• by Dr. Joshua Kulp

Of all the famous lines in the Haggadah, one stands out – Why is This Night Different From All Other Nights? This is the question every child asks from the time s/he can sing a song. And the question continues to occupy adults as well – what is the meaning of all of these strange customs and prayers we say at the Seder?

In this course we shall see how the customs we still observe to this day originated and how they developed over the centuries. We shall see how the Seder was the rabbinic response to the loss of the Passover sacrifice that occurred with the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. The historical meaning and context of key customs, reclining, drinking wine, eating appetizers, washing hands, reciting blessings and eating specific foods will be examined. At the end of this course, the participant will be able to go to his/her seder armed with real answers – this night is different because….

Introduction to Haggadah and the Seder

Class 1: The Three Questions

Class 2: Starving At The Seder 

Class 3: Disgrace And Praise 

Class 4: Afikoman