Pesach. (Pass over) Seder. (Order) Haggadah. (Telling of the Story)

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1 Website: Sponsored by: Vancouver Seventh-day Adventist Community Church Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Meeting at: Vancouver Seventh-day Adventist Community Church Fireside Room 9711 NE St. Johns Rd. Vancouver, WA Pesach (Pass over) Seder (Order) Haggadah (Telling of the Story)

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3 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the Lord you God, for in the month of Abib the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night. Deuteronomy 16:1 (NKJ) W hy Celebrate Passover? We are gather this evening to observe and remember Pesach or Passover, God s deliverance of His people. God delivered Israel from the bondage of slavery and he commanded us to observe this holiday (Exodus 12:14-17). We are not to celebrate in vain, but to give thanks to Him and to recognize an even greater Passover and deliverance. Through the death of the foretold Messiah, we too will be passed over from death and released from the bondage of sin. Passover is a fundamental symbol of redemption and is one of the oldest, continuously observed festival of any nation of people on earth.

4 Welcome to the Haggadah, which means the Telling. The Telling and everything else tonight is done in a special order or Seder. Reader 1 There can be a great deal of variety in how Passover is observed and so it should not be seen as a rigidly structured ritual even though its basic elements and order have remained unchanged for thousands of years. This blend of tradition and innovation resulting from the Holy Spirit helping us to behold wondrous things out of God s Law (Torah), delightfully serves the purpose of this celebration which is to tell the wondrous story of God s redeeming love and grace revealed in history. God has designed this remembrance as a way to bring the past into the present and beyond to the ultimate fulfillment in the Kingdom of God. The Seder utilizes all the senses involves everyone, young and old, in the telling of our salvation history. Such a meal we are having today. All: Next Year in the New Jerusalem! Opening Prayer

5 own agendas before we bind ourselves down to His. Let Pharaoh be a warning to us. Leader 1: Everyone fill your cup. Together let us accept His proposal to be joined to Him for all eternity as we raise our cups and our voices and bless the LORD together. Cantor: Bah-rooch ah-tah Ah-doh-nai, Eh-lo-hey-noo meh-lech haoh-lahm, boh-ray p ree ha-gah-fen. A-men All: Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us. (Isa. 26: 12) (Drink the fourth cup.) NIRTZAH/CLOSING Leader 1: Our Seder is almost done. Together we have relaxed, drunk the fruit of the vine, asked questions, told stories, had visitors from a different time to give as a new look at what really happened back in that day. David: We want to take a moment to thank all of you for coming but we also want to thank those who made this possible. Every year we enjoy spending time with you and re-living the story of redemption, for it was not only in that time that God redeemed us, but even so more today. Closing Prayer Leader 1: To end our celebration, let us say aloud, all together, as believers have done all over the world for thousands of years: Reader 2 The book we are using tonight is called a Haggadah which simply means Telling of the Story. You may have noticed on the first page the order of the Passover Seder. This is the traditional way in which Passover is observed by as was mentioned there can be a great deal of variety. Tonight we will be hearing the story in a different manner and so I hope that each of you enjoy our Passover Celebration Reader 1 We begin our SEDER with the traditional prayer/ blessing. You see it on the screen and in your booklets. Let us recite it all together: Blessed are you Lord, our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. Blessed are you Lord, our God, King of the universe, who has chosen us from all people and exalted us from every language and sanctified us by his commandments. And you have given us in love, Lord our God, Sabbaths for rest, appointed times for joy, festivals and seasons for gladness. This Sabbath and feast of unleavened bread, the season of our liberty, a holy convocation, the commemoration of the exodus from Egypt. For us you have chosen, and us you have sanctified from all the peoples. The Shabbat and appointed times of your holiness with love and favor, with joy and gladness you have bequeathed us. Blessed are you Lord, our God, King of the universe, who sanctifies the Shabbat, Israel, and seasons. Blessed are you Lord, our God, King of the universe, who has made us alive and sustained us and brought us to this time.

