The Aliyah Seder Haggadah

When an aliyah dream that has been nurtured for more than 50 years finally comes true, it calls for a celebration unlike any other. Rabbi Aharon and Batsheva Fine made aliyah from Canada yesterday, fulfilling a life-long dream.

They were lovingly greeted by their daughter Shira, along with her family and friends. The emotion in these pictures speaks for itself.

Yoel Keren, a friend who has grown particularly close to the Fines during their visits to their daughter and her family over the past five years, wanted to honor the Fines' aliyah in a special way. Inspired by the thought that, if Hashem requests that we celebrate the exodus from Egypt each year at Pesach time, surely He will delight in our celebration of the final exodus from the lands of our dispersal to the Land of Israel, Yoel invented The Aliyah Seder.

Yoel (in white) leading The Aliyah Seder.

The Aliyah Seder was drafted on something of a whim, but the emotional reaction around the table was so compelling, Yoel knew he was on to something.

I have the honor of sharing the Hagaddah of The Aliyah Seder in the hope that the practice spreads. If you are already privileged to live here, you can use it to create a meaningful, private welcome for family and friends as they return Home. The Aliyah Seder Hagaddah can also be used by synagogues and communities to welcome the new olim among them. And it is equally appropriate to mark the annual anniversary of one's own aliyah.

סדר סעודת הודיה

לעולים לארץ ישראל

 

נערך על ידי יואל דוד קרן
ח' אלול, ה'תשע'ג
ירושלים עיר הקודש


מוזגים לו כוס ראשון ואומר עליו

The first cup is poured and upon it is said

ירמיהו, טז: יד-טו

יד  לָכֵן הִנֵּה-יָמִים בָּאִים, נְאֻם-יְהוָה; וְלֹא-יֵאָמֵר עוֹד חַי-יְהוָה, אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָה אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם.	14 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the L-rd, that it shall no more be said: 'As the L-rd liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt,'
טו  כִּי אִם-חַי-יְהוָה, אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָה אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ צָפוֹן, וּמִכֹּל הָאֲרָצוֹת, אֲשֶׁר הִדִּיחָם שָׁמָּה; וַהֲשִׁבֹתִים, עַל-אַדְמָתָם, אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי, לַאֲבוֹתָם.	15 but: 'As the L-rd liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the countries whither He had driven them'; and I will bring them back into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

ומברך

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן.

And bless

Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

ומברך

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה.

And bless

Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who hath sustained and kept us, and brought us to this time.

ואחר כך נוטל ידיו ומברך "על נטילת ידיים"

ָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְווֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדָיִם.

After the first cup, one washes hands and blesses

Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us on washing hands.

וחוזר ומברך

                                  

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ.

Continue and bless

Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the Earth.

מוזגים לו כוס שני ואומר עליו פסוקים אלו מתורת משה

The second cup is poured and upon it are read these verses from the Torah of Moses.

בראשית, 12:א-ה

א  וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָם, לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ.	1 Now the L-rd said unto Avram: 'Get thee out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, unto the land that I will show you.
ב  וְאֶעֶשְׂךָ, לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל, וַאֲבָרֶכְךָ, וַאֲגַדְּלָה שְׁמֶךָ; וֶהְיֵה, בְּרָכָה.	2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
ג  וַאֲבָרְכָה, מְבָרְכֶיךָ, וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ, אָאֹר; וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ, כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה.	3 And I will bless them that bless you, and him that curseth you will I curse; and in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'
ד  וַיֵּלֶךְ אַבְרָם, כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֵלָיו יְהוָה, וַיֵּלֶךְ אִתּוֹ, לוֹט; וְאַבְרָם, בֶּן-חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים וְשִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה, בְּצֵאתוֹ, מֵחָרָן.	4 So Avram went, as the L-rd had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him; and Avram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
ה  וַיִּקַּח אַבְרָם אֶת-שָׂרַי אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאֶת-לוֹט בֶּן-אָחִיו, וְאֶת-כָּל-רְכוּשָׁם אֲשֶׁר רָכָשׁוּ, וְאֶת-הַנֶּפֶשׁ, אֲשֶׁר-עָשׂוּ בְחָרָן; וַיֵּצְאוּ, לָלֶכֶת אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן, וַיָּבֹאוּ, אַרְצָה כְּנָעַן.	5 And Avram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Although Avram was already advanced in years when he left Haran, his story was just beginning. When Avram made aliyah at 75, he and Sarai weren’t “ending up” in the land of Canaan. They were starting out....Just like you. Whether young or old, when you leave the land of your birth for the land of promise, your life has truly just begun.
 

מוזגים לו כוס שלישי ואומר עליו פסוקים אלו מן הנביאים

The third cup is poured and upon it are read these verses from the Prophets.

