Gathered here in warmth and light,

We share in ancient stories tonight.

From hands both new and weathered with time,

We weave tradition's rich design.

For some, these customs feel like home—

The wine, the food, the sacred tome.

For others, fresh to Passover's ways,

These rituals spark wonder's blaze.

From Egypt's chains to freedom's shore,

We tell a tale told countless times before.

Yet each retelling brings insight anew,

A sparkle fresh as morning dew.

"Seder" means order, a path we'll trace

Through this evening's gathering, at our own pace.

Questions welcome, voices clear—

So ask away, all who gather here.

We'll break the matzah, sip the wine,

Taste bitter and sweet combine.

Each symbol holds a story true

Of freedom's journey, old and new.

So whether first or fiftieth year

You've joined our celebration here,

Tonight we all from Egypt flee—

Each soul discovering what it means to be free.

Let peace and joy fill every heart

As we prepare for our Seder to start.

For freedom's call still rings today,

And so we begin—now let us pray.

As we gather around this table tonight – people of different faiths, backgrounds, and journeys – we come together in the spirit of unity and understanding. We are bound by our shared humanity and our desire to celebrate liberation, renewal, and hope.

Together, let us recite:

Blessed is the gathering that draws on our rich history to bring diverse hearts together. Blessed are the stories that connect us across time and tradition. Blessed is the bread of affliction that reminds us of struggles still unfolding. Blessed is the cup of celebration that holds our collective freedom.

May this Passover Seder be a sacred space where our differences enrich rather than divide us. As we recall the ancient story of liberation, may we find inspiration for the work of freedom that continues in our world today. May the symbols on our Seder plate speak to each of us in our own way, while reminding us of the values we share – dignity, compassion, and the pursuit of justice for all people.

As the candles illuminate our gathering, may their light shine upon faces both familiar and new, reminding us that we are all created in the divine image. May our questions and conversations deepen our understanding of each other and of ourselves.

Let us honor the traditions of those who have hosted this Seder, while embracing the wisdom that each person brings to our table. In our differences, may we find strength; in our unity, may we find purpose.

With open hearts and open minds, we begin our journey together through this night of remembrance and hope.

THE SEDER PLATE
The entire story of the Haggadah is contained in the Seder plate; everything on it symbolizes an aspect of Exodus:
Zeroa, a roasted bone, beet or “Pashcal yam”. Evokes the offering made at the Temple in ancient times.
Beitza, a boiled egg, symbolizes the circle of life and death. Maror, a bitter herb, reminds us of the bitterness of enslavement.
Charoset, a mixture of fruit, nuts, wine and spices, represents the mortar our ancestors used to build the structures of Mitzrayim
Karpas, a green vegetable, symbolizes hope and renewal.
Chazeret, the bitter herb for the “sandwich” we eat later, following the custom established by Hillel the Elder, as a reminder that our ancestors “ate matzah and bitter herbs together” (20)
(All the items on the Seder plate also correspond to different kabbalistic sephirot)

The whole point of the seder is to ask questions. This is your time to ask about things that confuse you, things you don’t understand, or even things you don’t agree with. There really is no is no such thing as a stupid question, especially tonight. 

- Joy Levitt (age 16)

Questions are not only welcome during the course of the evening but are vital to tonight’s journey. Our obligation at this seder involves traveling from slavery to freedom, prodding ourselves from apathy to action, encouraging the transformation of silence into speech, and providing a space where all different levels of belief and tradition can co-exist safely. Because leaving Mitzrayim--the narrow places, the places that oppress us—is a personal as well as a communal passage, your participation and thoughts are welcome and encouraged.

We remember that questioning itself is a sign of freedom. The simplest question can have many answers, sometimes complex or contradictory ones, just as life itself is fraught with complexity and contradictions. To see everything as good or bad, matzah or maror, Jewish or Muslim, Jewish or “Gentile”, is to be enslaved to simplicity. Sometimes, a question has no answer. Certainly, we must listen to the question, before answering.