Table set for the Passover Seder

The Passover Seder (Hebrew: סֵדֶר, seðɛɾ, "order", "arrangement") is a Jewish ritual feast held on any of the eight nights of the Jewish holiday of Passover (which begins on the 15th day of Hebrew month of Nisan). In Israel, the Seder is generally held on the first night of Passover. In other parts of the Jewish diaspora, the Seder is commonly held twice, on the first and second nights of Passover (the 15th and 16th days of Nisan), but can be held on any of the nights. According to the Gregorian calendar, the holiday comes out in late March or in April. Families and friends gather around the table on the nights of Passover to read one of the many versions of the Haggadah, the story of the Israelite exodus from Egypt. Seder customs include drinking of four cups of wine, eating matza and partaking of symbolic foods placed on the Passover Seder Plate. The Seder is an intergenerational family ritual, although communal Seders are also organized by synagogues, schools and community centers. These Seders are usually open to the general public. With a Haggadah serving as a guide, the Seder is performed in much the same way all over the world. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 449 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (560 × 747 pixels, file size: 402 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Photo by Gila Brand. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 449 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (560 × 747 pixels, file size: 402 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Photo by Gila Brand. ... Hebrew redirects here. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... A Jewish holiday or Jewish Festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of important events in Jewish history. ... This article is about the Jewish holiday. ... Nisan (Hebrew: נִיסָן, Standard Nisan Tiberian Nîsān ; from Akkadian , from Sumerian nisag First fruits) is the first month of the civil year and the seventh month (eighth, in leap year) of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. ... Nisan (Hebrew: נִיסָן, Standard Nisan Tiberian Nîsān ; from Akkadian , from Sumerian nisag First fruits) is the first month of the civil year and the seventh month (eighth, in leap year) of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. ... For the calendar of religious holidays and periods, see liturgical year. ... Haggadah for Passover, 14th century Haggadah in Hebrew means Telling. ... Matza (also Matzoh, Matzah, Matzo, Hebrew מַצָּה maṣṣā), an unleavened bread, is the official food of Passover. ... Traditional arrangement of items on the Passover Seder Plate. ...

The Seder is integral to Jewish faith and identity. If not for the Exodus, as explained in the Haggadah, the Jewish people would still be slaves in Egypt. Therefore, the Seder is an occasion for praise and thanksgiving and for re-dedication to the idea of liberation. Often the Seder goes on until late at night, with the participants reading the Haggadah, studying the meaning of various passages, and singing special Passover songs. It has been suggested that Dayenu and Had Gadia be merged into this article or section. ...

While many Jewish holidays revolve around the synagogue, the Seder is conducted in the family home. It is customary to invite guests, especially strangers and the needy. The Seder as family-based ritual is derived from a verse in the Bible: Vehigadta levincha' bayom hahu leymor ba'avur zeh asah Adonay li betzeysi miMitzrayim - "And you shall tell it to your son on that day, saying, 'Because of this God did for me when He took me out of Egypt'" (Exodus 13:8). The words and rituals of the Seder are a primary vehicle for the transmission of the Jewish faith from parent to child, and from one generation to the next. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Attending a Seder and eating matza on Passover is a widespread custom in the Jewish community, even among those who are not religiously observant.

Set-up

The Seder table is traditionally set with the finest place settings and silverware, and family members come to the table dressed in their holiday clothes. Traditionally the person leading the Seder wears a white robe called a kittel. For the first half of the Seder, each participant will only need a plate and a wine glass. At the head of the table is a Seder Plate containing various symbolic foods that will be eaten or pointed out during the course of the Seder. Placed nearby is a plate with three matzot and dishes of salt water for dipping. A kittel (Yiddish: קיתל, robe) is a white robe worn on special occasions by religious Jews. ... Machine-made shmura matza Matza (also Matzah (better Matsah) Hebrew , in Ashkenazi matzo or matzoh, and in Yiddish, matze, Greek - Masa, or Massa) is a cracker-like flatbread made of white plain flour, and water. ...

Each participant receives a copy of the Haggadah, which is often a traditional version: an ancient text that contains the complete Seder service. Men and women are equally obligated and eligible to participate in the Seder. In many homes, each participant at the Seder table will recite at least critical parts of the Haggadah in the original Hebrew and Aramaic. Halakhah requires that certain parts be said in language the participants can understand, and critical parts are often said in both Hebrew and the native language. The leader will often interrupt the reading to discuss different points with his or her children, or to offer a Torah insight into the meaning or interpretation of the words. Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה ; alternate transliterations include Halocho and Halacha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions. ...

