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		Chabad.org » Jewish Holidays » Passover » Recipes » The Seder Plate

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The Seder Plate

Ingredients and Order of Placement

Preparing the Seder plate requires several hours of work. It is advisable to get other members of the house to help so that the work will be completed before the Seder begins. It is best to prepare all the seder foods before the onset of the Holiday in order to avoid halachic questions.

The special foods we eat on Passover are also food for thought. Every item on the Seder plate abounds in meaning and allusion. The Seder plate has six items on it, arranged in a special order. The plate is placed on top of the covering of the three matzot and is placed in front of the head of the household.

The foods of the Seder plate are listed below, with the reason each is included, the method of preparing it, and its role in the Seder meal.

9 Comments Posted


		The Shank Bone A piece of roasted meat represents the lamb that was the special Paschal sacrifice on the eve of the exodus from Egypt, and annually, on the afternoon before Passover, in the Holy Temple... 5 Comments



		The Egg A hard-boiled egg represents the holiday offering brought in the days of the Holy Temple. The meat of this animal constituted the main part of the Passover meal...



		The Bitter Herbs Bitter herbs (maror) remind us of the bitterness of the slavery of our forefathers in Egypt. Fresh grated horseradish, romaine lettuce, and endive are the most common choices...



		The Paste A mixture of apples, nuts and wine which resembles the mortar and brick made by the Jews when they toiled for Pharaoh...



		The Vegetable A non-bitter root vegetable alludes to the back-breaking work of the Jews as slaves. The Hebrew letters of karpas can be arranged to spell "Perach Samech"...



		The Lettuce The lettuce symbolizes the bitter enslavement of our fathers in Egypt. The leaves of Romaine lettuce are not bitter, but the stem, when left to grow in the ground, turns hard and bitter... 5 Comments

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Latest Comments:

Posted: Apr 2, 2009

how do i make the bitter herbs

please get back to me i grated the horseradish and it is not strong.

Posted By Anonymous, scottsdale, az

Posted: Mar 27, 2008

RE: Seder Meal

Opening the door while reciting the verses immediately following Grace after Meals is indeed a customary part of the celebration.

It is said that at that moment we open the door for Elijah himself.

It is also customary that a special cup of wine is prepared in his honor as well.

Posted By Menachem Posner, Chabad.org

Posted: Mar 22, 2008

seder meal

we used to celebrate passover and have the seder meal with neighbors. we have since moved., but plan on having seder meal this passover.
we used to leave a place with a plate and the door a little ajar for Elijah, is that part of the celebration?
Thank you so much,

Posted By Bob and Patty, rock creek, mn

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		“Forgotten” Macaroons
		1. Kadesh - Sanctify
		10. Korech - Wrap
		11. Shulchan Orech - Set the Table

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