Jewish Feasts - Overview of Seder Meal

Adults With and Without Children

Passage(s): Exodus 12, Luke 22:14-20, John 13

OK, now that we have a basic knowledge of the three feasts, let’s make our way back to Passover, specifically the Seder, since that’s really what encompasses Passover.

Seder, which means ‘order’, is a meal but it is so much more. It is a ceremony/reenactment of the first Passover night. Everyone present at the Seder will gather around the table, some who follow the original custom will recline on pillows. There is a leader of the Seder meal, who wears a white robe called a ‘kittel’, and they guide everyone through the Seder using a book called the ‘haggadah’, which has readings in it, questions, stories and blessings to recite.

There is a specific order to the Seder, go figure since it literally means ‘order’.

1. Kaddish – the blessing over the wine

2. Urchatz – ritual purification

3. K’arah (Seder plate) – the focal point of the Seder

4. Shulhan Orech (Passover meal) – a time for rest and fellowship

5. Afikomen hunt – (this one is pretty cool, you will have to wait on this one)

On the table is a plate for the matzah, the flat unleavened bread. The matzah is placed in a specific pouch which has three compartments in it. Each compartment has a whole sheet of matzah in it. There is also a big platter in the middle of the table with different elements for the Seder including ‘maror’ a bitter herb, ‘charoset’ brown stuff which has fruits and nuts all mixed together, and items to make a ‘korekh’ a Hillel sandwich. The last thing on the table are four wine cups which represent the four “I will” statements in Exodus 6:6-7. Below are what the four cups are called:

1. First Cup – Cup of Sanctification

2. Second Cup – Cup of Judgement

3. Third Cup – Cup of Redemption

4. Fourth Cup – Cup of Acceptance/Praise

Now, if you were to go to the Bible and look all this up, it’s going to look much different than what I just listed out for you, especially in the New Testament. Read the account of Jesus and the Disciples in Luke 22:14-20, and John 13. Next we will start to get into some details on what takes place during the Sader meal.