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Passover Symbols

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Holidays are most often remembrances of past events, be they religious, patriotic, civil rights-oriented, et cetera. Passover, like many other of these events, comes complete with a variety of symbols that aid in remembrance; they help the celebration come alive. The following are some of Passover's most prominent symbols.

Matzo

Matzo is the substitute for bread that is eaten during Passover, since all leavened products (chametz) are forbidden. According the Book of Exodus in the Bible, when the Jewish slaves were freed from Egyptian rule, they left in great haste and could not afford to wait for their bread dough to rise. So, they took it, as is, and left. This new product became known as matzo.

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Since bread was already a symbol of salvation at the time, matzo took on the same meaning. It is the oldest salvation symbol used in the Passover Seder. Matzo also serves as a reminder of the importance of humility, keeping in mind the hardships the Jewish people endured while in slavery.

Elijah's Cup

According to the Talmud (an important Jewish text), when rabbis faced difficult legal issues, Elijah would visit them to help them with their decisions. In the case of impossibly conflicting rituals or laws, the issue would be set aside "until Elijah comes," which, according to the book of Malachi, would be a part of the eschaton (end times).

One such question arises in the case of the Passover Seder. There has been a question of whether four or five cups of wine are required for the ceremony. Each cup represents the "four expressions of redemption," found in Exodus 6:6-7. However, there is a fifth expression of redemption, found in verse eight, which was not fulfilled until after the Exodus from Egypt. Since the rabbis could not come to an agreement of whether not verse eight's expression of redemption should be a part of the Passover celebration, they decided to leave the cup for Elijah's arrival.

Today, a place setting is reserved at the Seder table for Elijah. The fifth cup is placed there for Elijah, and, during the Seder, the front door of the home is opened and he is invited in. Elijah's cup has come to symbolize future redemption.

Haggadah

In the Book of Exodus, the Jewish people are commanded to, during the Passover Seder, tell the story of the liberation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. The Haggadah (Hebrew for "telling") is the Jewish text that lays out the order of the Passover Seder and aids in the retelling of the story of the Exodus.

The Seder Plate

The elements of the Passover Seder plate are full of symbolism. Here's a quick summary of each:
  • Chazeret and Maror – Bitter herbs that symbolize the harshness that the Jews endured while slaves in Egypt.

  • Z'roa – A roasted lamb or goat shank bone, a chicken wing, or a chicken neck that represents the sacrificial lamb, offered in the Temple of Jerusalem.

  • Charoset – A mixture of chopped nuts, sweet red wine, cinnamon, and grated apples that represents the mortar the Jewish slaves used to build storehouses for the Egyptians.

  • Karpas – A vegetable, usually parsley, celery, or a boiled potato, that symbolizes the simple meals eaten by the Jewish people while in captivity. The karpas is dipped into salt water, which represents the tears of the Jewish slaves.

  • Beitzah – A hardboiled egg that represents the festival sacrifice offered in the Temple of Jerusalem.
These are just the major Passover Symbols. The holiday is chock full of ancient traditions and symbolism, all aimed at helping people to remember the story of the Exodus from Egypt and to help modern Jews remain in touch with their cultural and religious roots.

Patrick Hanan  Posted by Patrick Hanan on March 31, 2010

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