Parts of the Seder

A finger points to Hebrew text in a book, focusing on large green letters.

The Passover seder is traditionally divided into 15 steps, sometimes viewed as the steps from slavery toward freedom. In addition to the traditional 15 steps, our listing provides the constituent parts of maggid, the telling of the Passover story, as well as several other rituals commonly found at the sederOne of the crucial elements of slavery was that the Jews were not able to form themselves as a viable community. Egyptian taskmasters rigidly regulated their lives, preventing any sense of communion and solidarity. And so, on Pesakh night, the essence of the seder is to constitute ourselves as a Jewish community. Three quintessential acts define Jewish community, and all three of those are at the core of our seder experience: we break bread, demonstrating our covenantal relationship to each other and to God; we learn Torah; and we invite the poor and hungry to share our meal with us, demonstrating that our community is one which extends itself to those in need. 

Latest Rituals

“I am walking / because there was no sense in staying”
woman walking barefoot in desert wearing loose striped dress with hair blowing in the wind
“Not that we didn’t feel responsible, but really it was God”
closeup of wine glass and person's hand holding a haggadah
“Miriam’s timbrel still echoes among the rocks”
Woman in white dress walking in desert landscape, holding feathers, with rocks and expansive sky in the background.
“The last three years have not been easy, even for the children who are acting like they have been”
Four children in colorful rain boots stand on a muddy path, wearing cozy winter jackets.
Statements of gratitude paired with each of the 15 steps of the Passover seder
Three people sitting at a dining table, reading from a booklet, with candles and green decorations.
“However we have abused ourselves or others, something within us remains pure”
a woman places her hand on her heart
“We try to still this sweet / and fragile moment together”
Close-up of stacked crispy flatbreads with a bumpy texture, partially in focus.
“Seder participants select a decorated pillowcase”
a seder plate
“We break open / To all that we will encounter”
Person reading a book at a table with a glass of amber liquid in the foreground.

A contribution to Pittsburgh’s Healer’s Haggadah

Stack of matzah next to a glass of red wine on a lace doily, against a plain background.

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