We are only a few days from the start of Pesach, which always brings a great deal of activity in our house. There's the cleaning and the cooking and the annual breakdown of one major appliance just before the holiday. And then for me, there is the preparation for the seder itself. What can we do this year to make the seder interesting and engaging for our guests?

As the children at our seder have become young adults, the kind of activity we employ has changed into more intellectual pursuits (and the amount of wine consumed has increased). But, whether your seder has more hands-on activity or academic discussion, it is important for there to be interaction among the participants. We are commanded in Exodus 13:8 to conduct the Passover seder, "And you shall tell your child on that day...."  The seder is one of those mitzvot which cannot be done alone. When the story is told, the clear implication is that there must be one who is listening. Not only does the child listen, but also asks questions and those questions must be listened to so that the response is correct. The entire process of the seder is interactive - at its best it is a conversation that unfolds the story in a meaningful way for all of the participants.

Thus, the challenge. The Rabbis of the Mishnah taught that in telling the story of the Exodus we are to engage in an examination of the text through the questions we ask. This process can bring us closer to the historical text by viewing it through our own modern perspective, thereby fulfilling the instruction to see ourselves as having gone out from Egypt. So, enjoy your conversation at your seders, give everyone an opportunity to speak, and listen carefully. 

Wishing everyone a wonderful Pesach with your families and friends.