זכריה, ח:ד-ח

ד  כֹּה אָמַר, יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, עֹד יֵשְׁבוּ זְקֵנִים וּזְקֵנוֹת, בִּרְחֹבוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם; וְאִישׁ מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹ בְּיָדוֹ, מֵרֹב יָמִים.	4 Thus saith the L-rd of hosts: There shall yet be zeqenim and zeqenoth sitting by the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for great age.
ה  וּרְחֹבוֹת הָעִיר יִמָּלְאוּ, יְלָדִים וִילָדוֹת, מְשַׂחֲקִים, בִּרְחֹבֹתֶיהָ.	5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing.
ו  כֹּה אָמַר, יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, כִּי יִפָּלֵא בְּעֵינֵי שְׁאֵרִית הָעָם הַזֶּה, בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם--גַּם-בְּעֵינַי, יִפָּלֵא, נְאֻם, יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת.	6 Thus saith the L-rd of hosts: As it be wonderful in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, it shall also be wonderful in My eyes, saith the L-rd of hosts.
ז  כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, הִנְנִי מוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת-עַמִּי מֵאֶרֶץ מִזְרָח, וּמֵאֶרֶץ, מְבוֹא הַשָּׁמֶשׁ.	7 Thus saith the L-rd of hosts: Behold, I will save My people from the east country, and from the west country;
ח  וְהֵבֵאתִי אֹתָם, וְשָׁכְנוּ בְּתוֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָם; וְהָיוּ-לִי לְעָם, וַאֲנִי אֶהְיֶה לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים--בֶּאֱמֶת, וּבִצְדָקָה.	8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their G-d, in truth and in righteousness.

In moments like these, עלינו להבין את גודל השעה, it is our duty to comprehend the greatness of the hour. At this very second, at this very table we are seeing the fulfillment of the word of Almighty God.

For untold generations, the righteous of Israel prayed to merit seeing such miracles in their lifetime. Today we are thankful, not only for our own redemption, but for our fathers and mothers whose tearful prayers pierced the heavens, and moved the Holy One, Blessed be he to raise us out of our graves and bring us into the land of the living. It is indeed “wonderful in our eyes” and in the eyes of the L-rd.

מוזגים לו כוס רביעי ואומר עליו פסוקים אלו מן הכתובים, תפילת נחמיה בן-חכליה להצלחת יהודי ארץ ישראל ויהודי הגולה העולים ארצה

The fourth cup is poured and verses from the holy writings, from the prayer of Nememiah Ben-Hakhaliah for the success of the Jews in Eretz Yisrael, are pronounced over it.

נחמיה, א: ח-יא

ח  זְכָר-נָא, אֶת-הַדָּבָר, אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתָ אֶת-מֹשֶׁה עַבְדְּךָ, לֵאמֹר:  אַתֶּם תִּמְעָלוּ--אֲנִי, אָפִיץ אֶתְכֶם בָּעַמִּים.	8 Remember, I beseech you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying: If you deal treacherously, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples;
ט  וְשַׁבְתֶּם אֵלַי--וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם מִצְו‍ֹתַי, וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם:  אִם-יִהְיֶה נִדַּחֲכֶם בִּקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם, מִשָּׁם אֲקַבְּצֵם, והבואתים (וַהֲבִיאֹתִים) אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתִּי לְשַׁכֵּן אֶת-שְׁמִי שָׁם.	9 but if you return unto Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though your dispersed were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen to cause My name to dwell there.
י  וְהֵם עֲבָדֶיךָ, וְעַמֶּךָ--אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ בְּכֹחֲךָ הַגָּדוֹל, וּבְיָדְךָ הַחֲזָקָה.	10 Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand.

יא  אָנָּא אֲדֹנָי, תְּהִי נָא אָזְנְךָ-קַשֶּׁבֶת אֶל-תְּפִלַּת עַבְדְּךָ וְאֶל-תְּפִלַּת עֲבָדֶיךָ הַחֲפֵצִים לְיִרְאָה אֶת-שְׁמֶךָ, וְהַצְלִיחָה-נָּא לְעַבְדְּךָ הַיּוֹם...

11 O L-rd, I beseech you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and prosper, I pray Thee, your servant this day...

When Nehemiah spoke these words, he was still in the royal palace at Shushan and had just been told of the harsh conditions under which the Jews of Eretz Yisrael were living. After seeking Hashem’s favor, he immediately came on aliya to rebuild Jerusalem. It wasn’t easy then and it isn’t easy now. Our Sages taught us, “Three wonderful gifts were given by The Holy One, Blessed be He, to the Jewish people, and all of them are acquired through yesurim — hardship. They are Torah, Eretz Yisrael, and The World-to-Come.” (BT B’rakhoth 5a)

There is no aliyah without hardship, but nothing worth having comes easy. We may not be living in the palace at Shushan anymore, but we breath the air of freedom and redemption.

 

שַׁתָּא הָכָא,בְּאַרְעָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, שַׁתָּא בְּנֵי חוֹרֵי

This year we are in the land of Israel, this year we are free.

הַיּוֹם לָנוּ, וּבְקָרוֹב לְכָל בֵּית יִשְֹרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן

Today it is so with us, and soon it will be so with the whole house of Israel, and say amen!

כאן מברכים ברכת המזון ומסיימים את הסדר עם בית ראשון של השיר "אדיר הוא", לציין שהגאולה היא תהליך, ועוד לא שלמה היא

At this point the Grace after meals is said and the seder is ended with the first stanza of “Adir Hu”, to remind us that geulah is a process, and that our redemption is not yet complete.

אַדִּיר הוּא יִבְנֶה בֵּיתוֹ בְּקָרוֹב

בִּמְהֵרָה,בִּמְהֵרָה, בְּיָמֵינוּ בְּקָרוֹב

אֵל בְּנֵה, אֵל בְּנֵה, בְּנֵה בֵּיתְךָ בְּקָרוֹב

Mighty is He, May He soon rebuild his house

Speedily, speedily and in our days, soon.

G-d, rebuild! G-d, rebuild!

Rebuild your house soon!

NOTE: For a pdf version of the Hagaddah, updated to include a fifth cup, write to rivkah30 at  gmail dot com.