The Passover Seder Web

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Hebrew ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????? ???? ????? Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Sign of the Cross

The Passover Seder(Hebrew ???, pronounced say-der, meaning "order") : 

The Passover Seder(Hebrew ???, pronounced say-der, meaning "order") A special Jewish ritual which takes place on the first evening of Passover (the 15th day of Nisan) in Israel. (1400-1500 BCE) (The Order of the Mass)

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The Seder is considered an integral aspect of Jewish faith and identity. As explained by the “Haggadah” (a special book which contains the complete Seder service), without the Exodus, the Jews would still be slaves to the Egyptian Pharoah and would never have realized their role as a nation. The Sacramentary

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Unlike other Jewish public holiday observances that are traditionally held in the synagogue, the Seder is specifically designed to be conducted by a family at home, with or without guests. The words and rituals of the Seder are a primary vehicle for the transmission of the Jewish faith from parent to child. (Mass is celebrated with the parish family)

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Conducted as part of the holiday meal, the Seder relives the enslavement and subsequent Exodus of the Children of Israel from Ancient Egypt

That is why this is an occasion for much praise and thanksgiving to God. : 

That is why this is an occasion for much praise and thanksgiving to God. It is considered a “mitzvah” (religious duty) to embellish one's retelling of the Exodus on this night. Often the Seder lasts into the early hours of the morning, as participants continue to talk about the events of the night and sing special Passover songs included in the Haggadah.

The Order of the SederKadesh - the Benediction : 

The Order of the SederKadesh - the Benediction The Seder service begins with the recitation of Kiddush, proclaiming the holiness of the holiday. This is done over a cup of wine, the first of the four cups that will be drunk (while reclining) at the Seder. Remember to recline to your left side while you drink.

The Four Cups of Wine : 

The Four Cups of Wine Also, the Children of Israel had four great merits even while in exile: They did not change their Hebrew names; They continued to speak their own language, Hebrew; They remained highly moral; They remained loyal to one another. Wine is used because it is a symbol of joy and happiness. (Christ did not drink of the fourth cup) Why four cups? The Torah uses four expressions of freedom or deliverance in connection with the liberation from Egypt (see Exodus 6:6-7).

Why Do We Recline? : 

Why Do We Recline? When drinking the four cups and eating the Matzah we lean on our left side to accentuate the fact that we are free people. In ancient times only free people had the luxury of reclining while eating.

Urchatz - Purification : 

Urchatz - Purification We wash our hands in the usual, ritually-prescribed manner before a meal, but without the customary blessing. Washing HandsFill a cup with water. Pour some water over your right hand three times, then over your left hand three times. (When we wash our hands again before eating matzah, we'll recite a blessing. But not now.)

Why this first washing? : 

Why this first washing? The next step in the Seder, requires dipping food into water, which in turn mandates, according to Jewish law, that either the food be eaten with a utensil or that one's hands be purified by washing.

Karpas - the "Appetizer" : 

Karpas - the "Appetizer" A small piece of onion or boiled potato is dipped into salt water and eaten (after reciting the blessing over vegetables). Dipping the Karpas in salt water is an act of pleasure and freedom, which further arouses the child's curiosity. The salt water represents the tears of our ancestors in Egypt.

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The Hebrew word "Karpas," when read backwards, alludes to the backbreaking labor performed by the 600,000 Jews in Egypt. [“Samech” has the numerical equivalent of 60 (60 times 10,000), while the last three Hebrew letters spell "perech," hard work.] (Through Christ we are released from slavery to sin)

Yachatz - Breaking the Matzah : 

Yachatz - Breaking the Matzah The middle Matzah on the Seder plate is broken in two. The larger part is put aside for later use as the Afikomen. (Unleavened bread) The smaller part of the middle Matzah is returned to the Seder plate. This broken middle Matzah symbolizes humility and will be eaten later as the "bread of poverty." This unusual action not only attracts the child's attention once again, but also recalls G-d's splitting of the Sea of Reeds to allow the Children of Israel to cross on dry land.

Maggid - the Haggadah : 

Maggid - the Haggadah At this point, the poor are invited to join the Seder. The Seder tray is moved aside, a second cup of wine is poured, and the child, who by now is bursting with curiosity, asks the time-honored question: "Mah nish-tah-na hah-laila-ha-zeh me-kol hah leilot? Why is this night different from all other nights?" Why only Matzah? Why the dipping? Why the bitter herbs? Why are we relaxing and leaning on cushions as if we were kings?