In some homes, participants take turns reciting the text of the Haggadah, in the original Hebrew or in translation. It is traditional for the head of the household and other participants to have pillows placed behind them for added comfort. At several points during the Seder, participants lean to the left - when drinking the four cups of wine, eating the Afikoman, and so on^{[citation needed]}.

Themes of the Seder

Slavery and freedom

The rituals and symbolic foods associated with the Seder evoke the twin themes of the evening: slavery and freedom. At the beginning of the night of the 15th of Nisan in Ancient Egypt, the Jewish people were enslaved to Pharaoh. After the tenth plague struck Egypt at midnight, killing all the first-born sons in the land, Pharaoh and the Egyptian people chased the Jews out, effectively making them freedmen for the second half of the night. The Plagues of Egypt (Hebrew: ), the Biblical Plagues or the Ten Plagues (Hebrew: ) are the ten calamities foisted upon Egypt by God in the Bible (as recounted in the book of Exodus, chapters 7 - 12), in order to convince Pharaoh[1] to let the Israelite slaves go to the desert...

Thus, Seder participants recall the slavery that reigned during the first half of the night by eating matzo (the "poor man's bread"), maror (bitter herbs which symbolize the bitterness of slavery), and charoset (a sweet paste representing the mortar which the Jewish slaves used to cement bricks ). Recalling the freedom of the second half of the night, they eat the matzo (the "bread of freedom" and also the "bread of affliction") and 'afikoman', and drink the four cups of wine, in a reclining position, and dip vegetables into salt water (the dipping being a sign of royalty and freedom, while the salt water recalls the tears the Jews shed during their servitude).^{[citation needed]} Afikoman (Hebrew language: אפיקומן, based on Greek, epikomen or epikomion, meaning that which comes after or dessert) is a piece of matzo which is hidden at the start of the Passover Seder and is eaten at the end of the festive meal. ...

Many households use the Seder as an opportunity for the discussion of related contemporary issues, such as the Holocaust, slavery in America, modern-day anti-Semitism, genocide in Darfur and the war in Iraq, as well as spirited debate about the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is not uncommon to hear songs of African American freedom and the resistance against the Nazis mixed in with the songs of the Haggadah.

Table set for the beginning of the Passover Seder, including Passover Seder Plate (front center), salt water, three shmurah matzot (rear center), and bottles of kosher wine. A Hebrew language Haggadah sits beside each place setting.

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 520 pixel Image in higher resolution (1740 × 1132 pixel, file size: 321 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo of table set for Passover Seder, including Passover Seder Plate, three matzos, and salt water (center), and Haggadahs beside each place setting. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 520 pixel Image in higher resolution (1740 × 1132 pixel, file size: 321 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo of table set for Passover Seder, including Passover Seder Plate, three matzos, and salt water (center), and Haggadahs beside each place setting. ... Traditional arrangement of items on the Passover Seder Plate. ... Matza (also Matzoh, Matzah, Matzo, Hebrew מַצָּה maṣṣā), an unleavened bread, is the official food of Passover. ... Hebrew redirects here. ... Haggadah for Passover, 14th century Haggadah in Hebrew means Telling. ...

The Four Cups

There is an obligation to drink four cups of wine (or pure grape juice) during the Seder. The Mishnah says (Pes. 10:1) that even the poorest man in Israel has an obligation to drink. Each cup is connected to a different part of the Seder. The first is for Kiddush (קידוש), the second is for 'Magid' (מגיד), the third is for Birkat Hamazon (ברכת המזון) and the fourth is for Hallel (הלל).

The Four Cups represent the four expressions of deliverance promised by God Exodus 6:6-7: "I will bring out," "I will deliver," "I will redeem," and "I will take."

The Vilna Gaon relates the Four Cups to four worlds: this world, the Messianic age, the world at the revival of the dead, and the world to come. The Maharal connects them to the four Matriarchs, Sarah, Rebeccah, Rachel, and Leah. (The three matzot, in turn, are connected to the three Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.) The Abarbanel relates the cups to the four historical redemptions of the Jewish people: the choosing of Abraham, the Exodus from Egypt, the survival of the Jewish people throughout the exile, and the fourth which will happen at the end of days. Therefore it is very important. In Judaism, the Messiah (Hebrew: , Standard  Tiberian ; Aramaic: , ; Arabic: , ; the Anointed One) at first meant any person who was anointed with oil on rising to a certain position among the ancient Israelites, at first that of High priest, later that of King and also that of a prophet. ... Machine-made shmura matza Matza (also Matzah (better Matsah) Hebrew , in Ashkenazi matzo or matzoh, and in Yiddish, matze, Greek - Masa, or Massa) is a cracker-like flatbread made of white plain flour, and water. ...

