Seder laws and customs

Includes telling the story, discussing the story, drinking four cups of wine, eating matzah, partaking of symbolic foods placed on the Passover Seder Plate, and reclining in celebration of freedom. The Seder is performed in much the same way by Jews all over the world.

The Seder is a feast that includes reading, drinking wine, telling stories, eating special foods, singing, and other Passover traditions.

As per Biblical command, it is held after nightfall on the first night of Passover (and the second night if you live outside of Israel), the anniversary of our nation's miraculous exodus from Egyptian slavery more than 3,300 years ago.

Four cups of wine.

Veggies dipped in saltwater.

Matzah.

Bitter herbs, often horseradish (without additives) and romaine lettuce, dipped into charoset (a paste of nuts, apples, pears and wine).

And a festive meal.

Ceremonial foods are all arranged on a platter, called a ka'arah or Seder plate. There is one ka'arah on the Seder table.

The procedure is all laid out in a book called a Haggadah, Although the text is in Hebrew (with a sprinkling of Aramaic), it is perfectly acceptable to read the Haggadah in translation if you don't understand Hebrew.

At the Seder, every person should feel as if he or she were going out of Egypt. We begin with the story of our patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and recount the Jewish people's descent into Egypt, recalling their suffering and persecution. We are with them as G-d sends the ten plagues to punish Pharaoh and his nation and follow along as they leave Egypt and cross the Red Sea. We witness the miraculous hand of G-d as the waters part, allowing the Israelites to pass.

Passover Haggadah - Hebrew and English - inbunden, Engelska, 2024