The Seder

The Passover Seder

Taking place the first two nights of the eight day holiday, the Seder is the most important event in the Passover celebration. Usually gathering the whole family and friends together, the Seder is steeped in long held traditions and customs.

Leading up to the first night of Passover, the home is cleaned and cleared of all yeast foods, called chametz. All chametz is either eaten before Passover begins or “sold” to non-Jewish neighbors and friends.

The rules surrounding Passover are strict and many, with only special foods, utensils, and dishware allowed. Kitchen utensils and dishware normally used in the home are not to be used during Passover. Special dishes and utensils for the Passover holiday are taken out of storage, cleaned and used.

Only foods that are “Kosher for Passover” are allowed. Leavened (containing yeast) foods or grains are not eaten. In their place, matzoh and foods containing matzoh are eaten. This is to commemorate the Israelites who fled quickly into the desert with no time for their bread to rise and were forced to bake the dough into hard crackers in the desert sun. All foods prohibited during Passover must be disposed of the morning of the first night of Passover.

The Seder Plate

With its Passover dishware and silverware, the Seder table is different than the regular dinner table. The centerpiece of which is the Seder plate, a special plate containing the 5 foods that remind us of the struggle of the Israelites in their quest and journey to freedom.

The Matzoh Cover

Three pieces of matzoh are placed in a Matzoh Cover (a cloth sleeve or envelope) and placed in the center of the Seder table.

Before the meal begins the middle matzoh is removed and broken  in half.  One half is returned to the Matzoh Cover, the other – the Afikomen- is hidden, to be hunted by the children at the end of the Seder meal. The child who finds the Afikomen wins a special prize. Some homes break the Afikomen in to many pieces assuring that each child present can find a piece and receive a prize.

Glasses of Wine

During the Seder, four glasses of wine are poured to represent the four stages of the Exodus, the journey of the Israelites out of Egypt back to Israel.

A fifth cup of wine is poured and placed on the Seder table.  This is the Cup of Elijah, an offering for the Prophet Elijah.  During the Seder, the door of the home is often opened to invite the prophet Elijah in.