we would still be obligated to discuss the exodus from Egypt;
and everyone who discusses the exodus from Egypt at length is
praiseworthy.
It happened that Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Elazar
ben Azaryah, Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Tarphon were reclining [at
a seder] in B'nei Berak. They were discussing the exodus from
Egypt all that night, until their students came and told them:
"Our Masters! The time has come for reciting the morning She-
ma!"
Rabbi Eleazar ben Azaryah said:
"I am like a man of seventy years old, yet I did not succeed in
proving that the exodus from Egypt must be mentioned at night-
until Ben Zoma explained it:
"It is said, `That you may remember the day you left Egypt all the
days of your life;' now `the days of your life' refers to the days,
[and the additional word] `all' indicates the inclusion of the nights!"
The sages, however, said:
"`The days of your life' refers to the present-day world; and `all'
indicates the inclusion of the days of Mashiach."
Blessed is the Omnipresent One, blessed be He! Blessed is He
who gave the Torah to His people Israel, blessed be He! The To-
ah speaks of four children: One is wise, one is wicked, one is
simple and one does not know how to ask.
The wise one, what does he say? "What are the testimonies, the
statutes and the laws which the L-rd, our G-d, has commanded
you?" You, in turn, shall instruct him in the laws of Pesach, [up
to] `one is not to eat any dessert after the Pesach-lamb.'
The wicked one, what does he say? "What is this service to you?"
He says `to you,' but not to him! By thus excluding himself from
the community he has denied that which is fundamental. You,
therefore, blunt his teeth and say to him: "It is because of this
that the L-rd did for me when I left Egypt"; `for me' - but not for
him! If he had been there, he would not have been redeemed, tell
your child on that day, `It is because of this that the L-rd did for
me when I left Egypt.'"
One may think that [the discussion of the exodus] must be from
the first of the month. The Torah therefore says, `On that day.'
`On that day,' however, could mean while it is yet daytime; the
Torah therefore says, `It is because of this.' The expression `be-
ause of this' can only be said when matzah and maror are placed
before you.
In the beginning our fathers served idols; but now the Omnipres-
ent One has brought us close to His service, as it is said:
"Joshua said to all the people: Thus said the L-rd, the G-d of
Israel, `Your fathers used to live on the other side of the river -
Terach, the father of Abraham and the father of Nachor, and they
served other gods.
"And I took your father Abraham from beyond the river, and I led
him throughout the whole land of Canaan. I increased his seed
and gave him Isaac, and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau
I gave Mount Seir to possess it, and Jacob and his sons went
down to Egypt."
Blessed is He who keeps His promise to Israel, blessed be He!
For the Holy One, blessed be He, calculated the end [of the bon-
dage], in order to do as He had said to our father Abraham at the
"Covenant between the Portions," as it is said: "And He said to
Abraham, `You shall know that your seed will be strangers in a
land that is not theirs, and they will enslave them and make
them suffer, for four hundred years. But I shall also judge the na-
tion whom they shall serve, and after that they will come out with
great wealth.'"
According to the instructions of Rabbi Isaac Luria, the wine cup is now raised and the Matzot to be covered.
This is what has stood by our fathers and us! For not just one
alone has risen against us to destroy us, but in every generation
they rise against us to destroy us; and the Holy One, blessed be
He, saves us from their hand!
Put down the wine cup and uncover the Matzah.
Go forth and learn what Laban the Aramean wanted to do to our
father Jacob. Pharaoh had issued a decree against the male chil-
dren only, but Laban wanted to uproot everyone - as it is said:
"The Aramean wished to destroy my father; and he went down to
Egypt and sojourned there, few in number; and he became there
a nation - great and mighty and numerous."
"And he went down to Egypt" forced by Divine decree. "And he
sojourned there" - this teaches that our father Jacob did not go
down to Egypt to settle, but only to live there temporarily. Thus it
is said, "They said to Pharaoh, We have come to sojourn in the
land, for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks because the
hunger is severe in the land of Canaan; and now, please, let your
servants dwell in the land of Goshen."
"Few in number" as it is said:
"Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy persons, and now,
the L-rd, your G-d, has made you as numerous as the stars of
heaven."
"And he became there a nation" this teaches that Israel was dis-
tinctive there.
"Great, mighty," as it is said: "And the children of Israel were fruit-
ful and increased abundantly, and multiplied and became very,
very mighty, and the land became filled with them."
"And numerous," as it is said:
"I passed over you and saw you wallowing in your bloods, and I
said to you `By your blood you shall live,' and I said to you `By
your blood you shall live!' I caused you to thrive like the plants of
the field, and you increased and grew and became very beautiful
your bosom fashioned and your hair grown long, but you were
naked and bare."
