Passover Seder

Want to host a Passover Seder in your home this year? Here are some things you need to know (though not EVERYTHING you could know) and get/buy in order to host a Seder this year.

Date & Time: April 22, 2024 at Sundown (7:53p unless you have kids then you’ll probably want to start earlier).

CHECKLIST ~ What you need to have to put on a Passover Seder ~

General Supplies

  1. Haggadah - An order of Service for each person 

  2. Seder Plate – The Seder plate is important but not required if you don’t have one. You can also use a large platter, like a turkey serving dish, or a large plate to arrange the each of the six unique times if you don’t have a “Seder Plate.” Each of these elements symbolize a different facet of the story of Exodus. You can also order Seder Plates online.

  3. Matzo Holder – Three pieces of matzo are placed in a cloth during the seder. They made custom holders, but you can also just use a towel.

  4. Wine Glasses - Preferably much smaller than traditional wine glasses as you will be drinking 4 full to the brim cups of wine over the course of the seder.

  5. Candles – The blessing over the festival candles is recited with a special blessing for Passover. A woman recites the shehecheyanu bracha with the candles.

  6. Afikomen Bag/towel - This is what the afikomen will be placed in and hidden somewhere in the room/house. We also have also just used a towel.

  7. Basin and Hand Towel – For the hand washing ritual.

  8. Extra Place Setting for Elijah - it’s easy to forget to set the extra seat and full place setting for Elijah.

Seder Plate

  1. Egg - Preferably a hard-boiled or unwashed farm fresh egg as it will be sitting for several hours at room temperature.

  2. Shankbone - We used a deer antler for a while, but you can also pick one up at Petco (dog chew toy) or of course a fully processed and cleaned one online.

  3. Parsley - which is dipped into a cup of salt water.

  4. Salt Water - for dipping the parsley in during the seder.

  5. Horseradish - the hotter the better

  6. Charoset - The main ingredients for charoset include: apples, nuts, raisins, and red wine. The charoset is used to balance the bitterness of the maror (horseradish). Great recipes can be found at Chabad.org or elsewhere online.

FOOD

Seder

  1. Matzah - Unleavened bread. Needs to be made in under 18 minutes.

    1. Preheat a skillet to medium-high heat

    2. Mix 1 1/2 cups bread flour with 1/4 cup water until it forms into a dough. 

    3. Knead dough onto a lightly floured surface

    4. Separate into balls and flatten with a lightly floured rolling pin

    5. Use a matzah roller if you have one, or you can take a fork and poke the dough several times and stripe it with a knife. (This helps get the piercings and stripes in the dough that come into play in the seder)

    6. Oil your skillet with a little olive oil, and place your flattened dough into your pan. Cook for about a minute on each side or until crispy brown.

  2. Wine/Juice - Make sure you have enough for each adult to have 4 overflowing glasses of wine. It’s also good to have some regular grape juice for the children.

Dinner

Here are some traditional and not so traditional food options to serve during the dinner portion of your seder.

  1. Matzo Ball Soup

  2. Any variety of potatoes, carrots, roasted brussel sprouts, etc… 

  3. Simple Potato Kugel

  4. Gefilte Fish

  5. Beef, Chicken, or Turkey

    1. We’ve also had Lamb as well, but know that traditional Jewish families today do not eat lamb because they cannot sacrifice it in the temple. They are waiting for the new temple, but we are free in Christ, so eat up!

  6. Matzah, Matzah and More Matzah! - Matzah flavors heavily during the dinner and dessert portions of the meal, so make plenty. You can also have leftovers.

  7. More Charoset! - this is partaken of during the seder, but if you find a good recipe, it can be a great dipper with matzah or just enjoyed by itself during the dinner portion of the seder.

  8. Baked Apples & Coconut Macaroons - Bearing in mind that dessert is traditionally not served as Matzah is mainly eaten in place of dessert.

      ** You can do an internet search and find TONS of ideas as well.