Q: On the first night of Passover, Jews all over the world gather with family for a festive “Seder.” What does this word mean, and what are the 14 parts of the Seder?

A: Read on to find the answer!

A full moon ascends casting its light down.

Brightening the streets all over town.

Fifteenth of Nissan, rises a full moon,

Can mean just one thing, a Seder starts soon.

Inside Jewish homes, the family gathers,

Seder commences, father then hollers:

Seder means order. What order, you ask?

What do we do first? What do we do last?

It has 14 parts we observe this night.

During the Seder, that some wear just white.

Kadesh

Begins like Shabbat, Kiddush we recite.

Our cups filled with wine, like each Friday night.

Do not drink sitting, instead we recline,

Like kings of times past, we drink with incline.

Urchatz

Wash hands right to left, like we wash for bread.

This time no blessing, say nothing instead.

Karpas

Veggie in one hand, salt water in bowl.

Symbol of our tears, God hears from our soul.

Yachatz

Break the middle matzah, leave the smaller size.

Hide afikomen, child finds for the prize.

Maggid

Read Pesach story, start with “Ha Lachma.”

Youngest continues, sings “Ma Nishtana.”

Rachtza

The first time we washed, without a blessing.

But this time around, we won’t be forgetting.

Motzi Matzah

The Jews fled Egypt without leavened bread.

They fled in such haste, made matzah instead.

Maror

Dip in charoset, yummy Pesach treat. Symbol of mortar, fruits and nuts we eat.

Korech

Matzah and maror, a sandwich we make. Is it too bitter? The excess you shake.

Shulchan Orech

Time for our dinner, meal at the table. Kosher for Pesach? Check on the label!

Tzafun

Find Afikomen—Don’t walk, go and run! Get it to win a prize, searching is fun.

Barech

Our meal is now done, a blessing recite, Birchat Hamazon, read after last bite.

Hallel

Redeemed from slavery, to God pray and praise.

We fill the fourth cup, a final cup we raise.

Nirtzah

The end of the Seder, the fun just begun. Still at the table, Pesach songs are sung.

One last thing we say, each year that we dream. L’Shana Haba’a. B’Yerushalayim.

The author writes musings of Torah wisdoms through simple rhyming poetry, as a means to reach a wider audience than standard prose. He is currently compiling one poem for each parsha to publish a book titled “Soul of the Scroll.” Ronen is available for public readings, and can be reached at [email protected].