The seder, a banquet filled with ritual and the telling of the Passover story, marks the beginning of the holiday. The bases for the seder are the commandments from Exodus 12 and 13: "You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your ranks out of the land of Egypt; you shall observe this day throughout the generations as an institution for all time. " Exodus 12: 17 "Remember this day, on which you went free from Egypt, the house of bondage, how the Lord freed you from it with a mighty hand. " Exodus 13:3 "And you shall explain to your son on that day, 'It is because of what the Lord did for me when I went free from Egypt." Exodus 13:8.
At each seder there is a special plate that holds the foods required for the seder. The items on the seder plate are: Karpas, a green vegetable (usually parsley) representing spring. In the course of the seder, the parsley is dipped in a bowl of salt water, a reminder of the bitterness of slavery. Betzah, a roasted egg symbolic of the Passover sacrifices from the time the Temple was still standing. It is also symbolic of life. Zaro'a, A roasted shankbone-symbolic of the pascal sacrifice. Maror, Bitter herbs (usually horseradish) a reminder of the bitterness of slavery. Charoset, A paste made usually of chopped apples, cinnamon, and wine, symbolic of the mortar used by the slaves for making bricks. Matzah, 3 pieces of matzah.
It is also customary during the seder to drink 4 cups of wine corresponding to the four statements made by God in Exodus 6:6-7: "I will bring you out." "I will deliver you." "I will redeem you." And "I will take you." The seder table also has a cup of wine for Elijah, the prophet who, according to tradition, will announce the coming of the messiah.
