A Brief Haggadah (with supplements inserted)

We pour the first cup. The matsot are uncovered

Make Kiddush

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 peoples and has raised us above all tongues and has sanctified us with His commandments.

And You have given us, Lord our God, appointed times for happiness, holidays and special times for joy, this Festival of Matsot, our season of freedom a holy convocation in memory of the Exodus from Egypt.

For You have chosen us and sanctified us above all peoples. In Your gracious love, You granted us Your special times for happiness and joy.

Blessed are You, O Lord, who sanctifies Israel, and the appointed times.

Drink while reclining to the left and do not recite a blessing after drinking.

SUPPLEMENT

You shall not subvert the rights of the stranger or the fatherless;

you shall not take a widow’s garment in pawn.

Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and that the LORD your God redeemed you from there;

therefore do I command you to observe this commandment. (Deut. 24.17-18)

The Recitation [of the exodus story]

The leader uncovers the matsot, raises the Seder plate, and says out loud:

This is the bread of destitution that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Anyone who is famished should come and eat, anyone who is in need should come and partake of the Pesach sacrifice. Now we are here, next year we will be in the land of Israel; this year we are slaves, next year we will be free people.

SUPPLEMENT

When Rav Huna would eat bread, he would open the doors to his house, saying: Whoever needs, let him come in and eat.

Rava said: I can fulfill all these customs of Rav Huna, except for this one, which I cannot do, due to the fact that there are many soldiers in the city of Meḥoza.

(Babylonian Talmud Ta'anit 20b)

He removes the plate from the table. We pour a second cup of wine. The child then asks:

What differentiates this night from all [other] nights?

On all [other] nights we eat chamets and matsa; this night, only matsa?

On all [other] nights we eat other vegetables; tonight marror.

On all [other] nights, we don't dip [our food], even one time; tonight [we dip it] twice.

On [all] other nights, we eat either sitting or reclining; tonight we all recline.

He puts the plate back on the table. The matsot should be uncovered during the saying of the Haggadah.

We were slaves to Pharaoh in the land of Egypt. And the Lord, our God, took us out from there with a strong hand and an outstretched forearm. And if the Holy One, blessed be He, had not taken our ancestors from Egypt, behold we and our children and our children's children would [all] be enslaved to Pharaoh in Egypt. And even if we were all sages, all discerning, all elders, all knowledgeable about the Torah, it is a commandment upon us to tell the story of the exodus from Egypt. And anyone who adds [and spends extra time] in telling the story of the exodus from Egypt, behold he is praiseworthy.

It happened once [on Pesach] that Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah, Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Tarfon were reclining in Bnei Brak and were telling the story of the exodus from Egypt that whole night, until their students came and said to them, "The time of [reciting] the morning Shema has arrived."

Blessed is the Place [of all], Blessed is He; Blessed is the One who Gave the Torah to His people Israel, Blessed is He. Corresponding to four sons did the Torah speak; one [who is] wise, one [who is] evil, one who is innocent and one who doesn't know to ask.

What does the wise [son] say?

"What are these testimonies, statutes and judgments that the Lord our God commanded you?"

From the beginning, our ancestors were idol worshipers. And now, God has brought us close to His worship, as it is stated (Joshua 24:2-4), "Joshua said to the whole people, so said the Lord, God of Israel, 'over the river did your ancestors dwell from always, Terah the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they worshiped other gods."

And I took your father, Abraham from over the river and I made him walk in all the land of Canaan and I increased his seed and I gave him Isaac....

He covers the matsa and lifts up the cup and says:

And it is this that has stood for our ancestors and for us, since it is not [only] one [person or nation] that has stood [against] us to destroy us, but rather in each generation, they stand [against] us to destroy us, but the Holy One, blessed be He, rescues us from their hand.

He puts down the cup from his hand and uncovers the matsa.

