WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
(Introductory Comments)
ALL: I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. (Psalm 9:1-2)
READER 1: “‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: The Lord’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord’s Festival of Unleavened Bread begins; (Lev. 23:4-6)
READER 2: Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. (Exodus 12:17)
(Leader’s Comments – meaning of Pesach – to “pass over”)
READER 3: When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. (Exodus 12:23)
(Leader’s Comments – meaning of Pesach – to shelter or protect)
READER 1: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. (Luke 13:34)
(Leader’s Comments – Remember the passion)
BEDIKAT HAMETZ – THE SEARCH FOR LEAVEN
(Leader’s Comments – meaning of Leaven)
READER 2: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
READER 3: Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch – as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)
OPENING PRAYER
BIRKAT HA-NER – LIGHTING THE CANDLES
(Leader’s Comments – the role of the woman)
READER 1: Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
(Leader’s Comments – Mary)
READER 2: But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:30-33)
(Leader’s Comments – The candles are lit)
DAWN: Baruch Atah Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech Ha-olam, Asher Kid’shanu B’mitzvotav V’tzivanu L’hadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov.
ALL: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us by your commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the Festival lights. Amen.
THE SEDER
(Leader’s Comments – the seder)
ALL: “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.” (Exodus 6:1)
READER 3: I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
READER 1: I will free you from being slaves to them,
READER 2: and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.
READER 3: I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.
ALL: Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 6:6-7)
THE FOUR CUPS
(Leader’s Comments – the Four Cups)
KIDDUSH – THE CUP OF SANCTIFICATION
(Leader’s Comments – I will bring you out)
READER 1: Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” (Exodus 8:1)
(Leader’s Comments – Set apart for worship)
BRAD: Ba-rukh a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hey-nu Me-lekh ha-‘o-lam bo-rey pri ha-ga-fen.
ALL: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
(Leader’s Comments – the Fruit of the Vine)
(drink the first cup)
URECHATZ – THE WASHING OF HANDS
(Leader’s Comments – the need for cleansing)
KARPAS – DIPPING THE GREENS
(Leader’s Comments – life and tears)
READER 2: The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)
READER 3: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)
(Leader’s Comments – powerful drops)
READER 1: Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:7-10)
READER 2: let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)
ALL: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)
(Leader’s Comments – The Promise)
BRAD: Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu, melech ha’olam boray p’ree ha’adama.
ALL: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the earth.
(Leader’s Comments – Dip and eat)
THE MATZAH TOSH
(Leader’s Comments – Three in one)
YACHATZ – THE BREAD OF AFFLICTION
(Leader’s Comments – The Invitation)
READER 3: This is the bread of affliction which our forefathers ate in the land of Egypt. All who are hungry–let them come and eat. All who are needy–let them come and celebrate the Passover with us. Now we are here; next year may we be in the Land of Israel. Now we are slaves; next year may we be free.
(Leader’s Comments – Remember the Invitation)
(Leader’s Comments – Sacred Break)
READER 1: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:5-7)
THE AFIKOMEN
(Leader’s Comments – Burying the Afikomen)
MAGGID – THE PASSOVER STORY
(Leader’s Comments – Teach the Children)
READER 2: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
READER 3: In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” (Deuteronomy 6:20-25)
READER 1: And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” (Exodus 12:26-27)
MA NISHTANA – THE FOUR QUESTIONS
(Leader’s Comments – Initiating the Questions)
YOUNG CHILD: (Rising to ask the four questions)
• How different this night is from all other nights!
• On all other nights we eat bread or matzah. On this night why do we eat only matzah?
• On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables. On this night why do we eat only bitter herbs?
• On all other nights we do not dip our vegetables even once. On this night why do we dip them twice?
• On all other nights we eat our meals sitting or reclining. On this night why do we eat only reclining?
(Leader’s Comments – Why we eat Matzah)
ALL: For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. (Psalm 22:24)
(Leader’s Comments – Why we eat bitter herbs)
ALL: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high. (Leviticus 26:13)
(Leader’s Comments – Why we dip our food)
ALL: Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. (Psalm 71:20)
(Leader’s Comments – Why we recline)
ALL: Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)
(Leader’s Comments – Psalm 105)
LEADER: Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
ALL: Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
LEADER: Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
ALL: Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
LEADER: Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, you his servants, the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
ALL: He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
LEADER: He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
ALL: “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”
LEADER: When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings:
ALL: “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”
LEADER: He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass,
ALL: till the word of the Lord proved him true.
LEADER: The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.
ALL: Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
LEADER: The Lord made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes, whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants. He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
ALL: They performed his signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham.
LEADER: He sent darkness and made the land dark—for had they not rebelled against his words? He turned their waters into blood, causing their fish to die. Their land teemed with frogs, which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers.
