WELCOME TO THE SEDER

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As recounted in the Bible, celebrates the Israelites’ freedom from Egyptian bondage under a cruel Pharaoh. But while the observance goes back millennia, each time we gather for the holiday represents an opportunity to fill old vessels with new wine. Fresh insights, meaning and even humor are prompted through participation in ancient rituals. The four cups of wine not only gladden the heart but also act to liberate our imagination.

The occasion serves as an annual landmark in the life of a family and community. Cherished moments around the Seder table confirm our humanity, bonds with others, and sense of responsibility regarding those who continue to be denied the fruits of liberties we experience.

KINDLING LIGHT

Let these lights inspire worthy purposes: to heal, not harm, help, not hinder, bless, not curse, hope, not fear. May the sense of God's nearness illuminate our homes and world.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel (Shabbat v'shel) Yom Tov.

Blessed are You, our God, Ruler of the world, Who sanctifies us with mitzvot and calls us to kindle the light of (Shabbat and) Yom Tov. 2

SHEHECHEYANU

Baruch Atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higianu laz’man hazeh.

Blessed are you our God who has given us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this sacred time.

KIDDUSH

We bless the wine because it symbolizes the sacred character of the Passover observance. Kiddush is derived from the Hebrew word for holiness, kadosh.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam Borei pre hagafen.

Blessed are you O God, Eternal Sovereign of the universe and Creator of the fruit of the vine.

KARPAS

At ancient Roman banquets, vegetables dipped in salt water were eaten as appetizers. This custom is transformed to help tell the Passover story. Dipping parsley into salt water suggests the salty tears that were shed during enslavement in Egypt. But salt also brings out the flavor of food by enhancing its taste.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam,Borei pre ha-adamah

Blessed are you God, Ruler of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the earth. 3

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YAHATZ, A BOND FORMED BY SHARING

Now we break the middle matzah, concealing one-half as the (which will be subsequently hid). Among people everywhere, the sharing of bread forms a bond of fellowship. This is the bread of affliction, "the poor bread," that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come in and eat.

ABOUT MATZAH

Traditionally, matzah recalls the dough prepared by the Israelites when they had to leave Egypt in haste and didn’t have time to let it rise. But this isn’t the only meaning. Leavening or chometz, can suggest egotism and arrogance. An inflated self-image often leads to haughtiness, insensitivity and, sometimes, the abuse of power.

This is the virtue of the seemingly simple matzah. That it is flat is not a reflection of low self-esteem. Hardly. The matzah exemplifies the humble servant who plays an essential role but without the need to draw attention to him or herself. Compounded of only two ingredients, matzah's purity reflects wholesome, unadorned service on behalf of the sacred.

4 4 A focal point of the Seder is the telling of the story of from Egypt. After being sold into enslavement in Egypt by his brothers, Joseph rises to become a powerful leader when he correctly interprets Pharaoh and predicts a great famine. Joseph prepares for the calamity by stockpiling huge amounts of grain in massive warehouses. When the famine arrives, people from all over the region come to Egypt for food. This included Joseph’s own family with whom he is reunited.

For many years, the Israelites lived in peace in Egypt. But then a “new Pharaoh” arose who decided to enslave them. Saved from death by Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses is raised in luxury. However, he shows concern for the suffering of the Israelites when he sees an Egyptian taskmaster beating one of them. When he subsequently slays the Egyptian he thinks the act will be revealed. Though he flees Egypt, he cannot escape his destiny because God encounters him at the Burning Bush and commands him to return to Egypt to free the Israelites. This episode in Jewish history prompts, and the Seder that highlights it, prompts many questions including, of course, the four especially famous ones.

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Mah nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilot? How is this night different from all other nights?

Sheb'chol haleilot anu ochlin umatzah, halailah hazeh, kuloh matzah. On all other nights, we eat leavened products and matzah but on

this night, only matzah.

Sheb'chol haleilot anu ochlin sh'ar y'rakot, halailah hazeh, . On all other nights, we eat all vegetables but on this night, only bitter herbs. 5

Sheb'chol haleilot ein anu matbilin afilu pa'am echat; halailah hazeh, sh'tei f'amim. On all other nights, we don't even dip our food, on this night we dip it twice.

Sheb'chol haleilot anu ochlin bein yoshvin uvein m'subin; halailah hazeh, kulanu m'subin. On all other nights, we eat either sitting upright or

reclining. On this night we recline.

