# I got to ask the Four Questions for the first time at seder! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 18, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204 "2006-04-18T19:37:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/1 "2006-04-18T19:37:19Z")
I converted to Judaism when I was 28, so I never had the childhood experience of asking the Four Questions at seder. On the first night of Passover (last Wednesday night) at my in-laws this year, it was all adults, so I was the second-youngest one there. Mr. Neville’s younger brother was the youngest- he’s 10 months younger than me. I asked him if I could do the Four Questions instead of him, and he said OK. I managed to get the pronunciation right, and even to sort of sing them to the right tune (I’m tone-deaf, so singing _anything_ to the right tune is a challenge). ;j ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/2 "2006-04-18T20:17:14Z")
Mazel Tov !!! Really, it’s a great feeling. A good Seder-- with your family all around you, everybody chipping in his little bit of the reading, sharing stories–and love. Kinda makes you feel all happy inside. … ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/3 "2006-04-19T04:55:34Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > I asked him if I could do the Four Questions instead of him, and he said OK. I know very little about Jewish religious ritual. What are the four questions? Do you ask them of others at the ceremony, or of God? ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/4 "2006-04-19T05:06:07Z")
Congratulations! What a wonderful experience! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/5 "2006-04-19T05:30:28Z")
So what were the answers?!? What did he say?!? Or is that taboo? ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/6 "2006-04-19T06:15:08Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > I know very little about Jewish religious ritual. What are the four questions? Do you ask them of others at the ceremony, or of God? It’s been a while since I was only married into a Jewish family and divorced years ago… But, basically, it’s almost like a play. You are telling the story of passover through answering the questions of the youngest child. I don’t remember the exact questions, but they were along the lines of “Why is today special?” “Why are we eating bitter herbs?” “Why is the bread unleavened?” I’m sure someone will be along with a more accurate answer. ---
**Author:** ![Analogue\_Skywalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Analogue\_Skywalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Analogue_Skywalker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/7 "2006-04-19T09:27:27Z")
I chose to have a seder for my roommate and friends. I am the head of household as I have lived here longest, so I read. Little did I know that when everyone showed up… whoops I am the youngest at 25. We stuck with tradition, It was rather amusing to everyone to have me ask and answer the questions. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/8 "2006-04-19T10:40:12Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > So what were the answers?!? What did he say?!? > > Or is that taboo? Not taboo at all. In fact, I, a good Roman Catholic boy, can help out here. Mah nishtanah hah lahylah hah zeh mi kol hah layloht? Why is this night different from all other nights? (Trust me – I sing in the key of “off”, so you don’t want me to even describe the tune, much less sing it.) In English, the Four Questions are: On all other nights, we can eat both _chametz_ and _matzah_. On this night, why do we eat only _matzah_? On all other nights, we eat many different vegetables. On this night, why do we eat only _maror_? On all other nights, we do not dip our food in other food even once. On this night, why do we dip our food twice? On all other nights, we eat sitting up at the table. On this night, why do we all recline on pillows? (Answers on request. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/9 "2006-04-19T10:46:03Z")
Actually, maybe someone can help me. There’s a song sung at the end of the seder. I wish I could reproduce the tune… the chorus has a line that sounds like: Eyul bu-nay! Eyul bu-nay! Bunay vayt-khah buh karov! I know that absolutely awful transliteration, but… any help? What is that tune? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/10 "2006-04-19T11:31:56Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > (Answers on request. 🙂 ) Okay, please consider this a formal request for the answers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/11 "2006-04-19T13:19:53Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Okay, please consider this a formal request for the answers. 🙂 [http://www.holidays.net/passover/question.html](http://www.holidays.net/passover/question.html) That’s the first hit when I googled, there are better versions online, I’m sure. As the youngest child, and nearly the youngest of my cousins, I asked the 4 questions for nearly two decades. I still sometimes get the honor. I like to think of it as my part of the service. ;j ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/12 "2006-04-19T13:30:32Z")
There’s a joke about a rabbi who was to be knighted. It involves the Hebrew for “why is this night different from all other nights?” and is absolutely hilarious if you include the Hebrew. Problem is, I don’t know the Hebrew. Could someone give the questions in Hebrew? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/13 "2006-04-19T13:36:15Z")
