Passover 5781 Seder Craft: Learn to Lead your Own Seder Before we begin For so many of us, this marks our first “second” since our world changed last March. In a year filled with so much personal and communal loss and mourning, we may find ourselves wondering, what does it mean to celebrate our freedom? On Passover, we tell the story of our ancestors’ journey from to freedom. The Hebrew word for Egypt - mitzrayim - is often understood to mean “a narrow place.” So in this journey from slavery to freedom, we celebrate leaving a place of narrowness, and finding a place of openness. This year, many of us may still feel that we are still in a narrow place. But the seder gives us the opportunity to imagine what it might be to leave that narrow place. As we light the candles, we are invited to leave those narrow places - even just for this one - and join our ancestors in celebrating the first taste of freedom. Lighting Holiday Candles

Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner [shel v’]shel yom tov.

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with the mitzvot (commandments), and commands us to light the candles of [Shabbat and] this holiday Blessing of the Children

May you be like Ephraim and Menashe, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. Yivarechecha Adonai v’yishmerecha May God bless you and protect you. Ya’er Adonai panav eilecha vichuneka May God show you favor and be gracious to you. Yisa Adonai panav eilecha v’yasem lecha shalom May God show you kindness and grant you peace. Kadesh The First Cup of

During our seder, we drink 4 cups of wine to represent the 4 promises of freedom that God made the Jewish people.

I will free you.... I will save you.... I will redeem you.... I will take you.... Kiddish: The First Cup - The Cup of Sanctification

We begin by filling up our first cup of wine, raising it, and reciting:

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, borei p'ri hagafen. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who, with love, has chosen us and given us: ● [Shabbatot lim’nuchah - of rest] ● Mo-adim l'simchah - Periods of joy in our lives ● Chagim uz'manim l'sason - Holidays and times for happiness Festival Kiddish (Continued)

On this holiday of Passover, our season of our freedom, when we remember from Egypt.

Baruch atah, Adonai m’kadeish Yisrael v’hazmanim.

Blessed are You, Adonai, who sanctifies the people and the .

Drink the first cup of wine. Urchatz Washing Hands

There is a custom to wash our hands at the table without a blessing at the beginning of our seder. You may choose to use a pitcher or a cup to pour water over your hands. Urchatz Reading 1

I was locked into a single seed, my future fathoming. I was matter underwater and a sheer hoping, when I latched to earth, a first withered bloom. A sonic wonder, I sang about the future. I was master of the oxen pulling me toward dawn, an existence first in death, a state of stillness before beginning, a middle earth of rain. I wore many masks until the right one fit. Then the storm passed and I was wakened by water.

- Tina Chang (Mishkan HaSeder: A Passover , page 17) Urchatz Reading 2

May healing waters pour forth over us all. Every one of us. Everywhere, speedily and in our days. May healers the world over be blessed with a well- of strength. Part the seas before our nurses and doctors and health care workers. As you turned the sea into walls of water for our ancestors, raise up mountains of protection around our healers, send them all they need, so they may walk through the torrents in safety and in health. And as the relied on each and every person to do their part to carry the community across to dry land, so may we be vigilant in sharing our healing resources as they are now, and as they emerge across the horizon. - Rachel Gartner, Karpas

The word “Karpas” comes from the Greek “Karpos,” meaning fruit of the soil. The Karpas is a spring-time vegetable, representing the rebirth of spring, as we begin to enter into the new season, and the rebirth of freedom. Yet, we dip the Karpas into salt water to remember the tears of slavery, even as we celebrate our freedom and look forward to the renewal of spring.

This year, if you wish, as you dip the vegetable in salt water, take a moment to share one challenge of the past year that you hope to leave behind, and one thing that gives you hope as you look ahead to spring and summer. Karpas

We dip the vegetables in salt water, and recite the following:

Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, borei p’ri haadamah.

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, creator of the fruit of the earth. Yachatz Yachatz

Break the middle matzah. Wrap up the larger portion to be hidden as the afikomen for latter in the seder. Magid

Hold up the matzah and recite:

This is the of affliction and persecution that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. As it says in the , “seven days you shall eat…matzot – the bread of poverty and persecution” (Deut. 16:3) so that you may “remember that you were a slave in Egypt.”

Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let all who are in need come and share the Pesach meal. This year, we are still here – Next year, in the . This year, we are still slaves – Next year, may we all be free. Discussion

Before beginning a meal, Huna used to open his door and announce: “Let all who are in need come and eat” (B. Ta’anit 20b).

This year, it is especially difficult to welcome all who are hungry to come and eat with us. What are some ways that we can share our Pesach meal with others, even during this time of social distancing? How can we work toward making sure that we are all a bit more free in the year to come? Four Questions

We pour the second cup of wine, but wait to drink it.