6 Reader 2: To begin, we need a man and a woman at each table to act as the mother and father of that table. We will do it this way to reflect the fact that Passover is really a family observance normally conducted at home by the mother and father. Mothers, you will light the candles when instructed, while you fathers will hold up or point out the Passover elements as they are mentioned by the readers. Because of time constraints the text in the boxes are additional thoughts or information for your consideration. We may draw your attention to them from time to time. Passover is the most important Jewish festival because it celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Eqyptian domination and oppression which resulted in their national and religious independence. To this day, the Jews celebrate Passover as the Feast of Redemption. All other observances of the Jewish calendar revolve around this important historical event. Even the Sabbath is a reminder that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out thence with a mighty hand an outstretched arm (Deut. 5:15). In a sense, the Sabbath celebrates on a smaller scale the Feast of Redemption which is celebrated at Passover on a larger scale. Passover has not only a historic meaning but also has prophetic significance since it fulfills the promise God made to Abraham. He said: Know of a surety that your descendants will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and will be slaves there, and they will be oppressed for four hundred years; but I will bring judgment on the nation which they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possession s. (Gen 15:13 14). In this light, Passover is a remarkable typological feast which celebrates the past fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant at the Exodus, and yet it points to the future fulfillment of the Messianic ingathering of all the nations. This meaning was intended from the first, not only in reference to Passover, but to all the feasts. The whole design of the Old Testament gives a picture of the types and antitypes and the remarkable story of redemption. Praise the Lord! T he 4th Cup The Cup of Praise and Redemption Leader 2: We have come to the fourth and last cup we will drink tonight. This fourth cup the cup of praise is also known as the cup of the kingdom because of what our Savior said: All: I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. (Luke 22: 18) Leader 1: The symbolism of this cup is important. It is the LORD s proposal to you. We have already seen how everyone enjoys the benefits of the third cup the sacrifice of Christ. But the full benefits of His work, the work of shaping you as a living stone to be added to the Father s house (see Eph. 2: 19-22), can only be for those who accept His invitation. All: See, I have prepared my dinner...come to the wedding. And the Spirit and bride say, Come!...Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Matt. 22: 4; Rev. 22: 17) Leader 2: Are you willing to put on the spiritual veil, the Life that makes you unrecognizable to the world? Are you willing to submit your agenda to His and wait for Him? He is presenting you with this cup. He has made His proposal: All: I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14: 3, 4) Let us not think that we will have time to enjoy our lives in this world and enjoy our

7 Praising God Hallel Leader 1: Hallel is the song of praise and celebration for the Israelites deliverance. Like Miriam and all the Israelite women who sang with timbrels and danced, we also lift our voices in joy and gratitude. All: Sing ye to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea. Leader 2: The formal Hallel is composed of Psalms 113 through Psalms 118. Tonight as we draw to the end of our Seder, let us read together Psalms 113: All: Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord From this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord s name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in the heavens and in the earth? He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, That He may seat him with princes With the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of children. W e Light the Festival Candles Sha-mor (observe) and Za-chor (remember) Deut. 5: 12, 15 Reader 1: The Seder continues with the mother lighting the Passover candles, just as she lights the candles at the beginning of Sabbath to remind us that God and His Word are light. One candle is lit in remembrance of the power of creation. The other is lit in remembrance of the power displayed in our redemption from bondage: All: And thou shalt remember that thou was a servant in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day. (Deut. 5: 15) Mother #1: We also light the Shabbat candles in honor of the two commands: Zakhor (remember) and Shamor (observe). We circle our hands inward three times symbolically recognizing our need for all the light God wants to give us, and His existence as three-in-one. We cover our eyes the last time in reverence for the privilege of approaching the throne of grace. Mothers, let us light our candles. I will recite the prayer in Hebrew. Then join me in saying the prayer in English. Baruch ata Adonai, Elohainu melech haolam, asher kidshanu b mitzvotav, u v dam Yeshua hamashiach, v tzivanu l h yot ore l goyim v natan lanu Yeshua Mi-shacha-nu or ha-olam. Mothers: Blessed are you, oh LORD our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us by your commandments and the blood of Messiah Jesus, and commanded us to be a light for the nations, and gave us Jesus our Messiah, the light of the world...

