9.
Maggid highlights
Tell the story
Before we begin
It is more inclusive, when going through the Maggid section, for guests to recite phrases together and rotate speaking.
Everything in bold should be recited together.
Paragraph breaks denote a good time to switch speakers.
Uncover and raise the matzah.
Raise the seder plate.
Recite.
הָא לַחְמָא עַנְיָא דִּי אֲכָלוּ אַבְהָתָנָא בְּאַרְעָא דְמִצְרָיִם. כָּל דִּכְפִין יֵיתֵי וְיֵכוֹל, כָּל דִּצְרִיךְ יֵיתֵי וְיִפְסַח. הָשַּׁתָּא הָכָא, לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בְּאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל. הָשַּׁתָּא עַבְדֵי, לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בְּנֵי חוֹרִין
This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let all who are needy come and celebrate the Passover. Now we are here; next year may we be in Israel. Now we are slaves; next year may we all be free.
Ha la’ch’ma an’ya Dee’acha’lu av’ha’ta’na B’ar’ah d’meetz’ra’yeem. Kol deech’feen, yei’tei v’ yei’chol, Kol dee’tzreech, yei’tei v’ yee’fsach. Ha’sha’ta ha’cha, L’sha’na ha’ba’ah be’ar’ah d’yis’rael Ha’sha’ta av’dei, L’sha’na ha’ba’ah B’nei cho’reen.
Cover and lower the matzah.
Lower the seder plate.
Fill the Second cup of wine.
The youngest person present asks the four questions.
?מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹת
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה. הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלּוֹ מַצָּה
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת. הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מָרוֹר
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אֵין אָנוּ מַטְבִּילִין אֲפִילוּ פַּעַם אֶחָת. הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה שְׁתֵּי פְעָמִים
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין בֵּין יוֹשְׁבִין וּבֵין מְסֻבִּין. הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלָּנוּ מְסֻבִּין
Why is this night different from all other nights?
On all other nights we eat chametz and matzah. Tonight, why do we eat only matzah?
On all other nights we eat any kind of herbs. Tonight, why do we eat the bitter herbs?
On all other nights we do not dip even once. Tonight, why do we dip the greens twice?
On all other nights we eat sitting or reclining. Tonight, why do we all recline?
Ma nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilot?
Sheb’khol haleilot anu okhlin hametz umatzah; halailah hazeh, kuloh matzah.
Sheb’khol haleilot anu okhlin sh’ar y’rakot; halailah hazeh, maror.
Sheb’khol haleilot ein anu matbilin afilu pa’am ehat; halailah hazeh, shtei f’amim.
Sheb’khol haleilot anu okhlin bein yoshvin uvein m’subin; halailah hazeh, kulanu m’subin.
Uncover the matzot.
Reply.
.עֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ לְפַרְעֹה בְּמִצְריִם
We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt,
Avadim hayinu lepharo bemitzrayim
The Four Sons
בָּרוּךְ הַמָּקוֹם. בָּרוּךְ הוּא.
Blessed be the Omnipresent; blessed be He.
Baruch hu; baruch hamakom.
בָּרוּךְ שֶׁנָּתַן תּוֹרָה לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל. בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבָּעָה בָנִים דִּבְּרָה תוֹרָה. אֶחָד חָכָם, וְאֶחָד רָשָׁע, וְאֶחָד תָּם, וְאֶחָד שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאוֹל
Blessed be God who has given the Torah to His people Israel; blessed be He. The Torah speaks of four sons; a wise one, a wicked one, a simple one, and one who is not able to ask a question.
חָכָם מַה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מָה הָעֵדֹת וְהַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים, אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶתְכֶם? וְאַף אַתָּה אֱמָר-לוֹ כְּהִלְכוֹת הַפֶּסַח: אֵין מַפְטִירִין אַחַר הַפֶּסַח אֲפִיקוֹמָן
The wise son asks: “What is the meaning of the testimonies, statutes, and laws which the Lord our God has commanded us?” Explain to him the laws of the Pesach: that “no dessert may be eaten after the Passover sacrifice.”
