The "seder" of the Passover seder

As mentioned earlier, "seder" means "order." The Seder is organized into fifteen steps, where each step is a Jewish tradition, ritual, or symbolizes a different aspect of the Passover story. 

We'll sum up the steps here:

1. Nerot: We begin the Seder by lighting the candles.

2. Kadesh: Recite the Kiddush over the 1st cup of wine. We drink while reclining, to highlight our status as free people.

3. Ur'chatz: Wash your hands without reciting a blessing.

4. Karpas: Eat a vegetable (potato, radish, celery or cucumber) dipped in salt water. The salt water reminds us of the salty tears the Jews shed in Egypt from their backbreaking labor.

5. Yachatz: Break the middle Matzah from the 3 Matzos on the Seder plate. Leave the smaller piece, and hide the larger piece for the Afikoman, which will be eaten later.

6. Maggid: In this lengthly part of the Seder, we tell our story of our exile and redemption from Egypt.  After the Maggid, we drink the 2nd cup of wine.

7. Rachtzah: Wash your hands in preparation for eating the Matzah. Recite the blessing "Al Netilat Yadayiim" as you would any time before eating bread or Matzah.

8. Motzi Matzah: Recite the Hamotzi blessing over the Matzah. We eat Matzah while leaning to the left, just as we reclined while drinking each of the four cups of wine.

9. Maror: We eat bitter vegetables (customarily horseradish or romaine lettuce) to recall the bitterness of the Egyptian exile.

10. Korech: Eat a Matzah, Maror and Charoset sandwich!

11. Shulchan Orech: Let's eat!

12. Tzafun: We now eat the Afikomen, the larger piece of Matzah that was broken off and hidden during Yachatz (step #4).

13. Barech: After finishing the Afikomen, we recite Birkat HaMazon, the customary blessing recited after eating any meal containing bread of Matzah. After bentching, drink the 3rd cup of wine.

14. Hallel: In Hallel, we sing extensive melodious praises to thank God for bringing up out of Egypt and choosing us as God's people. After Hallel, drink the 4th cup of wine.

15. Nirtzah: Next year in Jerusalem! At the conclusion of the Seder, we sing additional songs of praise to God, highlighting that God is supreme over all God's creations. Finally, we express our hopes and prayers that next year, we will celebrate Passover with the Temple rebuilt in Jerusalem.


haggadah Section: Introduction