20. Mivtzaim Sedarim-Leading a public Seder: A. May one begin the Seder prior to nightfall?

It is forbidden to begin the Seder [i.e. Kadesh] prior to nightfall [i.e. Tzeis Hakochavim]. If one is making a public Seder in an area that nightfall begins at a very late hour, and fears that people will not attend, he is to start the Seder early, after Plag Hamincha, through Davening Maariv, saying speeches, Pesach skits, and saying parts of Maggid, and then begin Kadesh after Tzeis Hakochavim. If this too is not viable, then some Rabbanim suggest making Kiddush after Pelag Hamincha and beginning the order of the Seder until Maggid. After Tzeis Hakochavim one is to begin Maggid and drink two cups of wine as part of the four cups. See Chapter 3 Halacha 3A for the full details of this matter!

B. Until how late may one begin the Seder?   

One may not delay eating Matzas Mitzvah [of Motzi Matzah] past midnight. One who does so, enters into a question as to whether he has forfeited the Mitzvah, and he is hence to eat Matzah without a blessing. Thus, those who desire to begin their seder after the Mivtzaim Seder, must beware to at the very least eat their Matzah before midnight. See Chapter 3 Halacha 3B for the full details of this matter!

C. Saying an abridged version of Maggid:

In the event that it is not possible or is extremely difficult to read through the entire Haggadah for oneself or those present then one is to recite in abridged version of the Haggadah including only those parts that are absolute requirement. This includes the following paragraphs:

1. Avadim Hayinu until Harei Zeh Meshubach.

2. Ovdei Avodah Zara Haya Avoseinu until the end of that discussion of Arami Oved Avi.
3. Pesach/Matza/Maror,
4. Bechol Dor Vador,
5. Veosanu Hotzi Misham,
6. Lefichach until Goal Yisrael.

See Chapter 4 Halacha 7A for the full details of this matter!

 

D. Saying Maggid in language and way that the attendees can understand:

One is obligated to recite the Haggadah in a language that he and the people in attendance understand, as explained next. Each person is to tell the story according to the flow of his tongue. See Chapter 1 Halacha 1E for the full details of this matter!

Practical advice: Create a game plan. Getting people’s attention for a lengthy period of time can be quite challenging. Review and prepare for the Seder beforehand, tailoring what you will say in a way that will captivate the minds of your audience. One great idea that many use, is to prepare a Pesach skit that will get everyone interested and involved.

E. What does one do if he needs to lead more than one Seder, or plans to make his own Seder before or after the public Seder:^[1]

The following law deals with the scenario of one who desires to lead more than one Seder. Meaning, that in addition to his own seder he also desires to lead a Seder for others, and the question is hence raised as to the order that he is to follow.

Option 1: Do personal Seder at home up until Hallel, or until end of Seder, and then lead and conclude Seder by second area:^[2] One who desires to lead the Seder in many areas on behalf of people who do not know to do so themselves, can do the Seder in his home until after Birchas Hamazon and the drinking of the 3^rd cup and then go to lead the second Seder.^[3] Alternatively, he may complete the entire Seder by his home and then go to lead the second Seder.^[4] He may then lead the Seder for the second home and recite for them all the blessings that they do not know how to say themselves, including Hagafen on the wine^[5], Hadamah on the Karpas.^[6] He, however, may not drink any wine in the interim, until after he completes Hallel and reaches his fourth cup.^[7] If he already finished his personal Seder with the drinking of the fourth cup, then he may not eat or drink anything at all.^[8] He is to read the entire Haggadah to them in a language that they understand, and recite for them the blessings of Matzah and Marror.^[9] He, however, may not recite for them Birchas Hamazon, although he may recite with them word for word, having them repeat each word after him.^[10] This order can be done many times in different homes prior to him completing his personal Seder. When one reaches Hallel and the last two cups with the group, he can either perform it with them or go back home and do the rest of the seder at home, and then return to the public Seder to conclude their seder for them, saying the blessings of the last two cups for them. However, it is forbidden for him to drink anything.^[11]