"The Egyptians treated us badly and they made us suffer, and
they put hard work upon us."
"The Egyptians treated us badly," as it is said:
Come, let us act cunningly with [the people] of Israel to make
them suffer with their burdens, and they built storage cities for
Pharaoh, Pitom and Ramses."
"And they put hard work upon us," as it is said:
"The Egyptians made the children of Israel work with rigor. And
they made their lives bitter with hard work, with mortar and with
bricks and all manner of service in the field, all their work which
they made them work with rigor."
And we cried out to the L-rd, the G-d of our fathers, and the L-rd
heard our voice and saw our suffering, our labor and our oppres-
sion.
"And we cried out to the L-rd, the G-d of our fathers," as it is said:
"During that long period, the king of Egypt died; and the children
of Israel groaned because of the servitude, and they cried out.
And their cry for help from their servitude rose up to G-d."
"And the L-rd heard our voice" as it said:
"And G-d heard their groaning, and G-d remembered His coven-
ant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
"And he saw our suffering," this refers to the separation of hus-
band and wife, as it is said: "G-d saw the children of Israel and
G-d took note."
"Our labor," this refers to the "children," as it is said:
"Every boy that is born, you shall throw into the river and every
girl you shall keep alive."
"And our oppression," this refers to the pressure, as it is said:
"I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress
them."
"The L-rd took as out of Egypt with a strong hand and an out-
stretched arm, and with a great manifestation, and with signs
and wonders."
"The L-rd took us out of Egypt," not through an angel, not through
a seraph and not through a messenger.
The Holy One, blessed be He, did it in His glory by Himself!
Thus it is said:
"In that night I will pass through the land of Egypt, and I will smite
every first-born in the land of Egypt, from man to beast, and I will
carry out judgments against all the gods of Egypt, I the L-rd."
"I will pass through the land of Egypt," I and not an angel;
"And I will smite every first-born in the land of Egypt," I and not a
seraph;
"And I will carry out judgments against all the gods of Egypt," I
and not a messenger;
"I- the L-rd," it is I, and none other!
"With a strong hand," this refers to the dever (pestilence) as it is
said:
"Behold, the hand of the L-rd will be upon your livestock in the
field, upon the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds and
the flocks, a very severe pestilence."
"And with an outstretched arm," this refers to the sword, as it is
said:
"His sword was drawn, in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem."
"And with a great manifestation,' this refers to the revelation of the
Shekhinah (Divine Presence), as it is said:
"Has any G-d ever tried to take for himself a nation from the
midst of another nation, with trials, signs and wonders, with war
and with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great
manifestations, like all that the L-rd your G-d, did for you in Egypt
before your eyes!"
"And with signs," this refers to the staff, as it is said:
"Take into your hand this staff with which you shall perform the
signs."
"And wonders," this refers to the blood, as it is said:
"And I shall show wonders in heaven and on earth.
When saying the following words "blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke," spill three times from the wine in the cup. Do not remove wine by dipping a finger, but by spilling from the cup itself, and do so into a broken/chipped dish. (Have in mind that the cup symbolizes the aspect of malchut which contains an aspect of "anger and indignation."
By means of our faculty Blood, and fire, and pilalrs of smoke."
Another explanation: "Strong hand" indicates two [plagues]; "Outstretched arm," another two; "Great manifestation," another two; "Signs," another two; and "Wonders," another two.
These are the Ten Plagues which the Holy One, blessed be He,
brought upon the Egyptians, namely as follows:
When saying the ten plagues, spill from the cup itself ten times, as stated above (and when spilling, again have in mind what was said above). The wine remaining in the cup (will have become `wine that causes joy,' thus) is not to be spilled, but other wine is added to it [to refill the cup].
Blood.
Frogs.
Lice.
Wild Beasts.
Pestilence.
Boils.
Hail.
Locust.
Darkness.
Slaying of the First-born.
Rabbi Yehudah referred to them by acronyms:
DeTzaCh -------------- (blood, frogs, lice);
ADaSh ----------------- (beasts, pestilence, boils);
BeAChaB ------------- (hail, locust, darkness, first-born).
Rabbi Yosi the Gallilean said:
How do you know that the Egyptians were stricken by ten
plagues in Egypt, and then were struck by fifty plagues at the
sea?
In Egypt it says of them, "The magicians said to Pharaoh `This is
the finger of G-d.' At the sea it says, "Israel saw the great hand
that the L-rd laid against Egypt; and the people feared the L-rd,
and they believed in the L-rd and in His servant Moses."
Now, how often were they smitten by `the finger'? Ten plagues!
Thus you must conclude that in Egypt they were smitten by ten
plagues, at the sea they were smitten by fifty plagues!
