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For several thousand years, Seder rituals and meals have been observed and enjoyed. On many past Maundy Thursdays of Holy Week in our church, we have gathered in our sanctuary (with pews removed, tables and chairs taking their places, making our sanctuary into a festal hall) to observe and celebrate the Passover Meal called the Seder Supper. It is a Jewish tradition which Jesus and his disciples observed. It was at the close of the Seder Supper which Jesus was celebrating with his disciples in the Upper Room in Jerusalem that Jesus gave the bread and the wine to the disciples. The context of the first Holy Communion was the Seder Supper.

With respect for Jewish faith and traditions, we are not merely copying another faith’s tradition ~ we are observing and celebrating the origins of our own Christian faith and tradition.

On page 2 of this PDF is the first page of “Introduction to a Christian Seder” by Dennis Bratcher. The full 22 page document can be found at:

http://www.crivoice.org/seder.html

There are many variations in Seder traditions. Forty-one years ago in Spokane, I was introduced to the Seder Supper at the home of two Jewish widows who had kind-of adopted me. They had a Passover Haggadah (Hebrew: “telling,” the printed order of service, reading, and songs) which we used ~ everyone had a copy. All present at that Seder signed the Haggadah I had used and gave it to me. It is from that Haggadah that I have based the Seder Supper ceremonies here at our church.

While there are quite the variety of traditions within Judaism, there are two major groupings: Sephardic and Ashkenazi. Ashkenazi are the “face” of Judaism. Ashkenazi ancestry is largely Eastern European. Sephardic is a term originally meaning “from Spain” but has been used more generally for Jewish ancestry encompassing not only Spain, but North Africa and the Middle East as well. Their traditions are as different as Protestantism is to Russian Orthodox. Same faith, but with very different traditions. Here are a couple humorous YouTubes on the difference between Ashkenazi and Sephardi:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxjg2ER_PYM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iJak7n_v1s

Similarly with music. The klezmer style of Jewish music our orchestra has played at past Seder Suppers has been Ashkenazi. Sephardic music sounds more Middle Eastern. Here is an example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq5cAJuUjAE

So, here is a Haggadah for you to use if you wish. It is what we have used here at our Seder Suppers over the past several decades.

Introduction to a Christian Seder Page 2 Table Settings Page 3 Music Page 3 Recipes Page 4 The Haggadah Page 5

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Introduction to a Christian Seder Recovering Passover for Christians

Dennis Bratcher The Festival of Passover Passover is the oldest and most important religious festival in Judaism, commemorating God’s deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and his creation of the Israelite people. Passover is actually composed of two festivals, The Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover (which is sometimes used to refer to the single day and sometimes to the entire span of both festivals).

The festival of Passover, known as Pesach, begins at sunset on the 14th of Nisan (usually in March or April) and marks the beginning of a seven day celebration that includes the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The focal point of Passover is a communal meal, called the Seder (which means “order,” because of the fixed order of service), which is a time of rejoicing and celebration at the deliverance for the Hebrews that God accomplished in the exodus. Sometimes the meals during the entire period of Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread are referred to as Seder meals, called the first Seder, the Second Seder, etc., although usually only the first two nights are considered Seder meals.

Unlike the most Holy days of Christianity that are observed in Church, since the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in AD 70 Passover has been celebrated in the home with family and friends as they eat a meal together. It is customary to invite guests to share the Seder meal, especially newcomers to the community. The actual Seder meal in most Jewish homes is an elaborate feast, with food, games for the children, and plenty of time to tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt. It is not unusual for a Seder to last three to four hours.

The Seder involves everyone present since they all have a Haggadah (Hebrew: “telling,” the printed order of service, reading, and songs) and are called to share in reading and singing the story. While the father or grandfather is usually the leader of the service, others have roles as well. The mother of the home lights the festival candles that signal the beginning of Passover, the youngest child asks the four questions, the children help eliminate all Chametz (leaven) from the house, search for the hidden Afikomen ~ a symbolic piece of Matzah (unleavened bread) and open the door for Elijah, the parents or the grandparents tell the story of the exodus, and various others are designated to read or lead certain portions of the service.

