RacialJus*ce&InclusivityHaggadah

USFJewishStudiesandSocialJus*cePrograminpartnershipwithBe’cholLashon

RacialJus*ce&InclusivitySeder

Be’cholLashon

Be'cholLashonmeans“ineverylanguage”inHebrew,reflec*ngthatJewsareamul*cultural

peoplewholiveallovertheworld.Be’cholLashonisanon-profitorganiza*onthatgrowsand

strengthenstheJewishpeoplethroughracial,ethnic,andculturalinclusiveness.Wecelebrate

thediversitythathascharacterizedtheJewishpeoplethroughouthistory,andthrough

contemporaryforcesincludingintermarriage,conversionandadop*on.GlobalJews.org

USFJewishStudiesandSocialJus*ceProgram

TheSwigPrograminJewishStudiesandSocialJus*ceminorengagesstudentsinboth

theore*calandprac*calapplica*onsofsocialjus*ceandac*vismrootedintheJewish

tradi*ons.OurinterdisciplinarycurriculumexaminesJewishculture,history,poli*cs,philosophy,

andlanguagetobePerunderstandandstrengthenmarginalizedcommuni*esaroundtheglobe.

usfca.edu

SpecialthankstoAndrewEliasRamer,aMaggid(Jewishsacredstoryteller),livinginSan

Francisco.BorninQueensin1951,hebelievesthattheprophe*ctradi*onandstorytellingare

oneandthesame.Thejobofastorytelleristocreateanarra*vethatholdsagrouptogether,

formsthefabricofthoughtthatacommunityorvillageofpeopleinhabit.

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OPENING

Leader:WelcometoourSeder.“Knowfromwhenceyoucame.Ifyouknowwhenceyoucame,thereareabsolutelynolimita*onstowhereyoucango.”—JamesBaldwinFormorethan3000years,Jewshavegatheredtogethertoretellthestoryoftheirdeliverancefrombondageunderacruelruler.Wedothisinhopethatrememberingourhistorywillhelpuscreatewaystopreventsuchatroci*esfromhappeninginourown*me.InHebrew,Sedermeans“Order,”aseverytradi*onalSederunfoldsinaseriesofstepsthatwewillexplorethiseveningbyreadingfromatextcalledaHaggadah,whichmeans“TheTelling”inHebrew.There’sonecopyofthetextoneachtableanditwillalsobeprojecteduponthescreen.WhenitsaysReader,oneofyouwillread.Pleaseletyourtablematesknowifyoudon’twanttoread.WhenitsaysLeader,itcomesbacktooneofus,andwhenitsaysAllwe’llallreadtogether.There’sfoodoneachtable.Butpleasewaitun*lwe’vesaidtheblessingsoverthefoodbeforeyoubegintoeat.

ThefirststepwetakeiscalledKadesh–Sanc*fica*on–ligh*ngthefes*valcandles.Aberward,wethankGodforallowingustosharethisoccasiontogether.

אלהינומלהעולם,אשרקדשנובמצותיווצונולהדליקנרשליוםטוב. ברואתהיי

BaruchAtahAdo-nai,Elo-heinuMelechHa-olam,AsherKid’shanuB’mitzvotavV’tzivanuL’hadlikNerShelYomTov.

BlessedareYou,EternalGod,RuleroftheUniverse,whohassanc*fieduswithYourcommandmentsandcommandedustokindlethefes*vallights.Amen.

אלהינומלהעולםשהחינווקימנווהגיענולזמןהזה. ברואתהיי

BaruchAtahAdo-nai,Elo-heinuMelechHa-olam,shehecheyanuvekiymanuvehigi'anulazmanhazeh.

BlessedareYou,EternalGod,RuleroftheUniverse,whohasgranteduslife,sustainedus,andenabledustoreachthisoccasion.Amen.

