Ma Nishtana - מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה
Why is this night different from all other nights of the year?
On all other nights, we eat leavened
as well as unleavened bread.
On this night, we eat only unleavened bread.
On all other nights we eat
any kind of vegetables.
On this night, we eat especially bitter herbs.
On all other nights, we do not dip our foods even once.
On this night, we dip them twice.
On all other nights, we eat either
sitting up straight or reclining.
On this night, we all recline.
Every family “qvels” (a Yiddish word meaning “bursts with pride”) as the youngest child turns to the leader of the Seder and asks the “Four Questions” (Hebrew: ארבע קושיות arba kushiyot; Yiddish: fier kashas). The littlest children can sometimes do little more than shyly sing Ma nishtana ha-laila ha-zeh mikol ha-laylot? and then his older brothers and sisters come to the rescue, chanting about the four ways in which this night does indeed differ from all other nights of the year. But as soon as a child is old enough, and begins to be somewhat accomplished in his/her knowledge of Hebrew, then he proudly poses all four questions!
The questions are an invitation to the leader of the Seder to initiate the annual retelling of the story of the Exodus, together with all of its songs and symbols and Biblical interpretations. To discover the “four answers”—as well as the meaning of all the rituals of the Seder—we encourage you to obtain your own copy of the Hagada shel Pesach!
More Prayers
- Modeh Ani
- Ma Tovu
- Adon Olam
- Eilu Devarim
- Elohai Neshama
- Birchot Hashachar
- Kaddish
- Psalm 30
- Baruch She'Amar
- Ashrei
- Lecha Dodi
- Barchu
- Maariv Aravim
- Yotzer Or
- Ahavat Olam
- Ahava Raba
- Shema
- Veahavta
- Parashat Tsitsit
- Mi Chamocha
- Hashkiveinu
- Veshamru
- Avot v'imahot
- Gevurot
- Kedushat HaShem
- Kedushat Hayom
- Yismechu
- Avodah
- Modim Anachnu Lach
- Shalom Rav
- Sim Shalom
- Taking out the Sefer Torah
- Torah Blessings
- Haftarah Blessings
- Mi She-beirach La-Choleh
- Birchat Ha-chodesh
- Returning the Sefer Torah
- Ein Keloheinu
- Aleinu
- Hadlakat Neirot Shabbat
- Birchat hayeladim
- Shalom Aleichem
- Eshet Chayil
- Kiddush for Erev Shabbat
- Hamotzi
- Tzur Mishelo
- Lighting Hanukkah Candles
- Kadesh Urchatz
- Tefilat HaDerech
Mobile Website