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The Four Cups
One of the highlights of the Seder is drinking the Four Cups of wine. The Four Cups symbolize the four expressions of redemption; Ve’hotseiti, Ve’hetsalti, Ve’gaalti, and Ve’lakahti. Each one of these phrases represents a different stage of the redemption. Ve’hotseiti – and I will take them out from under the servitude of Mitsrayim, the end of the slavery. Ve’hetsalti – and I will save them so that they are no longer under Egyptian rule. Ve’gaalti – and I will redeem them, referring to the splitting of the sea. Ve’lakahti – I will take them as a nation through the giving of the Torah.
Which wine should I buy?
The wine used for the Seder should preferably be red, as it is considered a superior wine. Additionally, red wine reminds us of the Jewish blood spilled by Pharaoh, the plague of blood cast upon the Egyptians, and the blood libels that followed Jews around the world over the centuries.
When wine is “mevushal” - cooked or heated beyond a certain temperature, it reduces the quality of the wine. (That is why when wine is mevushal, there is no issue with who handles it). It is preferable to use non-mevushal wine for the Four Cups. Once a bottle of non-mevushal wine is opened, one should ensure a non-Jew does not touch it as it can become problematic and forbidden to derive benefit from it. Generally, Kedem narrow 750 ml. bottles (without a cork) are mevushal, and their wider 1.5-liter bottles are non-mevushal.
Can I drink grape juice for the Four Cups?
Grape juice can be used by one who cannot tolerate wine. However, there are numerous wines that meet all halachic requirements and are low in alcohol, such as Moscato, Kedem Concord Kal (Sweet, 3.5% alcohol), Matuk Kal Soft (Semi-dry, 4.5% alcohol), and Rashi Light Red Concord (5.5% alcohol).
Can I dilute the wine?
One can dilute the wine with grape juice, as long as they retain an alcohol level of 3.5 percent, as this can still be considered wine. If necessary, it may be diluted with a small portion of water as well, as long as it does not significantly detract from the taste. Before diluting, one must ensure that the wine was not previously diluted by the producer. Wine producers may legally add water without notifying the customer; therefore, one should be careful before adding water.
The Masah and Marror
If Hashem had commanded us to rid our houses of all wheat grains, that would have been relatively easy. The real challenge is posed by His commandment to have grain prepared in a way that there is absolutely no leavening, i.e., matsah. Matsah is made from flour and water and has the highest possibility of being hamets. Therefore, one should only buy matsah with a very reliable certification.
What kind of matsot should I buy?
The matsah for the Seder is unique and has to be made with specific intention for the mitsvah. Therefore, for the Seder, one should use handmade matsot, where the person baking them can have these intentions. There are machine-made matsot that are also made with this intention.
Additionally, although all matsah is watched from becoming hamets after the water and flour are mixed in, for the matsot of the Seder, the grain should be watched from the time it was cut, i.e., shemurah meshe’at ketsirah. There is an elevated status of matsah shemurah to be used for the entire Pesah.
What should I buy for Maror?
It is our custom to have two portions of maror, one for the order of maror and a second called hazeret for the korech―sandwich. We use romaine lettuce and endive or escarole. Romaine lettuce must be soaked in water and then checked well leaf by leaf for insects, being aware of what type of bugs we are searching for or see our produce guide here. Alternatively, one can use just the stalks, which can easily be rinsed under a current of water and checked. One can also buy kosher pre-checked or kosher greenhouse-grown lettuce.
How much Masah and Marror do we need?
In order to fulfill the misvah of matsah and marror one must eat a certain amount. The system of measurement is based on a k’zayit – the size of an olive. The measurement of a k’zayit is actually the volume of an olive. However, being that it is not so practical to measure volume of an item, the custom is to measure by weight, and consider a k’zayit to be approximately one ounce. This is because generally a food that has the required weight will definitely also have the required volume.
In regards to hand matsah, many experiments have been done which have determined that if one has the weight of twenty grams of matsah, he will surely be eating the volume of a k’zayit. When measuring Marror, one would need the actual weight of an ounce, as the weight and volume of lettuce are about the same.
Can I measure this by the Seder?
Normally, measuring is forbidden on Shabbat and Yom Tov, however for a misvah one may measure. When using a scale, then of course only use a mechanical (non-electric) scale. It is a good idea to pre-measure the required amount of marror and place it in a small plastic bag by each person’s place setting. This will ensure that each person eats the required amount, and will save time during the Seder.