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QUESTIONS

Leader:OnPassoverwetellourfreedomstorysothatwecanpassitontonewgenera*ons.Jewishtradi*onteachesthatitisimportanttoaskques*ons.Weareobentaughtthattheques*onsaremoreimportantthantheanswers,foritisonlythroughinquirythatwecantrulyunderstandourselvesandtheworldaroundus.

OnPassoveritistradi*onaltorecitefourques*ons.Onekeyques*onis:Whyisthisnightdifferentfromallothernights?All:Becausetonightwerememberthatthethingsthatdivideus—race,ethnicity,gender,class,religion,amongothers—alsohavethepowertouniteus.

Leader:Whetheritbeques*onsaboutthisritualorstory,orques*onsabouttheexperiencesofothersatourcommunaltable,tonightisanopportunitytolearn.

All:Tonightwepledgetoengagewithopenness,understanding,andrespectforall,becausewelearnandgrowfrommanypointsofviewandavarietyofexperiencesandunderstandingsstrengthentheconversa*onaboutJewishideas.

Andwealsopledgetosharethevaluesexpressedintheanswerstoourques*onsandpledgetolivethemoutforalltherestofourdays.

THEFOURCHILDREN

Leader:AtPassoverwespeakoffourchildren.Thewisechildasks:Whydoweascribeprivilegetosomeracialgroups?Whydoweelevatethetradi*ons,foodsandlanguagesofsomeethnicgroupsandnotothers?

Reader:Schoolthewisechildinthehistoryofslaveryandhatred,asitexistedinancient*mes,abouttheroleofslaveryinbuildingthe‘NewWorld.’TeachthemaboutthepaPernsofmigra*on,theexiles,themigra*ons,thehardchoicesandthelackofchoicesandhowtheyshapedthewaysweseeeachother.Teachthemthatbeyondthehistoryandins*tu*onsthereareindividuals,eachwiththeirownexperiences.Helpthemtolearnhowtorecognizewhattheydonotknow,howtorespecttheneedsofothers,andhowtofindstrengthfromthediversityofhumanity.

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Leader:Thewickedchildsays:Youaremuchtoosensi*ve.Youmaketoomuchofthis.Therearealwayswinnersandlosersineverysocietyandineveryera,wecannotexpecttoallhavethesameexperiences.

Reader:TakeadeepbreathandrememberthataclosedmindisobenaPachedtoaclosedheart.Engagethischildbyaskingopen-endedques*onswithcuriosityandcompassion.Listenfortheplacesoffear.Askques*onsthatmaywidenthenarrowspacesthattheymayexpand,ifnotnowtheninthefuture.

Leader:Thesimplechildsays:Iamcolorblind.Weareallhuman.Idonotseethedifferencesbetweenpeople,Ijustseeourhumanity.

Reader:Gentlyteachthesimplechildofthevalueofcoloranddifference.Teachthemthevalueoftheirownexperiencethattheymayseethevalueintheexperiencesofothers.Helpthemcelebratethemanywayswecanbehuman.

Leader:Thechildwhocannotasksays:Nothing.

Reader:Withthechildwhocannotask,sharegenerouslyoftheworld.Schoolthischildintheirownheritagebutalsointheheritageofothers.Exposethischildtomanykindsofpeople,cultures,andcustoms.Letthemtastemanydishes,hearmanytypesofmusic,andseeavarietyofartsandcrabssothattheymaybuildabroadandboun*fulunderstandingofallthatisbeau*fulintheworld.

All:AllofusarecreatedintheimageofGod.Letusrememberthisaswemovethroughtheworld.Andwithfriends,family,inourconversa*onswithothersinschool,letustalkaboutthemanywaysthathatredandassump*onsdiminishtheholinessofothers.Letusrememberaswemovethroughtheworldthatwecannotknoweverythingaboutothers—un*lwebegintoaskthemques*ons.