If I have it right, a child (or the youngest) is expected to ask the Four Questions. To maintain the spirit of child involvement, another youngster should answer each question as it’s asked. Is this correct? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/14 "2006-04-19T15:36:04Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > If I have it right, a child (or the youngest) is expected to ask the Four Questions. > > To maintain the spirit of child involvement, another youngster should answer each question as it’s asked. > > Is this correct? At the seders I have attended, the youngest asks the question, and the person reading - kind of the MC, if you will - answers. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/15 "2006-04-19T15:47:45Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > There’s a joke about a rabbi who was to be knighted. It involves the Hebrew for “why is this night different from all other nights?” and is absolutely hilarious if you include the Hebrew. Problem is, I don’t know the Hebrew. Could someone give the questions in Hebrew? The Chief Rabbi of England is to be knighted for his services to Judaic scholarship and religious life. Now, each person who is knighted has to kneel before the Queen and recite a complicated Latin passage swearing fealty to her. The rabbi has memorized this passage, but he has a bit of stage fright about it. At the glittering ceremony, surrounded by lords and and ladies and the best and brightest of the realm, his stage fright only grows as he sees each of the newly minted knights and dames, one by one, kneel before the Queen and recite their Latin passage. Finally it’s his turn. He kneels before the Queen, and finds to his horror that he cannot remember even a single word of the Latin passage! He’s desperately trying to recall it. With all eyes on him, in a last desperate frenzy he reaches for the first foreign language phrase he can recall, and says, “Mah nishtanah hah lahylah hah zeh mi kol hah layloht?” The Queen, puzzled, looks at an advisor and says, “Why is this knight different from all the other knights?” ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/16 "2006-04-19T15:51:08Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > There’s a joke about a rabbi who was to be knighted. It involves the Hebrew for “why is this night different from all other nights?” and is absolutely hilarious if you include the Hebrew. Problem is, I don’t know the Hebrew. Could someone give the questions in Hebrew? The Hebrew for “why is this night different from all other nights?” is the sentence I posted above: _Mah nishtanah hah lahylah hah zeh mi kol hah layloht?_ I don’t think I can do the rest of the four questions song in Hebrew well enough to type it out. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/17 "2006-04-19T16:35:03Z")
**Analogue Skywalker** , I had the same situation this year. I’m the oldest of my generation at home, so I haven’t said them in years, but I was the youngest one there. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-to-ask-the-four-questions-for-the-first-time-at-seder/353204/18 "2006-04-19T17:38:51Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > On all other nights, we can eat both chametz and matzah. On this night, why do we eat only matzah? > > On all other nights, we eat many different vegetables. On this night, why do we eat only maror? Chametz = leavened bread Matzah = unleavened bread made of only flour and water. Can also be spelled matza, matzo, or matzoh, and I’ve even seen it spelled mazza. Maror = bitter herbs, often raw horseradish (mmmmm… horseradish 😛 ) The second question is a little misleading- we in fact eat another vegetable as part of the seder (karpas, a green vegetable, often parsley), and the festive meal can and usually does include vegetables other than bitter herbs. We often don’t really eat reclining at seders, either- there’s not enough room around many people’s tables for that, nor do they have reclining couches like you see in _I, Claudius_ or other shows about Rome. What is often done is that the leader of the seder has a pillow in his or her chair- thus symbolically reclining. I’ve never been to a seder where people actually did recline. > [@Bricker](#): > > Actually, maybe someone can help me. > > There’s a song sung at the end of the seder. I wish I could reproduce the tune… the chorus has a line that sounds like: > > Eyul bu-nay! Eyul bu-nay! Bunay vayt-khah buh karov! > > I know that absolutely awful transliteration, but… any help? What is that tune? [Adir Hu](http://www.hebrewsongs.com/song-adirhu.htm). > [@BarnOwl](#): > > If I have it right, a child (or the youngest) is expected to ask the Four Questions. Yes, that’s right. I happened to be the second youngest at this particular seder, and begged the honor off of my brother in law, who was the youngest. > [@](#): > > To maintain the spirit of child involvement, another youngster should answer each question as it’s asked. > > Is this correct? Not in most traditional Haggadot (the book you read at the seder). Usually, after the Four Questions, you go into the telling of the story of the Exodus. The questions get answered in a sort of roundabout, indirect way. Some modern Haggadot do have the answers to the questions right after they are asked. Different families do their seders differently.