Rabbi Eliezer said:
How do we know that each individual plague which the Holy One,
blessed be He, brought upon the Egyptians in Egypt consisted of
four plagues?
For it is said:
"He sent against them His fierce anger, fury, and indignation, and
trouble, a discharge of messengers of evil":
`Fury,' is one; `Indignation,' makes two; `Trouble,' makes three;
`Discharge of messengers of evil,' makes four.
Thus you must now say that in Egypt they were struck by forty
plagues, and at the sea they were stricken by two hundred
plagues.
Rabbi Akiva said:
How do we know that each individual plague which the Holy One,
blessed be He, brought upon the Egyptians in Egypt consisted
of five plagues?
For it is said:
"He sent against them his fierce anger, fury, and indignation, and
trouble, a discharge of messengers of evil":
"His fierce anger," is one; "fury," makes two; "indignation," makes
three; "trouble," makes four; "discharge of messengers of evil,"
makes five. Thus you must now say that in Egypt they were struck by
fifty plagues, and at the sea they were stricken by two hundred and
fifty plagues.
How many levels of favors has the Omnipresent One bestowed
upon us:
If He had brought us out from Egypt, and had not carried out
judgments against them Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had carried out judgments against them, and not against
their idols Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had destroyed their idols, and had not smitten their first-born
Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had smitten their first-born, and had not given us their wealth
Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had given us their wealth, and had not split the sea for us
Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had split the sea for us, and had not taken us through it on
dry land Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had taken us through the sea on dry land, and had not
drowned our oppressors in it Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had drowned our oppressors in it, and had not supplied our
needs in the desert for forty years Dayenu, it would have sufficed
us!
If He had supplied our needs in the desert for forty years, and had
not fed us the manna Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had fed us the manna, and had not given us the Shabbat
Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had given us the Shabbat, and had not brought us before
Mount Sinai Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had brought us before Mount Sinai, and had not given us the
Torah Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had given us the Torah, and had not brought us into the land
of Israel Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
If He had brought us into the land of Israel, and had not built for
us the Beit Habechirah (Chosen House; the Beit Hamikdash)
Dayenu, it would have sufficed us!
Thus how much more so should we be grateful to the Omnipre-
sent One for the doubled and redoubled goodness that He has
bestowed upon us; for He has brought us out of Egypt, and car-
ried out judgments against them, and against their idols, and
smote their first-born, and gave us their wealth, and split the sea
for us, and took us through it on dry land, and drowned our op-
pressors in it, and supplied our needs in the desert for forty years,
and fed us the manna, and gave us the Shabbat, and brought us
before Mount Sinai, and gave us the Torah, and brought us into
the land of Israel and built for us the Beit Habechirah to atone for
all our sins.
Rabban Gamliel used to say: Whoever does not discuss the fol-
lowing three things on Pesach has not fulfilled his duty, namely:
Pesach (the Pesach-sacrifice), Matzah (the unleavened bread)
and Maror (the bitter herbs).
Pesach - the Pesach-lamb that our fathers ate during the time of
the Beit Hamikdash - for what reason [did they do so]?
Because the Omnipresent passed over our fathers' houses in
Egypt, as it is said:
"You shall say, It is a Pesach-offering to the L-rd,The Holy One,
blessed be He, revealed Himself to them and redeemed them.
Thus it is said:
"They baked matzah-cakes from the dough that they had brought
out of Egypt, because it was not leavened; for they had been dri-
ven out of Egypt and could not delay, and they had also not pre-
pared any [other] provisions."
Take the maror into your hand and say:
This maror that we eat for what reason? Because the Egyptians
embittered our fathers' lives in Egypt, as it is said:
"They made their lives bitter with hard service, with mortar and
with bricks, and with all manner of service in the field; all their
service which they made them serve with rigor."
In every generation a person is obligated to regard himself as if
he had come out of Egypt, as it is said: "You shall tell your child
on that day, it is because of this that the L-rd did for me when I
left Egypt."
The Holy One, blessed be He, redeemed not only our fathers
from Egypt, but He redeemed also us with them, as it is said:
"It was us that He brought out from there, so that He might bring
us to give us the land that He swore to our fathers."
Cover the Matzah and raise the cup. The cup is to be held in the hand until the completion of the blessing, "Who Has Redeemed Us..."
Thus it is our duty to thank, to laud, to praise, to glorify, to exalt,
to adore, to bless, to elevate and to honor the One who did all
these miracles for our fathers and for us. He took us from slavery
to freedom, from sorrow to joy, and from mourning to festivity,
and from deep darkness to great light and from bondage to re-
demption. Let us therefore recite before Him Halleluyah, Praise
G-d!
