Yechiel Michel Epstein

“ If there is no son, the daughter should ask. If there is no daughter, the wife, or another sitting at the table, should ask. This is all due to the fact that the Torah is adamant that the retelling of the Exodus from Egypt on this night should take place in a question and answer format. Even if one is alone he himself should ask and answer his own questions. When there is one to ask there is no need for the responder to start with the ‘Ma Nishtana’ also, rather he starts from ‘We were slaves... ”

“ This is what the verse means when it states: “For to Me are the Children of Israel servants, they are My servants through My taking them out of the land of Egypt.” This means to say “The Children of Israel are My servants even against their will, because I took them out of Egypt, where they were in a state of servitude.” Therefore, in every generation one is obligated to feel as if he himself was taken out of Egypt, and acquired by G-d to serve Him forever, and he is not allowed to shake off the yoke of the Torah from upon his neck. ”

“ We tend to use the meat found on the bone instead. Our teacher the Beis Yosef writes in section 4 that the custom is to use meat roasted on coals, and the egg should be cooked, whereas our teacher the Rema writes that the meat may also be cooked and that that is the custom in his city. Regardless, it is prohibited to eat the meat at night as roasted meat is not eaten on the Seder night. At any rate, the reason for the meat is a remembrance for the Peasach sacrifice, which was roasted, and the egg is a remembrance of the Chagiga sacrifice, which was eaten cooked. ”

“ The core message to take from the recitation of the Hagadah should be that through being redeemed from Egypt we have become beholden to G-d and his Torah for all generations, and we are his servants. This is in fact accurate in legal terms, for although one cannot make a free man a servant against his will, if one should purchase someone who is already in a servile capacity he does not need the servant’s agreement to the sale, as is explained in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah, chapter 267. ”

“ Section 18 After ‘Kiddush’, the hands are washed for the first dipped food and the blessing on washing the hands is not recited. Even one who is not careful all year to wash his hands before dipping food should was his hands on Peasach, for there are many purposeful departures from the usual custom on this night. The reason for dipping is to cause the children to ask why we dip before eating, which is not the usual practice. This is all again due to the Torah’s insistence that this night be centered around the children’s questions. ”

“ The Matzah in turn should be closer than the Maror, because it is eaten before the Maror. Finally, the Charoses should be closer than the meat and the egg, since they are only eaten later in the middle of the meal itself.
In our communities, the custom that has become established is to arrange the Seder plate so that the shank bone (the meat) is on the top right, the egg on the top left, and the Maror in the middle below them. Then the Charoses is in the bottom right, the Carpas in bottom left, somewhat closer that than Charoses, and the Maror used for Korech (the sandwich) is between them. ”

“ Even though Havdalah is usually reciting standing, since it is now said with the Seder’s Kiddush it is said while sitting. This is no Bקsamim (smelling spice) in this Havdalah, since Besamim is used to ‘restore the soul’ upon the Shabbos’ departure, which only applies when the Shabbos leads in to the weekday. When the Shabbos leads into a festival the soul is still in its strength, and is further enlivened by the festive foods. ”

“ However, any vegetable that is naturally bitter and looses its taste is not considered ‘Maror’ at all, for it has changed from the way its nature.
Pickled vegetables have the same status as cooked, and one can not fulfill his obligation with them. There are two types of pickling:
1) Pickled by vinegar or brine. The time it takes for this process is short, about the time it takes to bring to a boil on the fire. 2) Pickling in water. This type of process requires 24 hours. Therefore, one should not keep ‘Tamcha’ (horseradish) soaking in water for 24 hours. ”

“ When “This Maror” (Heb. ‘Maror Zu...”) is reached, the same is done with the Maror. When mention is made of the Peasach sacrifice, however, the shankbone is not lifted, so it should not seem as though one is actually sanctifying it for use as a sacrifice.
When one reaches the word “before you” (Heb. ‘L’fanecha’) all raise their cups until “Redeemer of Israel” (Heb. ‘Guh-Al Yisroel’) is reached. We have the custom to place the cup on the table when ‘Hallel’ is reached, and then raise it for the blessing until “Redeemer of Israel” (Heb. ‘Guh-Al Yisroel’) . ”

“ Section 14 The five vegetables can combine for the necessary minimum olive-sized amount. Therefore, there are those among us who buy a bit of ‘Chazeres’ and a bit of ‘Tamcha’, for they are better when eaten together. As long as they total an olive-sized amount the obligation has been fulfilled.
One fulfills the obligation with either the leaves or the head, although not with the roots, that is the thin little roots that shoot out from either side. ”

“ One is therefore forced to wash directly before the meal. Though washing is required before the Hagadah for dipping the ‘Carpas’, this washing is not placed before Kiddush, so that people will not think that Kiddush requires washing. Though throughout the year this mistake will not be made, as all know that washing is for the meal, on Peasach the washing will not be recognizably for the dipping of ‘Carpas’. Even if one’s hands are dirty he should only wash a bit [to avoid giving the wrong impression] . ”

“ The phrase “And say before Him a new song” should have a segol [vowelization symbol that is a three dot triangle "ֶ"] on the letter vav in ‘V’nomar”, since this statement is connected to the previous text regarding the Exodus. (Magen Avraham, comment 27) .
One says “from the festival sacrifices and Peasach sacrifices” (Heb. ‘Min Hazevachim u’Min Hapesachim’) , since the ‘Chagiga sacrifice comes first, followed by the Peasach, which is eaten to satiety. On Saturday night one says “from the Pesachim” first, since the Chagiga sacrifice cannot be brought on Shabbos. ”

“ Since the head is thick, the bitterness is not lost even when it is dry. Still, one can not fulfill the obligation with a cooked head of vegetables, since that will cause the bitter taste to be completely lost. ”

“ There are those who have the custom to pour wine from the cup. There are also those whose custom is to use the fourth finger, called the ‘Kimeetza’. Others use the fifth finger, called the ‘Zeres’ (see Magen Avraham, comment 28) . Each should follow his own custom.
Section 25 In the Haggadah, when one says the text “I would think Peasach should be celebrated on Rosh Chodesh [the first day of the month] ”, he should make sure to preface that with the verse “And you should tell your children...”, since this text relates to that verse, as the Mechilta makes clear. ”

“ One who finds it difficult to eat horseradish because of a weak constitution must procure ‘Chazeres’, though it costs far more. An alternative would be to use the leaves of the horseradish, which is only slightly bitter, as we have explained that the use of leaves is acceptable. ”

“ Then either the plate holding the Matzahs or the Matzahs themselves are raised, and one announces the Haggadah text from “Ha Lachma Anya” until the “Ma Nisntana”. The accepted version of the text is “Ha Lachma...”, as I have written.
One should recite the Haggadah in a language that all present can understand, or at least explain to them the content. This is the practice of the great Rabbis. ”

“ This would not be comparable to an appetizer before a meal, which is covered by grace after meals (Heb. ‘Birchas Hamazone’) , since here the recitation of the Hagadah will interrupt for a long period of time. ”