Another Cup of Manischewitz, Anyone? The Real Focus of the Passover Seder

And you shall explain to your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I went free from Egypt.’

A second cup [of wine] would be mixed for him. And here the son asks [questions to] his father. And if the son has no understanding [in order to ask questions], his father teaches him [to ask]: "Why is this night different from all [other] nights? On all [other] nights, we eat chamets (leavened grain products) and matsa, [but] on this night, it is all matsa. On all [other] nights, we eat other vegetables, [but] on this night, it is all bitter herbs. On all [other] nights, we eat meat roasted, stewed or boiled, [but] on this night, it is all roasted. On all [other] nights, we dip [vegetables] once, [but] on this night, we dip [vegetables] twice." And according to the son's understanding, his father instructs him. He begins [instructing him about the Exodus story] with [the account of Israel’s] shame and concludes with [Israel’s] praise (glory); and expounds from “My father was a wandering Aramean” (Deuteronomy 26:5) until he completes the whole entire passage.

It was taught in the mishna that the father begins his answer with disgrace and concludes with glory. The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of the term: With disgrace? Rav said that one should begin by saying: At first our forefathers were idol worshippers, before concluding with words of glory. And Shmuel said: The disgrace with which one should begin his answer is: We were slaves.