Halleluyah - Praise G-d! Offer praise, you servants of the L-rd;
praise the Name of the L-rd. May the L-rd's Name be blessed
from now and to all eternity. From the rising of the sun to its set-
ting, the L-rd's Name is praised. The L-rd is high above all na-
tions, His glory is over the heavens. Who is like the L-rd, our G-d,
who dwells on high yet looks down so low upon heaven and
earth! He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from
the dunghill, to seat them with nobles, with the nobles of His peo-
ple. He restores the barren woman to the house, into a joyful mo-
ther of children. Halleluyah - praise G-d.
When Israel went out of Egypt, the House of Jacob from a people
of a foreign language, Judah became His holy one, Israel His do-
minion. The sea saw and fled, the Jordan turned backward. The
mountains skipped like rams, the hills like young sheep. What is
with you, O sea, that you flee; Jordan, that you turn backward?
Mountains, why do you skip like rams; hills, like a pool of water,
the flint-stone into a spring of water.
Blessed are You, G-d, our G-d, King of the universe, who has re-
deemed us and redeemed our fathers from Egypt, and enabled
us to attain this night to eat matzah and maror. So too, G-d, our
G-d and G-d of our fathers, enable us to attain other holidays and
festivals that will come to us in peace with happiness in the re-
building of Your city, and with rejoicing in Your service [in the Bet
Hamikdash]. Then we shall eat
{NOTE: if the festival is on any day except Saturday night say:
of the sacrifices and of the Pesach-offerings
if the Seder is on Saturday Night say:
of the Pesach-offerings and of the sacrifices}
whose blood shall be sprinkled on the wall of Your altar for accep-
tance; and we shall thank You with a new song for our redemp-
tion and for the deliverance of our souls. Blessed are You, G-d,
who redeemed Israel.
Recite the following blessing, and drink the cup in the reclining position:
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, who creates
the fruit of the vine. With His commandments and commanded us
concerning the washing of the hands.
One should not speak until after making the next 2 blessings and eating the Matza.
MOTZI
Take the Matzot in the order that they are lying on the tray - the broken piece between the two whole Matzot; hold them in your hand and recite the following blessing:
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, who brings
forth bread from the earth.
MATZAH
Do not break anything off the Matzot. First put down the third Matza (the bottom one), and recite the following blessing over the broken Matza and the top one.
When reciting the following blessing, have in mind that it refers also to the eating of the `Sandwich' of Korach - which will be made with the third Matza - and also the eating of the Afikoman.
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, who has
sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us con-
cerning the eating of Matza.
Now break off a Kezayit of the 2 Matzot held, and eat the 2 pieces together in reclining position.
MAROR
Now take a Kezayit of the Maror, dip it into the Kharoset -but then shake off the Kharoset that stuck to it, so that the bitter taste will not be neutralized. Recite the following blessing:
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, who has
sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us con-
cerning the eating of Maror.
Now eat the Maror, without reclining.
KORECH
Take the 3'rd Matza, and also a Kezyit of the Khazeret - which is to be dipped into Kharoset. Combine the two [like a sandwich], and say the
following:
Thus did Hilel do at the time of the Bet HaMikdash: He would
combine Pesach - lamb, Matza and Maror and eat them together,
as it said: "They shall eat it with Matza and bitter herbs."
Now eat them together - in the reclining position.
SHULCHAN ORECH
Now eat and drink according to your need. It is permitted to drink wine between the second and third cups.
TZAFUN
After the above, take the Afikoman and divide it among all the members of the household, by giving everyone a Kezayit.
Take care not to drink after the Afikoman.
It is to be eaten in the reclining position and this ought to be done before midnight.
BERACH
The third cup is poured now, and recite Birkat Hamazon (Blessing after the Meal) over it.
A Song of Ascents. When the L-rd will return the exiles of Zion,
we will have been like dreamers. Then our mouth will be filled with
laughter, and our tongue with joyous song. Then will they say
among the nations, "The L-rd has done great things for these."The
L-rd has done great things for us, we were joyful. L-rd, return our
exiles as streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap
with joyous song. He goes along weeping, carrying the bag of
seed; he will surely come [back] with joyous song, carrying his
sheaves.
A Psalm by the sons of Korach, a song who, as well as Cush,
"This one was born there." But of Zion it will be said, "This man
and that man was born there," and He, the Most High, will estab-
lish it. The L-rd will count the register of the nations, "This one
was born there." Selah. Singers and dancers alike [will chant],
"All my inner thoughts are of you."
I will bless the L-rd at all times; His praise is always in my mouth.
The ultimate conclusion, all having been heard: fear G-d and ob-
serve His commandments, for this is the whole of man. My mouth
will utter the praise of the L-rd, and all flesh shall bless His holy
Name forever and ever. And we will bless the L-rd from now and
forever; Halleluyah praise G-d.
