This haggadah is intended to be used for a seder conducted over a video chat app such as Zoom, and it’s structured such that one person at a time speaks or sings, while others are muted.

Most video chat apps are not secure, and will monitor what everyone is saying. This haggadah includes a surveillance warning during the Seder.

This haggadah assumes that you already know how to use Zoom. If you don’t know how to use Zoom, you should practice using the app before the Seder. If you’re hosting, try a “rehearsal Seder” with a few people.

Food and Drink

The rituals of the Seder call for the following food items:

Matzah
Maror (horseradish)
Charoset (nuts, raisins, and spices)
Wine (or any “fruit of the vine”, including V8 juice)
A green vegetable (typically parsley)
Salt water
A prepared dinner or snack
For havdalah: Wine, spices, and a lit candle

You should try to have as many of these as possible (especially if you are hosting) but you can fulfill the rituals as long as at least one person on the video chat has the required ingredient (such as wine). If no one has ingredients, this haggadah offers suggestions for alternative ingredients.

Introduction

What to Expect

Whoever hosts the video conference says:

Content Warnings: COVID-19, food, racism, and genocide.

The invention of the Seder was an act of resilience in the face of catastrophe. Two thousand years ago, the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans. Passover used to be celebrated at the Second Temple; no Temple, no Passover. But the surviving rabbis devised a new ritual, the Seder, which did not require a Temple. And so the observance of Passover continued from generation to generation.

This haggadah is written for a virtual video-chat Passover Seder for the year 5781, 2021 according to the secular calendar, and the second year of the COVID-19 Plague. As our ancestors did time and time again, so to will we reshape our rituals to suite our needs.

Please note that most video chat apps, including Zoom, aren’t secure means of communication. Zoom will monitor everything we say and gather data.

The same person continues:

Speech and song are core to a Seder. However, it is impossible in a video chat for more than one person to speak at a time; only one person will sing or speak at a time. When it is your turn, please un-mute yourself. If there’s anyone at the Seder that you don’t know, please first introduce yourself. Once your turn is done, please mute yourself again.

Let’s try it now. Will someone read the next section?

A new person says:

You might still want to discuss the haggadah, the Passover story, and so on with other people at the Seder. In this virtual Seder, be careful not to interrupt the speaker because the audio will glitch. If you’re the speaker, try not to ramble, because as long as you’re talking, no one else can. If you want to kibbitz, please use the text chat window.

Will someone read the next section?

A new person says:

Some parts of the Seder, such as blessing the wine, require food or drink that some people won’t have, or maybe no one has them. Whoever is speaking will ask something like “Will someone with a glass of wine bless the wine?” If you want to speak but you don’t have the required ingredients (in this case, a glass of wine), every blessing has alternative ingredients that you can use instead.

Mourner’s Kaddish

The same speaker says:

So much has changed since we last gathered for Passover. Last year, we were poised on the brink of tragedy. Since then, that tragedy has occurred, and continues to occur. So many lived have been needlessly lost. In remembrance of all who gathered with us for Passover last year that have since perished, we will begin this Seder with a Mourner’s Kaddish.

Traditionally, there are many rules regarding the Mourner’s Kaddish: Who can say it, how many people are required, for whom it is recited, and so on. Tonight, we will recite the Mourner’s Kaddish as if all of those rules have been fulfilled. Any who wish to recite it aloud it aloud (while muted) may do so, for we are all mourners.

Will someone lead the Mourner’s Kaddish for us?

