The formal telling of the story of Passover is framed as a discussion with lots of questions and answers. The tradition that the youngest person asks the questions reflects the centrality of involving everyone in the seder. Asking questions is a core tradition in Jewish life. We ask the youngest person or the person with the least seder experience to ask these questions. Then we all get to sing.

מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילות

Ma nishtana halaila hazeh mikol haleilot?

Why is this night different from all other nights?

שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָֽנוּ אוֹכלין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלּוֹ מצה

Shebichol haleilot anu ochlin chameitz u-matzah. Halaila hazeh kulo matzah.

On all other nights we eat both leavened bread and matzah. Tonight we only eat matzah.

שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָֽנוּ אוֹכְלִין שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה מָרוֹר

Shebichol haleilot anu ochlin shi’ar yirakot haleila hazeh maror.

On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables, but tonight we eat bitter herbs.

שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אֵין אָֽנוּ מַטְבִּילִין אֲפִילוּ פַּֽעַם אחָת הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה שְׁתֵּי פְעמים

Shebichol haleilot ain anu matbilin afilu pa-am echat. Halaila hazeh shtei fi-amim.

On all other nights we aren’t expected to dip our vegetables one time. Tonight we do it twice.

שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָֽנוּ אוֹכְלִין בֵּין יוֹשְׁבִין וּבֵין מְסֻבִּין. :הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלָּֽנוּ מְסֻבין

Shebichol haleilot anu ochlin bein yoshvin uvein m’subin. Halaila hazeh kulanu m’subin.

On all other nights we eat either sitting normally or reclining. Tonight we recline.

Ma Nishtana

Ma nishtana halaila hazeh mikol haleilot? mikol haleilot?

She bi chol ha lei lot, anu och lin cha meitz u-matzah. cha meitz u-matzah

Halaila hazeh, Halaila hazeh, kulo matzah

Halaila hazeh, Halaila hazeh, kulo matzah.

She bi chol ha lei lot anu ochlin shi’ar yirakot? shi’ar yirakot ?

Haleila hazeh, Halaila hazeh, kulo maror

Haleila hazeh, Halaila hazeh, kulo maror

She bi chol ha lei lot ain anu mat bi lin, a fi lu pa-am e chat, a fi lu pa-am e chat

Haleila hazeh, Halaila hazeh, sh tei fi a mim

Haleila hazeh, Halaila hazeh, sh tei fi a mim.

She bi chol ha lei lot anu och lin bein yosh vin u vein m’ subin. bein yosh vin u vein m’ subin

Halaila hazeh, Halaila hazeh ku la nu m’ subin

Halaila hazeh, Halaila hazeh ku la nu m’ subin.

Ya di di-di-di...


haggadah Section: -- Four Questions