Passover is a joyous festival of Jewish freedom and also one of the most labor-intensive Jewish holidays. It begins with a deep clean to remove all hametz from the home and continues with making the kitchen kosher before preparing the most elaborate meal most Jews will eat all year. There are a lot of moving pieces, so we’ve created this checklist to give you peace of mind that you will have everything you need for a meaningful ceremony.
We recommend that you start by setting the table beautifully for your guests. In addition to normal table settings, it is helpful to have both a water glass and a wine glass for each guest and an extra small plate at each setting for eating the ritual foods before the full meal. These are the ritual items you will then add to your table:
🔲 Seder Plate with Six Symbolic Foods
Most plates have six labelled bowls or compartments for the primary symbolic foods of the seder. If you don’t have an actual seder plate, don’t worry: a large plate or platter bearing these foods will work just as well. Here are the six foods you will need for your seder plate:
- Maror (bitter herb): It is traditional to use horseradish, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery. You can use a whole root of horseradish and chop it up or purchase a jar of chrain, shredded horseradish in a pickling solution.
- Karpas (usually parsley): This fresh vegetable symbolizes spring. While many Jews use parsley as karpas, there are also households that use potatoes, onions, celery or other vegetables on their seder plates.
- Charoset: A sweet paste, often made from various fruits, nuts and wine, tastes delicious and represents the mortar used in Pharaoh’s building projects. There are lots of wonderful recipes for charoset from all over the world.
- Beitzah (egg) — Another symbol of springtime; the egg on the seder plate is usually roasted.
- Zeroa (shankbone) – This item represents the Passover sacrifice that was offered in the ancient Temple. Typically, it is a roasted bone, but many vegetarian households substitute a beet.
- Hazeret (second bitter herb) — Often people use romaine lettuce for this sixth item on the seder plate.
🔲 Matzah
It is traditional to set up a plate with three whole pieces of matzah under (or in) a special cover. While this is what is traditionally set on the table, you’ll want to have extra at the ready when it comes time to eat it at the seder.
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🔲 Afikomen Wrapper
To wrap up the afikomen — the broken matzah that is hidden during the seder — you only need a napkin. But many families have a cloth dedicated to this purpose.
🔲 Candlesticks
The Passover seder begins, like most other Jewish holidays, with lighting candles and saying a blessing.
🔲 Salt Water
It is traditional to dip the karpas in salt water, symbolizing the tears of the enslaved Israelites. You can make your salt water as strong as you like. We recommend dissolving one teaspoon of fine grained salt into one cup of warm water.
🔲 Wine
The seder calls for four cups of wine per person, so plan accordingly. Grape juice works well for children.
🔲 Cup for Elijah
It is traditional to place a goblet of wine on the table for the much hoped-for guest, the Prophet Elijah, who will come to announce the imminent arrival of the Messiah. Toward the end of the seder, the door is opened to allow him to enter. Ahead of the seder, fill Elijah’s cup (any wine goblet works) with wine and set it on the table.
🔲 Pitcher and basin
The seder contains two ritual hand washings. Some go to the kitchen or bathroom to wash, but others prefer to wash at the table. If you choose the latter option, you will need a pitcher of water and a basin to catch the water as it is poured over your guests’ hands. We also recommend having a kitchen towel on hand for folks to dry their hands after washing.
🔲 Pillows
It is traditional to recline at the seder, as a symbol of freedom. Many rest against a pillow.
🔲 Haggadahs
These books will help your guests follow the ritual of the evening.
🔲 Kippot
You may wish to have extra head coverings on hand for guests who wish to wear one but do not bring their own.
🔲 Optional Items
Over the years, many have added rituals to their seder. For example, Persian Jews set their tables with leeks which they use to “whip” one another at a key moment in reenacting the Exodus story. Others add an orange to their seder plate. Still others pour a cup of water for Miriam. Whatever customs are special to your family, don’t forget to place the appropriate items on the table.
