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The custom of pouring out wine from the second cup is not mentioned in the Talmud nor other early sources until about 1200 ce. The custom arose in Franco-Germany, and spread to virtually the entire Jewish world. At the mention of each of the Ten...
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An amazing Midrash says as follows:"When the Sea covered Pharaoh's army, the Ministering Angels opened up with songs of praise to G-d. G-d said to them: The work of My hands is drowning in the Sea, and you are singing?". This is the part of the...
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Following the recitation of the plagues, there is an acknowledgement of G-d's many acts of kindness in connection with the Exodus, any one of which would have been by itself extraordinary and sufficient. We then have a short section which many...
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Rochtzah, Motzi, Matzah: We wash our hands as we normally do for a meal with bread. Before us, are, depending on custom, either two whole matzot plus a broken one (half of which we put away for Afikomen), or one whole matzah plus the broken one....
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The wine has been poured for the second cup. The MAGID section is begun. The usual custom is for is for a child to ask the four questions. In many homes, all the children ask. While in others, the child asks first, with all the participants...
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Now that the Seder Plate is ready, let's begin the Seder!(1). KADESH make kiddush. A cup of wine is poured for each participant. The cup must hold a "revi'it", (estimated at 86 ml., although some say higher or lower). The usual holiday...
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The Torah tells us that the Passover sacrifice was to be eaten at night. We are also told "In the evening, you shall eat matzot" (As I pointed out in an earlier post, matzah is both an adjunct to the sacrifice, and an independent mitzvah unto...
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The many ceremonies of Passover eve, now known as the Seder (order), must be distinguished into three different categories. First is Pesach Mitzrayim (Egyptian Passover), the one observed on the eve of the Exodus. The blood of the sacrifice was...
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In speaking about which herbs are acceptable for the Marror; the bitter herb, I left off with the issue of lettuce. There is no question that lettuce is the preferred marror of the Talmud. The Jerusalem Talmud even notes that all the herbs...
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So why does the Talmud see lettuce as the preferred choice for Maror? While it is true that wild lettuce (also known as "opium lettuce", as it contains a mild narcotic) is extremely bitter, it is listed as the least preferable of the five species...
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