Seder Plate

Main article: Passover Seder Plate

Traditional arrangement of symbolic foods on a Passover Seder Plate

The Passover Seder Plate (ke'ara) is a special plate containing six symbolic foods used during the Passover Seder. Each of the six items arranged on the plate have 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. Traditional arrangement of items on the Passover Seder Plate. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 510 pixel Image in higher resolution (1776 × 1132 pixel, file size: 415 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo of Passover Seder Plate showing (clockwise, beginning from top): maror (romaine lettuce), zroa (roasted shankbone), charoset, maror (chrein), karpas (celery sticks... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 510 pixel Image in higher resolution (1776 × 1132 pixel, file size: 415 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo of Passover Seder Plate showing (clockwise, beginning from top): maror (romaine lettuce), zroa (roasted shankbone), charoset, maror (chrein), karpas (celery sticks...

The six items on the Seder Plate are:

• Maror and Chazeret; Two types of bitter herbs, symbolizing the bitterness and harshness of the slavery which the Jews endured in Ancient Egypt. For maror, many people use freshly grated horseradish or whole horseradish root. Chazeret is typically romaine lettuce, whose roots are bitter-tasting. Either the horseradish or romaine lettuce may be eaten in fulfillment of the mitzvah of eating bitter herbs during the Seder.
• Charoset; A sweet, brown, pebbly mixture, representing the mortar used by the Jewish slaves to build the storehouses of Egypt.
• Karpas; A vegetable other than bitter herbs, usually parsley but sometimes something such as celery or cooked potato, which is dipped into salt water (Ashkenazi custom), vinegar (Sephardi custom) or charoset (older custom, still common amongst Yemenite Jews) at the beginning of the Seder.
• Z'roa; A roasted shank bone, symbolizing the korban Pesach (Pesach sacrifice), which was a lamb offered in the Temple in Jerusalem and was then roasted and eaten as part of the meal on Seder night.
• Beitzah; A roasted egg, symbolizing the korban chagigah (festival sacrifice) that was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem and was then roasted and eaten as part of the meal on Seder night.

Maror are traditionally Jewish bitter herbs eaten on Passover, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery in Egypt. ... This article is about commandments in Judaism. ... Sephardi charoset with apples, pears, raisins, figs, orange juice, red wine, pine kernels and cinnamon. ... Karpas is one of the traditional rituals in the Passover Seder. ... Binomial name L. Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... For other uses, see Potato (disambiguation). ... Sephardi charoset with apples, pears, raisins, figs, orange juice, red wine, pine kernels and cinnamon. ... Yemenite Jews (Hebrew: תֵּימָנִים, Standard Temanim Tiberian ; singular תֵּימָנִי, Standard Temani Tiberian ) are those Jews who live, or whose recent ancestors lived, in Yemen (תֵּימָן, Standard Teman Tiberian ; far south), on the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula. ... The humerus is a long bone in the arm or fore-legs (animals) that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. ... The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple (Hebrew: בית המקדש, transliterated Bet HaMikdash and meaning literally The Holy House) was located on the Temple Mount (Har HaBayit) in the old city of Jerusalem. ... Chicken egg (left) and quail eggs (right), the types of egg commonly used as food An egg is a body consisting of an ovum surrounded by layers of membranes and an outer casing of some type, which acts to nourish and protect a developing embryo. ... The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple (Hebrew: בית המקדש, transliterated Bet HaMikdash and meaning literally The Holy House) was located on the Temple Mount (Har HaBayit) in the old city of Jerusalem. ...

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 Mah Nishtanah - "Why is this night different from all other nights?" After the asking of these questions, the main portion of the Seder, Magid, gives over the answers in the form of a historical review. Also, at different points in the Seder, the leader of the Seder will cover the matzot and lift his cup of wine; then put down the cup of wine and uncover the matzot—all to elicit questions from the children.

In Sephardic tradition, the questions are put to the leader of the seder, who either answers the question or may direct the attention of the assembled company to someone who is acting out that particular part of the Exodus. Physical re-enactment of the Exodus during the Passover seder is common in many families and communities, especially amongst Sephardim.^{[citation needed]}

Families will follow the Haggadah's lead by asking their own questions at various points in the Haggadah and offering prizes such as nuts and candies for correct answers. The afikoman, which is hidden away for the "dessert" after the meal, is another device used to encourage children's participation. In some families, the leader of the Seder hides the afikoman and the children must find it, whereupon they receive a prize or reward. In other homes, the children hide the afikoman and the parent must look for it; when he gives up, the children demand a prize (often money) for revealing its location. Afikoman (Hebrew language: אפיקומן, based on Greek, epikomen or epikomion, meaning that which comes after or dessert) is a piece of matzo which is hidden at the start of the Passover Seder and is eaten at the end of the festive meal. ...

