Seder Handbook

בס''ד
The Shomre Hadas Seder Handbook
Section I.
The Goals of the Passover Seder
In order to make the Seder a lasting and meaningful experience, it is a
good idea to come to it with an awareness of what it is supposed to
accomplish. Apart from relating the origin of the Jewish nation, the
Seder is also a means for transmitting Jewish faith, expressing our
gratitude to God, and experiencing the freedom of the Exodus.
Part A. Telling the Events
The main focus of the Seder is the mitzvah of retelling the story of the
Jewish people’s Exodus from Egypt around 3,300 years ago. The
Torah instructs us to recall the Exodus daily, but on Seder Night we
relate the entire story – the more detail the better!
1. It is a mitzvah to remember the Exodus on Seder Night and to
explain the story as much as possible.
It is a positive commandment of the Torah to relate the miracles and
wonders wrought for our ancestors in Egypt on the night of the
fifteenth of Nissan, as [Shemot 13:3] states, “Remember this day, on
which you left Egypt,” just as it states, “Remember the Sabbath day”
[Ibid. 20:8].
[The mitzvah applies] even if one does not have a son. Even great
Sages are obligated to tell [the story] about the Exodus from Egypt.
Whoever elaborates concerning the events which occurred and took
place is worthy of praise.
(Rambam (Maimonides), Hilchot Chametz U’Matzah 7:1)
The Jewish people have been relating the events of the Exodus to
one another in an unbroken chain since the time these events
occurred.
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