The Ten Plagues — Things Got … Intense
To remind us of the suffering in Egypt, we recite these plagues and remove a drop of wine for each (because even our enemies’ suffering isn’t something to celebrate):
Blood — All the water turned to blood. Gross.
Frogs — Everywhere. Imagine stepping outside and ribbit.
Lice — Personal hygiene took a hit.
Wild Beasts — Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
Cattle Disease — Bad news for Pharaoh’s barbecue plans.
Boils — Ouch. Just … ouch.
Hail & Fire — Weather got really weird.
Locusts — Biblical-level crop destruction.
Darkness — Three days of pitch black. Great for introverts, terrible for everyone else.
Death of the Firstborn — Pharaoh finally got the message.
Dayenu — Because We’re Really Good at Gratitude
Dayenu means “It would have been enough.” But we got the full package deal. (If you have a scallion or spring onion, feel free to lightly whack the person next to you every time we say Dayenu!).
Everyone in unison: If God had taken us out of Egypt … Dayenu! If He had split the sea for us … Dayenu! If He had fed us in the desert … Dayenu! If He had given us the Torah … Dayenu! If He had brought us to the Promised Land … Dayenu!
Basically, we’re extra blessed — so let’s sing (and pretend we remember all the words). The Seder Plate — What’s This Stuff?
Matzah — The original fast food.
Maror (Bitter Herbs) — A taste of hardship (literally).
Charoset — The sweet reminder that even slavery had moments of hope (also, it tastes good).
Karpas (Greens) — Spring, renewal and something to dip in salt water.
Zeroa (Shank Bone) — The sacrifice of the past (or a roasted beet, for our vegetarian friends).
Beitzah (Egg) — The circle of life, roasted so it looks festive.
Let’s Eat! (Finally)
Now that we’ve fulfilled our storytelling duty, we feast! Dig in — after all, we suffered through plagues and exile so we could enjoy this brisket. And if we’re daring, the gefilte fish. But first, put a bit of charoset on a piece of matzah and enjoy — it’s the real Passover sandwich.
Conclusion — Next Year in Jerusalem (or At Least with a Better Haggadah)
We end our Seder with the hope for a world free from suffering, injustice and dry matzah.
L’chaim!