Articles

General Rules

Educating Children

When children are old enough to comprehend a mitzvah’s concept, their parents are obligated to train them in its performance^[1]. (This often begins at age five or six.^[2]) This is especially true during the Seder night when there is a particular mitzvah for parents to teach their children about Yetziyas Mitzrayim (Shemos 13: 8). Corresponding to their age and ability, they must be encouraged to consume the required amount of foods and recite the necessary haggadah texts.

Timing of the Obligations

• As mentioned earlier, the Seder may not begin before nightfall, which is 8:19 PM in the Chicago area.^[3]
• The mitzvos of eating matzah and marror must be completed before the middle of the night.^[4] For 2025, this is 12:52 AM in the Chicago area.
  • Ideally, the entire Seder through Hallel should be concluded by this time as well.^[5]
  • In an extenuating circumstance that the Seder starts shortly before the middle of the night, Kiddush is recited and immediately followed by washing and eating the matzah and marror. Only then does the Seder start from the beginning – skipping the steps that were already performed.^[6]

Reclining

During the Seder, we eat in a reclining position. This is the manner of free, aristocratic people, and it commemorates the freedom that Hashem provided for us on this night.^[7]

• Women do not have to recline (even if they are leading the Seder),^[8] but they should at least be in a seated position when eating foods that require reclining.[9]
• Reclining is specifically towards the left side.^[10] Left-handed people recline in this direction as well.^[11]
• It is proper to use pillows or cushions when reclining.^[12]
• For some Seder Steps, one does not recline. These are noted at each respective step.
• One who is in the presence of his or her Torah teacher reclines only if the teacher has given specific permission.^[13]
• If one is within the mourning period for a close relative, reclining is done in a subdued manner.^[14]

Matzah

Matzah represents two aspects of our redemption from Mitzrayim. As “poor man’s” bread, it was what we ate during our subjugation.^[15] It also represents the quickness with which Hashem took us out of Mitzrayim, since the dough that we prepared for the journey did not have time to rise and was baked into matzah.^[16]

• Shmurah Matzah

In order to fulfill this mitzvah at the Seder, it is not enough to use “Kosher for Passover” matzah. Rather, it is necessary that the matzah is also shmurah (protected). From its earliest stages of production, “shmurah matzah” is proactively shielded from water with the purpose of using it for the Seder.^[17] Shmurah matzah is identified as such somewhere on its packaging.

There are different customs as to whether to use specifically the round, hand-made shmurah matzah or the square, machine-made shmurah matzah, but they are both technically acceptable.

• Egg Matzah

Matzah that contains any liquid other than water is not the matzah that the Torah commands us to eat.^[18] In fact, Ashkenazic custom forbids a healthy person from eating this type of matzah on Pesach^[19]. One who is too weak to eat regular matzah should consult his or her rabbi to see if egg matzah is an appropriate option.

• Measurements

It is sometimes unclear how measurements in halacha convert into modern-day quantities. An instance of this is the minimum amount of matzah that must be eaten at the Seder. A generally accepted volume is ½ of a hand matzah or 2/3 of a standard machine matzah. This volume should be eaten both at the Achilas Matzah step as well as for the afikomen.

• Those who have difficulty eating due to age or illness should also consult a rabbi for any relevant leniencies.^[20] (Also see our article on Dietary Needs at the Seder.)
• The required volume of matzah must be eaten in a normal, continuous manner without unnecessary interruption. It must be consumed within nine minutes, and ideally within two minutes.^[21]

Marror

Marror reminds us of the bitter affliction we experienced in Mitzrayim.^[22] Today, the obligation to eat marror is Rabbinic, since the Torah commandment applies only when it is eaten together with the Korban Pesach.^[23]

• Two types of marror are commonly used: romaine lettuce and freshly ground horseradish. Of these, romaine lettuce is the ideal halachic^[24]
  • Romaine lettuce often harbors tiny insects. Since eating an insect is a Torah prohibition,^[25] the lettuce must be cleaned and inspected before it can be eaten by following the instructions at https://www.askcrc.org/item/Fruits+and+Vegetables/1317.

Prepared romaine lettuce is often available with a reliable kosher certification.

• If horseradish is used, it must be ground into small pieces and eaten raw. Jarred or cooked horseradish does not fulfill the obligation.^[26]

Measurements

• Marror is eaten during two of the Seder Steps: Marror (Seder Step 8) and Korech (Seder Step 9)
• For the “Marror” step, the necessary volume is slightly more than one fluid ounce.^[27] Grated horseradish can be measured quite easily. The volume of romaine leaves is slightly larger than one large leaf^[28] (approximately the surface area of 8 x 10 inches). ^[29]
• For the Korech step, it is sufficient to use 0.7 fluid ounces of horseradish, but the romaine lettuce should be the same as above.^[30]
• The marror is to be chewed in a normal, continuous manner.^[31] It must be consumed within nine minutes, and ideally within two minutes.^[32]

Charoses

Charoses is a mixture of ground fruit, nuts and red wine.^[33] Before marror is eaten, it is dipped into charoses. The charoses is then shaken off to preserve the marror’s taste.^[34] An explanation for this procedure can be found in the commentary of most haggadahs.

