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Congregation

Beth

Abraham

Haggadah

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THE SEDER

Leader:

We now begin the seder to celebrate the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and our release from slavery to freedom. The word seder means “order”. Although

there are many different versions of the haggadah, the order of the evening has changed little since it was orchestrated by the rabbis of the Mishnah so many

centuries ago:

All sing:

Kadesh, Urchatz, Karpas, Yachatz, Maggid, Rachtzah, Motzi Matzah, Morror, Korech, Shulchan Orech, Tzafun, Bayrech, Hallel, Nitzah

Recite Kiddush, Wash hands, Eat greens, Break the middle matzoh, Tell the story, Wash hands, Recite blessing for matzah, Eat bitter herbs, Eat matzah and bitter herbs, Eat the

Meal, Eat the Afikomen, Say grace, Recite Hallel, Conclude the seder

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Leader Lighting the candles marks the beginning of Passover as well as the end of the huge work of preparation. It helps us transition from the everyday to the sacred.

Lighting the Candles

Marc Chagall, 1946 © ADAGP, Paris 1996

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Reader: Together with Jews everywhere, we celebrate tonight the eternal story of the Jewish people. In this, our yearly feast of liberation, we give thanks to

God for the preservation of our spirit through both defeat and victory. And we give thanks for the event that became the great symbol of liberation - the

Exodus from Egypt.

Kadesh – the recitation of kiddush

Leader (raising the wine glass): Now we’re ready to say the kiddush, and to

dedicate this evening to telling ”the story of miracles and wonders” that were performed in Egypt on the night of the 15th of the month of Nisan, more than

3200 years ago. This recalls God's promise of redemption to the people of Israel, as it says, "Remember the day of your Exodus from Egypt" (Exodus 13:3).

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Everyone raise their wine cups and say the blessing over the wine:

Drink the first cup of wine.

Leader: Now we say a blessing to give our thanks to G-d for allowing us to reach this day of celebration:

Urchatz –washing the hands

Reader: Traditionally, the high priests in the Temple washed their hands before

all holy duties. We wash our hands now to help us feel that holiness. (But, because we will not be eating yet, we do not say the blessing.)

Karpas - eating greens

Reader: The parsley or green vegetable is symbolic of spring. In the spring of the year, the season of rebirth and renewal, we praise the natural wonders of

earth. But we temper the joy of this spring festival with salt water to remind us of the tears shed by our ancestors during slavery

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Leader distributes the portions of greens, and each person dips his greens in salt water. All recite the following:

Yahatz – breaking the middle matzah

Leader holds up the middle matzah Leader: Here before me are three matzahs. It is said that they represent: first, the priests of the Temple (the Kohanim), second, the singers and servers of the Temple (the Levi-im), and last, the congregation of Israel (the Yisraelim).

It is also said that two of these matzahs, the upper and lower, represent the

loaves of bread on display in the Temple, while the middle one symbolizes the paschal lamb. It is the custom to break the middle matzah in two.

The Leader breaks the middle matzah and places one piece back under the cover. The other, the afikomen – or “dessert”- is hidden. Then the leader holds up the plate with the uncovered matzah. Leader: This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat. Whoever is in need, come and celebrate the Passover. Now we are here, next year we will be in the land of

Israel. Now we are enslaved, next year we will be free.

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Maggid – telling the story

Leader: Now, to introduce the story of our exodus from Egypt, the youngest will ask four questions about the differences that mark this night.

The Four Questions

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The Answer

Reader: We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Eternal, our God, brought

us forth from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. If the Holy One had not brought forth our ancestors from Egypt, then we, our children, and

our children’s children might still be enslaved in Egypt. Reader: Why on this night do we eat only matzah?

Our ancestors, in their flight from bondage, did not have time to let the dough

rise, so they baked flat bread, called matzah. The Torah tells us, “They were thrust out of Egypt and could not tarry, neither had they time to prepare themselves food.” In memory of this, we eat only matzah on Passover.

Reader: Why on this night do we eat bitter herbs?

We eat bitter herbs because the Egyptians made the lives of our forefathers

bitter. The Torah tells us, “They made our lives bitter with hard bondage in mortar and brick and in all manner of labor in the fields, and all their servitude was terribly severe.”

Reader : Why on this night do we dip twice?

