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Passover
Passover commemorates the liberation of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The Seder, held on the first two nights of Passover, is the centerpiece of the holiday — the time for retelling the ancient story of slavery and deliverance and for eating traditional foods.
Symbolic foods on the Seder plate:
Roasted shank bone: symbolizes the lamb the Israelites sacrificed on the eve of their departure from Egypt.
Roasted egg: Recalls the Passover sacrifice that was offered at the Great Temple in Jerusalem.
Maror: bitter herbs (usually horseradish root) that represent the bitterness of Egyptian slavery.
Karpas: a green vegetable (usually parsley), representing the coming of spring, dipped in salt water to recall the tears shed during slavery.
Haroset: a paste of fruit, nuts, wine, and cinnamon that symbolizes the mortar the Israelite slaves were forced to produce.
Chazarat: bitter lettuce (horseradish is often used, too) that fulfills the Scriptural injunction, "With unleavened bread and bitter herbs shall they eat it."
Kiddush cup: Four cups of wine must be drunk by everyone at the Seder during the retelling of the Exodus story.
Elijah’s cup: This cup is filled for the prophet Elijah who, as legend has it, visits every Seder.
top photo: The Hurwitz family seder and objects associated with the Seder. Courtesy of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest.
inset photo, middle left: Maxwell House Haggadah. United States, 1937. The Hebrew words on the cover mean “The Passover Haggadah.” The Haggadah is the book of prayers, legends, hymns and commentary that is read aloud during the Seder. Maxwell House distributed these free to its customers.
inset photo, middle right: Seder plate, United States, 1979. The kid at the center of the plate represents the story of a kid goat that is recited during the Seder. Courtesy of Pearl Pearlman, Minneapolis, MN.
inset photo, bottom: Silver kiddush cup, Lithuania, about 1850. Every Jewish holiday begins with a special prayer called the kiddush, followed by a blessing over the wine and bread. Courtesy of Ruth Davis, Minneapolis, MN.
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