOO, V'KEE-Y'MO-NOO, V'HEE-GEE-O- NOO LA-Z'MAN HA-ZEH.
Elyse: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who createst the fruit of the vine.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, Who hast chosen us for Thy service from among the nations, exalting us by making us holy through Thy commandments. In love hast Thou given us, O Lord our God, (Sabbaths for rest), holidays for joy and festivals for gladness. Thou didst give us this Feast of Unleavened Bread, the season of our freedom, in commemoration of our liberation from Egypt. Thou hast chosen us for Thy service from among the nations and hast sanctified us by giving us, with love and gladness, Thy holy (Sabbath and) Festivals as a heritage. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Who hallowest (the Sabbath), Israel and the Festivals.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast kept us in life, Who hast preserved us, and hast enabled us to reach this season. (After Kiddush recitation, all drink wine.)
Matt: The second ceremony of the Seder is known as Urchatz, "Washing of the Hands." This is a symbolic act of purification, which precedes our participation in this religious Service.
Matt: The third ceremony is partaking of the Karpas. We now dip this green fruit of the earth into salt water, as we recite together.
Assembled: In partaking of this fruit of the earth, we give thanks to God for all His bounties. We also recall that our forefathers were tillers of the soil, who were ever grateful for the earth's produce. In tasting of the salt water, we are asked to remember the tears which our ancestors shed while suffering the tortures of slavery. May our gratitude for the blessings which we enjoy help to soften the pain of sorrow, and convert tears to joy and appreciation.
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Assembled: BO-RUCH A-TOH A-DO-NOY, E-LO-HAY-NOO ME-LECH HO-O-LOM, BO-RAY P'REE HO-A-DO-MOH.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who createst the fruit of the earth.
Jecca: I now perform the ceremony of "Yachatz." I shall break the middle Matzoh in two, removing one half and setting it aside. This will become the "Afikomen," the dessert, to be eaten at the conclusion of our meal.
(Breaks middle Matzoh. Wraps half in napkin. Places it under pillow, or in any other convenient place. Children will later remove this piece of Matzoh, hide it, and request gifts for its return.)
Jecca: Lo! This is the bread of affliction, the humble and simple bread which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let anyone who is hungry join us at this Seder, and let him partake of what we have to share.
Assembled: With gratitude for the blessings which we have been given, we invite the less fortunate to share with us at this meal, and also at other times.
Jecca: May the Jewish people, wherever they are, those of them still deprived of total freedom, enjoy that liberty at this time, next year.
Assembled: May our brethren in Israel speedily attain freedom from fear and want, and be privileged to build a symbol of peace for all the nations.
(Wine cups are refilled.)
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Ella: I wish to ask you the Four Questions.
Why is this night of Passover different from all other nights of the year?
On all other nights, we eat either Chomaytz or Matzoh, but on this night we eat only Matzoh.
On all other nights, we eat all kinds of herbs, but on this night we eat only Moror.
On all other nights, we do not dip even once, but on this night we dip twice.
On all other nights, we eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night we eat reclining.
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Zach: We shall now answer the four basic questions concerning Passover, which you have asked:
Assembled: Once we were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord, in His goodness and mercy, brought us forth from that land, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.
Zach: Had He not rescued us from the hand of the despot, surely we and our children would still be enslaved, deprived of liberty and human dignity.
Assembled: We, therefore, gather year after year, to retell this ancient story. For, in reality, it is not ancient, but eternal in its message, and its spirit. It proclaims man's burning desire to preserve liberty and justice for all.
Zach: The first question asked concerns the use of Matzoh. We eat these unleavened cakes to remember that our ancestors, in their haste to leave Egypt, could not wait for breads to rise, and so removed them from the ovens while still flat.
Assembled: We partake of the Moror on this night that we might taste of some bitterness, to remind ourselves how bitter is the lot of one caught in the grip of slavery.
Zach: We dip twice in the course of this Service, greens in salt water and Moror in Charoses, once to replace tears with gratefulness, and once to sweeten bitterness and suffering.
