Passover comes from the Bible, first mentioned in the
book of Exodus. As God pronounced to the people of
Israel enslaved in Egypt that he would free them, he
said he would "Smite all the firstborn in the land of
Egypt." However, he instructed the Israelites to put a
sign of lamb's blood on their door posts: "and when I
see the blood, I will pass over you." (Exodus 12) also
see: Jewish Holidays - Names of Jewish Months
You've cleaned the house for Passover, now it is time
to prepare a seder plate:
Here's How:
1: The Seder Plate can be specially made for Passover
or simply a
paper plate on which your children have drawn and
written the Passover
symbols.
2: Important part is that the plate display the
following items:
Baytzah
Charoset
Zeroa
Karpas
Maror
Chazeret (optional)
3: Remember everything you will need will have to be
kosher for Passover. Next to the Kosher Symbol will be
a P or the words "Kosher for Passover.
4: You will need the following foods for your seder
plate: apples, walnuts, kosher wine for Passover,
cinnamon, sugar, shank bone or poultry neck, egg,
parsley or potato, celery, horseradish root or
prepared horseradish.
5: Charoset is mixture of apples, nuts, wine and
spices.
Charoset is symbolic of the mortar the Jewish slaves
made in their building for the Egyptians. To make
charoset, prepare 1 cup of walnuts, 1 granny smith
green apple, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 2 tsp. sugar, and red
wine to moisten. Chop the nuts and apples to the
consistency you want (a food processor can be used).
Sprinkle with spices, and moisten with wine. The
texture of the charoset should remind us of mortar.
6: Zeroa is a shankbone or neck of poultry, roasted.
Zeroa is a reminder of the "mighty arm of G-d" as the
Bible describes it. It is also symbolic of the Paschal
lamb offered as the Passover sacrifice in Temple days.
Roast the shankbone in the oven for about 30 minutes.
7: Baytzah is a hard-boiled egg. Baytzah is symbolic
of the regular festival sacrifice brought in the days
of the Temple. Some authorities have interpreted this
as a symbol of mourning for the loss of the two
Temples (the first was destroyed by the Babylonians in
586 B.C.E., the second by the Romans in 70 C.E.). With
the Temples destroyed, sacrifices could no longer be
offered. The egg symbolized this loss and
traditionally became the food of mourners.
8: Karpas is a vegetable. Parsley or a potato is
generally used. Karpas is dipped in salt water to
represent tears. The custom of serving karpas dates
back to Jerusalem of the 1st and 2nd centuries when it
was common to begin a formal meal by passing around
vegetables as hors d’oeuvres.
9: Maror is bitter herbs. Horseradish root or prepared
horseradish is generally used. Maror represents the
bitter life of the Israelites during the time of their
enslavement in Egypt.
10: Chazeret is a bitter vegetable. Celery or lettuce
can be used. Those who do not put chazeret on their
Seder Plate sometimes put a dish of salt water in its
place.
Passover Last Minute Tips:
Prepare the Seder Plate long before the Seder meal so
you are not pressured to get it ready at the last
minute.
Allowing children to help you prepare the Seder Plate
is a fun and effective way to teach them about the
symbolism of the food and their connection to the
Passover story.
How long will the seder take? Good question -- Plan on
at least 3 hours for the seder and meal. However, that
is a very fast seder.... some last to the early
morning.
Since "Seder" means "order", it is not unexpected that
there is an order to the night's proceedings. The
night goes as follows [the Hebrew read left to right]:
Kaddesh קדש (Saying of Kiddush blessing and the first
cup of Wine)
Ur'chatz ורחץ (The washing of the hands)
Karpas כרפס (Dipping of the Karpas in salt water)
Yachatz יחץ (Break middle matzoh. It becomes the
Afikomen)
Maggid מגיד(Telling of the Passover story. The saying
of the Four Question.)
Rochtzah רחץ(Second washing of the hands)
Motzi/ Matzah מוציא / מצה (Saying of the matzah
blessing)
Maror מרור (Eating of charoset and maror)
Korech כורך (Eating of Matzah, charoset, and maror)
Shulchan Orech שולחן עורך (Dinner is served)
Tzafun צפון (Eating of the Afikomen)
Barech ברך (After dinner blessing, Wine, and in
Ashkenazi families: welcoming of Elijah the Prophet)
Hallel הלל (Song singing, more wine)
Nirtzah נירצה (Conclusion)
Jewish Secular
Calendar Starting after sunset Ending before sunset
5765 23 April 2005 1 May 2005
5766 12 April 2006 20 April 2006
5767 2 April 2007 10 April 2007
5768 19 April 2008 27 April 2008 |
