The youngest child present should ask the following questions

 Child: Why is this night different from all other nights? On all other nights we eat either leavened or unleavened bread. Why on this night do we eat only unleavened bread?

On all other nights, we eat all kinds of herbs. Why on this night do we eat bitter herbs?

On all other nights, we do not dip our herbs into any condiment. Why on this night do we dip them into saltwater and haroses?

 On all other nights, we eat without special celebration. Why on this night do we dine with special ceremony?

Leader: We will tell you the whole story of our Exodus. But first, let us answer your questions, one by one.

Participant: We eat matzo to remind us that when our ancestors were told by Pharaoh that they could leave Egypt, they had no time to let their bread rise, so they removed them from the ovens while the loaves were still flat.

Participant: At the Seder, we eat bitter herbs to remind ourselves of the bitter ness our ancestors experienced when they were oppressed by the Egyptian taskmasters; and to remind ourselves of the bitter lot of those who are caught in the grip of slavery or poverty today.

Participant: We dip things twice during this meal: greens in salt water and bitter herbs in haroses. Once, to replace tears with gratitude and once to sweeten suffering with joy.

Participant: We dine with special ceremony to retell an old, old story of liberation. In reality, it is not ancient, but eternal in it’s message. It proclaims our burning desire to achieve liberty and justice for all.

 


haggadah Section: -- Four Questions
Source: Unitarian Universalist Haggadah