64 Mitzvos at the Pesach Seder

This list is based on the writings of Rabbi Yitzchok Zilberstein, along with a shiur by Rabbi Ari Mirzoeff about Rabbi Zilberstein’s work.

Rabbi Zilberstein noted that in Rabbi Chaim Zeitchik’s Pesach Haggadah, Rabbi Zeitchik refers to a tradition from Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman. According to this tradition, the Vilna Gaon taught that there are sixty-four mitzvos observed on Pesach night, which encompass both Mitzvos Deoraysa (Biblical commandments) and Mitzvos Derabanan (Rabbinical commandments).

Rabbi Zilberstein, drawing on his extensive knowledge of Torah and the practices of the Vilna Gaon, compiled a list of the sixty-four mitzvos, noting that additions or subtractions are possible. The following list reflects Rabbi Zilberstein’s writings, though not always word for word.

  1. The Mitzvah of Kiddush on Yom Tov. Some say it is a Mitzvah Deoraysa. Others say it is a Mitzvah derabanan.
  2. The Mitzvah of making Kiddush with wine. Some say it is a Mitzvah Deoraysa. Others say it is a Mitzvah derabanan.1
  3. The bracha of “Borei Pri Hagafen”. Mitzvah derabanan.
  4. The bracha of Kiddush Hayom, i.e., “Mekadesh Yisrael Vehazmanim”. Mitzvah derabanan.
  5. Mentioning Yitzias Mitzrayim (the Exodus from Egypt) in Kiddush. Mitzvah derabanan.
  6. The bracha of “Shehecheyanu”. Mitzvah derabanan.
  7. Drinking the first cup. Each cup is a separate Mitzvah. Mitzvah derabanan.
  8. Leaning while drinking the first cup. Mitzvah derabanan.
  9. Washing hands before Karpas. Mitzvah derabanan.
  10. The bracha over hand washing. Mitzvah derabanan. Please see Endnote.2
  11. The bracha of “Borei Pri Ha’adamah”. Mitzvah derabanan.
  12. Eating Karpas. Mitzvah derabanan.
  13. Dipping Karpas in saltwater. Mitzvah derabanan.
  14. The bracha of “Borei Nefashot”. Mitzvah derabanan. Please see Endnote.3
  15. Having the shank bone on the plate, as a reminder of the Korban Pesach. Mitzvah derabanan.
  16. Having the egg on the plate, as a reminder of the Korban Chagigah. Mitzvah derabanan.
  17. The Mitzvah of Yachatz (breaking the middle matzah). Mitzvah derabanan.
  18. The child’s questions about the Exodus from Egypt. Mitzvah Deoraysa.
  19. Retelling the events of the Exodus from Egypt. Mitzvah Deoraysa. The Mitzvah can be fulfilled through discussing the Exodus with anyone, including oneself.
  20. Starting with disgrace (i.e., the condition of the Jewish people before the redemption) and ending with praise to Hashem. Mitzvah derabanan.4
  21. The Mitzvah of reciting the Haggadah while Matzah is present. It appears (to the author of this website) to be a Mitzvah derabanan.
  22. Rabban Gamliel would say: Whoever does not mention these three things has not fulfilled their obligation: Pesach, Matzah, and Maror.5
  23. A person is obligated to see themselves as if they themselves left Egypt. It appears (to the author of this website) to be a Mitzvah derabanan, though it is based on Shemos 13:8, as cited in Mishnah Pesachim 10:5.
  24. Giving thanks for the miracle of the Exodus from Egypt.6
  25. The bracha of “Asher Ge’alanu” (Who has redeemed us). Mitzvah derabanan.
  26. “Borei Pri Hagafen” for the second cup. Mitzvah derabanan.
  27. Drinking the second cup of the four cups. Mitzvah derabanan.
  28. The Mitzvah of reclining while drinking the second cup. Mitzvah derabanan.
  29. Washing hands for the meal. Mitzvah derabanan.
  30. The bracha over hand washing. Mitzvah derabanan.
  31. The bracha of “Hamotzi”. Mitzvah derabanan.
  32. The bracha over eating matzah. Mitzvah derabanan.
  33. The Mitzvah of Lechem Mishneh. Mitzvah derabanan.7
  34. Eating matzah. Mitzvah Deoraysa. 
  35. The Mitzvah of eating a second olive-sized portion of Matzah. Mitzvah Deoraysa.8
  36. The Mitzvah of reclining while eating matzah. Mitzvah derabanan.
  37. Eating the Yom Tov seuda. Mitzvah derabanan.
  38. The bracha over eating Maror (bitter herbs). Mitzvah derabanan.
  39. Eating Maror. Mitzvah derabanan.
  40. The commandment of bringing Charoset to the seder table. Mitzvah derabanan.
  41. Dipping Maror in Charoset. Mitzvah derabanan.9
  42. Eating Korech (sandwich of matzah and maror). Mitzvah derabanan.
  43. The Mitzvah of reclining while eating Korech. Mitzvah derabanan.
  44. Eating the Afikoman. Mitzvah derabanan.
  45. Ideally, one should eat an additional olive-sized portion. Mitzvah Deoraysa.10
  46. The Mitzvah of reclining while eating the Afikoman. Mitzvah derabanan.
  47. Mayim Acharonim. Mitzvah derabanan.
  48. Reciting Birkat Hamazon with a cup of wine. Mitzvah derabanan.
  49. The Mitzvah of Zimun.
  50. The first bracha of Birkat Hamazon. Mitzvah Deoraysa.
  51. The second bracha of Birkat Hamazon. Mitzvah Deoraysa.
  52. The third bracha of Birkat Hamazon. Mitzvah Deoraysa.
  53. The bracha of Hatov Vehameitiv. Mitzvah derabanan.
  54. The bracha of Borei Pri Hagafen over the third cup. Mitzvah derabanan.
  55. Drinking the third cup of the four cups. Mitzvah derabanan.
  56. The Mitzvah of reclining while drinking the third cup. Mitzvah derabanan.
  57. Reciting Hallel and Birchas HaShir . Mitzvah derabanan.11
  58. The Mitzvah of Zimun during Hallel. Mitzvah derabanan.12
  59. The bracha after reciting Hallel. Mitzvah derabanan.
  60. The bracha of Borei Pri Hagafen over the fourth cup. Mitzvah derabanan.
  61. Drinking the fourth cup. Mitzvah derabanan.
  62. The Mitzvah to recline while drinking the fourth cup. Mitzvah derabanan.
  63. Al HaGefen after the fourth cup. Some say it is a Mitzvah Deoraysa. Others say it is a Mitzvah derabanan.
  64. The Mitzvah of rejoicing on the night of the Seder. Mitzvah derabanan.