Order of the Seder

Kadeish (blessings and the first cup of wine)

Kadeish is Hebrew Imperative for Kiddush. This Kiddush is a special one for Passover, it refers to matzot and the Exodus from Egypt. Acting in a way that shows freedom and majesty, most Jews have the custom of filling each other's cups at the Seder table. The Kiddush is normally said by the father of the house. Shabbat, or Shabbos (Ashkenazic pronunciation) (שבת shabbāṯ, rest), is a day of rest that is observed once a week, from sundown on Friday until nightfall on Saturday, by practitioners of Judaism, as well as by many secular Jews. ... A machine-made matzo Matzo (also Matzoh, Matzah, Matza, Hebrew מַצָּה maṣṣā), an unleavened bread, is the official food of Passover. ...

Ur'chatz (wash hands)

In traditional Jewish homes, it is common to ritually wash the hands before a meal. 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 at any other time. However, followers of Ramba"m or the Gaon of Vilna do recite a blessing.

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 charoset (older Sephardi custom; still common among Yemenite Jews). Another custom mentioned in some Ashkenazi sources and probably originating with Meir of Rothenburg^{[citation needed]}, was to dip the karpas in wine. Karpas is one of the traditional rituals in the Passover Seder. ... Tombs of Meir of Rothenburg and Alexander ben Salomon Wimpfen on the jewish cemetery in Worms, Germany Meir of Rothenburg (c. ...

Yachatz (breaking of the middle matzah)

The middle of the matzot on the Seder Plate is broken in two. The larger piece is hidden, to be used later as the afikoman, the "dessert" after the meal. The smaller piece is returned to its place between the other two matzos. Machine-made shmura matza Matza (also Matzah (better Matsah) Hebrew , in Ashkenazi matzo or matzoh, and in Yiddish, matze, Greek - Masa, or Massa) is a cracker-like flatbread made of white plain flour, and water. ... Traditional arrangement of items on the Passover Seder Plate. ... Afikoman (Hebrew language: אפיקומן, based on Greek, epikomen or epikomion, meaning that which comes after or dessert) is a piece of matzo which is hidden at the start of the Passover Seder and is eaten at the end of the festive meal. ...

Magid (The telling)

The story of Passover, and the change from slavery to freedom is told.

Ha Lachma Anya (invitation to the Seder)

A bronze matzo plate designed by Maurice Ascalon, inscribed with the opening words of Ha Lachma Anya

The matzot are uncovered, and referred to as the "bread of affliction". Participants declare (in Aramaic) an invitation to all who are hungry or needy to join in the Seder. Halakha requires that this invitation be repeated in the native language of the country (e.g. English). Image File history File links Maurice_Ascalon_Pal-Bell_Seder_Plate. ... Image File history File links Maurice_Ascalon_Pal-Bell_Seder_Plate. ... Machine-made shmura matza Matza (also Matzah (better Matsah) Hebrew , in Ashkenazi matzo or matzoh, and in Yiddish, matze, Greek - Masa, or Massa) is a cracker-like flatbread made of white plain flour, and water. ... Maurice Ascalon at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, Italy circa 1934 Maurice Ascalon hammering The Scholar, The Laborer, and The Toiler of the Soil for the 1939 New York Worlds Fair Maurice Ascalons The Scholar, The Laborer, and The Toiler of the Soil copper relief sculpture. ... Machine-made shmura matza Matza (also Matzah (better Matsah) Hebrew , in Ashkenazi matzo or matzoh, and in Yiddish, matze, Greek - Masa, or Massa) is a cracker-like flatbread made of white plain flour, and water. ... Aramaic is a group of Semitic languages with a 3,000-year history. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה ; alternate transliterations include Halocho and Halacha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions. ...

Mah Nishtanah (The Four Questions)

The Mishna details five questions one is obligated to ask on the night of the seder. However, since one of those five is not relevant today (as it deals with korbanot relevant to the day), one is only required to ask the remaining four. It is customary for the youngest child to recite the Four Questions. Some customs hold that the other participants recite them quietly to themselves as well. In some families, this means that the requirement remains on an adult "child" until a grandchild of the family receives sufficient Jewish education to take on the responsibility. If a person has no children capable of asking, the responsibility falls to his wife. The need to ask is so great that even if a man is alone at the seder he is obligated to ask himself and to answer his own questions.

Ma nishtana ha lyla ha zeh mikkol hallaylot?
Why is this night different from all other nights?