Judaism teaches that God is the guardian of humanity. A midrash indicates that when God saw the Israelites rejoicing at the Egyptians who drowned at the Red Sea He rebuked them: “My creatures perish and you sing?” As each plague is mentioned, we spill a drop from the wine cup to remind us of the

pain even suffered by our enemies. דם (Dahm (Blood צפרדיע (Tzefardaya (Frogs כנים (Kinim (Lice ערוב (Arov (Wild Beasts דבר (Dever (Cattle Disease שחין (Sh’cheen (Boils ברד (Barad (Hail ארבה (Arbeh (Locusts חשך (Choshech (Darkness 6 מכת בכורות (Makat B’chorot (Slaying of the firstborn

Dayenu means “enough.” Passover’s most famous song suggests that it would have been enough that God saved the Israelites from the Egyptians but much more was done for them including the giving of the Torah and Shabbat.

Elu hotsi, hotsianu, Had God done no more than Hotsianu miMitzrayim, save us From Egypt, it would Hotsianu miMitzrayim, ! have been enough. (Chorus) Day, dayeinu, (3X) Dayenu! Dayenu!

Elu natan, natan lanu, Had God done no more than Natan lanu et ha’Shabbat, given us the Sabbath, it would Natan lanu et ha’Shabbat, Dayenu! (Chorus) have been enough.

Elu natan, natan lanu, Natan lanu et haTorah, Had Gone done no more than Natan lanu et haTorah, given us the Torah, it would Dayenu! (Chorus) have been enough.

WELCOME THE STRANGER Because we were once “strangers in the land,” it is customary to invite those who may be of a different faith or background to the Seder. Though we are unable to do it at this year’s Seder we need to be sensitive to the stranger among us and, sometimes, even within us. 7

SECOND CUP OF WINE

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam Borei pre hagafen.

Blessed are you O God, Eternal Sovereign of the universe and Creator of

the fruit of the vine.

MATZAH

Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam,

asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al achilat matzah.

Blessed are You, O God, Ruler of the Universe Who sanctifies

us with commandments and commands us to eat matzah.

MAROR

Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam,

asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al achilat maror.

Blessed are You, O God, Ruler of the Universe, Who sanctifies us with your commandments and commands us to eat maror. 8 ~ GOD IS MIGHTY

Adir hu, adir hu God of might, God of right, Yivneh veito b'karov Thee we give all glory. Bim'heirah, bim'heirah, Thine all praise in these days. b'yameinu b'karov As in ages hoary. Ei-l b'neih! Ei-l b'neih! When we hear, year by year, B'nei veit'kha b'karov Freedom’s wondrous story.

KORECH ~ HILLEL SANDWICH

Charoset is likened to the mortar Israelite slaves used to make bricks. However, made with apples, the fruit and nut mixture also can refer to the apple orchards in whose shade, according to Jewish tradition, our foremothers gave birth to the next generation. Preserving a practice identified with Hillel when the Temple stood, we combine the matzah and maror to observe the precept: "They shall eat the matzah and maror together.” Later, the was added to sweeten things up a bit. Place some maror and charoset between the matzahs and enjoy.

THIRD CUP OF WINE

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam Borei pre hagafen.

Blessed are you O God, Eternal Sovereign of the universe and Creator of

the fruit of the vine.

DINNER IS SERVED 9

WHO TOOK IT?

Many of us have Afikoman memories. Perhaps you’d like to share one.

ELIJAH

Eliyahu HaNavi, Elijah the Prophet, is sung in welcome for Elijah who is an invited guest to the Seder. According to tradition, the prophet will herald the messianic age. But he is also considered the arbiter of challenging Jewish legal/ritual questions. Based on verses mentioned in the Torah in conjunction with the Exodus narrative, there was a question whether four or five glasses of wine should be imbibed at the Seder. The cup of Elijah may be the fifth cup. Eliyahu hanavi. Eliyahu haTishbi. Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Eliyahu haGiladi. Bim'heira-ah b’yameinu, yavoh eleinu, im mashiach ben-david. (x2)

Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah, Elijah, Elijah the Gileadite Speedily and in our days, come to us, with the messiah, son of David,

with the messiah, son of David. 10

HODU L’ADONAI

Hodu le-Adonai Ki-Tov, Ki Le-olam Chasdo. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever! This phrase appears often in the Bible. One reference recalls how three invading armies advanced to the Israelite settlement of Ein Gedi, an important water source for the region located near Jerusalem. King Jehoshaphat called a “prayer meeting” for the people to seek God’s guidance and spoke: Hodu le-Adonai Ki-Tov, Ki Le-olam Chasdo in offering thanksgiving in anticipation of God’s help. The three armies ended up attacking each other by mistake and Israel was saved. These words were later deemed important to share at the Seder.

FOURTH CUP OF WINE

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam Borei pre hagafen.

Blessed are you O God, Eternal Sovereign of the universe and Creator of

the fruit of the vine.

