As you liberate yourself in metaphor, think of others.

Tonight, all across the world, we gather as we have for thousands of years to pause and tell a story of bitter exile and sweet liberation.

But this night is different from all other nights. And this year is different from all other years.

Coming together from different cultures, denominations, and connections to Judaism, we are united in honouring Passover with our minds and hearts focused on liberation for all humanity. And so tonight, we stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people not in spite of our Judaism, but because of it.

Tonight we proclaim that our liberation is intertwined. We are not free from Mitzrayim - the constricted and narrow place of our oppression - until everyone is free.

Kadesh — a blessing over wine

Urchatz — ritual washing of hands without the usual blessing

Zayit—an olive, to symbolise solidarity with the Palestinian people

Karpas — eating green vegetable dipped in salt water

Yachatz — raising up and breaking the middle Matzah

Maggid — the telling of the Exodus story with commentary

Rochtazh — ritual washing of hands before eating

Motzi Matzah — the double blessing over Matzah (viewed both as tonight’s bread, and as Passover ritual)

Maror — eating bitter herbs

Korech — eating a sandwich of Matzah and bitter herbs and the charoset

Shulchan Orech — the festive meal

Tzafun — eating the Afikomen

Barech — grace after meals

Hallel — singing psalms of praise

Nirtzah — conclusion and songs

he lighting of these candles separates shadow from light, normal days from holy days, endings and new beginnings. It is a moment where we give intention to our actions. May the light of the candles guide us in our pursuit of freedom for all.

בָּרוּךְ‭ ‬אַתָּה‭ ‬יְיָ‭ ‬אֱלֹהֵינוּ‭ ‬מֶלֶךְ‭ ‬הָעוֹלָם‭, ‬אֲשֶׁר‭ ‬קִדְּשָׁנוּ‭ ‬בְּמִצְוֹתָיו‭ ‬וְצוָּנוּ‭ ‬לְהַדְלִיק‭ ‬נֵר‭ ‬שֶׁל‭ ‬יוֹם‭ ‬טוֹב

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu l’hadlik ner shel yom tov.

Blessed are You, Eternal God, sovereign of the universe, who makes us holy with Your commandments and commands us to kindle the festival light.

*Traditionally the blessing for the candles is only recited on the first two nights of Passover at sunset.

The story of Passover is contained on the Seder plate. Throughout the evening we will be invited to eat these things as part of the ritual.

Zeroa: a roasted shank bone, beet, or yam to symbolize the Pesach offering - the lamb that the Hebrews sacrificed to remember the Exodus when the Jerusalem temple existed. It also reminds us of the lamb the Hebrews were commanded to sacrifice to put its blood on their doorposts in order to be safe from the final plague.

Beytza: a roasted egg as a symbol of spring and the cycle of life.

Maror or Chazeret: bitter herbs to remind us of the bitterness of enslavement and oppression.

Charoset: a sweet mixture of fruit, nuts, wine, and spices representing the mortar that Hebrew slaves used to make bricks in Mitzrayim, as well as the sweetness of liberation.

Karpas: a green vegetable symbolizing hope, spring, new growth and renewal, and freedom.

Matzah: The unleavened bread, baked quickly, when there was not enough time for the dough to rise before the Hebrews fled Mitzrayim.

Beside the Seder plate you will see:

Miriam’s Cup, a cup of water to honor the Prophet Miriam and the leadership of countless women whose names have not been recorded.

Elijah’s Cup, a cup of wine to honor the Prophet Elijah who represents the unfulfilled potential of liberation.

Salt water, lemon juice or vinegar, symbolizing the tears of the Hebrews oppressed in Mitzrayim.

This Haggadah includes a new ritual for an olive on the seder plate to represent solidarity with Palestine. You may also choose to include watermelon - a symbol of Palestinian resistance, or strawberries - a symbol of Gaza.

Many modern seders also include an Orange, symbolizing feminist, queer and trans struggles against marginalization. And a Spoon representing nourishment and care for the sick and disabled.