ALL: He spoke . . .
LEADER: and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country. He turned their rain into hail, with lightning throughout their land; he struck down their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country.
All: He spoke . . .
LEADER: and the locusts came, grasshoppers without number; they ate up every green thing in their land, ate up the produce of their soil. Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land, the first fruits of all their manhood.
ALL: He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered. Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them.
LEADER: He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night. They asked, and he brought them quail; he fed them well with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert. For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham.
ALL: He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy;
LEADER: he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for—that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws.
ALL: Praise the Lord.
(Leader’s Comments – The Last Plague)
READER 2: Now the Lord had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here
READER 3: “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.
ALL: But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.
READER 1: The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
READER 2: Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire
READER 3: On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
ALL: “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.
READER 1: Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe.
READER 2: At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.
READER 3: During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go.
READER 1: The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.
READER 2: Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt. Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come.
READER 3: So, on this same night the Israelites are to keep watch. They are to do this to honor the Lord from now on. All the Israelites did just what the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.
ALL: Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. (Psalm 77:13-15)
THE CUP OF PLAGUES – I WILL DELIVER YOU
(Leader’s Comments – Compassion for our enemies)
READER 1: Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice. (Proverbs 4:17)
READER 2: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27-28)
READER 3: Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (Luke 6:35)
All: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36)
(Leader’s Comments – Reducing our joy)
ALL: Blood …frogs … lice… flies …cattle disease …boils …hail …locusts …darkness …slaying of the first born.
(Leader’s Comments – The Passage of Time)
THE THREE ESSENTIALS
(Leader’s Comments – Fulfilling our Duty)
THE Z’ROAH – THE PASSOVER LAMB
(Leader’s Comments – The Path of the Lamb)
READER 1: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:18-21)
(Leader’s Comments – Mourning the Temple)
ALL: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
RACHTZAH – WASHING OF THE HANDS
(Leader’s Comments – Greatness)
READER 2: Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” (John 13:4-9)
READER 3: Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:10-17)
(Washing of hands)
BRAD: Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim.
ALL: Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning washing of hands.
THE MOTZI
(Leader’s Comments – Blessing over Bread)
BRAD: Ba-rukh A-tah Adonai E-lo-hey-nu Me-lekh ha-‘o-lam ha-mo-tzi le-khem min ha-‘a-retz.
ALL: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
THE MATZAH
(Leader’s Comments – Blessing the Matzah)
BRAD: Ba-rukh A-tah A-do-nai El-o-hey-nu Me-lekh ha-‘o-lam a-sher kid-sha-nu B’-mitz-vo-tav v’-tzi-va-nu a-he-lot ma-tza.
ALL: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us concerning the eating of the matzah.
(Leader’s Comments – Eating the Matzah)
THE MAROR
(Leader’s Comments – Make it personal)
ALL: On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ (Exodus 13:8)
(Leader’s Comments – The Blessing of Bitterness)
READER 1: I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. (Psalm 57:2-5)
(Leader’s Comments – Eternal Purpose)
READER 2: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)
READER 3: In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-9)
ALL: Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:25)
(Leader’s Comments – Lifting the Bitterness)
READER 1: “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
(Leader’s Comments – Freedom)
BRAD: Baruch atah Adonai Elohaynu, melech ha’olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav, vetzivanu al acheelat maror.
ALL: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us by Your commandments and commanded us to eat the bitter herb.
(eat the bitter herb.)
CHAROSET AND THE KORECH
(Leader’s Comments – Sweet Promise of Redemption)
READER 2: After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. (John 13:21-27)
(Leader’s Comments – Given with Affection)
ALL: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
(Leader’s Comments – He Calls us Friends)
THE CUP OF DELIVERANCE
(Leader’s Comments – I will set you free)
READER 3: But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. (Exodus 3:19-20)
ALL: Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11)
BRAD: Ba rook Ah-ta Ah-do-ni El-olhay-knew Mel-ick How-o-lam Borea Parie Ha gawo-fen
ALL: Blessed art Thou, O Lord Our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the Vine
(Drink the second cup.)
THE HALLEL
(Leader’s Comments – Songs to the Father)
READER 1: When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs. Why was it, sea that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back? Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs? (Psalm 114:1-6)
ALL: Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water. (Psalm 114:7-8)
DAYENU – IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH
(Leader’s Comments – The Extravagant Love of God)
BRAD: How great is God’s goodness to us! For each of His acts of mercy and kindness we declare Dayenu [die-YAY-new] – it would have been sufficient.
BRAD: If He had brought us out from Egypt, and had not carried out judgments against them
ALL: Day-ye-nu!
BRAD: If He had given us their wealth, and had not split the sea for us
ALL: Day-ye-nu!
