The entire story of the Haggadah is contained in the Seder plate; everything on it symbolizes an aspect of Exodus:

Zeroa, a roasted bone, beet or “Pashcal yam”. Evokes the offering made at the Temple in ancient times.

Beitza, a boiled egg, symbolizes the circle of life and death.

Maror, a bitter herb, reminds us of the bitterness of enslavement.

Charoset, a mixture of fruit, nuts, wine and spices, represents the mortar our ancestors used to build the structures of Mitzrayim

Karpas, a green vegetable, symbolizes hope and renewal.

Chazeret, the bitter herb for the “sandwich” we eat later, following the custom established by Hillel the Elder, as a reminder that our ancestors “ate matzah and bitter herbs together” 

Orange, represents women's place in Jewish life. The story goes that a man once said that "a woman belongs on the bimah as an orange on the seder plate". 


haggadah Section: Introduction