Before mayim acharonim (washing fingers) the following verse is said:
This is the portion of a wicked man from G-d, and the heritage
assigned to him by G-d.
After mayim acharonim, the following verse is said:
And he said to me: This is the table that is before the L-rd.
When the Grace after Meal is said with a quorum of three or more males over the age of 13, the leader begins:
Gentlemen, let us say Grace!
The others respond:
May the Name of the L-rd be blessed from now and forever.
The Leader [repeats the response and] continues:
With the permission of the masters, teachers and gentlemen, let
us bless He of whose bounty we have eaten.
The others respond:
Blessed be He of whose bounty we have eaten.
[The leader repeats this response.]
Those present who did not partake of the meal respond:
Blessed and praised be His Name always, forever and ever.
If there is a quorum of ten males over the age of 13 then the the leader begins:
Gentlemen, let us say Grace!
The others respond:
May the Name of the L-rd be blessed from now and forever.
The Leader [repeats the response and] continues:
With the permission of the masters, teachers and gentlemen, let
us bless our G-d He of whose bounty we have eaten.
The others respond:
Blessed be our G-d He of whose bounty we have eaten.
[The leader repeats this response.]
Those present who did not partake of the meal respond:
Blessed be our G-d and praised be His Name always, forever and
ever.
All who ate, male and female recite the Grace:
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, who, in His
goodness, feeds the whole world with grace, with kindness and
with mercy. He gives food to all flesh, for His kindness is ever-
lasting. Through His great goodness to us continuously we do
not lack food, and may we never lack it, for the sake of His great
Name. For He is a [benevolent] G-d who feeds and sustains all,
does good to all, and prepares food for all His creatures whom He
has created, as it is said: You open Your hand and satisfy the
desire of every living thing. Blessed are You L-rd, who provides
food for all.
We thank You, L-rd, our G-d, for having given as a heritage to our
fathers a precious, good and spacious land; for having brought us
out, L-rd our G-d, from the land of Egypt and redeemed us from
the house of slaves; for Your covenant which You have sealed in
our flesh; for Your Torah which You have taught us; for Your sta-
tutes which You have made known to us; for the life, favor and
kindness which You have graciously bestowed upon us; and for
the food we eat with which You constantly feed and sustain us
every day, at all times, and at every hour.
For all this, L-rd our G-d, we thank You and bless You. May Your
Name be blessed by the mouth of every living being, constantly
and forever. As it is writte L-rd our G-d, upon Israel Your people,
upon Jerusalem Your city, upon Zion the abode of Your glory,
upon the kingship of the house of David Your anointed, and upon
the great and holy House which is called by Your Name. Our G-d,
our Father, Our Shepherd, feed us, sustain us, nourish us and
give us comfort; and speedily, L-rd our G-d, grant us relief from
all our afflictions. L-rd, our G-d, please do not make us dependent
upon the gifts of mortal men nor upon their loans, but only upon
Your full, open, holy and generous hand, that we may not be
shamed or disgraced forever and ever.
On Shabat add:
[May it please You, G-d, our G-d, to strengthen us through Your
commandments, and through the precept of the Seventh Day,
this great and holy Shabbat. For this day is great and holy before
You, to refrain from work and to rest thereon with love, in accor-
dance with the commandment of Your will. In Your will, G-d, our
G-d, bestow upon us tranquility, that there shall be no trouble,
sadness or grief on the day of our rest. G-d, our G-d, let us see
the consolation of Zion Your city, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem
Your holy city, for You are the Master of [all] salvations and the
Master of [all] consolations.]
Our G-d and G-d of our fathers, may there ascend, come and
reach, be seen and accepted, heard, recalled and remembered
before You, the remembrance and recollection of us, the remem-
brance of our fathers, the remembrance of Mashiach the son of
David Your servant, the remembrance of Jerusalem Your holy
city, and the remembrance of all Your people the House of Israel,
for deliverance, well-being, grace, kindness, mercy, good life and
peace, on this day of the Festival of Matzot, on this Festival of
holy convocation. Remember us on this [day], L-rd, our G-d, for
good; recollect us on this [day] for blessing; help us on this [day]
for good life. With the promise of deliverance and compassion,
spare us and be gracious to us; have mercy upon us and deliver
us; for our eyes are directed to You, for You, G-d, are a gracious
and merciful King.
Rebuild Jerusalem the holy city speedily in our days. Blessed
are You, L-rd, who in His mercy rebuilds Jerusalem.
Amen.
