๐Ÿท ALL ABOUT THE FOUR CUPS OF WINE

๐Ÿ‡ย WHY DO WE DRINK FOUR CUPS?

During the Pesach Seder, we drink four cups of wine ๐Ÿท๐Ÿท๐Ÿท๐Ÿท (or grape juice ๐Ÿงƒ).

The Mishnah teaches that on the night of the Seder we should act as if we ourselves left Egypt. In other words, we behave like free and noble people ๐Ÿ›‹โœจ.

In ancient times, nobles and aristocrats would celebrate special occasions by reclining at the table and drinking wine generously ๐Ÿท.

In fact, they would drink wine four times during these festive meals:

๐Ÿท The first cup was taken before sitting down at the table, like at the reception of a celebration ๐ŸŽ‰

๐Ÿท The second cup was drunk just before beginning the meal ๐Ÿฝ

๐Ÿท The third cup was taken at the end of the meal ๐Ÿด

๐Ÿท And the fourth cup was enjoyed during dessert, at the end of the evening ๐Ÿฐ

๐Ÿ‘‰ This is the same structure we follow for the four cups during the Seder.

๐Ÿทย THE FOUR CUPS IN THE SEDER

๐Ÿท The first cup is drunk at Kiddush โ€” when the Seder begins.

๐Ÿ“– The second cup is drunk at the end of the Haggadah, just before the meal begins.

๐Ÿฝ The third cup is drunk after the meal, following Birkat HaMazon โ€” the blessing after eating.

๐ŸŽถ The fourth cup is drunk during Hallel, after the afikoman (the โ€œdessertโ€ of the Seder).

๐Ÿท๐Ÿ›‹ย THE FOUR CUPS SHOULD BE DRUNK

WHILE RECLINING ON THE LEFT SIDE

๐Ÿ“œย WHAT DO THE FOUR CUPS REPRESENT?

The Torah uses four expressions of redemption to describe the Exodus from Egypt.

HaShem says:

โžก๏ธ โ€œI will take you outโ€ of Egypt

๐Ÿ”“ โ€œI will save youโ€ from slavery

๐Ÿ’ช โ€œI will redeem youโ€ with great miracles

๐Ÿค โ€œI will take you as My peopleโ€

Each cup reminds us, step by step, how HaShem led the people of Israel from slavery to freedom โœจ.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘งย WHO DRINKS THE FOUR CUPS?

At the Seder, everyone drinks the four cups ๐Ÿท

๐Ÿ‘จ Adults drink wine

๐Ÿง’ Children or minors drink grape juice ๐Ÿงƒ

From ancient times, even those who could not afford wine were provided with wineโ€”or money from community fundsโ€”so they too could have four cups at the Seder.

This ensures that everyone at the table celebrates freedom together ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘งโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆโœจ

So that no one feels excludedโ€”and everyone can experience what it means to be truly free and dignified ๐ŸŽ‰