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Hallel - Songs of Praise

Hallel -

Songs of Praise

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Hallel

The Cup of Elijah

After the Barech, some families will lift the extra cup from Elijah's place at the table and  pour koso shel Eliyahu HaNavi, the cup of the Prophet Elijah. A child is then asked to open the door to welcome Elijah to the Seder. This is based on a minhag (custom) from the Rabbinical reading of Malachi 3:23, which says, "Look, I will send Elijah the prophet before the coming and great day of the LORD."

The well-known song Eliyahu HaNavi is sung at this time:

Eliyahu HaNavi

Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishibite, Elijah the Gileadite.
Speedily in our days will come to us the Messiah, the son of David.

The Cup of Restoration

We now come to the fourth and final cup of wine for the Seder. This cup represents the fourth "I will'' statement of Exodus 6:6-7 - "I will acquire you as a nation." Since Jesus told his disciples that He would not drink the fourth cup but promised to do so with them in the coming Kingdom (Matt. 26:29), it may be called the Cup of Restoration, since it will be fully savored only after "all Israel shall be saved" (Rom. 11:26).

We pour the fourth cup of wine and recite portions of the Hallel prayer, praising the LORD for His kindness and grace to us:

Psalm 115-9-11

Yisrael b'takh ba-Adonai, 'ezram u'maginam hu!
Beit Aharon bitkhu va'Adonai, 'ezram u'maginam hu!
Yirei Adonai bitkhu va'Adonai, 'ezram u'maginam hu!

O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield!
O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield!
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield!

Hodu la'Adonai ki tov, ki l'olam chasdo.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 118:21-24

Odekha ki anitani vatehi-li lishuah
'Even ma'asu habonim haitah l'rosh pinah
Mei'et Adonai haitah zot hi niflat b'eineiu
Zeh-haiyom 'asah Adonai nafilah v'nismechah vo.

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The Fourth Cup (Restoration)

We now lift our cups and recite the blessing:

Third Cup
Third Cup

Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam,
borei peri hagafen.

"Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine."

The leader says: "This cup represents our great hope that someday soon the Mashiach is coming back to both take His followers to be with Him and to restore the kingdom promises He made to national Israel.  In that great day, all Israel shall be saved and the followers of Jesus will reign with Him in the millennial kingdom of God upon the earth. After we drink, let us all recite:

    For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the shofar blast of God: and the dead in Messiah shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.''
    (1 Thess 4:16-17).

Now we will take some time to rejoice by singing hymns and praises to our God! Such Passover classics as Echad Mi Yodea, Chad Gadya, Adir Hu, and others are sung at the table. Some families will play music CDs with simchah music or have family members play their instruments. We will delight in our redemption and express heartfelt praise to the LORD.

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Hebrew for Christians
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