Hello Ciao,
Thank you for your very interesting question.
When is the Seder Plate used?
The Seder plate is used at the Passover Seder (the ritual holiday
meal). It is usually placed in the center of the table and it is used
to hold the ceremonious foods symbolic of Passover.
“The Seder Plate helps set the stage for the centerpiece of the
celebration: telling the story of Exodus. It is placed on the table in
front of the leader. A special Seder Plate or a large regular platter
may be used.”
http://www.empirekosher.com/passover/sederplate.html
Images of Seder Plates
http://www.detnews.com/pix/2002/03/21/c08kosher250.jpg
http://www.empirekosher.com/passover/images/sederplate.jpg
http://www.dailyillini.com/mar02/mar27/images/news_story02.jpg
http://www.judaism.com/gif-bk/88195.gif
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What is being celebrated? Passover
Passover (or Pesach) is one of the most important holidays in the
Jewish year.
“Passover, an eight day holiday (seven days in Israel) which begins on
the 15th of Nissan (March or April depending on the year), is observed
in commemoration of the Jew’s redemption from slavery and subsequent
exodus from Egypt in the thirteenth century BCE. Passover refers to
the last of the ten plagues on Egypt described in the book of Exodus.
All first-born males were slain, but Jewish homes were "passed over."
On Passover the Jewish people eat Matzah instead of bread.
“Passover is the only holiday for which the Torah specifically states
which foods may or may not be eaten. Most importantly, Jews are not
permitted to eat hamez or leavened bread during any time over the
Passover holiday.”
Source: Canada’s Digital Collections
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/art_context/tpass.htm
Matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten to satisfy the biblical commandment
commemorating the hasty departure of the Children of Israel from
Egypt: ”They took up their dough before it had time to leaven” (Exodus
12:34)
Source:”The Jewish Book of WHY” by Alfred J. Kolatch (page 190)
ISBN 0-8246-0256-0, Jonathan David Publishers Inc. 1981
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What does Seder mean?
Seder means “order”.
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Why is this name appropriate for the Seder?
“The importance of the Passover holiday (...), in accordance with the
Torah, is that it’s the only holiday where Jews are required to retell
in detail the events surrounding the holiday. This recounting of the
Passover story takes places during the ritual meal or Seder.”
Source: Canada’s Digital Collections
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/art_context/tpass.htm
The recitation of the Haggadah, the ritual, and the foods that are
eaten, follow a prescribed order which is outlines in every Passover
prayer book (Haggadah).
The Haggadah is a small prayer book which recounts the dramatic story
of the Exodus. It also contains psalms and songs to be recited and
sung in celebration of the event. The Haggadah was introduced by the
members of the Great Assembly almost 2,500 years ago in order to
comply with the biblical verse, “And you shall instruct your son on
that day…” (Exodus 13:8). The Haggadah is basically a book of
instruction, particularly for the young.
Source:”The Jewish Book of WHY” by Alfred J. Kolatch (page 195-197)
ISBN 0-8246-0256-0, Jonathan David Publishers Inc. 1981
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Explain the significance of the traditional foods on the plate.
A Passover trey (Seder plate), which usually has six circular
indentations, is placed on the Seder table so that the various
symbolic foods can be displayed individually and prominently. They are
pointed to during the reading of the Seder service, and the symbolism
of each is explained.
The symbolic foods are:
1. Maror (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.” Each Seder participant is offered a small
helping of the bitter herbs at two points in the Seder service. First,
it is served together with Charoset. Later, it is served between two
pieces of Matzah, known as Hillel’s sandwich.
2. Karpas (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.”
3. Chazeret (a second, more bitter vegetable, celery or lettuce can be
used)
“Chazeret carries the same symbolism as the “maror” (bitter herbs)
that is placed in one of the six compartments of the Seder tray.
Those who do not put chazeret on their Seder plate sometimes put a
dish of salt water in its place.”
“The use of chazeret has been related to the biblical verse, “They
shall eat it(the Paschal lamb) with unleavened bread and bitter herbs”
(Numbers 9:11).”
4. Charoset (a 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.”
5. Zeroa (The 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.”
6. Baytza (a hard boiled egg, browned in its shell)
“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.”
Source: How to Prepare the Seder Plate
http://judaism.about.com/library/howto/ht_sederplate.htm
Source:”The Jewish Book of WHY” by Alfred J. Kolatch (pages 199-200)
ISBN 0-8246-0256-0, Jonathan David Publishers Inc. 1981
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Additional information that may interest you:
Passover in a Nutshell
http://www.chosen-people.com/docs/GB/Resources/Publications/00-04NL/PassoverNutshell.html
The Passover Seder
http://www.holidays.net/passover/seder.html
First Night of Passover for the Years 2001 – 2006
http://www.holidays.net/passover/dates.htm
The 4 Questions
http://www.holidays.net/passover/question.html
Search Criteria:
Passover OR Pesach
Seder plate
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I hope you find this helpful.
Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga |
