“The majority of poems one outgrows and outlives, as one outgrows and outlives the majority of human passions: Dante’s is one of those which one can only just hope to grow up to at the end of his life (T. S. Eliot).”

The Haggadah has changed for me from the basic children’s story of my childhood, to a sophisticated perspective of Jewish history and applying its lessons, as did the Rabbis in Bnei Brak, to our times. I have outgrown the Haggadah of my childhood, and find that it is the perfect indicator of how much I have developed since the previous Pesach.

There is one constant: No matter how profound its lessons, I still aspire to be able to read it as did my father zt”l. We would all come to the Seder armed with ideas, questions, and explanations, but our father would read the words with such simple beauty that he answered all our questions just with his reading. (This was true of the way he read everything; a verse, Gemara, Rashi, Rambam, or Halacha; he saw in the basic text far beyond all the commentaries.) I hope to grow up to his reading of the Haggadah by the end of my life.

This year I understood that it is not only my reading of the Haggadah that indicates my growth, but the aspiration of my reading; the deeper my understanding, the more I appreciate my father’s clarity, and the more I aspire to grow up to read as did he.

There is a bittersweet quality to such aspiration; Almost twelve years after his death, I am still discovering more of his greatness. I realize that, although I revered him while he was alive; I revere him far more now, and I am pained that I did not have such reverence while he was alive. My father is still teaching me, touching me, guiding me. So, while most others outgrow their desire to be like their fathers, I hope to grow up to be like him by the end of my life.

Author Info:
Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

Their gratitude did not lessen as the days increased:“Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!

Let Israel declare that His Kindness is forever!

Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is forever!

Let those who are in awe of God declare that His kindness is forever!

They needed to call on their strengths in order to continue singing.

“I called to the Creator of Heaven and Earth from a tight spot, and He answered me broadly.”

They lived within the protection of the Clouds of Glory, and sang:

“God is with me, I have no fear; what can people do to me? God is with me to help me, so I can confront my enemies. It is better to depend in God than to trust people. It is better to depend on God than to trust people in power. All the nations surrounded me but I survived them in God’s Name. They surrounded and encircled me but I survived them in God’s Name. Though they surrounded me like a swarm of bees, they were snuffed out like burnt thorns. I survived them in God’s Name.”

When they felt their confidence weaken, they recalled:

“I was pushed to fall but God helped me. The Creator of Heaven and Earth is my Help and my Hammer, and became my Savior. Song and victory sound in the tents of the just. God’s Hand makes victory. God’s Hand is supreme. God’s Hand makes victory!”

To what did they aspire?

“I will not die but live, and tell of the doings of the Creator of Heaven and Earth.”

They could not look back on the entire story, not just on the thrill of redemption:

“The Creator afflicted me to direct me but did not destroy me.”

They witnessed God’s judgment against the Egyptians, and prayed:

“Open the gates of justice for me, I will enter and thank the Creator. This is the gate to God, the just may enter here. I thank You for answering me, You became my salvation.”

Rather than wonder what they had become other than wanderers, they sang:

“The stone rejected by the builders became the cornerstone. This happened because of God; it is wondrous in our eyes.”

They realized that each day offered a unique opportunity:

“This is the day God made; let us sing and be happy with it.”

And they prayed for the future:

“Please God; Save us!

Please God; Make us successful!”

And then prayed for the opportunity to use their future to:

“Bless those who come in God’s Name; we bless you from God’s House.

God is The Power and gave us Light.

Wave your holiday branches up to the corners of the altar.

You are my Power and I thank You, My Lord and I will exalt You.

Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!”

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Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

Imagine a nation marching through the desert, convinced that their journey was a lesson to the world of God’s kindness and truth! Imagine being able to sing with them, not because of great miracles, and not because God was defeating their enemies, but because of the way we experience a life in relationship with God!

“All you nations; Praise God!

Sing compliments, all you peoples!

For His kindness overpowers us, and God’s Truth is forever.

Hallelukah!”

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Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

If the people on the second, third, …sixth day of their journey, could still sense the blessing that was expanding, they understood that they were not dependent on externals, but had developed the wherewithal within; they had become independent. They understood that they would have to become active participants in building their future, and realized that they would begin by living a life that would be an expression of gratitude:

“What can I respond to God for all the good He has given to make me independent?

I will lift up the cup of salvation and I will call out in God’s Name.

I will fulfill my promises to God in front of all His nation.

Death to His pious ones is precious in God’s eyes.

