The Seder Plate

The items on the Seder Plate remind us of different aspects of the Passover story.

Maror (Horseradish) reminds us of the bitterness of our slavery in Egypt and the bitterness in all the lives of those who are still not free.

Charoset (mixture of fruit, nuts, wine, and spices) represents the mortar we used for construction as slaves in Egypt.

Karpas (parsley) represents the spring, a time of renewal.

Beitzah (egg/tofu) represents hope for a new life after liberation.

Zeroah (shankbone/beet) represents the sacrifices that must be made to achieve liberation.

The orange is a relatively new addition to the Seder Plate, which is included in many seders precisely because it is untraditional. Adding it to the Seder Plate represents welcoming in new people, and actively including those who have historically been left out.

Matzah

Matzah is the unleavened bread we eat to remind us that when we freed ourselves from slavery, we left in such a hurry that we did not have time to allow our bread dough to rise.


haggadah Section: Introduction