When most of us think of maror, or bitter herbs, we think of khreyn (Yiddish for horseradish). But when you think about it, horseradish is not really bitter… it is pungent and spicy. According to the Talmud, the correct vegetable to use is lettuce, probably a variety of Romaine lettuce. Indeed, this is what many Sephardi Jews use for maror. Of course, Romaine lettuce is not really bitter either. According to Dr. Joshua Kulp, “our pleasant tasting lettuce is the result of two thousand years of cultivation to improve its taste. In ancient times, it was probably far more bitter.”

{Take a piece of maror and put it on a piece of matzah and say {

ברוּךְאַתָּהיְיַָאֱלֹהֵֽינוּמֶֽלֶךְהָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁרקִדְּשָֽׁנוּבְּמִצְוֹתָיווְצִוָּֽנוּעַלאֲכִילַתמרוֹר

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al achilat maror.

{Eat the maror and matzah together.}


haggadah Section: Maror
Source: Compiled