Seder Mysteries: Explained

(6) These are the vegetables with which a person discharges their obligation [to eat bitter herbs] on Pesach: with lettuce, and with endives, and with gingidium, and with eryngo, and with sonchus.

How is this night different from all [other] nights?

On all [other] nights we eat chametz and matza; tonight [we eat] only matza.

On all [other] nights we eat other vegetables; tonight [we eat] only maror.

On all [other] nights we don't dip even one time; tonight [we dip] twice.

On all [other] nights we eat either sitting or reclining; tonight we all recline.

(3) They bring ________ before him. He dips the lettuce until he gets to the appetizer that precedes the bread. [Then,] they bring before him matza, lettuce, charoset, and two cooked foods, even though [eating] charoset is not a commandment.

(4) A second cup [of wine] would be mixed for him. And here the son asks his father. And if the son lacks the intelligence to ask, his father instructs him: "How different this night is from all other nights! On all other nights, we eat chamets or matza. On this night, only matza. On all other nights, we eat other vegetables. On this night, only bitter herbs. On all other nights, we eat meat roasted, stewed or boiled. On this night, only roasted. On all other nights, we dip once. On this night, we dip twice." And according to the son's understanding, his father instructs him...

Abaye was sitting before Rabbah. He saw that they were removing the table from before him, and he said to those removing it: "We have not yet eaten, and you are taking the table away?" Rabbah said to him: You have exempted us from reciting ma nishtana.

(5) Rabban Gamliel used to say: Whoever does not mention these three things on Passover does not discharge their duty, and these are they: the Passover-offering, matza, and bitter herbs.

What does the wise [child] say? "What are these testimonies, statutes and judgments that the Lord our God commanded you?" (Deuteronomy 6:20) And accordingly you will say to them, as per the laws of the Pesach sacrifice...

What does the evil [child] say? "What is this worship to you?" (Exodus 12:26) 'To you' and not 'to him/her.' And since they excluded themselves from the collective, they denied a principle [of the Jewish faith]. And accordingly, you will blunt their teeth...

(5) You shall then recite as follows before the LORD your God: “My father was a fugitive Aramean. He went down to Egypt with meager numbers and sojourned there; but there he became a great and very populous nation.

Go and learn what what Laban the Aramean sought to do to Jacob, our father; since Pharaoh only decreed [the death sentence] on the males but Laban sought to uproot the whole [people]. As it is stated (Deuteronomy 26:5), "An Aramean was destroying my father. He went down to Egypt with meager numbers and sojourned there..."