Passover is one of the most famous and widely observed Jewish festivals. It represents one of the most fundamental elements of the Jewish faith, recalling the time when the Israelites were kept in slavery in Egypt. They were forced to work on the buildings of the Egyptians and in other menial roles. This was a hard and unforgiving life and they wanted to escape it and travel to the Promised Land, the land of milk and honey. However, the Egyptians, led by Pharaoh, refused to let them leave. After a series of plagues, the final one visited on the Egyptians was the worst: the death of the firstborn, which passed over the Israelite homes. After this, Pharaoh allowed them to leave.

The Passover Meal

Jewish families commemorate this deliverance with the Passover meal, known as the Seder. The family gathers together to retell the story and celebrate their faith and the fact that it has survived. Some families also include readings that remember the Holocaust, as a further remembrance of a time when the Jewish people were threatened.

What Is on a Seder Plate?

One of the most notable parts of the meal is the Seder plate. Seder plates can be bought from suppliers such as https://cazenovejudaica.com/uk/seder-plate. The Seder plate holds symbolic foods that are eaten or displayed to remember the Passover story. Some are bitter, like the bitter herbs that recall the bitterness of slavery, while others are sweet, like charoset. A bowl of salt water is also placed on the table to represent the tears of those who suffered in the past.

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