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

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We set an intention to engage in Tikkun HaLev, to soften our hearts in order to heal them

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“When I heard the decree, I said nothing. / Who were the Hebrews to me, anyway?”

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Passover place cards to facilitate discussion on global Jewish diversity

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Discussion questions related to modern liberation struggles

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Lifting up the stories of refugees during the seder

Illustration of diverse people with text: Make refugees part of your Seder night conversation with the 2018 HIAS Haggadah Supplement.

“Open the gates / and let all enter…”

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“can you pour out your love / upon the ones you do not know”

Three women sit close together on a bed, comforting each other with their heads touching, in a softly lit room.

My questions lead me in and beyond myself”

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A contemporary Dayeinu

Matzo arranged on a platter with red, purple, and pink tulips on the side.

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