HAGGADAH פסח I am a school teacher who loves any opportunity to educate and be educated but, let’s be honest, I’m not a Jewish scholar by any stretch of the imagination.

This is just a modern take on a traditional .

It was created with love and respect for my family and I hope it resonates with yours,

Pearl Richman

STORY OF THE TECHELET

The colour blue is symbolic of the color of the sea and the sea resembles the sky, and the sky resembles spirituality.

This blue thread is said to promote the highest spiritual connection.

The gift of the blue thread was given by Lil to my husband Steven, in honour of his 50th birthday. DEDICATION

My first memories of as a teenager are helping my There is no greater pleasure for me than to have my family together mother, Lil Brown, set the table for our family Seders. This had been and to see the sheer joy in my mother’s eyes when she walks into our my job for 20 years until I made my own Seder for my new family. home, breathes in the familiar aroma of the foods being prepared, She taught me how to create a beautiful table: how and where to and hugs her grandchildren. I watch her as she takes in my Passover place the cutlery and dishes, the candle sticks and Seder plate, the table filled with all the perfectly selected pieces she collected Kiddush cups and Elijah’s cup, the parsley and saltwater, the matzah for me over the years so that I, too, would have a beautiful table. cover, and the beautiful water glasses. She allowed me to use my creativity when deciding how to fold the napkins and where to place Thank you Mom. The experience of creating this Haggadah for our the Haggadot. It was our special time together— a time for me to learn family has truly been my privilege. and observe, and a time which further solidified our deep connection. I dedicate this to you, in your honour. I observed a single mother cook an outstanding meal for up to 25 people in a 2 bedroom apartment. She prepared her home, rented tables Mom, I am so proud to be your daughter. Thank you for all that you’ve and chairs, and insisted on cleaning up by herself because she had taught me, for all you’ve inspired in me, for nurturing me, and for loving an organized system. Our meals always consisted of foods specially me so deeply. I wouldn’t have become me without you. prepared for Passover: homemade chopped liver and old dill pickles, the best sweet gefilte fish with beet horseradish prepared by my Bubby I LOVE YOU. Sara, Mom’s homemade chicken soup and famous cucumber and onion salad, tender , and a carefully prepared wine and nut cake. Chag Sameach, She must have prepared for weeks, planning to do a different chore every day so that she wouldn’t be overwhelmed when the Seder came. Pearl

My mother opened her door (and her heart), making room for anyone who didn’t have a place to go, and always began our Seder by saying something meaningful to resonate with all of us. I marvel at the many challenges she faced and how she continually rose up to set an extraordinary example for our family.

I’ve cherished Passover every year of my life. In the last 25 years, I have made the Seders at my home with my husband Steven, my children Maxie and Cole, and my mother by my side, cooking her special dishes. I’ve tried to maintain the important traditions of the Seder while also bringing a deeper meaning to our Passover. With my mother’s inspiration, I have injected modern interpretations of the traditional elements of the Seder in order to promote inclusivity and allow a deeper reflection and understanding of our world today. She is the one who inspired me to create this, our family Haggadah. Rather than passing around all the different books, news articles and scraps of paper I collected over the years, we now have our comprehensive Haggadah. PREPARING YOUR SEDER

Your Seder Table should consist of:

Two candle sticks Three matzot, held in a special matzah cover with three compartments A bowl of salt water beside a bowl with sprigs of parsley A bowl of A small bowl of beet horseradish Small individual kiddush cups for each guest A large kiddush cup to honour refugees and the displaced A glass of water for Miriam’s Cup A large kiddush cup for Elijah the Prophet, three quarters full with wine Seder Plate: See page 8 for details

Yahrtzeit Candles

Our family places yahrtzeit candles on a surface near the Seder table. Light and recite the blessing for candles over them. This important practice helps us to remember loved ones who have passed away. We acknowledge them by name at the beginning of the Seder.

Hiding the Afikomen

The Afikomen is hidden before the Seder commences. When Maxie and Cole were kids, we would play a game of “hot and cold” while they searched for the matzah!

Hard Boiled Eggs

It is our tradition to prepare hard boiled eggs covered in salt water to be served at the beginning of dinner.

1 2 LIGHTING THE CANDLES

The Seder officially begins with a physical act of lighting the candles. In Jewish tradition, lighting candles and saying a blessing marks a time of transition; from the day that is ending to the one that is beginning, from ordinary time to sacred time. Lighting the candles is an important part of our Passover celebration because their flickering light reminds us how important it is to of keep the fragile flame of freedom alive in the world.

בָּרּוךְ אַתָּהאֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינּומֶלֶךְ הָעֹולָם אֲשֶׁ רקִדְּשָׁ נּו בְּמִצְֹותָיו וְצִוָּנּו לְהַדְלִיק נֵר לשֶׁ ]שַׁ בָּת ל[וְשֶׁ יֹום טֹוב

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel (Shabbat v’shel) Yom Tov.

Blessed art Thou, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with laws and commanded us to kindle the (Shabbat and) holiday lights.

As we light the festival candles, we acknowledge that as they brighten our Passover table, good thoughts, good words, and good deeds brighten our days.

