The First Cup

Awakening

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei peri hagafen.
We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu vekiyemanu vehigi’anu lazman hazeh.
We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who has kept us alive, raised us up and brought us to this moment.

Tonight, we gather around the Seder table to recount the ancient Israelites’ miraculous transformation from slavery to freedom. Their story began with an awakening: As our tradition teaches, Moses saw the burning bush and recognized that he was called to liberate his people from Egypt. Our journey, too, begins with an awakening: May this first cup of wine rouse each of us to the injustice that persists in our world today. May we recognize our own capacity to make a difference and commit ourselves to building a better world.

Question for Discussion:

• What injustices are you awakening to this year—either in your own community or around the world?

The Second Cup

Solidarity

The first cup of wine awakened us to injustice and to our capacity to bring about change. The second cup is the first step toward realizing that change. We raise our glass in solidarity with all those who experience injustice around the world and dedicate ourselves to bringing freedom together.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei peri hagafen.
We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Questions for Discussion:

• With whom would you like to grow in solidarity this year?
• How can you deepen those relationships?

The Third Cup

Action

The third cup of wine is our call to action.

We commit tonight to standing up, speaking out and protesting acts of hate.
We will fight poverty and inequality around the world.
We will act on our belief that change is possible.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei peri hagafen.
We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Question for Discussion:

• What is one commitment that you’re making this year to advance justice?

The Fourth Cup

Freedom

We fill the final cup of wine and open the door for Elijah. As we turn our gaze toward the door, let us pray for and work toward true redemption: a time when all people will live in freedom.

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei peri hagafen.

Questions for Discussion:

• What’s one moment you’ve had this past year that felt like a small piece of redemption?
• How does that feeling motivate you to work to bring freedom to all?