Passover is really more than a festival. It is an elaborate teaching experience, especially for the children, intended to call people to their identity as the People of God. By using all of the senses, the Passover Seder tells the story of God’s grace in history and calls the participants to experience and share in the story as their own story. Passover becomes more than simply a service or a time; it becomes a way to confess faith in the One who has acted in history, and for Jews expresses the hope that He will continue to act in bringing deliverance to all people everywhere.

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Music Any festival would not be complete without music. If you have attended any of our past Seder Suppers, you will have heard a group of string players (sometimes with a clarinet) playing many familiar Jewish songs. Perhaps this is “confession” time: Our orchestra has music books called Jewish Wedding Music ~ music not specifically for the Passover Seder. While most of the songs aren’t for the Seder, at least one is. Dodi Li is one of the songs we would play. “Dodi li” are the first words of the reading from the Song of Solomon: “My beloved is mine.” It is one of the traditional readings at the Seder. If you wish to listen to some of that Jewish Wedding Music, you can find them at this website:

https://wellingtonmusic.com/repertoire-for-weddings-corporate-events/jewish-wedding/

(If clicking on the link does not send you directly to their website, then

copy the link and paste it in the Internet address bar.)

Table Setting

Parsley Salt Water Horseradish Haroses

Whatever you want for dinner. Lamb would be a traditional meat, but the lamb recipe on page 4 would work

well with beef or moose.

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Recipes For the ceremony: Haroses (a recipe below) Parsley Wine or Grape Juice Salt Water (Just some salt dissolved in water) Matzah (usually available at Carrs or Fred Meyer) 2 Candles

Sephardic Haroses (Dried Fruit and Nut Chutney)

Recipe adapted from Jenn Louis, Lincoln, Portland, OR Yield: 2½ cups Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: N/A Total Time: 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, toasted 6 whole cloves, toasted 4 green cardamom pods, toasted ½ cup toasted almonds, finely chopped ½ cup raw shelled pistachios, finely chopped ½ cup pomegranate juice 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses 2 tablespoons cinnamon 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds, toasted 2 teaspoons salt 20 (5 ounces) dried apricots, finely chopped 10 (2½ ounces) dried black figs, finely chopped 10 (3 ounces) pitted prunes, finely chopped 10 (3 ounces) pitted Medjool dates, finely chopped Matzo, for serving

DIRECTIONS Using a mortar and pestle, grind the toasted peppercorns, cloves and cardamom pods into a fine powder. Transfer to a medium bowl and fold in the rest of the ingredients, minus the matzo, until a paste comes together. Serve alongside matzo.

Need some pomegranate molasses? That’s a special order item, but Tim has plenty (purchased too much last year) and can set out in the church narthex the amount you would like. Please call or text Tim for your order at:

907-715-4945.

Grilled Marinated Leg of Lamb Ingredients:

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil ¼ cup fresh lemon juice 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon dried oregano (preferably Greek), crumbled 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 (4½ to 5 lb.) butterflied boneless leg of lamb, trimmed of fat

Special Equipment: A large (2-gallon) heavy-duty sealable plastic bag; 3 or

4 (10 to 12 inch) metal skewers Preparation: Combine oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and

pepper in sealable plastic bag. Add lamb and seal bag, pressing out air. Turn bag to coat lamb, then put bag in a shallow baking pan and marinate, chilled, turning bag over occasionally, at least 8 hours.

Bring lamb to room temperature, about 1 hour, before grilling.

Prepare grill for cooking over direct heat with medium-hot charcoal (moderate heat for gas).

Remove lamb from marinade (discard marinade) and run 3 or 4 skewers lengthwise through lamb about 2 inches apart. Grill on a lightly oiled grill rack, covered only if using gas grill, turning over occasionally and, if necessary, moving around on grill to avoid flare-ups, until thermometer registers 125 to 128°F, 8 to 14 minutes total for medium-rare.

Transfer lamb to a cutting board and remove skewers. Let lamb stand, loosely covered with foil, 20 minutes. (Internal temperature will rise to 135°F while meat stands.) Cut across the grain into slices.