Left candle stick given by Marty Richman Center candle stick given to Maxie Richman on her Bat Mitzvah Candle stick belonged to Pearl’s sister, Arlene 4 WHY FIVE CUPS OF WINE?

The traditional four cups of wine represent the four promises of freedom God gave to in Exodus 6:6-7. The four promises were: (1) God would bring the out of Egypt, (2) deliver them from slavery, (3) redeem them with an outstretched arm, and (4) make them a nation.

The fifth cup, which we will address later in our Seder, honours all refugees and displaced persons.

The First Cup

Everyone at the table has a glass or cup of wine before them.

“The first cup is full, reminding us of the blessing of sufficiency. This cup is for those Jews who feel blessed by our families, by having enough, and by the virtues that guide our lives: kindness and chesed, tzedakah and justice, humanity and menschlichkeit. This is a cup of fulfillment.” - Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl

Recite the kiddush

בָּרּוךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינּו מֶלֶךְ הָעֹולָם ּבֹורֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.

Blessed art Thou, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Drink the first cup

This collection of antique kiddush cups are from Pearl’s maternal grandfather, Nathan Brown and gifts given by her mom, Lil Brown. The tallest cup was given to Cole by his Bubby Lil.

5 6 THE SEDER PLATE

זרֹוע Zeroah: A Roasted Bone The roasted bone, often a lamb shankbone, symbolizes the lamb roasted and eaten on the night the Jews fled Egypt.

חרוסת Charoset: A Mixture of Chopped Apples and Walnuts Charoset, resembling the bricks and mortar used to build Pharaoh’s cities, reminds us of how hard we were forced to work as slaves in Egypt.

מרור : Bitter Herbs, Horseradish Root This bitter herb symbolizes the harsh suffering and bitter times we endured as slaves in Egypt.

חזרת Chazeret: Romaine Lettuce This is the second of the bitter herbs which tastes sweet at first but then bitter, just as the Jews’ life in Egypt was first sweet and then bitter.

ביצה Beitzah: A Hard Boiled Egg The roasted egg reminds us of the sacrifice brought to the Temple in Jerusalem, and that Passover happens during the spring when new life and new beginnings bring hope.

כַּרְפַּס : Parsley or Celery Parsley, representing hope and renewal, is dipped into salt water symbolizing the salty tears we cried as slaves in Egypt.

תפוז This Seder plate from Israel was given to our family by Marty Richman Tapuz: An Orange The orange symbolizes inclusion and solidarity with both women and the LGBTQ community. This tradition was started by Professor Susannah Heschel, inspired by the women at Oberlin College in 1984, who made space on their Seder plate to honour marginalized individuals not equally represented in the Passover story. If desired, one could serve an orange segment to their guests. If a seed is found it can be discarded, physicalizing the rejection of homophobia.

8 EATING A GREEN VEGETABLE

Parsley is dipped in salt water to remind us of the tears shed by slaves, and the bitterness of slavery. It is also a symbol of springtime and of re- newed life and hope.

We each take some parsley and dip it into salt water, reciting the following blessing before we eat it:

בָּרּוךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינּו מֶלֶךְ הָעֹולָם ּבֹורֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri ha’adama.

Blessed art Thou, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the earth.

Silver and glass bowl given by Tammy Berg for our wedding, July 2, 1989

9 10 WHY MATZAH?

By eating matzah and not bread on Passover, we remember how the Jews left Egypt in such haste, they did not have time to let their bread dough rise. It is a plain food, the food of slaves and the poor.

Bread and other hametz is a puffed-up, fancier food that can be seen as a symbol of pride, greed, and jealousy.

On Passover, we remove bread from our cupboards and clear our minds of puffed-upness. Eating the simple bread reminds us to “spring-clean” our body, mind and soul.

Silver and glass bowl belonged to Pearl’s sister Annabelle

11 12 BREAKING THE MIDDLE MATZAH

Three matzot are placed in a matzah cover on the Seder table to remind us of three types of people; those not yet free, those that don’t care about the freedom of others, and those who help others THE MATZAH OF ANGUISH AND HOPE to become free.

The leader of the Seder breaks the middle matzah, leaves half of it Lift the piece of broken matzah. there and hides the other half until after dinner for the children to find. This is the Afikomen. This broken matzah reminds us of our people in Israel whose lives are continually shattered by the unspeakable horrors of terrorism. It Uncover the matzot and lift up the plate for all to see and recite reminds us that there are families who will not be able to fully celebrate the following: Passover because of loved ones who are no longer with us. It brings to mind those broken souls who cannot participate in the . This is the bread of affliction, which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. All who are hungry, let them come and eat. All who are needy, We also recall those who have been physically wounded and emotionally let them come and celebrate the Passover with us. Now we are here; scarred during the struggle to live as Jews in Israel. We want them to next year may we be in the Land of Israel. Now we are slaves; next know that they have not been forgotten. year may we be free. As we celebrate our ancestors’ freedom from slavery in Egypt and the The matzah cover is put down and covered. deliverance of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel, together we say to the survivors of terror:

We stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the quest to secure the freedom to be a Jew in Israel. We are committed to assisting you however we can.