A new person recites aloud, and everyone else recites while muted:

Exalted and hallowed be God’s great name in the world which God created, according to plan.	Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba (amen) b’alma di-v’ra chirutei, v’yamlich malchutei	יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ
May God’s majesty be revealed within our lifetime and the life of all Israel — speedily, imminently, to which we say Amen.	b’chayeichon uvyomeichon uvchayei d’chol beit yisrael, ba’agala uvizman kariv, v’im’ru: “amen.”	בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
Blessed be God’s great name to all eternity.	Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya.	יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא
Blessed, praised, honored, exalted, extolled, glorified, adored, and lauded be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing, praise, and comfort. To which we say Amen. May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and all Israel, to which we say Amen. May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace to us and to all Israel. To which we say Amen.	Yitbarach v’yishtabach, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam v’yitnaseh, v’yithadar v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’kud’sha, b’rich hu, l’eila min-kol-birchata v’shirata, tushb’chata v’nechemata da’amiran b’alma, v’im’ru: “amen.” Y’hei shlama raba min-sh’maya v’chayim aleinu v’al-kol-yisrael, v’im’ru: “amen.” Oseh bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol-yisrael, v’imru: “amen.”	יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא בעשי”ת: לְעֵלָּא לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן עושה שָׁלום בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן

Source: Hebrew: sefaria.org, “Kaddish Yatom (Mourner’s Kaddish)”
Source: English and transliteration: myjewishlearning.com “Mourner’s Kaddish in Aramic Transliteration”

Havdalah

The first Seder of Passover 5781 begins on a Saturday evening and so it must begin with a Havdalah service. If you’re using this haggadah for the second Seder, a different year, etc. you should skip this section.

Blessing of the Wine

Whoever last spoke asks:

This Seder begins as Shabbat ends. Will someone with wine begin our Havdalah service, marking the conclusion of Shabbat, with a blessing over the wine?

A new person with wine pours wine into the wineglass and raises the wineglass for all to see. Alternative ingredients: a glass of any fruit of the vine (such as V8 juice), or a glass of water.

The new person sings:

Blessed are you, LORD our God, who has created the fruit of the vine.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech ha’olam borey p’ri hagafen

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן

Source: ritualwell.org, “Kiddush Over Wine“

Everyone drinks.

Blessing of the Spices

Whoever last sang asks:

Will someone with spices offer a blessing over them?

A new person with a spicebox raises the spices for all to see. Alternative ingredients: any cooking spice, or fragrant flowers.

The new person sings:

Blessed are You, LORD our God, who has created many kinds of spices.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech ha’olam borey miney v’samim

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְשָׂמִים

Source: myjewishlearning.com “Havdalah: Taking Leave of Shabbat”

The same person smells the spices.

Blessing of the Flame

Whoever last sang asks:

Will someone with a Havdalah candle bless its flame?

A new person with a Havdalah candle lights it and raises it for all to see. Alternative ingredients: any candle, or a lamp.

Everyone else raises their fingers to the the light of the flame such that it (symbolically) reflects off of their fingernails.

The new person sings:

Blessed are You, LORD our God, who has created the light of fire.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech ha’olam borey m’orey ha’eysh

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ

Source: myjewishlearning.com “Havdalah: Taking Leave of Shabbat”

Conclusion of Havdalah

Whoever last sang continues:

Blessed are You, LORD our God, who distinguishes between the sacred and the profane, between light and darkness, between the seventh day and the six days of the week. Blessed are You, who distinguishes between the sacred and the profane.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech ha’olam ha’mavdil beyn kodesh l’chol, beyn or-l’choshekh, beyn yom ha’sh’vi’i l’sheshet y’mai ha’ma’aseh baruch atah adonai ha’mavdil beyn kodesh l’chol

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחוֹל בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹשֶׁךְ בֵּין יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחוֹלבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחוֹל

Source: myjewishlearning.com “Havdalah: Taking Leave of Shabbat”

Whoever is holding a Havdalah candle extinguishes it.

1. Kadesh

Sanctify

Blessing of the Candles

Whoever last spoke asks:

Will someone with candles light them and say the blessing?

A new person who has candles lights the candle and raises it for all to see. Alternative ingredients: Any candle, or a lamp.

Everyone covers their eyes.

A new person sings:

Blessed are you, LORD our God, who has commanded us to kindle these yom tov lights.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzevanu l’halikner shel yom tov

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב

Source: ritualwell.org, “Holiday Candle Lighting Blessings”

The First Cup

Everyone who has wine pours a little into a wineglass.

