What are the basic priorities at the Seder?
1) Strengthing Emunah in Hashem.
2) Expressing thanks to Hashem for giving us freedom, nationhood and the Torah.
3) Carefully performing the mitzvos of the night.
4) Passing on the story of the Jewish People to children and others not familiar with our heritage.
5) An opportunity to spend spiritual quality time with the family and extended family.
Rabbi Paysach Krohn, in his Maggid series of books, related a narrative of when the Maggid came to spend Pesach and the Sedarim years ago at the house of his widowed mother Mrs. Hindy Krohn. The Seder was taking a very long time, what with all the children and grandchildren in the family joining in with their little speeches, and Paysach Krohn was getting worried that the Maggid would have a problem with having to eat the Afikoman well past Chatzos. However, the Maggid brushed off his concerns, pointing out in Yiddish that a widow gets joy from hearing her grandchildren speak at the Seder table, and that it was more important in the Torah to show concern for a widow’s feelings than to eat the afikoman before Chatzos.
Since when is everyone so quick to pasken halacha about when the seder should be finished?
As usual, as your own rabbi — in many many cases, the custom is to rely on R Akiva and go on all night. And then there is the tshuva of the Avnei Nezer (381:5) which also provides a way for continuing the seder later, even without said assumption.
Don’t assume the halachic is monolithic, since it is not and many people have the practice to go on well past chatzos.
To Nathan #3: While I don’t blame you for not wanting to go through a Maggid-thon again, perhaps there could be some kind of happy compromise. Our family does a lot of explanations but still generally finishes Maggid by 11:30 PM, which is about 2-1/2 hours, since with daylight savings time the Seder doesn’t even start until 9 PM. We begin the festive meal at about 11:50 PM and by leaving out the fish and salad courses (only egg, soup, main and dessert) get to the Afikoman before 1 AM, which is Chatzos during EDT. There are families who do not spend a lot of time on Maggid (you could find out beforehand) so you don’t have to give up entirely on the second Seder.
We’re told to view ourselves as being redeemed from Egypt at that very moment. Getting into that frame of mind takes some doing.
I think that the list is out of order – here is what I think is the correct order
1) Passing on the story of the Jewish People to children and others not familiar with our heritage. The entire seder is for this express purpose and this one alone.
2) Expressing thanks to Hashem for giving us freedom, nationhood and the Torah. This is probally part of number one
3) An extraordinary opportunity to spend spiritual quality time with the family and extended family.
4) Performing the mitzvot of the night. All Mitzvot need to be performed carefully, so carefully goes without saying. Finishing by Hatzot is one of those requirements.
5) Strengthing Emunah in Hashem.
What about finishing the seder before chatzot [Halachic midnight)?
Notice that this goal is not compatible with having all 4 children at the table recite at least 4 commentaries on every little part of maggid, so every part of maggid gets 16 commentaries, so at 3:30 AM, maggid is not even halfway finished.
This disaster actually happened to me, and it made a lasting impact on my life. That night, I swore an oath to never again attend seder on the second night of Pesach, and in the 15 years that passed since then, I have only attended seder on the first night of Passover.
My only regret: Not having started this praiseworthy and logical practice even sooner :-)
Ummm — how about actually Leaving Mitzrayim?
and the premise of #4 leaves out some of the Arba Bonim — Even a talmid chocham is obligated in Maggid.
Just to add to #4, I’d include remembering personal stories of Hashgacha Patis (divine intervention) as part of the “story of the Jewish people”.
Great list.