Messiah in Pesach Chapter 20
- Kadesh
- Reciting Kiddush for Passover
- The Four Cups
- The Seder Leader cries out “Kadesh!”
- Next, the Seder leader will read the following from the Haggadah
- The Shehecheyanu Blessing
- Drinking the First Cup
#1. Kadesh
The First Cup (Sanctification):
The Seder service begins with the recitation of kiddush, proclaiming the holiness of the holiday. This is done over a cup of wine, the first of the four cups we will drink (while reclining) at the Seder. Wine is used because it is a symbol of joy and happiness. When drinking the four cups and eating the matzah we recline. Leaning on your left side illustrates the fact that the participants in the Seder are a free people. In ancient times only free people had the luxury of reclining while eating.
Reciting Kiddush for Passover:
The Seder Leader calls out Kadesh. After the candles have been lit and everyone is seated around the Seder Table, the Passover Seder is begun by saying Kiddush over the first cup (kos rishon) of Passover wine. This is also called the “Cup of Sanctification” (Kiddush). The word Kiddush means sanctification, which means to set apart or make holy. When the Eternal One said that He would take the Israelites out from Egypt, He separated them and therefore sanctified them.
The Four Cups:
לכן אמר לבני־ישראל אני ה’ והוצאתי אתכם מתחת סבלת מצרים והצלתי אתכם מעבדתם וגאלתי אתכם בזרוע נטויה ובשפטים גדלים׃ ולקחתי אתכם לי לעם והייתי לכם לאלהים וידעתם כי אני ה’ אלהיכם המוציא אתכם מתחת סבלות מצרים׃
Say, therefore, to the children of Israel, “I am Adonai (the LORD), and I will bring you out from under the sufferings of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am Adonai Eloheicha, who brought you out from under the sufferings of the Egyptians.”
The Four Cups of wine used in the Seder symbolize four distinct promises made by the heavenly Father (Exodus 6:6-7). These are traditionally referred to as follows:
1. The Cup of Sanctification
“I will bring you out (הוצאתי-hotzeti) of Egypt”
2. The Cup of Deliverance
“I will deliver you (הצלתי-hitzalti) from slavery”
3. The Cup of Redemption
“I will redeem you (גאלתי-ga’alti) with My power”
4. The Cup of Restoration and Praise
“I will take you (לקחתי-lakachti) as My people”
The Messiah Ben Yosef (the Suffering Messiah) drank the first two cups according to tradition. However, at the drinking of the third cup, the “Cup of Redemption,” Messiah (who is the Korban Pesach) said: “This is My blood (i.e. life).” As for the fourth cup, at the drinking of this cup the Messiah told His talmidin (disciples) that He would not drink the fourth cup (the “Cup of Restoration”) until He returned to earth a second time, when as the Messiah Ben David (the Conquering Messiah) He will restore Israel; sufficient that “all Israel will be saved” (כל ישראל יושע).
The Seder Leader cries out “Kadesh!”
In the traditional Seder, the leader cries out: “Kadesh!” and the cups are filled with wine. Then the following traditional blessing is recited over the wine:
“Blessed are You, Adonai Eloheinu, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.”
ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוהינו, מלך העולם, בורא פרי הגפן.פ
“Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, melech ha’olam, Borei p’ri hagafen.”
Next, the Seder leader will read the following from the Haggadah:
“Blessed are You, Adonai Eloheinu, King of the universe, Who chose us from all peoples and exalted us from every language, and sanctified us with Your commandments. And You gave to us Adonai Eloheinu with love (on Shabbat: Shabbat for rest) appointed times for gladness, festivals and times for joy, (this Shabbat day) and the day of this festival of Matzot, the time of our freedom, a holy convocation, a memorial of the exodus from Egypt. For You chose us and sanctified us from all the nations, and You have given us as a heritage Your holy (Shabbat and) Festivals (in love and favor), in happiness and joy. Blessed are You, Adonai, Who sanctifies (the Shabbat and) Israel and the festive seasons.”
ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוהינו, מלך העולם, אשר בחר בנו מכל עמ ורוממנו מכל לשון וקידשנו במצוותיו. ויתתן לנו אדוני אלוהינו באהבה (בשבת: שבתות לימנוחה ו) מועדים לשמחה, חגים וזמנים לששון, את יום (השבת הזה ואת יום) חג המצות הזה, זמן חרותנו (באהבה), מקרא קודש, זכר ליציאת מצרים. כי בנו בחרת ואותנו קידשת מכל העמים, (ושבת) ומועדי קדשך (באהבה וברצון,) בשמחה ובששון הנחלתנו. ברוך אתה, אדוני, מקדש (השבת ו) ישראל והזמנים.פ
Weekdays:
“Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu, melech ha’olam, asher bachar banu mikolam, v’romemanu mikol-lashon, v’kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, vatiten-lanu Adonai Eloheinu b’ahavah mo’adim l’simchah, chaggim uz’manim l’sason, et-yom chag hamatzot hazeh. Z’man cheruteinu, mikra kodesh, zeicher litziat mitzrayim. Ki vanu vacharta v’otanu kidashta mikolha’amim, umod’adei kod’shecha b’simchah uv’sason hinchaltanu. Baruch atah Adonai, m’kadeish Yisrael v’hazemanim.”
Shabbat:
The Shehecheyanu Blessing:
After reciting the Kiddush for the first cup, the Shehecheyanu blessing is recited:
“Blessed are you, Adonai Eloheinu, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.”
ברוך אתה אדוני ,אלוהינו, מלך העולם, שהחיינו, וקיימנו, והגענו לזמן הזה.פ
“Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melech ha’olam shehecheyanu v’kiyimanu v’higi’anu laz’man hazeh.”
Drinking the First Cup:
After the Shehecheyanu, everyone drinks the first cup while leaning or reclining to the left. You will need your pillows for this step of the Seder.