Pesach

What would you say is the most important aspect of the Seder?

If you spend Pesach as well as several days before Pesach in a hotel, do you have to do Bedikat Chametz in the hotel room?

A woman in synagogue told me that I need to give "kimcha d'pischa" (or something like that). Rabbi, would you tell me what she was talking about? Thanks a million!

When was the law for Aashkenazim of not eating Kitniyot introduced? I have been told it is only about 300 years ago that this custom started.  

Why were the Jewish people slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt? I read that God said to Abraham in Genesis 15:13: "Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them 400 years." Why would God would want the Jews to be enslaved for 400 years. Many thanks.

Unsweetened applesauce contains apples, water, ascorbic acid. The applesauce is sold in 24 oz jar or 6 pack of 4 oz cups. Either ascorbic acid or salt is added to maintain color of the product. The OU has certified for Passover multiple brands of applesauce in both the jar and the 6 pack versions. Some contain ascorbic acid; some contain salt instead of ascorbic acid. I called the OU to ask why some products have ascorbic acid and why some have salt. Their answer was that it was up to the manufacturer. Do you know what ascorbic acid is made from? Could it be kitniyot? If it were kitniyot, how could OU certify it for Passover?

What is the Haggadah?

Hi, After the Israelites put the blood of the lamb on their doorpost, can you tell me which night the actual Passover event happened? Was it the night of the 14th or the night of the 15th of aviv? If it was the 15th, why is the 14th called Passover?