While we are not Jewish, we have celebrated Pesach or Passover in our home for years now. It is an anticipated and meaningful celebration by the adults and children in our family.
Called "pesach" (pay-sak) in Hebrew, Passover is a celebration of freedom. A Hebrew commemoration of exodus from slave labor in Egypt more than 3000 years ago. It is celebrated for seven days in Israel and for eight days in the Diaspora (outside of Israel).
It is also a story; a narrative, a reminder of the power and majesty of God throughout the ages. A time to teach our children and pass on a biblical heritage.
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." (Ex. 20:1,2).
"Now this day [the day God passed over the first born in the land of Egypt during the plagues] will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance." (Ex. 12).
"Now this day [the day God passed over the first born in the land of Egypt during the plagues] will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance." (Ex. 12).
The Seder is celebrated on the first night of Passover and is a symbolic food journey from Egypt to Canaan, retold and enacted by friends and family. Complete with menu, lines, and activities. It is truly entertaining for children and meaningful to adults as you walk through this joyous time of liberation.
For those of you who've never celebrated Passover or Pesach, we encourage you to try it this year. It is a celebration that will soon become tradition in your home as it has in ours.
To get you started, we've compiled a list helpful resources.
The following is the Seder Menu we traditionally use in our home. After a rigorous spring cleaning of the home, I set our table with our finest linens and china and fill the house with joyful Jewish music.
Table Setting
Taper Candles or Candelabra
Pitcher of ice water for drinking
Basin of water and washcloth for hands
Sparkling Cider or Grape Juice in Carafe
Large plate with sheets of matzoh
Wrapped matzoh in white linen napkin
Small bowl of Salt Water
Printed or copied Haggadah, the written readings to be given during the meal. (See resources below)
Seder Plate
Seder Plate
The Seder Plate is the canvas from which you narrate the Passover story. If you don't own a dedicated Seder Plate, a large plate or platter serves just as well with 5 shallow bowls or ramakins to hold the following 5 items.
1. Vegetable (Karpas): Represents the tears of slavery. Usually lettuce, cucumber, radish or parsley -- one for each participant. This will be dipped into the salt water.
2. Shank Bone (Zeroa): Reminder of the 10th plague in Egypt and how God passed over homes protected by blood. This bone is traditionally from a lamb but a chicken leg bone can also be used.
3. Hard Boiled Egg (Baytzah): This represents a voluntary peace offering, symbolic of the loss of two temples, one destroyed by Babylonians and the second by the Romans.
4. Haroset -- It represents the mortar the Israelites used to make bricks in forced labor with Egypt. (See recipe).
5. Bitter Herbs (Maror): Because the Israelites were slaves in Egypt we eat bitter herbs to remind us of the harshness of servitude. Horseradish is most commonly used -- fresh sliced or pureed (about a teaspoon per participant).
Passover Seder Menu
Haroset
Matzoh Ball Soup
Roasted Lamb
Baby Green Herbed Salad
Asparagus
Passover Pecan Bars
Passover Apple Cake
List of Helpful Resources
Passover Preparation Guide by shaddai.com
A Messianic Passover Haggadeh (the program used in the Seder meal).
A Christian Passover Haggadeh (the program used in the Seder meal).
Celebrate the Feasts by Martha Zimmerman