May it be Your will, our God, and God of our ancestors, that the injured are healed, and the mourners comforted. May you guard the people of Israel from all evil, and bring peace to our Land.

May God who makes peace in the heavens, grant peace upon us and to all of Israel; and let us say, Amen.

13 14 THE FOUR QUESTIONS

מַה נִּשְּׁ תַּנָה הַּלַיְלָה הַּזֶה מִּכָל הַּלֵילֹות Mah nish-ta-na ha-lai-la ha-zeh mi-kol ha-lei-lot? שֶׁ בְּכָלהַלֵּילֹות אָנּו אֹוכְלִין חָמֵץ ּומַצָּה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה ּכּולֹו מַצָּה- She-b’chol ha-lei-lot anu och-lin cha-meitz u’ma-tza, ha-lai-lah ha-zeh ku-lo ma-tza.

שֶׁ בְּכָלהַלֵּילֹות אָנּו אֹוכְלִין שְׁ אָר יְרָקֹות הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מָרֹור - She-b’chol ha-lei-lot anu och-lin she’ar y’ra-kot, ha-lai-lah ha-zeh ma-ror. THE ANSWER שֶׁ בְּכָל הַלֵּילֹות אֵין אֶנּו מַטְבִּילִין אֲפִילּו פַּעַם אֶחָת On Passover we celebrate how God took the Jewish people out הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה שְׁ תֵּי פְעָמִים - of Egypt where they had been enslaved by Pharaoh. If God had not She-b’chol ha-lei-lot ain anu mat-bi-lin a-fi-lu pa-am e-chat, brought out our ancestors from Egypt, then even we, our children, and ha-lai-lah sh’tei f’a-mim. our children’s children might still be suffering under the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt. Even if we’re all wise, all people of understanding and well שֶׁ בְּכָלהַלֵּילֹות אָנּואֹוכְלִין בֵּין יֹושְׁ בִין ּובֵין מְסֻבִּין learned in the , it would still be our duty to tell of the the story of הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלָנו מְסֻבִּין - the departure from Egypt. The more one tells this story, the more one is She-b’chol ha-lei-lot anu och-lin bein yosh’vin u’vein m’su-bin, ha- to be praised. lai-lah ha-zeh ku-la-nu m’su-bin.

Why is this night different from all other nights? On all other nights we eat either leavened bread or unleavened bread (matzah); on this night why only unleavened bread? On all other nights we eat herbs of any kind; On this night why only bitter herbs? On all other nights we do not usually dip our herbs even once; On this night why do we dip them twice? On all other nights we eat our meals in any manner; On this night why do we only recline?

15 16 THE STORY OF OUR LIBERATION But the destiny of Moses followed him to the desert. One day, while THE STORY OF PASSOVER shepherding, an unusual sight attracted his attention. He saw a thorn bush up in flames, but although the flames burned continuously, the Originally, the Jews came to Egypt because of the famine raging in bush did not turn into ashes. This was a sign from God that although the Canaan, the Land of Israel. Egypt was hospitable, and the Jews quickly Jewish people might be consumed in flames, they would continue to live became important to the economy of Egypt and believed they had and resist, like the thorns in the shrub. God spoke to Moses, urging him enough power and influence to be forever secure. The Jews came to to go back as he was chosen to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt. feel at home in Egypt. Years, even centuries after the famine in Canaan had ended and it was possible for them to return, they chose to stay, Upon his return, Moses enlisted the help of his brother Aaron on a mission as life in Egypt was easy and comfortable. They forgot what it meant to to free the Jewish people. Fearlessly, Moses and Aaron marched into the live in their homeland in accordance with their own values and heritage, palace of Pharaoh and demanded, “Let my people go!”. Pharaoh refused and became fully assimilated into Egyptian culture. and denounced Moses and Aaron as outside agitators. Pharaoh acted as a classic oppressor, tightening rather than loosening the bonds of As rulers changed upon Egypt’s throne, the new Pharaoh was oppression for the entire Jewish population at this first sign of insurgency. threatened by the contributions the Jews had made to the political, cultural and economic life of Egypt. He worried that the Jews would As a result, the Jews suffered even more than before and in desperation, outnumber his people and take over the country, or constitute a “fifth- bitterly reproached Moses and Aaron for making their fate even worse. column”—a group of people who undermine a larger group from within. They acted in the classic pattern of oppressed people, who often turn He decided to take action against the growing influence and numbers against each other instead of uniting against their oppressor. Nothing of the Jews by limiting their personal freedoms and enslaving them for Moses or Aaron did or said made any lasting impact on Pharaoh. He was forced labour. However, the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the unmoved by pleas for justice and mercy, and unfazed by threats of dire more the Jewish population grew and thus, Pharaoh initiated a policy of consequences. Deeply hurt and disappointed, Moses prayed to God. genocide: drowning all newborn Jewish males in the Nile River. God consoled him and assured him his mission would be successful, but not before Pharaoh and all of Egypt were smitten by terrible plagues Moses, who was destined to lead the struggle of his people to liberation, to be adequately punished for his evil ways. Moses understood that was born during the days of the genocide policy. Right from the first in dealing with an oppressor, it was not enough to present reasonable moment of his birth, it became apparent that he was an extraordinary demands or even to create massive civil disturbances. The oppressor child for the house was filled with a radiant light. His life was saved by had to be brought to his knees. So it was only when Pharaoh’s first- three women: his mother, Yocheved, who hid him in a basket among the born son died in the tenth plague that he told the Jews to leave. bulrushes of the Nile River, Batya, the Pharaoh’s daughter who found him floating and adopted him as her own son, and his sister, Miriam, At last, the pride of the stubborn Pharaoh was broken and the Egyptian who arranged to have his mother Yocheved be his wet-nurse. This was people were terrorized by the devastating impact of the plagues on necessary for Moses to survive, as he refused to be nursed by any of their nation. Meanwhile, the Jews had been preparing for their hasty the Egyptian maids in waiting. departure. They assembled into groups, mobilized according to plan and marched out. They did not leave Egypt destitute however. In Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace and was raised by his “mother’ addition to their own possessions, the terrified Egyptians gave them Batya. One day, he saw an Egyptian overseer beating a Jew. In gifts of gold, silver and clothing in an effort to quicken their departure response, he killed the overseer. The next day, a Jewish slave spoke of and relieve their own suffering. the attack and Moses understood that his crime had been discovered. Moses escaped from Egypt and became a political exile in neighbouring Pharaoh, however, had a change of heart as soon as the conditions in Midian. He married a woman named Tzipporah and devoted himself to Egypt returned to normal. He quickly gathered his chariots and cavalry raising a family, seeking to forget his people’s suffering in Egypt. to recapture the Jewish slaves, who were now by the shores of the Red Sea. The Jews turned around and saw the army of Egyptians, who had

