Arrange the Seder table beautifully with fancy dishes. This is the way of free people. (ShA2 — MB6)
You need the children to be awake on Seder night. Therefore have the Seder table set on Erev Pesach so you can begin the Seder as early as possible. Do not delay by staying in the study hall to learn Torah. (ShA1 — MB1,2)
Prepare your seat so your head can lean to the left on a couch or chair supported with a cushion. All of this is the way of free men. Even a lefty should lean to the left. (ShA2 — MB7 — Rama3)
Women are not accustomed to reclining because they rely upon the opinion of the Raavya who holds that these days you do not have to recline. (Rama4 — MB12)
A mourner (within 12 months of a parent or 30 days of a relative) needs to recline but should not use an ornamental couch. A mourner should not wear a kittel. (MB13)
A son reclines in front of his father. Even if his father is his rebbe, the father is moichel. (ShA5 — MB14)
A student must fear his rebbe and is forbidden to lean at the same table. In this case, it is best for the student to ask permission to lean. Any time the rebbe gives permission to lean, the student must lean. (ShA5 — MB15,16,18)
If you forgot to recline while drinking the first, third, and fourth cup, rely on the Raavya that you fulfilled your obligation. But if you forgot to recline while drinking the second cup, drink another cup while leaning — do not repeat the beracha. (MB21)
If you forget to recline while eating matza, eat one more kezayis while reclining. Do not do this if you forget to recline while eating Afikoman. (MB22)
Can a person fulfil drinking the 4 cups of wine quickly one after the other? No. They need to be drunk as you recite the appropriate sections. The Maggid must be recited between the first and second cup — and Hallel between the third and fourth cup. (ShA8 — MB24,26)
Each cup must contain a r’viis of wine. Lechatchila, drink the entire cup. Bedieved, you are yotzay by drinking the majority of the cup. (ShA9 — MB30)
Lechatchila, drink the majority of a r’viis in one shot. If you drink a little, then pause, then drink more — as long as you finish the shiur within k’day shtias r’viis you are yotzay. (MB34)
If you do not like wine or it gives you a headache, you still must force yourself to drink the 4 cups of wine. However, if wine causes you to be bedridden, that is not the way of free people to drink and you therefore have no mitzva. (ShA10 — MB35)
Alternatively, you can fulfil the 4 cups with raisin wine or chamar medina. Red wine is better for the mitzva unless the white wine is of higher quality. (MB37 — ShA11)
The Four Cups are so important — you cannot be too poor for this mitzva. If you think you cannot afford it, sell your clothes or hire yourself out to make some money to buy the wine. (ShA13)
Women are obligated in all of the mitzvos of Seder night. (ShA14)
A child of chinuch age should have his own cup in front of him. He only needs to drink a cheekful of each of the Four Cups. (ShA15 — MB47)
Do not put the children to bed after they ask ‘Ma Nishtana’. Keep them alert by dispensing tasty treats and by doing things out of the ordinary. (ShA16 — MB50)
