At every Passover Seder, one of the most meaningful and time-honored traditions is the asking of the Four Questions, known in Hebrew as "Mah Nishtanah" (Why is this different?). These questions, traditionally asked by the youngest person at the table, serve as a gateway to telling the story of the Exodus and passing on our heritage from generation to generation.

The Four Questions begin with a central query that sets the stage for all that follows: "Why is this night different from all other nights?" This question opens the door to exploring the unique customs and rituals that make the Passover Seder distinct and meaningful. (In some Haggadahs, the four questions are framed as one question with four answers. Here, we've framed them as four different questions, each with its own answer.)

The Questions and Their Significance

Question 1: The Bread of Affliction

"On all other nights, we eat either leavened bread or matzah; why, on this night, do we eat only matzah?"

We eat matzah because when our ancestors were told by Pharaoh that they could leave Egypt, they had no time to allow their bread to rise, so they baked it hurriedly, without giving the dough time to rise. This unleavened bread represents both the haste of liberation and the bread of affliction our ancestors ate as slaves.

Question 2: The Taste of Bitterness

"On all other nights, we eat all kinds of herbs; why, on this night, do we only eat bitter herbs?"

At the Seder, we eat bitter herbs to remind us of the bitterness our ancestors experienced when they were oppressed as slaves. This powerful sensory experience helps us connect physically and emotionally with our ancestors' suffering.

Question 3: The Double Dipping

"On all other nights, we do not dip herbs at all; why, on this night, do we dip twice?"

At the Seder table, we dip food twice; once in salt water to remind us of the tears shed in slavery and again in haroset, to remind us that there is sweetness even in bitter times. This ritual demonstrates the complexity of our journey from slavery to freedom.

Question 4: The Position of Freedom

"On all other nights, we eat in an ordinary manner; why, tonight, do we recline and dine with a special ceremony?"

In ancient times, slaves ate hurriedly, standing or squatting on the ground. Symbolically, as a sign of freedom, we lean and relax as we partake of wine and symbolic food. This physical act of reclining represents our transformation from slaves to free people--tonight, we are all royalty!

Go Deeper With Your Own Questions

The Four Questions embody the core Jewish value of education through questioning and dialogue. By encouraging even the youngest participants to ask questions, we fulfill the commandment to tell our children about the Exodus from Egypt.

These questions remind us that freedom is not just about physical liberation but also about understanding our history, our traditions, and our responsibility to remember and retell our story. They encourage us to think deeply about the meaning of freedom and to consider how we can work toward liberation for all people in our own time.

Consider making your Seder your own by including your own four questions into your Haggadah. What other four questions do you feel like we, as a society, should be asking right now? What else will get us closer to collective liberation and a beautiful, free world? 

Use these suggestions to get started: 

• The Four Questions for Your Interfaith Seder