17 18 been their masters until a short time ago. Even though they were 600,000 THE FOUR CHILDREN strong and the Egyptians numbered only 600, they were frightened. In their panic, they turned on Moses for bringing this danger upon them. There are four different places in the Bible that say parents should tell the Passover story to their children. The rabbis who created the As the Jews stood facing the Red Sea they were extremely hesitant Seder described four very different children.They understood that since to cross. Nachson, a very brave man saw what was happening and there are different kinds of children, there must be different ways to tell jumped into turbulent waters. In doing this, he acted as a free man about . It is important that the story is told so that each child who was ready to take the ultimate risk for freedom. At that moment understands it, whether curious and knowledgeable, uninterested and God spoke to Moses and said, “Raise your staff and stretch out your rebellious, shy and innocent, or unable to ask a question. hand over the sea and split it, and the children of Israel shall come in the midst of the sea on dry land.” Moses did as God ordered him. He Some people suggest that there is a little of the four children in each raised his staff and stretched his hand over the sea, and a strong east one of us; that none of us are all wise, all challenging, all innocent, or wind rose and blew the whole night. The waters of the Red Sea were all unknowing. Each one of us is a mixture and we ask different kinds immediately divided and gathered into a wall on either side, leaving a of questions as we grow up and change. The Haggadah is telling us to dry passage in the midst. The marched at once along that accept each person as they are and to begin from there. dry path which extended from shore to shore, followed by the Egyptian army. Once the Jews safely crossed, Moses lifted his arm again closing What does the wise child ask? the sea and drowning the Egyptians. “What are the laws God has given us about Passover?” Since the wise child is curious about everything, we share all the laws After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Miriam led everyone in song and customs of Passover in great detail with them. and dance in praise of God, to celebrate the escape from slavery. What does the challenging child ask? However, freedom from a master is not the end of a liberation struggle, but “Why do you bother with this Seder?” only the beginning. During the years of bondage, the Israelites had seen The challenging child acts out in rebellion by saying “you”, excluding themselves as the Egyptians had seen them—as victims, weak, ineffective, themselves from the celebration. We answer this child, hoping for a powerless. So although they had wrenched their bodies free of bondage, change in behaviour, by saying: “I celebrate tonight because of what their spirits were still enslaved. They were unsure of their identity, incapable God did for me when I left Egypt. If you had been a slave in Egypt, you of trusting themselves or each other, fearful of risks and responsibilities. would not have been freed with your brothers and sisters.” They did not even trust their own chosen leaders. Many times they What does the innocent child ask? regretted bitterly having given up the security of slavery for the “What are we even talking about at this Seder?” insecurity and dangers of freedom. Many times they were consumed We explain to this child, “With a mighty hand, God took us out of with nostalgia for the “good old days” of slavery. Egypt and out of slavery.” They did not go back to slavery in Egypt but neither could they go forward What about the child who does not know how to ask a question? to self-determination in the Promised Land. The entire generation of We start the discussion for this child by saying, “We celebrate Passover slaves (with only a few exceptions) wandered in the desert for forty because of what God did for us when we left Egypt.” years, unable to find the path to self-liberation.

But the next generation, born to the precarious life in the desert, free of pernicious values of Egyptian society and of the painful memories and fears of slavery, was independent in both body and soul. They made the leap into freedom and went up to the Promised Land.

