Egg: The circuality of the roasted egg forms a helpful metaphor for the circle of life and also suggests the sensations of spring time. 

Karpas: This green vegetable also reminds us of the hopeful feelings of spring. During the seder, we dip karpas in salt water to balance our joy with symbolism of the tears of Israelite slaves. 

Maror: The bitter herbs on the seder plate are meant to symbolize the bitterness of slavery. 

Haroset: This apple-heavy dish recalls the clay that Israelites used to make bricks while slaves. Also, the sweetness of the dish is said to offset some of the bitterness of the story. 

Elijah's Cup: On Passover, we put out a glass of wine or juice for Elijah in hopes that he may join us.

The Orange: Recently, the orange has become a symbol of Jewish feminism, following the tale of a rabbi who said, "A woman belongs as a Rabbi like an orange belongs on a seder plate!" Though this symbol is not part of the original seder plate, it has become increasingly common in recent years.

Discussion: No matter how many times we have encountered the symbolism of the seder plate, there is always space to see it in a new way. In fact, many items on the seder plate hold more than one meaning, allowing us to expand our ways of understanding them. What do you notice on the plate that is surprising? What symbololism can you recall? Though we know how these relate to the story of Passover, how might these items provide meaning to us in our daily lives? We have a few important items from the seder plate listed below. 


haggadah Section: Introduction