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The table should be set beautifully for the Seder. Comfortable chairs suitable for reclining should be placed around the table, and beautiful dishes should be used, reflecting the joyous nature of the evening. Treats and candy should be available to distribute to the children at the beginning and throughout the Seder, to keep them happy and encourage them to ask questions and stay involved. It is customary to wear new clothing, or at least one’s most festive attire.
Before Seder, a Seder plate is prepared with the ritual foods, each one of which expresses a particular idea:
- Three matzot remind us of faith and freedom.
- Maror (lettuce or horseradish) reminds us of the enslavement.
- A roasted shank bone (an animal bone, or more conveniently, a chicken wing) commemorates the Paschal offering.
- An egg (cooked or roasted) commemorates the festive Ĥagiga offering and reminds us the Temple will be rebuilt one day.
- Karpas (a vegetable) is eaten at the beginning of the Seder to whet the appetite.
- Vinegar or salt water, into which we dip the karpas.
- Ĥaroset (a fruit spread made of apples, dates, nuts, and more) commemorates the mortar our ancestors made in Egypt. We dip the maror in ĥaroset before eating it.
It is proper to set the table and have the Seder plate ready before the festival begins, so when people come home from synagogue after the Ma’ariv service, the Seder can be started immediately with Kiddush. It is important to avoid delays, because they limit the precious time the younger children will still be awake and alert.