The first time we dipped our greens in salt water to taste the salt of slavery. The

second time we will dip the bitter herbs in charoset, to remind ourselves of the mortar that our ancestors mixed as slaves to the Pharaohs in Egypt. The herbs are bitter, but the sweetness of the charoset shows us that even in their bitter

time of slavery our ancestors hoped for the sweet delights of freedom.

Reader : Why on this night do we recline?

We recline to remind ourselves that, although once we were slaves, now we are free.

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Everyone sing:

Avadim Hayinu

Avadim hayinu, hayinu Once we were slaves, we were slaves

Atta b’nai chorim, bnai chorim Now we are free people, we are free

Avadim hayinu We were slaves, we were slaves Atta, atta, b’nai chorim And now, and now, we are free

Avadim hayinu We were slaves, we were slaves

Atta, atta, b’nai chorim, b’nai chorim And now, and now, we are free.

The Four Sons

Reader:

On Passover we are instructed to teach our children the story of our liberation from slavery.

The Torah speaks of four types of children: one who is wise, one who is wicked, one who is simple, and one who does not even know how to ask a question.

Reader: What does the wise child ask? “What are the statutes, the laws, and the ordinances which Adonai our God has commanded us?” You should tell this child

about all the laws of Passover. Reader: What does the wicked child ask? “What does this ritual mean to you?” To you and not to him. Since this child removes himself from the community, reply:

“This is done because of what Adonai did for me when I went out of Egypt.” Had he been there, he would not have been set free.

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Reader: What does the simple child ask? “What is this all about?” You should say, “It was with a mighty hand that Adonai took us out of Egypt, out of the house of

bondage.”

Reader: As for the child who does not know how to ask a question, you should open the discussion, as it is written, “And you shall explain to your child on that day, it is

because of what Adonai did for me when I went free out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:8)

Rachtzah – washing the hands

Leader: We wash our hands before we eat and say:

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam

Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe

asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu

Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us

al n'tilat yadayim.

concerning washing of hands.

Leader holds up the egg from the Passover plate. Reader: After the escape from Egypt, we came into their promised land and

built our Temple in Jerusalem. We brought festival offerings to the Temple to offer thanks for the fertility of our fields and flocks. This egg recalls such

offerings. The egg is the symbol of life, growth, and fruition.

Leader holds up the shankbone.

Reader: The roasted shank bone of a lamb reminds us of the 10th plague in

Egypt, when all firstborn Egyptians were killed. During this plague, the Israelites marked the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a lamb so that when

Death passed over Egypt, it would pass over the Israelite homes, as it is written:

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"On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn - both men and animals - and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. .. The

blood will be a sign ... on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt."

Reader: How did we come to be slaves in Egypt?

The Torah tells us that in ancient times our ancestors lived “on the other side of the great river, among idol-worshipers” in the city of Ur. Our patriarch Abraham

was the first to understand that God is One, the Eternal. In order to worship God in freedom, Abraham had to flee.

Reader: The Torah says, “I took your father Abraham from the other side of the great river and led him throughout all the land of Canaan.” And the Lord said

to Abraham, “All the land that you see, to you I will give it, and to your seed forever.”

Reader: Abraham’s herds grew fat in the land, and God gave him a son, Isaac.

And Isaac’s son, Jacob, had many sons, but his favorite son was Joseph. Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him, and they sold him to a caravan, which brought him to Egypt.

Reader: In Egypt, Joseph rose to become the Pharaoh’s minister and when

drought threatened, he prepared storehouses with grain. When drought and famine fell on the entire region, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food.

Joseph forgave them for what they had done, and he had them bring their families to Egypt. There the Hebrews lived and multiplied, and “became a nation, great, mighty and populous”

Reader: But, many years later, there arose a new king who didn’t know of

Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the children of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.” Therefore, he set over them taskmasters and made

them slaves. And the Jews built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithon and Ramses. As the Torah said: “And the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage.”

Reader: And, as it is written, “We cried unto the Lord, the God of our Fathers,

and the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, and our toil, and our oppression.”

All: Then the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an

outstretched arm and with great terror and with signs and wonders.