Cooks’ Notes: If you aren’t able to grill outdoors, lamb can be cooked

in a hot lightly oiled well seasoned large (2-burner) ridged grill pan, uncovered, turning over once, 12 to 14 minutes per side. Lamb can

marinate up to 24 hours.

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The Seder Supper Ceremony

(Passover)

This is the script from the 2019 Seder Supper at United Protestant Church. There will be some things which will be different this year. No live klezmer band, but there is a link to a website with the same klezmer music played at the 2019 Seder Supper. Our choir will not be singing for you, but know that we did last year. The main thing is to enjoy the tradition and to make it yours.

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Klezmer Music https://wellingtonmusic.com/repertoire-for-weddings-corporate-events/jewish-wedding/

Shofar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb0A_cPlHlk

1. The context of the Passover Meal SCRIPTURE READER: Reading from the New Testament: “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.’ ...And they went, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:7-8,13-18).

LEADER: Welcome to our Passover Seder. Let us ready our hearts to celebrate and tell the story of deliverance, freedom, and redemption. Tradition teaches us that we must all consider ourselves as slaves in Egypt, that we must all consider ourselves to have walked in darkness, so that we might celebrate the deliverance in the Exodus as our own deliverance. It is in that spirit of community that we enter this Passover celebration.

COMMENTATOR: Long, long ago, the Passover celebration occurred in the Temple in Jerusalem. When the temple was destroyed, rabbis and teachers instructed people to celebrate the Passover in their homes. This meant cleaning the house really well, collecting different foods, and being ready to hear the story of how God brought deliverance and freedom to an enslaved people.

Tonight we are eating a Seder meal together. Seder means “order.” This meal has happened in a specific order for hundreds of years! Tonight we will hear ancient stories. We will taste odd combinations of foods. We will sing and dance. We will listen together to God’s work in history.

2. Lighting of the Festival Lights According to an ancient Jewish custom, it is the task of the mother to light the festival lights in every service which takes place in the Jewish home. For us as Christians, this gesture symbolizes the coming of Christ the Messiah, the Light of the World. In lighting these candles, we are also reminded of the candles lit upon the Communion table. And so let us begin our paschal meal with the lighting of the festival lights. Let us stand and have the Elder or Deacon pick someone at each table to light the candle as we receive the blessing.

LEADER: Barúch atáh Ádonai Elohéinu, Mélech ha-olám, ashér kidshánu be’mitzvo-táv, ve’tziváanu le’hadlíq ner shél yom tóv.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who made us holy through obligations, commanding us to light the holiday candles.

MOTHER: As we light the candles and welcome the glow of Passover into our lives, we pray that all those suffering around the world find light in the darkness. We pray that our experience tonight helps us to ignite the spark of justice within each of us. We pray that we have the strength to carry forth this light into the world, creating a beautiful and bold flame that inspires others to work by our sides to pursue freedom and justice for all people.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and commanded us to kindle the festival lights. Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this season. May our home be consecrated, O God, by the light of Thy countenance, shining upon us in blessing and bringing us peace. Amen.

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3. Kiddush, The Blessing of the Feast COMMENTATOR: Please be seated. Every food used in the Jewish Passover meal was blessed before it was eaten. We also do this when we celebrate Communion. The bread and wine, or juice, is consecrated and blessed by the pastor before the elements are distributed.

LEADER: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast chosen us above all people, and hast exalted us above all tongues, and hast hallowed us with Thy commandments. In love hast Thou given us, O Lord our God, seasons for gladness, holy days, and times for rejoicing, this day of the feast of the unleavened bread, the time of our freedom, an assembly day of holiness, a memorial to the exodus from Egypt. For Thou hast chosen us and hast sanctified us above all people, and Thou hast given us Thy sacred seasons for our inheritance. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who dost sanctify Israel and the festivals.

COMMENTATOR: Four times during the paschal meal the wine was poured. The act of distributing wine from a common pitcher to all present was a symbol of unity. The Elder or Deacon at each table may pour the first cup at this time for each person. (Pour it in the plastic cups on the tables.)

