There is yet one more thing that makes this night different from your usual feast. For the centerpiece of this evening's festivities, instead of having an elaborate floral display, or a large roasted animal, we have a plate. But, this is not any ordinary plate. This, my dear friends, is an altar, upon which we place symbols representative of balance. Suffering and joy, captivity and freedom, solitude and unity; these are the common experiences which tie us to one another on this night, and in turn bind us all to the history of our people, and our world. Let us take a moment to examine the symbols on our Seder Plate.

  • Maror: The bitter herb, often horseradish or green onions, represents the bitterness our people felt while enslaved in Egypt. A custom of may Middle Eastern Jews, before or during the singing of "Dayenu," is to beat each other with the scallions, just as we were whipped in Egypt.
  • Charoset: Representative of the mortar and clay we used to make bricks, the charoset is a mixture of fruit, nuts, spices, and wine. It might seem strange that something connected to an act of toil would be so sweet. Remember, when hardship is shared amongst friends, even the most arduous work can be filled with joy.
  • Zeroa: The shank bone is reminiscent of the lamb sacrificed on the eve of the final plague. The blood of the lamb, painted on the doorposts of the Israelite homes, was a sigh to let the angels of God know that these households were to be passed over. Therefore, we place this here for two reasons. The first is to remember the miracle of our being spared, and the second is to honor the toll of our freedom on the Egyptian people.
  • Karpas: This parsley, which we dipped in salt water earlier in the evening, brings to us the freshness of spring. Even though new movement and growth can be difficult, after long periods of feeling trapped, the tears we shed through this pain are different than those we cried before. Then, we wept for we were in darkness. Now, we weep because our eyes have not yet become accustomed to the light.
  • Beitzah: Behold the egg!!! A universal symbol of rebirth, this egg has been roasted. Why? Because the rebirth of our People, becoming a unified nation from enslaved tribes, happened in the desert! We are not a cool blooded folk. However, beneath our sometimes hard shell, we really have a heart of gold.
  • Orange: A modern addition to the Seder plate, the orange reminds us of the fruitful blessings that arise when we welcome regularly marginalized groups into the full fold of Jewish tradition. The most prominent of these groups, in fact the those responsible for this bright addition to our ritual, are women and the LGBTQ communities.

haggadah Section: Karpas