Judaism is full of beautiful blessings and prayers. Even if we do not agree with everything the blessings and prayers say, they are a special and wonderful part of our heritage as Jews. We should value them - for the way they help us draw closer to G-d, for their beauty as a heritage, and for the way they weave our people together through time and space. As you read this selection of blessings and prayers from the Haggadah, try to appreciate the love for G-d and Judaism that went into the writing for each one! Enjoy!!

• One of the most beautiful prayers in the Haggadah is said by the wives and mothers of Jewish families after they light the candles at the beginning of the Seder. It is also said by some Jewish wives and mothers after lighting the candles every Erev Shabbat. Here it is for you to enjoy:

  "May it be Your will, O L-rd my G-d, the G-d of my forefathers, that You show favour to me (my husband, my sons, my daughters, my father, my mother) and all my relatives; and that You grant us and all Israel a good and long life; that You remember us with a beneficent memory and blessing; that You consider us with the consideration of salvation and compassion; that You bless us with great blessings; that You make our households complete; that You cause Your Presence to dwell among us. Privilege me to raise children and grandchildren who are wise and understanding, who love the L-rd and fear G-d, people of truth, holy offspring, attached to the L-rd, who illuminate the world with Torah and good deeds and with every labour in the service of the creator. Please, hear my supplication at this time, in the merit of Sarah, Rebeka, Rachel and Leah, our mothers, and cause our light to illuminate that it be not extinguished forever, and let Your countenance shine so that we are saved. Amen."

• This next blessing-prayer is an acknowledgment of some of the good things G-d has given His Jewish people. It is said after we make the blessing for the First Cup of Wine, before the First Cup is drunk:

  "Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has chosen us from among all peoples and lifted us up above all tongues and made us holy through his commandments. And You have given us, O L-rd our G-d, in love appointed times for rejoicing, feasts and festive seasons for joy, this Feast of Matzot, the season of our freedom, a holy convocation, as a memorial of the departure from Egypt. For You have chosen us and sanctified us above all peoples, and You have given us as a heritage Your holy festivals, in joy and gladness. Blessed are You, O L-rd, who sanctifies Israel and the festive seasons."

• A 'favourite blessing' in our family is the one that is said at the beginning of every Jewish Holiday. Of course, Pesach is no exception to that rule! During the Seder it is said just before the First Cup of Wine is drunk:

  "Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season."

• This blessing is an acknowledgment that G-d had plans for His people that were fulfilled even while they were slaves in Egypt. It can also be seen as an acknowledgment that G-d has plans for everyone in every situation. G-d knows the beginning and the end and He always remembers His promises. This blessing is said during the telling of the Pesach story:

  "Blessed is He who keeps His promises to Israel; blessed is He! For the Holy One, blessed is He, planned the end of their bondage, in order to do as He had said to our father Abraham at the Covenant between the Portions, as it states: "And He said to Abram: 'You shall know for certain that your descendants shall be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they shall serve them, and they shall treat them harshly for four hundred years; but I will also judge the nation that they shall serve, and afterwards they shall come out with great wealth.'"

• For those of us who believe in Messiah Yeshua and the eternal redemption He secured for us when He died and rose again, there are parts of this blessing that may make us feel a little uncomfortable. In spite of that, it is a traditional blessing-prayer that our ancestors would have said every Pesach. It is said just before the Second Cup of Wine is drunk:

  "Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who redeemed us and redeemed our father's from Egypt and brought us, on this night, to eat Matzah and Maror. Thus may You, O L-rd, our G-d and G-d of our fathers, bring us to future festivals and holidays that may come to us in peace, when we shall rejoice in the rebuilding of Your city and shall be joyful in Your Temple service; and there we shall partake in the sacrifices and Pesach offerings whose blood will be sprinkled upon the sides of Your altar for gracious acceptance. Then we shall thank You with a new song for our redemption and the deliverance of our soul. Blessed are You, O L-rd, who had redeemed Israel."

• During the Seder it is traditional to sing Psalms - Tehillim - in praise of G-d. The Tehillim are sung towards the end of the Seder - after the story of Pesach has been told and the Pesach meal has been eaten. This especially beautiful prayer is said in different places in the Tehillim, depending on whether the Ashkenazi tradition or the Sephardic tradition is followed. It is beautiful whenever it is said:

  "All Your works shall praise You, O L-rd our G-d; Your pious ones, the righteous who do Your will, as well as Your entire people, the House of Israel, will joyfully thank and praise, laud and honour, exalt and revere, sanctify and do homage to Your name, our King! For it is good to thank You, and fitting to sing praises unto Your name; for from eternity unto eternity You are G-d!"

• This blessing-prayer is said almost at the very end of Seder. As Jews, we are part of a people who have been in Exile for almost two thousand years. This blessing sums up the longing for Israel, Jerusalem, and the Temple that has been felt by our people for generations. Imagine it being said year after year by Jews with tears in their eyes as they long for Israel. It may even bring tears to your eyes, it is so beautiful. I like the way it goes round in a circle! It is said after drinking the Fourth Cup of Wine, just before we say 'Next Year in Jerusalem!':

  "Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, for the vine and the fruit of the vine, for the produce of the field and the desirable, goodly and spacious land that You were pleased to give to our ancestors to inherit, to eat its fruits, and to satisfy themselves with its goodness. Have compassion, O L-rd our G-d, on Your people Israel, on Your city Jerusalem, on Zion the dwelling place of Your holiness, on Your altar and on Your Temple. Rebuild Your holy city, Jerusalem, soon and in our days, bring us thereto, and let us rejoice in its rebuilding; that we may eat of its fruit, be satisfied with its goodness, and praise You for it in holiness and purity. Let us rejoice on this Feast of Matzot, for You, O L-rd, are good, and beneficent to all, and we thank You for the land and the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, O L-rd, for the land and the fruit of the vine."

Copyright J.E. Allen - MET