Maggid - the Haggadah : 

Maggid - the Haggadah The child's questioning triggers one of the most significant mitzvot (teachings) of Passover, which is the highlight of the Seder ceremony: the Haggadah,

In Our Forefathers’ Footsteps : 

In Our Forefathers’ Footsteps Beginning with the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we recount the Jewish people’s descent into Egypt and recall their suffering and persecution. We are with them as G-d sends the Ten Plagues to punish Pharaoh and his nation, and follow along as they leave Egypt and cross the Sea of Reeds. We witness the miraculous hand of G-d as the waters part to allow the Israelites to pass, then return to inundate the Egyptian legions. At the Seder, every person should see themselves as if they were going out of Egypt. (In the Eucharist we enter into the heavenly kingdom)

Maggid - the Haggadah : 

Maggid - the Haggadah The Exodus from Egypt was much more than just an historical event. Rather it is a dynamic process that occurs daily as we emancipate ourselves from our own limitations and strive to grasp the divine. To retell the story is to express our essential self; to come face to face with who we really are. At the end of this reading, say the blessing over the second cup.

Rachtzah - Washing Before the Meal : 

Rachtzah - Washing Before the Meal After concluding the first part of the Haggadah by drinking (while reclining) the second cup of wine, the hands are washed again, this time with the customary blessings, as is usually done before eating bread. We now prepare ourselves to eat matzah by again washing our hands. Pour some water over your right hand three times, then over your left hand three times. Say the appropriate blessing and dry your hands. (Prior to the consecration the priest washes his hands)

Motzie Matzah : 

Motzie Matzah Thank G-d for Bread, Bless the Matzah Raise the three matzahs together the top one, the broken middle one and the bottom one-and say the blessing ". . . Who brings forth bread out of the earth." Then return the bottom matzah to the Seder Plate. Recite the blessing on the top and (broken) middle matzah: ". . .Who commanded us concerning eating matzah." Break off a piece from each of these two matzah for yourself and for each of those sitting at your table. Everyone eats at least two ounces (about two thirds of a matzah). Lean to the left while you munch. “This is my body”

Maror - the Bitter Herbs : 

Maror - the Bitter Herbs "Al achilat Morror." "Who commanded us concerning eating bitter herbs." Eat without reclining. Maror is the bitter taste of our slavery in Egypt. Dipping bitter herbs in charoset recalls the mortar of our enslavement. Take at least 1 ounce of the bitter herbs. Dip it in the charoset, (horseradish, romaine lettuce or both) then shake the latter off and make the blessing

Korech - the Sandwich : 

Korech - the Sandwich In keeping with the custom instituted by Hillel, the great Talmudic Rabbi, a sandwich of Matzah and Morror is eaten. Break off two pieces of the bottom Matzah, which together should be at least one ounce. Again, take at least 1 ounce of bitter herbs and dip them in the charoset. Place this between the two pieces of Matzah, say "Kein asah Hillel...“ "So did Hillel in the time of the Holy Temple . . ." and eat the sandwich while reclining.

Shulchan Orech - the Feast : 

Shulchan Orech - the Feast The holiday meal is now served. We begin the meal with a hardboiled egg dipped into salt water. A Rabbi was once asked why Jews eat eggs on Passover. "Because eggs symbolize the Jew," the Rabbi answered. "The more an egg is burned or boiled, the harder it gets.“ The egg symbolizes the cycle of life and is also a sign of mourning. At every festive occasion, we mourn the destruction of Jerusalem.

Shulchan Orech - the Feast : 

Shulchan Orech - the Feast The Paschal lamb, which is eaten at the end of the meal. Washed in the blood of the lamb

Tzafun - Out of Hiding : 

Tzafun - Out of Hiding After the meal, the half Matzah which had been "hidden," set aside for the Afikoman ("dessert"), is taken out and eaten. Everyone should eat at least 1 1/2 ounces of Matzah, reclining, before midnight. After eating the Afikoman, we do not eat or drink anything except for the two remaining cups of wine.

Barech - Blessings After the Meal : 

Barech - Blessings After the Meal A third cup of wine is filled and Grace is recited. After the Grace we recite the blessing over wine and drink the third cup while reclining. “This is my blood”

Now we fill the cup of Elijah and our own cups with wine. : 

Now we fill the cup of Elijah and our own cups with wine. We open the front door and recite the passage which symbolizes an invitation to the Prophet Elijah, the harbinger of the coming of Moshiach, our righteous Messiah.

Hallel - Songs of Praise : 

Hallel - Songs of Praise At this point, having recognized the Al-mighty, and His unique guidance of the Jewish people, we go still further and sing His praises as L-rd of the entire universe. After reciting the Hallel, we again recite the blessing over wine and drink the fourth cup, reclining

Nirtzah - Acceptance : 

Nirtzah - Acceptance The steps of the Seder have been integrated into our consciousness and accepted. Now we pause, take a deep breath, and reflect on our experience: We examined our personal challenges through the slavery of our ancestors, and we achieved a personal freedom by reliving the Exodus. We then say "Leshanah haba'ah b'Yerushalyim” “Next year in Jerusalem.“