Why is This Night Different?
One week left until seder night and it’s crunch time!
No not Matzah crunching yet but lots of practicing the four questions.
Why?
Because that task belongs to the children!
So, here is text of the song we use at school including transliteration and the English version. Feel free to help your child practice or use this as a cheat sheet during the seder.
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.
Eating the Matzah we made.
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?
Sweet Levi eats the bitter maror.
Sweet Eitan tries the bitter maror.
Sweet Leah does NOT like the bitter maror!
Sweet Avigayil would like to know WHY we eat bitter 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.
Dipping parsley in salt water.
The charoset reminds us of the bricks. Does it match?
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.
Relaxing and enjoying our Seder dinner.
