4 (More) Questions for Pesach
What could a holiday that loves questions want more than more questions?
Pesach starts tonight! It is a holiday of dipping, blessing, reclining, cleaning, telling, singing, and asking! As many of you know, part of the seder includes a section called “The 4 Questions” in which the youngest (traditionally) sings out questions about the uniqueness of our passover traditions. The main ask is “How is this night different from all other nights?” And what follows are the big 4:
On all other nights, we eat chametz (leavened foods) and matzah (really?). Why on this night, only matzah?
On all other nights, we eat all vegetables. Why, on this night, maror (bitter herbs)?
On all other nights, we don't dip even once. Why on this night do we dip twice?
On all other nights, we eat either sitting upright or reclining. Why on this night do we all recline?
But the questions don’t end there. When discussing the 4 children (traditionally, sons) we get even more questions.
The Wise Child: asks: “What are the laws and rules that God has commanded?”
The Wicked Child asks: “What does this service mean to you?”
The Simple Child asks: “What is this all about?”
And of course, there is a child who is designated as the “Child Who Does Not Know How To Ask”
The seder you grew up with or are now crafting for your children may include even more questions nestled in the nooks and crannies of the evening. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that one of my all time favorite post-dinner Pesach poem/recitation games starts with a questions: “Who Knows One?” If you know you know.
Our Jewish tradition prides itself on an abundance of questions and it’s safe to think of Pesach as our main event of inquiry. Our world series game 7 of curiosity. And as they say, we gotta leave it all on the field.
So, I offer you 4 more questions for your seder table. Enjoy and chag sameach!
4 More Questions For Pesach
What does the spring taste like, smell like, sound like, feel like, look like?
What are you cleaning out (literally, symbolically, metaphorically, etc.) this season?
When was a time you felt the most free? Tell about it.
What is a question that you often ask but have never answered?
And if you love question conversation starters, here are other lists to jump into: