chazarah

Chazarah is a traditional Jewish ritual performed during the Passover Seder, which commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The term "chazarah" refers to the recitation of the Haggadah, the sacred text that guides the Seder. The Haggadah contains the story of the Exodus, as well as prayers, songs, and blessings that are recited throughout the Seder.

The chazarah begins with the recitation of the Kiddush, a blessing over wine, which is poured into a special cup called a kiddush cup. The leader of the Seder, known as the ba'al korban, then recites the first two paragraphs of the Haggadah, which include the Four Questions and the Ten Plagues. These paragraphs are followed by the recitation of the Maggid, a summary of the story of the Exodus, and the Four Sons, a section that addresses the roles of the Israelites in Egypt.

The chazarah is typically led by the ba'al korban, but in some communities, it may be led by a different person, such as a rabbi or a cantor. The recitation of the chazarah is an important part of the Seder, as it sets the tone for the rest of the ceremony and helps to focus the participants on the meaning of the Passover story. The chazarah is also an opportunity for the community to come together and share in the experience of the Seder.