Passover Seder
On the 14th of the Hebrew month fo Nissan, the day and month of the the going out of the Children of Israel from Egypt. all has been prepared for the Passover seder, that is the ceremonial reenactment in recitation in the Jewish household. The Hametz (yeast) and the Se'or (everything that has been made with yeast has been banished from the household, and even literally burned (b'irah).The table witll be set with the ceremonial foods set on the tray:
- Zeroa = roasted shank bone of chicken or lamb bone, sympolizing the roasted Passobver lamb of Second Temple days.
- Betzah = hard boiled and roasted egg, to symbolize the lamb that was slain to satiate the Israelite family group prior to the offering of the passover lamb that the feast not be sullied by ravenous people.
- Maror = bitter herbs , usually horse radish or romaine lettuce to recall the Hebrews' bitter suffering in Egypt.
- Haroset = chopped apples and nuts with cinammon and wine to denote the clay and mortar with which the Hebrews worked. To be eaten later with Matzah.
- Karpas -= Parsnips or celery to be dipped 5 times in salt water (remeniscent of sweat and tears) and eaten.
- Hazeret = Horseradish and celery again to be eaten in |Matzah sandwich later.
- The three Matzot (unleavened bread) recalling the fact that there was no time for leavening on the night of the first passover of flight from Egypt. they are kept in cloth covering but the middle one is broken and part hid for the children to find and be given some money . That hidden part is called the Aphikomen.
- The wine is set for the four cups of wine, two during the ceremonial seder, the third, called the cup of Thanksgiving drunk after the meal, and the last after it.
- A special cup filled with wine, the Cup of Elijah, is set near the center of the table or at one of its corners. It is for the coming of Elijah to announce the Messiah. When he comes, he will drink some wine and we will know that soon so will come the Messiah.
The aim is to recall how we were taken from Egypt amd rekindle hope in us for this generation.
After a blessing, dipping of Carpas in salt water, and the breaking and hiding of the Aphikomen, there is the Aramaic prayer called the Magid (Recite)- " This.." (head of household holding up cedremonial plate for all to see) '.. is the bread of affliction which our Father ate in Egypt...Let anyone who is hungrey come in and eat, Let anyone who is needy come in and make Passover. This year we are here, next year we shall be in the Land of Israel. this year we are slaves. Next year we shall be freemen." In Aramaic, the name of the prayer is as its first words. Ha Lahma Aniya (This is the bread of affliction.
The youngest boy that is capable, then sets the tone by asking the Fier Kashes (Four Hard questions) concerning the difference of this night from all other night This is the occasion for the head to begin the Biblical story Avadim Hayiinu(We were slaves). The story begins with us in Egypt but, with time lapses to before then with the calling of Abraham and God's promise to him, with occasional interjections from the Rabbis concerning "awakening elements".
One of these is the Four Sons - the Wise, the Wicked, the Simple, and the Incapable by age or capacity. It is based on the Scripture "Which the Lord has commanded you". The Wise son asks, so tell him precisely, The Wicked Son repeats "has commanded YOU "- meaning in his heart, you, not me, and so excludes himself. The Simple Son also asks "What's it all about" Make it clear to him, " With a strong hand the Lord took us out" The Incapable? "It is you who must begin with him" leading him into understanding.
Then back to the story of the calling and the redemption of the people from the hands of the Egyptians and the beginning of the lifting of the cups of wine and setting them down without drinking. Here it be noted that the ingenuity and good humor of the father is to be applied. Some oriental communities have a "stranger" with staff in hand knocking at door asking to be a part. Some families, especially having newcomers and children, will followthe father and do as he does never knowing " will he drink from it this time or not?", as the father tries to trick them and keep them alert.
All this time, the children very openly, and the grown-ups furtively, keep glancing at the cup of Elijah to see if the wine in it has diminished any,if he has come already to announce the Messiah.
Back to Israel in Egypt with the recitation, increasing in severity, and oppression of the people in labotr, Thoughts and conversation will intensify and associate with our modern experiences of holocaust and wanderings and longing for home; of the fulfillment in Israel, the ingathering of the modern exiles etc.
At the height of the recitation, there are the Plagues, ten in Number, and at each plague named a few drops of wine spilled into a plate - which are the tears of the weeping angels. Blood, Wild Beasts, Hail, Frogs Destruction, Locusts, Lice, Boils Darkness, Death of the First Born.
The response is sung by all at the table in the rousing chant of Dayainu ("It would have been enough for us!". If He had taken us out of Egypt and not brought judgment on their gods, DAYAINU, If He had brought judgement on their gods and not killed their first born, DAYAINU, If he had killed their first born, and not given us their riches, DAYAINU. If He had given us their riches, and not split the Red Sea for us, DAYAINU... If... DAYAINU, If... DATAINU...etc. Sung with much fervor, banging on the table, clicking of utensils, babies laughing, crying, odors from the kitchen, women laughing. dinner is coming soon!
Then is sung Al Ahat Kama ve Kama, "How much More!". How much greater then is our indebtedness to THE PLACE UPON US (God) that He has done all this for us - taken us out of Egypt, brought judgment on their gods, killed their first born, etc. etc.
And now all attention is riveted on the head, as he shows the Matzah, the bitter herbs, repeats the saying - In each generation one ought out to regard himself as personally having come out of Egypt, then he lifts the cup and gives praises, lauds, honors, glorifications, etc. to God for the redemption from Egypt, breaks pieces from the upper and middle Matzah, washes his hands, and all make the pre-meal sandwich of Matzah and the bitter herbs, and Haroset. , the table is set (Shulchan Arucch) and all begin to eat. There is no difference between life and liturgy. After dinner, there is the drinking of the third cup (the cup of Thanksgiving) the singing of songs, the drinking of the fourth cup, more songs, and finally - The proclomatic saying by all that all has now been completed - "Nirtzah" Accepted.