At the Last Supper, Christ passed this first cup of unconsecrated wine to His apostles saying: “Take and divide it among you: For I say to you, that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, till the kingdom of God comes.” (Luke 22:17,18). It was probably referring to the third cup of wine, the cup of blessing, to which Jesus said: “This is my blood poured out for you.”

LEADER: We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Baruh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Meleh ha-olam Borei p’ri ha-gafen.

Let us drink the first cup.

Then the server presents a basin, pitcher, and napkin to the leader.

COMMENTATOR: We will now prepare for the meal by the symbolic washing of hands. This represents the sacredness of this occasion, and the purity of heart and hands that we are called to exhibit as God’s people. The washing of hands during the paschal meal symbolized the interior cleansing necessary for those partaking in the ritual. Today, our hands can be vehicles for creation or destruction. We cleanse our hands and dedicate them to working for the good of the world.

It was probably at this point of the ritual that our Lord washed the feet of His disciples at the Last Supper as an expression of His new commandment of love and to show the dignity of service to others.

Leader washes his hands while saying the prayer below:

LEADER: We praise God, Ruler of everything, who made us holy through the commandments and has commanded us concerning the washing of hands.

COMMENTATOR: Next the green herbs were blessed as they were dipped into the salt water symbolic of the tears and sorrow from the Hebrews suffering as slaves in Egypt.

LEADER: Passover is a Springtime festival, the season of rebirth, renewal, and new life. The days are filled with more light than darkness. The earth is becoming green with new life.

The Leader takes a sprig of fresh Parsley and holds it up for the people to see. (Join me in your bulletin.)

Leader: This vegetable, called Karpas, represents life, created and sustained by the Lord our God. We are filled with joy at the goodness of God in loving us and caring for us, and bringing into our lives all good things.

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All: Set us as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If one offered all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned. [Song 8:6-7]

Leader: And yet as good as God intended life to be, it is often mixed with tears.

The Leader lifts up the bowl of salt water so all can see.

Leader: Tonight, we are not simply celebrating Springtime or love. We are celebrating the freedom and wonderful deliverance that God brought to us as slaves in Egypt. But we do not forget that life in Egypt was hard and filled with pain and suffering and tears. When we dip the karpas into the salt water, we see the tears of all who suffer injustice mingling with our hopes for life, rebirth, and new possibilities for justice. Let us never forget that the struggle for freedom begins in suffering, and that life is sometimes immersed in tears.

People: We praise God, Ruler of everything, who creates the fruit of the earth.

LEADER: Baruh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Meleh ha-olam Borei p’ri ha-adamah.

COMMENTATOR: Take a piece of the green herbs (the parsley on your plate) and dip it in the salt water and eat it at this time.

Unleavened bread was prescribed for the eight days of the Passover, to commemorate the first Passover; for in the flight from Egypt, there had been no time to make leaven bread. So the bread which our Lord used when He instituted the Eucharist was unleavened.

The first piece of matzah was broken in half, reflecting the deep brokenness in our world and our commitment to repair it. Half of it was hidden around the table by an adult so that the children didn’t know where it was. This is called the afikomen referring to merry-making and fun. It was to be eaten at the end of the meal as dessert.

So at this time, let the Elder or Deacon at each table pick someone who will have to hunt for this piece at the end of the meal. Generally it is the youngest person at your table. When you have decided who will find it, let that person close his or her eyes and the rest of the people at the table hide the half piece of matzah. (Pause for matzah to be hidden).

Later in the service this hidden piece of matzah will be shared, as in the days of old the Passover offering itself was shared at the paschal service in Jerusalem and later in the upper room with Jesus and his disciples. Among people everywhere, sharing of bread forms a bond of fellowship.

The Leader lifts up the half piece left and says:

LEADER: Ha lachma anya. This is the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Kol dichfin yeitei v’yeichol. Let all who hunger come and eat. Let us work toward a time when all who are hungry will eat as free people. Let all who are in want come and celebrate the Passover with us. May it be God’s will to redeem us from all evil and from all servitude.