Alternatively, one can calculate the amount need based on how many matsot come in a one-pound box. Every bakery makes matsot in various densities and sizes, so each type may be different. To calculate one should divide the number of matsot in the box by sixteen (a pound is 16 ounces). For example, if eight matsot come in the box, each matsah is (16/8=) 2 ounces. In this situation, half of a matsah would be an ounce.
The lettuce can also be measured by fitting the leaves tightly in a shot glass. That amount is a k’zayit.
How much matsah and marror is eaten all together?
● Motsi Matsah: The head of the household eats a k’zayit from the top matsah and another k’zayit from the second matsah. Everyone at the Seder after receiving a little piece from the main matsot, is required to eat at least one k’zayit of matsah. It is customary for all to eat two ounces of matsah at this time. Those eating two kezatot may use a smaller measurement for each k’zayit and eat a total of twenty-eight grams or one oz.
● Marror: Each person eats one k’zayit (approximately one oz.).
● Korech: Each person should eat a k’zayit of matsah and a k’zayit of marror. If one finds it difficult to eat so much, one can be lenient and measure the k’zayit of matsah as fourteen grams and the marror as eighteen grams.
● Afikomin: One eats at least one k’zayit of matsah in remembrance of the Korban Pesah that was eaten at the end of the meal. It is preferable to eat two kezetot, to commemorate both the Korban Pesah and the matsah with which it was eaten. If one is eating two kezatot, he can measure the matsah with the smaller measurement, and a total of one ounce will suffice.
The Seder
The climax of Pesah is the Seder when we all dine and sit like royalty and relate the unbreakable chain of miraculous triumphs of survival. The sanctity is highlighted by the regal manner in which we carry out the Seder. The word ‘seder’ means order. The meticulous order and details enhance the Seder enabling us to fully relive the experience of Yesiat Mitsrayim.
Kaddesh
When is the earliest time to recite Kiddush?
Although during the year, one may recite Kiddush immediately when coming home from the synagogue, on Pesah evening, since the cup for Kiddush is one of the Four Cups, one should wait until nightfall to recite Kiddush. At that time, one should start Kiddush right away to ensure that the children are awake during the reading of the Haggadah and eating of the matsah.
How much wine must I drink?
The cup must hold at least three ounces ― a reviit. Ideally, one should drink a majority of the cup, regardless of what size the cup is, and preferably the entire cup. The minimum one must drink is a majority of a reviit. This amount should be drunk in one gulp or two quick consecutive gulps.
How should I lean?
One must lean his entire body, not just his neck. One must lean onto something like a pillow or a chair, not just hang in the air. One should lean more than forty-five degrees to the left, whether right-handed or left-handed. Both men and women lean.
What if I forgot to lean?
One should make sure to lean when drinking all Four Cups. If one forgot to lean when drinking one of the Four Cups, he should drink it again while leaning. A new berachah rishonah is not recited when re-drinking. According to some opinions, if a woman forgot to lean, she does not have to drink the cup again.
Urhatz
What if I mistakenly recited al netilat yadayim?
If one has already recited the Name of Hashem, he should complete his berachah (and need not say lamdeni hukecha).
Karpas
Do I say bore nefashot?
If one mistakenly eats a kezayit, he still does not recite bore nefashot at this point.
Yahatz
Is there any special way to break the matsah?
According to Kabbalah, one should have the intent to break the larger piece to form a letter vav and the smaller piece to the shape of the letter dalet. The smaller piece is returned between the two whole matsot, and the larger piece is put away and saved for afikomin.
Maggid
What is the most important part of the Seder night?
We must tell our children, our wives, and ourselves the story of how we were slaves in Mitsrayim and were freed. Therefore, one should try to explain the Haggadah, or at least the main portions, in English as you read so everyone can understand. Just as one prepares for Pesah by cleaning, he should also prepare for the Seder by reviewing the Haggadah and studying some commentaries to have more to relate. The more one relives the experience and understands, the better the mitsvah and the more one will be elevated from the Seder.
Can I drink coffee before the matsah?
Ideally, one should not eat or drink at all until the matsah. If one is really hungry or not feeling well, one can have a little bit of ha’adamah or shehakol items before beginning Maggid. One should not interrupt the Haggadah by talking about unrelated matters.
Are women required to hear the Haggadah?