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, benevolent
G-d, our Father, our King, our Might, our Creator, our Redeemer,
our Maker, our Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob, our Shepherd,
the Shepherd of Israel, the King who is good and does good to
all, each and every day. He has done good for us, He does good
for us, and He will do good for us; He has bestowed, He bestows,
and He will forever bestow upon us grace, kindness and mercy,
relief, salvation and success, blessing and help, consolation,
sustenance and nourishment, compassion, life, peace and all
goodness; and may He never cause us to lack any good.
May the Merciful One reign over us forever and ever.
May the Merciful One be blessed in heaven and on earth.
May the Merciful One be praised for all generations, and be glori-
fied in us forever and all eternity, and honored in us forever and
ever.
May the Merciful One sustain us with honor.
May the Merciful One break the yoke of exile from our neck and
may He lead us upright to our land.
May the Merciful One send abundant blessing into this house
and upon this table at which we have eaten.
May the Merciful One send us Elijah the Prophet may he be re-
membered for good and may he bring us good tidings, salvation
and consolation.
May the Merciful One bless my father, my teacher, the master of
this house, and my mother, my teacher, the mistress of this
house; them, their household, their children, and all that is theirs;
us, and all that is ours. Just as He blessed our forefathers, Abra-
ham, Isaac and Jacob, "in everyt bring a safeguarding of peace.
May we receive blessing from the L-rd and just kindness from the
G-d of our salvation, and may we find grace and good under-
standing in the eyes of G-d and man.
(On Shabbat add: May the Merciful One cause us to inherit that
day which will be all Shabbat and rest for life everlasting.)
May the Merciful One cause us to inherit that day which is all
good.
May the Merciful One grant us the privilege of reaching the days
of the Mashiach and the life of the World to Come. He is a tower
of salvation to His king, and bestows kindness upon His anointed,
to David and his descendants forever. He who makes peace in
His heights, may He make peace for us and for all Israel; and say,
Amen.
Fear the L-rd, you His holy ones, for those who fear Him suffer no
want. Young lions are in need and go hungry, but those who seek
the L-rd shall not lack any good. Give thanks to the L-rd for He is
good, for His kindness is everlasting. You open Your hand and
satisfy the desire of every living thing. Blessed is the man who
trusts in the L-rd, and the L-rd will be his trust.
Recite the blessing for the wine, and drink in reclining position.
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, who creates
the fruit of the vine.
The fourth cup is poured and the door is opened. Say the following:
Pour out Your wrath upon the nations that do not acknowledge
You, and upon the kingdoms that do not call upon Your Name.
For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation. Pour
out Your indignation upon them, and let the wrath of Your anger
overtake them. Pursue them with anger, and destroy them from
beneath the heavens of the L-rd.
HALLEL NIRTZAH
Not to us, L-rd, not to us, but to Your Name give glory, for the
sake of Your kindness and Your truth. Why should the nations
say, "Where, now, is their G-d?" Our G-d is in heaven, whatever
He desires, He does. Their idols are of silver and gold, the pro-
duct of human hands: they have a mouth, but cannot speak; they
have eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear; they
have a nose, but cannot smell; their hands cannot feel; their feet
cannot walk; they can make no sound with their throat. Like them
should be their makers, everyone that trusts in them. Israel, trust
in the L-rd! He is their help and their shield. House of Aaron, trust
in the L-rd! He is their help and their shield. You who fear the L-rd,
trust in the L-rd! He is their help and their shield.
The L-rd, mindful of us, will bless. He will bless the House of
Israel; He will bless the House of Aaron; He will bless those who
fear the L-rd, the small with the great. May the L-rd increase
[blessing] upon you, upon you and upon your children. You are
blessed unto the L-rd, the Maker of heaven and earth. The
heavens are the heavens of the L-rd, but the earth He gave to the
children of man. The dead do not praise G-d, nor do those that
go down into the silence [of the grave]. But we will bless G-d, f
rom now to eternity. Halleluyah Praise G-d.
I love the L-rd, because He hears my voice, my prayers. For He
turned His ear to me; all my days I will call [upon Him]. The pangs
of death encompassed me, and the agonies of the grave came
upon me, trouble and sorrow I encounter and I call u upon the
Name of the L-rd: Please, L-rd, deliver my soul! The L-rd is gra-
cious and just, our G-d is compassionate. The L-rd watches over
the simpletons; I was brought low and He saved me. Return, my
soul, to your rest, for the L-rd has dealt kindly with you. For You
have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my foot
from stumbling. I will walk before the L-rd in the lands of the living.
he L-rd. I will pay my vows to the L-rd in the presence of all His
people. Precious in the eyes of the L-rd is the death of His pious
ones. I thank you, L-rd, for I am Your servant. I am Your servant
the son of Your handmaid, You have loosened my bonds. To You
I will bring an offering of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the
Name of the L-rd. I will pay my vows to the L-rd in the presence
of all His people, in the courtyards of the House of the L-rd, in the
midst of Jerusalem. Halleluyah Praise G-d.
