Kadesh Urchatz

The Passover Seder contains many Halachic details that are meant to be followed strictly. The word “Seder” means “order.”

I remember a learning device that students were taught to bring to the Seder table. It was titled, “Do it right on Pesach night.”

It contained all the details that needed to be observed. It began with the minimum amount of wine needed to fulfill the Mitzva of drinking four cups of wine.

It also detailed the amount of Matza to be eaten for the blessing, the Hillel sandwich, and the Afikomen.

It was Rashi who was attributed with composing the fifteen step rhyme of “Kadesh Urchatz” that is sung at the beginning of the Seder.

There was a shortage of the Haggadah booklets, and Rashi felt it would be helpful if a mnemonic rhyme would be composed, so that all of the details of the Seder would be observed and not forgotten.

Some assumed that the reason for the fifteen steps of the Seder corresponded to the fifteen steps that led up to the entrance to the Temple. Following the details of the Seder meticulously, allows us to create a small “Mikdash” in our homes. We are to appreciate the Halachic system that makes up Judaism. The Passover Seder is our test that we act like the wise son of the Haggadah. He was interested in observing the Seder down to the last detail.