In quarantine I’m living with my mother, father and grandmother. We are lucky and safe and healthy in our home. In search of an angle, or take, or a point of inspiration when writing this…I went around the house and asked each of my housemates what they think of, when they think of the bitter herbs on the Seder Plate. 

My mother responded “suffering”, my grandmother responded “it represents the suffering that the Jews experienced in Egypt.” And my father responded immediately to me and said “chocolate.” (????). Unclear where his head was at when I approached him… or perhaps very clear. Maybe he didn’t hear my question. Or maybe I should be concerned. 

When thinking about the bitter herbs this Passover, it’s an obvious poignant and striking moment to reflect on the current suffering of our nation and our world as we all collectively suffer in different forms through this pandemic.  

However, the bitter herbs are meant to be paired with haroset, and this important. The haroset is sweet, and this sweetness represents hope… an end to suffering. Though it took me a second to bring it all together…I guess my father had a point when he said “chocolate.” There is meaning in thinking of something bitter, and instead choosing to think of something sweet. I hope all of you in your time of quarantine… are treating yourself to some chocolate every now and then, because we must always continue to search for the sweetness, it is after all, the perfect antitode, to bitterness. 


haggadah Section: Maror