Traditionally, a series of prayers and blessings after eating are now recited in Hebrew. Together we say:
We have eaten this Passover meal as a free people and we give thanks to God for his many blessings. Preserve us in life, sustain us with good and honorable work and make us worthy. Bless this home, this table, and all assembled here; may all our loved ones share our blessings.
It is customary to begin the Passover meal with hard-boiled eggs flavored with salt water. The egg is symbolic of new life, and of hope; the salt water, a symbol of tears. Eggs, unlike other foods, harden when they are cooked, sym- bolic of our faith being tempered and hardened by the forces of our history.
May we reflect on our lives this year and soften our hearts to those around us. Another year has passed since we gathered at the Seder table and we are once again reminded that life is fleeting. We are reminded to use each pre- cious moment wisely so that no day will pass without bringing us closer to some worthy achievement as we all take a moment to be aware of how truly blessed and fortunate we are.
Our faith gives us many holidays to celebrate throughout the year and they are all times for self reflection, gently guiding us to a better path in life. We are each given a chance to reflect on our past year; to think about where we have been and how we will live our lives in the year to come. We reaffirm our com- mitment to lead good and meaningful lives, making peace wherever we go.
On Passover, Hillel, the head of the Rabbinic academy in Jerusalem two thousand years ago, combined the pesach, matzoh and maror and ate them together, so he might observe the commandment exactly: “They shall eat the Pesach lamb offering with matzoh and maror together.” The destruction of the Temple by the Romans brought an end to animal sacrifices, so our sand- wich today is made only with matzoh and maror.
We will now eat the bitter herbs sandwiched between two pieces of matzoh.
Break two pieces of the bottom matzoh, and use it to make a sandwich with maror.
We are now coming to the Seder meal. As we ordinarily begin with the breaking of bread, we begin tonight with the breaking of matzoh. We recite two blessings; first the regular blessing for bread, then a special one for mat- zoh.
The upper and middle piece of the three matzot are broken and distributed among the group as we recite togetherBaruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz.
We praise You, God, who brings forth bread from the earth.
In ancient times our people were farmers and shepherds. In this festive season, we are meant to feel a connection with the food we eat from the land and to remember that we are surrounded by blessings and miracles no less majestic than those our ancestors witnessed thousands of years ago. Spring reminds us that we are again given a chance for renewal; a new chance to cre- ate peace and goodness in our world. We dip karpas — greens — to symbolize this renewal. The salt water symbolizes the bitter tears shed by our ancestors in slavery.
Each person takes greens, dips them in salt water and recites the following:
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p'ri ha-adamah.
We praise You, Adonai, Sovereign of Life, Who creates the fruit of the earth.
Eat the Karpas
Washing hands is done before all meals at which bread is eaten and water plays an important part in the Passover story. We wash our hands twice at our Seder, but since we will not be eating yet, we do not recite any blessings at this time. As we pour water over our hands now, we ask that our hearts be touched by wisdom as our hands reach out to the world and touch those around us.
A pitcher of water with basin and towel may be passed around to all guests.
Traditionally, a series of prayers and blessings after eating are now recited in Hebrew. Together we say:
We have eaten this Passover meal as a free people and we give thanks to God for his many blessings. Preserve us in life, sustain us with good and honorable work and make us worthy. Bless this home, this table, and all assembled here; may all our loved ones share our blessings.
It is customary to begin the Passover meal with hard-boiled eggs flavored with salt water. The egg is symbolic of new life, and of hope; the salt water, a symbol of tears. Eggs, unlike other foods, harden when they are cooked, sym- bolic of our faith being tempered and hardened by the forces of our history.
May we reflect on our lives this year and soften our hearts to those around us. Another year has passed since we gathered at the Seder table and we are once again reminded that life is fleeting. We are reminded to use each pre- cious moment wisely so that no day will pass without bringing us closer to some worthy achievement as we all take a moment to be aware of how truly blessed and fortunate we are.
Our faith gives us many holidays to celebrate throughout the year and they are all times for self reflection, gently guiding us to a better path in life. We are each given a chance to reflect on our past year; to think about where we have been and how we will live our lives in the year to come. We reaffirm our com- mitment to lead good and meaningful lives, making peace wherever we go.
On Passover, Hillel, the head of the Rabbinic academy in Jerusalem two thousand years ago, combined the pesach, matzoh and maror and ate them together, so he might observe the commandment exactly: “They shall eat the Pesach lamb offering with matzoh and maror together.” The destruction of the Temple by the Romans brought an end to animal sacrifices, so our sand- wich today is made only with matzoh and maror.
We will now eat the bitter herbs sandwiched between two pieces of matzoh.
Break two pieces of the bottom matzoh, and use it to make a sandwich with maror.
We are now coming to the Seder meal. As we ordinarily begin with the breaking of bread, we begin tonight with the breaking of matzoh. We recite two blessings; first the regular blessing for bread, then a special one for mat- zoh.
The upper and middle piece of the three matzot are broken and distributed among the group as we recite togetherBaruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz.
We praise You, God, who brings forth bread from the earth.
In ancient times our people were farmers and shepherds. In this festive season, we are meant to feel a connection with the food we eat from the land and to remember that we are surrounded by blessings and miracles no less majestic than those our ancestors witnessed thousands of years ago. Spring reminds us that we are again given a chance for renewal; a new chance to cre- ate peace and goodness in our world. We dip karpas — greens — to symbolize this renewal. The salt water symbolizes the bitter tears shed by our ancestors in slavery.
Each person takes greens, dips them in salt water and recites the following:
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p'ri ha-adamah.
We praise You, Adonai, Sovereign of Life, Who creates the fruit of the earth.
Eat the Karpas
Washing hands is done before all meals at which bread is eaten and water plays an important part in the Passover story. We wash our hands twice at our Seder, but since we will not be eating yet, we do not recite any blessings at this time. As we pour water over our hands now, we ask that our hearts be touched by wisdom as our hands reach out to the world and touch those around us.
A pitcher of water with basin and towel may be passed around to all guests.
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