Option 2: Do personal Seder at home up until Afikoman, and then lead and conclude Seder by second area:^[12] One who desires to lead the Seder in many areas on behalf of people who do not know to do so themselves, can do the Seder in his home up until Afikoman if he had intention to do so when he said the blessing of Hamotzi over the Matzah. After having eaten the meal in one’s home, prior to the Afikoman, it is then permitted for him even Lechatchilah to go to another Seder to lead it there for them, and complete his eating of Afikoman, Birchas Hamazon, and remainder of Seder there. See Chapter 3 Halacha 9C for the full details of this matter!

Option 3: Lead the Seder on behalf of the public and then afterwards perform one’s personal Seder at home:^[13] One who desires to lead the Seder in many areas on behalf of people who do not know to do so themselves, can first do the entire seder at the public location, without eating or drinking anything, and then perform his personal Seder at home. Nonetheless, in such a case one must beware to at the very least eat his Matzah for Motzi Matzah prior to midnight, as explained in Halacha B.

Forbidden to switch areas between Kiddush and Shulchan Oreich:^[14] It is forbidden for one to do Kiddush in his home and then go to the other Seder before he eats Shulchan Oreich.^[15] See Chapter 3 Halacha 9D for the full details of this matter!

 

Summary of options to follow when leading more than one Seder: 1.      Do personal Seder at home up until Hallel, and then lead and conclude Seder by second area. 2.      Do personal Seder at home until the end of Seder, and then lead and conclude Seder by second area. 3.      Do personal Seder at home up until Afikoman, and then lead and conclude Seder by second area. 4.      Lead the Seder on behalf of the public and then afterwards perform one’s personal Seder at home, making sure to eat Motzi Matzah before midnight. Practically, how is one to run the Seder by Chabad public Sedarim? If one does not plan to do the Seder together with the public but rather prefers to do a private Seder afterwards in a different area, then the following is the order that should be followed: Kadeish-Karpas: If they do not know to say the blessing themselves then one says for them the blessings of Kiddush and Hadamah to be Moitzi them for Kadesh and Karpas. However, it is forbidden for him to eat or drink anything. Maggid: One then says Mah Nishtana and explains the Haggadah to them in a language that they understand. One explains those matters which must be said from the letter of the la, as explained in B. One says for them the blessing of “Asher Gealanu” at the conclusion of Maggid, although he himself may not drink the wine. Moitzi Matzah-Maror: One recites the blessings of Matzah, Hamoitzi, and Maror for the congregation, although he himself may not eat anything. Beirach: One may not read Birchas Hamazon for the public being that only one who has eaten can recite Birchas Hamazon on behalf of others. However, he may have them repeat after him word by word just as is allowed to be done when teaching a child. If one plans to do his personal Seder in the same area, after the public Seder concludes: Then one may say up until Maggid together with the public, and from Maggid and on-words he is to continue the Seder for the public without eating, and after its conclusion he is to continue his own Seder from Maggid.

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[1] See Admur 484:1-6; Michaber 484:1; Kaf Hachaim 484:1-19

[2] Admur 484:1-3; Michaber ibid; Rof 27

[3] Admur 484:1

[4] Admur 484:2 and 5; Michaber ibid

[5] Admur 484:1

[6] Admur 484:2

[7] Admur 484:1

[8] Admur 484:5

[9] Admur 484:3

[10] Admur 484:3-4

[11] Admur 484:4

[12] Admur 484:6

[13] Admur 484:5

[14] Admur 484:6

[15] The reason: As it is forbidden for one to switch areas in the midst of a meal. [Admur ibid; This implies that having intention to eat ones meal somewhere else only helps to eat the end of the meal elsewhere, however the main part of the meal must always be eaten in the place that one ate bread in, even if he had in mind to switch places when he ate the bread.]