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The Big Clean
Chametz vs. Matzah
The Seder Plate
Zeroa - Shankbone
Beitza - Egg
Maror - Bitter Herbs
Karpas - Vegetable
Charoses - Mixture
Chazeret - Lettuce
Mystery 2
Mystery 3
Mystery 1
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[Egg] [Mysteries of Passover] [Wing] [Karpas] [Maror] [Charoset] [Mysteries of Passover] [Chazeret] [Mysteries of Passover]

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Go to The Official Seder How-To

A hard-boiled egg.

The Beitza is to remind us of the Chagigah (Festival Offering) in the Holy Temple

We use two dishes, and Beitza: one as a reminder of the Passover Offering, and one as a reminder of the Chagigah Offering.

According to the Jerusalem Talmud it is customary to use both a Zero'a [literaly arm, or shoulder bone] and an egg - which in Aramaic is called beya [a word which also means "to pray"; "please" ] suggesting "May it please the Merciful God to redeem us with an uplifted arm."

Some texts state that we use an egg, a traditional food of mourning, as we grieve the destruction of out Holy Temple.

This explanation, though, begs further consideration. For it is clear from the Mishnah, and from the Jerusalem Talmud, that even in the times of the Holy Temple they used two dishes. In those days they certainly needed no symbol of mourning.

Alternatively we must say that for hundreds of years they used something else as a reminder for the Chagigah Offering, and after the Temple's destruction they began using an egg.


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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Apr 7, 2012
Beitza
I appreciate the guide here. I agree the egg didn't originally have to do with the Temple. I thought the hard boiled egg was symbolic of the hardness of our hearts. Pharaoh's heart was hardened and it consumed him. May any hardness of our hearts toward G-d or a man, in G-d's image be wholly consumed or put away lest we too be consumed.
Posted By David Francis, West Burlington, Iowa

Posted: Mar 15, 2010
eggs!
I think that an egg on the seder is kinda strange. I love Pesach!! :)
Have a good Pesach!!!
P.S I love the What If mini movies!
Posted By Raining Insect



 



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