Max and Benny's

The Passover Seder

For observant Jews, a Passover seder is both a retelling and a reliving of their ancestors' exodus from slavery in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. Some people observe the seder twice, on the first two nights of Passover; others confine the ritual to the first night. In either case, participants follow the ceremony set forth in a Haggadah, a book that contains prayers, songs and the story of Passover.

Click Here To Download A Passover Haggadah.

What is a Seder Plate?

The Passover Seder Plate Hebrew: ke'ara is a special plate containing symbolic foods used by Jews during the Passover Seder. Each of the six items arranged on the plate has special significance to the retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt, which is the focus of this ritual meal. The seventh symbolic item used during the meal - a stack of three matzos - is placed on its own plate on the Seder table.

The Seder plate is one of the most meaningful parts of Passover. Filled with savory items symbolizing the Jewish people's escape from the evil Pharaoh, a Seder plate is a tradition passed on from generation to generation. Preparing the Seder plate gives you a chance to reflect on this important Jewish holiday.

Click Here To Learn All About Passover.

What you will need to prepare a Seder Plate?

• Seder plate
• Charoset - made from apple and nuts
• Zeroa - Roasted shankbone or neck of poultry
• Baytzah - Hardboiled egg
• arpas - Parsley and salt water or celery
• Maror - Horseradish or horseradish root (must be kosher for Passover)
• Chazeret - bitter vegetable (Optional)

How to prepare the Seder Plate?

Step 1:
Get a plate for the Passover Seder. You can buy an ornate Seder plate at a Judaica store or at your synagogue gift shop, but it's acceptable to use even a paper plate. The one type of plate you shouldn't use is one of your everyday dishes used when it's not Passover, because you're supposed to use either disposable plates or special dishes for serving Passover foods.

Step 2:
Place items in the form of two triangles on top of each other, making the Star of David. Spoon on some charoset, a mixture of apples, wine, spices and nuts meant to symbolize the mortar the Jewish people used to make buildings in Egypt while enslaved to Pharaoh.

Step 3:
Add a roasted shankbone or neck of poultry to the Seder plate. This item symbolizes the arm of God as well as the Paschal lamb offered as a sacrifice during Passover.

Step 4:
Hard boil an egg and place it on the Seder plate. The hardboiled egg has many symbolic meanings but is generally interpreted to be the food of loss.

Step 5:
Add a vegetable - parsley is usually used. Also place some salt water. During the Seder you will dip the parsley in salt water to taste the tears wept by the Jewish people.

Step 6:
Include horseradish as your bitter herb to represent the bitterness of the Jewish suffering.