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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