Please God, allow me to be Your servant.

I am Your worker, the son of Your maidservant,

You unlocked my chains.

I will bring an offering of thanks to You, and I will call out in the Name of God.

I will fulfill my promises to God in front of all His nation.

In the courtyards of God’s House, in the center of Jerusalem.

Hallelukah!”

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Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

Even as their journey extended from one day to the next, they were convinced that each step was not only filled with blessing, but actually offering them more:

“God remembered us and will bless – Bless the House of Israel – Bless the House of Aaron – Bless those who are in awe of God, the insignificant with the great.

God will enhance you – you and your children.

You are blessed to God Who made the heavens and the earth.

The heavens are God’s, while the earth has been given to people.”



They realized that they were more alive than ever before, transcending the journey, and they sang:

The dead do not praise the Creator of Worlds, nor do those who go down to their doom. But we – we praise the Creator of Worlds – From now and forever –

Hallelukah!”

As their journey entered its second day they had to look into themselves to find the inspiration to look forward with expectation as they had when offering the Pesach, and marching into freedom. They looked within and discovered that they still felt:

“When Israel left Egypt, Jacob’s family from among a people who spoke a strange language, Judah became God’s Holy Place, Israel, His realm.”



Perhaps it was the Clouds of Glory, or the Pillar of Cloud, or the Pillar of Fire that allowed them to feel that they were God’s Holy Place. If they were truly God’s realm they would still expect that:



“The Sea saw it and ran away. The Jordan River reversed course. The mountains danced like deer, the hills like lambs.

What’s with you, Sea, that you flee? With the Jordan, that you turn around? With the Mountains, that you dance like deer? With the hills, like lambs?

Quake, you Land, before your Master, before the Lord of Jacob!”



They did sing because they did still expect those great things, and they realized that God had changed them:

“Who turned the rock into a pool of water. Pebbles into a source of water.”

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Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

“The Song will be yours like the night of the festival’s consecration, and heartfelt gladness like one who walks with a flute, to come to the mountain of God, the Rock of Israel (Isaiah 30:29).” “The Song will be yours like the night of the festival’s consecration,” refers to the Hallel they sang as they offered the first Pesach, which we sing after Ma’ariv, before the Seder.. “And heartfelt gladness like one who walks with a flute,” refers to Hallel of the first day of Pesach, when they began to walk; their journey out of Egypt. “To come to the mountain of God, the Rock of Israel,” refers to the journey to Sinai, which they began to sing on the second day of Pesach.



Journey to the Mountain I:

It is one thing to sing the Hallel when offering the very first Pesach, or when marching out of Egypt into freedom. The second day of the journey, when all they were doing was moving forward, beginning to wonder whether the Egyptians would chase them, is a much different Hallel. Yet, they continued to sing.

It is one thing to sing the Hallel when we are excited about the Seder that is about to begin, and the morning after the Seder when we are inspired by our service. It is an entirely different approach when the days are Chol HaMoed, and we are no longer as focused on the joy and excitement. Yet, we continue to sing.

This is not a song of looking back, but how we can move forward empowered more by our singing Hallel than by special experiences and Mitzvot.

This is the song of the Servant of God who knows that is his service as a continuing song of praise that will empower him to move forward.

“Hallelukah!

Praise, you who serve God! Praise the Name of God.

Let the Name of God be blessed from now and forever.

From sunrise to sundown, the Name of God is praised.

God is above all the nations. His Glory is beyond the sky.

Who is like God, our Lord, Who lives up high, but drops down to see what happens (to us) in the (lower) heaven and earth?

Who lifts up the lowly from the dust, raises the destitute from the garbage dumps to be seated with leaders, the leaders of their people.

Who Makes a home for the childless woman and joy for the mother of children. Hallelukah!”

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We sing this final paragraph of the Hallel as if we too are marching out of Egypt into a future of Infinite Possibility; a song of Fifteen Steps corresponding to the Fifteen Steps of the Seder, which we take forward with this Hallel:

Step One: Kadeish: Our Actions Have an Eternal Effect

“Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!

Let Israel declare that His Kindness is forever!

Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is forever!

Let those who are in awe of God declare that His kindness if forever!

Step Two: Urchatz: Washing Before Prayer

I called to the Creator of Heaven and Earth from a tight spot, and He answered me broadly.

Step Three: Karpas: Joseph’s Bitachon

God is with me, I have no fear; what can people do to me? God is with me to help me, so I can confront my enemies.

