The Four Questions

Aside from learning how to run the Seder, which is something adults can do too, the kindergartners are focusing on practicing the four questions which is a special job for the kids!  

We are learning the Mah Nishtana in both Hebrew and English.  It gets tricky as all four questions start the same way.  So I am posting our version here (Hebrew, transliterated Hebrew, and English) so you can help your child practice.

The Four Questions

 

מַה נִשְׁתַּנָה הַלַיְלָה הַזֶה מִכָּל הַלֵילוֹת?

Mah nishtanah halaylah hazeh mikol halaylot mikol halaylot

 

Why is this night different from all other nights from all other nights, from all other nights?

 

Question #1

 

שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכלִין חָמֵץ אוֹ מַצָה הַלַילָה הַזֶה כֻּלוֹ מַצָה

Shebechol halaylot anu ochlin chametz umatzah chametz umatzah

Halaylah hazeh hlaylah hazeh kulo matzah

Halaylah hazeh halaylah hazeh kulo matzah

 

On all other nights, we can eat chametz or matzah chametz and matzah

But on this night, this Pesach night, we only eat matzah

But on this night, this Pesach night, we only eat matzah.

Question #2

 

שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכלִין שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת הַלַילָה הַזֶה מָרוֹר

 

Shebechol halaylot anu ochlin she’or yerakot she’or yerakot

Halaylah hazeh, halaylah hazeh maror, maror

Halaylah hazeh, halaylah hazeh maror, maror

 

On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables, all kinds of vegetables.

But on this night, this Pesach night, why do we eat Maror?

But on this night this Pesach night, why do we eat Maror?

Question #3

 

שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵילוֹת אֵין אָנוּ מַטְבִּילִין אַפִילוּ פַּעַם אֶחָת הַלַילָה הַזֶה שְׁתֵּי פְּעָמִים.

 

Shebechol halaylot ain anu matbilin afilu pa’am echat, afilu pa’am echat

Halaylah hazeh, halaylah hazeh shetay pe’amim

Halaylah hazeh, halaylah hazeh shetay pe’amim

 

On all other nights don’t dip even once, even once.

But on this night, this Pesach night, we dip twice.

But on this night, this Pesach night, we dip twice.

 

Question #4

 

שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכלִין בֵּין יוֹשְׁבִין וּבֵין מְסֻבִּין הַלַילָה הַזֶה כֻּלָנוּ מְסֻבִּין

 

Shebechol halaylot anu ochlin bain yoshvin uvain mesubin, bain yoshvin uvain mesubin.

Halaylah hazeh, halaylah hazeh, kulanu mesubin

Halaylah hazeh, halaylah hazeh, kulanu mesubin

 

On all other nights we eat sitting up or leaning in our seats, sitting up or leaning in our seats.

But on this night, this Pesach night, we all lean.

But on this night, this Pesach night, we all lean.

I’d also like to share a great tool called the “Mah Nishtana Trainer” that can help your child practice the Hebrew version.  Click on the link and choose the Israeli pronunciation from the drop down menu.