What is a Seder?

The word Seder is a Hebrew word that literally means “order.” Although the word has a number of uses, it is most commonly used to refer to the Passover Seder, a Jewish holiday. Passover Seder takes place on the 15th or 15th and 16th days of Nisan on the Jewish calendar. Because the Jewish calendar and the modern Gregorian calendar do not follow the same format, Passover takes place on a different Gregorian day every year. The variation in schedule has to do with the way Passover Seder is celebrated in different parts of the world.

During the Passover Seder, Jewish history is relived through the reading of the Haggadah and consumption of traditional foods and drinks. During the Seder, the enslavement of the Jewish people and their exodus from Ancient Egypt is remembered. The Haggadah contains complete instructions and readings for the Passover Seder. The symbolic foods which are to be placed at the Seder table are outlined in the Haggadah as well.

Seders are generally performed in one’s home and is considered to be a family ritual. However, there are some groups and congregations that celebrate Passover outside of the household context. Some Seders welcome dozens, even hundreds of people. As Passover Seder is very often performed in the home, there are many variations on the traditions outlined therein to accommodate the specific needs of each family. When the Haggadah is followed to the letter, a Seder can take up to four hours, sometimes longer. Therefore, many families with young children choose to perform a shortened Seder. In fact, abbreviated versions of the Haggadah have been printed in coloring-book format specifically for this type of family.

In addition to being a time to remember Jewish history and come together with friends and family, Passover is also a time for people of the Jewish faith to praise God and to discuss the Torah. It is also a warm time during which the family educates youngsters about Judaism. This Seder is also a time of music. The Haggadah, in fact, includes special Passover songs. A central verse to Passover is: Vehigadta levincha' bayom hahu leymor ba'avur zeh asah Adonay li betzeysi miMitzrayim. This translates in English to "And you shall tell it to your son on that day, saying, 'Because of this God did for me when He took me out of Egypt,'" from Exodus 13:8.