The Seder Plate reminds us of the Passover story. Cheshire made our Seder plate when she was seven and from that time it has always been on our Seder table.

Maror is the bitter herb. We use horseradish. It symbolizes the harshness of lives of the Jews in Egypt. It also reminds us of the bitterness inside all of us. Maror calls attention to the prejudiced ideas we carry inside us, though we may not realize, and uproot them.

Charoset is a sweet mixture that symbolizes the mortar used by the Jewish slaves in Egypt. Charoset also is the mortar that holds our community together. When we listen to and support each other, we are listened to and supported by others.

Karpas is a green vegetable. We use Parsley which is a symbol of the arrival of spring.

Zeroah is a shank bone. We use a dinosaur. It reminds us of God’s command to paint the doorways with lamb’s blood so that they would be passed over and spared the last of Pharaoh's plagues.

Beitzah is the egg that represents a temple offering. The inside of the egg is very different from its shell which reminds us that although we can choose how we identify ourselves, we can’t always choose how the world sees us. Tonight, we celebrate everyone as they wish to identify.

The orange on the seder plate symbolizes full inclusion for women, people with disabilities, intermarried couples, and the LGBT Community.

Elijah’s and Miriam's Cups: One cup contains wine and is left in honor of the prophet, Elijah, who will arrive one day as an unknown guest to herald the coming of the Messiah. Elijah’s cup reminds us that if anyone comes to the door during the seder, they will be welcomed and invited to share our meal. The other cup is filled with water in honor of Miriam, the sister of Moses and a prophetess. After the exodus when the Jews wandered through the desert, a well of water followed Miriam. Miriam’s cup honors her role in the Passover story and the spirit of women, who nurture their families just as Miriam's well sustained the Jewish people.


haggadah Section: Urchatz