The Passover-Eve Ritual in the Mishnah

1. On the eve of Passover, near the time of the afternoon service [or offering; Hebrew minḥah], no one should eat until it gets dark.

Even a poor person in Israel should not eat until he reclines [at the Passover meal]. And he should not receive less than four cups of wine—even if it comes from the communal charity collection.

2. They mixed for him the first cup [of wine]—

The house of Shammai say: He blesses over the [festival] day and afterward blesses over the wine.

The house of Hillel say: He blesses over the wine and afterward blesses over the [festival] day.

3. They brought before him [the appetizers]—he dips the greens [in condiment] until he reaches the bread appetizer.

They bring before him unleavened bread, greens, ḥaroset [a paste made with fruits and spices], and two dishes—even though ḥaroset is not a requirement.

R. Eleazar bar Zadok says: It is a requirement.

And in the Temple, they would bring before him the [whole roasted] carcass of the paschal lamb.

4. They mixed for him the second cup [of wine], and here the son asks his father—and if the son has insufficient understanding, his father instructs him:

How is this night different from all other nights?

For on all other nights we eat both leavened and unleavened bread, but on this night only unleavened bread.

For on all other nights, we eat all kinds of greens, but on this night bitter greens.

For on all other nights, we eat roasted, boiled, or cooked meat, but on this night only roasted.

For on all other nights we dip [greens in condiment] one time, but on this night two times.

According to the [level of] understanding of the son, the father instructs him.

He begins with degradation and ends with praise, and expounds from My father was a wandering Aramean (Deuteronomy 26:5) until he finishes the entire paragraph.

5. Rabban Gamaliel would say: Whoever does not discourse on these three things on Passover has not fulfilled his obligation—and these are: pesaḥ [the Passover sacrifice], matzah, and maror [bitter herb].

Pesaḥ—because God passed over (pasaḥ) the houses of our ancestors in Egypt.

Matzah—because our ancestors were redeemed from Egypt.

Maror—because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our ancestors in Egypt.

In every generation, each person must view himself as if he himself had gone forth from Egypt, as it says: And you shall tell your son on that day saying, On account of that which God did for me when I went forth from Egypt (Exodus 13:8).

Therefore, we must thank, praise, laud, glorify, exalt, honor, bless, extol, and adore the one who performed for our ancestors and for us all of these miracles: He brought us out from slavery to freedom. From agony to joy, from mourning to celebration, from darkness to great light, and from subjugation to redemption. Let us say before Him, Hallelujah! [That is, let us recite before him the Hallel, Psalms 113–118.]

6. How far does one recite?

The house of Shammai say: Until a happy mother of children (end of Psalm 113).

The house of Hillel say: Until [who turns] the flinty rock into a fountain (end of Psalm 114).

And one concludes with [a blessing over] redemption.

R. Tarfon says, “Who redeemed us and redeemed our ancestors from Egypt,” and [one does] not conclude with a benedictory peroration.

R. Akiva says, “So may Adonai our God and God of our ancestors bring us in the future to other appointed times and festivals in peace, rejoicing in the building of Your city and delighting in Your [Temple] worship—and may we eat there of the sacrifices and of the paschal offerings,” etc., until “Praised be You, Adonai, who has redeemed Israel.”

7. They mixed for him the third cup—he blesses over his meal.

The fourth [cup]—he completes the Hallel over it and recites over it the Blessing of Song [Birkat ha-shir].

Between those [i.e., the earlier] cups, if he wishes to drink [more], he may drink. Between the third and fourth [cup] he may not drink.

8. One does not conclude after the Passover meal with carousing [in the manner of the after-meal activities at a Greco-Roman symposium banquet].