Puppets for each of the four questions- make your own or purchase, available here: Buy Puppets on Amazon
Handouts can be acquired by visiting: JGateways.Org

Listen to the questions: Spotify Link to Listen to Shira Kline Chanting "Mah Nishatana"
"Prayer-E-Oke" to support learning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdvF91JSoyg

Note to educator: This procedure is framed as a suggested dialogue for a discussion in the classroom. 

SET INDUCTION

Did you know there is a role at the Passover seder just for kids your age? Actually, it is for the youngest person at the seder who is able to learn the words to a special part of the Haggadah and sing them. It is called “The Four Questions.” It is all about how what we do the night of the Passover seder is different from what we do on all other nights.

• Who will be the youngest person at your house celebrating Passover this year?
• Who would like a special job at your Passover seder this year?

It looks like a lot of you will be glad to learn to sing The Four Questions. 

Activities and experiences

I am going to pass out a piece of paper with the actual words of The Four Questions written on it, as well as pictures for those of you who aren’t reading yet.

There is one main question that is the heart of what we call The Four Questions. It is on the first page. We’re going to learn it together and then think of how we want to answer the question.

The question is, “Mah nishtana halyla hazeh mikol halaylot?” Why is Passover night different than all other nights? I’ll say the words and you repeat them after me. You can follow along on your handout.

Good job everyone. Now let’s try singing that. You can still follow along on your handout. Sing: “Mah nishtana halyla hazeh mikol halaylot?”

I’m going to tell you a secret about this piece of the haggadah. I told you it is called “The Four Questions,” but there is really only this one question. One question and four answers even though it is called “the Four Questions!”

[students volunteer answers]

Those are great answers. Now, there is a special formal way that we give those answers during the part of the seder called The Four Questions.

We say “sheb’khol halaylot” On regular nights we __________, but “halyla hazeh” on Passover night we ____________.

Let’s put your answers into a sentence like that. I’ll say the Hebrew part and you each help me fill in the answers.

 “sheb’khol halaylot” On regular nights we __________, but “halyla hazeh” on Passover night we ____________.

“sheb’khol halaylot” On regular nights we __________, but “halyla hazeh” on Passover night we ____________.

Your answers are great. There are hundreds of right answers we could give, because Passover nights are so special. But what would happen if everyone who attended a Passover seder gave every answer they could think of? [we would be at the seder table all night and maybe into the next day or even week.]

Because of that, the four questions include four specific answers that we are going to learn now.

I have a puppet that goes with each answer. Here is the first puppet. Can you tell what she is? [bread on one side, matzah on the other].

“Mah nishtana halyla hazeh mikol halaylot?” Why is Passover night different than all other nights?

 “sheb’khol halaylot” On regular nights we eat bread OR matzah but “halyla hazeh” on Passover night we eat only matzah.

Shebe’khol ha-laylot anu okhlin hametz u-matza, ha-lyla ha-zeh kulo matzah

Why DO we eat matzah at Passover?

Repeat the words after me. You can follow along on your handout on page 2.

Now let’s try singing it.

Here’s my second puppet. Does anyone know what it is? [generic vegetable on one side, maror on the other]

“Mah nishtana halyla hazeh mikol halaylot?” Why is Passover night different than all other nights?

“sheb’khol halaylot” On regular nights we eat any vegetables but “halyla hazeh” on Passover night we eat maror, the bitter herb. 

Shebe’khol ha-laylot anu okhlin she-ar yerakot, ha-lyla ha-zeh maror?

Why DO we eat maror? What does the bitter herb remind us of?

Repeat the words after me. You can follow along on your handout on page 3.

Now let’s try singing it.

Here’s my third puppet. Does anyone know what it is? [parsley sitting in a bowl of salt water]

“Mah nishtana halyla hazeh mikol halaylot?” Why is Passover night different than all other nights?

“sheb’khol halaylot” On regular nights we don’t dip our food in anything but “halyla hazeh” on Passover night we dip our food twice.

Shebe’khol ha-laylot eyn anu matbilin afilu pa’am ehat, ha-lyla ha-zeh shetay fe’amim?

What food DO we dip at the Passover seder?

Once we dip parsley in salt water and once we maror – the bitter herb – in haroset, which is a sweet combination of apples and nuts with either grapes or honey.

Repeat the words after me. You can follow along on your handout on page 4.

Now let’s try singing it.

I have one final puppet. What is it on each side? [easy chair and a hard wood chair]. Which side looks more comfortable? Which side would a person who is free and happy rather sit in – the comfortable chair or the uncomfortable chair? That’s right. At my house, though, there wouldn’t really be enough room to put big cushy chairs around the dining room table. How about at your houses? That’s why there is a tradition of at least having a comfy pillow behind your back on your chair so you can lean back at the seder table.

“Mah nishtana halyla hazeh mikol halaylot?” Why is Passover night different than all other nights?

“sheb’khol halaylot” On regular nights we eat either sitting up straight or leaning back but “halyla hazeh” on Passover night we all lean back.

Sheb’khol ha-laylot anu okhlin bayn yoshvin u-vayn m’subin, ha-lyla ha-zeh kulanu m’subin?

We eat leaning back to show we are free and safe and relaxed.

Repeat the words after me. You can follow along on your handout on page 5.

Now let’s try singing it.

You guys have done it! You have learned the Four Questions – and even the secret that it is really one question and four answers! 

This is one of many tunes that can be incorporated into the celebration of Passover (Pesach). You might wish to utilize some of these other songs to "set the mood" for the holiday: 

How many of you think you will be able to sing this at your seder? [show of hands]

During lesson, educator can circulate room to gauge individual student s ability to sing and read. 

Make sure to inform parents of their student s preparation to participate in the family seder. Consider sharing music links with families so that the student s music can be utilized in the home celebration: Passover- Pesach