Seder Discussion Themes - Rabbi Aaron Levitt
Kadesh
Where and when do we experience holiness in our lives?
What do we do to create or capture moments of inspiration in our lives?
Urchatz
What types of situations do we prepare for in our lives and not just wing it?
Karpas
How does “dipping” into past bitterness help make the present taste sweeter?
Yachatz
What feels broken or incomplete in our lives?
Where do we feel disconnected?
What machloket or brogez do we hold onto in our lives?
Maggid
If you could tell someone the story of overcoming something in your life what would it be?
What messages do we put out there every day without even realizing it?
Ha Lachma Anya
Do we mind our own business or think of others who are lonely or need help?
What hardships did our ancestors experience for us to be here today?
What does Freedom mean to us?
Ma Nishtana
What Big Questions do we have in our lives?
Avadim HaYinu
What is the benefit of remembering tough times?
Think back to a tough time in your life and consider how things could have played out differently
5 Rabbis in Bnei Brak
Have you ever gotten so involved in something that you lost track of time?
R’ Elazar Ben Azaryah
Have you ever felt older or wiser than your years?
Baruch HaMakom
What are you thankful to God for?
The 4 Sons
How are your children, your siblings, your students different from one another?
Have you ever experienced personalized customer service? Or the opposite?
How do we ensure that every child feels welcome at the table?
Are the 4 sons different people or is there a little of each of them in us?
Yachol MeRosh Chodesh
Timing is everything - Have you ever experienced that in your life?
Mitchila Ovdei Avodah Zarah
What can we learn from the mistakes of the past?
Baruch Shomer Havtachato
Do we trust Hashem to look out for us?
Are we patient and faithful even if it takes a long time?
Do we keep our word to others?
V’Hi She’Amda
Have we ever personally experienced Antisemitism?
What has gotten us through tough times as a People? A Family? Individuals?
What has gotten us through tough times as a People? A Family? Individuals?
How do we develop Resiliency?
Tzeh U’Lemad
Has Assimilation affected our families?
How do we ensure that we do not lose our Jewish identity?
Makkot
Have we ever doubted whether there is justice only to see it some time later?
What should we feel and think when we witness the downfall of our enemies?
Dayenu
Do we ever feel satisfied or are we always hungry for more
Is there anything in our lives we feel we do not really deserve?
Pesach, Matzah, Marror
Do we ever do things on autopilot without stopping to think why we do them?
Bechol Dor VaDor
As adults do we forget to tap into our imagination?
What is the power of imagination?
Why is it important to feel a personal connection to our Judaism?
Rachtza
What would we want to wash away or clean up about ourselves?
Motzi Matzah
In what ways do we feel rich and in what ways do we feel poor?
What artifact would we choose if wanted to commemorate a pivotal moment in our lives?
Marror
What hardships have we endured that still leave their mark?
Does thinking about the hard times we have experienced make us feel weak or strong?
Korech
How do we integrate the opposite aspects of our personalities?
Shulchan Orech
Why are certain foods so meaningful? What memories or feelings do they conjure?
What stories and traditions are important to our family?
Tzafun
What is something about us that we keep hidden and do not share?
What holds us back from being more vulnerable and open?
What potential do we have inside us that has not yet come out?
Barech
What blessings do we have in our lives?
What brachot would we like to wish upon others?
Eliyahu HaNavi
What does Eliyahu HaNavi represent for us?
Is it ok to wish vengeance against those who have wronged us?
Hallel
What are we thankful for in our lives?
If we were given a lifetime achievement award who would we thank in our speech?
Why don’t we actually call those people up to tell them what they have meant to us?
Nirtzah
What are our hopes and dreams for the future?
Is Aliyah in our plans? If not, how do we feel the connection to Eretz Yisrael?
Echad Mi Yodeah and Chad Gadya
Do we ever zoom out and notice the patterns in our lives?
What lessons have we learned that we wish to take with us from this Seder?
