Passover (Pesach) _2

חג פסח

What are Passover Seder symbolic foods?

• The Passover Seder has many symbolic foods. Unleavened bread called "matzah" in Hebrew is eaten throughout the Passover holiday. The reason is that matzah was the unleavened bread that resulted when the Hebrews did not have enough time to bake leavened bread in the evening just before they fled Egypt and so matzah came to symbolize the "bread of affliction" as well as "poor man's bread", among many other symbolisms. Other foods, mostly eaten at the festive meal known as the Passover Seder, include "Beitzah", meaning a hard-boiled or roasted egg in Hebrew, symbolizing Springtime when the Passover story took place; "Mei Melach", meaning "salt-water" in Hebrew. Salt-water is used for the eggs that symbolize the tears shed by the Hebrews while in slavery in Egypt; Karpas, which is a green vegetable, usually a bitter green vegetable, also symbolizing the tears and sweat experienced by the Hebrews as they toiled as slaves in Egypt.

 

• A second bitter vegetable is also eaten by some families and it is called "chazeret" in Hebrew. It is always a different bitter herb from the Karpas; "Zeroh", meaning "wing" or "arm" in Hebrew, which is usually a roasted shank bone from a chicken that symbolizes the lamb that was sacrificed for the ancient festival called the "Pesach" festival which actually, predated the Passover story and was practiced by many ancient peoples, including the Hebrews. "Marror" is another symbolic food of Passover and it is bitter herbs. It collectively represents the hardships experienced by the Hebrews while enslaved in Egypt. "Charoset" is another food that is eaten during the Passover Seder and in its most basic form is a mixture of fruits, nuts, honey, cinnamon, and wine, however different ingredients are added into the mix depending on the family, and/or customs of Jews from different countries. Charoset symbolizes the bricks and mortar used by the Hebrews in building store-houses and cities for the Pharaoh in ancient Egypt. Some scholars believe the word "Charoset" either means or comes from the word "clay" in Hebrew. Finally, there is "Yayin", meaning "wine" in Hebrew, and wine is used for and symbolizes this joyous occasion when we celebrate being physically free from slavery in Egypt, since it is commanded by G-d that in every generation, a Jewish person must celebrate being free as if he or she was just released from slavery in Egypt.   ~to be cont’d.

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.org
info@biblestoriestheatre.org