The same person asks:

Will someone with wine bless the first cup of wine?

A new person with wine pours wine into the wineglass and raises the wineglass for all to see. Alternative ingredients: a glass of any fruit of the vine (such as V8 juice), or a glass of water.

The new person sings:

Blessed are you, LORD our God, who has created the fruit of the vine.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech ha’olam borey p’ri hagafen

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן

Source: ritualwell.org, “Kiddush Over Wine“

Everyone with wine drinks.

A Socialist Blessing Over Water

The same person says:

In generations past, there were innumerable Jewish leftists–socialists, Bundists, communists, anarchists, Black Panthers–who fought to overthrow fascism, capitalism, and apartheid, and establish a better future. Tonight, we will recite passages from several twentieth-century leftist haggadot, that the memory of the revolutionaries who came before us inspire us to take action today.

Will someone offer a socialist toast with a glass water?

A new person pours a glass of water and raises the glass for all to see.

The new person recites:

To our people, to its future, to its courage, to its hope, to a brighter brave tomorrow, free of chain and free of rope.

Source: Haggadah published by the Workmen’s Circle in Los Angeles, 1955. From Of Moses and Marx – Folk Ideology and Folk History in the Jewish Labor Movement, p. 169.

Shecheyanu

Recite this prayer only for the first Seder.

The same person asks:

Will someone sing a shecheyanu, to praise God for allowing us to reach this day?

A new person sings:

Blessed are You Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe who has given us life, sustained us, and allowed us to reach this day.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech shehecheyanu v’kiamnu v’heegee’anu lazman hazeh

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Source: netivyah.org, “The Shehecheyanu: A Blessing to Commemorate Special Occasions“

3. Ur’Chatz

Hand-Washing

Whoever last spoke continues:

This is “ur’chatz”, or “hand-washing”. When I say “go”, you will go wash your hands. I’ll wait a minute for everyone to come back. OK… go!

Wait for everyone to wash their hands and return.

4. Karpas

Dip The Vegetables

The same person asks:

Will someone with karpas, or green vegetables, and saltwater, recite the blessing and dip the karpas into the saltwater?

A new person with raises karpas (typically parsley) and saltwater for all to see. Alternative ingredients: any green vegetable.

Blessed are you, LORD our God, who has created the fruit of the Earth.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech ha’olam borei p’ri ha-adamah

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה

Source: opensiddur.org, “Haggadah for Pesach”

Everyone with karpas and saltwater dips the karpas into the saltwater three times and then eats it.

5. Yachatz

Break the Middle Matzah

The same person asks:

Will someone with three matzot break the middle matzah?

A new person with three matzot removes the middle matzah and breaks it in half. They raise the larger half for all to see. Alternative ingredients: Three crackers, or three potato chips.

The new person says:

Traditionally, I would hide this larger half as the “afikomen”, which after dinner everyone would search for… But I won’t, because you might have trouble finding it here in my home!

Nevertheless, we will search for it later…

6. Maggid

Tell The Story

Uncover the Matzah

The same person asks:

Will someone teach us about matzah?

A new person says:

Matzah is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let none go hungry or without a home, for basic sustenance and shelter is a human right.

Will someone continue to teach us about matzah?

A new person says:

The following is from the Israeli Black Panthers Haggadah, written in 1971 about “the pain, discrimination, and oppression that we were subjected to as part of Israel’s policy of separation between Jews from Muslim countries and Jews from Eastern Europe.”

This is the bread of affliction that our parents ate in Morocco and Egypt
And we did not know that in Jerusalem we wouldn’t even have that.
In Morocco, all who are hungry could come and eat.
In Jerusalem all this was forgotten.
In Morocco they promised us that we were being taken to freedom.
But it turns out that they pushed us into slavery.

Source: panthershaggadah.com, “The Israeli Black Panthers Haggadah”

The Four Questions

The same person asks:

Will the youngest person at this Seder recite the four questions?