8 W e Drink THE FIRST OF FOUR CUPS The Cup of Redemption I will redeem you with an outstretched hand. Ex. 6:6 JPS T he Third Cup Reader 1: Traditionally four cups from the fruit of the vine are consumed at different points during the Seder twice before dinner and twice after dinner. These four cups are based upon four I will promises in God s redemptive covenant to Israel found in Exodus 6: 5-7, and represent the four steps in the plan of salvation typified in the Exodus: I have remembered My covenant. Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am the Lord; 1) Cup of Sanctification I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians; 2) Cup of Deliverance (or plagues) I will rescue you from your bondage; 3) Cup of Redemption (or Blessing) I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 4) Cup of Acceptance (or Praise) I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. In addition to retelling of the exodus from Egypt, we do it in remembrance of Jesus, the source of our redemption, past, present, and future. All: Tonight we drink these four cups to celebrate the four I will promises, which make us His chosen redeemed people. Reader 1: Everyone pour a little juice into your glass for the first cup. Raise it in the right hand, but do not drink it yet. Those who know the Hebraic blessing join us in singing the blessing. Leader 1: Before we consider the cup of redemption, let us say the Barech the grace that follows the meal. All: Blessed are You Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who provides food for the world. Your kindness lasts forever. For you are God who feeds and cares for everyone, and does good for all that You created. Leader 2: We will now fill our cups a third time. (Everyone pours third cup) Leader 1: In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, All: This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord s death till He comes. Leader 2: Let us bless the LORD for the unity that is ours through the blood of Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Cantor: Bah-rooch ah-tah Ah-doh-nai, Eh-lo-hey-noo meh-lech haoh-lahm, boh-ray p ree ha-gah-fen. A-men All: Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine, and giver of the blood of the new covenant which is able to make us one in Him.

9 T he Afikomen / Tzafun Leader 1: The afikomen must be found (by the children) and returned to the father for a reward. The reward is a symbol of the fact that Jesus purchased our Redemption at the price of His own life. In a traditional Seder, if the afikomen is not found, the Seder cannot continue. Give out rewards to all of the children. Leader 2: We will now eat the afikomen, the dessert. The taste of the afikomen should linger in our mouths. It is about the afikomen that Jesus said, This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19) The Passover can not be completed without the afikomen, nor can our redemption be complete without Jesus, the Bread of Life, our Messiah! Fathers if you would now give everyone a small piece of the afikomen and then let us together say the blessing over the bread. Cantor: Bah-rooch ah-tah Ah-doh-nai, Eh-loh-hey-noo meh-lech haoh-lahm, ha-motzi lechem min ha ah-retz. A-men. All: Blessed are you, O LORD our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Cantor: Bah-rooch ah-tah Ah-doh-nai, Eh-lo-hey-noo meh-lech ha-oh-lahm, boh-ray p ree ha-gah-fen. A-men All: Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Amen. (Drink the first cup.) The reference to four cups can be found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God. After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. (Lk 22:14 18) Jesus kept the Passover every year of His life starting as a child as is recorded in Luke 2:41 43 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. Matthew 5:17 20 Jesus states, Do not think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Torah until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Torah, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

