Passover Seder Service

Our family together with our neighbors decided to observe Passover this year and have a Passover dinner/Seder Service.  I am sure the whole thing wasn't entirely Kosher, but the event was done respectfully and the kids enjoyed it. Here are some notes I took about putting on a Seder Service.

LDS Passover Seder Haggadah:

Zeroa- roasted lamb, Jesus Christ is the lamb slain from the foundation of world.

Beitza- boiled egg, life and new beginning.

Maror- bitter herb, bitterness of captivity

Charoset- mixed fruit and nuts, bricks and mortar represent the principle of labor and hard work.

Karpas- parsley dipped in salt water, hope for the future and tears of the past.

Matzah- unleaveded bread- Israel left Egypt with haste

Opening Prayer

Yom Tov = happy day.  The Passover story is told in our own language as if we ourselves had been freed from bondage and slavery.  The story of liberation from slavery is eveyone's story.

Kadesh- reciting the Kiddush- 

[drink first of 4 glasses of wine while reclined] Light candles.  Sabbath= God before mammon, God's love for all life. Jew, Gentile, heathen, slave, animal.

"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."

U'rechtaz- washing hands

Karpas- parsley dipped in salt water

Yachatz- breaking middle matzah

Wrap the larger piece in a napkin and hide.

Maggid- telling the story

"This is the bread of affliction which our forefathers ate in the land of Egypt.  Let all those who are hungry come and eat with us.  Let all those who are in need come and share our meal.  This year we are here.  Next year may we all be in the land of Israel.  This year we are slaves.  Next year may we all be free."

4 Questions:

1. How is this night different from all other nights?

2. Why do we eat unleavened bread?

3. Why do we eat bitter herbs?

4. Why do we dip our vegetables?

"Exodus 12:25-27 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped."

[Drink second cup of wine.] 

Read Psalm 113

Rachtzah- washing hands

Motzi Matzah- blessing meal and matzah

Shulchan Orech- the meal

Tzafun- the afikomen

[3rd cup of wine]

Barech- saying grace

Pour cup of wine for Elijah

Open the door for Elijah

Hallel- psalm of praise

Psalm 115-118; 136

[Drink 4th cup of wine]

Nirtzah- conclusion

"And so we end the Passover Seder.  We have conducted it according to custom, according to law. Just as we have been privileged to celebrate it in the future as well.  Pure One, God in Purity, and Oneness in heaven, restore Your countless people.  Speedily lead us redeemed to Zion in joy. Next year in Jerusalem."

Songs and Closing Prayer