As children, even if we know about Passover, many of us don’t really understand what it’s all about. We know it’s kinda a big deal and we know that it has something to do with the Jews being slaves in Ancient Egypt, but we don’t really grasp the significance of the holiday. Only when we’re older do we realize that we’re retelling the story of our miraculous liberation from slavery in Egypt and the miracles that G-d performed on our behalf.
The Pesach feast, or Seder, is a meal that is eaten on the first night of Passover and commemorates the events that transpired during the Exodus. It is customary to serve special foods that are symbolic of the exodus and the freedom that the Jews have gained, like the matzah that we ate on our way out of Egypt or bitter herbs to remember the tears that we cried before our salvation.
As the focal point of the Passover Seder, the Seder Plate, or Ke’arah in hebrew, traditionally graces the table on Passover night. There are several different foods, each with its own symbolism, that are arranged on the plate.
We use our haggadahs as a blueprint for how to run the Seder. Usually, the head of the household will read the text aloud and everyone will follow along. A haggadah includes the basic script for the Seder meal, as well as instructions on how to lead it. (We even counted down the top ten haggadahs from 2022 for you.)
There are fun parts to the seder too! Interactive question-and-answer sessions, acting out different parts of the Passover story, and more lend to a festive and enjoyable atmosphere. When we study the Ten Plagues that G-d brought upon the Egyptians, and when we discuss them at the Pesach Seder, we tend to look at them as ancient history. Yet in reality, as with everything recorded in the Torah, these plagues actually teach us fundamental lessons of faith, and with a little bit of thinking and creativity, we can actually apply them to our everyday lives.
If you want more info on the Pesach feast or how to prepare for Passover this year, click for our 10 Minute Guide to a Better Passover!
