The formal telling of the story of Passover is framed as a series of questions and answers. The tradition that the youngest person at the seder asks the questions reflects the importance of sharing the story, symbolism and purpose with the next generation. Asking questions is a core tradition in Jewish life; the rabbis who formatted the seder sought to teach this important story through these questions.


מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה הַלַּֽיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹת?

Ma nishtana halaila hazeh mikol haleilot?

Why is this night different from all other nights?

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
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.


haggadah Section: -- Four Questions
Source: JewishBoston.com