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SEDERPLATESYMBOLISM

Leader:Onthemaintableisaplatewithsomeunusualitemsonit,someofwhichwillalsobefoundonyourtable.ThisistheSederplate.Asyouhearabouteachitem,wewillholdupthatitemsothateveryonecanseeit,ordirectyoutoeatitifit’sonyourowntable.

Reader:Thisistheshankbone.Inancient*mesourancestorsbroughtsacrificesatPassover.Todaywerecognizethemanysacrificespeoplehavemadeandcon*nuetomakeinorderthatwewillbefree.

Reader:Themaror,thebiPerherb,issymbolofthebiPernessofslavery.LongabertheherbhasbeenchewedandswallowedthebiPertastestaysinyourmouth—thisistrueofeveryexperiencethatdehumanizesus.There’smaroroneverytable.Nowletusalltastesomeofthemaror.

Reader:ThisistheKarpas,thegreenherb,whichwedipinsaltwater.Theherbsofspringrepresenthopeandpoten*alandthesaltwaterthetearsofafflic*on—forallthehopeintheworldthatispresentdespitethetears.Inthisweacknowledgeourstrengthandpersistenceinthefaceofinjus*ce.Andnowwewillalldipourgreensinthesaltwaterandeatthem.

Reader:Andthisisthematzah,thebreadofafflic*on,madeinhasteasourancestorslebancientEgypt,mayweeatofitasasymbolofurgency,tobringfreedomtoall.

Reader:Thisisthecharoset,asweetpastethatrepresentsthemortartheIsraelitesmadebyhandwhentheywereenslaved.Itissweetbecauseevenwhenweareenslavedwearenotwithoutourhumanity,wecanfindmomentsofcrea*vityandsweetness.Weeatthecharosettorecognizethemanyculturalcontribu*onsenslavedpeoplehavegibedtothefuturegenera*ons.Now,pleasedipapieceofmatzahincharosetandeatit.

Reader:Thisistheegg,asymbolofthecyclicalnatureoflife.Itisaremindertoeachofusthatconversa*onsaboutslavery,aboutdiversityandinclusionneedtobehadcon*nuously.

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BLESSINGS

Leader:Wenowrecitethreetradi*onalblessings:overbread,matzah,andwine/grapejuice:

אלהינומלהעולםהמוציאלחםמןהארץ. ברואתהיי

BaruchAtahAdo-nai,Elo-heinuMelechHa-olam,hamotzilechemminhaaretz.

BlessedareYou,EternalGod,RuleroftheUniverse,whobringsforthbreadfromtheearth.

אלהינומלהעולם,אשרקדשנובמצותיווצונועלאכילתמצה. ברואתהיי

BaruchAtahAdo-nai,Elo-heinuMelechHa-olam,alachilatmatzah.

BlessedareYou,EternalGod,RuleroftheUniverse,whohassanc*fieduswithHiscommandmentsandcommandedusconcerningtheea*ngofmatzah.

אלהינומלהעולםבוראפריהגפן. ברואתהיי

BaruchAtahAdo-nai,Elo-heinuMelechHa-olam,boreiprihagafen.

BlessedareYou,EternalGod,RuleroftheUniverse,Creatorofthefruitofthevine.

AVADIMHAYINU

Leader:AvadimHayinumeans“Wewereslaves.”Thishowwebegintotellourstoryofthelibera*onfromoppression.

All:WewereslavestoPharaohinthelandofEgypt.AndtheEternalourGod,tookusoutfromtherewithastronghandandanoutstretchedforearm.AndiftheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,hadnottakenourancestorsfromEgypt,beholdweandourchildrenandourchildren'schildrenwould[all]beenslavedtoPharaohinEgypt.Andevenifwewereallsages,alldiscerning,allelders,allknowledgeableabouttheTorah,itwouldbeacommandmentuponustotellthestoryoftheexodusfromEgypt.Andanyonewhoadds[andspendsextraQme]intellingthestoryoftheexodusfromEgypt,beholdheispraiseworthy.