19 20 THE TEN PLAGUES

When the Sea of Reeds closed over Pharaoh’s army the angels in heaven wanted to rejoice and sing songs of praise. But God silenced them, asking, “My creatures are drowning in the sea, and you sing praises?” As we name each plague, we dip our baby finger into our full cup of Traditionally, wine is used to increase our joy and celebration. By spilling a wine and spill a drop. drop of wine while announcing each plague, we remember with sadness the immense human suffering...even of our enemies. We take out some of the wine when listing the plagues so as to reduce our joy, celebrating with less than a full heart and with less than a full cup. Ancient Plagues Modern Plagues BLOOD: The water in Egypt turned to blood which made it impossible for the דם Egyptians to drink the water from the Nile River. Man and beast suffered horrible thirst. As the blood flowed over the land, all of the fish and plant life died and an BLOOD DAM POVERTY offensive smell emanated from the sacred river. TZFARDEA DISEASE צפרדע FROGS: Frogs covered every inch of the land and infested the homes of all Egyptians. FROGS LICE: Bugs crawled forth from the dust to cover the entire land. KINIM POLLUTION כנים WILD BEASTS: Hordes of wild animals roved all over the country and destroyed LICE everything in their path. AROV INJUSTICE ערוב CATTLE DISEASE: Most of the domestic animals of the Egyptians got sick and WILD BEASTS died due to this fatal epidemic disease. The Egyptians witnessed their stately horses, the pride of Egypt, perish and all the cattle in the fields were stricken dead. דבר BOILS: The Egyptians broke out in boils which were so painful and loathsome CATTLE DISEASE DEVER INTOLERANCE that it struck the people of Egypt with horror and agony. SH’CHIN INDIFFERENCE שחין HAIL: A hail-storm of unprecedented violence swept the land whereby no living BOILS thing was to escape its fury unhurt. Both man and beast died instantly.

BARAD HUNGER ברד LOCUSTS: Swarms of locusts entered Egypt, covering the sun, and devouring HAIL everything green that had escaped the hail and previous plagues. This brought complete and utter ruin upon the land of Egypt. ARBEH GREED ארבה DARKNESS: For several days, all of Egypt was enveloped in a thick and LOCUSTS impenetrable vale of darkness which paralyzed all Egyptians as they could not move about freely without fear. CHOSHECH ABUSE חשך DARKNESS DEATH OF THE FIRST BORN: God killed all first-born sons in the land of Egypt, including the son of King Pharaoh. God spared the lives of the first born Jewish sons MAKAT WAR מכת בכורות by passing over the homes of the Jews. This is why we call this holiday Passover. DEATH OF THE Miraculously, none of these plagues affected the Jewish people. We FIRSTBORN B’CHOROT were protected by God as his chosen ones and were immune to the horror they caused across the land of Egypt.

21 22

Because we feel thankful for what God did for us in Egypt, we sing Dayenu, and then drink our second cup of wine. THE SECOND CUP Ilu hotzi hotzianu, hotzianu mimitzrayim, hotzianu mimitzrayim, Dayenu, Day, Day-enu, Day Day-enu, Day, Day-enu, Dayenu, Dayenu! Ilu natan natan lanu, natan lanu et hatorah, natan lanu et hatorah, Dayenu, The second cup is empty, signaling to us that there is real poverty, Day, Day-enu, Day Day-enu, Day, Day-enu, Dayenu, Dayenu! powerlessness and pain in this world. We have witnessed this on the streets of our cities, in our homeland of Israel, and in newsreels from around the world. This cup calls upon us to act in solidarity with those who If God had just taken us out of Egypt, still experience life as problematic and painful. This is a cup of challenge. Dayenu. It would have been enough. - Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl If God had just given us the Sabbath, Fill the second cup of wine. Dayenu. It would have been enough. בָּרּוךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינּו מֶלֶךְ הָעֹולָם ּבֹורֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן If God had just given us the Torah, Dayenu. It would have been enough. Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.

But God took us out of Egypt and Blessed art Thou, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the punished the Egyptians and fruit of the vine. divided the sea for us and led us across on dry land and Drink the second cup of wine. cared for us for forty years in the desert and fed us manna and gave us the Sabbath and brought us to Mount Sinai and gave us the Torah and led us to the land of Israel and built the Temple for us. Dayenu.

23 24 MOTZI AND MATZAH HILLEL SANDWICH Recite the two blessings over the matzah.

Build a sandwich of matzah, charoset, and horseradish. Before :eating, recite the following בָּרּוךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינּו מֶלֶךְ הָעֹולָם הַּמֹוצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, hamotzi lechem min As we envision the Hillel sandwich, we remember that the matzah is a ha’aretz. symbol of our freedom, and the maror—the bitter herbs—a symbol of the bitterness of slavery. The matzah at the top of the sandwich stands Blessed art Thou, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings for our having surmounted and transcended the bitterness of slavery, forth bread from the Earth. symbolized by the maror underneath. So what is the symbolism of the bottom matzah in the sandwich? Perhaps, as much as we celebrate the triumph of freedom over subjugation, still we remember that our בָּרּוךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינּומֶלֶךְ הָעֹולָם, אֲשֶׁ רקִדְּשָנּו בְּמִצְֹותָיו וְצִוָּנּו עַל אֲכִילַת מַצָּה experience as slaves forever scars us and that the legacy of slavery can Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu never be entirely vanquished. b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al achilat matzah. Perhaps that is why we need the addition of the charoset to our Hillel Blessed art Thou, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who made us sandwich. The rabbis understood that the Passover story is not only holy and commanded us to eat matzah. about happy endings. The children of Israel went free, but yet they await a final redemption. The world still has much bitterness, and at least because in our experience, freedom does not always win. We need the Eat the matzah. sweet charoset to get us through the darker days. All three ingredients together symbolize the need to take the good with the bad, to acknowledge the suffering alongside the redemtion.

