Leader:

We are about to eat the Maror, one of the bitter herbs, dipped into charossett. The bitter herb remind us of how the Egyptians embittered the lives of the Israelites in servitude. When we eat the bitter herbs we share in the bitterness of oppression and must remember that slavery still exists all over the world. The Charossett not only reminds us of the mortar our ancestors used when they were slaves, but its sweet taste also reminds us of the sweetness of freedom that can only be known fully after one has suffered. Most of us have suffered the bitterness of pain, disappointment and loss in our lives. May we use these moments to help us to be more sensitive to the bitterness in others' lives and to develop awareness of our own strengths during difficult times, thereby tempering the bitterness.

DIRECTIONS: Each participant takes a forkful of horseradish and dips it into charossett without obliterating the taste of the horseradish's bitterness and we recite the following blessing:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל אֲכִילַת מָרוֹר

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al achilat maror.

Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has taught us the way of holiness through commandments, commanding us to eat the bitter herb.


haggadah Section: Maror