Go out and learn what what Laban the Aramean sought to do to Jacob, our father; since Pharaoh only decreed [the death sentence] on the males but Laban sought to uproot the whole [people]. As it is stated (Deuteronomy 26:5), "An Aramean was destroying my father and he went down to Egypt, and he resided there with a small number and he became there a nation, great, powerful and numerous."

"And numerous" - as it is stated (Ezekiel 16:7), "I have given you to be numerous as the vegetation of the field, and you increased and grew and became highly ornamented...

SUPPLEMENT

A Young Man With Beautiful Curls, There Is None Like Him

"The LORD your God has multiplied you" (Deut. 1.10) -

When did God multiply you?

In Egypt, as Scripture says, "I let you multiply like the plants of the field" (Ezek. 16.7).

How did this happen?

When Pharaoh decreed that every male child be cast into the Nile, an Israelite woman would go out into the fields when she felt herself ready to give birth. After her child was born, she would turn her eyes heavenward, and say, "I have done mine, as You have said, "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1.28). Now You do Yours!"

What would the Egyptians do when they would see the Israelite women go out to the fields to give birth?

They would keep watch from some distance, but as soon as the woman got up to return to town, they would take rocks in their hands to kill the infant. As the Egyptians approached, however, the child would be swallowed up by the field. When the attackers moved away again, the child would reappear, but each time they approached, he would again be swallowed up by the field. This went on until the Egyptians got tired of it and went away.

How did those children live in the fields?

Said Rabbi Levi, "God would send two angels to each of them, one to wash him and one to dress him. They would provide for him to be nursed and be anointed with oil, as is said, "He fed him honey from the crag" (Deut. 32.13). Thus, further Scripture says, "I bathed you in water, and... I clothed you with embroidered garments" (Ezek. 16.10).

Rabbi Hiyyah Rabba said, "It was not the angels who did this, but rather God Himself, for Scripture says, "I bathed you". Had the verse said, "I caused you to be bathed", one might think this was done by an angel. But "I bathed you" means that there was no angel involved. Praised be the Name of God! He Himself did this for them!

The children grew up in the fields like plants, and when they were grown they would return in flocks to their homes.

But how would a child know the home of his own parents?

God would go along with them, and to each child He would point out His father's house. He would tell them "Your father is to be called thus, and your mother thus."

the child would say to his mother, "Do you remember the day you gave birth to me, in such-and-such a field, on such-and-such a day, five months ago?"

Then the mother would ask, "Who cared for you?"

And the child would answer, "A young man with beautiful curls" (cf. Song of Songs 5.11), there is none like him.

The mother would say, "Show him to me."

When they went outside, however, though they would search everywhere, they could never find him.

When they saw Him at the Sea of Reeds, they pointed with their fingers to show their mothers, "This is the one who raised me! "This is my God and I will glorify Him" (Exod. 15.2).

(Transl. by Arthur Green)

"And the Lord heard our voice" - as it is stated (Exodus 1:24); "And God heard their groans...

"And the Lord took us out of Egypt with a strong hand and with an outstretched forearm and with great awe and with signs and with wonders" (Deuteronomy 26:8).

"And the Lord took us out of Egypt" - not though an angel and not through a seraph and not through a messenger, but [directly by] the Holy One, blessed be He, Himself, as it is stated "For that night I will go through the land of Egypt and strike down every first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and I will mete out punishments to all the gods of Egypt, I the LORD" (Exodus 12:12) ;

And when he says, "blood and fire and pillars of smoke" and the ten plagues he should pour out a little wine from his cup.

"blood and fire and pillars of smoke."

These are [the] ten plagues that the Holy One, blessed be He, brought on the Egyptians in Egypt and they are:

Blood

Frogs

Lice

[The] Mixture [of Wild Animals]

Pestilence

Boils

Hail

Locusts

Darkness

Slaying of [the] Firstborn.

How many degrees of good did God bestow] upon us!

