What Is a Seder?

) is the ritual meal held on the first night of Passover (first two nights outside Israel). It follows a precise sequence of 15 steps, combining storytelling, songs, symbolic foods, and festive dining to retell and relive the Exodus from Egypt.

The Fifteen Steps

1. Kadesh (Sanctification)

The seder begins with kiddush over wine, sanctifying the holiday.

2. Urchatz (Washing)

Washing hands without a blessing, preparing for the vegetable.

3. Karpas (Vegetable)

Dipping a green vegetable in salt water, symbolizing tears shed in slavery.

4. Yachatz (Breaking)

Breaking the middle matzah; the larger piece becomes the afikoman.

5. Maggid (Telling)

The central narrative—recounting the Exodus story, asking the Four Questions, explaining the seder symbols.

6. Rachtzah (Washing)

Ritual washing before eating matzah, with a blessing.

7. Motzi (Blessing over Bread)

The standard blessing over bread.

8. Matzah

The specific blessing for eating matzah, then eating it.

9. Maror (Bitter Herbs)

Eating bitter herbs (usually horseradish) dipped in charoset.

10. Korech (Sandwich)

following the ancient sage's practice.

11. Shulchan Orech (Set Table)

The festive meal.

12. Tzafun (Hidden)

matzah that was hidden earlier.

13. Barech (Blessing)

Grace after meals.

14. Hallel (Praise)

Psalms of praise, completing the Hallel begun during Maggid.

15. Nirtzah (Acceptance)

The Four Cups

Four cups of wine are drunk at specific points, corresponding to four expressions of redemption in Exodus 6:6-7.

The Afikoman

it, then negotiate for a prize.

The Haggadah

)—a text containing the order of the ritual, the Exodus narrative, commentaries, and songs. Thousands of editions exist, from medieval manuscripts to modern illustrated versions.