Early Pesach Seder
Question
This year, Pessah begins on motsei Shabbat. We have young children, who should be part of the seder but cannot be around form 8pm in the evening. 1)Is it allowed to start the seder early? 2) What parts of the seder can be said before nightfall?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
It is quite important that the Seder only begin after nightfall s the mitzvot of the night. Such as eating the matza, can only be fulfilled at that time. However, there are circumstances when there is a need to begin earlier in which case we can offer the following advice.
A family that must begin the Seder early can begin with singing the customary songs together, especially the one’s generally left for the end of the Haggada, as there is no true timing necessary to sing them.
Hopefully singing the songs can get to nightfall at which time the Kiddush can be recited.
Once the Seder begins, if time is of essence due to the late hour, here is a list of the more priority passages that should be recited.:
1. “Mah Nishtana” – The Four Questions.
2. “Avadim hayinu” – The paragraph “We were slaves in Egypt.”
3. “Mitchila ovdei avoda zarah” until “V’hi she’amda”
4. The listing of the 10 plagues.
5. The three paragraphs "Pesach, Matzah and Marror", continuing until the wine is drunk.