There are many ways to tell a story. The obvious way is with words. Yet there is another, non-verbal, method of telling the same story. The items of food on the Seder table tell their story too, for they are not only things to be eaten.
4 Comments Posted
You say, "...and a roasted bone (usually the neck of a chicken) on our Seder plate..."
Aw, come on now! It's usually a lamb shank bone. It symbolizes the korban Pesach (Pesach sacrifice), which was a lamb that was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem, then roasted and eaten as part of the meal on Seder night. Of course, since the destruction of the Temple, it is not eaten or handled during the Seder. it just serves as a visual reminder of the Pesach sacrifice.
Please don't say to use a chicken neck! A lamb shank is not that difficult to get.
|
While you may be correct that it is not hard for you to get a lambs leg, it was much harder for our impoverished Eastern-European ancestors. There were many families who were not able to afford a lamb for the holiday meal. For this reason, chicken necks and legs came into vogue.
|
In all the meals at the Seder I have ever attended the bone was a chicken neck. If there is any way possible, get the lamb shank. I am not sure how hard this is but I know it is worth the extra effort and I also know that people will notice and be thankful. Come on , step up to the plate, so to speak. Get the shank!.
|
The only time we've ever considered anything other than a lamb shank was when we've 'dropped the ball' and didn't prepare. A lamb shank is not terribly difficult to get.
I agree that it may have been hard for 'impoverished Eastern-European ancestors', (although I don't think I ever had any). BUT, you talked about "...a roasted bone (usually the neck of a chicken) on our Seder plate...". on OUR seder plate. That is OUR seder plates TODAY.
Please encourage everyone to get a lamb bone. They're often given away or are very inexpensive. Probably anywhere in the world for your target audience.
Have a good Passover!
|
|
LOGIN
ASK THE RABBI
Read this article