We are required to ask questions as part of the seder. It is traditional for the youngest guest at the seder to recite the Four Questions (although anyone is welcome to do so!). After you recite the 4 Questions, ask any other questions that may be on your mind this Passover. Four Questions (Continued)

Why is this night so different from other nights? Ma nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilot?

On all other nights, we eat chameitz and Sheb’khol haleilot anu okhlin hametz matzah — on this night, only matzah. umatzah; halailah hazeh, kuloh matzah.

On all other nights, we eat many kinds of vegetables — on this night, we eat a Sheb’khol haleilot anu okhlin sh’ar bitter herb. y’rakot; halailah hazeh, . Four Questions (Continued)

On all other nights, we never dip even once — on this night, we dip twice. Sheb’khol haleilot ein anu matbilin afilu pa’am ehat; halailah hazeh, shtei On all other nights, we eat sitting up, or f’amim. reclining — on this night, each one of us reclines.

Sheb’khol haleilot anu okhlin bein yoshvin uvein m’subin; halailah hazeh, kulanu m’subin. The Four Children

Jewish tradition tells of four children with different understandings of Passover: The wise child, the wicked child, the simple child, and the silent child. Yet, we know that no one person is all wise, all wicked, all simple, or all silent. At different points in our lives, we have each been one of these children.

As you read through the four children, consider: Which one of these children are you tonight? The Four Children (Continued)

The wise child asks, “What are the testimonies, the obligations, which our God requires?” You yourself shall teach them all the practices of Pesach. What does it mean to be the wise child? It means to be fully engaged in the community, to know the limits of your understanding, to be able to search for answers to that which you do not know. The wicked child asks, “What is this seder ceremony to you?” To you, and not to us. What does it mean to be the wicked child? It means to stand apart from the community, to feel alienated and alone, depending only on yourself, to have little trust in the people around you. The Four Children (Continued)

The simple child asks, “What is this? What does it mean to be the simple child? It means to see only one layer of meaning, to ask the most basic of questions. And for the child who doesn't know how to ask a question? Help this child ask. Start telling the story: “It is because of what God did for me in taking me out of Egypt.” This child can be the indifferent child, no longer willing to engage. Or it can be the passive child, who just shows up. Or it can be the child who hears something deeper than words, who knows how to be silent and to listen. Adapted from JewishBoston.com Creative Maggid

During the Maggid, we tell the story of our ancestors journey from slavery to freedom. On Passover, we are commanded to see ourselves as if we personally went out from Egypt.

There are so many places in which we are still looking for freedom from the narrow places in our world - in our own lives and as a society. Spend some time learning about and discussing a topic of interest to you at your seder, perhaps bringing in an article to share.

Looking for ideas? Resources can be found in the notes below.

Food Justice and Hunger: https://werepair.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/PassoverAndFoodJustice.pdf or https://www.haggadot.com/haggadah/hunger-seder-2021

Immigration: https://truah.org/resources/opening-the-door-at-passover/

Racial Justice: https://truah.org/resources/opening-the-door-at-passover/ 10 Plagues

As you recite each plague, use your finger to place a drop of wine from your cup onto your plate. Dam - Blood Tzfardeiya - Frogs Kinim - Lice Arov - Wild Animals Dever - Pestilence Shechin - Boils Barad - Hail Arbeh - Locusts Choshech - Darkness Makat B’chorot - Death of the

Ilu ho-tsi, ho-tsi-a-nu, Had we only been brought out of Ho-tsi-a-nu mi-Mitz-ra-yim, Egypt, it would be enough. Ho-tsi-a-nu mi-Mitz-ra-yim, Da-ye-nu!

Ilu na-tan, na-tan la-nu, Had we only been given Shabbat, it Na-tan la-nu et-ha-Sha-bat, would be enough. Na-tan la-nu et-ha-Sha-bat, Da-ye-nu!

Ilu na-tan, na-tan la-nu, Had we only been given the Torah, it Na-tan la-nu et-ha-To-rah, would be enough. Na-tan la-nu et-ha-To-rah, Da-ye-nu! Dayenu

Create your own Dayenu! What are you particularly grateful for this year?

If we only had ____, Dayenu.

If we only had ____, Dayenu.

If we only had ____, Dayenu Second Cup

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

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine. Rachtzah Rachtzah

Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu al n’tilat yadayim. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who who makes us holy with the mitzvot (commandments), and commands us in the cleansing of our hands Motzi/Matzah Motzi/Matzah

The records a saying of Rabban Gamliel: “One who has not discussed the meaning of these three things has not fulfilled the purpose of the seder: pesach, matzah, maror.”

What is the meaning of the Pesach? It reminds us that God passed over (pasach) the homes of our ancestors in Egypt.

What is the meaning of the Matzah? It reminds us that the dough prepared by our ancestors had no time to rise before the God redeemed them.

