INN Staff
(IsraelNN.com) After weeks of preparations and making sure no leavened products, not even a crumb, are left in the home, Jewish families did bedikat chametz ("search" for leavened products) on Sunday night and biur chametz (burning of such products) this morning, repeating the prayer that affirms that anything that was missed is considered dust of the earth. For the symbolism of chametz, click here.
The Passover holiday begins this evening with candlelighting, synagogue service and the
traditional Seder, during which families get together to read the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The Haggadah, the book from which the story is read, contains songs that have been sung for generation upon generation, such as "Dayenu" (It would have sufficed us) , "Chad Gadya" (One kid, one kid) and Echad Mi Yodea (Who knows one? One is our G-d in heaven and on earth). The Haggadah
This year, we hope, will be the last year we ask you to print out this placecard and set it at an empty place at your Seder.
gives a list of activities that make up the Seder ceremony, from saying the Kiddush prayer over wine, of which four cups are drunk, to eating the Afikoman (hidden piece of matzah) at the end of the festive meal. For ideas on the Haggadah, click here.
The Seder Plate contains different symbols which are discussed at the table, including bitter herbs, a shankbone, a roasted egg, charoset (mixture resembling mortar), green vegetable, all of which have special meanings. The youngest child begins the Seder by asking Four Questions about the strange sights he sees: the Matzah, bitter herbs, dipping food, leaning on cushions. Later, the Haggadah tell of four types of sons who must be told about the Exodus. The Torah commands us answer, and to tell our children the story of the Exodus as if it had just occurred.
This year, we hope, will be the last year we ask you to print out this placecard and set it at an empty place at your Seder table in honor of all of our Captives and MIAs. The. English JPEG is:
http://www.jonathanpollard.org/2010/Seder_card_English.jpg
and PDF:
http://www.jonathanpollard.org/2010/Seder_card_English.pdf
May we merit the freeing of our captives, return of our MIA's and the complete Redemption.
Our Sage said: "In the month of Nissan we were redeemed from [Egyptian] bondage, and in the month of Nissan, we will be redeemed once again."
Chag Kasher VeSameach--a Kosher and Festive Holiday-- from INN!
