1. Introduction: Autobiographical Reflections 1
What Is Contained in This Haggadah? 6
2. The Ritual of Hunting for Khametz 8
The Search for Khametz 8
Burning the Khametz Ritual 11
3. The Ritual of Eruv Tavshilin 13
4. Blessing of the Candles 15
5. The Passover Seder: Fifteen Steps toward Illumination 17
Prelude to the Seder: A Hassidic Tale of Faith, Devotion, and Courage 17
THE SEDAR PLATE
Step 1: Kadesh: Blessing of the First Cup 25
Step 2: Urkhatz: First Washing of the Hands 40
Step 3: Karpas: First Dipping of a Vegetable 42
Step 4: Yakhatz: Breaking the Middle Matzah—Hiding the Afikomen 45
Step 5: Magid: Telling the Exodus Story 48
The Four Questions: Mah Nishtanah 53
Step 6: Rakhtzah: Second Washing of the Hands 99
Steps 7—8: Motzi-Matzah: Blessing on the Matzah 101
Step 9: Maror: Eating Bitter Herbs 103
Step 10: Koraikh: The Ancient Matzah Sandwich 105
Step 11: Shulkhan Orekh: The Banquet 106
Step 12: Tzafune: Eating the Afikomen 108
Step 13: Baraich: After Blessing at Conclusion of Banquet 109
Step 14: Hallel: Songs of Praise 125
Step 15: Nirtzah: Concluding Prayers and Songs of Goodwill 146
Bibliography: Annotated List of Sources 173
Glossary 179
About the Author 189