There are many laws and customs surrounding the rituals of Pesach.  For this reason, the Rabbis instituted that each person should review laws beginning thirty days before the holiday. Also, there are many Hagadot that can be used for preparation of the Seder and conducting the entire Seder service (including recitation of the Hagada) on both of the first two nights.

The following are some brief reminders and definitions.

• The Seder may not begin before nightfall on April 19, 2008.   Note, on the second night (April 20), no preparation for the Seder may be made until after nightfall.  Watch synagogue and community announcements for exact times in accordance with each community’s minhag. 

ITEMS APPEARING ON THE SEDER TABLE:       

• Maror “Lechuga” (Bitter Herbs):  Remind us of the bitter Egyptian slavery.  There are many traditions about what is used.  Some use romaine lettuce, others use various bitter vegetables.  Still others use horseradish root. 

§     The obligatory maror may not be cooked or soaked for 24 hours or longer. Thus, jarred horseradish may not be used to fulfill the commandment of eating maror.  For purposes other than the obligation, prepared horseradish (kosher for Passover) is fine. 

§        Leafy greens require careful examination for insects.        

• Charoset:  Traditionally made from fruits, spices and nuts to which wine and even honey is added.  Traditions vary widely.  Some common additions are apples, pears, pomegranates, dates, figs, walnuts, almonds, raisins, ginger and cinnamon.

§         The Minhag of Chabad is not to use raisins, ginger, or cinnamon.        

• Karpas “Apio”:  Also in memory of bitterness and tears - celery or parsley are commonly used. If dipping in salt water, it should be mixed before the holiday begins. One should eat less than an olive sized volume (Consult your Rabbi for guidance).

• Zeroa “Brazo”:  A piece of roasted meat or bone reminding us of the Korban Pesach (Passover Sacrifice).  Traditions vary.  Some use chicken necks, some lamb shank bones, and others meat from a cow’s foreleg.  The meat is not eaten during the Seder.  Many have the practice of eating it on the Second Day. 

§       The minhag Chabad is not to eat the Zeroa; most of the meat is removed prior to placing on the Seder plate.

§       According to all minhagim, those parts not eaten must be disposed of with care, as the zeroa was used for a mitzvah.        

• Beitsa “Huevo”: A hard boiled and/or roasted egg. It reminds us of the Festival offering.

§     §   If one forgets to prepare the zeroa or beitsa prior to the holiday, please  consult your Rabbi for proper procedure.    

• The Three Matzoth:  In memory of the haste with which the Children of Israel left Egypt, these are also the “bread” of the Seder meal. 

§      We are commanded to eat matzah on the first two nights of Pesach. Specially prepared matzah, (matzah "sh’murah") should be used at the Seder. (During the meal portion of the Seder, regular matzah may be eaten.) Both hand and machine sh’murah matzah are acceptable; most have the tradition to use hand sh’murah matzah for the mitzvah.

See the section on matza above for additional special requirements of the three matzot.

The Four Cups of Wine        

• The Four Cups of Wine:  These commemorate the four expressions used to describe our deliverance from Egypt. 

§   One should make every effort to drink wine (preferably red), to fulfill the mitzvah of the Four Cups.

§    For those who cannot drink full strength wine, it may be diluted with grape juice. If necessary, undiluted grape juice is acceptable.  Those who cannot drink grape juice should consult a Rabbi.

§    For Sephardim, the wine cups must hold at least 2.9 fluid ounces (86 ml, equal to the numeric value of "kos"). Ashkenazim prefer a cup that holds at least 3.3 fluid ounces. (During years when a Seder falls on a Friday night, a larger cup may be needed, as the obligation of Kiddush must also be fulfilled from the same cup.)

§    It is preferable to drink the entire cup, or at least more than half of it. This should be done without speaking and within a short time. 

§    Men and Sephardic women must consume all cups of wine while reclining  on their left sides (heseiba). 

§    An Ashkenazi man who forgot to recline while drinking either of the first two cups must drink again while reclining, but without a Blessing (Beracha). 

§    Healthy Sephardic men - for whom drinking an extra cup would not be difficult - should drink any of the four cups again.

§    Women who forgot to recline need not drink again.