The Ingredients:
For the Seder plate:
- Matzah (preferably handmade). Make sure to have plenty on hand.
- Grated raw horseradish and/or romaine lettuce (for bitter herbs). Sometime on the day before Passover inspect the leaves of lettuce to ensure that they are insect free.
- Cooked egg and roasted chicken neck. These two items are reminders of the two sacrifices eaten on Passover Eve during Holy Temple times.
- Vegetable (depending on your family custom: parsley, onion, cooked potato, or other).
- Fruit paste (mixture of apples, nuts and wine).
Other:
- The Haggadah is not a spectator sport. You are the experienceWine (grape juice can work if you can't stomach wine).
- The script, along with all the instructions you'll need: a book called the Haggadah. (Click here for a wide selection of Haggadahs available for purchase.)
- Saltwater for dipping
- A sumptuous holiday meal.
- Special cup for Elijah (optional, you can use a regular cup if necessary).
The Characters:
- That's you. The Haggadah is not a spectator sport. You are the experience. Before the Seder, prepare some Passover thoughts to share. Encourage every member of the family to do the same. Our Passover Study section is a good place to start.
- Children play the most important role at the Seder. We do whatever we can to keep them awake and engaged. Some keep the kid's interest by bringing props to the table, like plastic frogs or pseudo-ancient Egyptian artifacts.
Hot Tips:
- The easiest way to enjoy a great Seder is to go to one. Your local Chabad Center can arrange an invitation for you.
- The Seder is a Seder only when it happens after nightfall. Due to DST, that can be kind of late, so have your kids take a nap that afternoon.
- On this night we celebrate our freedom; we act in "regal" fashion. It is therefore customary to bedeck the Seder table with all the fancy utensils we have. It's a good time to make use of the contents of your silver and china closets.
Click here for more detailed information on the Seder preparations.
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