Traditional Passover Menu
    Try the Vegetarian Passover Menu

Haroset
Traditional Haroset
Gefilte Fish (Fish patties)
or
Sweet and Sour Carp
Egg Drop Soup
Chicken Dumplings
Tagine of Chicken and Preserved Lemons
Preserved Lemons
Tsimmes
Orange and Date Fruit Salad
Coconut Macaroons

Passover Snacks (For consumption during Passover week)

Bubaleh
Matzah Brei
Almond and Chocolate Torte
Passover Rolls

        Passover, in Judaism is one of three major pilgrim festivals, this one commemorating the "passing over" of the forces of destruction, or the sparing of the first born of the Israelites, when the Lord "smote the land of Egypt" on the eve of the exodus. The Jews had marked their doorposts with the blood of a lamb to signify that they were children of God. The "matza" eaten, as bread for "Passover" is unleavened bread made of wheat and, symbolizes the hasty departure of the Jews from Egypt. The Jews had to flee Egypt as soon as possible and had to prepare and bake their bread in haste therefore, the bread did not leaven and stay flat.

        Special dietary laws are observed during Passover. All leavened food or any leavening ingredients are forbidden as well as, grain or cereal products or any derivatives of these foods. These restrictions will be observed for 7 days.

        Passover is the only holiday celebrated with a home service called the "Seder" and is celebrated the first day of "Passover" in the evening. All the family and guests sit around the table, which is set with beautiful dishes and a center dish called the "k'arah". The "k'arah" is a large dish upon which the symbolic Seder foods are arranged around it The symbolic food placed on the "k'arah" are:

1. "Zeroa" which is a boiled or roasted chicken wing and symbolizes the ancient sacrifice of the Pascal Lamb and is placed in the upper right hand corner of the "K'arah".
2. "Beitza" which is hard cooked egg and symbolizes the offerings brought in the temple on festivals. The "beitza" is placed in the upper left hand corner of the dish, opposite the "Zeroa".
3. "Moror" which are bitter herbs such as lettuce leaves or fresh horseradish root and symbolize the bitter life the Jews led while enslaved in Egypt. The "Moror" is placed in the center of the "k'arah".
4. "Charoses" is a sweet condiment made of ground almonds, sweet wine, raisins and chopped apples flavored with ground cinnamon. The "charoses" symbolizes the mortar used in making bricks for the Pharaoh. The "charoses" is placed on the lower right hand corner of the "k'arah".
5. "Karpas" is either , parsley, radish, onion or celery and symbolize spring. The "Karpas" is placed on the lower left hand corner of the "k'arah".
6. "Chazereth" is some bitter herbas such as red or white grated horseradish and is a "Seder" plate symbol. The "chazereth" is placed on the "k'arah" just below the "moror" fourth row center.

The "Haggadah" which is the book that tells the story about the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt, is placed at each place setting and contains the complete "Seder" ceremony in their prescribed ordered. Menus for "Passover" will vary for each ethnicity, but the same dietary laws and restrictions will be observed.

A Passover Haggadah
        This Haggadah is written in lucid, contemporary language and contains a complete Passover home service, an extensive song section, and supplemental readings and meditations from which participants can choose during the course of the Seder. Stunning watercolor illustrations throughout.