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Reader: Plague after plague was sent upon the Egyptians. In compassion and sorrow over the evil and suffering that exists in the world, we pour away a drop

of the wine of rejoicing as we recite each word:

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1- Dam – Blood

2- Tzfardeah - Frogs

3- Kinim – Lice

4- Arov – Beasts

5- Dever – Cattle Plague

6- Sh’chin – Boils

7- Barad – Hail 8- Arbeh – Locusts

9- Choshech- Darkness 10-Makat B’chorot –

Death of the first born Reader: When Pharoah released The Children of Israel, they left Egypt in a

great hurry, as it is written “They baked their bread in haste for they could not tarry.” When they came to the Red Sea, though, Pharaoh’s chariots pursued

them. Reader: The Lord caused the waters to be divided, and the Israelites passed

through safely; but the waters closed on the Egyptians, with their chariots of war. Thus, the Children of Israel became free.

Reader: If the Holy One had not brought forth our ancestors from Egypt, then

we, our children, and our children’s children might still be enslaved in Egypt.

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Leader: We lift the cup of wine and recite:

All: Therefore we must revere, exalt, extol, acclaim, adore and glorify God who

performed all these miracles for our ancestors and for us. Adonai took us From slavery to freedom,

From despair to joy From mourning to celebration,

From darkness to light

From enslavement to redemption, And we sing before God songs of praise and thanks:

Everyone sing:

Halleluyah

Halleluyah, Halleluyah

Hallelu avday Adonoi Halleluyah, Halleluyah

Hallelu et shaym Adonoi Kol hanshama v’hallelya Halleluya Halleluya

Kol hanshama v’hallelya Halleluya Halleluya

Dayeinu

(Chorus) Dai, dayeinu, dai, dayeinu, dai, dayeinu, dayeinu, dayeinu dayeinu (2x) Ilu hotsi hotsianu, hotsianu mi-Mitzrayim, hotsianu mi-Mitzrayim, Dayeinu.

(Chorus) Ilu natan natan lanu, natan lanu et ha-Shabbat, natan lanu et ha-Shabbat,

Dayeinu. (Chorus) Ilu natan natan lanu, natan lanu et ha-Torah, natan lanu et ha-Torah, Dayeinu. (Chorus)

Readers (taking turns):

Had God brought us out of Egypt and not divided the sea for us, Dayeinu Had God divided the sea and not permitted us to cross on dry land, Dayeinu

Had God let us cross on dry land and not sustained us for 40 years in the desert,Dayenu Had God sustained us for forty years in the desert and not fed us with manna, Dayeinu Had God fed us with manna and not given us the Sabbath, Dayeinu

Had God given us the Sabbath and not brought us to Mount Sinai, Dayeinu Had God brought us to Mount Sinai and not given us the Torah, Dayeinu Had God given us the Torah and not led us into the land of Israel, Dayeinu

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Had God led us into the land of Israel and not built for us the Temple, Dayeinu How much more so, multiplied many times, are the favors that God has bestowed upon

us!

He-harim

MM Ma l’chah ha’yom (Line 5 in Hebrew paragraph above)

Ma l’chah ha’yom ki tanus Ha yardayn tisof la’achor He’harim tirka’du k’aylim G’vah’ot kivnay tzon Milifnay adon huli aretz Mi-lifnay elohay ya’akov Hahofki hatzur agam mayim Halamish l’myno ma’yim

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The Second Cup of Wine

Leader: Now it is time to bless and drink the second cup of wine:

Drink the second cup of wine

Motzi/Matzo

Leader: We are now coming to the seder meal. As we ordinarily begin a meal

with the breaking of bread, we begin tonight with the breaking of matzah.

The leader breaks off a small portion of the ceremonial matzah for each person and passes it around the table. Then we all say:

Maror – the bitter herbs

Leader: We dip our maror in charoses and recite:

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Korech – the matzah and bitter herbs The leader sandwiches the maror between two pieces of the bottom matzah and says:

This is a reminder of the Temple and a reminder of the practice of Rabbi Hillel. While the Temple was in existence, Hillel would make a sandwich of the Pesach

offering, with matzah and maror and eat all three together, in fulfillment of the verse “with matzot and maror they shall eat it.” (Numbers 9:11)

Together they shall be: the matzah of freedom, the maror of slavery.

For in the time of freedom, there is knowledge of servitude.

And in the time of bondage, there is hope of redemption.

Leader: We break the bottom matzah, and use it to make a sandwich with

maror.)