BRAD: If He had supplied our needs in the desert for forty years, and had not fed us the manna
ALL: Day-ye-nu!
BRAD: If He had brought us to Mount Sinai, and had not given us the Torah.
ALL: Day-ye-nu!
BRAD: If He had brought us into the land of Israel, and had not built for us the Holy Temple
ALL: Day-ye-nu!
BRAD: Blessed are you Oh Lord, our God, who supplies all our needs, and blesses us abundantly beyond measure!
(Leader’s Comments –Life through the Seder plate)
SHULCHAN ORAYCH – THE FEAST
READER 2: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God . . . otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied . . . then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” (Deuteronomy 8:10-14)
(Leader’s Comments –Celebrate!)
(BREAK FOR MEAL)
TZAFUN – RETREIVING THE AFIKOMEN
(Leader’s Comments – Time to Seek)
READER 3: Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)
READER 1: And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
(Leader’s Comments – Brought Back)
READER 2: I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. (John 6:51a)
READER 3: This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51b)
READER 1: Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. (John 6:57)
(Leader’s Comments – Let the taste linger)
BRAD: Barukh atah adonai eloheynu melekh ha’olam hamotzi lekhem min ha’aretz.
ALL: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
(eat the afikomen)
THE CUP OF REDEMPTION
(Leader’s Comments – I will redeem you.)
READER 2: In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. (Luke 22:20)
(Leader’s Comments – Entering into a covenant)
READER 3: Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:27-30)
(Leader’s Comments – Two Cups)
READER 1: Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:39-42)
(Leader’s Comments – The Father gives)
READER 2: Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:10-11)
(Leader’s Comments – Fulfilling the Promise)
BRAD: Baruch atah Adonai Elohaynu, melech ha’olam, boray p’ree hagafen.
ALL: Blessed are you O Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, who created the fruit of the vine.
(Lean to the left, and drink the third cup together)
THE CUP OF ELIJAH
(Leader’s Comments – I will take you into the land.)
READER 3: And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’” (Exodus 6:8)
(Leader’s Comments – Looking Forward)
READER 1: “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents” (Malachi 4:5-6)
(Leader’s Comments – Keeping the Door Open)
(Leader’s Comments – The Testimony of Gabriel)
READER 2: “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous–to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17)
(Leader’s Comments – The Testimony of Zechariah)
READER 3: And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
(Leader’s Comments – The Testimony of John the Baptist)
READER 1: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” (John 1:29-31)
READER 2: Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One. (John 1:32-34)
(Leader’s Comments – The Testimony of Jesus)
READER 3: “For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 11:13-15)
(Leader’s Comments – One at the Door)
READER 1: Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:20-21)
ALL: ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ” (Rev 3:22)
(Leader’s Comments – The Symbol of Hope)
HALLEL CONTINUES
(Leader’s Comments – Our Father’s perfect love.)
READER 3: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
READER 1: Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”
READER 2: Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.”
READER 3: Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.”
READER 1: When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.
READER 2: The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
ALL: The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
READER 3: It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
READER 1: It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
READER 2: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
READER 3: They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
READER 1: They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
READER 2: I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.
ALL: The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.
READER 3: Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!
READER 1: The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
READER 2: I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
READER 3: The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
READER 1: Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
READER 2: This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
ALL: I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
READER 3: The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
READER 1: The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
READER 2: LORD, save us; LORD, grant us success.
READER 3: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
READER 1: The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
READER 2: You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
ALL: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1-29)
THE CUP OF COMPLETION
(Leader’s Comments – I will take you as my own.)
(Leader’s Comments – The Betrothal Ceremony)
READER 2 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:1-3)
(Leader’s Comments – The Return of the Groom)
READER 3: Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come. (Exodus 12:42)
(Leader’s Comments – Keeping Watch)
READER 1: “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:7-9)
(Leader’s Comments – Come and Celebrate!)
READER 2: “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
READER 3: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”
READER 1: And let the one who hears say, “Come!”
READER 2: Let the one who is thirsty come;
READER 3: and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:16-17)
ALL: As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:5)
(Leader’s Comments – Drinking the Cup of Completion)
BRAD: Ba rook Ah-ta Ah-do-ni El-olhay-knew Mel-ick How-o-lam Bore a Parie Ha gawo-fen Amen
ALL: Blessed are you, O Lord Our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the Vine.
NIRTZAH – ACCEPTANCE
(Leader’s Comments – Completing the Seder)
BRAD: ‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Num 6:24-26)
BRAD: La-sha-nah ha-ba-‘ah bi-ru-sha-la-yim!
ALL: Next year in Jerusalem!
COME ALL YOU WHO ARE THIRSTY!
His Way With People 