The karpas, the green vegetable, is the first part of the seder that makes this night different from all other nights. So far, the first glass of wine and the hand washing, though significant, do not serve to mark any sort of difference; they are regular parts of meals. The karpas, however, is not. As a night marked by difference, that difference starts now. Tonight, we celebrate difference with the karpas.

We also know that with difference can come pain and tears. We have shed these tears ourselves and we have caused others to shed tears. Tonight, we dip the karpas into salt water, and as we taste it, we think of Yazidi farming families who should be doing spring planting but who have been forced by the tyranny of ISIS to flee their land and are now refugees in U.N. camps in Turkey hoping for the chance to start over.

The green vegetable in spring also reminds us that we are part of the ecology of our planet and we depend upon the earth for our food and sustenance. Pesach and Earth Day together remind us of the work to be done to combat climate change and global warming - to be G-d's partners in healing and repairing the world.

We now dip the karpas into salt water, a symbol of the tears our ancestors shed as slaves and the tears shed by refugees and oppressed people today. Before we eat it, we recite a short blessing:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה

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

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruits of the earth.

We look forward to spring and the reawakening of flowers and greenery. They haven’t been lost, just buried beneath the snow, getting ready for reappearance just when we most needed them.


haggadah Section: Karpas