Welcome as we come together to celebrate Pesach.  It's a time of joy and relaxation, a time to lie on pillows and drink wine. A time to ponder our history and find its relevance in our lives today. And it's a time to renew our courage in order to transform our planet into a place of peace.

The history of Passover, like most Jewish holidays, is multi-layered. It began with the celebration of spring, planting crops, and birthing animals. The Exodus from Egypt was a later layer, which became the central and compelling story of the holiday. Although the story of the liberation from Egypt is central, remnants of the older nature holidays, both pastoral and agricultural, are easy to identify with the Passover symbols..

There is no archaeological evidence of the Exodus or corroborating documents of the story - yet the themes of the holiday are universal. Celebrating the holiday connects us to our people and our traditions. The theme of liberation and freedom is universal and timeless. 

The Hebrew word for Egypt, Mitzrayim, means narrow. Ancient Egypt followed the narrow Nile. Thus, leaving Egypt has also come to mean that each of us must break the shackles of narrow-mindedness which bind us to ignorance and hatred.

Pesach falls on fhe first full moon of spring, the 14th of the month of Nisan the first holiday of the Jewish agricultural calendar. We celebrate the earth's renewal and remind oursleves of our interdependence with all that lives on our planet.

On this night, we gather around seder tables

remembering our passage from bondage to freedom.

On this night, we journey from now to then,

telling the story of our people's birth.

On this night, we retrace our steps from then to now.

reclaiming years of desert wandering.

On this night, we ask questions, ancient and new,

speaking of servitude and liberation, service and joy.

On this night, we welcome each soul,

sharing stories of courage, strength and faith.

On this night, we open doors long closed,

lifting our voices in songs of praise.

On this night, we renew ancient hopes

and dream of a future redeemed.

THE ORDER OF THE RITUALS

Seder means "order". It has come to mean the entire evening.

KIDDUSH - light candles and the first cup

URKHATZ - ceremonial hand washing

KARPAS - the green vegetable

YACHATZ - the middle matzah

MAGEED - the Passover story

RAKHATZ - wash hands again before meal

HAMOTZI - blessing over bread/meal and matzah

MAROR - the bitter herb

KORECH - the bitter herb and matzah

SHULKAN ORECH - the Festive meal

TZAFOON - eat the afikomen

BARECH - grace after meal

HALLEL - paslms of praise

NIRTZAH - conclusion


haggadah Section: Introduction