The Leader puts the rest of the matzah back on the plate and recovers it.

4. The Haggadah, The Story of the Deliverance from Egypt COMMENTATOR: The second cup of wine, the cup of Haggadah, is poured. Let each Elder or Deacon at the tables do so now. (Pause). Now is the time where the story of the first Passover is retold, as commanded by God in the book of Exodus. This is part of the paschal meal. The youngest person present at the table asked the four traditional questions. At the Last Supper this was probably the disciple John. The youngest asks “why is this night different from all other nights? Why do we eat special foods?”

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YOUNGEST: Why do we eat matzah?

LEADER: We eat unleavened bread to remember that we, the children of Israel, in our haste to leave Egypt had to take our bread with us while it was still flat.

YOUNGEST: Why do we eat bitter herbs?

LEADER: We eat bitter herbs to remember how bitter it is to be enslaved.

YOUNGEST: Why do we dip them in salt water?

LEADER: The salt water represents our tears. By dipping them, we remember the tears of bondage.

YOUNGEST: Why do we celebrate the Passover?

LEADER: The Syrians pursued our fathers who went down into Egypt and sojourned there in a very small number, and grew into a nation great and strong and of an infinite multitude. And the Egyptians afflicted us and persecuted us, laying on us most grievous burdens. And we cried to the Lord God of our fathers, who heard us, and looked down upon our affliction and labor and distress. And He brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand, and a stretched out arm, with great terror, with signs and wonders. Therefore, even if all of us were wise and well-versed in the Torah, it would still be our duty from year to year to tell the story of our deliverance from Egypt. Indeed to dwell at length on it is accounted praiseworthy.

SCRIPTURE READER: Exodus 12:1-14 (The Message)

God said to Moses and Aaron while still in Egypt, “This month is to be the first month of the year for you. Address the whole community of Israel; tell them that on the tenth of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one lamb to a house. If the family is too small for a lamb, then share it with a close neighbor, depending on the number of persons involved. Be mindful of how much each person will eat. Your lamb must be a healthy male, one year old; you can select it from either the sheep or the goats. Keep it penned until the fourteenth day of this month and then slaughter it - the entire community of Israel will do this - at dusk. Then take some of the blood and smear it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which you will eat it. You are to eat the meat, roasted in the fire, that night, along with bread, made without yeast, and bitter herbs. Don't eat any of it raw or boiled in water; make sure it's roasted - the whole animal, head, legs, and innards. Don't leave any of it until morning; if there are leftovers, burn them in the fire. “And here is how you are to eat it: Be fully dressed with your sandals on and your stick in your hand. Eat in a hurry; it's the Passover to God. “I will go through the land of Egypt on this night and strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, whether human or animal, and bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am God. The blood will serve as a sign on the houses where you live. When I see the blood I will pass over you - no disaster will touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. “This will be a memorial day for you; you will celebrate it as a festival to God down through the generations, a fixed festival celebration to be observed always.”

The Leader takes the second cup of wine and holds it.

LEADER: In a moment we will drink the second cup, the cup of deliverance, and we will celebrate in joy God’s deliverance from slavery. A full cup is a symbol of joy. Yet our joy is diminished because the Egyptians, who are also God’s children, suffered from Pharaoh’s evil ways. Lives were sacrificed to bring about the release of God’s people from the slavery of Egypt, and we do not rejoice at the death of any of God’s children. As we recount the plagues, we will spill a drop of wine from our cups for each plague to recall the cost of sin, and the consequences of evil in our world.

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COMMENTATOR: Now let us all take the second cup and hold it. Please do not drink from the second cup yet. Using your finger or a spoon, place a single drop of the grape juice onto your plate as each plague is recited. Traditionally, a finger is used to symbolize the finger of God’s judgment on sin.

LEADER:

Blood. We comfort and mourn for those whose blood has been spilled.

Frogs. We protest the proliferation of violence.

Lice. We stop infestations of hatred and fear.

Wild Animals. We appeal to all people to act with humanity.

Pestilence. We overcome the sickness of racism and bigotry.