1. Shebb'khol hallelot en anu matbillin afillu pa‘am eḥat, vehallayla hazze sh'tei fe‘amim.
   Why is it that on all other nights we do not dip [our food] even once, but on this night we dip them twice?
2. Shebb'khol hallelot anu okh’lin ḥamets umatsa, vehallayla hazze kullo matsa.
   Why is it that on all other nights during the year we eat either leavened bread or matza, but on this night we eat only matza?
3. Shebb'khol hallelot anu okh’lin sh’ar y'rakot, vehallayla hazze maror.
   Why is it that on all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables, but on this night we eat bitter herbs?
4. Shebb'khol hallelot anu okh’lin ben yosh’vin uven m'subbin, vehallayla hazze kullanu m'subbin.
   Why is it that on all other nights we dine either sitting upright or reclining, but on this night we all recline?

The fifth question (which is meant to be inserted between numbers two and three above in place of the fourth) is:

1. Shebb'khol hallelot anu okh’lin basar tsali shaluk umvushal, vehallayla hazze kullo tsali.
   Why is it that on all other nights we eat meat either roasted, marinated, or cooked, but on this night it is entirely roasted?

The largest number of translations of The Four Questions into the world's languages can be found in a book entitled "300 Ways to Ask the Four Questions" by Spiegel and Stein (see WhyIsThisNight.com). There are almost 300 translations in the book.

The Four Sons

The 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. Each of these sons phrase the question, "What is the meaning of this service?" in different ways. The Haggadah recommends answering each son according to his question, using one of the three verses in the Torah that refer to this father-son exchange.

The wise son, who inquires "What is the meaning of the statutes and laws that God has commanded you to do?", is answered with "You should reply to him the laws of pesach: one may not eat any dessert after the paschal sacrifice.", which seems at first glance to be a nonsequitur. This has been interpreted, however, as the son who already knows the facts becoming impatient with their recitation and wishing to skip over them to a deeper analysis; the answer is that it is absolutely required to retell the facts of the story publicly, for the edification of all attendees, whatever their level of knowledge.^[1]

The wicked son, who asks his father the seemingly similar, "What is this service to you?", in fact differentiates himself by the disinterested vagueness of his question, and is thus seen to be isolating himself from the Jewish people, standing by objectively and watching their behavior rather than participating. Therefore, he is rebuked by the explanation that "It is because God acted for my sake when I left Egypt." (There is an explicit implication: the Seder is not for the wicked son because the wicked son would not have deserved to be freed from Egyptian slavery.) Where the four sons are illustrated in the Haggadah, this son has frequently been depicted as wearing stylish contemporary fashions.

The simple son, who asks, "What is this?" is answered with "With a strong hand the Almighty led us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage."

And the one who does not know to ask is told, "It is because of what the Almighty did for me when I left Egypt."

Some modern Seders have taken to referring to the "Sons" as "Children", and some have added a fifth child. The fifth child can represent the children of the Shoah who did not survive to ask a question or to Jews who have drifted so far from Jewish life that they do not particpate in a Seder. [1][2] For the former, tradition is to say that for that child we ask "Why?" and, like the simple son, we have no answer. “Shoah” redirects here. ... Languages Historical Jewish languages Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, others Liturgical languages: Hebrew and Aramaic Predominant spoken languages: The vernacular language of the home nation in the Diaspora, significantly including English, Hebrew, Yiddish, and Russian Religions Judaism Related ethnic groups Arabs and other Semitic groups For the Jewish religion, see Judaism. ...

"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 father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, few in number; and he 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 fathers, 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 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders.") Deuteronomy (Greek deuteronomium, second, from to deuteronomium touto, this second law, pronounced ) is the fifth book of the Torah of the Hebrew bible and the Old Testament. ... In Exodus 6 (Parshat Vaeira in the Torah), Moses has just reiterated to God the complaint of the Israelites that every time he has gone to Pharoah on their behalf, things have gotten worse for them; in this case, Pharoah has now ruled that they shall henceforward make bricks... Signs and Wonders was a phrase used often by Charismatic leaders in the late 1980s and early 1990s. ...

The Haggadah explores the meaning of those verses, and embellishes the story. This telling describes the slavery of the Jewish people and their miraculous salvation by God. This culminates in an enumeration of the Ten Plagues: The Plagues of Egypt (Hebrew: ), the Biblical Plagues or the Ten Plagues (Hebrew: ) are the ten calamities foisted upon Egypt by God in the Bible (as recounted in the book of Exodus, chapters 7 - 12), in order to convince Pharaoh[1] to let the Israelite slaves go to the desert...

