Preparing The Seder Table
The word 'Seder' means 'order' or 'method'. During the Seder, we follow specific rituals. Now for the exciting part that you may be more familiar with.The first night of Passover is when the Jewish people actually brought the Passover sacrifice and ate it before G-d at midnight smote ("killed"). G-d killed all of the firstborn sons of Egypt at midnight. The Korban Pessach (Passover sacrifice was eaten before the killing of the first born) the same night. The Jews left Egypt the next day at Noon. (believe it or not) So the first night (and outside of Israel, the second night as well), we celebrate by having a Seder. Three special matzos (representing the Kohen, the Levite, and the Yisroel) each wrapped separately and placed one on top of the other on a plate on the Seder table. These matzos are specially prepared for use during Pessach containing only flour and water. Also called 'bread of affliction', this unleavened bread reminds us of what our people ate in the land of Egypt. They were in a hurry to leave that they had no time to let the dough rise.
There is also wine (usually red wine). Each person at the Seder drinks four 'kosos' of wine. The number four signifies the four expressions of Redemption which G-d used when sending Moses to free us (Exodus 6.6-7).
"I will bring you forth"
"I will deliver you"
"I will redeem you"
"And I will take you unto me"
The wine symbolizes joy and happiness.
On the Seder Plate, you will see the 'Zeroa' which is usually a boiled or a broiled neck of chicken. This is a symbol for the Paschal Lamb that is offered on the 14th day of Nisan during the time of the Bais Hamikdosh (Holy Temple in Jerusalem), Neither the Zeroa nor any broiled meat may be eaten on the Seder nights. It is only placed on the plate.
Then, you will see the 'Baytza', a hard boiled egg that is partially broiled after cooking. It symbolizes the 'Chagigah' (festival offering) that is offered during the three major festivals when we had the Bais Hamikdosh.
And then there is the 'Moror', usually Romaine lettuce or grated dry horseradish. These bitter herbs reminds of the time when our people were under Egyptian yoke and their lives were embittered by hard labor at clay bricks and all manner of toil in the fields.
Next is the 'Charoses' - a mixture usually composed of nuts, grated apples, (cinnamon and ginger) with a bit of wine added to make it a paste. During the Seder the moror is dipped into the Charoses. This, too, is a symbol of slavery. It resembles the mortar at which our ancestors worked during their enslavement.
And the 'Karpas' - a vegetable such as boiled potato, onion, radish, etc. The vegetable is dipped into salt water. The reason for this and eating it so much prior to the actual meat is to arouse the curiosity of the children to inquire as to the meaning of this irregularity. The father will then have an opportunity to explain the significance of this night and details of the exodus of Egypt.
It must be remembered that the main underlying purpose of the Seder is the questions to be asked by the children and the answers by the adults.
The reason that salt water is used with Karpas is to point to our present status as free men. The food that was served to us in Egypt was prepared without salt, which was considered a delicacy reserved for the free. Some say that the salt water also signifies the bitter tears that flowed from the Israelites as they were oppressed in Egypt.
We follow a book called the 'Haggadah' which contains the narration and ceremonials of the Seder for participants to follow. The Haggadah is based on the biblical commandment "And you shall narrate to your son on that day, saying: 'It is because of that which the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt'. In reading the Haggadah, we are observing the command to narrate the tale of the exodus from Egypt.
During the Seder, there is a custom where we pour wine into a special cup and call it 'Kos Shol Eliyahu' - the Cup of Elijah. This custom comes from an old Talmudic controversy as to whether there should be four or five cups on Seder night. According to tradition, Eliyahu Hanavi actually comes to each Seder. To symbolize the coming of Elijah, we stand up and welcome him with the words Baruch Haba (Blessed be he who comes).
In the days of the Bais Hamikdosh, the Paschal Lamb is eaten at the conclusion of the meal. It is forbidden to eat anything after the Paschal Lamb. Today the Afikomen, which means dessert, takes place of the Paschal offering and is the last thing eaten on Seder night. It has become a custom for the children to 'steal' the Afikomen and to exact some gift for its return. This custom was introduced in order to enliven the closing parts of the Seder and have the children remain awake until the end.
The leader conducting the Seder, and all adult males, recline on a pillow on the left side. This posture connotes freedom and independence.
Procedures
The Seder, or order for procedure of the evening, is contained in
fifteen concise Hebrew terms as presented in the Haggadah:
Kadaish - Sanctification - We begin the Seder by filling the 'kosos' (cups) with wine and recite Kiddush. We drink Kosos in a reclining position.
Oorechatz - Wash - We wash our hands in the way it is customary before a meal, but do not make a blessing.
Karpas - Vegetable - We dip a small piece of vegetable into salt water and before eating it, make the blessing over vegetable.
- Yachatz - Division - We break the middle matzo and 'hide' the larger part for the
Afikomen to be eaten at end of meal), and put the smaller part back between the two other
matzos.
- Maggid -Tell -The youngest member of the family at the Seder asks the MaNishtana (the
Four Questions).
Rachatz - Washing - After drinking the second cup of wine, we wash our hands for the meal, this time with the customary blessing.
Motzi - Blessing of Hamotzi - Taking hold of the three matzos, the broken one between the two whole ones, the blessing of Hamotzi is made.
Matzo - Blessing of 'AI Achilas Matzo'- Holding only the top matzo and a half, we make the blessing 'Al Achilas Hiatzo' and then break off a goodly piece of the top matzo and also a piece from the middle one, while reclining, eat the two pieces together.
Moror- Bitter Vegetable - We dip the Moror in Charoses and make the blessing 'Al Achilas Moror'. As it is obligatory to eat a sizable piece of moror, we are advised to use Romaine lettuce rather than horseradish. This vegetable is considered moror because of the bitterness of its core and it leaves when they fully mature.
- Korech - Sandwich - We break off pieces of bottom matzo, put moror between them, and say
'Ken osso Hillel' and, while reclining, eat it.
Shulchan Orech - Set table - we now eat the meal.
Zofun - The Hidden Afikomen - We eat the Afikomen, after which no other food may be eaten.
Boroch - Grace After Meal - We drink the third cup of wine after making the 'Bore Pri Hagofen'. (Blessing forthe wine)
Hallel - Prayer of Praise - After filling the fourth cup of wine, we open the front door of the house, say the 'Shofoch' prayer and the conclusion of the Haggadah and recite the Hallel. Then, after saying 'Boro Pri Hagofen', we drink the fourth cup.
Nirtzo - Acceptance - Having carried out the Seder properly, we hope our service is accepted by G-d.
Selling the Chometz
A Jew is not allowed to own any Chometz for the entire eight days
of the holiday. So we sell it to a non-Jewish person. Usually, one does this through a
Rav. We also lock up all the places that have chometz in them, like the cabinets and
drawers, etc.
Make Sure Everyone Celebrates Pessach
Passover is one of the major Jewish holidays each year. It is
important, as we unite to celebrate the freedom of Jewish people everywhere, that we make
sure everyone is able to participate including the poor and the unfortunate people.
It has been a tradition of the Jewish Community around the world to have a Moos Chittim drive, raise money to provide the poor with the necessities of the Yom Tov (holiday). This has been carried out through the generations in the magnanimous spirit of our declaration at the recital of the Haggadah. "Kol dichfin yesei veyechul" - all that are hungry, let them come and eat. Bais Yaakov conducts a Moos Chittir campaign and distributes the funds to poor families here and in Israel. If you have not yet contributed toward Moos Chittim, please do so right away. JDCC has a Passover Fund.
We hope you will join us at the sixth annual JDCC Community Seder which will be held on the first evening of Pessach this year on April 19th.