Boils. We tend to those who suffer from disease.

Hail. We respond to storms and disasters that claim lives.

Locusts. We fill the air with voices for change.

Darkness. We bring light to those who live in the shadows.

Death of the First Born. We inspire the next generation to carry on the struggle for a better world.

COMMENTATOR: As innocent people suffered and died long ago because of the oppression of tyrants, so people today still suffer from evil in the world. Our newspapers are filled with accounts of ethnic cleansing and bombings. We cannot celebrate God’s deliverance for ourselves without longing that all God’s children experience freedom from their bondage. So, we will spill another drop from our cups to recall the cost of evil in our world today. Let us all place this drop of grape juice on our plates. And let us offer a prayer for peace and for God’s work of reconciliation in our world. Let us pray this together:

All: Lord God of peace, hear our prayer! We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried. But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Amen.

MOTHER: Pharaoh continued to refuse to let the people go until the last plague, the death of the firstborn of all of Egypt, convinced him to release the people. By following God’s instructions and putting the blood of a lamb on the door posts of the houses, the Israelites were spared this plague as death “Passed Over” their houses.

The Paschal Lamb is brought in and placed before the Leader at the head table.

COMMENTATOR: To make clear how the deliverance from Egypt is symbolized in the paschal supper, the Leader lifts each of the ceremonial foods in turn to explain their significance. This was the high point of the meal for the Jews of old; it is likewise a high point for us the new Israelites. For the lamb was the subject of ritual requirements which are full of prophetic significance: it must be a male, unblemished; it was roasted on a cross-like spit, one branch penetrating its length, the other separating the front feet; and no bone of it could be broken. To us as Christians, Jesus is the sacrificed lamb.

As the Leader lifts the Paschal Lamb, the Youngest asks:

YOUNGEST: What is the meaning of Pesach?

LEADER: Pesach means the paschal lamb which our ancestors sacrificed to the Lord in memory of that night when the Holy One passed over the houses of our ancestors in Egypt, as it is written: “When your children shall say to you: ‘What is the meaning of this service?’ You shall say to them: ‘It is the victim of the passage of the Lord, when He passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, striking the Egyptians, and saving our houses.’” (Exodus 12:26,27). The lamb was slain so that we might live!

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SCRIPTURE READER: John the Baptist proclaimed, upon seeing Jesus: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Peter wrote: “You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things, such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. Through Him you have confidence in God.” (John 1:29 & I Peter 1:18-21).

The Leader uncovers the unleavened bread and holds it up. The Youngest asks:

YOUNGEST: What is the meaning of matzah?

LEADER: This is the bread of affliction which our ancestors took with them out of Egypt as it is written: “And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any provisions.” (Exodus 12:39).

The Leader lifts up the bitter herbs [horseradish] while the Youngest asks:

YOUNGEST: What is the meaning of maror?

LEADER: Maror means bitter herb. We eat maror to recall that the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors, as it is written: “The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites, and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them.” (Exodus 1:13,14). If the bitter herbs or horseradish brings tears to our eyes, so much the better. To be in bondage is a terrible and bitter thing.

The Leader lifts up the date/apricot/nut mixture while the Youngest asks:

YOUNGEST: What is the meaning of haroses?

LEADER: The sweet haroses is a reminder of the taste of freedom. It also is sticky, in order to remind us of the mortar which the slaves used to lay bricks.

5. Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Deliverance from Egypt COMMENTATOR:

The Hallel, or prayer of gratitude for the deliverance from Egypt was like a hymn of joyful praise. Hallel, our English Hallelujah, means literally: “Praise ye the Lord!” Let us sing this prayer of gratitude, the Hallel Psalm, by joining together in song. The words are printed in the bulletin.

The song is sung as people stay seated.

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah, Praise Ye The Lord! Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah, Praise Ye The Lord! Praise Ye The Lord, Hallelujah, Praise Ye The Lord, Hallelujah, Praise Ye The Lord, Hallelujah, Praise Ye The Lord!

