• Matzoh: Three unleavened matzohs are placed within the folds of a napkin as a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites fled Egypt, leaving no time for dough to rise. Two are consumed during the service, and one (the Aftkomen), is spirited away and hidden during the ceremony to be later found as a prize.
• Maror: bitter herbs, usually horseradish or romaine lettuce, used to symbolize the bitterness of slavery.
• Charoses: a mixture of apples, nuts, wine, and cinnamon, as a reminder of the mortar used by the Jews in the construction of buildings as slaves
• Beitzah: a roasted egg, as a symbol of life and the perpetuation of existence.
• Karpas: a vegetable, preferably parsley or celery, representing hope and redemption; served with a bowl of salted water to represent the tears shed.
• Zeroah: traditionally a piece of roasted lamb shankbone, symbolizing the paschal sacrificial offering
• Wine: four glasses of wine are consumed during the service to represent the four-fold promise of redemption, with a special glass left for Elijah the prophet. Further Passover References:
• Passover Seder History
• Passover Recipes
Cookbooks
| • | Jewish Cooking in America |
| • | The New York Times Passover Cookbook |
| • | The Complete Passover Cookbook |
| • | Passover Lite Kosher Cookbook |
| • | More Cookbooks |