1. Dam (blood)—All the water was changed to blood
2. Tzefardeyah (frogs)—An infestation of frogs sprang up in Egypt
3. Kinim (lice)—The Egyptians were afflicted by lice
4. Arov (wild animals)—An infestation of wild animals (some say flies) sprang up in Egypt
5. Dever (pestilence)—A plague killed off the Egyptian livestock
6. Sh'chin (boils)—An epidemic of boils afflicted the Egyptians
7. Barad (hail)—Hail rained from the sky
8. Arbeh (locusts)—Locusts swarmed over Egypt
9. Choshech (darkness)—Egypt was covered in darkness
10. Makkat Bechorot (killing of the first-born)—All the first-born sons of the Egyptians were slain by God

With the recital of the Ten Plagues, each participant removes a drop of wine from his or her cup using a fingertip. Although this night is one of salvation, the Sages explain that one cannot be completely joyous when some of God's creatures had to suffer. A mnemonic acronym for the plagues is also introduced: "D'tzach Adash B'achav", while similarly spilling a drop of wine for each word. For other uses, see Louse (disambiguation). ... Boil or furuncle is a skin disease caused by the inflammation of hair follicles, thus resulting in the localized accumulation of pus and dead tissues. ... For other uses, see Mnemonic (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Backronym and Apronym (Discuss) Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations, such as NATO, laser, and ABC, written as the initial letter or letters of words, and pronounced on the basis of this abbreviated written form. ...

At this part in the Seder, songs of praise are sung, including the song Dayeinu, which proclaims that had God performed any single one of the many deeds performed for the Jewish people, it would have been enough to obligate us to give thanks to Him. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Passover song. ...

Kos Sheini (Second Cup of Wine)

Magid concludes with the drinking of the Second Cup of Wine.

Rachtzah (ritual washing of hands)

The ritual hand-washing is repeated, this time with the traditional blessing before breaking bread.

Motzi Matzo (blessings over the matzo)

Lifting all three matzot, we recite the regular blessing for bread, then release the bottom matzo and recite the special blessing for the mitzvah of matzo. We then eat a portion of matzo from the top two matzot while leaning. (We can add more from other matzot as necessary for all the people at the table but we leave the third matzah for the Korech.) This article is about commandments in Judaism. ...

The size of this portion of matzo should be no less than one half of a hand matzo or two-thirds of a machine matzo. Ideally it should be eaten within two minutes and not more than eighteen minutes.

In the days of the Temple in Jerusalem, a third blessing would be said at this time, asher kidishanu b'mitzvotov v'tzivanu l'echol et hazevach (who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to eat the Paschal sacrifice.) The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple (Hebrew: בית המקדש, transliterated Bet HaMikdash and meaning literally The Holy House) was located on the Temple Mount (Har HaBayit) in the old city of Jerusalem. ... This article is about the Jewish holiday. ... Korban (Hebrew: sacrifice קרבן) (plural: Korbanot קרבנות) refers to any one of a variety of sacrificial offerings described and commanded in the Torah (Hebrew Bible) that were offered in a variety of settings by the ancient Israelites, and then by the Kohanim (the Jewish priests only) in the Temple in Jerusalem. ...

Maror (bitter herb)

Bitter herbs are dipped into charoset, then the charoset is shaken off and the maror is eaten as a symbol of former slavery. The amount eaten is required to be a kazayis or kayazit (literally meaning the mass of an olive [3]), or greater. Sephardi charoset with apples, pears, raisins, figs, orange juice, red wine, pine kernels and cinnamon. ... Binomial name L. 19th century illustration The Olive (Olea europaea) is a species of small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean region, from Syria and the maritime parts of Asia Minor and northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea. ...

Koreich (sandwich)

The matzo and maror are combined, similar to a sandwich, 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.) Hillel (הלל) (born Babylon 1st Century BCE - died ?Jerusalem, 1st Century CE) was a famous Jewish religious leader, one of the most important figures in Jewish history. ...

Shulchan Orech (the meal [literally, "set table"])

A Seder table setting

The festive meal is eaten. Traditionally it begins with the hard-boiled egg on the Seder plate [4], and may include gefilte fish, matzah ball soup, and roast chicken, turkey, or beef brisket as the main dish [5]. Download high resolution version (1906x1429, 1129 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1906x1429, 1129 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Homemade gefilte fish Gefilte fish slices served with carrot Gefilte fish (Yiddish: ) (English: filled fish) are poached fish patties or balls made from a mixture of ground deboned fish, mostly carp (common carp). ... Matzah balls, also known as knaydlach (pl. ... Roast Chicken Not including 32% bones. ... This article is about the domesticated animal raised for food. ... For other uses, see Beef (disambiguation). ... Brisket is a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest. ...

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. Afikoman (Hebrew language: אפיקומן, based on Greek, epikomen or epikomion, meaning that which comes after or dessert) is a piece of matzo which is hidden at the start of the Passover Seder and is eaten at the end of the festive meal. ...

Each participant receives an olive-sized portion of matzo to be eaten as afikoman. If there are many participants at the table, the leader of the Seder will supplement pieces of the original afikoman with other pieces of matzo to complete the required amount.