Dinner is served.

25 26 Resume the Seder

THE FIFTH CHILD THE ONE WHO CANNOT ASK

On this night, we remember a fifth child. This is a child of the Shoah (Holocaust), who did not survive to ask.

Therefore, we ask for that child—Why?

We are like the innocent child. We have no answer. THE THIRD CUP We can only follow the footsteps of Rabbi Elazar Ben Azariah, who could not bring himself to mention the Exodus at night until Ben Zoma explained it to him through the verse: Fill the third cup of wine. In order that you REMEMBER the day of your going out from Egypt, all The third cup is overflowing, pointing to those who seek enlightenment, the days of your life. (Deut. 16.3) inspiration, or serenity. These are spiritual seekers who want something that will give meaning to their daily lives. This is the cup of transcendence. “The days of your life” indicates the daylight and the goodness of life. “All the days of your life” means even in the darkest nights when we Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl - have lost our firstborn, we must remember the Exodus.

.We answer that child’s question with silence בָּרּוךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינּו מֶלֶךְ הָעֹולָם ּבֹורֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן In silence, we remember that dark time. Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen. In silence, we remember that Jews preserved their image of God in the struggle for life. Blessed art Thou, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, In silence, we remember the Seder nights spent in the forests, ghettos, Creator of the fruit of the vine. and camps; we remember that Seder night when the Warsaw Ghetto rose in revolt. Drink the third cup of wine. Lift the cup of Elijah.

In silence, let us pass the cup of Elijah, the cup of the final redemption yet-to-be. We remember our people’s return to the land of Israel, the beginning of that redemption. Let us each fill Elijah’s cup with some of our wine, expressing the hope that through our efforts, we will help bring closer that redemption.

27 28 WHY ELIJAH IS RELEVANT

As we see here today, our Seder is infused with many symbols of hope. Opening the door for Elijah to sip from the ceremonial cup was not simply an invocation by the wise rabbis for Divine justice.

It was far more, and every Jew who lived in fear or need, knew it.

For it is Elijah, our traditions and folklore tell us, who will usher in a sense of unity within our people. It is Elijah, we are told, who will one day announce the coming of the messianic age.

In every generation, at every table of every Seder, we have welcomed Elijah. In their profound wisdom and undifferentiated love for all their people, our beloved ancient rabbis chose the most perfect, even if somewhat enigmatic, way of holding out the hope and the promise of a better world.

We rise now and open our door to invite Elijah, the forerunner of the future who will bring an end to the nights of our people.

Observe the cup of Elijah to notice if the level of wine has lowered.

Given to us by Marty Richman 30 MIRIAM’S CUP

Leader acknowledges Miriam’s cup filled with water on the Seder table.

As we tell the story of our liberation from slavery in Egypt, we remember Miriam’s faith and courage. Miriam was the sister of Moses. She protected him, and told him that he was Jewish. She watched over Moses in the bulrushes, and led the entire people of Israel as they sang the Song of the Sea.

Miriam led by connecting people through song and God honoured her by creating a well of clear spring water. Before the Jews entered the Promised Land, they wandered in the desert for forty years. Wherever Miriam went, her well would follow, nourishing and sustaining them with her sweet, fresh water.

Here we acknowledge the role of a strong woman in the Passover story—a woman of conviction and leadership. Historically, Seders have emphasized the male role in the story of Passover. Today, it is equally important that we remember the women of the Passover story. In doing so, we learn to celebrate the roles we each play as unique individuals in our daily lives.

Miriam’s Cup reminds us of her wisdom and inspiration, as we dedicate ourselves to helping the world.

Given to us by Bubby Lil 31 THE FOURTH CUP

Fill the fourth cup of wine.

The fourth cup is broken, calling us to realize that the Holocaust profoundly disrupted the lives of so many of our people. Emil Fackenheim wrote that we cannot imagine Jewish life as ever being the same after the Shoah, even as we are commanded to continue to live as Jews. This cup represents the Jewish people’s resilience in their survival of the Holocaust.

- Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl

בָּרּוךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינּו מֶלֶךְ הָעֹולָם ּבֹורֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.

Blessed art Thou, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Drink the fourth cup of wine.

33 34 THE FIFTH CUP

Before we conclude the Seder and speak the words “Next Year in Jerusalem”, we perform the closing ritual, the Fifth Cup of Wine, in honour of all refugees and displaced persons.

At the beginning of the Passover Seder, we are commanded to consider ourselves as though we, too, had gone out from Egypt. At the end of the Seder we say the words, “Next Year in Jerusalem”, to recognize that, just as redemption came for our ancestors, so too will redemption come for us in this generation. For those of us fortunate enough to have a roof over our heads, we may understand these words to mean that the parts of us that feel adrift, will find steady footing. However, for the world’s over sixty-five million displaced people and refugees, these words can be a literal message of hope that they will be able to rebuild their lives in a safe place.

