We are commanded to drink four cups of wine on Passover.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶ

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p'ri hagafen.

Praised are you, Adonai, Eternal One, who has created the fruit of the vine.

Brukhim ha-adama ha-shemesh v’ha-geshem shehborim pre hagafen.

Blessed are the earth, the sun, and the rains that bring forth the fruit of the wine. 

The wine of Passover is the wine of joy, the wine of love, the wine of celebration, the wine of freedom:

Freedom from bondage                                and freedom from oppression,

Freedom from hunger                                   and freedom from want,

Freedom from hatred                                    and freedom from fear,

Freedom to think                                           and freedom to speak,

Freedom to teach                                          and freedom to learn,

Freedom to love                                             and freedom to share,

Freedom to hope                                            and freedom to rejoice,

Soon, now, in our days,                                  and forever.

Precious is the life within the world.             Precious in the life within us.

Praised are those who bring forth the fruit of the vine            L’chaim!

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who lovingly gave to us special times for happiness, holidays and this time of celebrating the Holiday of Matzah, the time of liberation, reading our sacred stories, and remembering the Exodus from Egypt. We praise God, who sanctifies the people of Israel and the holidays.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
 שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam,
she-hechiyanu v’key’manu v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything,
who has kept us alive, raised us up, and brought us to this happy moment.

Drink the first glass of wine!


haggadah Section: Kadesh