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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.

        On this night, we gather around our seder table

        remembering our passage from bondage to freedom.

On this night, we journey from now to then,

telling the story of our people’s birth.

As we begin tonight’s seder, lets take a moment to thank God for who we are and all we have. For allowing all of us to share this space, in this way, at this time.  We are grateful for this opportunity to share and be together.

Passover is the telling of a familiar story. A story that has been told and re-told through the years. If we try, each of us can connect to this story on many levels.

Remember, our tradition holds that tonight is not a retelling of a story from long ago, but rather a time for us all to experience going out of Egypt. As if each of us was there. That by sharing this story, each of us is redeemed.

Our Passover meal is called a seder, which means “order” in Hebrew, because we go through 14 specific steps as we retell the story of our ancestors’ liberation from slavery in Egypt.

Sing:

קַדֵּשׁKiddush (the blessing over wine) | kadeish |

וּרְחַץRitual hand-washing in preparation for the seder | urchatz |

כַּרְפַּסDipping a green vegetable in salt water| karpas |

יַחַץBreaking the middle matzah | yachatz |

מַגִּידTelling the story of Passover | magid |

רָחְצָהRitual hand-washing in preparation for the meal | rachtza |

מוֹצִיא מַצָּהThe blessing over the meal and matzah | motzi matzah |

מָרוֹרDipping the bitter herb in sweet charoset | maror |

כּוֹרֵךְEating a sandwich of matzah and bitter herb | koreich |

שֻׁלְחָן עוֹרֵךְEating the meal! | shulchan oreich |

צָפוּןFinding and eating the Afikomen | tzafoon |

בָּרֵךְSaying grace after the meal and inviting Elijah the Prophet | bareich |

הַלֵּלSinging songs that praise God | hallel |

נִרְצָהEnding the seder and thinking about the future | nirtzah |

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