Step Four: Yachatz: An Unknown Future

It is better to depend in God than to trust people. It is better to depend on God than to trust people in power. All the nations surrounded me but I survived them in God’s Name.

Step Five: Maggid: Our Story of Trouble & Being Saved

They surrounded and encircled me but I survived them in God’s Name. Though they surrounded me like a swarm of bees, they were snuffed out like burnt thorns.

Step Six: Rachtza: I Wash My Hands After I Fall

I survived them in God’s Name. I was pushed to fall but God helped me.

Step Seven: Motzi: As God Fed Us In Eden

The Creator of Heaven and Earth is my Help and my Hammer, and became my Savior.

Song and victory sound in the tents of the just.

Step Eight: Matzah: The Bread of Affliction Becomes the Bread of Freedom

God’s Hand makes victory. God’s Hand is supreme.

Step Nine: Marror: Surviving the Bitterness

God’s Hand makes victory! I will not die but live, and tell of the doings of the Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Step Ten: Koreich: The Sweetening of Affliction

The Creator afflicted me to direct me but did not destroy me.

Step Eleven: Shulchan Orech: Eating As Spiritual Growth

Open the gates of justice for me, I will enter and thank the Creator.

Step Twelve: Tzafun: The Hidden is Revealed

This is the gate to God, the just may enter here.

Step Thirteen: Bareich: Acknowledgement of a Life of Blessing

I thank You for answering me, You became my salvation. The stone rejected by the builders became the cornerstone. This happened because of God; it is wondrous in our eyes.

Step Fourteen: Hallel: The Song of the Future

This is the day God made; let us sing and be happy with it. Please God; Save us! Please God; Make us successful! Bless those who come in God’s Name; we bless you from God’s House. God  is The Power and gave us Light. Wave your holiday branches up to the corners of the altar. You are my Power and I thank You, My Lord and I will exalt You.

Step Fifteen: Nirtzah: Our Service is Accepted

Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!”

Author Info:
Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

We sing this final paragraph of Hallel as the Children of Israel sang as they offered the original Korban Pesach. They sang in stages: 1) Gratitude, 2) Their story and its lessons, 3) Their feelings of joy and possibility, and 4) As a prayer for the future. We declare our intention to celebrate the Seder as a Symphony in Parts, in the same stages:

Gratitude – First Cup of Wine

“Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!

Let Israel declare that His Kindness is forever!

Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is forever!

Let those who are in awe of God declare that His kindness if forever!

Our Story – Second cup of Wine: Maggid

I called to the Creator of Heaven and Earth from a tight spot, and He answered me broadly. God is with me, I have no fear; what can people do to me? God is with me to help me, so I can confront my enemies. It is better to depend in God than to trust people. It is better to depend on God than to trust people in power. All the nations surrounded me but I survived them in God’s Name. They surrounded and encircled me but I survived them in God’s Name. Though they surrounded me like a swarm of bees, they were snuffed out like burnt thorns. I survived them in God’s Name. I was pushed to fall but God helped me. The Creator of Heaven and Earth is my Help and my Hammer, and became my Savior. Song and victory sound in the tents of the just. God’s Hand makes victory. God’s Hand is supreme. God’s Hand makes victory! I will not die but live, and tell of the doings of the Creator of Heaven and Earth. The Creator afflicted me to direct me but did not destroy me. Open the gates of justice for me, I will enter and thank the Creator. This is the gate to God, the just may enter here.

Joy & Possibility – Third Cup of Wine: Bareich

I thank You for answering me, You became my salvation. The stone rejected by the builders became the cornerstone. This happened because of God; it is wondrous in our eyes. This is the day God made; let us sing and be happy with it.

Prayer for The Future – Fourth Cup of Wine: Hallel

Please God; Save us! Please God; Make us successful! Bless those who come in God’s Name; we bless you from God’s House. God  is The Power and gave us Light. Wave your holiday branches up to the corners of the altar. You are my Power and I thank You, My Lord and I will exalt You. Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!”

Author Info:
Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

We sing this Hallel just as the Children of Israel sang their Hallel on the first morning of Pesach, when they began their journey to freedom. They had stood up to the world’s greatest power when they offered the Pesach, but now, Egypt was broken and defeated, and as they walked out of Egypt they were sending a message to the world:

“All you nations; Praise God!

Sing compliments, all you peoples!

For His kindness overpowers us, and God’s Truth is forever.

Hallelukah!”

Author Info:
Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.