If He had taken us out of Egypt and not made judgements on them; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had made judgments on them and had not made [them] on their gods; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had made [them] on their gods and had not killed their firstborn; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had killed their firstborn and had not given us their money; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had given us their money and had not split the Sea for us; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had split the Sea for us and had not taken us through it on dry land; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had taken us through it on dry land and had not pushed down our enemies in [the Sea]; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had pushed down our enemies in [the Sea] and had not supplied our needs in the wilderness for forty years; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had supplied our needs in the wilderness for forty years and had not fed us the manna; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had fed us the manna and had not given us the Shabbat; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had given us the Shabbat and had not brought us close to Mount Sinai; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had brought us close to Mount Sinai and had not given us the Torah; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had given us the Torah and had not brought us into the land of Israel; [it would have been] enough for us.

If He had brought us into the land of Israel and had not built us the 'Chosen House' [the Temple; it would have been] enough for us.

He holds the cup in his hand and and he covers the matsa and says:

When Israel went forth from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech, Judah became His holy one, Israel, His dominion. The sea saw them and fled, Jordan ran backward, mountains skipped like rams, hills like sheep. What alarmed you, O sea, that you fled, Jordan, that you ran backward, mountains, that you skipped like rams, hills, like sheep? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flinty rock into a fountain.

Rabban Gamliel was accustomed to say, Anyone who has not said these three things on Pesach has not fulfilled his obligation, and these are them: the Pesach sacrifice, matsa and marror.

This matsa that we are eating, for the sake of what [is it]?

For the sake [to commemorate] that our ancestors' dough was not yet able to rise, before the King of the kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed [Himself] to them and redeemed them, as it is stated (Exodus 12:39); "And they baked the dough which they brought out of Egypt into matsa cakes, since it did not rise; because they were expelled from Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they made for themselves provisions."

He holds the marror in his hand and shows it to the others there.

This marror [bitter greens] that we are eating, for the sake of what [is it]?

For the sake [to commemorate] that the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors in Egypt, as it is stated (Exodus 1:14); "And they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field; in all their service, wherein they made them serve with rigor."

In each and every generation, a person is obligated to see himself as if he left Egypt, as it is stated (Exodus 13:8); "For the sake of this, did the Lord do [this] for me in my going out of Egypt."

Not only our ancestors did the Holy One, blessed be He, redeem, but rather also us [together] with them did he redeem, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 6:23); "And He took us out from there, in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He swore unto our fathers."

SUPPLEMENT

God, Too, Was A Slave

'And it came to pass on that selfsame day,

that all the hosts of the Lord went out from

the land of Egypt‘ (Exod. 12.41).

These are the ministering angels.

And so you find that whenever Israel is

enslaved the Shekhinah, as it were, is

enslaved with them.

As it is said, ‘And they saw the God of Israel, and under His feet, was the likeness (ke-ma’aseh) of a pavement (libnat) of sapphire’ (Exod. 24.10).

But after they were redeemed, what does it

say?

“And like the very heaven for purity’

(Exod. 24.10).

And it also says, ‘In all their troubles He

was troubled’ (Isa. 63.9).

So far I learn (that God was with Israel)

only during communal trouble.

Whence might I deduce this for the trouble of the individual?

(From) Scripture (which) says: ‘Let him

call upon me, and I shall answer him; I

shall be with him in trouble’ (Ps. 91.15)...

And it also says, ‘From before your

people, whom You redeemed for Yourself

from Egypt, the nation and its god’ (2 Sam.

7.23)... Rabbi Akiba says: Israel said to

God ,'You redeemed Yourself'.

And so you find that wherever Israel went

into exile, the Shekhinah, as it were, went

into exile with them. They went into exile

to Egypt, the Shekhina went into exile

with them, as it is said, ‘I exiled myself to

the house of your fathers when they were

in Egypt’ (I Sam. 2.27).

(Mekhilta de'Rabbi Yishmael 12)

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who redeemed us and redeemed our ancestors from Egypt, and brought us on this night to eat matsa and marror... Blessed are you, Lord, who redeemed Israel.

