Clips Library
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Maror
Leader: We now partake of the bitter herbs, of which there are two symbols on the seder plate, the maror and the chazeret.Take a small amount of horseradish and eat it on a leaf of lettuce.All: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu me ...Marorcontributed by Spencer Ruskin -
Motzi-Matzoh
The Leader passes around one of the sheets of matzoh. Each participant takes a small piece.All: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kidishanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al a'chilat matzoh.(Blessed art thou, the LORD ...Motzi-Matzahcontributed by Spencer Ruskin -
Korech -- If It's All Abo
Freedom and pain are inexorably linked. Our approach to the "bitter" times is neither to deny nor to seek escape but to face up to the challenges and embrace the opportunity ...Koreichcontributed by Phil Neuman -
Answer to the four questions
1. Why eat plain matza which is hard to digest? Poor laborers and slaves are fed matza not only because it is cheap but because it is filling and requires a long digestion period. The diet was designed by the oppressor to exploit ...Covercontributed by Daniel Gropper -
Symbols of the seder plate
Leader: Before we can partake of the Seder meal, we must discuss the Mitzvot, the primary symbols of Passover.Leader: The first mitzvah is Zeroa, traditionally a roasted shank bone of the lamb, which reminds us of the sacrifi ...-- Closingcontributed by Spencer Ruskin -
Seder at Bnei brak
Many questions have arisen about this snippet of text. What were these rabbis doing in B’nei Brak, which was the hometown of Rabbi Akiva only?Why didn’t their students join them in celebrating the seder? Why didn ...-- Four Questionscontributed by Daniel Gropper -
What can we learn from a flat
Matzah is literally free of all additives, externalities and superficial good looks -- it is bread without the hot air. It represents the bare essentials.Everything we pursue ...Motzi-Matzahcontributed by Phil Neuman -
The Exodus
Leader: The Twelve Tribes of Israel — Jacob's sons and their families — came into Egypt. And though in time Joseph and all of his generation died, the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, until the l ...-- Exodus Storycontributed by Spencer Ruskin -
Dayenu -- For This, We are Gra
In the traditional Passover Seder, we thank God for the miracles God performed, and, after reciting each miracle, reply aloud "Dayenu" -- this alone would have been enough and for ...-- Closingcontributed by Phil Neuman -
Yachatz: The MIddle Matzah of
The leader takes out the middle Matzah, breaks it in two and holds up both pieces.Reader 1: At every Passover seder, we break the middle matzah. In a few moments, we wi ...Yachatzcontributed by Phil Neuman -
Origin of Karpas
The word “Karpas” derives from the Greek “Karpos” meaning fruit of the soil. The historical origins of dipping Karpas at the Seder reflect the accepted cuisine of the Greco-Roman symposium.Metaphorically, Karpas, the ...Karpascontributed by Daniel Gropper -
The Stories That Bind Us
The single most important thing you can do for your family may be the simplest of all: develop a strong family narrative.“The ones who know a lot about their families tend to do better when they face challenges,” said Sara Duk ...-- Exodus Storycontributed by Daniel Gropper -
Maggid
Leader: We cannot eat the Seder meal until the story of Passover is told. This next section is called 'Maggid', which means 'Narrator', or 'Preacher'. In it we explore the reasons for the Passover holiday, culminating in a retelli ...Maggid - Beginningcontributed by Spencer Ruskin -
Let All Who are Hungry, Come a
Ha lachma anya—this is the bread of affliction.At the seder we begin as slaves. We eat matzah, the bread of affliction, which leaves us hungry and longing for redemption. It remi ...Yachatzcontributed by Daniel Gropper -
Four Funny Questions
On all other nights, we get biscuits and rolls,Fluffy and puffy and full of air holes.Why on this night, why, tell me why,Only this flat stuff that’s always so dry. On all other nights, we eat all kinds of greens,And I’m ...Covercontributed by heidi aycock -
Why Drink Four Cups on Passove
Just where did the rabbis themselves determine the idea of instituting four cups of wine? The rabbis wrote these instructions in Tractate Pesachim during the time of Roman rule in ...Kadeshcontributed by Daniel Gropper
