Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe,
who creates the fruit of the vine.
Baruch Atah Ado-nai Elo-heinu Melech Ha-olam
Boreh Pree Ha-ga-fen.
We thank you God for giving us the gift of Festivals for joy and holidays
for happiness, among them this day of Passover, the festival of our liberation, a day of sacred assembly
recalling the Exodus from Egypt.
The Blessing of Shecheyanu is recited at this point
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us
in life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.
Baruch Atah Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech Ha-olam, She-heche-yanu,
V'kiye-manu Vehigi-yanu La-z'man Ha-zeh.
The first cup of wine is drunk, and the cup is refilled.
(Yachatz)
The middle matzah on the plate is broken in half.
One half is put back with
the
stack; the other half is placed in a napkin (or special holder)
and designated
the Afikomen (the dessert) and put aside.
Now it's the time to hide it!
On all other nights we eat either bread or matzah; on this night, why only matzah?
On all other nights we eat herbs or vegetables of any kind; on this night why bitter herbs?
On all other nights we do not dip even once; on this night why do we dip twice?
On all other nights we eat our meals in any manner; on this night why do we sit around the table together in a reclining position?
The wise child asks, “What are the laws that God has commanded us?” The parent should answer by instructing the child in the laws of Passover, starting from the beginning and ending with the laws of the Afikomen.
The simple child asks, “What is this Seder service?” The parent should answer, “With a mighty hand God brought us out of Egypt. Therefore, we commemorate that event tonight through this Seder.”
The wicked child asks, “What does this Passover service mean to you?” The parent should answer, “It is because of what God did for me when I came out of Egypt. Specifically ‘me’ and not ‘you.’ If you had been there (with your attitude), you wouldn’t have been redeemed.”
And then there is child who does not know how to ask. The parent should begin a discussion with that child based on the verse: “And you shall tell your child on that day, ‘We commemorate Passover tonight because of what God did for us when we went out of Egypt.’”
The telling of the story of Passover continues:
While the Jews endured harsh slavery in Egypt, God chose Moses to lead them out to freedom. Moses encountered God at the burning bush and then returned to Egypt to lead the people out of Egypt. He demanded that Pharaoh let the Jewish people go. That part of our Passover story is best described in the familiar song “Go Down Moses.”
When Israel was in Egypt's land,
Let my people go;
Oppressed so hard they could not
stand,
Let my people go.
Chorus
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt's land;
Tell old Pharaoh
To let my people go!
"Thus saith the Lord," bold Moses said,
Let my people go;
"If not, I'll smite your first-born
dead,"
Let my people go.
Chorus
No more shall they in bondage toil,
Let my people go;
Let them come out with Egypt's
spoil,
Let my people go.
Chorus
צֵא וּלְמַד מַה בִּקֵּש לָבָן הָאֲרַמִי לַעֲשׂות לְיַעֲקב אָבִינוּ: שֶׁפַּרְעה לא גָזַר אֶלָּא עַל הַזְּכָרִים, וְלָבָן בִּקֵּשׁ לַעֲקור אֶת הַכּל. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֲרַמִּי אבֵד אָבִי
Blood
Frogs
Tze-phar-day-ah
Vermin
Kee-nim
Beasts
Arov
Cattle Disease
De-ver
Boils
She-heen
Hail
Ba-rad
Locusts
Ar-beh
Darkness
Cho-shech
Slaying of the first born
Ma-kat Bechorot
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן אַתָּה אוֹמֵר שֶׁלָּקוּ הַמִּצְרִים בְּמִצְרַיִם עֶשֶׂר מַכּוֹת וְעַל הַיָּם לָקוּ חֲמִשִּׁים מַכּוֹת? בְּמִצְרַיִם מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? וַיֹּאמְרוּ הַחַרְטֻמִּים אֶל פַּרְעֹה: אֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים הִוא, וְעַל הַיָּם מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַיָד הַגְּדֹלָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יְיָ בְּמִצְרַיִם, וַיִּירְאוּ הָעָם אֶת יְיָ, וַיַּאֲמִינוּ בַּיְיָ וּבְמשֶׁה עַבְדוֹ. כַּמָּה לָקוּ בְאֶצְבַּע? עֶשֶׂר מַכּוֹת. אֱמוֹר מֵעַתָּה: בְּמִצְרַיִם לָקוּ עֶשֶׂר מַכּוֹת וְעַל הַיָּם לָקוּ חֲמִשִּׁים מַכּוֹת.
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן שֶׁכָּל מַכָּה וּמַכָּה שֶׁהֵבִיא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל הַמִּצְרִים בְּמִצְרַיִם הָיְתָה שֶׁל אַרְבַּע מַכּוֹת? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: יְשַׁלַּח בָּם חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ, עֶבְרָה וָזַעַם וְצָרָה, מִשְׁלַחַת מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים. עֶבְרָה - אַחַת, וָזַעַם - שְׁתַּיִם, וְצָרָה - שָׁלשׁ, מִשְׁלַחַת מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים - אַרְבַּע. אֱמוֹר מֵעַתָּה: בְּמִצְרַיִם לָקוּ אַרְבָּעִים מַכּוֹת וְעַל הַיָּם לָקוּ מָאתַיִם מַכּוֹת.
רַבִּי עֲקִיבֶא אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן שֶׁכָּל מַכָּה וּמַכָּה שֶׁהֵבִיא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל הַמִּצְרִים בְּמִצְרַיִם הָיְתָה שֶׁל חָמֵשׁ מַכּוֹת? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: יְשַׁלַּח בָּם חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ, עֶבְרָה וָזַעַם וְצָרָה, מִשְׁלַחַת מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים. חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ- אַחַת, עֶבְרָה - שְׁתַּיִם, וָזַעַם - שָׁלֹשׁ, וְצָרָה - אַרְבַּע, מִשְׁלַחַת מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים - חָמֵשׁ. אֱמוֹר מֵעַתָּה: בְּמִצְרַיִם לָקוּ חֲמִשִּׁים מַכּוֹת וְעַל הַיָּם לָקוּ חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם מַכּוֹת.