After the song the Leader lifts up the cup of wine saying:

LEADER: In every generation each one ought to regard himself or herself as though they have personally come out of Egypt, as it is written: “And thou shalt tell thy son and daughter in that day, saying: ‘This is what the Lord did to me when I came forth out of Egypt.’” (Ex. 13:8). Therefore it is our duty to thank, praise, laud, glorify, extol, bless, exalt, and adore Him who did all of these miracles for our ancestors and for ourselves. He has brought us forth from slavery to freedom, from sorrow to joy, from mourning to festive day, from darkness to a great light, and from subjection to redemption.

We hear the message of God’s great deeds; God’s wisdom has spoken to the people.

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The Leader replaces the cup of wine on the table.

COMMENTATOR: This second Hallel song tells of God’s wisdom spoken to the people. All who have ears must open them. We open our hearts because God has come to us. Please join the choir in the refrain or come and dance in a line dance

Choir “Open Your Ears, O Faithful People” arr. Robert Hobby

Refrain sung twice:

God has spoken to the people, Hallelujah! xxxx (claps) God has spoken words of wisdom, hallelujah! xxxx

Choir “Dodi Li” arr. Doreen Rao

Refrain sung twice:

Do-di li va-a-ni lo Ha-ro-e Ba-sho-sha-nim.

(My beloved is mine and I am his, the shepherd grazing his flock among the lilies.)

Translation: My beloved is mine and I am his, the shepherd grazing his flock among the lilies. Who is this who goes up from the wilderness perfumed with myrrh and frankincense? My beloved is mine and I am his, the shepherd grazing his flock among the lilies. You have captivated my heart, my chosen sister and bride. My beloved is mine and I am his, the shepherd grazing his flock among the lilies. Awake North Wind and come South Wind. My beloved is mine and I am his, the shepherd grazing his flock among the lilies. (Song of Solomon, 2:16, 3:6, 4:9)

COMMENTATOR: This last Hallel song we sing at this paschal meal says that we will never forget the Lord, never forsake Him because of all the wonderful things he has done for us. Let us sing this Hallel song as we stay seated.

Listen, Listen, Listen to my heart song. Listen, Listen, Listen to my heart song. I will never forget you, I will never forsake you, I will never forget you, I will never forsake you.

After the song, all are to be seated.

6. The Solemn Blessing of the Food (the Mishpat) COMMENTATOR: Now are blessed the unleavened bread and the bitter herbs and the haroses again. They are symbols of the slavery in Egypt from which God freed the Jewish people.

The Leader takes the cup, lifts it and says:

LEADER: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast redeemed our ancestors from Egypt, and hast permitted us to live unto this night, to partake on it of the unleavened bread and the bitter herbs. So may the Lord our God and the God of our ancestors, permit us to live unto other festive seasons and holy days. May Thy will be done through Jacob, Thy chosen servant, so that Thy name shall be sanctified in the midst of all the earth, and that all peoples be moved to worship Thee with one accord. And we shall sing new songs of praise unto Thee, for our redemption and for the deliverance of our souls. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Who dost redeem Israel.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Baruh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Meleh ha-olam borei p’ri ha-gafen.

Let us drink the second cup.

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The Leader takes the matzah and lifts it while saying:

LEADER: We praise God, Ruler of everything, who creates the fruit of the earth.

Baruh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Meleh ha-olam Borei p’ri ha-adamah.

COMMENTATOR: As in the case of the wine shared from a common pitcher, the matzah was one single piece distributed to all present. This signified unity. “For we, being many, are one bread, one body, all that partake of one bread,” says Paul in First Corinthians. For the householder during the Passover meal to dip a piece of bread in haroses and give it to one of the guests was a customary token of affection. This lends special poignancy to the act of Christ in dipping a piece of bread and handing it to Judas: it was a last loving appeal to him, but as the Gospel tells us: “He therefore having received the morsel went out immediately.” (John 13:30).

So let the Elder or Deacon at each table break off a piece of matzah for each person to dip in their haroses as we hear the blessing.

LEADER: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and hast commanded us concerning the eating of unleavened bread.

All eat the matzah.

