S- Seder Dinner Reflections

What is a Seder Dinner?  The Seder is generally a meal celebrated with family and friends around the time of Passover or Easter.  In Jewish homes, it is usually a huge feast with food, games for the kids and a time to retell the story of the exodus from Egypt.  There is a specific order to the service and meal that includes what is eaten and the order that the story is told.

There are differences in how the Seder is celebrated in the Jewish faith and the Christian faith.  My experiences are from the Christian point of view.  

I found these pictures of a Seder we did just with our little family many years ago now.  The kids were little and I remember that Emma took a giant bite of horseradish with her Haleel Sandwich.  She turned bright red and cried.  She still remembers that it represents sharing in Jesus' sufferings and the contrast of the Charoset to show the sweetness of Jesus' resurrection. 

Obviously, when Jewish and Christian traditions/teachings collide there are certainly big variances. Overall, we love the symbolism and chance to tie the Old and New Testaments together.  Generally, I make roasted lamb with a beautiful side salad.  The other elements are more symbolic than filling.  

We decided we wanted to do this annually when we were expected Emma and attended a church Seder led by a local Hebrew professor.  It was much more involved than the one we usually do as a family...but it was so rich with meaning.

I really love Ellen's post on Seder.  There are a few other good ones but hers is especially thorough and she helpfully shares NT references to tie things together.  

The Seder meal consists of:

• Birkat Ha’Ner – Lighting of the Candles
• Kaddesh – The Cup of Salvation (John 15:1-8) Grape juice since  we do not drink
• U-r’chatz – Washing of the hands (Exodus 30:18) Done  in our congregation by our teens
• Karpas – Rebirth & renewal (Psalms 126:5) Parsley or hyssop dipped in salt water
• Yachatz – Breaking of Bread (Luke 22:19) Unleavened bread (Matzoh)
• Maggid – The Cup of Deliverance (John 8:32) Grape juice
• Rachtzah – Second washing of hands & blessing of meal
• Motzi – Blessing for the bread (Luke 22:19)
• Matzah – Break, share, and eat the bread (1st Corinthians 11:23-24) The Communion bread
• Maror – Bitter Herbs (for us scallions) with Charoset (a mixture of nuts, fruits,and herbs) Represents the bitterness of life before Christ and the antidote (Christ)
• Korech –
  • The Haleel Sandwich. Represents Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday and His resurrection on Sunday.  You put horseradish on one end of a broken Matzah and Charoset on the other end. You eat as much of the horseradish as you can tolerate before eating the Charoset.  Note, it’s particularly fun to watch your son take a HUGE bit of the horseradish and turn purple during this part of the Seder.
  • Eating of the Egg.  A hard boiled egg (or deviled egg for some) represents the suffering and oppression in Egypt. Everything else in water softens but the egg gets harder, like the Israelites. It also symbolizes the new life we have in Christ.
  • Explanation of the shank bone (of a lamb). Reminds us that there was blood sacrificed to save our lives (Hebrews 9:22)
• Shulchan Orech – Eating the Lord’s Supper. For us, a communal potluck where everyone brings a dish to share.
• Tzafun – Earlier in the ceremony, part of the broken Matzah is hidden (the Afikoman).  At this time, the children search for the Afikoman. This symbolizes Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  Those who find him have riches of everlasting life. It’s also the time when the children receive a ton of Easter candy and run around and play in our service.
• Barech – The Cup of Elijah (Luke 22:20) When Jesus drinks from the cup never drank from before. It is the new covenant that represents Jesus’ blood, that was shed for us.
• Hallel – The Cup of Joy (Revelations 19:9) Represents the marriage we look forward to in Heaven.
• Nirtzah – The Song of Praise (Revelations 21:3) All is accepted. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!