רָשָׁע מַה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מָה הָעֲבֹדָה הַזֹּאת לָכֶם? לָכֶם ולֹא לוֹ. וּלְפִי שֶׁהוֹצִיא אֶת-עַצְמוֹ מִן הַכְּלָל, כָּפַר בָּעִקָּר. וְאַף אַתָּה הַקְהֵה אֶת-שִׁנָּיו, וֶאֱמָר-לוֹ: בַּעֲבוּר זֶה, עָשָׂה יְיָ לִי, בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם, לִי וְלֹא-לוֹ. אִלּוּ הָיָה שָׁם, לֹא הָיָה נִגְאָל
The wicked son asks: “What does this service mean to you?” By the words “to you” he implies that this service is only for you — not for himself. By excluding himself from the community, he denies God. So tell him bluntly: “This is done on account of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.” For me, not for him; had he been there, he would not have been redeemed.
תָּם מַה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מַה זֹּאת? וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו: בְּחֹזֶק יָד הוֹצִיאָנוּ יְיָ מִמִּצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים
The simple son asks: “What is this all about?” Tell him, “With a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt from the house of slavery.”
וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאוֹל, אַתְּ פְּתַח לוֹ. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ, בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר: בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה יְיָ לִי, בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם
As for the son who is unable to ask a question, you must open up the subject to him, as it is written: “You shall tell your son on that day: This is on account of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.”
Vehi She'amda, This promise...
Cover the matzah.
Raise the wine cup.
Recite.
וְהִיא שֶׁעָמְדָה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלָנוּ. שֶׁלֹא אֶחָד בִּלְבָד, עָמַד עָלֵינוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנוּ. אֶלָּא שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר, עוֹמְדִים עָלֵינוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנוּ. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַצִּילֵנוּ מִיָּדָם
This promise has sustained our fathers and us. For not only one enemy has risen against us to annihilate us, but in every generation men rise against us. But the Holy One, Blessed be He, saves us from their hand.
Vehi She’amda, La’avotainu Velanu Shelo Echad Bilvad, Amad Aleinu Lechaloteinu Ela Sheb’chol Dor VaDor Omdim Aleinu Lechaloteinu V’HaKadosh Baruch Hu Matzilenu Miyadam.
Uncover the matzah.
Lower the wine.
וַנִּצְעַק אֶל-יְיָ אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵינוּ, וַיִּשְׁמַע יְיָ אֶת-קֹלֵנוּ, וַיַּרְא אֶת-עָנְיֵנוּ, וְאֶת-עֲמָלֵנוּ, וְאֶת לַחֲצֵנוּ
“We cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers; the Lord heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.”
וַיּוֹצִאֵנוּ יְיָ מִמִּצְרַיִם, בְּיָד חֲזָקָה, וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה, וּבְמֹרָא גָדוֹל וּבְאֹתוֹת וּבְמוֹפְתִים
“The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and outstretched arm, with great awe, miraculous signs and wonders.”
Spill three drops of wine while reciting.
דָּם.
וָאֵשׁ.
וְתִימְרוֹת עָשָׁן:
Blood,
fire,
and columns of smoke.
The Ten Plagues
Spill a drop of wine while reciting each of the ten plagues.
אֵלּוּ עֶשֶׂר מַכּת שֶׁהֶבִיא הַקָדשׁ בָּרוּ הוּא עַל-הַמִצְרַיִם בְּמִצְרַיִם
These are the ten plagues which the Holy One, blessed be He, brought upon the Egyptians in Egypt, namely:
דָּם.
צְפַרְדֵּעַ.
כִּנִּים.
עָרוֹב.
דֶּבֶר.
שְׁחִין.
בָּרָד.
אַרְבֶּה.
חֹשֶׁךְ.
מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת:
1. Blood
2. Frogs
3. Vermin
4. Wild Animals
5. Cattle Disease
6. Boils
7. Hail
8. Locusts
9. Darkness
10. Death of the Firstborn
:רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הָיָה נוֹתֵן בָּהֶם סִמָּנִים
Rabbi Judah abbreviated the ten plagues by composing three words from their Hebrew initials:
Spill three drops of wine while reciting.
דְּצַ”ךְ
עֲדַ”שׁ
בְּאַחַ”ב:
D’ tzach,
Adash,
B’ achab
If one poured out wine from his or her glass or lost a significant amount from dripping wine to count the plagues, refill the glass before proceeding.
