Passover Resources

Click for our 2020 Congregational Passover Haggadah for use at our 
Congregational Second Night Seder (members & their guests register here)
and/or at your own First Night Seder. 

Passover Resources on our Youtube Channel: Passover Playlist 
including Sing Mah Nishanah with the Cantor (here's the handout) and other fun Passover videos
(more Passover YouTube resources to come in the next few weeks!)

Online Passover Resource Collections:

• Digital Content to Enliven This Year's Virtual Seder (from the URJ Blog)
• Click here to access the entire collection of URJ Passover online resources.
• Click here for a handy and thorough checklist of ritual items to have at your Pesach Seder, be it the First Night Seder, Second Night Seder, or both! Please note that some of the things on that checklist are optional extras.

(more links below Seder Basics)

"What do I need to hold my own Seder?" Here are the basics:

• Seder means "order" in Hebrew, and refers to more than just  a meal: a series of steps done in a particular order (including food!) which lead us through rituals, blessings, and symbols which re-tell the Exodus story and make it meaningful for us right here, in our lives today. (What to Expect at a Passover Seder)
• Candles (2-3 candles in candlesticks, or you can use tea lights or similar. Some light one candle for each member of their household.)
• Kiddush cup & Elijah’s cup plus a wine/grape juice cup for each participant in your household (to be refilled at least 4 times so make sure you have enough grape juice and/or wine for all those cups!)
• Seder Plate (click for more info) - can be any plate big enough to hold the following six items:
  • Beitzah (roasted egg)
  • Z’roa (a roasted shank bone) - ideally lamb but anything similar will do, even a chicken neck! Non-meat options include a roasted red beet, or a “paschal yam” (roasted sweet potato).
  • Maror (bitter herbs, usually horseradish)
  • Chazeret (romaine lettuce)
  • Charoset (a sweet mixture often containing fruits, nuts, spices and wine) Click for a few charoset recipes (including 22 Nut-Free Recipes).
  • Karpas (parsley or similar green herb)
• Matzah - ideally at least 3 matzot for the central plate of matzah, plus at least one square (or circle) of matzah for each participant in your household.
• Salt water in small bowl(s) (to dip your Karpas/parlsey into during the seder).
• Hand washing - believe it or not, hand washing is an ancient ritual part of the seder! Modern versions of this tradition include individual hand wipes, sanitizer (60% or higher ethyl alcohol content is best), or taking turns at the sink. (If you're tired of singing happy birthday, try this prayer, or this catchy tune about germs) Traditionally, we wash our hands twice during the seder, once before we eat the greens and once before we eat the Matzah, Maror, and Seder Meal. (You can wash your hands as many times as you like, of course!)
• Seder Meal - a.k.a. your dinner! See below for some options, prep ideas, and recipes. The meal happens about three-quarters of the way through the Seder, and there are some blessings and activities (like the Third and Fourth Cups of wine/grape juice!) which happen after the meal. 

More Helpful Passover Links:

• Click here for the URJ collection of online resources for Passover Family Activities.
• Click here to browse Family-friendly Passover videos from BimBam!
• Guide to Passover Eating (includes video with Passover-friendly lunch ideas)
• 7 Ways to Prep for the Best Seder Ever
• Matzah Ball Soup Central
• 10 Pro Cooking Tips and Recipes for a Perfect Passover Meal