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In the Diaspora, the Seder is celebrated also on the second night of Passover. The Haggadah is read from the 5th stage of the Seder when the reader invites every hungry or needy person to come and join in the Seder meal.

It is only since the destruction of the Second Temple (70 C.E.), that the Seder replaced the old Passover celebration. The details of the Seder can be found in the Mishna (tractate Pesachim) around 200 C.E.

THE FESTIVAL OF PASSOVER IS ONE OF THE THREE JEWISH PILGRIMAGE FESTIVALS:
Passover
Shavuot (Feast of Weeks)
Succot (Feast of Tabernacles)

During these feasts, the people of Israel used to go up to Jerusalem at the time of the Temple (First Temple and Second Temple), as it is written in the book of Deuteronomy "Threetimes a year - on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on the Feast of Weeks and on the Feast of Booths - all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place that He will choose" (16,16).

The story of the redemption of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt is told in the Passover Haggadah. The word Haggadah is derived from the verb "lehagid" which means to say or to tell. Already in the book of Exodus, we read the instruction to all Jewish fathers: "and you shall explain to your son on that day 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I went free from Egypt' " (13,8).

Nobody really knows who composed the Haggadah, but it is undoubtedly a very old text.

In the Mishna, one can already find some paragraphs which are included in the Haggadah. Two of the most famous Talmudic Rabbis (Abayé and Rava) had their own versions, as had the great scholars Rabbi Saadia Gaon (in the 10th century) and Maimonides (Rambam in the 12th century).

Many of the Haggadahs are beautifully illustrated and the Oldest hand-written Haggadah is the Sarajevo Haggadah from the 13th century.

THE MEANING OF THE WORD 'PESACH'
The Hebrew word for Passover is Pesach. It derives from the Hebrew verb 'lifsoach', which means to pass over, as it is said in the book of Exodus: "It is the passover sacrifice to the Lord,because He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt"(12,27).

Another verb, very close in its meaning and origin is 'lifsoa' which means to go, to walk. The similarity between the two verbs is that the latter infers that walking one step means that one foot has already moved the short distance.

'MA NISHTANA'
The 'Ma Nishtana' is a verse in the Haggadah, asking four questions. It is traditionally read by the youngest child at the Seder table in order to involve the children with the Seder proceedings.

Wherefore is this night distinguished from all other nights? On all the other nights we do not dip even once, but on this night twice; on all the other nights we may eat either leavened, or unleavened bread, but on this night only unleavened bread;on all the other nights we may eat any specie of herbs, but on this night only bitter herbs; on all the other nights we eat and drink, either sitting or leaning, but on this night we all lean.

MITZVOT (religious duties)
1. Telling the story of the exodus.
2. Eating the Matzah.
3. Eating the 'Afikoman'
4. Eating the bitter herb
5. Drinking 4 glasses of wine

CUSTOMS
In many communities the Haggadah is translated into the local language so that the women and children can understand the story.

The 'stealing' and hiding of the Afikoman is very common,especially in Ashkenazi communities. One of the children takes the Afikoman and the 'head' of the Passover Seder has to find it. Sometimes the 'head' himself hides the Afikoman, so that the child who finds it gets a present.

In some communities they keep the doors open on the Seder night to emphasise the invitation stated in the Haggadah, that every hungry and needy person is invited to come in and take part in the celebration.

In many kibbutzim (communal settlements) in Israel a special Haggadah is prepared for the Seder. Usually they emphasise the revival of nature and spring, and not only the religious aspects of Passover.

In Iraqi communities, the head of the family covers the Afikoman with a silk handkerchief and ties it to either his or his son's back, to be kept there till the end of the meal.

THE 'MEIMUNA'
This is the term traditionally used by Jews of North African countries for the last night of Passover and the following day.

It was the custom that on 'Meimuna night', they take short visits to friends and family and enjoy the refreshments which were usually generously laid on a table. The following day they would go for family trips in the country.

This tradition has now become a customary event in Israel, celebrated by the North African and Israeli community as a whole.

SONG OF SONGS
The five scrolls in the Bible are connected to the Jewish Holy Days:

Ecclesiastes - Succoth
Esther - Purim
Song of Songs - Passover
Ruth - Shavuoth
Lamentations - Tish'a Be'av

According to Jewish tradition, the Song of Songs was written by King Solomon ("the Song of Songs by Solomon" (11,1)), as were also the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

In the Song of Songs, the main feeling is of the blossoming of nature, love and awakening beauty which are the motifs of spring time, and as Passover is also celebrated in spring time it was suitable to read this scroll during Passover. Another reason may be the mention of the chariots of Pharaoh in the Song of Songs.

Sephardi Jews read this scroll at the end of the Haggadah reading, while Ashkenazi Jews read it at the synagogue on the Saturday after the beginning of Passover.

HAD GADIA
This song is sung (and read) at the end of the Seder ceremony. It is a folk song written in Aramaic, but its origin is unknown. It begins with the words: This is the kid [young goat], the little kid,my father bought for two zuzim [ancient money]. It is based on the principle of Jewish morality - that there is no sin without punishment.