Seder Night: The Night That Never Ends

What is your favorite memory of Seder Night? For me, Seder Night was always magical. The seder plate and matzot were set in the middle of the table. The matzo ball soup could be smelled from the kitchen. And my entire family (together with our guests) would be sitting around the table, singing songs, sharing thoughts, and taking turns reading the Haggadah.

Now that I am the parent, I ask myself "what can I do to recreate that magic for my kids, so that years from now they too will look back and feel how special a night it is?" We will sing the same songs, and taste the same foods, of course. And this year we even created special awards to be given out for things like "best costume," "best original question," and "best Lego recreation of one of the 10 Makkot."

But as we finish up our final preparations for Seder Night I remind myself that it is a special night also because it connects the generations. My kids are a part of something my grandparents did when they were the same age, and one day they will pass it on to their children as well.

How do we ensure that we pass it on? The Haggadah tells us, first of all, to remember that, just as in the classroom, not all children are the same. The Four Sons are symbolic of the idea that Seder Night can speak to all types, as long as we share it in a way that speaks to them.

We also remember that the Mitzva of the night is Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim, telling the story of the exodus. Not just remembering it, like we do every day in the Shema. But telling the story. Because stories bring a concept alive by drawing the listener in and allowing them to feel what the story is all about.

But the real secret? I think the real secret is found in the pasuk from which the word Haggadah comes:

והגדת לבנך ביום ההוא לאמר בעבור זה עשה השם לי בצאתי ממצרים

And you shall tell your child on that day this is the purpose of what Hashem did for me when He took me out of Egypt.

To me, the key word is לי, for me. The parent has to make it personal. You know why I love this Seder, this holiday, this religion? Because it makes me happy, it gives my life meaning, it connects me to past generations. And that's what I want for you as well. Because I love you so much. And I want you to feel all these great things as well.

If we, as parents, love Judaism, Davening, Learning Torah, doing Chesed, and yes, even cleaning and preparing for Pesach, then our kids will as well. It's a simple equation: Love Judaism + Love Your Child = They will love Judaism as well.

So tonight, enjoy the tunes, the stories, and the tastes. But most of all, enjoy your kids. It may just be one night, but believe me, it will last for generations.