Passover Seder Steps
There are fifteen steps in the Seder, described in the Haggadah. They are usually sung, to a special melody, at the beginning of the Seder and sometimes when beginning the next step in the process. The word “Seder” means “order” and we follow the steps one by one in the Haggadah.
1
Kadesh
Recite the Kiddush. We make a special Kiddush for the Festival of Passover. This is the first glass of wine (There are 4 glasses during the 15 steps).
2
Urchatz
Wash Hands. Since the next step in the Seder will be the eating of a vegetable dipped in salt water we wash our hands to be ritually clean.
3
Karpas
Eat the green vegetable dipped in salt water. Salt water is symbolic of the tears shed by the Jewish People in Egypt during slavery and throughout our history.
4
Yahatz
Break the middle matza and hide half for Afikoman. The smaller piece, represents the “bread of affliction,” is returned to the Pesach plate to be eaten later for the Mitzva of Matza. The larger piece, representing the Pesach Sacrifice, to be eaten at the end of the meal (Afikoman,”Desert”).
5
Maggid
Tell the story of Passover. This is the part where the youngest child asks the four questions. We drink the second cup of wine. A new tradition of Miriam’s cup, which is filled with water, and the story of how she helped find water in the desert and how women have helped the Jewish people are told.
6
Rachtzah
Wash hands before meal. This is the regular blessing recited before every meal in which bread is eaten, but during Passover we only eat Matza.
7
Motzi
Say Hamotzi (The blessing for bread) while holding the remaining Matzot.
8
Matza
Special blessing for the matza. Everyone eats a part of the top and the middle matza.
9
Maror
Eat the bitter herb. Everyone eats lettuce leaves or stalks which are dipped into Charoset (a mix of nuts, apples, cinnamon, and sweet wine ).
10
Koresh
Eat the bitter herb and matza together.
11
Shulchan Orech
Serve the festive meal. The term Shulchan Orech actually means “set table”.
12
Tzafun
Eat the Afikoman. The Afikoman, which symbolizes the Pesach Sacrifice, which was eaten at the end of the meal. Some traditions ransom it from the children who have “hidden” it. Other traditions put the Afikoman into a pillow case to symbolize that when we left Egypt we carried everything on our backs. The pillow case is passed around the table during the Seder.
13
Barech
Say the grace after meal. The Third Cup of Wine is Drunk. The Cup of Elijah the Prophet is filled.
14
Hallel
Recite Hallel. We recite the second part of Hallel, the selection of chapters of Psalms used as special praise for Hashem.
15
Nirtzah
Conclude the Seder. We conclude with an additional prayer that we conduct the next Seder in Jerusalem.