Passover
BJE Pre-K Haggadah
At dinner tables around the world, families sit together to tell the story of how the Jewish people became free from slavery in Egypt. The seder is a meal at which people sing, ask questions, and tell stories. Seder means “order” in Hebrew. The Passover seder is done in the order of the Haggadah (hah-gah-DAH), which means “telling” in Hebrew.
Jewish holidays begin at sunset with candle lighting. As darkess fills the evening sky, burning candles spark brightness inside. The candles’ warm light stands for hope and freedom.

ּבָ רּוְך אַ ּתָ ה יְ יָ אֱ ֹלהֵ ינּו מֶ לֶ ְך הָ עֹו ֲ לָ ם אׁש ִ ֶ ר ק ְּד ָׁשנּו ּב ְ ְ מִ צֹותָ יו
On the first night of Passover, a blessing is added to remember
how special it is to celebrate a seder for the first
time in a year — or even for the first time ever
בָּ רוְּך אַ תָּ ה יְ יָ אֱ ֹלהֵ ינוּ מֶ לֶ ְך הָ עוֹלָ ם שֶׁ הֶ חֱ יָנוּ וְ קִ יְּ מָ נוּ וְ הִ גִּ יעָ נוּ לַ זְּ מַ ן הַ זֶּ ה.
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam,
shehecheyanu vekiyemanu vehigi’anu lazman hazeh.
Dear God, Creator of our world, thank You for keeping us
Blessing the Juice and Wine
Now, we hold up our cup of grape juice.
With this first cup, we add blessings that describe Passover as a gift—a time to thank God
and to celebrate being free.
ָָּ ברּוְך אַ ָּתָ ה יְ יָ אֱ ֹלהֵ ינּו מֶ לֶ ְך הָ עֹולָ ם ּבֹורֵ א ְּפ ְ רִ י הַ ָּגָ פֶ ן.
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech
ha’olam, borei peri hagafen.
Dear God, Creator of our world,
thank You for the delicious fruit that


Dipping Our Greens
Dip the green vegetable in salt water, then say:
ָּבָ רּוְך אַ ָּתָ ה ָיְ י אֱ ֹלהֵ ינּו מֶ לֶ ְך הָ עֹולָ ם ּבֹורֵ א ְּפ ְ רִ י הָ אֲ דָ מָ ה.
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech
ha’olam, borei peri ha’adama.
Dear God, Creator of our world, thank You
for creating fruits and vegetables that grow
out of the earth.

Matzah

The Four Questions
Passover seders are unusual dinners, with unique foods and ways of eating. Why do we have these foods and rituals? How do they help us tell the story of Passover? Asking questions out loud and answering questions in ways that tell our own stories are both signs of being a free person. Traditionally, the youngest person or people at the table get to ask the Four Questions.
מַ ה נּ ְ ִ שַׁתּנָּ ה ַהַ לּיְ לָ ה הַ זֶּ ה מִ כָּ ל הַ לֵּ ילוֹת
MAH NISHTANAH HALAILAH HAZEH MIKOL HALAYLOT? MIKOL HALAYLOT?Why is this night different from all other nights?
On all other nights we eat any kind of bread or crackers. Why on this night do we eat only matzah?
2. SHE-B’CHOL HALAYLOT, ANU OCLIN
SH’AR Y’RAKOT (2X),
HALAILAH HAZEH (4X),
MAROR (4X)
On all other nights we eat any kind of herbs. Why on this night do we eat only bitter herbs, like horseradish?
3. SHE-B’CHOL HALAYLOT, AYN ANU MAHTBILIN
AHFILU PA-AM ECHAT (2X),
HALAILAH HAZEH (4X)
SH’TAY P’AH-MIM (2X)
On all other nights we do not dip our food even one time. Why on this night do we dip two times?
4. SHE-B’CHOL HALAYLOT, ANU OCHLIN
BEN YOSHVIN UVEN M’SUBIN (2X),
HALAILAH HAZEH (4X)
KULANU M’SUBIN (2X)
On all other nights we usually eat sitting up. Why on this night do we use a pillow to lean on?