Karpas

KARPAS (DIPPING GREENS IN SALT WATER)

Passover, like many Jewish holidays, combines the celebration of an event from Jewish history and memory, as well as the continued cycle of our natural world. As we remember the Israelites’ liberation, we also welcome the beginning of spring, the budding of new plants and rebirth happening in the world around us.

We now take a green vegetable, representing our joy at the dawning of spring after the winter, and dip it into salt water, a symbol of the tears the Israelites shed as slaves.  Before we eat it, we recite a short blessing:

אַתָה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְרִי הָאֲדָמָה: ברָוּךְ:

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree ha-adama.

We praise you, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruits of the earth.


haggadah Section: Karpas