Praise the L-rd, all nations! Extol Him, all peoples! For His kind-
ness was mighty over us, and the truth of the L-rd is everlasting.
Halleluyah Praise G-d.
Give thanks to the L-rd, for He is good, for His kindness is ever-
lasting. Let Israel say [it], for His kindness is everlasting. Let the
House of Aaron say [it], for His kindness is everlasting. Let those
who fear the L-rd say [it], for His kindness is everlasting.
Out of narrow confines I called to G-d; G-d answered me with
abounding relief. The L-rd is with me, I will not fear what can man
do to me? The L-rd is with me, through my helpers, and I can
face my enemies. It is better to rely on the L-rd, than to trust in
man. It is better to rely on the L-rd, than to trust in nobles. All
nations surround me, but I cut them down in the Name of the L-rd.
They surrounded me, they encompassed me, but I cut them down
in the Name of the L-rd. They surrounded me like bees, yet they
are extinguished like a fire of thorns; I cut them down in the Name
of the L-rd. You [my foes] pushed me again and again to fall, but
the L-rd helped me. G-d is my strength and song, and this has
been my salvation. The sound of joyous song and salvation is in
the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the L-rd performs
deeds of valor. The right hand of the L-rd is exalted; the right hand
of the L-rd performs deeds of valor!" I shall not die, but I shall live
and relate the deeds of G-d. G-d has chastised me, but He did
not give me over to death. Open for me the gates of righteous-
ness; I will enter them and give thanks to G-d. This is the gate of
the L-rd, the righteous will enter it.
I thank You for You have answered me, and You have been a help
to me.
I thank You for You have answered me, and You have been a help
to me.
The stone scorned by the builders has become the main corner-
stone.
The stone scorned by the builders has become the main corner-
stone.
This was indeed from the L-rd, it is wondrous in our eyes.
This was indeed from the L-rd, it is wondrous in our eyes.
This day the L-rd has made, let us be glad and rejoice on it.
This day the L-rd has made, let us be glad and rejoice on it.
O L-rd, please help us! O L-rd, please help us! O L-rd, please
grant us success! O L-rd, please grant us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the L-rd; we bless you
from the House of the L-rd.
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the L-rd; we bless you from the House of the L-rd.
The L-rd is Almighty, He gave us light; bind the festival-offering
until [you bring it to] the horns of the altar.
The L-rd is Almighty, He gave us light; bind the festival-offering
until [you bring it to] the horns of the altar.
You are my G-d and I will thank You; my G-d, I will exalt You.
You are my G-d and I will thank You; my G-d, I will exalt You.
Give thanks to the L-rd, for He is good, for His kindness is ever-
lasting.
Give thanks to the L-rd, for He is good, for His kindness is ever-
lasting.
L-rd, our G-d, all Your works shall praise You; Your pious ones,
the righteous who do Your will, and all Your people, the House of
Israel, with joyous song will thank and bless, laud and glorify,
exalt and adore, sanctify and proclaim the sovereignty of Your
Name, our King. For it is good to thank You, and befitting to sing
to Your Name, for from the beginning to the end of the world You
are Almighty G-d. Give thanks to the L-rd, for He is good for His
kindness is everlasting;
Give thanks to the G-d of gods for His kindness is everlasting;
Give thanks to the L-rd of lords for His kindness is everlasting;
Who alone does great wonders for His kindness is everlasting;
Who made the heavens with understanding for His kindness is
everlasting;
Who stretched out the earth above the waters for His kindness
is everlasting;
Who made the great lights for His kindness is everlasting;
The sun, to rule by day for His kindness is everlasting;
The moon and stars, to rule by night for His kindness is everlast-
ing;
Who struck Egypt through their first-born for His kindness is
everlasting;
(yud)
And brought Israel out of their midst for His kindness is everlast-
ing;
With a strong
And slew mighty kings for His kindness is everlasting;
Sichon, king of the Amorites for His kindness is everlasting;
And Og, king of Bashan for His kindness is everlasting;
And gave their land as a heritage for His kindness is everlasting;
(vav)
A heritage to Israel, His servant for His kindness is everlasting;
Who remembered us in our lowliness for His kindness is everlast-
ing;
And delivered us from our oppressors for His kindness is everlast-
ing;
Who gives food to all flesh for His kindness is everlasting;
Thank the G-d of heaven for His kindness is everlasting.