Recite the word Dayenu in unison.
Dayenu can either be sung or read.
:כַּמָּה מַעֲלוֹת טוֹבוֹת לַמָּקוֹם עָלֵינוּ
God has bestowed many favors upon us.
,אִלּוּ הוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם
,וְלֹא עָשָׂה בָהֶם שְׁפָטִים
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He brought us out of Egypt, and not executed judgments against the Egyptians…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu ho’tzee’anu mee’Meetz’ra’yeem, v’lo asa va’hem sh’fa’teem, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ עָשָׂה בָהֶם שְׁפָטִים
,וְלֹא עָשָׂה בֵאלֹהֵיהֶם
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He executed judgments against the Egyptians,
and not their gods…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu asa va’hem sh’fa’teem, v’lo asa vei’lo’hei’hem, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ עָשָׂה בֵאלֹהֵיהֶם
,וְלֹא הָרַג אֶת-בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He executed judgments against their gods
and not put to death their firstborn…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu asa vei’lo’hei’hem, v’lo ha’rag et b’cho’rei’hem, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ הָרַג אֶת-בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם
,וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת-מָמוֹנָם
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He put to death their firstborn,
and not given us their riches…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu ha’rag et b’cho’rei’hem, v’lo natan la’nu et ma’mo’nam, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת-מָמוֹנָם
,וְלֹא קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת-הַיָּם
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He given us their riches,
and not split the Sea for us…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu natan la’nu et ma’mo’nam, v’lo kara la’nu et ha’yam, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת-הַיָּם
,וְלֹא הֶעֱבִירָנוּ בְתוֹכוֹ בֶחָרָבָה
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He split the Sea for us,
and not led us through it on dry land…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu ka’ra la’nu et ha’yam, v’lo he’eh’vee’ra’nu v’to’cho beh’cha’ra’va, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ הֶעֱבִירָנוּ בְתוֹכוֹ בֶחָרָבָה
,וְלֹא שִׁקַּע צָרֵינוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He led us through it on dry land,
and not sunk our foes in it…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu he’eh’vee’ra’nu b’to’cho beh’cha’ra’va, v’lo shee’ka et tza’rei’nu b’to’cho, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ שִׁקַּע צָרֵינוּ בְּתוֹכוֹ
,וְלֹא סִפֵּק צָרְכֵּנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He sunk our foes in it,
and not satisfied our needs in the desert for forty years…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu shee’ka et tza’rei’nu b’to’cho, v’lo see’peik tzor’kei’nu ba’meed’bar ar’ba’eem shana, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ סִפֵּק צָרְכֵּנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה
,וְלֹא הֶאֱכִילָנוּ אֶת-הַמָּן
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He satisfied our needs in the desert for forty years,
and not fed us the manna…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu see’peik tzor’kei’nu ba’meed’bar ar’ba’eem sha’na, v’lo he’eh’chee’la’nu et ha’man, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ הֶאֱכִילָנוּ אֶת-הַמָּן
,וְלֹא נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת-הַשַּׁבָּת
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He fed us the manna,
and not given us the Sabbath…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu he’eh’chee’la’nu et ha’man, v’lo na’tan la’nu et ha’Shabbat, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת-הַשַּׁבָּת
,וְלֹא קֵרְבָנוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He given us the Sabbath,
and not brought us to Mount Sinai…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu na’tan la’nu et ha’Shabbat , v’lo ker’va’nu leef’nei har See’nai, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ קֵרְבָנוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי
,וְלֹא נָתַן לָּנוּ אֶת-הַתּוֹרָה
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He brought us to Mount Sinai,
and not given us the Torah…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu ker’va’nu leef’nei har See’nai, v’lo na’tan la’nu et ha’Torah, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ נָתַן לָנוּ אֶת-הַתּוֹרָה
,וְלֹא הִכְנִיסָנוּ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He given us the Torah,
and not brought us into Israel…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu na’tan la’nu et ha’Torah, v’lo heech’nee’sa’nu l’Eretz Yisrael, Dayeinu.
,אִלּוּ הִכְנִיסָנוּ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל
,וְלֹא בָנָה לָנוּ אֶת-בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה
:דַּיֵּנוּ
Had He brought us into Israel,
and not built the Temple for us…
It would have been enough. Dayenu.
