One of the most important rituals to be followed at Seder is those of
four questions that are to be answered by the youngest child at the
table. The concept originated to make the children feel involved in the
Passover celebration and arouse curiosity in them. The ceremony is based
mainly on the commandment in the Bible that reads - "And thou shalt
tell thy son". The Haggadah, the Book of Exodus also stresses the
importance of the Seder to excite the interest of the children. At the
Seder, the Haggadah is read and stories narrating the history of the
Hebrew slaves of Egypt are told who walked away to freedom and
established their own kingdom as Israelites under the guidance of God
and Prophet Moses are told. Songs and sung and prayers are told to thank
the Lord for the liberation from slavery.
The four questions that are asked are given here along with their
answers:
1. Why do we eat only Matzoh on Pesach and not all
kinds of breads and crackers like other nights?
When Pharaoh finally ordered Jews to get out of Egypt after the tenth
plague, they were in such a hurry to get away from slavery that they
hadn't time to let their dough rise and bake their bread. Thus, they
took the raw dough with them on their journey and baked it into hard
crackers in the hot desert called Matzoh. Thus, we eat only Matzoh on
this day to remind us of their struggles.
2. Why do we eat bitter herbs or Maror at our Seder?
Maror or the bitter herbs are eaten to remind us of the bitterness of
slavery and harsh and cruel ways in which Jewish people were treated as
slaves under the Pharaoh in Egypt.
3. At our Seder, why do we dip the parsley in salt water and the bitter
herbs in Charoset?
Parsley represents new life and Spring while salt water represents
tears of Hebrew slaves. Parsley dipped in salt water thus represents new
life that emerged from the tears and hardship of the Jewish slaves.
Bitter herbs dipped into Charoset represent the bitter days of slavery.
Charoset has a coarse texture like clay used to make bricks for the
Pharaoh's buildings.
4. Why do we lean on a pillow while eating tonight and do not sit
straight like other nights?
Leaning on a pillow signifies the comforts of freedom. As slaves, our
ancestors had little comforts. Thus, we lean on a pillow to assert that
we are free now and can sit straight or lean on a pillow as much as we
like.
