The Seder, which means “order” in Hebrew, is celebrated around a dinner table. It includes the retelling of the Passover story — the story of Exodus from the Old Testament or the Torah in Judaism — blessings of food and wine, explanations of Passover symbols, discussions of freedom and social justice, as well as plenty of singing and eating. These rituals are performed in an order prescribed by a Passover-specific book known as a Haggadah which means “telling” in Hebrew.
Learn More
The holiday is celebrated with a meal called the Seder, where the table is decorated with foods that hold symbolic significance, all placed on a special plate called a Seder Plate in the center of the table.
Afikoman (a Greek word meaning “dessert”) is a children’s game played at the Seder. A piece of matzah from the Seder table is hidden and the kids are sent running to find it. The ones who bring it back to the table receive a prize, usually candy or coins. The Seders are typically long (some lasting all night!), this way the kids can stay connected knowing there is a fun game and prize awaiting them.
Charoset is a mixture of chopped nuts, apples, cinnamon, and sweet wine, which is added to the seder plate to symbolize mortar and brick
Passover got its name when Jewish households were “passed over” as the 10 plagues hit Egypt. It is a reference to the 10th and final plague, where the Jewish people were implored to have complete faith in God in order to be saved from the death of the first born.
The Haggadah is the book or text read from during Passover. It tells the origins of the holiday and explains how the Seder is supposed to proceed. It's considered a mitzvah (good deed) to pass the story of ancestors on to the younger generations.
Four cups of wine are consumed during the retelling of the Passover story - one for each expression of freedom. There is an empty seat at the table and a fifth cup of wine poured ceremoniously for the prophet Elijah. According to Jewish teachings, Elijah will fill the empty chair someday and announce the arrival of the messiah