Assembled: The fourth question asks why, on this night, we eat in a reclining position. To recline at mealtimes in ancient days was the sign of a free man. On this night of Passover, we demonstrate our sense of complete freedom by reclining during our repast.
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Matt: Of four sons did the Torah speak, describing, thereby, four types of Jews:
Assembled: The wise son, the wicked son, the simple one and the young one, who does not know enough to inquire.
Matt: The wise son asks: What mean these customs in which we engage, which the Lord commanded to observe?
Assembled: He is regarded as wise, since he includes himself among those obligated to observe the traditions of Passover.
Matt: The wicked son asks: What mean these customs in which YOU engage, which the Lord commanded you to observe?
Assembled: He is regarded as wicked, since he excludes himself from the obligated group, assuming that Jewish duties are meant for others, not for him.
Matt: The simple one, with complete unconcern, regarded simple because of his indifference, asks: What is all this?
Assembled: To him you shall respond: Know well that the Lord did marvelous things for us, by redeeming us with a mighty hand. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to remember and to observe.
Matt: The young one, not yet able to inquire, is to be told the story of Passover, in accordance with the Biblical command:
Assembled: “And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: It is because of that which the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.”
Matt: It is incumbent upon us to emulate the wise son by remembering our duties to our people and our Faith. We must share in the obligations to advance Torah and the Jewish way of life. To remove ourselves from these endeavors, looking to others to carry the burdens, is to fail in our responsibility. The wise son, the wise Jew is he, who understands the importance of his personal participation in all efforts for the benefit of our people and for the betterment of mankind.
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Zach: Blessed is God Who fulfills His promises, Who is ever faithful to His servants who trust in Him.
Assembled: The Lord foretold the events of Israel's bondage, When relating to Abraham the future of His children.
Zach: Then did He describe the years of their service on foreign soil, Tormented by a strange and hostile people.
Assembled: 'Twas then that He did also promise to rescue and redeem them, In justice, bringing judgment upon the cruel oppressor.
Zach: Great has been the Lord's divine promise, Fulfilled and realized in days of yore.
Assembled: Great have been His promises in all ages, Source of hope to a stricken and down-trodden people.
(All raise their cups.)
Zach: In every age oppressors rose against us, To crush our spirit and bring us low.
Assembled: From the hands of all these tyrants and conquerors, The Lord did rescue and restore His people.
Zach: Not in Egypt alone did Israel face, The threat of total annihilation.
Assembled: In many lands and many ages, The flame of Jewish life faced the fierce winds of tyranny.
Zach: In all these battles and desperate struggles, God's help and guidance assured our survival.
Assembled: Our hope is strong and our faith unshakable, That no enemy shall ever triumph over Israel.
(Cups are put down.)
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Micah: Scripture tells that in the land of Canaan, at the time of a famine, our Patriarch, Jacob, sent his sons to Egypt to purchase food. They also sought permission from Pharaoh to allow their flocks to graze, for the pasture lands in Canaan were barren. It was not their intention to settle in Egypt; merely to visit and find relief from want.
Elyse: There were but seventy people who arrived in Egypt, but, in time, their number increased. Soon they grew also in strength and became a mighty people. The Egyptians came to fear them for, they reasoned, in time of war they might join with enemy nations and become a threatening force. They, therefore, decided to subdue them with forced labor, and to reduce their numbers by casting male children into the river. Task masters were placed over the Hebrews, who whipped and tortured them, compelling them to make bricks and build great cities for Pharaoh.
Chuck: The task was inhuman and too great to bear. The Jewish people cried out to God, and He heard their cry. He called to Moses, charging him to appear before Pharaoh and to demand that the people be released. Pharaoh was obstinate and would not heed the word of God. It was then that Moses foretold the punishment which the Almighty would bring upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians: Plagues would be visited upon the land of Egypt, in which many would perish. Pharaoh defied God and placed his trust in his own powers. In the face of all pleas, he refused to free the Jewish people. In consequence, the plagues descended upon Egypt. Many perished and the suffering was great. Pharaoh, nonetheless, remained obstinate; he would not yield. When the tenth plague was visited upon them, the death of first-born sons of Egyptians, a great cry went up throughout Egypt, and Pharaoh finally ordered Moses to take his people out of the land.