Leader:TheHaggadahsetsforththethemethatwe,notjustourancestors,wereslavestoPharaohbutGoddeliveredeachofus“withamightyhandandanoutstretchedarm.”

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Reader:Jewsareapeopleofmemoryandac*on.OnPassover,weusestoriesandritualstorememberandretellthenarra*veofourcollec*velibera*on.WesharetheancientExodusstory,yearaberyear,sothatitresonatesthroughthegenera*onsasanarra*veofdeliverancefromslaverytofreedom.

Reader:InsomeJewishcommuni*es,exodusandlibera*onarenotjustmetaphorsbutlivedexperiencesintheirlife*mes.Forsomeofusreadingthisstorytonight,wearelivingthroughorhavesurvivedourownExodus.ButevenifwehavenotlivedthroughaliteralExodus,wehaveanobliga*on—andanopportunity—toconsiderthemeaningofthisstoryinourownlives.

Reader:InHebrew,EgyptiscalledMitzrayim,whichmeans“anarrowplace.”Everyyear,theHaggadahasksusnotonlytosharethestoryoftheExodus,butchallengesustoac*velyengagewiththeprocessofcomba*ngoppression.WeareencouragedtoconnectthebiblicalstoryofExodustocommunalandindividualstrugglesforlibera*onandareremindedthatthefightforfreedomisongoing.

Discussion1:Whydoyouthinkthetextstartswith“Wewereslaves”insteadof“Our

ancestorswereslaves?”HowdoesthisquotefromDr.Mar*nLutherKing,Jr.,"nooneisfree

un*lweareallfree,"connecttoavadimhayinu?Howarewefreetoday?Howarewes*ll

struggling?Sharesomethingthatyouaredoingorcancommittodoingtohelpmoveyourself

orothersfrom“anarrowplace”toaplaceofsharedfreedom.

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STORYTELLING

Leader:TheExodusstory,thoughancient,alsoresonatesthroughthegenera*onsbecauseitisthestoryoflibera*onanddeliverance.FortheJewishcommuni*esofEthiopiaandUganda,itisnothardtoimaginethemselvesascomingoutofEgypt,astheyhaveexperiencedlibera*onandexodusnotjustasmetaphorsbutasexperiencesintheirlife*me.

DaviChengRecentlyatwork,oneofmyco-workers,whoisChineseoriginallyfromTaiwan,stoppedbymydesktoaskmeaques*on.HespoPedthecalendaronmydesk.“YouhaveaJewishcalendar,”hesaid.“Yes?”Ireplied.“AJewishcalendar?”heaskedagain.“IamJewish,”Isaid.Helookedatmeandsmiled,“Youare?Really?”“Yes,IamJewish”“Really?YouareJewish?”“Yes.”“Really?”heaskedagain.

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Thishasbeenmynormalexperience.Jewsandnon-Jewsalikeaskmeexactlythree*mesifIamreallyJewish.IamaHongKong-bornChineseimmigrant.IcametotheUnitedStateswithmyfamilyin1971.IembracedthecovenantandbecameJewishin1997.Iamalsoalesbian.At*mesIamtooChinesetofitinwithmyAmericanfriends,orIamtooAmericantofitinwithmyChinesefriends.I’mtoogaytotheChinese,andtooChinesetotheJews!OnewaytolookatthisisthatIdon’tfitinanywhere,theotherwaytoseeitisthatIbelongtomul*plecommuni*esandcanserveasaconnectortothedifferences.

