Judaism 101
March 28, 2008
Passover Table
Maayan Jaffe
Staff Reporter
Passover is less than one month away. Putting together a Seder can seem as complicated as doing calculus, but it’s really not. Here’s a checklist of “mandatory” things to include on your Seder table:
• The Seder Plate: The Seder plate includes six items. Those items are maror (bitter herbs –– usually horseradish, z’roah (shank bone), charoset (mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine), chazeret (romaine lettuce), karpas (celery, parsley, radishes) and a beitza (roasted egg).
• A plate with three matzot –– one which will be broken in half during the Seder to become the afikomen. The matzot should be covered, like the challah on Shabbat.
• A cup for Elijah. During the Seder, the group rises and the door is opened — usually by a child — for Elijah to enter. This symbolizes the coming of the messianic age. (Elijah is expected to precede the Messiah.)
• A bowl of saltwater — to dip the karpas in, symbolizing the Jews’ tears.
• You will need wine cups and wine (or grape juice). You drink four cups during the Seder, and when reciting the 10 plagues, dip your finger in the wine.
Other items, like an afikomen bag, are nice to have.
Oh, and don’t forget the Haggadot ...