What is the meaning of the Marror - the bitter herb? It reminds us that the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors in Egypt. Motzi/Matzah

The top matzah is broken and distributed to the group.

Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, hamotzi lechem min haaretz.

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Motzi/Matzah

Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu al achilat matzah.

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who makes us holy with the mitzvot (commandments) and commands us to eat matzah.

Eat the matzah. Maror Maror

Place some maror on a piece of matzah

Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu al achilat maror. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, ruler of the Universe, who makes us holy with the mitzvot (commandments) and commands us to eat maror. Korech Hillel

When the Temple stood in , the great sage Hillel would take the lamb of the Pesach sacrifice and make a sandwich with matzah and maror. Today, we no longer make sacrifices, but we honor this custom by making a sandwich with the matzah and bitter herbs. Some people chose to include in the sandwich to remind us of the sweetness of freedom alongside the taste of the bitterness of slavery. Shulchan Orech Enjoy your meal! Tzafun Find the Afikomen!

Hide a socially-distanced afikomen - “20 Questions” style!

Have one member of the seder imagine a location in which they will “hide” the afikomen. Choose a place that everyone at your seder will know. All other guests take turns guessing the location by asking “yes” or “no” questions (such as - “Is it in Maine?” or “Is it in my house?”).

Whoever guesses the location wins! Barech

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, your goodness sustains the world. ● You are the God of grace, love, and compassion ● You are the Source of sustenance for all who live ● Your love is everlasting

Baruch atah Adonai, hazan et hakol. We praise You, O God, Source of food for all who live. Birkat Hamazon (Continued)

We thank you God: ● For the earth ● For our deliverance from bondage ● For giving us the covenant ● For Torah ● For the food that sustains us day by day

Baruch atah Adonai, al haaretz v'al hamazon. We praise You, O God, for the earth, and for its sustenance. Birkat Hamazon (Continued)

Eternal God, Source of our being, show compassion for Your people Israel, your city Jerusalem, and Zion, the sanctuary of Your glory. ● May God guide and sustain us and grant us relief from our troubles. ● May Jerusalem, the holy city, be rebuilt in our days.

Baruch atah Adonai, boneh v'rachamav Y'rushalayim. Amen. We praise You, Adonai, in compassion You rebuild Jerusalem. Amen. Birkat Hamazon (Continued)

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, sovereign of the universe, who is our God, our Parent, our Sovereign, our Creator, our Redeemer. ● May God continue to bless us with grace and compassion, deliverance and freedom, prosperity and blessing, life and peace. ● May all with whom we shared this seder meal be blessed. ● May the Source of peace grant peace to us, to all Israel, and to all the world.

Adonai oz l'amo yitein, Adonai y'vareich et amo vashalom. Eternal God: give strength to Your people and bless Your people with peace.

Adapted from My Jewish Learning, URJ, and Rabbi Jonathan Klein - USC Hillel Third Cup

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

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine. Elijah’s Cup

We refill our glasses one more time, but do not drink it yet. This time, we also fill a cup for the Elijah, and open our doors to invite him to join us. Jewish tradition imagines that Elijah is a miracle worker and will bring a new era of peace to us. So we welcome Elijah to our Seders in the hope that he may join us and bring peace to us and to the whole world. Eliyahu Ha’navi

Eliyahu hanavi, Elijah the Prophet,

Eliyahu haTishbi, Elijah of Tishbi,

Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Elijah of Gilead:

Eliyahu HaGiladi. May he come soon, and in our time; and with him our dream: Bimheirah v’yameinu yavo eileinu a world perfected and redeemed. im mashiach ben-David, im mashiach ben-David. Create your own Hallel

With the words of Hallel are recited as words of praise and thanksgiving on holidays. We sing the words of Hallel to mark occasions of profound happiness.

If you wish, share with others at your seder: Where in these times, do you find happiness? Interpretive Hallel

You spun the heavens on Your unthinkable loom and fashioned the elements of creation with Your deft hands

the heavens are Yours but the earth is in our keeping

the dead can't praise, but we can help us remember

- Rabbi Nirtzah Fourth Cup

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

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine. We conclude our seder with the words “Next year in Jerusalem.” But what do those words mean to us?

In liturgy, “Jerusalem” refers to both a real and a symbolic place. One , an ancient rabbinic story, notes that “Jerusalem” in Hebrew - Yerushalyim - appears to be plural, suggesting that there are “two” . In this midrash, the identify these the first Jerusalem as Yerushalayim Shel Matah, the Jerusalem on Earth. This Jerusalem is full of the challenges and struggles of human life, but is also the source of so much learning, creativity, and Torah. They identify the second Jerusalem as Yerushalayim Shel Maalah, the Heavenly Jerusalem, a perfected version of our world to which we may aspire.

As you close your seder, consider and discuss: What does next year in Jerusalem mean to you right now? What are your hopes for a better world in the year to come? Next Year in Jerusalem!