Relating the story of Yesiat Mitsrayim is connected to the eating of the matsah. Therefore, a woman also takes part in the reading of the Haggadah. She can listen along instead of reading. If she is busy with preparing the food and taking care of the kids, she should try to make up the parts she missed. If this is not possible, she should at least read (and understand) the passages of mah nishtanah, avadim ha’yinu, the Ten Plagues, and the passage of Rabban Gamliel, which explains the reasons for the central mitsvot of the evening. She also says the first two chapters of Hallel and the berachah at the end of Maggid.
Rohtsah
Are we now washing to eat?
Before washing, one should prepare for the upcoming matsah, maror, and korech and allocate sufficient matsah and maror for each person to facilitate a smooth flow of these connected mitsvot. From motsi through korech are the significant parts of our ‘eating mitsvot’ of the night, followed by the meal, then culminating with the afikomin. It is worthwhile to point out that a mitsvah for us to eat something specific is unique to sacrifices in the Bet Hamikdash and, for all of us, Pesah night with matzah.
Motsi―Matsah
What if my matsot are a little broken?
The three matsot of the ke’arah should be whole; however, given the fragility of our matsot, if it looks whole and only a little chipped at the end, it is acceptable. If the matsah has a crack, hold it from one side and if the second half doesn’t fall off it is acceptable.
Can I take my time eating?
Each k’zayit should preferably be eaten within 4-6 minutes or even up to nine minutes if difficult. The timer starts from when you begin swallowing. One can drink water while eating to help him swallow easier, or can get a head start by chewing some matsah before they begin swallowing.
What if I forgot to lean?
One should lean when eating the matsah, the korech, and the afikomin. If one did not lean when he should have, he should repeat. Do not make a new berachah rishonah when re-drinking or re-eating.
Maror―Korech
Why do we dip in the haroset?
By maror, we dip in haroset and then shake it off because by the mitsvah of maror the bitter taste needs to prevail. However, by korech, we leave the haroset on the sandwich, as the haroset in the mix alludes to the sweet outcome of many bitter days.
Shulhan Orech
What is on the menu?
One should eat a sumptuous meal to the best of his ability since the display of royalty is the theme of the night. One should, however, not serve meat that was grilled or broiled, as it resembles the actual Korban Pesah, which was roasted, ostensibly looking like a korban outside the Bet Hamikdash. Our roast is generally made with a little water and is fine. If the meat was roasted then cooked, or cooked then roasted, it is permitted.
What if I fell asleep?
If one fell asleep at this point, even for a short amount of time, he should wash his hands again for the meal, however, without a berachah.
Tsafun
How much more do I eat for the afikomin?
One eats at least one kezayit of matsah in commemoration of the Korban Pesah that was eaten at the end of the meal. It is preferable to eat two kezatot, to commemorate both the Korban Pesah and the matsah with which it was eaten. It is eaten while leaning. If one did not lean, he must eat again.
Barech
What if I forgot the afikomin?
If he already started Birkat Hamazon, then immediately after Birkat Hamazon, he should wash again, eat the afikomin and recite Birkat Hamazon. If one remembers before Birkat Hamazon (even if he recited hav lan v’navrich) that he did not eat the afikomin, one goes back and eats the afikomin.
Hallel
Do I make a berachah aharonah of al hagefen after the last cup?
If one drank a full reviit (3 fl. oz.) by the third or fourth cup, a berachah aharonah is recited, provided it was drunk in either one gulp or two quick gulps. If one did not drink a full reviit, he should not make a berachah aharonah. If possible, the best thing to do in such a case would be to listen to someone else’s berachah and have in mind to fulfill your obligation.
Nirtsa
What are we supposed to do?
The Seder is an extremely holy mitsvah, and after performing the entire Seder, it is a befitting time to sing to Hashem and beseech that He finds favor in our Seder. Therefore, Shir Hashirim―which describes the greatest love of Hashem to us―is sung along with other meaningful poetry expressing our relationship to Him and our destiny.
What should I do after the Seder?
One should go to sleep that night with the taste of matsah in his mouth. That is why one should not eat or drink after the afikomin (except something simple like water or tea).
It is not just the taste of matsah that should remain, but rather one should go to sleep with the experience of the entire night lingering on his mind. Furthermore, one should continue discussing experiences of salvation―big or small, personal and national―and taking practical lessons about all that was just encompassed within the Seder……until he drifts off to sleep.
לשנה הבאה בירושלים!