We say the blessing below and drink the cup while reclining to the left

Blessed are You, Lord our God, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Motsi Matsa

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us on the eating of matsa.

Marror

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us on the eating of marror.

Wrap

In memory of the Temple according to Hillel. This is what Hillel would do when the Temple existed:

He would wrap the matsa and marror and eat them together, in order to fulfill what is stated, (Exodus 12:15): "You should eat it upon matsot and marrorim."

The Set Table

We eat and drink.

The Concealed [Matsa]

"In memory of the Pesach sacrifice that was eaten upon being satiated."

Bless

We pour the third cup and recite the Grace over the Food

A Song of Ascents; When the Lord will bring back the captivity of Zion, we will be like dreamers. Then our mouth will be full of mirth and our tongue joyful melody; then they will say among the nations; "The Lord has done greatly with these." The Lord has done great things with us; we are happy. Lord, return our captivity like streams in the desert. Those that sow with tears will reap with joyful song. He who surely goes and cries, he carries the measure of seed, he will surely come in joyful song and carry his sheaves.(Psalms 126)

My friends, let us bless:

All those present answer:

May the Name of the Lord be blessed from now and forever. (Psalms 113:2)

The leader says:

With the permission of our friends, let us bless [our God] from whom we have eaten.

Those present answer:

Blessed is [our God] from whom we have eaten and from whose goodness we live.

The leader repeats and says:

Blessed is [our God] from whom we have eaten and from whose goodness we live.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

We drink while reclining and do not say a blessing afterwards.

SUPPLEMENT

LET MY PEOPLE GO (EXOD. 7.26)

When Israel was in Egypt's land,
Let my people go,
oppressed so hard they could not stand,
Let my people go.

Refrain:
Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt's land,
tell old Pharaoh: Let my people go.

The Lord told Moses what to do,
Let my people go,
to lead the Hebrew children through,
Let my people go. [Refrain]

(5) In distress I called on the LORD; the Lord answered me and brought me relief. (15) The tents of the victorious resound with joyous shouts of deliverance,

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

We drink while reclining to the left

Accepted

Completed is the Seder of Pesach according to its law, according to all its judgement and statute. Just as we have merited to arrange it, so too, may we merit to do [its sacrifice]. Pure One who dwells in the habitation, raise up the congregation of the community, which whom can count. Bring close, lead the plantings of the sapling, redeemed, to Zion in joy.

Next year, let us be in the built Jerusalem!

Bring close the day which is not day and not night [referring to the end of days - Zechariah 14:7], High One, make known that Yours is the day and also Yours is the night, guards appoint for Your city all the day and all the night, illuminate like the light of the day, the darkness of the night, and it was in the middle of the night.

Since for Him it is pleasant, for Him it is suited.

Mighty in rulership, properly chosen, his troops shall say to Him, "Yours and Yours, Yours since it is Yours, Yours and even Yours, Yours, Lord is the kingdom; since for Him it is pleasant, for Him it is suited."

Noted in rulership, properly splendid, His distinguished ones will say to him, "Yours and Yours, Yours since it is Yours, Yours and even Yours, Yours, Lord is the kingdom; since for Him it is pleasant, for Him it is suited."

Meritorious in rulership, properly robust, His scribes shall say to him, "Yours and Yours, Yours since it is Yours, Yours and even Yours, Yours, Lord is the kingdom; since for Him it is pleasant, for Him it is suited."

Unique in rulership, properly powerful, His wise ones say to Him, "Yours and Yours, Yours since it is Yours, Yours and even Yours, Yours, Lord is the kingdom; since for Him it is pleasant, for Him it is suited."

Reigning in rulership, properly awesome, those around Him say to Him, "Yours and Yours, Yours since it is Yours, Yours and even Yours, Yours, Lord is the kingdom; since for Him it is pleasant, for Him it is suited."

Humble in rulership, properly restoring, His righteous ones say to Him, "Yours and Yours, Yours since it is Yours, Yours and even Yours, Yours, Lord is the kingdom; since for Him it is pleasant, for Him it is suited."

