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Seder Questions and Answers
Contributed by Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner

  • TOP HAGGADAHS FOR 2023
B. WHY DO WE WASH OUR HANDS PRIOR TO EATING THE VEGETABLES AT THE 
BEGINNING OF THE SEDER?
The hand washing is to cleanse the fingertips before handling the vegetables and has no symbolic ritual
meaning.  Today, it is done merely to elicit questions from the children at the Seder.
C. WHAT IS THE AFIKOMAN?
It is a piece of the middle matzah set aside at the beginning of the seder (yachatz) as a substitute for the
Paschal lamb and eaten at the conclusion of the meal. It is hidden during the seder to keep the children awake and
interested during the middle of the seder.
D. WHY IS THE 'HA LACHMA' WRITTEN IN ARAMAIC INSTEAD OF HEBREW?
The spoken language, at the time it was written, was Aramaic. Aramaic was used Since an invitation has to
be extended in a language understood by all; today we use English.
E. WHY DO WE DIP HERBS TWICE?
We dip parsley in salt water because it reminds us of the green that comes to live again in the springtime.
We dip the maror, or bitter herbs, in the sweet charoset as a sign of hope. Our ancestors were able to withstand the
bitterness of slavery because it was sweetened by the hope of freedom.
F. WHY DO WE RECLINE AT THE TABLE?
Because reclining at the table was a sign of a free man in olden times. Since our ancestors
were freed on this night, we recline at the table.
G. WHY ARE THERE 4 DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHILDREN?
The Rabbis found in the Torah, four different versions of the command that the father tell the story of the
Exodus to his child, deducing four different kinds of children.
A Mystical Understanding of the Four Children of the Seder
Consider the parallel between the “four children” and the “four” who entered PARDES from the Talmud:
The wise child:  Rabbi Akiva who knows the difference between water and water, -- between the upper spirituality and lower
spirituality.
The wayward/other one: Acher (Elisha) who sees in the pardes a failure of absolute justice in the world, doubts and turns to his
own path.
The simple one: Ben Zoma who encounters the Divine mystically literally and becomes psychologically damaged
The one who could not ask any questions: Ben Azai dies from the experience and hence can not speak.© 2001   
H. WHY DO WE RECITE THE HALLEL?
We recite Hallel because of our awareness that the freedom is given by God, and we relate our exodus from
Egypt to God's power.  Therefore, we praise Him with traditional psalms of praise.
I. WHY DO WE POUR A LITTLE WINE OUT OF OUR CUPS AS WE SAY THE 10 PLAGUES?
Even though the Egyptians persecuted us, we still feel sorry that they suffered so much through the plagues.
We, therefore, diminish our joy by pouring out the wine.
J. WHY DO WE WASH OUR HANDS WITH A BLESSING BEFORE THE MEAL?
This is  a usual ritual washing which is done at any meal where bread or matzah is eaten prior to the
blessing over the bread. The table is regarded as an altar where proper conversation and decorum is maintained. Just
as the priest in the past washed his hands in preparation to approaching the altar, so do we.
K. WHY TWO BLESSINGS OVER THE Matzah?
One is the usual blessing for bread (matzah is bread which has not risen). The other blessing is specifically
for the matzah which is eaten on Pesach Eve.
L. WHY DO WE EAT BITTER HERBS A SECOND TIME IN A SANDWICH?
We do it out of respect for the great scholar Hillel whose custom was to eat the maror with matzah. Since
we recited the blessing already, we only mention why we are eating the sandwich.
M. IS THERE ANY SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE TO "CHAD GADYA?"
The kid, cat, dog, etc., each devouring the other have represented the mighty empires of the past, each one
defeating the succeeding ones until God puts a final end to their power.  Many of the popular Seder songs have
various attributed meanings, although in truth we don't often really know what their authors intended.
N. WHY DO WE EAT HARD BOILED EGGS?
They symbolize the festival sacrifice.  Some point out that the longer the egg is boiled, the harder it
becomes, paralleling the ability of the Jewish People to become increasingly strong in the face of increasing
oppression.  Others suggest that since an elegant Hellenistic meal might begin with an egg, so then did the Seder
meal that imitated a luxurious dining style of that period for free people.
O. WHY DO WE SAY"L'SHANAH HA BA'AH BEE-RU-SHA LA-YIM?"
"Next year in Jerusalem." This wish has always been associated with a future of perfect peace. To the Jew
today it also expresses his close ties with Israel and his desire to visit Israel soon.
haggadah Section: Introduction
Source: Foundation for Family Education, Inc.

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