Endnotes:

  1. On Pesach, Kiddush must be made over wine. ↩︎
  2. The practice of the Vilna Gaon was to recite a bracha (netilat yadayim) after washing the hands prior to eating Karpas during the Pesach Seder. However, the widespread practice today is to not recite netilat yadayim at this time. ↩︎
  3. The practice of the Vilna Gaon was to recite Borei Nefashot after eating the Karpas. However, the widespread practice today is to not recite Borei Nefashot after eating Karpas during the Pesach Seder. ↩︎
  4. In a Mishnah Pesachim 10:4, we learn that a father, in his response to his child’s questions at the seder, should begin with disgrace and end with praise. According to the Gemara in Pesachim 116a, Rav explains that the disgrace refers to: “Originally, our ancestors were idol worshippers.” This is followed in the Haggadah by the praise: “And now the Omnipresent has brought us near to His service.” Shmuel, in the same Gemara, suggests that the disgrace should be: “We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt,” followed by the praise: “But Hashem, our God, took us out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.” ↩︎
  5. According to some (e.g., Rashbatz), these details establish the requirements for fulfilling the Mitzvah Deoraysa to retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt on Pesach. Others (e.g., Ran) contend that one can satisfy the Mitzvah Deoraysa without specifically mentioning Pesach, Matzah, and Maror, but there is a Mitzvah derabanan to mention them. For more information, please refer to “The Answer Is…” by Rabbi Chagai Vilosky, page 209. ↩︎
  6. This is done by reciting portions of Hallel as per Pesachim 116b. It appears to be a Mitzvah derabanan. ↩︎
  7. Three Matzos are typically set out for the Seder: two whole ones to fulfill the Mitzvah of Lechem Mishneh, and a third one that is intentionally broken when performing the Mitzvah of Yachatz. ↩︎
  8. The Vilna Gaon held that, aside from the requirement to eat matzah on the night of the seder, we can fulfill a voluntary Mitzvah Deoraysa every time we eat an olive-sized portion of matzah throughout Pesach. ↩︎
  9. See Mishnah Pesachim 10:3, opinion of Rabbi Eliezer bar Rabbi Tzadok. ↩︎
  10. The Vilna Gaon held that, aside from the requirement to eat matzah on the night of the seder, we can fulfill a voluntary Mitzvah Deoraysa every time we eat an olive-sized portion of matzah throughout Pesach. ↩︎
  11. The Gemara (Pesachim 118a) discusses the identity of “Birchas HaShir” (ברכת השיר), which is mentioned in Mishnah Pesachim 10:7. Rav Yehuda states that it is the bracha beginning with “Yehalelucha Hashem Elokeinu” (the standard conclusion of Hallel), while Rabbi Yochanan holds that it is “Nishmas Kol Chai,” which leads into Yishtabach and ultimately concludes with “Baruch Atah Hashem, Melech Mehulal BaTishbachos,” just like Yehalelucha. ↩︎
  12. It is a mitzvah to recite Hallel in the presence of at least three individuals, allowing one person to recite the verses from “Hodu Lashem ki tov” and “Ana Hashem,” while the other two or more people can respond. ↩︎