Holy in rulership, properly merciful, His angels say to Him, "Yours and Yours, Yours since it is Yours, Yours and even Yours, Yours, Lord is the kingdom; since for Him it is pleasant, for Him it is suited."

Dynamic in rulership, properly supportive, His innocent ones say to Him, "Yours and Yours, Yours since it is Yours, Yours and even Yours, Yours, Lord is the kingdom; since for Him it is pleasant, for Him it is suited."

Mighty is He, may He build His house soon. Quickly, quickly, in our days, soon. God build, God build, build Your house soon.

Chosen is He, great is He, noted is He. Quickly, quickly, in our days, soon. God build, God build, build Your house soon.

Splendid is He, distinguished is He, meritorious is He. Quickly, quickly, in our days, soon. God build, God build, build Your house soon.

Pious is He, pure is He, unique is He. Quickly, quickly, in our days, soon. God build, God build, build Your house soon.

Powerful is He, wise is He, A king is He. Quickly, quickly, in our days, soon. God build, God build, build Your house soon.

Awesome is He, exalted is He, heroic is He. Quickly, quickly, in our days, soon. God build, God build, build Your house soon.

A restorer is He, righteous is He, holy is He. Quickly, quickly, in our days, soon. God build, God build, build Your house soon.

Merciful is He, the Omnipotent is He, dynamic is He. Quickly, quickly, in our days, soon. God build, God build, build Your house soon.

Who knows one? I know one: One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows two? I know two: two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows three? I know three: three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows four? I know four: four are the mothers, three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows five? I know five: five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers, three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows six? I know six: six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers, three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows seven? I know seven: seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers, three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows eight? I know eight: eight are the days of circumcision, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers, three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows nine? I know nine: nine are the months of birth, eight are the days of circumcision, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers, three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows ten? I know ten: ten are the statements, nine are the months of birth, eight are the days of circumcision, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers, three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows eleven? I know eleven: eleven are the stars, ten are the statements, nine are the months of birth, eight are the days of circumcision, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers, three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows twelve? I know twelve: twelve are the tribes, eleven are the stars, ten are the statements, nine are the months of birth, eight are the days of circumcision, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers, three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

Who knows thirteen? I know thirteen: thirteen are the characteristics, twelve are the tribes, eleven are the stars, ten are the statements, nine are the months of birth, eight are the days of circumcision, seven are the days of the week, six are the orders of the Mishnah, five are the books of the Torah, four are the mothers, three are the fathers, two are the tablets of the covenant, One is our God in the heavens and the earth.

One kid, one kid that my father bought for two zuz, one kid, one kid.

Then came a cat and ate the kid, one kid, one kid.

Then came a dog and bit the cat, that ate the kid, one kid, one kid.

Then came a stick and hit the dog, that bit the cat, that ate the kid, one kid, one kid.

Then came fire and burnt the stick, that hit the dog, that bit the cat, that ate the kid, one kid, one kid.

Then came water and extinguished the fire, that burnt the stick, that hit the dog, that bit the cat, that ate the kid, one kid, one kid.

Then came a bull and drank the water, that extinguished the fire, that burnt the stick, that hit the dog, that bit the cat, that ate the kid, one kid, one kid.

Then came the schochet and slaughtered the bull, that drank the water, that extinguished the fire, that burnt the stick, that hit the dog, that bit the cat, that ate the kid, one kid, one kid.

Then came the angel of death and slaughtered the schochet, who slaughtered the bull, that drank the water, that extinguished the fire, that burnt the stick, that hit the dog, that bit the cat, that ate the kid, one kid, one kid.

Then came the Holy One, blessed be He and slaughtered the angel of death, who slaughtered the schochet, who slaughtered the bull, that drank the water, that extinguished the fire, that burnt the stick, that hit the dog, that bit the cat, that ate the kid, one kid, one kid.