As we now end the Seder, let us pass around a fifth (empty) cup into which we will each pour a drop of wine as we express our prayers for the world’s refugees.

After everyone has added some wine to this fifth cup, we read this blessing aloud together:

Tonight we honour the strength and resilience of refugees across the globe. We commit ourselves to ensuring that our country remains open to them, to supporting them as they rebuild their lives, and to championing their right for protection. Just as our own people now eat the bread of liberation, we pray that today’s refugees will fulfill their dreams of rebuilding their lives in safety and freedom in the year to come.

Blessed are those who yearn to be free.

35 36 Echad Mi Yodea

Who knows one? I know one. One is our God, in heaven and on Earth.

Who knows two? I know two. Two are the tablets of the covenant; One is our God, in heaven and on Earth.

Who knows three? I know three. Three are the patriarchs; Two are the tablets of the covenant; SONGS OF PASSOVER One is our God, in heaven and on Earth.

Who knows four? I know four. It is tradition to sing Echad Mi Yodea and Had Gadya at the end of the Four are the matriarchs; Seder. Both of these songs hold profound allegorical, mystical, and Three are the patriarchs; symbolic meanings. Our family also sings , the Israeli national Two are the tablets of the covenant; anthem, to close the Seder. This is to remind us of our commitment to the One is our God, in heaven and on Earth. continuity of the Jewish people and their homeland in modern day Israel. Who knows five? I know five. Five are the books of the Torah; Four are the matriarchs; Three are the patriarchs; Two are the tablets of the covenant; One is our God, in heaven and on Earth.

Who knows six? I know six. Six are the sections of the ; Five are the books of the Torah; Four are the matriarchs; Three are the patriarchs; Two are the tablets of the covenant; One is our God, in heaven and on Earth.

37 38 Who knows seven? I know seven. Ten are the commandments; Seven are the days of the week; Nine are the months of childbirth; Six are the sections of the Mishnah; Eight are the days before circumcision; Five are the books of the Torah; Seven are the days of the week; Four are the matriarchs; Six are the sections of the Mishnah; Three are the patriarchs; Five are the books of the Torah; Two are the tablets of the covenant; Four are the matriarchs; One is our God, in heaven and on Earth. Three are the patriarchs; Two are the tablets of the covenant; Who knows eight? I know eight. One is our God, in heaven and on Earth. Eight are the days before circumcision; Seven are the days of the week; Who knows twelve? I know twelve. Six are the sections of the Mishnah; Twelve are the tribes of Israel; Five are the books of the Torah; Eleven are the stars in ’s dream; Four are the matriarchs; Ten are the commandments; Three are the patriarchs; Nine are the months of childbirth; Two are the tablets of the covenant; Eight are the days before circumcision; One is our God, in heaven and on Earth. Seven are the days of the week; Six are the sections of the Mishnah; Who knows nine? I know nine. Five are the books of the Torah; Nine are the months of childbirth; Four are the matriarchs; Eight are the days before circumcision; Three are the patriarchs; Seven are the days of the week; Two are the tablets of the covenant; Six are the sections of the Mishnah; One is our God, in heaven and on Earth. Five are the books of the Torah; Four are the matriarchs; Who knows thirteen? I know thirteen. Three are the patriarchs; Thirteen are God’s attributes; Two are the tablets of the covenant; Twelve are the tribes of Israel; One is our God, in heaven and on Earth. Eleven are the stars in Joseph’s dream; Ten are the commandments; Who knows ten? I know ten. Nine are the months of childbirth; Ten are the commandments; Eight are the days before circumcision; Nine are the months of childbirth; Seven are the days of the week; Eight are the days before circumcision; Six are the sections of the Mishnah; Seven are the days of the week; Five are the books of the Torah; Six are the sections of the Mishnah; Four are the matriarchs; Five are the books of the Torah; Three are the patriarchs; Four are the matriarchs; Two are the tablets of the covenant; Three are the patriarchs; One is our God, in heaven and on Earth. Two are the tablets of the covenant; One is our God, in heaven and on Earth. Who knows eleven? I know eleven. Eleven are the stars in Joseph’s dream;

