NIF: How is this night different?
HOW IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERS FROM ALL OTHER NIGHTS
Eighteen hundred years ago, the Mishnah, one of Judaism’s oldest law codes or teaching manuals, sketched the outlines of the early Passover Seder.
The Mishnah loosely styled its Seder on the Greek symposium, a banquet served on removable trays (now the Seder plate) to guests who comfortably reclined. The symposium began with dipped hors d’oeuvres, included prayers and finished with stylized questions and answers, often concerning the symbolism of particular foods.Wine flowed. Indeed, symposium means “to drink with.”
In contrast to the symposium, the Mishnah’s Seder assigned a special role to children. They were expected to notice how different the evening was and to ask,“Why?” In case they didn’t, the Mishnah offered parents a series of prompts. Those prompts evolved into the famous “four questions” which are actually four responses to a single question: “How does this night differ from all other nights?” If you’ve created an evening that stimulates your guests to ask questions, you will have fulfilled one of the original and most important goals of the Seder!
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Passover Guide
Hosting your first Passover Seder? Not sure what food to serve? Curious to
know more about the holiday? Explore our Passover 101 Guide for answers
to all of your questions.