YeganyahuAvishaiMekonenIn1984,theBetaIsrael—asecluded2,500-year-oldcommunityofobservantJewsinthenorthernEthiopianmountains—beganasecretanddangerousjourneyofescape.HisfamilyembarkedonthedangerouswalkacrossEthiopiatoSudan.Thiswasalife-definingeventforAvishaiinmanyways.Then10yearsold,hewaskidnappedbyslavetraffickersinaSudaneserefugeecamp.HewasfoundbyanIsraelispecialagentandreturnedtohisfamilyin*meforthemtoboardtheplanetoIsraelaspartoftheIsraeliairlibcalledOpera*onMoses.Hemadeadocumentaryfilmabouthisexperience,breakinghis20-yearsilenceaboutthe

trauma*ckidnappinghe,alongwithotherchildren,enduredinSudan.“400MilestoFreedom”chroniclesAvishai’sexplora*onofwhatittakestoclaimone'sowniden*ty.FromIsraeltotheUnitedStatesheconnectswithotherJewsofcolorwithsimilarstruggles,anddiscovershowhiscommunity'strekacrossAfrica,andwhathappenedtohimalongtheway,ispartoflargerhistoriesofpeopleaffectedbyimmigra*on,war,andDiaspora.

SarahAroesteThe*mesinmylifewhenIhavemostobenstruggledtoretainthatfeelingofbeinggrounded,Ihaveturnedtomusic.ItisnotcoincidencethatthefirstsongIeverwroteisaboutayounggirltryingtofindherwayhome.Thesong“ChikaMorena”isabouttheiconicSephardicgirlwhohasbeenkickedoutofherhomelandandhasbeensearchingtheworldovertoreturnhome.Alongtheway,shelongstobeguidedbyherancestorstoreturntothecomfortofherroots.AroestewritesandsingsinLadino,theJudeo-SpanishdialectthatoriginatedbySpanishJewsabertheirexpulsionfromSpainin1492.ThosewholebSpain,including

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Aroeste’sfamily,carriedthemedievallanguagewiththemtothevariousplaceswheretheylatersePled,primarilyalongtheMediterraneancoastandNorthAfrica.In*me,LadinocametoabsorbbitsandpiecesoflanguagesallalongtheMediterraneancoast,includingsomeGreek,Turkish,Portuguese,French,Italian,Hebrew,andmore.Inspiredbyherfamily'sSephardicrootsinGreeceandMacedonia,shehasspentthelastdecadebringinghercontemporarystyleoforiginalandtradi*onalLadinomusictoaudiencesaroundtheworld.“Ihaveextrainspira*ontograpplewithmyfeelingsofconnectedness.”

RabbiGershomSizomuRabbiGershomSizomuistheleaderoftheAbayudayaJewsofUganda,whichmeans“peopleofJudah.”This2,000strongcommunityinEasternAfricahasonlybeeninexistencesince1919.AccordingtoRabbiSizomu,“AtPassover,everypersonissupposedtofeelasthoughhehimselflebEgypt.Butwedonotneedtoimagine,wewererescuedfrom‘slavery’andsavedbydivineinterven*oninordertocelebrate.WhendictatorIdiAminDadatookpowerinUgandain1971,theprac*ceofJudaismwasoutlawed.MyfatherwascaughtstudyingTorahandonlysurvivedabertheofficerdemandedabribe.Threeleaders

ofthecommunity.werearrestedandtorturedforcollec*ngironsheetsthathadbeenblownofftheroofoftheSynagogue.InApril1979,onPassover,UgandanrebelskickedIdiAminoutanddeclaredfreedomofworship.ThiswasconsideredamiraclefromaboveandPassoverremainsaspecialmomentforallus.Itisamazingthatthereignofterrorendedandthatfreedomofworshipwasreinstatedatthisseasonoffreedom.That,Amin,likePharoah,washumiliatedontheEveofPesachcouldnothavesimplybeenamerecoincidence.ItwasourPassovermiracle.”

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CUPOFREDEMPTION

Atatradi*onalsederwefillacupofwinefortheprophetElijahwhoisasymbolofredemp*on.Atthissederweareraisingacupofwaterasasymboloftheredemp*onthatwomenhavebroughtthroughthegenera*ons.All:Wateristhesymboloflife.

