This service, in memory of the six million Jews who perished in the worst oppression in the modern world, may be read after the THIRD of the four cups of wine, just before the door is opened for the symbolic entrance of the Prophet Elijah.
The Jews in Bergen-Belsen had no matzot for Pesach 1944. It was decided that it was permissible to eat Chametz, and that the following prayer should be recited before eating:
Prayer recited in Bergen-Belsen before eating Chametz:
"Our Father in Heaven, behold, it is evident and known to You that it is our desire to do Your will and to celebrate the festival of Pesach by eating matzah and by observing the prohibition against Chametz. But our hearts are pained that the enslavement prevents us from doing so, and our lives are in danger. Behold, we are ready to fulfill Your commandment, 'And you shall live by them and not die by them.' Therefore, our prayer to You is that You may keep us alive and save us and rescue us speedily so that we may observe Your commandments and do Your will and serve You with a perfect heart. Amen."
On this Seder night, we recall with anguish and with love our martyred brothers and sisters, the six million Jews of Europe, who were destroyed at the hands of a tyrant more fiendish than Pharaoh. Their memory will never be forgotten. Their murderers will never be forgiven.
Trapped in ghettoes, caged in death camps, abandoned by an unseeing or uncaring world, Jews gave their lives in acts that sanctified God's name and the name of His people, Israel. Some rebelled against their tormentors, fighting with makeshift weapons, gathering the last remnants of their failing strength in peerless gestures of courage and defiance. Others went to their death with their faith in God miraculously unimpaired.
Unchecked, unchallenged, evil ran rampant and devoured the holy innocents. But the light of the Six Million will never be extinguished. Their glow illumines our path. And we will teach our children and our children's children to remember them with reverence and with pride.
All sing ANI MA'AMIN ("I Believe"), the song of the martyrs in the ghettoes and liquidation camps:
"I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah: And though he tarry, none the less do I believe!"
ANI MA-AMIN
Ani ma-amin be-emunah sh'lema B' viyat ha-mashiach
I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah; And although he may tarry, I will wait daily for his coming,