Ee’lu heech’nee-sa’nu l’Eretz Yisrael, v’lo va’na la’nu et beit ha’b’chee’ra, Dayeinu.
רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל הָיָה אוֹמֵר: כָּל שֶׁלֹּא אָמַר שְׁלֹשָה דְבָרִים אֵלּוּ בַּפֶּסַח, לֹא יָצָא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן
Rabbi Gamliel used to say: Anyone who has not discussed these three things on Passover has not fulfilled their duty, namely:
פֶּסַח
מַצָּה
וּמָרוֹר
Pesach, the Passover Offering
Matzah, the Unleavened Bread
Maror, the Bitter Herbs
Look at but do not raise the shank bone.
Recite.
פֶּסַח
שֶׁהָָיוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אוֹכְלִים, בִּזְמַן שֶׁבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ הָיָה קַיָּם, עַל שׁוּם מָה? עַל שׁוּם שֶׁפָּסַח הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, עַל בָּתֵּי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַאֲמַרְתֶּם זֶבַח פֶּסַח הוּא לַיָּי, אֲשֶׁר פָּסַח עַל בָּתֵּי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם, בְּנָגְפּוֹ אֶת-מִצְרַיִם וְאֶת-בָּתֵּינוּ הִצִּיל, וַיִּקֹּד הָעָם וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ
Pesach.
Why did our fathers eat the Passover Offering during the period of the Temple? It is because the Holy One, Blessed be He, passed over the houses of our fathers in Egypt, as it is written: “You shall say: It is the Passover offering for the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children in Egypt when he smote the Egyptians and spared our houses. The people knelt and bowed down.”
Raise the matzah.
Recite.
מַצָּה
זוֹ שֶׁאָנוּ אוֹכְלִים, עַל שׁוּם מָה? עַל שׁוּם שֶׁלֹּא הִסְפִּיק בְּצֵקָם שֶׁל אֲבוֹתֵינוּ לְהַחֲמִיץ, עַד שֶׁנִּגְלָה עֲלֵיהֶם מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּגְאָלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיֹּאפוּ אֶת-הַבָּצֵק, אֲשֶׁר הוֹצִיאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם, עֻגֹת מַצּוֹת, כִּי לֹא חָמֵץ: כִּי גֹרְשׁוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם, וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהִתְמַהְמֵהַּ, וְגַם צֵדָה לֹא עָשׂוּ לָהֶם
Matzah.
Why do we eat this matzah? It is because the King of Kings, the Holy one, revealed Himself to our fathers and redeemed them before their dough had time to ferment, as it is written: “They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into unleavened cakes; for they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provision for their journey.”
Raise the maror.
Recite.
מָרוֹר
זֶה שֶׁאָנוּ אוֹכְלִים, עַל שׁוּם מָה? עַל שׁוּם שֶׁמֵּרְרוּ הַמִּצְרִים אֶת-חַיֵּי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְמָרֲרוּ אֶת-חַיֵּיהֶם בַּעֲבֹדָה קָשָׁה, בְּחֹמֶר וּבִלְבֵנִים, וּבְכָל-עֲבֹדָה בַּשָּׂדֶה: אֵת כָּל-עֲבֹדָתָם, אֲשֶׁר עָבְדוּ בָהֶם בְּפָרֶךְ
Maror.
Why do we eat this bitter herb? It is because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our fathers in Egypt, as it is written: “They made life bitter for them with hard labor, with clay and bricks, and with all kinds of labor in the field; whatever work tasks they performed were backbreaking.”
Recite the blessing for the Second Cup of Wine.
הִנְנִי מוּכָן וּמְזֻמָּן לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת כּוֹס שְׁנִיָּה מֵאַרְבַּע כּוֹסוֹת לְשֵׁם יִחוּד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ עַל-יְדֵי הַהוּא טְמִיר וְנֶעְלָם בְּשֵׁם כָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל
I am ready and prepared to observe the mitzvah of the second of the four cups of wine, for the sake of the Holy One blessed be He.
:בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Baruch Atah Ado’nai Elo’heinu Melech Ha’olam Boreh Pree Ha’ga’fen.
