Number 33: The seder plate, is central to our Seder. Each food is symbolic of an aspect of Passover: Traditional symbols and symbols we have introduced.

Traditionally a roasted shank bone represents the Pesach sacrifice. In deference to vegetarians in our midst, we replace the physical bone with a drawing of the shank bone or add a vegetable like beetroot instead.

The egg represents the full circle of life and when dipped in salt water, the tears of oppression. It also represents Spring and the beginning of new life.

The bitter herbs and also the Chatzeret  represent the bitterness of slavery.

Charoset, is made with nuts and apple, ground to form a heavy paste which symbolizes the mortar used to make brick.

Karpas, a green vegetable, usually parsley, symbolises the freshness of spring and the sense of nobility. Some families still use boiled potatoes for karpas – representing times when it was difficult to obtain fresh green vegetables.

We include an orange on the Seder plate to symbolize women who have been excluded over the centuries taking their rightful place in the proceedings.

We also include an olive on our Seder plate  The olive tree is a universal, ancient symbol of hope and peace. It is symbolic of the struggle of the Palestinian people for their self-determination and of the struggle of all people everywhere for liberation.

There are many other specific foodstuffs that we eat. The most important is matzah, unleavened bread, which we eat for 8 days to symbolize the speed with which the Israelites left Egypt, when they did not have enough time to bake bread.

At our Seder we discuss modern day plagues in addition to the 10 Biblical plagues that befell  Pharoah and the Egyptians. So often themes like  disease, poverty, the rise of popularism, homelessness , refugees, wars, xenophobia, excessive capitalism, alcohol & drug abuse and climate change are listed as plagues we need to deal with today. We take a drop of wine out of our glass when we call out each plague – symbolising reduction of our joy due to the suffering the plague causes to others.