The youngest person at the Seder recites:

How is this Passover different from all other Passovers?

On all other Passovers, some of us were content and some of us were afraid. But on this Passover, we are all afraid.

On all other Passovers, we ate together. But on this Passover, we eat apart.

On all other Passovers, some of us were well and some of us were sick. But on this Passover, many of us are sick.

On all other Passovers, we were distracted. But on this Passover, we are vigilant and hopeful.

The Four Children

The same person asks:

The Torah speaks of four types of children. Will someone teach us about them?

A new person says:

The wise child asks: “What is the meaning of God’s commandments and judgments?” Answer this child: “Was it God who gave such laws, that a small part of humankind shall take all of what the rest have and waste and squander and live in a sea of pleasure?”

The wicked child asks: “Work makes life sweet! What is your work? Why should you not work?” By commanding us to work, this child rises above the community. By rising above the community, this child denies God’s fundamental truths of equality and freedom; we will have nothing to do with this child.

The simple child asks: “What is all this? Why can’t we discuss this civilly?” You shall answer them: “Through our cries we freed ourselves from Egypt and through our cries now we will free ourselves again.”

And for the child that does not know enough to ask: Tell this child the story of the servitude of our past and of our present.

Source: Haggadah published by the United Jewish Labor Bund in Russia and Poland, April 1900. Translation from Of Moses and Marx – Folk Ideology and Folk History in the Jewish Labor Movement, p. 157.

The Passover Story

The same person asks:

We celebrate Passover to remember an ancient story of slavery, plague, and, eventually, liberation. Will someone begin the story of Passover?

A new person says:

Our ancestors were wandering seasonal workers who immigrated to the land of Egypt. There they became numerous and powerful.

Source: Deuteronomy 25:5, NRSV

The same person asks:

Will someone continue the story?

A new person says:

Then a new king arose over Egypt who did not know the Israelites. And he said to his people: “Look, the Israelite workers are so numerous. If they ally with our other enemies, we will be forced to give in to their demands. Let us deal shrewdly with them, so that they may not increase.” So Pharaoh set taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them; but the more they were oppressed, the more they resisted and spread out amongst the other workers in the land, so that the Egyptians came to fear the Israelites.

Source: Exodus 1:8-12, Jewish Study Bible

The same person asks:

Will someone continue the story?

A new person says:

There was a wealthy Hebrew named Moses who lived in the court of the Pharaoh. One day, this Moses witnessed an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. He betrayed the wealthy elites of the land, and struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. Then he fled to the land of Midian.

Source: Exodus 2:10-15, Jewish Study Bible

The same person asks:

Will someone continue the story?

A new person says:

Moses returned to the land of Egypt, where his people, the Israelite workers, were striking against Pharaoh. Their suffering had only grown in his absence; their work was unsafe, and unclean. Moses said to Pharaoh: “Let my people go!” But Pharaoh refused.

The same person asks:

Will someone continue the story?

A new person says:

Ten times, Egypt was struck by plague. Each time, Pharaoh could have freed its most vulnerable people rather than let them suffer. But each time, his heart hardened.

Let us now recite the plagues together.

After saying each plague, dip your finger into the wine and dab it on the plate.

blood
frogs
lice
beasts
cattle
boils
hail
locusts
darkness
death of the firstborn

The same person continues:

This year, our own Pharaohs have hardened their hearts countless times and in countless ways. And every time, we’ve endured yet another plague.

Will someone recite the plagues and calamities that have befallen us?

A new person recites:

After saying each plague, dip your finger into the wine and dab it on the plate.

The millions of preventable COVID-19 deaths
The mass unemployment and evictions
The pogroms in response to the George Floyd Uprising
Mass incarceration and immigration concentration camps
The wildfires of the American Pacific Coast, the ice storm of Texas, and other manifestations of climate collapse

The same person asks:

Will someone conclude the Passover story?

A new person says:

But at last, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, God delivered us from the Egyptians.

