The Open Source Haggadah

The lamb bone and the roasted egg are only to be displayed. The other foods are to be both displayed and eaten. Festival candles should also be placed on the table. Flowers add to the beauty.

As for the reading of the Haggadah, guests will read the parts in clockwise alternation, starting with the host and proceeding to his left.

HOST:
Boruch HaBa! WELCOME!
Our feast of Passover is here. About this holiday, it is written: "And thou shalt tell thy child in that day, saying: It is because of that which was done...when I came forth out of Egypt." We gather together tonight as a family of families to remember the bondage of our ancestors, so that we, as sons and daughters, may be inspired to cherish the freedom we now have, to recognize the bondage of those who are not yet free, and to encourage our daughters and sons to help in the struggle to free all men and women. On these evenings, the bond of love and family reaches out from our homes - as from this gathering - to unite us with all Jews in remembering and in hope.

We are an old people; our history reaches back over 4000 years. In that history, our forebears have seen bondage and freedom, trial and triumph, high achievements and terrible disasters; today, too, as we recline in the luxury of our freedom, let us not forget how deeply our brothers and sisters in other places yearn for the simple necessity of release from their bondage.

ALL:
Without knowledge of our past, we cannot see our future.
Without memory, we have no present.
Without knowing what is flawed, how can we know what is whole?


CANDLELIGHTING
(Momentarily subdue the lights in the room for maximum effectiveness)


READER:
The light of Passover is the light of freedom; the hope of passover is the hope of freedom. Our ancestors suffered in the darkness of slavery and dreamed of their liberty; some of our brothers and sisters must yet do the same. In the flame of the Passover candle we celebrate the light of freedom, the light that gives life.

BORUCH ATTO ADONAI ELOHENU MELECH HO'OLOM ASHER KIDD'SHONU B'MITSVOSOV V'TZIVONU L'HADLIK NER SHEL YOM TOV.

BORUCH ATTO ADONAI ELOHENU MELECH HO'OLOM SHEHEHEYONU V'KIY'MONU V'HIGIONU LAZMAN HAZZEH.

Feminine form:
Berukhah aht shekhinati, malkhat ha-olam, asher kedushataynu, be-mitzvotaynu, ve-tzivataynu le-hadik ner shel yom tov.

Berukhah aht, shekhinati, malkhat ha-olam, scheth-hechiyatainu, ve-kivatenu, ve-higeyatanu, la-azman ha-zeh.

Searching for Leaven On the evening following the thirteenth of Nisan (if the first day of Passover falls on Sunday, on the evening following the twelfth of Nisan), after evening service, the head of the household searches for leaven throughout the house. Customarily, a few pieces of bread are left about on purpose, so that the search for leaven is fruitful. Otherwise, the blessing before the ceremony would be pointless.

Before the ceremony of searching for leaven begins, light a candle and recite the following prayer:

Bless you, Lord our God, ruler of the universe,
Who gave us meaning, the commandments,
And commanded us to remove the leaven.

Search for the leaven. Wrap any leaven that is found, and store it away until the next morning.

After the leaven has been gathered and wrapped securely, say the following:

Any leaven that may still be in the house,
Which I have not seen or have not removed,
Shall be as if it does not exist, and as the dust of the earth.


On the fourteenth of Nisan (if the first day of Passover falls on Sunday, on the thirteenth of Nisan), about ten o'clock in the morning all the leaven that has remained in the house, together with all that collected during the search the night before, is burned.

At the burning of the leaven, recite:
Any leaven that may still be in the house,
Which I have or have not seen, which I have or have not removed,
Shall be as if it does not exist, and as the dust of the earth.


Mixing of Foods

When Passover falls on a Friday, in order that it may be permissible to cook on that day for Saturday (one is otherwise permitted to cook on a holiday for that day alone), the head of the household must perform the ritual of 'Eruv Tavshilin' before the festival.

Take some matzoh and some other food, such as fish or meat, put them on a plate, raise it, and recite:
Bless you, Lord our God, ruler of the universe,
Who gave us meaning, the commandments, and commanded us concerning the eruv.
With this eruv we will be permitted to bake, cook, and to keep the food warm,
To light the candles, and to prepare all necessary things on the festival for the Sabbath.
This will be permitted to us and to all Jews living in this city.


The Preparation of the Table

Three plates are set on the table. In one, put three matzohs; in the second, place a shank bone and a roasted egg, some horseradish (maror, bitter herbs), some celery or parsley sprigs (karpas), and the mixture of nuts, fruit and wine called haroseth; the third plate holds vinegar or brine.

At the beginning of the night of the 14th of Nissan (the day before Passover) the house needs be checked for Chametz. No other work is permitted before the bedika -- not even to study or eat.

If one usually prays with a minyan (congregation of at least ten) in the synagogue, he should pray before the bedika; otherwise he should perform the bedika first.

It is custumary to check for Chametz to the light of a wax candle, and someone else places ten pieces of bread where it would later be found by the person performing the bedika.

Anywhere Chametz is used during the year requires checking. All rooms need to be sweeped and washed before checking.

Candles are lit before sunset. Traditionally at least two candles are lit, although some families light one for each family member, and at some seders every woman past Bat Mitvah age lights two candles.

When the seder is not on Friday night the candles are lit and the prayer is said without covering the eyes. It is followed by the Shehecheyanu prayer. Following candle lighting the children are blessed.

Leader: Blessed are you who come in God’s protective presence

All: On this evening we gather around Seder tables remembering our journey from slavery to freedom.

L: On this evening we journey from now to then, telling the story of our people’s birth.

A: On this evening we retrace our steps from then to now, reclaiming years of desert wandering.

L: On this evening we ask questions, ancient and new, speaking of servitude and freedom, service and joy.

A: On this evening we welcome each soul, sharing stories of courage, strength and faith.

L: On this evening we open doors long closed, lifting our voices in songs of praise.

A: On this evening we renew ancient hopes and dream of a future redeemed.

HADLIKAT NEROT

Leader: We welcome the festival of Pesach as darkness descends. As we kindle these lights, we remember that our ancestors discovered freedom in the midst of that dark, final evening in Egypt. Let the candles we now light be a reflection of the light that shines within each one of us and let that light radiate throughout our home. We praise the Source of Light that keeps the hope of freedom alive amidst the darkness of oppression.

Reader: May the light of the candles we kindle together tonight bring radiance to all who still live in darkness. May this season, marking the deliverance of our people from Pharaoh, rouse us against anyone who keeps others in servitude. In gratitude for the freedom we enjoy, may we strive to bring about our own liberation and the liberation of all people everywhere. Lighting these candles, we create the sacred space of the Festival of Freedom; we sanctify the coming-together of our community.

Light the candles

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav, l’hadlik ner shel (Shabbat v’shel) Yom Tov.

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, sheheceyanu, v’kiyamanu, v’higianu, laz’manhazeh.