The first item on the Seder plate we take is the Karpas, or the bitter vegetable. We dip it into salt water to represent the tears of the Jewish people. The karpas reminds of spring and life. We dip it into the salt water as a reminder of the tears our ancestors shed when they were slaves in Egypt. We say the blessing and dip the karpas now. 


haggadah Section: Karpas