Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Congregation, Toronto, Canada

Passover Seder 101 (Videos)

At Pesach many people are invited to family gatherings but there is no reason why you cannot do it yourself should you find you are "it". The good news is that you may already have the "manual" or can buy one - the Haggadah normally tells you what to do as you go along. However here are a few tips: Firstly do not worry too much about the meal your first time - there is too much else to be doing! Secondly like everything you do for the first time - keep it simple - better to embellish things next year. Before you start you will have to get the ingredients. First are the candles - after lighting the candles some people cover their eyes until the blessing is and/or spread out their hands with palms facing inwards pulling them in towards themselves several times in a symbolic gesture of welcome for the Sabbath. The traditional blessing is then said: "Blessed are you, HaShem, our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Who makes us holy with His commandments and commands us to light the Yom Tov candles" ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להדליק נר של שבת.‏ Baruch ata Adonai elohaynu melech haolam asher kiddishanu b'mitzvotav vitzeevanu l'hadleek ner shel Yom Tov. Next some Matzah - if you can get "Kosher le Pesach" (Kosher for Pesach) so much the better. The arrangement of the matzah and what to do with it...