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    Chapter 3 · The seder of the Haggadah

    The four cups - where in the Torah? (108b, Yerushalmi 10:1)

    Lesson 14 of 20 22 min

    The Yerushalmi offers four explanations: against the four expressions of redemption, the four cups of Pharaoh, the four kingdoms, the four cups of retribution. The Bavli is relatively silent - but sets precise halakhot: shiʻur, leaning, red wine. We build both the symbolic and the halakhic axis.

    Lesson goals
    • 01Identify the four Yerushalmi explanations
    • 02Know the three cup conditions: shiʻur, leaning, red
    • 03Grasp why the seder is one of "drinking" not "eating"
    01

    Decoding the Foundation: Four Cups – From Where Do They Come?

    The Babylonian Gemara in Pesachim 108b accepts the custom of four cups as established law. It does not ask 'why four?', but rather focuses on 'how' they are fulfilled. This is our halakhic foundation.

    In contrast, the Yerushalmi always investigates the root and reason. It offers us four profound explanations for the custom's origin. Each explanation opens a gate to a deeper understanding of the Seder night.

    ירושלמי פסחים פרק י הלכה א
    ארבע כוסות כנגד ארבע לשונות של גאולה, ואיזה הן: והוצאתי, והצלתי, וגאלתי, ולקחתי. רבי יוחנן בשם ר' בנאה: כנגד ארבע כוסות של פרעה. רבי יהושע בן לוי: כנגד ארבע מלכויות. רבי לוי: כנגד ארבע כוסות של פורענות שהקב"ה עתיד להשקות את אומות העולם.

    Four cups correspond to the four expressions of redemption, and which are they: 'I will bring out,' 'I will deliver,' 'I will redeem,' 'I will take.' Rabbi Yochanan in the name of Rabbi Bana'ah: corresponds to the four cups of Pharaoh. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: corresponds to the four kingdoms. Rabbi Levi: corresponds to the four cups of retribution that the Holy One, Blessed Be He, will make the nations of the world drink.

    02

    Four Faces for Four Cups: The Yerushalmi Reveals Meanings

    1. 1First understanding: Corresponding to the four expressions of redemption. These are the promises God gave to Moses in Egypt. Each cup is a milestone in the journey of redemption.
    2. 2Second understanding: Corresponding to the four cups of Pharaoh. The cups Pharaoh gave Joseph to drink, or the cups of wine Pharaoh drank in his dream. A meaning of control and destiny.
    3. 3Third understanding: Corresponding to the four kingdoms. The four empires that ruled over the Jewish people throughout history. Each cup symbolizes liberation from a different servitude.
    4. 4Fourth understanding: Corresponding to the four cups of retribution. These are the cups of wrath that God will make the nations of the world drink on the Day of Judgment. Our cups build hope for future redemption.
    Insight

    The Yerushalmi does not choose a single explanation. It offers a mosaic of meanings. This teaches us that the custom is rich and profound, allowing us to connect with it in various ways.

    03

    The Halakhic Axis: The Bavli Builds the Cup

    While the Yerushalmi investigates the 'why,' the Bavli focuses on the 'how.' It gives us the practical tools for fulfilling the mitzvah. These are the foundations of the halakhic cup.

    פסחים קח ע"ב
    תנו רבנן: כוס של ברכה צריך שיהא בו רביעית. וכמה רביעית? מלא לוגמיו. אמר רב יוסף: הנהו תלתא כסי דבעינן בהו רביעית, כוס של קידוש, וכוס של הבדלה, וכוס של ברכת המזון. אמר אביי: ואף כוס של פסח.

    Our Rabbis taught: A cup of blessing must contain a quarter [of a log]. And how much is a quarter? A mouthful. Rav Yosef said: These are the three cups for which we require a quarter: the cup for Kiddush, the cup for Havdalah, and the cup for Birkas Hamazon. Abaye said: And also the cup of Pesach.

    רביעיתRevi'it
    A minimum measure of wine (approx. 86 ml) that must be in the cup for it to be valid for a blessing.

    The Bavli adds two more important conditions: Hesibah (leaning) – drinking wine in a manner of freedom, and a preference for red wine – in memory of the miraculous blood or as a sign of joy.

    04

    Why Drinking and Not Eating? The Secret of Freedom

    Seder night is the pinnacle of freedom. Eating matzah and maror is a mitzvah, but drinking wine is a deeper expression of freedom. Food satisfies, wine gladdens and expands the mind. It is a symbol of wealth and status.

    Insight

    Drinking while leaning, in the manner of free people, emphasizes the transition from slavery to liberty. Every sip is a declaration: 'We are free!'

    1. 1The Bavli rules: 'Even the poorest in Israel should not drink less than four cups.' This is a universal expression of freedom, accessible to all.
    2. 2The cups accompany the main parts of the Haggadah: Kiddush, Maggid, Birkas Hamazon, and Hallel. Each cup emphasizes a different stage in the redemption process and the song of thanksgiving.
    Vocabulary from the dictionary

    Each word links to the full dictionary entry - source, translation, and grammar.

    Practice

    Make a "cup card" for each of the four: what it symbolizes and which berakhah accompanies it.

    Lesson wrap-up

    Wine is not nostalgia - it is the language of freedom embedded in the body.

    Check your understanding

    Test yourself before marking the lesson complete.

    Question 1 of 4

    According to the Yerushalmi, which of the following is NOT one of the explanations for the Four Cups?

    Previous lessonStructure of the seder - Rashi’s simanim (114a)
    Next lessonMah Nishtanah - education before eating (116a)