Source: Exodus 6:6, Jewish Study Bible

The same person continues:

Our modern plagues are of our own making, not God’s, and thus we can’t rely on divine intervention to heal our broken world. But one day, we will guide ourselves out of the land of Pharaoh.

Dayeinu – It Would’ve Been Enough

The same person asks:

Will someone sing dayeinu?

While everyone else is muted, a new person sings:

ilu hotzi hotzi anu
hotzi anu mimitzrayim
hotzi anu mimitzrayim
dayeinu!

di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
dayeinu!

di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
dayeinu dayeinu!

ilu natan natan lanu
natan lanu et hashabbat
natan lanu et hashabbat
dayeinu!

di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
dayeinu dayeinu!

di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
dayeinu dayeinu!

ilu natan natan lanu
natan lanu et hatorah
natan lanu et hatorah
dayeinu!

di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
dayeinu dayeinu!

di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
di- di- yeinu!
dayeinu dayeinu!

In English

If God had brought us out of Egypt:
It would’ve been enough!

If God had given us Shabbat:
It would’ve been enough!

If God has given us the Torah:
It would’ve been enough!

Lo Dayeinu – It Will Not Be Enough

The same person asks:

Everyone, please un-mute yourselves now.

Wait for everyone to un-mute.

Will someone recite lo dayeinu: “It Will Not Be Enough”?

A new person says, with all responding in unison to each line:

Speaker (Call)	Everyone (Response)
If COVID-19 vaccines are available to all but financial relief is withheld:	It will not be enough!
If financial relief is offered but is insufficient:	It will not be enough!
If financial relief is sufficient for now but withheld later:	It will not be enough!
If financial relief extends into the future but the ruling class retains its power over us:	It will not be enough!
If the ruling class is overthrown but capitalism persists:	It will not be enough!
If capitalism persists but we continue to destroy the climate:	It will not be enough!
If we cease to destroy the climate but we fail to heal the injustices of the past:	It will not be enough!

The same person continues:

Thank you. Please mute yourselves again.

Wait for everyone to mute.

The Second Cup

Everyone who has wine pours a little into a glass.

The same person asks:

Will someone with wine bless the second cup of wine?

The new person sings:

Blessed are you, LORD our God, who has created the fruit of the vine.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech ha’olam borey p’ri hagafen

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן

Source: ritualwell.org, “Kiddush Over Wine“

Everyone with wine drinks.

A Socialist Blessing Over Water

The same person asks:

Will someone offer a socialist toast with a glass water?

A new person pours a glass of water and raises the glass for all to see.

The new person recites:

The chains of bondage forged in Egypt
Into the sea were cast
And every year we recall with awe
The miracle unsurpassed.

Source: Haggadah published by the Workmen’s Circle in Los Angeles, 1955. From Of Moses and Marx – Folk Ideology and Folk History in the Jewish Labor Movement, p. 174.

7. Rachtzah

Ritual Hand-Washing

The same person says:

This is “rachtzah”, or “handwashing with a blessing”. Traditionally, we don’t use soap, but you might still want to. When you wash your hands, you can say the prayer below to yourself.

When I say “go”, you will go wash your hands. OK… go!

Everyone says the prayer below to themselves after washing their hands.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech ha’olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzevanu al n’tilat yadayim

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אַדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדַיִם

Source: myjewishlearning.com, “Hand Washing“

Wait for everyone to wash their hands and return.

8. Motzi

Bless the Bread

The same person asks:

Will someone with matzah say a motzi?

A new person with matzah raises the matzah for all to see. Alternative ingredients: A cracker, or a potato chip.

The new person sings or recites:

Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Sovereign of the universe, who brings bread from the earth.

baruch atah adonai aloheynu melech ha’olam ha’motzi lechem min-ha’aretz.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶֽחֶם מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ

Source: opensiddur.org, “Haggadah for the Passover Seder, with an English translation by Dr. Eve Feinstein“

9. Matzah

Bless the Matzah

The same person asks:

Will someone with matzah bless the matzah?

A new person with matzah raises the matzah for all to see. Alternative ingredients: A cracker, or a potato chip.

