Haggadah:Four Cups/2

Four Cups

Exegetical Approaches

Four Cases of Praise

There are four instances in the Haggadah where we sing Hashem's praises, in Kaddesh, Maggid, Birkat HaMazon and Hallel.  Since praise is normally accompanied by wine, these, too, are said over a cup of wine.

Sources:TosafotPesachim 99bSukkah 38aAbout Ba'alei HaTosafot

Why four? According to this approach, there is no special significance to the number four.  It so happens that there are four places where we "toast" Hashem's miracles and thus there are four cups of wine.

Halakhic ramifications

• Who needs to drink
• Necessary shiur