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Seder rituals are followed in a particular order. Maggid or telling the story includes asking of the four questions by the youngest of 'Why Passover is different' known as 'Mah Nishtanah'.



Order of the Night Of Seder

'Seder' means 'order'. Thus, a certain order is to be followed strictly on the night of Seder. The precise order in which the rituals of the night are performed are as follows:
  1. Kaddesh (Sanctification) - Saying Kiddush blessing over the first cup of Wine and drinking it.
  2. Urechatz (Washing) - Washing the hands without blessing to eat Karpas.
  3. Karpas (Vegetable) - Eating the green vegetable dipped in salt tears to remind us of the tears and lowly conditions in which Jewish slaves lived in Egypt.
  4. Yachatz (Breaking) - The middle of the three matzohs on the table is broken. The smaller part is returned to the table while the larger part becomes the Afikomen.
  5. Maggid (The Story) - The story of the Exodus from Egypt is retold. It starts with asking of the Four Questions by the youngest on the table with the words 'Mah Nishtanah' (Why is it different?). Then the four sons depicting four types of Jews are discussed. At the end, a blessing is recited over the second cup of wine and it is drunk.
  6. Rachtzah (Second Washing) - Hands are washed for the second time with a blessing to eat the matzah.
  7. Motzi (Blessing over Grain Products - A generic blessing for bread or grain products is recited over the matzah.
  8. Matzah (Blessing over Matzah) - Blessing specific to matzah is recited and then a little matzah is eaten.
  9. Maror (Bitter Herbs) - Blessing is recited over a bitter vegetable such as raw horseradish and it is dipped in charoset and eaten.
  10. Korech (The Sandwich) - Another set of bitter herb known as Chazeret is eaten as the sandwich to replace the paschal offering.
  11. Shulchan Orech (Dinner) - A festive meal is eaten though chametz or yeast food is prohibited here. Ashkenazic Jews traditionally begin the mean with gefilte fish and matzah ball soup. Roast chicken or turkey and beef brisket are popular as the main course here.
  12. Tzafun (Afikomen) - Piece of Matzah hidden for the children to find is eaten as the 'dessert' or the last food of the meal.
  13. Barech (Grace after Meals) - 'Birkat ha-mazon' (grace after meals) is recited over the third cup of wine and then it is drunk. The fourth cup is poured along with the cup set aside for the Prophet Elijah. The door is opened to invite him in.
  14. Hallel (Praises) - Several psalms are recited followed by a blessing over the last cup of wine and it is drunk.
  15. Nirtzah (Closing) - Seder is closed by a simple statement that it has been completed. A wish is made that Jews may celebrate next Pesach in Jerusalem or that the Messiah may come again next year. It is followed by various hymns and stories.





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