Shulchan Orech – the holiday meal

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Tzafun- eating the afikomen

After the meal, the afikomen is recovered – and the “ransom” paid.

The leader breaks up the afikomen and distributes it to the guests, who eat it, to end the meal.

Bayrech – grace after the meal

Baruch atah Adonoi Elohaynu Melech Ha’olam hazan et haolam kuloh b’tuvoh b,chayn b’chesed uvrachamim. Hu notain lechem lachol-basar ki l’olam chasdoh: Uvtuvoh hagadol tamid loh chasar lanu v’al yachsar lanu mazon l’olam va’ed: ba’avur sh’moh hagadol ki hu al zan umfarnas lakol umativ lakol umachin mazon l’kol b’riyotav asher barah. Baruch attah Adonoi chazan et ha’kol.

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The Third Cup of Wine At the end of the meal, the third cup is filled.

Reader: We are told that Elijah the prophet visits every house where a seder is being held. Let us open the door for Elijah as a symbol of hospitality and

friendliness, and as a sign that no one should be shut off from his fellow man.

All sing: Eliyahu Hanovi

Eliyahu ha-Navi, Eliyahu ha-Tishbi,

Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Eliyahu ha-Giladi.

Bimheirah, b'yameinu yavo eileinu,

Im Mashiach ben David, im Mashiach ben David.

Eliyahu ha-Navi, Eliyahu ha-Tishbi,

Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Eliyahu ha-Giladi.

The door is closed.

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The Fourth Cup of Wine

Leader: Now raise the fourth cup. Let us drink the fourth cup to the freedom

of all!

Leader: The Passover seder is ended According to custom and law

As we were worthy to celebrate it this year So may we perform it in future years.

Next year in Jerusalem!

L’shana ha-ba-ah birush-alayim (3 x) L’shana ha-ba-ah birush-alayim ha-bnu-ya

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Passover Songs

Echad Mi Yodea

Who knows one? Oh what can one be? I know one, so listen carefully.

Echad Eloheynu Eloheynu elohaynu elohaynu Sheba shamayim u’va aretz

Who knows two? Oh what can two be?

I know two, so listen carefully. Two tablets of the law Echad Elohynu

Eloheynu elohaynu elohaynu Sheba shamayim u’va aretz

Who knows three . . . Three are the patriarchs Who knows four . . . Four are the matriarchs

Who knows five . . . Five books of the Torah Who knows six . . . Six days of creation Who knows seven . . .Seven days are in the week

Who knows eight . . . Eight days before a brit Who knows nine . . . Nine months to have a child

Who knows ten . . . Ten for the commandments Who knows eleven . . . Eleven stars in Joseph’s dream Who knows twelve . . . Twelve tribes of Israel

Who knows thirteen . . Thirteen attributes of G-d

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Adir Hu

Adir hu, Adir hu, yivneh bayso ba’korov

Chorus:

Bimhayrah, bimhayrah

B’yamaynu ba’korov Ayl b’nai, ayl b’nai

B’nai vayscha b’korov

Bachur hu, gadol hu, dagool hu, yivneh vayso b’korov (Chorus)

Hadoor hu, vaseek hu, zakai hu, chaseed hu, yivneh vayso b’korov

(Chorus)

Tahor hu, yacheed hu, kabeer hu, lamood hu, melech hu, norah hu, sageev hoo,

eezooz hu, podeh hoo, tzadeek hu, yivneh vaso b’korov (Chorus)

Kadosh hoo, rachoom hu, shadai hu, takeef hu, yivneh vayso b’korov

(Chorus) Mighty one, mighty one, build your temple soon. Speedily, speedily, in our day soon Oh God rebuild, Oh God rebuild Rebuild your temple soon.

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Chad Gadya

Chad gadya chad gadya Dizban abba bisrei zuzei Chad gadya chad gadya

V'ata shunra v'achla l'gadya

Dizban abba bisrei zuzei Chad gadya chad gadya V'ata chalba v'nashach l'shunra d'achla l'gadya

Dizban abba bisrei zuzei Chad gadya chad gadya

V'ata chutra v'hikah l'chalba d'nashach l'shunra d'achla l'gadya Dizban abba bisrei zuzei Chad gadya chad gadya

V'ata nura v'saraf l'chutra d'hika l'kalba d'nashach l'shunra d'achla l'gadya Dizban abba bisrei zuzei Chad gadya chad gadya

