Karpas

כַּרְפַּס Karpas - The Vegetable

This is the third activity to be performed at a traditional Passover Seder. To partake of the karpas, you dip the vegetable (usually parsley or celery) into salt water or vinegar

“The master of the house then takes some parsley, or any green vegetable, and dips it into vinegar or salt-water, and when it is distributed to everyone at the table, they say the following blessing before they eat it: Blessed art Thou, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the earth.”

האתה מבורכת, אלוהינו הנצחי, מלך העולם, בורא פרי האדמה.

One must dip the vegetable into salt-water twice.

Modern Idea: We dip our cell phones into the saltwater to remind us of the tough times those who have lost their cell phones to toilets and oceans have experienced. After, we displace our cellphones into rice to salvage the last remnants of our technological personal world and to be thankful that our phones work. This invokes radical amazement in the phone holder, meaning we learn to appreciate having the internet and applications at the touch of a finger, because we are thankful it did not die due to the salt-water.

What is significant about dipping the karpas in salt water more than once?

The first time, we dip to taste the salt-water which reminds us of the tears of others’ and their misfortunes. We remember the trials our ancestors have been faced with and reminisce on their sadness and strength of spirit which got them through the remorseful times. The second time, we dip to taste the salt-water which reminds of our personal misfortunes. This time, we remember the sadness we have gone through personally and the hurtfulness of those tough times. We congratulate ourselves for making it through and becoming a stronger person because of the bitterness of the hard times.

haggadah Section: Karpas
Source: Brooke Posnock and Alex Hansen