Reader:ThebiblicalprophetMiriamsavedherbrotherfromthewatersoftheNile,sheledthesongofvictoryaberthewatersoftheredseapartedandGodgaveabundantwatertothepeople.Reader:WerememberMiriamtheprophet,whodancedattheSeaofReedstocelebratetheExodus,awelloffreshwaterwassaidtofollowherinthedesertsothattheIsraelitesalwayshadwatertodrink.WerememberProphetMiriamReader:Insteadofbeingenslaved,HarrietTubman,knownasaconductoroftheUndergroundRailroad,setoutwithhertwobrothers,andfollowedtheNorthStarintheskytoguidehernorthtofreedomalwayswalkingnearthewater’sedge.Reader:Weremember,HarrietTubman,conductorontheUndergroundRailroad,wholed300capturedAfricansfromslaverytofreedom,asshesangWadeintheWater,awarningtothosewhofollowedthatthewaterwouldprotectthemfromtroubleandofferredemp*on.All:Weacknowledgethatwateritselfisnecessarytosustainlife.Wateristhesymbolofredemp*on

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TENPLAGUES

Leader:AsaresultofenslavingtheIsraelites,tenplaguesreigneddownontheancientEgyp*ans:blood,frogs,lice,beasts,disease,boils,hail,locusts,darkness,andthekillingofthefirstborn.

Tradi*onally,weremoveadropofwinefromourglassesforeachplaguetoshowthatourcupofjoyisdiminishedbecauseourredemp*oncamethroughthesufferingoftheEgyp*ans.

Sadly,plaguesarenotathingofthepast.Takeamomenttoconsidertheplaguesthatyouseeintheworldtoday.

Discussion2:Haveeachpersonatyourtablesharetheirmodernplague.Astheydo,removea

dropofwine/grapejuicefromyourcupwitheitheryourfinger(orutensil)asasymbolofthe

priceweallpayforthissuffering.

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SONGSOFFREEDOM

“Dayenu”(ItWouldHaveBeenEnough)

Iluhotzihotzi'anuhotzi'anumi'mitzrayimHotzi'anumi'mitzrayimdayeinuDai-dai-yenu,dai-dai-yenu,dai-dai-yenu,dayenu,dayenu!

Ilunatannatanlanunatanlanuetha'shabbatNatanlanuetha'shabbatdayeinuDai-dai-yenu,dai-dai-yenu,dai-dai-yenu,dayenu,dayenu!

Ilunatannatanlanunatanlanuetha'torahNatanlanuetha'torahdayeinuDai-dai-yenu,dai-dai-yenu,dai-dai-yenu,dayenu,dayenu!

HadGodbroughtusoutofEgypt,itwouldhavebeenenough.

HadGodgivenustheSabbath,itwouldhavebeenenough.

HadGodgivenustheTorah,itwouldhavebeenenough.

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“FeelingGood”byNinaSimone

BirdsflyinghighYouknowhowIfeelSunintheskyYouknowhowIfeelReedsdribin'onbyYouknowhowIfeelIt'sanewdawnIt'sanewdayIt'sanewlifeFormeAndI'mfeelinggood

FshintheseaYouknowhowIfeelRiverrunningfreeYouknowhowIfeelBlossomonthetreeYouknowhowIfeelIt'sanewdawnIt'sanewdayIt'sanewlifeFormeAndI'mfeelinggood

Dragonflyoutinthesun,youknowwhatImean,don'tyouknowBuPerfliesallhavin'fun,youknowwhatImeanSleepinpeacewhenthedayisdone,that'swhatImeanAndthisoldworldisanewworldAndaboldworldFormeAndI’mfeelinggood

StarswhenyoushineYouknowhowIfeelScentofthepineYouknowhowIfeelOhfreedomismineAndIknowhowIfeelIt'sanewdawnIt'sanewdayIt'sanewlifeFormeAndI'mfeelinggood

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