10 U rchatz (Washing) Reader 2 The earth is the Lord s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Psalm 24:1 6 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded...then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, Lord, are You washing my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this. Peter said to Him, You shall never wash my feet! Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me. Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head! Jesus said to him, He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean. John 13:3 10 All: Blessed are you, O LORD our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctifies us with commandments and commands us to eat matzah. Bitter Herbs / Maror Leader 2: The maror (bitter herbs) give a taste of what the Israelites suffered in slavery. The charoset looks like the mortar and mud they used to make the heavy bricks for Pharaoh s cities (but it tastes much better). So now let us take a piece of matzah and try it with maror if you are brave enough, and then try it with maror and the charoset. Sandwich / Korekh Leader 1: Rabbi Hillel who we talked about earlier put maror between two pieces of matzah and invented the Hillel sandwich. You can add a piece of lettuce for compassion to your sandwich! Festive Meal / Shulchan Orekh Leader 1: This completes this part of the Seder. We will now eat the main Passover meal, after which the children will find the real dessert the afikomen. Let s bow our heads as we bless the LORD for His supper. (Please remain seated. You will be dismissed by tables. You may have noticed that the tables are all decorated differently. They represent the 10 Plagues and tonight we are going to be dismissed in the order that the plagues happened!)

11 Leader 1: That s the end of our story, but not the end of the Seder. It s time for more blessings and rituals before we get to our festive meal. Think of them as Passover appetizers. So now let us take up that second cup of juice and say the blessing. Cantor: Bah-rooch ah-tah Ah-doh-nai, Eh-lo-hey-noo meh-lech ha-oh-lahm, boh-ray p ree ha-gah-fen. A-men All: Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine, and giver of the blood of the new covenant which is able to make us one in Him. The cup of wrath you drank on our behalf has become to us our cup of deliverance. (Drink the 2nd cup.) Leader 1: When our Israelites fled Egypt, they couldn t wait for their bread to rise and then bake it in ovens. They threw flat, unleavened dough on a pan over an open fire and made the original fast food that we call matzah. Fathers, break the half of the Afikomen, which you placed into the matzatosh, into pieces and pass them around to everyone. Unlike all other nights we make two blessings before eating the matzah. Blessing for Matzah Cantor: Bah-rooch ah-tah Ah-doh-nai, Eh-loh-hey-noo meh-lech haoh-lahm, ha-motzi lechem min ha ah-retz. A-men. All: Blessed are you, O LORD our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Leader 1: And the second blessing is just slightly different. Cantor: Bah-rooch ah-tah Ah-doh-nai, Eh-loh-hey-noo meh-lech haoh-lahm, asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav ve-tzivanu al akhilat matzah. Reader 1 Now you may have noticed if you looked at The Order of the Passover Seder that there are two places in the Seder that the hands are washed. We will only be doing the first hand washing, and while the second washing was utilized at the time of Jesus, there is a Biblical reason that we drop the second washing. The first washing is done with a bowl and a cloth, the second is typically done with a pitcher of water and a special prayer is recited. This first washing is for our Sanctification and tonight we will be using the pitchers of water for ease of washing our hands. Our LORD added the washing of feet to the Passover Seder. Because of time constraints, we will not include the washing of feet tonight. We wash our hands as a token of our desire to live a clean life of acceptable service to our God. Fathers, please take the basin and towel. Mothers please take a pitcher of water. Go around the table so that each person may wash their hands over the basin. Our goal is not cleanliness. Rather, it is a sense of preparation. Washing our hands symbolizes our desire to make our spirit clean and ready. As we wash, let us renew our commitment to God to have clean hands and a clean heart. Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? He answered and said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do. Mark 7:1 8