(hey)
The soul of every living being shall bless Your Name, L-rd, our
G-d; and the spirit of all flesh shall always glorify and exalt Your
remembrance, our King. From the beginning to the end of the
world You are Almighty G-d; and other than You we have no King,
Redeemer and Savior who delivers, rescues, sustains, answers
and is merciful in every time of trouble and distress; we have no
King but You. [You are] the G-d of the first and of the last [gen-
erations], G-d of all creatures, L-rd of all events, who is extolled
with manifold praises, who directs His world with kindness and
His creatures with compassion. Behold, the L-rd neither slumbers
nor sleeps. He arouses the sleepers and awakens the slumber-
ous, gives speech to the mute, releases the bound, supports the
falling and raises up those who are bowed. To You alone we give
thanks. Even if our mouths were filled with song as the sea, and
our tongues with joyous singing like the multitudes of its waves,
and our lips with praise like the expanse of the sky; and our eyes
shining like the sun and the moon, and our hands spread out like
the eagles of heaven, and our feet swift like deer we would still be
unable to thank You L-rd, our G-d and G-d of our fathers, and to
bless Your Name, for even one of the thousands of millions, and
myriads of myriads, of favors, miracles and wonders which You
have done for us and for our fathers before us. L-rd, our G-d. You
have redeemed us from Egypt, You have freed us from the house
of bondage, You have fed us in famine and nourished us in plen-
ty; You have saved us from the sword and delivered us from pest-
ilence, and raised us from evil and lasting maladies. Until now
Your mercies have helped us, and Your kindnesses have not for-
saken us; and do not abandon us, L-rd our G-d, forever! Therefore,
the limbs which You have arranged within us, and the spirit and
soul which You have breathed into our nostrils, and the tongue
which You have placed in our mouth they all shall thank, bless,
praise , glorify, exalt, adore, sanctify and proclaim the sovereign-
ty of Your Name, our King. For every mouth shall offer thanks to
You, every tongue shall swear by You, every eye shall look to
You, every knee shall bend to You, all who stand erect shall, l
bow down before You, all hearts shall fear You, and every inner-
most part shall sing praise to Your Name, as it is written: "All my
bones will say, L-rd, who is like You; You save the poor from one
stronger than he, the poor and the needy from one who would rob
him!" Who can be likened to You, who is equal to You, who can
be compared to You, the great, mighty, awesome G-d, G-d most
high, Possessor of heaven and earth! We will laud You, praise
You and glorify You, and we will bless Your holy Name e, as it is
said: "[A Psalm] by David; bless the L-rd, O my soul, and all that
is within me [bless] His holy Name."
You are the Almighty G-d in the power of Your strength; the great
in the glory of Your Name; the Mighty forever, and the Awesome
in Your awesome deeds; the King who sits upon a lofty and exal-
ted throne.
He who dwells for eternity, lofty and holy is His Name. And it is
written: "Sing joyously to the L-rd, you righteous; it befits the
upright to offer praise." By the mouth of the uprple, the House of
Israel, Your Name, our King, shall be glorified with song in every
generation. For such is the obligation of all creatures before You,
L-rd, our G-d and G-d of our fathers, to thank, to laud, to praise,
to glorify, to exalt, to adore, to bless, to elevate and to honor You,
even beyond all the words of songs and praises of David son of
Yishai, Your anointed servant.
And therefore may Your Name be praised forever, our King, the
great and holy G-d and King in heaven and on earth. For to You,
L-rd, our G-d and G-d of our fathers, forever befits song and praise,
laud and hymn, strength and dominion, victory, greatness and
might, glory, splendor, holiness and sovereignty; blessings and
thanksgivings to Your great and holy Name; from the beginning to
the end of the world You are Almighty G-d. Blessed are You, L-rd,
Almighty G-d, King, great and extolled in praises, G-d of thanks-
givings, L-rd of wonders, Creator of all souls, Master of all crea-
tures, who takes pleasure in songs of praise; the only King, the
Life of all worlds. Those who have the custom to recite hymns [after the Seder] should not do so now, between this blessing and the one for the fourth cup. One must recite the blessing for the fourth cup immediately now:
Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, who creates
the fruit of the vine.
Drink in reclining position.
Concluding Blessing for the Wine:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe for the vine
and the fruit of the vine, for the produce of the field, and for the
precious, good and spacious land which You have favored to give
as an heritage to our fathers, to eat of its fruit and be satiated by
its goodness. Have mercy, L-rd our G-d, on Israel Your people,
on Jerusalem Your city, on Zion the abode of Your glory, on Your
altar and on Your Temple. Rebuild Jerusalem, the holy city,
speedily in our days, and bring us up into it, and make us rejoice
in it, and we will bless You in holiness and purity (On Shabbat
add: May it please You to strengthen us on this Shabbat day)
and remember us for good on this day of the Festival of Matzot.
For You, L-rd, are good and do good to all, and we thank You for
the land and for the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, L-rd, for the
land and for the fruit of the vine.
Afterwards say
NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!