The formal telling of the story of Passover is framed as a series of questions and answers.

The tradition that the youngest person asks the questions reflects the centrality of involving everyone in the seder. The rabbis who created the set format for the seder gave us the Four Questions to help break the ice in case no one had their own questions. Asking questions is a core tradition in Jewish life. If everyone at your seder is around the same age, perhaps the person with the least seder experience can ask them – or everyone can sing them all together.

The First Question:
מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹת?

Ma nishtana halaila hazeh mikol haleilot?

Why is this night different from all other nights?

Answer:

שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת
אָֽנוּ אוֹכְלִין שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת.

הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה מָרוֹר:    

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

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

שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת
אֵין אָֽנוּ מַטְבִּילִין אֲפִילוּ פַּֽעַם אֶחָת.
הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה שְׁתֵּי פְעָמִים:       

Shebichol haleilot ain anu matbilin afilu pa-am echat. Halaila hazeh shtei pa-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 מְסֻבִּין:    

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.

שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת
אָֽנוּ אוֹכְלִין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה.
הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלּוֹ מַצָּה:       

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. Halaila hazeh maror.

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

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

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.


haggadah Section: -- Four Questions