Music is essential to the sederLit. Order. The festive meal conducted on Passover night, in a specific order with specific rituals to symbolize aspects of the Exodus from Egypt. It is conducted following the haggadah, a book for this purpose. Additionally, there an ancient tradition to have a seder on Rosh Hashanah, which has been practiced in particular by Sephardi communities. This seder involves the blessing and eating of simanim, or symbolic foods. The mystics of Sefat also created a seder for Tu B'shvat, the new year of the trees.. Encourage everyone to sing along by making sure you include English songs and transliteration for Hebrew songs. Providing tambourines and other musical instruments at the table will make the evening more celebratory and will allow everyone to participate in the music of the evening even if they are hearing it for the first time. The instrument is deeply connected to the story of the Exodus as it was used by MiriamMiriam is the sister of Moses and Aaron. As Moses' and Aaron's sister she, according to midrash, prophesies Moses' role and helps secure it by watching over the young baby, seeing to it that Pharaoh's daughter takes him and that the baby is returned to his mother for nursing. During the Israelites' trek through the desert, a magical well given on her behalf travels with the Israelites, providing water, healing, and sustenance. and the Israelite women when they danced and sang at the shores of the Red Sea after having successfully left Egypt and escaped the Egyptian army (Exodus 15:20).
Betsy Platkin Teutsch makes beautiful illustrated tambourines which are wonderful to use at your seder table. Visit her on the web or purchase via Ritualwell!
Tapes and CD’s
1. The Journey Continues – Debbie Friedman
This outstanding recording of 24 beautifully arranged Hebrew and English songs parallels the Ma’yan PassoverPassover is a major Jewish holiday that commemorates the Jewish people's liberation from slavery and Exodus from Egypt. Its Hebrew name is Pesakh. Its name derives from the tenth plague, in which God "passed over" the homes of the Jewish firstborn, slaying only the Egyptian firstborn. Passover is celebrated for a week, and many diaspora Jews celebrate for eight days. The holiday begins at home at a seder meal and ritual the first (and sometimes second) night. Jews tell the story of the Exodus using a text called the haggadah, and eat specific food (matzah, maror, haroset, etc). haggadahLit. "Telling.” The haggadah is the book used at the seder table on Passover to tell the story of the Exodus, the central commandment of the holiday. It is rich in song, prayer, and legend. There are many different version of the Haggadah produced throughout Jewish history. of the same name. Debbie introduces new original songs, The Time is Now, B’chol Dor Vador and Birkat HamazonGrace after meal: traditional versions include four blessings for the food, the land, Jerusalem and God's goodness. There also are many abbreviated or alternative versions., and shares her seder-appropriate renditions of Miriam’s Song, L’chi Lach, Shir Hama-a lot, Hodu, Hal’luyah, and more, plus sings traditional Pesach songs – Ha Lachma, Ma Nishtana, Avadim Hayinu, Ma L’cha Hayam, L’shanah Ha-ba’ah, and others – like you’ve never heard them before! Lyrics and translations included. jewishmusic.com
2. A Night of Many Questions, by ShabbatShabbat is the Sabbath day, the Day of Rest, and is observed from Friday night through Saturday night. Is set aside from the rest of the week both in honor of the fact that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world. On Shabbat, many Jews observe prohibitions from various activities designated as work. Shabbat is traditionally observed with festive meals, wine, challah, prayers, the reading and studying of Torah, conjugal relations, family time, and time with friends. Unplugged
This lively recording of 30 songs accompanies the haggadah, featuring 23 traditional and seven original songs for Passover. Delightful to listen to and easy to learn from, this album will take you through the seder and keep you humming along! Includes the Four Questions, Dayyenu, Had Gadya and other old favorites, as well as Miriam’s Song by Debbie Friedman and new melodies for She-hechiyanu, Ki L’olam Hasdo, and more! Purchase here.
Other Miriam Songs (also can listen to them through jewishmusic.com):
Linda Hirshhorn’s Miriam’s Slow Snake Dance
Geela Rayzel Raphael’s Miriam