NIRTZAH – CONCLUSION

L’shana haba-ah b’yerushalayim

עֹושֶׂ ה שָׁ לֹום בִּמְ רֹומָׁ יו הּוא יַעֲשֶׂ ה שָׁ לֹום עָׁלֵינּו Oseh shalom bimromav וְעַל כָׁל יִּשְרָׁ אֵ ל Hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu V'al kol Yisrael וְאִּמְ רּו: אָׁמֵ ן. .V'imru: amen

May the one who creates peace on high bring peace to us and all Israel. Amen.

From the volunteers and staff of JFCS of The Suncoast and The Jewish

Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, we wish you a most Happy Passover.

CHAD GADYA Then came the ox that drank the water, That quenched the fire, that burned the stick that beat the dog, that bit the cat, My father bought for two zuzim. that ate the kid my father bought for two , chad gadya. zuzim. Chad gadya, chad gadya. Then came a cat that ate the kid my father bought for two zuzim. Then came the butcher that Chad gadya, chad gadya. slaughtered the ox, that dank the water, that quenched the the fire, that burned Then came a dog, the stick, that beat the dog, that bit the that bit the cat, that ate the kid cat, that ate the kid my father bought my father bought for two zuzim. for two zuzim. Chad gadya, chad Chad gadya, chad gadya. gadya.

Then came the angel of death that Then came a stick that beat the dog killed the butcher, that slaughtered the that bit the cat, that ate the kid ox, that drank the water, that quenched my father bought for two zuzim. the fire, that burned the stick, that beat Chad gadya, chad gadya. the dog, that bit the cat, that ate the kid

my father bought for two zuzim. Chad Then came the fire that burned the stick gadya, chad gadya. that beat the dog, that bit the cat, that ate the kid, my father bought for two zuzim. Then came the Holy One, blessed be Chad gadya, chad gadya He, and slew the angel of death, that killed the butcher, that slaughtered the Then came the water that quenched the ox, that drank the water, that quenched fire that burned the stick, that beat the the fire, that burned the stick, that beat dog, that bit the cat, that ate the kid my the dog, that bit the cat, that ate the kid father bought for two zuzim. Chad gadya, my father bought for two zuzim. chad gadya. Chad gadya, chad gadya. 12

ECHAD MI YODEAH (WHO KNOWS ONE)

Who knows one? I know one! One is God and one alone and evermore shall be so.

Who knows two? I know two! Two are the tablets of the covenant, one is God and one alone and evermore shall be so.

Who knows three? I know three! Three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, one is God and one alone and evermore shall be so.

Who knows four? I know four! Four are the mothers of Israel, three are the patriarchs, two are the tablets of the covenant, one is God and one alone and evermore shall be so.

Who knows five? I know five! Five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers of Israels three are the patriarchs, two are the tablets of the covenant, one is God and one alone and evermore shall be so.

Who knows six? Six are the regular days of the week, five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers of Israel, three are the patriarch s, two are the tablets of the covenant, one is God and one alone and evermore shall be so.

Who knows seven? Seven are the days of Creation, six are the regular days of the week, five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers of Israel, three are the patriarchs, two are the tablets of the covenant, one is God and one alone and evermore shall be so.

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WHEN I EAT CHAROSET

(sung to "If I Was a Rich Man") When I eat charoset, Yaddle daidle daidle daidle daidle daidle daidle dee I will pile it thickly on my plate. Hope that there's enough for me. Yah! When I taste charoset Yaddle daidle daidle daidle daidle daidle daidle dee

All.night long I have to celebrate, I'll be singing cheerfully!

(bridge)

I'd be the happiest one if ever I could make this stuff that they tell me looks like brick. Chopping in my wooden bowl day and night…

And then I'd place it on a gold Seder plate. Oy, how the people there will smile. Haven't had such good stuff in a while. Ahhh

How I love charoset Yaddle daidle daidle daidle daidle daidle daidle dee Use a little walnuts and good wine. Apples not too tart will make it fine. Use this recipe and all will be divine! Daidle daidle daidle daidle daidle daidle dee

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A FEW OF OUR PASSOVER THINGS (sung to A Few of My Favorite Things)

Cleaning and cooking and so many dishes. Out with the chometz, no pasta, no knishes. Fish that's gefilted, horseradish that stings… These are a few of our Passover things.

Matzah and and chopped-up charoset. Shank-bones and Kiddush and neuroses. Children who kvetch and parents that sing… These are a few of our Passover things.

Motzi and maror and trouble with Pharaohs. Famines and locusts and slaves with wheelbarrows. Matzah balls floating and eggshells that zing…These are a few of our Passover things.

CHORUS When the plagues strike! When the lice bite! When we're feeling sad.

We simply remember our Passover things; and then we don't feel…so bad! 15