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Jeremy: When men defy the Will of God, they bring pain and suffering upon themselves. God's Law aims for the welfare and happiness of all mankind. To deny His Law and to do evil brings destruction upon those who perpetrate it.
Jeremy: When Pharaoh defied the command of God to release the Jewish people, he invited adversity upon himself and his own people.
Brittany: Though the plagues that were visited upon the Egyptians were the result of their own evil, we do not rejoice over their downfall and defeat.
Brittany: Judaism regards all men as children of God, even enemies who seek to destroy our people.
Assembled: When, for the sake of our welfare, they met with suffering and death, we mourn their loss and express sorrow over their destruction.
Travis: A full cup is the symbol of complete joy. Though we celebrate the triumph of our sacred cause, our happiness is not complete so long as others had to be sacrificed for its sake. We shall, therefore, diminish the wine in our cups, as we recall the plagues visited upon the Egyptians, to give expression to our sorrow over the losses which each plague exacted. We now recite the list of Ten Plagues, pouring off wine as each one is mentioned.
Assembled: Blood. Frogs. Gnats. Flies. Murrain. Boils. Hail. Locusts. Darkness. Slaying of the First-Born.
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Jecca: Great and numerous are the kindnesses which the Lord extended to our fathers, For each of them we offer thanks and humble gratitude.
Assembled: Any one of these would have been sufficient, To show His love for us, His pity and compassion.
Jecca: With great lovingkindness did He redeem us from Egypt, Executing judgment upon our oppressors and the idols they worshipped.
Assembled: With awesome might did He divide the Red Sea, Allowing our people to pass over in safety.
Jecca: With tender care did He protect us in the wilderness, Granting shelter from the ravages of desert life.
Assembled: For forty years did He provide for all our needs, Sending Manna from Heaven, food and water to sustain us.
Jecca: With abundant love did He give us the Sabbath, To afford rest and refreshment for body and soul.
Assembled: To Mt. Sinai did He bring us at an hour supreme, And gave us the Torah, the crown of our life.
Jecca: In triumphant spirit did He lead us into the land of Israel, Where inspired leaders did build the Holy Temple.
Assembled: How great and numerous are the kindnesses which the Lord has shown us, For each act of goodness we are abundantly grateful.
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Jecca: Rabbi Gamliel taught: Whosoever does not mention the three symbols of Passover has not fulfilled his duty. They are: Pesach, or Paschal Lamb, Matzoh and Moror.
Chuck: (Pointing to Roasted Shank Bone on Seder Plate) What is the significance of the Pesach, the Paschal Lamb, symbolized by this SHANK BONE, which our ancestors ate in the days when the Temple was in existence? It served as a reminder that the Lord "posach"–passed over–the homes of our fathers, when He smote the first-born sons of the Egyptians.
Chuck: (Holding up cake of Matzoh) What is the significance of the Matzoh? It is the flat, unleavened bread which our fathers ate during their departure from Egypt, for in their haste they could not wait for the dough to rise.
Nancy: (Holding up some Bitter-Herbs) What is the significance of these Bitter-Herbs? They serve to remind us that the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors, as the Torah relates: "And they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field; in all their service, wherein they made them serve with rigour."
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Assembled: In every generation, each Jew must look upon himself as though he, personally, was among those who went forth from Egypt. Not our fathers alone did the Holy One, Blessed be He, redeem from suffering, but also us and our families.
Jeremy: The struggle for freedom is a continuous struggle, For never does man reach total liberty and opportunity.
Assembled: In every age, some new freedom is won and established, Adding to the advancement of human happiness and security.
Jeremy: Yet, each age uncovers a formerly unrecognized servitude, Requiring new liberation to set man's soul free.
Assembled: In every age, the concept of freedom grows broader, Widening the horizons for finer and nobler living.
