The Speedy Seder

The night of Pesach is universally referred to as Leil Haseder - literally, the night of an order. But people on shift, Hatzalah, or other extenuating circumstances may find themselves with anything but seder. In addition to the many obligations of the night, there is also a time constraint; many people prefer to finish the the seder or at least the Afikoman by Chatzos Halayla (Halachic midnight). What are the minimum requirements that one should try to meet during a busy night? 

Obviously, if there is true Pikuach Nefesh (or Safek Pikuach Nefesh), one should not worry about squeezing in a Seder. However,  someone who has some, but limited time to perform the mitzvos halayala should follow the following triage priority. 

It is important to remember that there are mitzvos Dioraysa and mitzvos Dirabonan. Today, the main Mitzvos from the Torah are Kiddush, Maggid, and Matzah, and as such, they take priority. The barebones Magid is to say Avadim Hayinu and the ensuing paragraphs, followed (if able) by Rabban Gamliel. Accordingly, someone who has enough time should recite Kiddush, the abridged Magid, followed by the closing Bracha, a cup of wine, and then Matzahh. If time allows, one should then have Marror (Koreich), the meal, afikoman, Bentch, Hallel, and the fourth cup of wine. 

Someone who is does not think there is enough time to eat both Motzei Matza and Afikoman can eat the meal before Matza, wash, and have the Afikoman before Chatzos. The minimum Halllel one can say inorder to drink the fourth cup of wine is Nishmas through the end of the Bracha. 

Rabbi Yehoshua Neuwirth advised that one can condition the Matza that they eat at the beginning of the meal as follows: if I have time to eat Matza at the end of the meal, the first Matza is not the Afikoman, and if I don’t time. The first Matzahh should count as the Matzahh of the mitzvah. Additionally, one can rely on the opinion of the Avnei Nezer that the prohibition to eat after the Afikoman is only during the time that the Afikoman may still be eaten, thus the authorities who maintain that the Afikoman may only be eaten until midnight allow you to eat after midnight. Accordingly, one can eat after midnight provided they complete their meal with a “second Afikoman” in order to satisfy all the opinions. 

For a more detailed guide, see the Nishmas Avraham O.C. 477 ;1.