The youngest capable child traditionally asks four questions at the Passover Seder. Known as the Ma Nishtana, or “What makes this night different?”, the questions draw attention to unusual Seder practices and begin the discussion of Passover’s meaning.
The traditional questions concern eating matzah, eating bitter herbs, dipping food twice, and reclining at the table. Their purpose is not merely to test the child: the questions help fulfill the Seder’s central educational goal of telling the Exodus story to the next generation.
The passage has ancient roots in the Mishnah, tractate Pesachim 10:4, but its wording and number have changed over time. Early versions included a question about eating roasted sacrificial meat, which became unsuitable after the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE. That question was replaced in later tradition by the question about reclining, producing the familiar four-question form.