The shank bone represents the Pesach, the special lamb sacrifice made in the days of the Temple for the Passover holiday. It is called the pesach, from the Hebrew word meaning “to pass over,” because God passed over the houses of our ancestors in Egypt when visiting plagues upon our oppressors.

The matzah reminds us that when our ancestors were finally free to leave Egypt, there was no time to pack or prepare. Our ancestors grabbed whatever dough was made and set out on their journey, letting their dough bake into matzah as they fled.

The bitter herbs provide a visceral reminder of the bitterness of slavery, the life of hard labor our ancestors experienced in Egypt.

The Egg

The Orange- Suzanna Heschel

Banana- Summer 2015- Aylan Kurdi,  3 year old Syrian child drowned on beach with brother and mother. Father Abdullah taught how he brought a banana to his boys to share as a sweet sign of enduring love

The Olives- Symbol of Peace


haggadah Section: Yachatz