300 Ways to Ask the Four Questions

Passover Customs from Around the World

Animate your seder with one or two of these ancient and modern customs practiced around the world. Use some translations to make a connection with activities that are fresh and new for your kids, appreciating Jewish traditions within the context of our modern world.

We all have the tension of honoring the traditions of the past while living in the present. Here are ways to do both:

Use the Farsi translation ... then:

During Dayenu, the Persians (current-day Iran) playfully beat each other with scallions, as a reminder of the taskmaster's whip.
(Lots of fun!)

Use the Spanish or Arabic translation ... then:

At seders in Barcelona and Morocco, everyone recites "In haste we left Egypt" three times. Then leader walks around the table three times tapping the seder plate on the head of each participant, each time tapping harder. The children like to jump up in order to hit the seder plate with their heads. [This is illustrated in the 14th C Barcelona Haggadah.]

Use the Arabic translation ... then:

During the recitation of each plague, Moroccan Jews spill wine from red and white wine pitchers into a bowl.

Use the Russian or Belarussian translation ... then:

Families have each child at the seder table recite the Four Questions, starting with the oldest and ending with the youngest.

Use the Hungarian translation ... then:

At Yachatz, leaders in Hungary wrapped the Afikoman in a scarf, put it on his shoulder, stand up, and say to his family in Yiddish: Geimir, geimir! ("Let's go! Let's go!")

Use the German translation ... then:

In Southern Germany, the seder leader would put the matzah wrapped in the white matzah cover on his shoulder and say: So sind die Kinder Jisroel aus Mizraim gegangen, so war es. ("Thus did the Children of Israel leave Egypt, so it was").

Use the Yemenite translation ... then:

The youngest child holds the egg while a special text, which follows the Four Questions, is read ("A Night Among All Nights", page 338 and on DVD). The paragraph recalls the work of making bricks from straw, and lists the plagues while cursing Pharoah.

Use the Farsi translation ... then:

At Ha Lachma, seder leaders in Persia (modern-day Iran) took the three matzot wrapped in a white cloth and chanted Ha Lachma and Kadesh Ur'chatz (the Order of the Seder). Then as the matzot were passed from hand to hand, each person, young and old, men and women, recited Ha Lachma and Kadesh Ur'chatz until everyone was done.

Use the Arabic translation ... then:

After reading Haggadah in Morroco, all the men put a stick with a bundle on their shoulders and they leave the house in haste, running and shouting: "So did our ancestors leave Egypt, their kneading bowls wrapped in their cloaks upon their shoulders"

Use the Yemenite translation ... then:

One member of Yemenite families takes a matzah and ties it in a scarf on his shoulder and walks around the house. The others ask him: "Why are you doing this?" And he replies: "So did our ancestors when they left Egypt in haste."

Use the Arabic translation ... then:

At Syrian seders, everyone at the table (not just child) put matzah in a bag, sat down, and said the following conversation: "Where do you come from?" / "From Egypt" / "Where are you going?" / "I'm going to Jerusalem."

Use the Farsi translation ... then:

At the seders of the Persians (Iran) as well as Iraqis: The youngest child takes the matzah, places it in a bag on their shoulder, and walks around the seder table. All the guests get up and follows the child, who is playing Moses the leader taking Israelites out of Egypt.

Use the Yemenite translation ... then:

The redemption was said to come on Pesach eve, so Yemenite Jews left their doors open during the entire seder in order to allow a swift exit to greet the Messiah.

Use the German translation ... then:

After Karpas in Germany's seders, everyone would leave the table with the matzot wrapped in coverings, placed on their shoulders; they'd walk to the corners of the house, and then return to their places.

Use the Arabic translation ... then:

Libyan Jews were afraid non-Jewish neighbors would inundate them for unlimited free food. So they translated the Whoever is hungry section as "Whoever is hungry, let him come and taste nothing!"

Use the German translation ... then:

When the door was opened at seders in Germany, someone in costume entered the room quickly, to mimic Elijah arriving to announce the coming of the Messiah.

Use the Greek translation ... then:

As each plague is recited, Greek families pour vinegar into a basin beside them.

Use the Greek translation ... then:

Jews in Greece start the seder with everyone placing their hands on table and saying: "This is the table that is set in front of the Lord."

Use the Polish translation ... then:

Jews in 17th C Poland believed the Afikoman had magical protective powers. The leader of the seder broke off a small piece from the Afikoman, pierced it and hung the small piece on the wall.

Use the Polish translation ... then:

Combine with the observance/memorial of Warsaw Ghetto uprising, which started on the eve of Passover.