Page 54 - cRc Pesach Guide 2021

5) Everyone should have a cup that holds at least 2.9 fluid III. Karpas (celery, parsley, boiled potato, etc.) is then dipped
ounces (except on Friday night when the first cup must in the salt water and eaten, after reciting the blessing
contain at least 4.4 fluid ounces). While one should drink “borei pri ha’adama” as printed in the Haggadah.
the entire cup or at least most of the cup, the obligation IV. Yachatz, the middle matzah, is broken into two. The
is fulfilled if at least 1.5 fluid ounces is consumed after larger piece is set aside for the Afikoman, which is eaten
each blessing over the wine.
later, and the smaller piece is kept with the other two
Most Sephardim only recite blessings over the first and matzos.
third cups of wine.
V. Maggid, the telling of the Pesach story. Relating the
6) Enough wine should be available to fill four cups for each story of our Exodus from Egypt is the vital mitzvah
person at the Seder. Red wine is preferable, but white of the Seder night. The Torah teaches us that one is
wine may also be used. Children and pregnant women, specifically obligated to tell the story of Pesach to the
or people who for health reasons cannot drink wine, children (V’hegadita l’vincha, Sh’mos 13:8). It is therefore
may fulfill the obligation with grape juice (preferably, important for everyone present, and children in
with a little wine mixed in). Fill each of the four cups particular, to understand the story. Throughout the Seder,
to the brim. If you must dilute 100% grape juice with it is appropriate to offer commentary or insights into the
water, please see the “Dietary Needs at the Seder” on Exodus, and anyone who amplifies the story through
pages 54-59. questions, interpretations, or discussion, is deemed to
be praiseworthy. Most importantly, children should be
NOTE: The bracha over all these mixtures is “Hagafen.”
encouraged to raise any questions they have at the Seder
7) A separate cup designated as Kos Shel Eliyahu (Elijah’s — separate from the well-known “Mah Nishtana” — to
Cup). This cup will not be drunk. further demonstrate the true meaning of freedom.

VI. Rochtza, washing hands as before, but this time a
THE STEPS OF THE SEDER blessing is recited: (“al netilat yadaim”). Don’t speak
from the time you wash your hands until after you have
The measurements in the following sections are calculated
according to Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz, our Rosh Beth Din, eaten the matzah.
based on the halachic decisions of the late Rabbi Moshe VII. Motzi-Matzah, the blessing and eating of the matzah.
Feinstein, zt”l, that are quoted by his son, Rabbi Dovid The leader of the Seder holds all three matzos and recites
Feinstein shlit”a in his Haggadah, “Kol Dodi”. the blessing over bread (“hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz”).
He then drops the bottom matzah and recites the
At the beginning of the Seder, many Sephardic communities
have a young child go outside the door of the house and blessing over eating matzah (“al achilat matzah”). Finally,
knock. “Who’s there?” ask those on the inside. “An Israelite,” he distributes a small piece of each of the top two matzos
responds the child. “Where are you coming from?” they ask. to the participants (who supplement their portion from
“From Egypt,” says the child. “Where are you going?” they other matzah shmurah on the table) to amount to a piece
ask. “To the Land of Israel!” the child exclaims. The child then or pieces equivalent in size to 6 inches by 7.5 inches for
re-enters the house, and the Seder begins. matzah of average thickness). Everyone now eats, while
leaning on the left side. Try to eat this matzah within
I. Kadeish, Kiddush sanctifying the day over a cup of wine, about 3 minutes.
is recited while holding the cup in the right hand. Those
who will not be making kiddush for themselves should VIII. Marror, (bitter herbs, e.g. grated, raw horseradish or
listen to the leader (or someone else) say the bracha romaine lettuce). Say the blessing (“al achilat marror”)
(blessing), keeping in mind that they are fulfilling their just before you eat the marror. Dip the marror in the
obligation through this recitation, and say amen when charoses, then shake it off and eat the marror without
the blessing is completed. Everyone then drinks the leaning. The measurements for how much should be
majority of their cup while leaning to their left. (Try to eaten are dependent on what is being used as “marror”
finish the drink in two gulps.) as follows: a) For pure, grated horseradish, eat an
amount that can be compacted into a vessel measuring
II. Urchatz, washing the hands. Water is poured from a one fluid ounce, or b) for whole-leaf romaine lettuce,
cup, twice on the right hand and twice on the left. Don’t eat enough leaves to cover an area of 8 by 10 inches, or
say a blessing on the washing. c) for romaine lettuce stalks only, eat enough stalks to
cover an area of 3 by 5 inches.

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