Overview
# Kadeish קדש ''Bless!'' – recital of Kiddush blessing and drinking of the first cup of wine # Urchatz ורחץ ''and Wash!'' – the washing of the hands # Karpas כרפס ''Vegetable'' – dipping of the ''Themes of the Seder
Slavery and freedom
The rituals and symbolic foods evoke the twin themes of the evening: slavery and freedom. It is stated in the Haggadah that "In every generation everyone is obligated to see themselves as if they themselves came out of Egypt" – i.e., out of slavery. The rendering of time for Jews is that a day began at sunset and ended at sunset. According to the Exodus narrative, at the beginning of the 15th ofThe Four Cups
There is an obligation to drink four cups of wine during the Seder. The Mishnah says (Pesachim, Pes. 10:1) that even the poor are obliged to drink the four cups. Each cup is imbibed at a specific point in the Seder. The first is for Kiddush (קידוש), the second is for 'Seder plate
The special Passover Seder plate (''ke'arah'') is the special plate containing symbolic foods used during the Passover Seder. Each of the six items arranged on the plate has special significance to the retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The seventh symbolic item used during the meal – a stack of three matzot – is placed on its own plate on the Seder table. The six items on the Seder plate are: * ''Focus on the children
Since the retelling of the Exodus to one's child is the object of the Seder experience, much effort is made to arouse the interest and curiosity of the children and keep them awake during the meal. To that end, questions and answers are a central device in the Seder ritual. By encouraging children to ask questions, they will be more open to hearing the answers. The most famous question which the youngest child asks at the Seder is the "''Order of the Seder
The order and procedures of the Seder are stated and printed in the text of the Passover''Kadeish'' (blessings and the first cup of wine)
''Kadeish'' קדש is Hebrew Imperative for '' Kiddush''. It should be recited as soon as the synagogue services are over but not before nightfall. This ''Kiddush'' is similar to that which is recited on all of the''Urchatz'' (wash hands)
Technically, according to Jewish law, whenever one partakes of fruits or vegetables dipped in liquid while remaining wet, one must wash one's hands if the fruit or vegetable remains wet. However, at other times of the year, one has either already washed their hands before eating bread, or dry the fruit or vegetable, in which case one need not wash their hands before eating the fruit or vegetable. According to most traditions, no blessing is recited at this point in the Seder, unlike the blessing recited over the washing of the hands before eating bread. However, followers of''Karpas'' (appetizer)
Each participant dips a vegetable into either ''salt water'' (Ashkenazi custom; said to serve as a reminder of the tears shed by their enslaved ancestors), ''vinegar'' (Sephardi custom) or ''''Yachatz'' (breaking of the middle matzah)
Three''Magid'' (relating the Exodus)
The story of Passover, and the change from slavery to freedom is told. At this point in the Seder, Moroccan Jews have a custom of raising the Seder plate over the heads of all those present while chanting "Bivhilu yatzanu mimitzrayim, halahma anya b'nei horin" (In haste we went out of Egypt''Ha Lachma Anya'' (invitation to the Seder)
The''Mah Nishtanah'' (The Four Questions)
TheThe Four Sons
The traditional Haggadah speaks of "four sons" – one who is wise, one who is wicked, one who is simple, and one who does not know to ask. This is based upon the rabbis of the"Go and learn"
Four verses in Deuteronomy (26:5–8) are then expounded, with an elaborate, traditional commentary. ("5. And thou shalt speak and say before the Lord thy God: 'A wandering Aramean was my parent, and they went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, few in number; and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous. 6. And the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage. 7. And we cried unto the Lord, the God of our parents, and the Lord heard our voice, and saw our affliction, and our toil, and our oppression. 8 And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt''Rohtzah'' (ritual washing of hands)
The ritual hand-washing is repeated, this time with all customs including a blessing.''Motzi'' (blessings over the Matzah)
Two blessings are recited. First one recites the standard blessing before eating bread, which includes the words "who brings forth" (motzi in Hebrew).''Matzah''
Then one recites the blessing regarding the commandment to eat Matzah. An olive-size piece (some say two) is then eaten while reclining to the left.''Maror'' (bitter herbs)
The blessing for the eating of the maror (bitter herbs) is recited and then it is to be eaten.''Korech'' (sandwich)
The maror (bitter herb) is placed between two small pieces of matzo, similarly to how the contents of a sandwich are placed between two slices of bread, and eaten. This follows the tradition of Hillel, who did the same at his Seder table 2000 years ago (except that in Hillel's day the Paschal sacrifice, matzo, and maror were eaten together.)''Shulchan Orech'' (the meal)
The festive meal is eaten. Traditionally it begins with a hard boiled egg dipped in salt water, referencing the charred egg on the Seder plate. In Yiddish, there is a saying: , which means "We set the table and eat the fish".''Tzafun'' (eating of the ''afikoman'')
The ''afikoman'', which was hidden earlier in the Seder, is traditionally the last morsel of food eaten by participants in the Seder. Each participant receives an olive-sized portion of matzo to be eaten as ''afikoman''. After the consumption of the ''afikoman'', traditionally, no other food may be eaten for the rest of the night. Additionally, no intoxicating beverages may be consumed, with the exception of the remaining two cups of wine.''Bareich'' (Grace after Meals)
The recital of''Kos Shlishi'' (the Third Cup of Wine)
The drinking of the Third Cup of Wine. Note: The Third Cup is customarily poured before the''Kos shel Eliyahu ha-Navi'' (cup of Elijah the Prophet); Miriam's cup
In many traditions, the front door of the house is opened at this point.''Hallel'' (songs of praise)
The entire order of Hallel which is usually recited in the synagogue on Jewish holidays is also recited at the Seder table, albeit sitting down. The first two psalms,''Nirtzah''
The Seder concludes with a prayer that the night's service be accepted. A hope for the Messiah is expressed: "'' L'shanah haba'ah b'Yerushalayim!'' –Non-traditional Seders
Feminist Seders
In 1976, the first of a series of women-only Passover seders was held in Esther M. Broner's New York City apartment and led by her, with 13 women attending, includingPublic Seders
The group of people who hold a Passover Seder together is referred to in theChristian Seders
SomeInterfaith Seders
A number of churches hold interfaith Seders where Jews and non-Jews alike are invited to share in the story and discuss common themes of peace, freedom, and religious tolerance. During theWhite House Passover Seder
In 2009 PresidentVirtual Seders
When people wish to participate in a shared Seder but are unable to be physically together, technology such asSeder in space
In 2022, the Israeli astronaut,See also
*References
Bibliography
*External links