Here are the traditional fifteen steps, with practical explanation:
1. Kadesh — Sanctification
Recite Kiddush over a cup of wine (at least a revi’is, roughly 3–4 oz). Include the blessing Borei pri hagafen, the sanctification of the day, and Shehecheyanu. Each person should have their own cup.
2. Urchatz — Washing
Wash your hands without reciting a blessing. This is a preliminary washing before eating karpas.
3. Karpas — Vegetable
Dip a vegetable (usually parsley or potato) in salt water and eat it while reclining. This stimulates curiosity and begins the narrative of the night.
4. Yachatz — Breaking
Break the middle of three matzos on the plate. Set aside the larger piece as the afikoman (to be eaten at the end of the meal); return the smaller piece between the other two matzos.
5. Maggid — The Story
Recite the Haggadah, telling the story of the Exodus. This includes the Four Questions (asked by the youngest participant), the answer, and various passages. The matzos remain uncovered during most of this section.
A note on order: The traditional Ashkenazi Haggadah (based on the Babylonian Talmud) follows this sequence. The Rambam’s order (from the Jerusalem Talmud) differs slightly, but the Ashkenazi sequence is now standard in virtually all communities.
6. Rachtza — Second Washing
Wash your hands again, this time with a blessing (Al netilat yadayim). You are now preparing for a proper meal.
7. Motzi — Blessing on Bread
Recite the blessing Hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz over matzah. This is the ordinary blessing for bread.
8. Matzah — Specific Matzah Blessing
Immediately recite the special blessing Asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al achilat matzah and eat at least a kezayit (olive-sized piece) of matzah while reclining.
9. Maror — Bitter Herbs
Dip bitter herbs (horseradish, romaine lettuce, or other approved vegetables) in charoset and eat them while reclining, reciting the blessing Al achilat maror.
10. Koreich — The Sandwich
Make a sandwich of matzah and maror (some traditions add charoset), recite a brief statement, and eat it while reclining. This custom follows the practice of Hillel, who ate matzah and maror together.
11. Shulchan Orech — The Festive Meal
Eat the holiday meal. There is a widespread custom to begin with a hard-boiled egg dipped in salt water before the main courses.
12. Tzafun — The Afikoman
Retrieve the afikoman (the matzah hidden away during Yachatz) and eat at least a kezayit of it while reclining. This is the last food eaten at the Seder, so that the taste of matzah lingers; nothing is eaten afterward.
13. Barech — Grace After Meals
Recite Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals) over the third cup of wine, and then drink it while reclining.
14. Hallel — Songs of Praise
Recite the Hallel and additional psalms of praise, then drink the fourth cup of wine. The cup of Elijah is also poured during this part of the Seder.
15. Nirtzah — Conclusion
Conclude the Seder with the declaration “L’shana haba’ah b’Yerushalayim” (“Next year in Jerusalem!”), followed by the traditional Seder-night songs such as Echad Mi Yodea and Chad Gadya.
Sources
Educational note: Rebbe.IO is an AI study companion, not a posek. Practices and customs vary by community; for a personal halachic ruling, please consult your rav.
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