The green Karpas serves as a symbol of the bounty of vegetables and fruits in the springtime harvest. It also represents the period of Jewish flourishing before the period of Egyptian slavery began. Green represents spring, growth, and prosperity.

In our lives, green also plays the role of money. On one hand, money gives us the freedom to express ourselves and to build our lives in the way we want to. Money also restricts us, altering the way we see other people and our selves. The following Kanye West quotes illustrate his struggle with consumerism, as he uses brand name clothes to cover up his insecurity, and feed it at the same time:

"And I can't even go to the grocery store

Without some Ones that's clean and a shirt with a team

It seem we livin' the American Dream

But the people highest up got the lowest self-esteem

We buy our way out of jail, but we can't buy freedom

We'll buy a lot of clothes, but we don't really need 'em

Things we buy to cover up what's inside

'Cause they made us hate ourself and love they wealth

I want to act like it's all terrific

I got a couple past-due bills, I won't get specific

I got a problem with spendin' before I get it

We all self-conscious, I'm just the first to admit it"

-Kanye West, All Falls Down


בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה


haggadah Section: Karpas