The seder (ceremonial meal of the first night or two of Passover) and the haggadah (text used at that meal).
1
vote
1answer
65 views
Where is the Pesach seder discussed in the Mishna?
I heard a podcast that discussed the differences between the Pesach Seder as described in the Mishna and what we do today. But I couldn't catch the name/number of the relevant mishnaot. What are they?
...
9
votes
1answer
164 views
Traditionalist evaluation of the “New American Haggadah”?
One of the hot new offerings in the Haggada market this year is the New American Haggadah by novelists Jonathan Safran Foer and Nathan Englander. It features a new translation by Englander as well as ...
20
votes
9answers
526 views
Seder advice when with people who aren't interested?
This may have some things in common with beginner's seder advice, but it's different enough that I'm asking separately.
For family-obligation reasons, I sometimes find myself at a seder where most of ...
9
votes
2answers
203 views
Beginners' Seder Advice
I'm going to be at a seder this year with young children who are familiar with the basic structure of the haggadah. Some will likely have some of the classic divrei torah prepared for them to say. I'm ...
12
votes
1answer
234 views
Advanced Seder Advice
I'm going to be at a seder this year with other adults who are all relatively familiar with the text and structure of the haggadah. Most have heard many of the classic divrei torah many times. I'm ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views
Why doesn't the hagadah discuss miracles? [closed]
The hagadah (based on the discussion of Rav and Shmuel in pesachim) dedicates the bulk of maggid to expounded the verses of arami oved avi. But why is there very little discussion of the actual ...
8
votes
1answer
137 views
Origin of Haggadah Section Titles (Kadesh Urchatz, etc.)
What is the historical origin of the section titles of the Haggadah?
(Inspired by discussion in comments on this answer to the question: Translation of haggadah section titles)
2
votes
1answer
172 views
Translation of haggadah section titles
What are the litteral translations of the different section titles of the haggadah? (i.e. What exactly do kadesh, urchatz, etc. mean)
7
votes
1answer
84 views
Why is it ok to pay the kids for the afikoman?
Most Pesach sedarim feature the afikoman hide-and-seek game; either the children steal it and ransom it back or the parents hide it and (in my experience) pay a prize to the child who finds it. At ...
7
votes
2answers
191 views
What is Nirtzah?
In every one of the 15 steps one is supposed (according to Halacha) to either do something, eat something or say something.
For example,
Kadesh - one must do Kiddush - Biblical/Rabbinic.
Urchatz - ...
4
votes
1answer
49 views
Who composed the Piyut Echad Mi Yodeya?
Who composed the Piyut Echad Mi Yodeya that is commonly recited on Pesach?
11
votes
4answers
615 views
“If God had not delivered us from Egypt we would still be slaves”? Really?
One part of the Pesach seder that has always bothered me is saying that if God had not taken us out of Mitzrayim at that time we would still be slaves today. This seems lacking in faith in God; ...
9
votes
3answers
234 views
What were the 300 plagues of the Exodus?
The הגדה says:
במצרים לקו חמשים מכות, ועל הים לקו חמשים ומאתים מכות
In Egypt, they were struck with 50 plagues, and by the Sea [of Reeds], they were struck with 250 plagues
What were ...
9
votes
3answers
295 views
why do we say Pesach seder brachot both nights?
During the Pesach seder, but not during the rest of Pesach, we say b'rachot for the mitzvot of matzah and maror. (I mean the "asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav" b'rachot.) So it seems that we are only ...
6
votes
3answers
133 views
How do we know the rasha would not have been redeemed?
The Haggada speaks about 4 sons, the second of which is called "wicked". He distances himself from G-d's commandment, and in turn is told that if he had been in Egypt he would not have been redeemed. ...
5
votes
1answer
168 views
Can you eat the Beitza at the Seder?
The Halacha is not to eat roasted meat at the Seder, therfore you can not eat the Zeroa at the Seder. Can you eat the roasted egg (Beitza) at the Seder? (sources)
14
votes
7answers
259 views
What do you do with Kos Shel Eliyahu
The Minhag is to fill up an additional cup towards the end of the seder known as Kos Shel Eliyahu. I was just wondering what the various minhagim are as to what to do with it after the seder is over.
4
votes
1answer
145 views
Sheva Brachos Seder
What does one do if his or her Sheva Brachos comes out on Seder Night do the Kosos become Sheva Brachos and what are all the other Halachic Implications?
3
votes
3answers
96 views
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Using The Washington Haggadah
Yesterday, Harvard University Press released a haggadah which is a reproduction of a manuscript written in 1478 and held by the Library of Congress. It can be purchased on Amazon.