39 40 Then came a shohet and slaughtered the ox, That drank the water that quenched the fire Had Gadya That burned the stick that beat the dog Steven’s Favourite That bit the cat that ate the goat My father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat, One little goat, one little goat. My father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. Then came the angel of death and killed the shohet, That slaughtered the ox that drank the water Then came a cat and ate the goat That quenched the fire that burned the stick My father bought for two zuzim. That beat the dog that bit the cat One little goat, one little goat. That ate the goat My father bought for two zuzim. Then came a dog and bit the cat, One little goat, one little goat. That ate the goat My father bought for two zuzim. Then came our God, One little goat, one little goat. And slew the angel of death, That killed the shohet that slaughtered the ox Then came a stick and beat the dog, That drank the water that quenched the fire That bit the cat that ate the goat That burned the stick that beat the dog My father bought for two zuzim. That bit the cat that ate the goat One little goat, one little goat. My father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. Then came a fire and burned the stick, That beat the dog that bit the cat Hatikvah That ate the goat My father bought for two zuzim. Kol od ba’le’vav p’nima, One little goat, one little goat. Nefesh yehudi ho’miyah. Ul’fa’atei mizrach kadimah, Then came the water and quenched the fire, Ayin le’Tziyyon tzofiyah. Od lo avda tikva-teinu, That burned the stick that beat the dog Ha’tikvah sh’not al’payim That bit the cat that ate the goat Lih-yot am chofshi be’ar-tzeinu My father bought for two zuzim. B’eretz Tziyyon v’Yerushalayim. One little goat, one little goat. Next year in Jerusalem… Then came an ox and drank the water, לְשָׁ נָה הַבָּאָה בִּירּושָלַיִם That quenched the fire that burned the stick That beat the dog that bit the cat That ate the goat Lah sha nah, hah bah ah, Yerushalayim. My father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. Dessert is served. The kids at the Seder can now search for the Afikomen!

41 42 Charoset

Ingredients:

2 spy apples 1 tablespoon lemon juice; optional SPECIAL PASSOVER RECIPES 2 cups walnut halves ½ cup hazelnuts Our Seder meal consists of special foods lovingly prepared for ½ cup sweet kosher wine Passover. The next few pages consist of the delicious recipes shared and taught to me by my mother. Method:

Peel and core apples. Cut in quarters. Chop in food processor until finely grated. Transfer to a bowl and stir in lemon juice, if using. Add nuts to food processor and chop until finely chopped but with a few little chunks of nuts. Stir into apples. Add wine slowly—a few tablespoons at a time—until the mixture looks like a paste. (If you make this ahead, you will probably have to add more wine, as the mixture thickens on standing.)

Yields about 2 cups

43 44 Bubby Lil’s Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

Bubby Lil’s Marinated Cucumbers 1 capon chicken (ask butcher to cut chicken into 8ths and remove all skin.) 1 piece of flunken (beef short rib) Ingredients: 3-5 marrow and sugar bones (from the butcher) 1 very large onion, outer skin peeled, whole 6-10 English cucumbers 6 carrots 2 Vidalia onions 1 bag of parsnips (white carrots) 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 bunch of parsley root (looks like white carrots with parsley on the 1 cup regular white vinegar other end); cut off parsley and save for later Regular Salt 5 stalks of celery (use inner stalks with leaves on them) 5 sprigs of dill Method: 5 sprigs of parsley (from parsley roots) 1 handful of kosher salt To prepare the marinade, dilute sugar in ½ cup of boiling water and allow mixture to cool. Add vinegar. Method:

Peel cucumbers and slice very, very thin in rounds. Peel onions and Place chicken, flunken, and bones in a pot filled to the top with water. slice very thin in a bowl, place one layer of sliced cucumber and onion Turn to high heat. As soon as it comes to a boil, remove from heat and and then sprinkle salt. Then begin another layer, alternating vegetables strain foam and water. Rinse off each piece under cold water. Place all and salt until all cucumbers and onions are used up. Cover with plastic pieces into a fresh, large soup pot with a little cold water at the bottom. wrap. Let stand two hours, pressing down on the cucumbers with a Add all vegetables to this pot. Place sprigs of dill and parsley on top of heavy object (like a clean Javex bottle!) and pouring out the excess veggies and meat. water about every half hour. Add a handful of kosher salt, while running cold water into pot. In a colander, rinse off salt with cold water. Take small batches *IMPORTANT!!: Only fill pot with water HALF WAY up. Any more water of cucumber and onions and squeeze out excess liquid by hand, will dilute the taste and make it very watery. Bring to a boil and then turn transferring to a new bowl. Be sure to get all water out of cucumber, so right down to simmer. Let cook for 4-5 hours. they are crisp. Pour over with marinade. Let cool. Drain soup, just the liquid, into another container. Refrigerate Refrigerate. overnight, and remove fat (which will rise to the top once cold), from soup next day. Keep carrots and meat in another container.

Discard bones and all vegetables other than carrots.

45 46 Matzah Crunch

6 pieces of regular matzah (about 7”x 6”) 1 cup unsalted butter or margarine 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 cups chopped semisweet chocolate (or chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large, approximately 12”x18” baking sheet with aluminum foil. Arrange matzah in a single layer on foil. Don’t worry if it overlaps.

Place butter and brown sugar in a medium sized saucepan and bring to a boil. Do not stir. Cook for a few minutes or until mixture comes together and does not look oily. Pour mixture over the matzah as evenly as possible.

Bake matzah for 10 to 12 minutes or until mixture is bubbling. As soon as matzah comes out of the oven, sprinkle with chocolate. Allow to rest 4 to 5 minutes while chocolate melts from the heat of the matzah. With a knife, spread chocolate as evenly as possible.

Chill until chocolate and caramel are set. Break into uneven chunks.

Curated & Created by Pearl and Maxie Richman Photography by Arthur Mola Graphic Design by Kunaal Jagtianey

For inquiries please contact: [email protected] March 29, 2018 ©2018 Pearl Richman

47 ISBN 9781777040604

9 781777 040604