Why do we remove the table? — The School of R. Jannai said: So that the children may perceive [the unusual proceeding] and enquire [its reasons]. Abaye was sitting before Rabbah, [when] he saw the tray taken up from before him. Said [Abaye] to them: We have not yet eaten, and they have [already] come [and] removed the tray from before us! Said Rabbah to him: You have exempted us from reciting, ‘Why [is this night] different?’

Talmud Pesachim 115b

According to the Mishnah (the first code of Jewish law), children are supposed to begin the Maggid (telling the story) section of the Seder by asking questions. Only if the children do not ask any questions of their own should they recite the traditional Four Questions, Mah Nishtanah. The Four Questions are really talking points in case you get stuck. On the night of the Seder, the night of questions, we should be like Abaye and come up with our own questions.

What four questions do you have this year? About the seder, about Judaism, about the world, about the meaning of life. Fill out your own Mah Nishtanah below and bring it to your Seder to read:

1. _______________________________________________________________________________________________

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2. _______________________________________________________________________________________________

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3. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

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4. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

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haggadah Section: -- Four Questions
Source: White Meadow Temple's Seder Experience