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The HagadahPart 1

The Shabbat before Pesach is called Shabbat Hagadol.

When this occurred, the Egyptians did not react at all, so we call the day:

The Great ShabbatThe Jews were commanded to set aside a lamb for the Pesach sacrifice four days before Pesach. In the first year, that day was on Shabbat.

On that day Jews often spend long hours in synagogue learning about the laws of Pesach with their rabbis.

Any chametz that will be sold to a non-Jew should be set aside in a

secure, secluded place.

There is another method of getting rid of chametz called bitul, in which we declare our chametz ownerless.

There is some fear that this declaration might not be sincere.

There’s also a fear that if chametz is left in the home, we might come to eat it.

Therefore, before Pesach begins we must search our homes making sure they are thoroughly cleansed of all chametz, and only after that do we declare it ownerless.

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On the night before Pesach we search our homes for any remaining chametz.Before we get started we say

the following blessing:

We conduct the search using a candle, although it’s recommended to use a flashlight for places

that cannot be reached safely with a candle.

It is a widespread custom to place ten well-wrapped pieces of bread throughout the house to

find during the search.

After the search is concluded, this declaration (bitul) is made:

The chametz discovered during the search is preserved until the morning, when it is burned while once again stating a modified version

of the bitul declaration.

If Erev Pesach falls on Shabbat,

the traditional search is conducted on

Thursday night with the chametz burnt Friday morning and

the bitul declaration on Shabbat morning.

The day before Pesach is a fast day for all firstborn males, in commemoration of the firstborn Jewish males’ being saved when Hashem killed all the firstborn Egyptian males.

The custom is for firstborns to attend a siyum (celebration of the completion of a Torah text)

that morning, which will exempt them from fasting.

In order to have an appetite for the festive meal, one should refrain from eating a meal from mid-

afternoon of Erev Pesach.

One should not eat matzah that whole day. Some don’t eat matzah for the entire month of Nisan;

Some don’t the month before Pesach. Two possible reasons:

So we will eat the seder matzah with the proper appetite. To demonstrate that at the seder we eat the matzah because we are commanded to do so, not solely for our own pleasure.

The seder should be ready to go as early as possible. One reason: To ensure that the

Afikoman is eaten before midnight.

The matzah, maror, and several other symbolic items should be placed before the leader of the

seder.

Three matzot are placed before the leader. They must be whole, since we need lechem mishnah, two whole loaves required at all meals of Shabbat and

Yom Tov (plus an additional one that will be broken).

All matzah used at the seder must be what’s called matzah shemura.This means it was made for this purpose, from grain that was watched at all stages to make sure it never becomes chametz.

Maror will be placed at the top of the seder plate. The maror is either horseradish or romaine lettuce.

Each one has an advantage:Romaine lettuce is easier to eat in the quantities necessary, but must be cleansed and checked,

since it commonly has small bugs hiding within.

If horseradish is used it cannot be cooked or prepared with vinegar. It should be grated as close as possible to the seder, and sealed in a tight container to ensure it doesn’t lose its sharpness.

Another advantage to the romaine lettuce is it starts off sweet and later becomes bitter.This is like our slavery.

Initially we were paid for our labor. Only later did they make the Jews into slaves.

The seder plate should also include a roasted bone with a little meat left on it. This is supposed to represent the Pesach sacrifice, and it should be roasted on the afternoon before Pesach, since that’s when the sacrifice was offered.

This bone is NOT the actual Pesach sacrifice. It is strictly symbolic.Therefore, it is not lifted up or even pointed to during the Seder.

WRONG!!

The plate includes a boiled egg.The egg represents the chagigah sacrifice, which is the festival sacrifice.

The egg is a sign of mourning for the destroyed Temple. It’s round shape symbolizes the wheel of destiny. There was destruction, but we are holding on, waiting for a speedy rebuilding.

Also on the seder plate: Charoset.It’s made to look like and represent the mortar used to build in ancient Egypt.

It is made up of several ingredients, often including:

Red wineCinnamonApplesVarious other fruits and nuts

Everything is symbolic. For example:The red wine is symbolic of the Jewish

blood spilled by the Egyptians.

Cinnamon sticks represent the straw used to build the bricks in Egypt.

Apples are representative of apple orchards, since pious Jewish women would go out to apple orchards to give birth so the

Egyptians would not know.

Also on the seder plate: Karpas.This could be one of many things, such as:

CeleryParsleyRadishesSome say boiled potatoes

A bowl of salt water should be prepared in advanced for dipping the karpas.

Everything is arranged on the Seder plate as follows:

זרוע

כרפס

חחזרת

מרור

ביצהc

חרוסת

There should be enough wine available at the Seder that each participant can have four full cups. Ideally the full cup will be drunk, but at least more than half must be drunk.

Red wine is preferable, since it is symbolic of:

The blood of the Jewish children murdered by PharaohThe blood of the Pesach sacrifice and the Brit MilahThe plague of blood

We must recline toward our left sides when we drink the wine, as well as when we eat matzah and Korech. Therefore, it is customary to have

pillows so we can recline more comfortably.

It is a very widespread custom that at the Seder the leader

wears a kittel.