• The ingredients of charoses are selected from the fruits and nuts that the Jewish People are compared to. These include apples, figs, dates, pomegranates, walnuts and almonds.^[35]
• Some have the custom to add cinnamon and/or ginger in their unground form.^[36]
• Charoses should have a thick, mortar-like consistency.^[37]
• Additional wine is added just before the marror is dipped into it.^[38]

The Four Cups

We are obligated to drink four cups of wine during the Seder. These cups commemorate the four levels of redemption^[39] that Hashem provided for us.^[40]

• As a display of nobility, the leader of the Seder does not fill his/her own cup.^[41]
  • Many homes apply this tradition to all in attendance and all cups are filled by one another.
• The cups must be drunk at the designated intervals of the Seder. One who is unable to remain present throughout the Seder must still recite or listen to the necessary haggadah texts in between each cup.^[42]
• The cup is filled to capacity for every one of the four cups.^[43]

Cup Features

• It is a mitzvah to use a beautiful cup.^[44]
  • The cup should not be disposable, but if there is no alternative, a disposable one is permitted.^[45]

Measurements

There are two measurements that need to be taken into account here: the volume of the cup and the amount of wine which needs to be consumed.

Cup Volume

In 2025, since both Sedarim are during the weekday, the cup volume for all four cups is a minimum of 2.9 fluid ounces.^[46]

Volume to be Consumed

The following measurements of wine must be consumed in a normal manner without interruption.^[47]

• For each of the first three cups, the basic obligation is to consume 1.5 fluid ounces.^[48] If this is too difficult, one should consult a rabbi.^[49]
• The ideal amount to consume is either 2.9 fluid ounces or the majority of the cup – whichever is greater.^[50] (It is wise to use a small cup so that drinking the majority of the cup is a small amount.^[51])
• For the fourth cup, the minimum consumption amount is 2.9 fluid ounces.^[52]

 

	Cups	Fourth Cup
Minimum Cup Volume	Approx. 3 ounces	Approx. 3 ounces
Basic Consumption Volume	1.5 fluid ounces	Approx. 3 ounces
Ideal Consumption Volume	Approx. 3 ounces or the majority of the cup – whichever is greater

 

Type of Beverage

• Wine is the ideal beverage for the Four Cups.^[53] Even using wine for a portion of the four cups is virtuous.
  • Red wine is preferred over white wine unless the white wine is of better quality.^[54]
  • If necessary, the wine may be diluted with grape juice or a very small percentage of water.^[55]
• After wine, grape juice is second best.^[56] If necessary, the grape juice may be diluted with a very small percentage of water.^[57]
• If these options are not feasible, speak to a rabbi for further possible leniencies.^[58] (Also see our article on Dietary Needs at the Seder.)

Red Wine	White Wine	Wine diluted with Grape Juice	Wine diluted with a small amount of Water	Grape Juice	Grape Juice diluted with a small amount of Water
<<<<<< More Ideal                                                 Less Ideal >>>>>>

 

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Footnotes:

[1] Mishna Berurah 343:2-3

[2] Mishna Berurah 128:123

[3] Shulchan Aruch 472:1 Mishna Berurah ad loc. Iggros Moshe IV:62

[4] Rema 477:1

[5] Rema 477:1

[6] Rema 477:1

[7] Rambam Chametz U’matzah 7:7

[8] Rema 472:4

[9] Halichos Bas Yisroel 23:24

[10] Mishna Berurah 472:7

[11] Rema 472:3

[12] See Kol Dodi Laws of the Seder Ch. 5 P. 18

[13] Mishna Berurah 472:17

[14] Mishna Berurah 472:13

[15] Devarim 16:3 see Rashi ad. loc.

[16] Mishna Pesachim 115B

[17] Mishna Berura 453:21

[18] Shulchan Aruch 462:1

[19] Rema 462:4; see Oruch Hashulchan 462:4,5

[20] See Halachos of Pesach pg. 242- 243

[21] Kol Dodi Laws of the Seder Ch. 14 Paragraph 7

[22] Mishna Pesachim 115B

[23] Tur 472

[24] Shulchan Aruch 473:5

[25] Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deyah 84

[26] Shulchan Aruch 473:5

[27] Kol Dodi Laws of the Seder Ch. 15 Paragraph 6

[28] Adapted from Sefer Kezayis Hashalem, pages 98-101

[29] Kol Dodi Laws of the Seder Ch. 14 Paragraph 20

[30] Kol Dodi Laws of the Seder Ch. 16 Paragraph 11

[31] Shulchan Aruch 475:3

[32] Kol Dodi Laws of the Seder Ch. 14 Paragraph 7

[33] Rema 473:5

[34] Shulchan Aruch 475:1

[35] Rema 473:5

[36] Rema 473:5

[37] Rema 473:5

[38] Chayei Adam,Chapter 130

[39] Shemos 5:6-7

[40] Chayei Adam, Chapter 130:10

[41] Rema 473:1

[42] Biur Halacha 472 “shelo”

[43] Rema 183:2

[44] Shulchan Aruch 472:2

[45] Iggros Moshe III 39

[46] See Kol Dodi Laws of the Seder Ch. 2 P. 6

[47] Mishna Berura 472:9

[48] Mishna Berura 472:33

[49] See Kol Dodi Laws of the Seder Ch. 2 P. 9

[50] Mishna Berura 472:30 see Kol Dodi Laws of the Seder 2:7,8

[51] Mishna Berura 472:33

[52] Mishna Berura 472:30

[53] Shulchan Aruch 472:10 Mishna Berurah ad loc. 37

[54] Shulchan Aruch and Rema 472:11

[55] Mishna Berurah 472: 37

[56] Halachos of Pesach XX B 5

[57] Halachos of Pesach XX B 5

[58] See Mishna Berura 472:37