The Passover Seder

Passover celebrates the journey of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery

1200’s B.C.E.

TraditionO Begins after sundown on the 14th day of

the first month of the Jewish yearO Retells the story of the Exodus to future

generationsO Jewish families gather in their homes at

a ceremonial feast called Seder (order)O Read the story from the HaggadahO Haggadah is the book that tells the

story and provides guidelines for procedure

Passover Seder Table

Saltwater represents tears

Passover SymbolsO Matzah-unleavened bread like the Israelites

ate on their exodusO Horseradish-bitterness of Jewish experienceO Karpas-parsley dipped in salt water to

represent tearsO Maror-bitter herbs represent bitterness of

slavery and dipped in charoset (sweet) to represent hope

O Egg-represents fertilityO Shank bone-lamb represents sacrifice

Seder Plate

Special TraditionsO Hiding the Afikoman-children search

for hidden matzah for treatO Retelling and The Four Questions

The 4 QuestionsO Why is this night different from all

other nights? (Only one question—4 answers)O Other nights we eat bread—tonight

mahtsaO Other nights we eat a other

vegetables—tonight only bitter herbsO Other nights we don’t dip vegetables

—this night we dip 2x in salt waterO Other nights we eat sitting up—

tonight we lie down (symbolizes freedom)

PreparationsO Enormous holiday to prepare with

foods and special dishesO Pots and pans disinfectedO House cleaned of all crumbsO Observant Jews start preparations

weeks before the meal

SourcesO Macomb Intermediate School DistrictO

http://photos.twincities.com/2012/04/06/photos-passover-seder/