The new person sings or recites:

Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Sovereign of the universe, who commanded us to eat matzah.

baruch atah adonai aloheynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tseevanu al-achilat matzah.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֺתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל־אֲכִילַת מַצָּה׃

Source: opensiddur.org, “Haggadah for Pesah: An English Translation“

Everyone who has matzah eats the matzah.

10. Maror

The Bitter Herbs

The same person asks:

Will someone with maror, or bitter herbs, bless and eat the maror?

A new person with maror raises the maror for all to see. Alternative ingredients: something bitter-tasting.

The new person recites:

Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has commanded us to eat bitter herbs.

baruch atah adonai aloheynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tseevanu al-achilat maror.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל־אֲכִילַת מָרוֹר׃

Source: opensiddur.org, “Haggadah for Pesah: An English Translation“

Everyone who has maror eats the maror.

The same person asks:

Will someone teach of another Seder in which there was no maror?

A different person says:

In April 1943, at the height of the Final Solution, the last remaining Jews of Warsaw huddled together in bunkers under their besieged ghetto to live their final hours as proud Jews, reading the Passover Haggadah. The Seder began. Feivel Milchberg had managed to organize matzah. “I don’t know how he got it,” Itzchak [Milchberg] recalls, although he remembers there were no bitter herbs. “There was plenty of bitterness already,” he says.

Source: aish.com, “The Last Seder in the Warsaw Ghetto“

11. Korech

The “Hillel Sandwich”

Everyone takes two bits of matzvah and places a bit of horseradish and charoset in between them. Alternative ingredients: crackers, raisins or other dried fruit, and something bitter-tasing.

Everyone eats the “sandwich”.

12. Shulchan Orech

The Meal

Whoever last spoke says:

Dinner time! We will eat for thirty minutes.

You should set a different time for dinner depending on the needs of your group.

The same person continues:

While you’re eating, you can try to find the afikomen too… See “Tzafun”, below.

You can un-mute now if you want.

13. Tzafun

Finding the Afikomen

Search for the afikomen while eating dinner.

14. Barech

Blessings

Whoever last spoke says:

We now resume the seder… Please mute yourselves again.

Wait for everyone to mute.

The Third Cup

Everyone who has wine pours a little into a wineglass.

The same person asks:

Will someone with wine bless the third cup of wine?

The new person sings:

Blessed are you, LORD our God, who has created the fruit of the vine.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech ha’olam borey p’ri hagafen.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן

Source: ritualwell.org, “Kiddush Over Wine”

Everyone with wine drinks.

A Socialist Blessing Over Water

The same person asks:

Will someone offer a socialist toast with a glass water?

A new person pours a glass of water and raises the glass for all to see.

The new person recites:

The hour of joy will soon return
In deepest faith our hearts will blend
For brighter days we need not yearn
All pain and sorrow soon will end.

Source: Haggadah published by the Workmen’s Circle in Los Angeles, 1955. From Of Moses and Marx – Folk Ideology and Folk History in the Jewish Labor Movement, p. 182.

Birkat

The same person asks:

Will sing or say Birkat Hamazon?

A new person sings:

Let us say grace!
Praised be the name of God, now and forever.
Praised be the name of God, now and forever.
Praised be our God, of whose abundance we have eaten.
Praised be our God, of whose abundance we have eaten, and by whose goodness we live.
Praised be our God, of whose abundance we have eaten, and by whose goodness we live.
Praised be the Eternal God.
Sovereign God of the universe, we praise You: Your goodness sustains the world. You are the God of grace, love, and compassion, the Source of bread for all who live; for Your love is everlasting. In Your great goodness we need never lack for food; You provide food enough for all. We praise You, O God, Source of food for all who live.

