Introduction xiii Notes for the Reader Transliterations xxi Proper Names xxii Translations and Adaptations xxii Tinted Pages xxiii OPENING THE FESTIVAL Hadlakat Nerot ag Hapésa: Lighting the Pesach Candles 2 The Journey: Lighting the Way (Kavanah) 7 Birkat Haz''man: Blessing of Time and Renewal (Sheheeyánu) 8 Change: The Flow of Life (Kavanah) 11 Birkat Habat, Birkat Haben: Blessing the Children 12 BEGINNING THE SEDER The Seder Plate 17 The Seder Table 18 Kadesh Uratz: Order of the Night Kadesh: Sanctification (Kiddush) Birkat P''ri Hagéfen, K''dushat Hayom: Fruit of the Vine, Hallowing the Day (First Cup) 22 Fruit of the Vine (Kavanah) 27 Uratz: Washing Washing the Hands 29 Karpas: Spring Greens T''vilat Karpas Va''akhilato: Dipping and Eating the Spring Greens 30 Spring: The Birth of the Year (Kavanah) 33 Shirey Aviv Mim''gilat Shir Hashirim: Spring Poems from the Song of Songs 35 Yáatz: Breaking Breaking the Matzah, Hiding the Afikoman 45 Brokenness and Wholeness (Kavanah) 47 BEFORE THE MAGGID: PREPARING TO LISTEN Arba Hakushyot: The Four Questions 51 The Four Children 54 Sh''faot Va''avadim Hayínu: Once We Were Slaves 59 Ha Lama Anya: This Is the Bread of Affliction 63 Open Door (Kavanah) 66 Freedom and the Lives of Others (Kavanah) 68 B''khol Dor Vador: In Every Generation 71 Telling Oneself into the Story 75 MAGGID: THE TELLING Presentation of the Text 79 Overview and Themes 80 One: Enslavement in Egypt 82 Two: Miriam and the Women 82 Three: Moshe''s Calling 85 Four: Moshe, God, and Pharaoh--Confrontations 89 Five: Exodus from Egypt 93 Six: Miriam the Prophetess 98 Maggid: The Telling, Abbreviated 100 AFTER THE MAGGID: CELEBRATING THE STORY Kos Miryam: Miriam''s Cup 106 Dayénu: It Would Have Been Enough 108 Nonetheless 111 What Is Enough? (Kavanah) 113 Birkat P''ri Hagéfen: Fruit of the Vine (Second Cup) 114 Hallel 1, T''hilot adashot: New Poems of Praise 117 Song of Joy 118 The Feast 119 Nishmat Kol ay: The Breath of All Life 120 Hal''lu, Yif''at Tevel: Hal''lu, Beauty of the World THE FESTIVAL MEAL Rotzah: Washing Washing the Hands 126 Motzi''ah/Matzah: Unleavened Bread Birkat Haléem, Akhilat Matzah: Blessing before the Meal, Blessing for Eating Matzah 128 Maror: Bitter Herb T''vilat Maror Va''akhilato: Dipping and Eating the Bitter Herb 130 Sweet and Salt, Bitter and Sweet 133 Korekh: Sandwich Eating the "Hillel Sandwich" 134 Shulan Orekh: Setting the Table The Meal Is Served 135 Tzafun: Hidden Eating the Afikoman 137 Concealment and Revealment (Kavanah) 139 Barekh: Blessing Birkat Hamazon: Blessing after the Meal 140 Birkat P''ri Hagéfen: Fruit of the Vine (Third Cup) 142 CONCLUDING THE SEDER Kos Eliyáhu: Elijah''s Cup 146 Who Was Elijah? (Kavanah) 148 The Promise of Elijah Hallel 2, Mizmorey T''hilim: Psalms 153 B''tzet Yisra''el: When Israel Went Forth 154 Mah-l''kha Hayam: O Sea, What Alarms You 156 Y''varekh et-Bet Yisra''el: May the House of Israel Be Blessed 158 Hal''lu et-Adonay: Praise God, All You Nations 160 Min-Hametzar Karáti Yah: In Distress, I Called Out 162 Kol Rinah Vishu''ah: The Voice of Rejoicing 162 Pitu-li Sha''arey-tzédek: Open the Gates of Justice 162 Od''kha Ki Anitáni: I Give Thanks 164 Birkat P''ri Hagéfen: Fruit of the Vine (Fourth Cup) 166 Nirtzah: Fulfillment of the Seder Birkat Hagéfen Ufiryah: Blessing of Fruitfulness 168 SONGS About the Songs 175 ad Gadya: One Little Kid 176 Ead Mi Yodé''a?: Who Knows One? 188 Adir Hu: Mighty Is God 190 Karev Yom: Bring Near the Day 192 Acknowledgments.