If I bought this, ...
6
votes
5answers
159 views
A Leaning dilemma
If I forgot to lean at the time to eat Matzah, I am required by Halacha to eat it again. If when I am going to re-eat it in order to do the leaning my Rebbi Muvhak walks in, what do I do? You don't ...
1
vote
2answers
120 views
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הָיָה נוֹתֵן בָּהֶם סִמָּנִים: דְּצַ“ךְ עַדַ”שׁ בְּאַחַ"ב
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הָיָה נוֹתֵן בָּהֶם סִמָּנִים: דְּצַ"ךְ עַדַ"שׁ בְּאַחַ"ב. We call the last Makah "Makas Bechoros" - why didn't Rabbi Yehuda say בְּאַחַ"ם
4
votes
5answers
185 views
What is your favorite haggadah? [closed]
There are many classic and modern haggadot. Any recommendations? If so, why? And if available online (such as at HebrewBooks), please provide a link.
3
votes
3answers
163 views
What type of Maror?
For Maror there are those that use lettuce, those that use endives, those that use fresh grated horseradish, or maybe something else. Is there a difference in what you use for Maror and what you use ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
2
votes
1answer
139 views
Urchatz - does everyone wash?
I have heard different Minhagim regarding washing at Urchatz. It seems that in some families everyone washes and in others only the Baal HaBayis. Does anyone have sources as to the different Minhagim ...
5
votes
4answers
691 views
Wearing a Kittel at the Seder
I grew up with my father wearing a Kittel at the Seder. My father wore a Kittel at the Seder immediately from when he got married. Over the years I have heard that some people do not wear a Kittel the ...
4
votes
2answers
128 views
Two Matzos at the Seder
Many Hagados show an option of using only 2 Matzos at the Seder as Nusach HaGra. Does anyone still do only 2 Matzos?
3
votes
4answers
274 views
Karpas - What do you use?
I have heard of potatoes, celery, scallion. What else do people use for Karpas? Is there one item that is more L'Chatchila than the others?
4
votes
2answers
180 views
matza significance
I would like to know the meaning of the three matzot and why only the middle one is broken.
3
votes
2answers
65 views
Arami Oved Avi Vayerd Mitzraimah
The Declaration ( Viduy )said when bringing the BIKKURIM includes saying “An Armenian wanted to destroy my father, and he went down to Egypt” Yaakov had many things Happen to him why choose the ...
13
votes
6answers
289 views
How would Har Sinai without the Torah have been enough?
In the Hagada of Peasach it says "even if he brought us to Har Sinai but didn't give us the Torah it would have been enough." What would be the purpose of going to Har Sinai if we didn't get the ...
0
votes
3answers
65 views
The story of the rabbis in the haggada-mizva of afikoman
In the hagadah, did the rabbanim who stayed up all night get the miztva of afikoman?
6
votes
6answers
223 views
7
votes
6answers
508 views
Custom to refrain from eating meat at the Pesach Seder?
I recently heard from two separate people about a custom not to eat any meat at the Seder (i.e. only fish and chicken are eaten). This was surprising to me, as the minhag mentioned in the Mishnah, ...
2
votes
4answers
136 views
Washing hands before Karpas
What was the Brisker Rov's explanation for washing hands before Karpas by ורחץ?
3
votes
3answers
154 views
5
votes
5answers
186 views
How do you pick a Hagada to use at the Seder?
There are hundreds or thousands of
editions
of the Hagada available. How do you choose which one is best to use at the Seder?
4
votes
2answers
104 views
Are you supposed to do the responsive parts of Hallel at the Seder?
At a Pesach Seder, when you get to the parts of Hallel that are done responsively in a congregation, are you supposed to do them responsively? Does the answer depend on how many people are at the ...
3
votes
3answers
306 views
What is “chad gadya” really all about?
Why do we sing "chad gadya" at the pesach seder? What is it supposed to be about?
Also, as a side question, is it "d'zabin aba" or "dizvan aba"?
4
votes
1answer
92 views
Who hides the afikoman?
Is the leader of the seder supposed to hide the afikoman so that the kids can find it, or are the kids supposed to hide it so that the leader can find it? And what is the point of this hide-and-seek ...
2
votes
2answers
320 views
When do you eat the charoset?
During the seder, are you really not supposed have any charoset left on your maror when you eat it? Why is this? When do people actually get to eat the charoset?
3
votes
4answers
478 views
Do bananas make the best karpas?
For karpas at the seder, one is supposed to eat a food on which the blessing "borei pri ha'adama" is made. However, many of the most commonly used food items for karpas (e.g. parsley, raw onion, raw ...
