Download a PDF of the original ritual below, first printed in 1983. Read about the background to this ritual here. Read the companion piece, “A Crust of Bread at the Seder Table.”
Because PuahPuah, like Shifra, is one of the Hebrew midwives mentioned in Exodus 1 who defies Pharaoh's orders to kill the boy babies. This first act of defiance was instrumental in leading to the Israelite exodus from Egypt. Puah is often identified in the midrash with Miriam, Moses' older sister. is not alone, tonight we create a place – makom מקום – on our 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. plate for all who have been condemned and excluded because of fear or ignorance. In making this space to include the outcast, we also make room in ourselves for more understanding. Through opening our minds, we pray that the distinctions we make between the sacred and the profane will grow out of intelligence and compassion.
ברוכה את שעוזרת לנו לפשוט פחד, ונותנת לנו כוח לתקן טעויות,
שמלמדת אותנו איך להבדיל, ושמאפשרת לנו ליצור קשרים.
B’ruchah At she’ozeret lanu lif’shot pachad, vi-notenet lanu ko’ach litaken ta’ooyot;
She-milamedet otanu aich lihavdil, vi-she-mi’afsheret lanu litzor k’sharim.
Blessed are You who helps us to discard fears and gives us strength to repair mistakes;
Who teaches us how to make distinctions and enables us to make connections.
