1. On all other Passover nights we eat unleavened bread. Tonight we do too... or not. Why then is this Passover night different from other nights and even other Passovers?

Tonight we remember when we were slaves, fleeing from bondage, eating only what we had available: matzah, the bread of affliction. Then, like now, we eat what we have available, reminding us of the interconnectedness of scarcity and oppression. 

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

The bitter herbs remind us of our suffering in Mitzrayim. Remembering that then, as now, we collectively share in that experience brings forth solidarity, a powerful weapon in the fight for freedom.

3. On all other nights we do not usually dip food once. Why on this night do we dip twice?

The combination of the salty brine and fresh, green, leafy vegetables reminds us of the crisis of past and present and the opportunities they offer for a new and better world to be born. 

4. On all other nights we sit on straight chairs. Why on this night do we relax and recline on pillows during the Seder?

We recline to remind ourselves that even in a moment of crisis, we deserve, by virtue of being human, a life of ease, comfort, and care. We recline to remember that it is our right, one denied to those in bondage.


haggadah Section: -- Four Questions