V'ata maya v'chavah l'nura d'saraf l'chutra d'hika l'kalba d'nashach l'shunra d'achla l'gadya

Dizban abba bisrei zuzei Chad gadya chad gadya V'ata torah v'shatah l'maya d'chavah l'nura d'saraf l'chutra d'hika l'kalba d'nashach

L'shunra d'achla l'gadya Dizban abba bisrei zuzei Chad gadya chad gadya

V'ata hashochait v'shachat l'torah d'shatah l'maya d'chavah l'nura d'saraf l'chutra d'hika L'kalba d'nashach l'shunra d'achla l'gadya

Dizban abba bisrei zuzei Chad gadya chad gadya V'ata malach hamavet v'shachat l'shochait d'shachat l'torah d'shatah l'maya d'chavah

L'nura d'saraf l'chutra d'hika l'kalba d'nashach l'shunra d'achla l'gadya Dizban abba bisrei zuzei Chad gadya chad gadya

V'ata hakadosh baruch hu v'shachat l'malach hamavet d'shachat l'shochait d'shachat L'torah d'shatah l'maya d'chavah l'nura d'saraf l'chutra d'hika l'kalba d'nashach l'shunra

D'achla l'gadya Dizban abba bisrei zuzei Chad gadya chad gadya

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Chad Gadya

Chad gadya (2x)

My father bought for two zuzim Chad gadya (2x).

Then came the cat Then came the ox And ate the kid That drank the water

My father bought for two zuzim That quenched the fire

Chad gadya (2x). That burned the stick That beat the dog

Then came the dog That bit the cat

And bit the cat That ate the kid

That ate the kid My father bought for two zuzim My father bought for two zuzim Chad gadya (2X)

Chad gadya (2X)

Then came the stick Then came the butcher

And beat the dog Who slew the ox

That bit the cat That drank the water That ate the kid That quenched the fire

My father bought for two zuzim That burned the stick

Chad gadya (2x). That beat the dog That bit the cat

Then came the fire That ate the kid

That burned the stick My father bought for two zuzim That beat the dog Chad gadya (2X)

That bit the cat

That ate the kid Then came the Angel of Death

My father bought for two zuzim And killed the butcher Chad gadya (2x). Who slew the ox

That drank the water

Then came the water That quenched the fire That quenched the fire That burned the stick

That burned the stick That beat the dog

That beat the dog That ate the cat That bit the cat That ate the kid

That ate the kid My father bought for two zuzim

My father bought for two zuzim Chad gadya (2X) Chad gadya (2x).

Then came the Holy One

Blessed be He And slew the Angel of Death

Who killed the butcher

Who slew the ox That drank the water

That quenched the fire

That burned the sticks That beat the dog

That bit the cat

That ate the kid My father bought for two zuzim

Chad gadya (2x)

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Everyone’s going with Moses

(Sung to the tune of Everything’s Coming up Roses)

Get your sheep. Grab your wife. We have nothing to lose but our strife.

Say hello desert life. Honey everyone’s going with Moses

Fold your tent. Pack your kit. Something tells me it’s time that we split

Don’t be slow. This is it. Honey everyone’s going with Moses

So long Pharaoh. We Jews gotta fly.

Like a sparrow. Quickly and straight as an arrow

Yoke the ox. Yank the reins. We have nothing to lose but our chains

Sandals on. Strap ‘em tight

Cause we’re lea – ving tonight.

This bondage thing will never ever do.

Honey everyones’ going to have freedom from slavery.

Fill up your canteen and stoke up your bravery.

Everyone’s going with Moses, so why not come too?

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There’s No Seder Like our Seder

(Sung to the tune of There’s No Business Like Show Business)

There’s no seder like our seder

There’s no seder I know

Everything about it’s strictly kosher

Nothing that the rabbis won’t allow

Critics sometimes ask us are you so sure

But we say “Oh sure --- Cause we know how”

There’s no table like this table

When Pesach makes it glow!

Worshipping together with this special bunch

The mood is warm and I’ve got a hunch

Nobody is wishing that that they had more lunch

The whole thing is a go (K-O)

There’s no seder like our seder

There’s no seder I know

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This Haggadah is dedicated in loving memory to

Paul S. Jacobson, devoted husband, father, and

grandfather.

From his family