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.

In some Seders, the children steal the Afikomen instead of it being hidden, and hold it for "ransom", which gets them the prize they would have gotten if they had simply found it. It is sometimes more fun for older children this way.

Bareich (Grace after Meals)

The recital of Birkat Hamazon. Birkat Hamazon (ברכת המזון), known in English as the Grace After Meals (lit. ...

Kos Shlishi (the Third Cup of Wine)

The drinking of the Third Cup of Wine.

Note: The Third Cup is customarily poured before the Grace after Meals is recited because the Third Cup also serves as a Cup of Blessing associated with the Grace after Meals on special occasions. Birkat Hamazon (ברכת המזון), known in English as the Grace After Meals (lit. ... Birkat Hamazon (ברכת המזון), known in English as the Grace After Meals (lit. ...

Kos shel Eliyahu ha-Navi (cup of Elijah the Prophet)

In many traditions, the front door of the house is opened at this point. Psalms 79:6-7 is recited in both Ashkenazi and Sephardi traditions, plus Lamentations 3:66 among Ashkenazim. Elijah, 1638, by José de Ribera This article is about the prophet in the Hebrew Bible. ... Psalms (Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or praises) is a book of the Hebrew Bible included in the collected works known as the Writings or Ketuvim. ... The Book of Lamentations is a book of the Bible Old Testament and Jewish Tanakh. ...

Most Ashkenazim have the custom to fill a fifth cup at this point. This cup is traditionally called the Kos shel Eliyahu ("Cup of Elijah"). Traditionally, Elijah the Prophet visits each home on Seder night as a foreshadowing of his future arrival at the end of the days, when he will come to announce the coming of the Jewish Messiah. Some Jewish feminists place a Cup of Miriam filled with water beside the Cup of Elijah. The Passover Seder is traditionally connected with the Messianic age. The concept of the messiah in Judaism is briefly discussed in the Jewish eschatology entry. ...

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. In addition, the Nishmat, a portion of the morning service for Shabbat and festivals, is traditionally recited. Afterwards the Fourth Cup of Wine is drunk and a brief Grace for the "fruit of the vine" is said. Hallel (Hebrew: הלל Praise [God]) is part of Judaisms prayers, a verbatim recitation from Psalms 113-118, which is used for praise and thanksgiving that is recited by observant Jews on Jewish holidays. ...

Nirtzah

Main article: Passover songs

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! - Next year in Jerusalem!" It has been suggested that Dayenu and Had Gadia be merged into this article or section. ...

Although the 15 orders of the Seder have been complete, the Haggadah concludes with additional songs which further recount the miracles that occurred on this night in Ancient Egypt as well as throughout history. Some songs express a prayer that the Beit Hamikdash will soon be rebuilt. The last song to be sung is Chad Gadya ("One Kid Goat"). This seemingly childish song about different animals and people who attempted to punish others for their crimes and were in turn punished themselves, was interpreted by the Vilna Gaon as an allegory to the retribution God will levy over the enemies of the Jewish people at the end of days. The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple (Hebrew: בית המקדש, transliterated Bet HaMikdash and meaning literally The Holy House) was located on the Temple Mount (Har HaBayit) in the old city of Jerusalem. ... Elijah Ben Solomon, the Vilna Gaon The Vilna Gaon (April 23, 1720 – October 9, 1797) was a prominent Jewish rabbi, Talmud scholar, and Kabbalist. ... Allegory of Music by Filippino Lippi. ...

Following the Seder, those who are still awake may recite the Song of Songs, engage in Torah learning, or continue talking about the events of the Exodus until sleep overtakes them. Song of Solomon is also the title of a novel by Toni Morrison. ...

Public Seders

The group of people who hold a Passover Seder together is referred to in the Talmud (tractate Pesachim) as a chavurah (group). This definition is most apt today in view of the large, public Seders that are conducted around the world. In the Far East, for example, Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries regularly conduct Seders for hundreds of visiting students, businesspeople and Jewish travelers. The Chabad Seder in Katmandu regularly attracts more than 1,200 participants[6]. In 2006, the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS and Baltic Countries organized over 500 public Seders throughout the Former Soviet Union, led by local rabbis and Chabad rabbinical students, drawing more than 150,000 attendees in total[7]. The Talmud (Hebrew: ) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history. ... This article is about the Asian regions. ... Chabad Lubavitch, or Lubavich, is one of the largest branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi . ... Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमाडौं) is the capital city of Nepal. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

In Israel, where permanent residents only observe one Seder, overseas students learning in yeshivas and women's seminaries are often invited in groups up to 100 for "second-day Seders" hosted by outreach organizations and private individuals. This article is about the Jewish male educational system. ...

