The Seder Plate consists of five items. Each plate is set up a bit different, but they all have the same items. Here's a brief description of what is on the plate:

At the top is the Maror, bitter herbs cut into small pieces or fresh grated horseradish, which represents the bitterness of slavery.

To the right is the Zroa, a roasted shankbone or beet, which represents the sacrifices we have made to survive.

Next is the Karpas, which is either parsley or celery, which represents rebirth. On this plate, there is a separate space for lettuce at the bottom.

To the right of the Maror is the Beitzah, a hard boiled or roasted egg, which symbolizes creative power, our rebirth.

And last is the Charoset, a mixture of finely chopped apples, nuts and cinnamon mixed with a little wine, which represents the bricks and mortar we made in ancient times.

The seder plate is generally placed on the table in front of the leader, but we also set a second plate at the other end of the table.

Other items on the table are: three matzahs, which should be placed separately in matzah covers, or folded separately in one or two large napkins; wine for the four glasses you're meant to drink during the seder; salt water for dipping, which represents our tears, both then and now; pillows or cushions, should anyone want to use; the cup of Elijah, a large wine glass filled with wine, and the cup for Miriam, a large wine glass filled with water.

The cup of Elijah not only commemorates the freedom of the Jewish people from slavery, but also calls to mind the future redemption when Elijah and the Messiah shall appear. The cup of Miriam signifies our desire to bring refreshment and healing to our world.

We also have two other items on the table. An orange is included as a way of acknowledging the role of people who feel marginalized within the Jewish community. Professor Susannah Heschel explains that in the 1980’s some students placed bread crusts on the Seder plate as a protest against the exclusion of women, gays and lesbians. Heschel adapted this and placed an orange on her seder plate, asking that each attendee take a segment of the orange and spit out the orange seeds, which were said to represent homophobia.

And an olive, as a representation of the olive branch the dove brought to Noah after the flood, is on the table as an embodied prayer for peace. We pray for peace in the Middle East, and any place where war is destroying lives and taking away freedom.


haggadah Section: Introduction
Source: Some information from the JDC Haggadah