LEADER: Let us combine the unleavened bread and the bitter herbs and eat them together, as it is written: “With unleavened bread and with bitter herbs, they shall eat it.”

COMMENTATOR: Again let the Elder or Deacon at each table break the matzah in small pieces and give to each person two pieces this time so that they can place some bitter herbs and some haroses between the two pieces of matzah. This sandwich represents the brick and mortar the Israelites had to make while they were slaves in Egypt. The bitter herbs represent the embittered life there. Let us eat this sandwich as we hear the blessing.

LEADER: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and hast commanded us concerning the eating of bitter herbs.

7. The Paschal Supper Takes Place LEADER: Let us now join together in the eating of our Paschal Meal.

COMMENTATOR: Let the Elder or Deacon invite one person from each table to be the runner and go get the dishes for their table. The food is in the narthex.

The main portion of the meal is served at this time.

The Klezmer Strings play & Dancing begins!

Give special recognition to all those who deserve it and thank the guests for coming. Remind everyone that after the dinner we have to put all the pews back tonight. We will appreciate help.

8. Drinking of the Third Cup (Cup of Blessing)

COMMENTATOR: When the meal was finished, the afikomen was brought forth. It was up to the children to find it. It was the custom to conclude the Passover meal with this piece of unleavened bread. It was probably at this moment that Christ took bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to his disciples. Let the person designated to find the afikomen do so now. When the person finds it, take it to the Elder or Deacon at your table and they will have to give you a ransom, a prize in order to get it back. Don’t let the Elder or Deacon have the afikomen unless you get a prize!

When the Elder or Deacon at each table has the afikomen, break it up and give everyone a piece to hold.

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LEADER: On the night of the Last Supper when Jesus was betrayed, He took bread and after giving thanks: Baruh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Meleh ha-olam borei p’ri ha-adamah, he broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: “Take, eat, this is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

All eat the bread.

COMMENTATOR: The Apostle Paul refers to the third cup of wine, the cup of blessing, when he asks: “The chalice of benediction which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?” (I Corinthians 10:16). Let the Elder or Deacon pour the third cup of blessing for all at this time.

LEADER: And the Lord took also the cup after supper and after He gave thanks: Baruh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Meleh ha-olam borei p’ri ha-gafen, he gave it to his disciples saying: “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins. Drink ye all of it.”

All drink the cup of blessing.

9. The Departure

COMMENTATOR: At the end of the Passover meal one cup was poured at the table. This fourth cup was known as the cup of Elijah. Elijah the prophet challenged the injustice of the king and overthrew the worship of Baal. He healed the humble sick and helped the widowed. As to the end of his days on earth, his disciple Elisha had a vision of Elijah being carried to the skies in a chariot of fire. This man of mystery became associated with the End of Days, with the Messianic hopes of our people. The prophet Malachi promised that Elijah would come to turn the hearts of parents to children, and the hearts of children to parents, and to announce the coming of the Messiah when all humanity would celebrate freedom. Hence, the cup of Elijah has a place in every Seder. We open the door that he may enter, and set a cup of wine to represent the final Messianic promise that Christ will come again.

The Leader pours the fourth cup of wine, the Elijah Cup and gives it to the Youngest to place by the door. The Youngest then opens the door and yells “Elijah! Elijah!”

COMMENTATOR: The fourth cup at the Passover meal was left untasted. As Christians who have received the Messiah we could taste the cup of Elijah but we too are waiting. We are waiting for the return of our Lord. Come Lord Jesus, come.

10. The Closing Anthem

COMMENTATOR: After the disciples sang a hymn together they left for the Mount of Olives to a place called Gethsemane. It was there that Jesus was betrayed and arrested. He was brought before Pilate and Pilate gave him over to the crowds to crucify him. Jesus was led away to the cross and crucified. The light of the world was taken away. Darkness came. After Jesus died, he was laid in a tomb.

11. The Final Blessing

LEADER: (Asks all to rise). The Seder service now concludes. Its rites observed in full, its purposes revealed. This privilege we share will ever be renewed. Until God’s plan is known in full, his highest blessing sealed.

Shofar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dkEe3ph_bU