As we conclude telling the story of Passover, we sing a song listing all the wonderful acts God performed for the Israelites when they left Egypt. (Hebrew version follows)
If God would've taken us out of Egypt and not executed judgment upon them, it would've been enough for us–Dayenu.
If He would've executed judgment upon them and not upon their idols, it would've been enough for us–Dayenu.
If He would've judged their idols, and not killed their firstborn, it would've been enough for us–Dayenu.
If He would've killed their firstborn, and not given us their wealth, it would've been enough for us–Dayenu.
If He would've given us their wealth, and not split the sea for us, it would've been enough for us–Dayenu.
If He would've split the sea for us, and not let us through it on dry land, it would've been enough for us–Dayenu.
If He would've let us through it on dry land, and not drowned our enemies in it, it would've been enough for us–Dayenu.
If He would've drowned our enemies in it, and not provided for our needs in the desert for
40 years, it would've been enough for us–Dayenu
Ilu ho-tsi, ho-tsi-a-nu,
Ho-tsi-anu mi-Mitz-ra-yim
Ho-tsi-anu mi-Mitz-ra-yim
Da-ye-nu
Chorus:
Da-da-ye-nu,
Da-da-ye-nu,
Da-da-ye-nu,
Da-da-ye-nu,
Da-ye-nu Da-ye-nu
(Barech)
The cup of wine is refilled, and Birkat Ha-mazon, Grace after the Meal, is
recited:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sustains the
entire world with goodness, grace, loving kindness, and compassion.
He gives bread to all, for His grace is everlasting. And in His great
goodness we have never lacked anything and we will never be
deprived of food for the sake of His great name. For He is God who
provides for all and does good for all and prepares food for all His
creatures that He created. Blessed are You, Lord, who provides for all.
God and God of our ancestors, may
You remember us on this day of
Passover to bless us with kindness and mercy for a life of peace and
happiness.
We pray that He who establishes peace in the heavens grant peace
for us, for all Israel, and all of mankind, and let us say, Amen.
Oseh Shalom
Bim-romav Hu Yaaseh Shalom Aleinu Ve-al Kol Yisrael
Ve-Imru Amen
Psalm 135
Hodu LAdo-nai Ki Tov Ki Le-olam Has-do
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods, for His mercy endures for ever.
O give thanks unto the Lord of lords, for His mercy endures for ever.
To Him who alone doeth great wonders, for His mercy endures for ever.
To Him that by understanding made the heavens, for His mercy endures for
ever.
To Him that spread forth the earth above the waters, for His mercy endures
for ever.
To Him that made great lights, for His mercy endures for ever;
The sun to rule by day, for His mercy endures for ever;
The moon and stars to rule by night, for His mercy endures for ever.
To Him that smote Egypt in their first-born, for His mercy endures for ever;
And brought out Israel from among them, for His mercy endures for ever;
With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, for His mercy endures for
ever.
To Him who divided the Red Sea in sunder, for His mercy endures for ever;
And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, for His mercy endures for
ever;
But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for His mercy endures
for ever.
To Him that led His people through the wilderness, for His mercy endures for
ever.
To Him that smote great kings; for His mercy endures for ever;
And slew mighty kings, for His mercy endures for ever.
(like) Sihon king of the Amorites, for His mercy endures for ever;
And Og king of Bashan, for His mercy endures for ever;
And gave their land for a heritage, for His mercy endures for ever;
Even a heritage unto Israel His servant, for His mercy endures for ever.
Who remembered us in our low estate, for His mercy endures for ever;
And hath delivered us from our adversaries, for His mercy endures for ever.
Who giveth food to all flesh, for His mercy endures for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of heaven, for His mercy endures for ever.
The blessing over the fourth cup of wine is recited:
The fourth cup of wine is drunk:
Had gadya, had gadya.
My father bought for two zuzim.
Had gadya, had
gadya.
Then came the cat and ate the goat,
My father bought for two zuzim.
Had gadya,
had gadya.
Then came the dog and bit the cat,
that ate the goat,
My father bought for two
zuzim.
Had gadya, had gadya.
Then came the stick and beat the dog,
that bit the cat that ate the goat,
My
father bought for two zuzim.
Had gadya, had gadya.
Then came the fire and burned the stick,
that beat the dog that bit the cat,
that
ate the goat,
My father bought for two zuzim.
Had gadya, had gadya.
Then came the water and quenched the fire,
that burned the stick that beat the
dog,
that bit the cat that ate the goat,
My father bought for two zuzim.
Had gadya, had
gadya.
Then came the ox and drank the water,
that quenched the fire that burned the
stick,
that beat the dog that bit the cat,
that ate the goat,
My father bought for two
zuzim.
Had gadya, had gadya.
Then came the butcher and slew the ox,
that drank the water that quenched the
fire,
that burned the stick that beat the dog,
that bit the cat that ate the goat,
My father bought
for two zuzim.
Had gadya, had gadya.
Then came the angel of death,
and killed the butcher that slew the ox,
that drank
the water that quenched the fire,
that burned the stick that beat the dog,
that bit the cat that ate
the goat,
My father bought for two zuzim.
Had gadya, had gadya.
Then came the Holy One,
blessed be He!
And destroyed the Angel of death,
that
killed the butcher that slew the ox,
that drank the water that quenched the fire,
that burned the
stick that beat the dog,
that bit the cat that ate the goat,
My father bought for two
zuzim.
Had gadya, had gadya.
