Spencer: Answer this for yourself: Freedom TO or Freedom FROM

Tonight we drink four cups of wine. Why four? Some say the cups represent our matriarchs—Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah—whose virtue caused our liberation us from slavery. Another interpretation is that the cups represent the Four Worlds: physicality, emotions, thought, and essence. Still a third interpretation is that the cups represent the four promises of liberation made in the Torah: I will bring you out, I will deliver you, I will redeem you, I will take you to be my people (Exodus 6:6-7.) The four promises, in turn, have been interpreted as four stages on the path of liberation: becoming aware of oppression, opposing oppression, imagining alternatives, and accepting responsibility to act.

FIRST CUP OF WINE

(pour first cup of wine and raise cups)

Reader 9:Generations ago our ancestors responded to the call for freedom. In every generation, we ought to view ourselves as though we have been personally liberated from slavery. Today that call continues, obligating us to work for an era when all people will be liberated. Let us drink the first cup of wine to celebrate the liberation of peoples from tyranny.

(Drink the first cup of wine)

L’CHAIM!!!

ALL:Barukh ha-toov ba-o-lam

Barukh ha-toov ba-a-dam

Barukh ha-toov be-pesach


haggadah Section: Kadesh