The Seder

The night before we left Egypt, families sat together, eating matzah and bitter herbs, telling their wide-eyed children of the promise made to their forefathers and excitedly describing how it was all about to come true. And then, at midnight, the liberation began.

Today, we, their grandchildren, still gather over the same foods, telling the same stories and anticipating an even bigger liberation—from our slavery to materialism and our spiritual slumber. We call it "the Seder." Look, it worked the first time...

We do the Seder twice, on the 1^st and 2^nd nights of Passover. And remember, the Seder is a Seder only when it happens after nightfall.

The Basics:

• We gather over the same foods, telling the same stories and anticipating an even bigger liberationArrange your seder plate as illustrated in your Haggadah, recite the Kiddush and drink the first cup of wine.
  Notes: a) You need to drink at least 1.5 ounces of each of the four cups of wine. b) Wine is ideal, but grape juice can work too—best though if you add a little wine. c) Whenever you eat or drink the prescribed wine and matzah, you should be sitting, reclining to your left side.
• Wash your hands, dip the vegetable on the Seder plate in saltwater and eat a bit of it. Then break the middle matzah in the Seder plate and put aside the larger piece for the afikoman.
• Now it's time to read the story of the Exodus. You can give people turns to read, or all read together. Add in whatever relevant stories and bits of wisdom you have gathered. This is followed by another cup of wine.
• Wash hands again and eat the matzah, minimum one ounce per adult. To remember the Israelites' slavery, munch down on the bitter herbs—at least 3/4 oz.—slightly dipped in the fruit paste. Then eat a matzah and bitter herbs sandwich.
• Now comes the festive meal. Dessert? Another piece of matzah—the afikoman.
• Say the Grace after Meals, followed by the third cup. Fill up Elijah's cup with wine, and open the door to invite him in. The Hallel (Songs of Praise), then, is followed by the fourth cup.

Click here for a detailed Seder Wizard.