Jeremy: Each generation is duty-bound to contribute to this growth, Else mankind's ideals become stagnant and stationary.
Assembled: The events in Egypt were but the beginning, Of a force in history which will forever continue.
Jeremy: In this spirit, we see ourselves as participants in the Exodus, For we must dedicate our energies to the cause there begun.
Assembled: In our day, we shall defend the heritage of liberty, Taught by the Torah and preserved by democracies.
(All raise their cups.)
As inheritors of the priceless heritage of liberty, we join now in praising and glorifying God's Holy Name. For the miracles which He wrought in the past, and also in our day, we offer Him our thankfulness. He did deliver us from slavery to freedom, from sorrow to happiness, from mourning to rejoicing, from darkness to light. In gratitude for these manifold blessings, we shall sing songs of praise to Him.
(The cups are put down and refilled.)
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Assembled: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast redeemed us and our ancestors from Egypt, and hast brought us to this occasion, to partake of the Matzoh and the Moror.
Karina: May it be Thy Will, our God and God of our fathers, to grant us life, and to bring us, in peace, to many more festivals, holy days and happy celebrations.
Assembled: May those occasions inspire us to help rebuild the land of Israel, restore the City of Jerusalem, and cause Thy people everywhere to draw closer to Thy service.
Karina: Then shall we, with a new song and renewed fervor, give Thee thanks, once again, for our physical deliverance and our spiritual freedom.
Assembled: Blessed art Thou, our God, Who hast redeemed Israel.
BO-RUCH A-TOH A-DO-NOY, E-LO-HAY-NOO ME-LECH HO-O-LOM, BO-RAY P'REE HA-GO-FEN.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who createst the fruit of the vine.
(Drink the wine.)
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Karina: As we prepare to partake of the meal, we shall wash our hands, this time reciting the prescribed blessing:
Assembled: BO-RUCH A-TOH_A-DO-NOY, E-LO-HAY-NOO ME-LECH HO-O-LOM, A-SHER KEED-SHO-NOO B’MEETZ-VO-SOV, V'TZEE-VO-NOO AL N'TEE-LAS YO-DO-YEEM.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, and hast commanded us concerning the washing of the hands.
(The upper Matzoh, and the remainder of the middle Matzoh are broken into smaller pieces, which are distributed to everyone.)
Assembled: BO-RUCH_A-TOH_A-DO-NOY, E-LO-HAY-NOO ME-LECH HO-O-LOM, HA-MO-TZEE LE-CHEM MEEN HO-O-RETZ.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God, King of the universe, Who bringest forth bread from the earth.
BO-RUCH A-TOH A-DO-NOY, E-LO-HAY-NOO ME-LECH HO-O-LOM, A-SHER KEED-SHO-NOO B'MEETZ-VO-SOV, VTZEE-VO-NOO_AL_A-CHEE-LAS MA-TZOH.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and hast commanded us to eat Matzoh.
(The piece of Matzoh is eaten.)
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(The Moror and Charoses, combined, are distributed by the Leader to all, or Assembled can help themselves from the extra dishes containing these foods, if they have been placed on the table.)
Jecca: We shall now partake of the Moror, combined with the Charoses. Thus, we remember how bitter is slavery, and how it can be sweetened by God's redemption. We recite together:
Assembled: BO-RUCH A-TOH A-DO-NOY, E-LO-HAY-NOO ME-LECH HO-O-LOM, A-SHER KEED-SHO-NOO B'MEETZ-VO-SOV, V'TZEE-VO-NOO AL A-CHEE-LAS MO-ROR.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and hast commanded us to eat the bitter herbs.
(Moror and Charoses are eaten.)
(Leader breaks bottom Matzoh and distributes it to all. Assembled place some Bitter Herbs between two pieces of Matzoh.)
Assembled: In ancient times, the revered sage, Hillel, observed, literally, the Biblical Commandment concerning the eating of the Pesach with Matzoh and Moror. It is stated: "With Matzoh and Moror shall they eat it." Thus, did he combine them, even as we now do, and ate them together.
(All eat combined Matzoh and Moror.)