Non-Jewish Seders

See also: Passover in the Christian tradition

Many Christians, and Evangelical protestants in particular, have recently taken great interest in performing seders according to the ancient rubric. Some forms add a Christian (Messianic Passover) message. Many Christians cite to the meal as a way to connect with the heritage of their own religion and to see how the practices of the ancient world are still relevant to Christianity today.^[2] Catholics view many elements of the mass as having historically arisen out of Jesus' Last Supper which, according to the synoptics, was a seder. As such, Catholics see the mass itself as having been first celebrated by Jesus in a seder setting. The Passover is significant in Christian theology because according to the Synoptic Gospels, the Last Supper was the Passover meal eaten on the 15th of Nisan and Jesus was arrested that night and crucified the following afternoon (the Gospel of John puts the events a day earlier). ... This article is about the religous people known as Christians. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Evangelicalism is a theological perspective in Protestant Christianity which identifies with the gospel. ... In Judaism, the Messiah (Hebrew: , Standard  Tiberian ; Aramaic: , ; Arabic: , ; the Anointed One) at first meant any person who was anointed with oil on rising to a certain position among the ancient Israelites, at first that of High priest, later that of King and also that of a prophet. ... This article is about the religous people known as Christians. ... The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination of Christianity with over one billion members. ... For other uses of Mass, see Mass (disambiguation). ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... For other uses, see The Last Supper (disambiguation). ... In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke are so similar that they are called the synoptic gospels (from Greek, συν, syn, together, and οψις, opsis, seeing). ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

Interfaith Seders

A number of congregations hold interfaith Seders where Jews and non-Jews alike share in the story and discuss common themes of peace, freedom, and religious tolerance. During the American Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, interfaith Seders energized and inspired leaders from various communities who came together to march for equal protection for all. Today, many Unitarian Universalist congregations (a liberal religion that encompasses many faith traditions^[3] hold annual interfaith community Seders. A number of Interfaith Passover Seder Haggadahs have been written especially for this purpose. Civil rights or positive rights are those legal rights retained by citizens and protected by the government. ...

See also

• Passover
• Passover Seder Plate
• Haggadah
• Matzo
• Maror
• Charoset
• Afikoman
• Korban Pesach

This article is about the Jewish holiday. ... Traditional arrangement of items on the Passover Seder Plate. ... Haggadah for Passover, 14th century Haggadah in Hebrew means Telling. ... Machine-made shmura matza Matza (also Matzah (better Matsah) Hebrew , in Ashkenazi matzo or matzoh, and in Yiddish, matze, Greek - Masa, or Massa) is a cracker-like flatbread made of white plain flour, and water. ... Maror are traditionally Jewish bitter herbs eaten on Passover, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery in Egypt. ... Sephardi charoset with apples, pears, raisins, figs, orange juice, red wine, pine kernels and cinnamon. ... Afikoman (Hebrew language: אפיקומן, based on Greek, epikomen or epikomion, meaning that which comes after or dessert) is a piece of matzo which is hidden at the start of the Passover Seder and is eaten at the end of the festive meal. ... Korban Pesach (Hebrew: קרבן פסח sacrifice [of] Passover) also known as the Paschal Lamb, is the Korban God commanded the Children of Israel to offer during the night before the Exodus from Egypt,and which they ate with special ceremonies according to divine direction. ...

References

External links

• The Sephardic Guide to Pesach & Seder
• Passover Seder Explained by Eli Ha-Levi, BA, M.L.I.S.
• A guide to the Seder chabad.org
• Meta-questions for Discussion at the Passover Seder from a Conservative viewpoint
• Haggadah and Seder insights Ohr Somayach
• International Seder Directory - Find a Local Passover Seder
• The Seder Plate of the Maharal from The Maharal Haggadah by Shlomo Mallin
• The Meaning of the 15 Steps in the Seder
• Traditions and teachings of Passover from the Messianic viewpoint

v • d • e Passover • פֶּסַח
Seder	Seder: The Exodus • "Outstretched Arm" • Ten Plagues • Afikoman Seder Plate: Beitzah • Charoset • Karpas • Maror • Zeroa
Haggadah	Songs: Adir Hu • Chad Gadya • Dayenu • Echad Mi Yodea • Ma Nishtana Illustrations: Sarajevo Haggadah • Szyk Hagaddah
Passover foods	Matzah products: Matzo • Matzah ball • Matzah brei • Matzo farfel granola Matzah companies: Streits • Manischewitz • Yehuda Matzos
Religious	Holidays: Fast of the Firstborn • Korban Pesach • Mimouna • Pesach Sheni • Chol HaMoed Rules: Chametz • Kitniyot • Gebrochts