12 K arpas and Salt Water distresses. Ps. 107: 6. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their Reader 2: (Lift up the Karpas.) Passover is in the first month of God s calendar when He causes the earth to spring forth in newness of life. The karpas reminds us that God is the Creator and Sustainer of life. (Lift up the salt water.) But the salt water reminds us of the tears of affliction during our former bondage in Egypt (the world). Yet, even in the midst of God s saving grace, our new life with Him is sometimes immersed in tears. The salt water also reminds us that our Savior was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isa. 53: 3) who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear (Heb. 5: 7) It points to the time of Jacob s trouble. Let us take the karpas and dip it into the salt water twice. As we do this, remember the tears of our bondage. And let us also remember the tears that Jesus shed over Jerusalem. He saw the city and wept over it saying: All: If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for your peace! But now they have been hidden from your Leader 1: If He had only led us through the wilderness and not given us His Shabbat (Sabbath), it would have been enough. Leader 1: If He had only given us His Shabbat and not given us His Torah, it would have been enough. Leader 1: If He had only given us Torah and not brought us into the Promised Land, it would have been enough. Leader 1: If He had only built for us the Temple but not come to dwell within us, it would have been enough. Leader 1: But blessed be the LORD our God, Adonai Elohainu! He has done all of these things for us and more! All: The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation; He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father s God, and I will exalt Him. (Ex. 15: 2) Leader 1: Well I know that you are all starting to get hungry but I just heard that our former guests from the past are back, so why don t we listen in. Passover A Retelling of the Story Act 2 Scene 3 We are back in the Pharaoh s Throne room and Moses and Aaron are once again walking in to see the Pharaoh.

13 Leader 1: It is a tradition to tap on the table while singing it. For example, when I say, If he had only delivered us from Eqypt, it would have been enough, then you sing, Cantor: Dai Dai-ye-nu, Dai Dai-ye-nu, Dai Dai-ye-nu, Dai-yenu. Dayeinu Leader 1: If the LORD had only brought us out from Egypt and not executed judgment against them, it would have been enough. eyes. (Luke 19: 41, 42) Reader 1: Today, Jesus weeps over a lost world. Even as we enjoy the life He has given us, let Him fill our hearts with His burden for a lost world. Cantor: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, borei p ri ha-adamah. Amen. All: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the earth. Reader 1: Let us eat. Leader 1: If He had only destroyed their idols and not slain their firstborn, it would have been enough. Leader 1: If He had only destroyed their firstborn, and not parted the Red Sea for us, it would have been enough. Leader 1: If He had only divided the sea for us and not drowned our enemies in it, it would have been enough. Leader 1: If He had only drowned our enemies and not fed us with manna, it would have been enough.

14 D ividing the Matzah/ Yachatz Reader 1: The reciting of the Haggadah or telling of our deliverance begins with the invitation given to all peoples everywhere to every nation, tribe, tongue and people. (Rev. 14: 6) At this point the door of the house is opened symbolically, declaring that the invitation to eat of the LORD s Passover supper is open to all. (Volunteer open door.) Fathers you will find a matzatosh, a linen bag with three compartments on your table that holds three unbroken matzahs which symbolize a unity (echad in Hebrew). This echad is traditionally considered one of the most mysterious symbols in the Seder. Tradition says that the two outer matzot represent the double portion of manna every sixth day, while the center represents the bread of affliction eaten while in Egypt. They also believe the middle matzah to be a token of the coming messiah. But some Jews believe the three in one unity represents Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Others believe it represents the Priest, the Levites and the children of Isra- Leader 1: Well my machine appears to be working well tonight I have been told we have other guests to continue the story of what REALLY happened that night. Passover A Retelling of the Story Act 2 Scene 1 Two news commentators setting at a desk going over the evening news. Lets listen in... Leader 2: You know, I didn t realize that they had news commentators in those days. The things you learn with a time machine. I wouldn t have minded being a fly on the wall when Moses walked into the Pharaoh s Palace. Leader 1: I do have the time machine working well, I think I can arrange that. Passover A Retelling of the Story Act 2 Scene 2 Leader 2: You know I never heard the story quite this way! Leader 1: There is more to the story but how about those miracles preformed by Moses? Pharaoh is sitting on his throne in his chamber with his magicians standing on each side of him. Moses and Aaron are just entering the chamber. There is a news commentators table sitting off to one side with the two news commentators setting there. Even one miracle would have been Daiyenu - enough for us. But there were so many that we have to sing Daiyenu! After each act of of God s grace is recalled, everyone declares Daiyenu It would have been enough. Daiyenu is part of a Hebrew chorus, which we are going to sing tonight. Don t panic! It s only one word and the tune is very simple. Lets relax and have fun praising God with joy.

