There are several interesting aspects about it, including its brevity (only 14 pages including the title page and a page of copyright warning in Hebrew and Arabic). Naturally it consists mainly of relevant biblical passages, including much of what we Rabbanites call Hallel. Interestingly there are a few berachot (blessings) which are very similar in form and content to rabbinical blessings. For example, there is a berachas shehechiyanu (pg. 11) which differs only by the insertion of the word בשלום.
There is a cup of wine, to be held while reciting some ki le-olam chasdos. The בורי פרי הגפן is vocalized with a qomatz, thus showing that the Karaites agree with the grammarians (and most present-day Ashkenazim). Famously the Chacham Tzvi is reputed to have mocked people who said "borei peri ha-gafen," which I think predominates today.
Chacham Tzvi's attitude is quoted by his son in לוח ארש pg. 67a:
There is a combined beracha for matza and marror, and an interesting beracha of "hamotzi lechem ani min ha'aretz."
There's also a form of Kiddush to make - if Pesach falls on Shabbos.
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We would also make a combined berachah for matzah and marror, without the rabbinic drash that maror is obligatory when brought with the korban pesach. According to the rambam, when we bring a korban pesach, we would recite almost exactly the same berachah.
ReplyDeleteIt's available on Youtube, too. I'm serious.
ReplyDeleteSo they agree with Gr"a that Matzoh is a Mitzva all seven days.
ReplyDeleteלענ"ד the Gra's position is peshuto shel mikra. Nice catch.
ReplyDeleteBut it is not sure if the Gr"a actually recited a Bracha on matzo all seven days.
ReplyDeleteSeeSdie Chemed Mareches Chumetz Imatzah at length
Mr. Fred, may I suggest you transcribe the Hebrew correctly even according to the Ashlenazi pronunciation if it is your choice? The term is "lehem `oni", and the last 3 words of the berakha "borei peri ha-gafen" are בורא פרי הגפן
ReplyDeleteCheers.