Final answer:
The four questions asked at the Passover seder are meant to spark the retelling of the Exodus story. They inquire about the consumption of matzah, the eating of bitter herbs, the act of dipping herbs twice, and the custom of reclining at the table.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four questions recited at the seder during the Jewish holiday of Passover are known in Hebrew as the Ma Nishtana, which translates to 'What has changed?' or 'Why is this night different?'
The four questions are:
- Why on all other nights we eat either leavened or unleavened bread, while on this night we eat only unleavened bread (matzah)?
- Why on all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs, while on this night we eat only bitter herbs (maror)?
- Why on all other nights we do not dip our herbs even once, while on this night we dip them twice?
- Why on all other nights we eat our meals seated or reclining, while on this night we all recline?
These questions serve as a cornerstone for the Passover narrative, prompting the retelling of the Exodus from Egypt, symbolizing freedom and the origins of Jewish tradition. The questions are typically asked by the youngest person at the table, setting the stage for the Haggadah's narration of the Passover story.