By the Machar Congregation

Tonight we drink four cups of the fruit of the vine. There are many explanations for this custom. They may be seen as symbols of various things: the four corners of the earth, for freedom must live everywhere; the four seasons of the year, for freedom's cycle must last through all the seasons; the four elements: fire, water earth and air; or the four matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel.

A full cup of wine symbolizes complete happiness. The triumph of Passover is diminished by the sacrifice of many human lives when ten plagues were visited upon the people of Egypt. In the story, the plagues that befell the Egyptians resulted from the decisions of tyrants, but the greatest suffering occurred among those who had no choice but to follow.

It is fitting that we mourn their loss of life, and express our sorrow over their suffering. For as Jews we cannot take joy in the suffering of others. Therefore, let us diminish the wine in our cups as we recall the ten plagues that befell the Egyptian people.

As we recite the name of each plague, in English and then in Hebrew, please dip a finger in your wine and then touch your plate to remove the drop.

Blood | damדּםָ
Frogs | tzfardeiyaעֽ ְַצ ַפְרֵדּ
Lִice | kinim | כּנִּים| 
Beasts | arovערוֹבָ
Cattle disease | deverברֶֶדּ
Boils | sh’chinחיןִשְׁ
Hail | baradָבָּרד|
Locusts | arbeh | ְאַרֶבּה
Darkness | choshech |ְ שׁךֽ ֶחֹ
Death of the Firstborn | makat b’chorot | בּכוֹרוֹת ְכּתַמ


haggadah Section: -- Ten Plagues
Source: Kavod Jews of Color, Indigenous Jews, Mizrahim, & Sephardim