15 The Second Cup The Cup of Deliverance Or Cup of Plagues I will deliver you from their bondage. Ex. 6:6 JPS Leader 1: Let us fill our cups a second time. (Do not drink the second cup yet!) A full cup is a sign of joy, and on this night, we are filled with joy in remembrance of God s mighty deliverance. We must also remember the great sacrifice at which redemption was purchased. Lambs were sacrificed to bring the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt, just as the Lamb of God was sacrificed for each one of us. As we recite each plague, let us dip our little finger into the cup, allowing a drop to fall each time we dip, reducing the fullness of our cup of joy this night. Everyone: 1. Blood 2. Frogs 3. Lice 4. Flies 5. Pestilence 6. Boils 7. Hailstones 8. Locust 9. Darkness 10. Death of the Firstborn Leader 2: Each drop of juice that we take out of our cups reflects our hope and prayer that people everywhere will turn from the rebellion that hardened Pharaoh s heart, for it is this rebellion that will bring on the final plagues. Let us begin with our own hearts. el. But believers in Jesus see something else. Fathers remove the middle matzah from the matzatosh. Notice how it is flat and not puffed up because it is unleavened. It is striped from the roasting, and it is pierced through. Each Father should now lift up the middle matzah for all to look upon it. Now, recite the invitation. Fathers: This is the bread of affliction which our forefathers ate in the land of Egypt. All who are hungry, let them come and eat. All who are needy let them come and celebrate the Passover with us. Reader 1: Now, Fathers break the bread of affliction into two pieces. Wrap the larger piece in the linen napkin on the table. This wrapped half is called the afikomen [ah-fee-koh-mon], the desert. Fathers: Children, cover your eyes while I hide the afikomen. (Hide the afikomen somewhere in the area of your table.) Reader 1: Children, you will be asked to find the afikomen and redeem it for a reward. Fathers, when you broke the matzah, you had a smaller piece left over. Please, put this piece into the middle section of the matzatosh, between the two unbroken matzahs.

16 O verview of the Seder Plate Leader 2 Located on each table is a Seder Plate like this one. On the plate are foods with special meaning for the Seder. There are different traditions for the elements that should be present on the Seder plate. Tonight you will see that two of the traditional elements are not present. All but the egg on this plate symbolizes some part of the Passover story. The hardboiled and roasted egg crept onto the Seder plate after the Babylonian captivity and is believed by many to be linked with pagan symbols of worship. The roasted shank bone of a lamb or the neckbone of a chicken (substituted by poorer families) is a symbol of the paschal lamb eaten during the Temple s existence. The bone is named, Z roah Adonnai the arm of the Lord and is connected to the prophecy in Isaiah 53:1, to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For now, just look and don t touch. Telling the Story/ Maggid Leader 1 By now, you re probably confused, wondering what this is all about. Don t despair. You re not alone. Traditionally at this point the youngest person asks the following questions: Why is this night different from all other nights? Question 1 : Why on all other nights during the year we eat either bread or matzah, but on this night we eat only matzah? Question 2: Why on all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs, but on this night we eat only bitter herbs? Question 3: Why on all other nights we do not dip our herbs even once, but on this night we dip them twice? Question 4 : Why on all other nights do we eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night we all eat reclining? Leader 2 As many of you may know Gordon is quite a handyman and over the last several weeks has been working on a time machine. With the help of that machine we have been able to bring a few people to give us answers to the questions. Passover A Retelling of the Story Act 1 Moses is walking along, tending the sheep and minding his own business when all of the sudden a bush in front of him bursts into flame and then just keeps burning. As he stands astonished looking at the ever burning bush he hears a voice.