raboty, n’varech!
y’hi shem adonai m’vorach mei-atah v’ad olam
y’hi shem adonai m’vorach mei-atah v’ad olam
birshut hachevrah, n’vareich Eloheinu she-achalnu mishelo
baruch eloheinu she-achalnu mishelo uv’tuvo chayinu
baruch eloheinu she-achalnu mishelo uv’tuvo chayinu.
baruch hu uvaruch sh’mo.
baruch atah adonai, eloheinu melech haolam,
hazan et haolam kulo b’tuvo, b’chein b’chesed uv’rachamim.
hu notein lechem l’chol basar ki l’olam chasdo.
uv’tuvo hagadol tamid lo chasar lanu,
v’al yechsar lanu, mazon l’olam va-ed,
baavur sh’mo hagadol.
ki hu el zan um’farneis lakol umeitiv lakol,
umeichin mazon l’chol b’riyotav asher bara.
baruch atah adonai, hazan et hakol.

רַבּוֹתַי, נְבָרֵךְ
יְהִי שֵׁם יְיָ מְבֹרָךְ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם
בִּרְשׁוּת מְרָנָן וְרַבָּנָן וְרַבּוֹתַי, נְבָרֵךְ שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלוֹ
בָּרוּךְ שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ חָיִינוּ
בָּרוּךְ שֶׁאָכַלְנוּ מִשֶּׁלוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ חָיִינוּ
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַזָּן אֶת הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בְּטוּבוֹ בְּחֵן בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים, הוּא נֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל־בָּשָׂר כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ הַגָּדוֹל תָּמִיד לֹא חָסַר לָנוּ וְאַל יֶחְסַר לָנוּ מָזוֹן לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל כִּי הוּא אֵל זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לַכֹּל וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל וּמֵכִין מָזוֹן לְכָל־בְּרִיּוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ הַזָּן אֶת הַכֹּל

Source: Hebrew: sefaria.org

Source: English and Transliteration: reformjudiasm.org

The Cup of Elijah

The same person asks:

Who will teach us about Elijah the Prophet?

A new person says:

Elijah is the champion of the oppressed. He brings hope, cheer, and relief to the downtrodden. There is a legend that Elijah visits every Seder to wish everyone a year of peace and freedom. He is the harbinger of good tidings and peace. He will foretell the coming of the Messiah.

This year, we will not open our doors for Elijah, for this is a time of quarantine and isolation. Next year, may our doors be opened to all visitors, our minds to learning, and our hearts to those who are less fortunate.

Source: haggadot.com, “Elijah” by Alysia Robbins

15. Hallel

Songs

The Fourth Cup

Everyone who has wine pours a little into a wineglass.

The same person asks:

Will someone with wine bless the fourth cup of wine?

A new person with wine pours wine into the wineglass and raises the wineglass for all to see. Alternative ingredients: a glass of any fruit of the vine (such as V8 juice), or a glass of water.

The new person sings:

Blessed are you, LORD our God, who has created the fruit of the vine.

baruch atah adonai eloheynu melech ha’olam borey p’ri hagafen

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָפֶן

Source: ritualwell.org, “Kiddush Over Wine”

Everyone with wine drinks.

A Socialist Blessing Over Water

The same person asks:

Will someone offer a socialist toast with a glass water?

A new person pours a glass of water and raises the glass for all to see.

The new person recites:

We drink to faith, we drink to hope
No, our heads we do not bow
Free of chain, and free of rope
The future shines before us now.

Source: Haggadah published by the Workmen’s Circle in Los Angeles, 1955. From Of Moses and Marx – Folk Ideology and Folk History in the Jewish Labor Movement, p. 182.

Who Knows One?

The same person continues:

“Hallel” is the time in the seder to sing. For these songs, each person is going to sing one verse. Unlike the rest of the seder, we’re not going to ask each other to volunteer… When you want to sing, un-mute yourself and sing it!

This will probably be chaotic. But let’s face it… Passover songs are always a little chaotic.

One person is going to say each “verse” of Who Knows One. But there’s a twist: You have to say all of it as fast as you can! I’ll start:

Say it as fast as you can!!

Who knows one?
I know one.
One is the God in Heaven and on Earth.