Seder Supplies

The lists below provide the recommended supplies in preparation for an at-home Seder, to include table-setting items, food items, and items that might be helpful for younger children participating in the event. With that in mind: 

  • Plan ahead so that you have time to find/obtain and prepare what’s needed.
  • The items listed are suggested; feel free to adapt it based on what you have available.


Table Setting:

• Wine/juice glasses filled (or ready to be filled) at the start of the dinner

  • There are four different “cups” that are celebrated during the seder. The “leader” at your table should be prepared to hold up each cup when  the time comes and share it with the other people around the table.
  • You can use 4 different glasses/cups or use a single glass/cup and re-fill it (top it off as needed) each time.
  • Alternatively, you could give each person their own cup (or cups) to drink from when instructed.

• A candle to be lighted when instructed at the start of the seder

• Bowl of water and a towel for dipping/washing hands

• Plate or basket with some matzah bread

  • If you have enough, 1 piece of matzah for each person is ideal.
  • Otherwise, you can use what you have and break it into smaller pieces for sharing when the time comes during the seder
  • You will also need another piece of matzah to be hidden as the “afikomen” (see below)

• A place at the table for the traditional “Seder Plate” (in the center or near the “leader”)

  • The contents of the plate are listed below.
  • This will be the focus of several explanations and activities, so make it visible and accessible to the people at the table.

• Since this will be a “streamed” event, consider a table arrangement that includes a place for a laptop or similar device (something bigger than a phone) where everyone can see what is being shared on the screen.


Seder Plate Items:

Parsley (enough for each person to have a sprig)

• Small bowl of saltwater

• Horseradish

• Charoset (recipe provided below)

• “Shank” bone (this can be any bone since it is for visual purposes only)


Notes:

We are omitting the portion of the seder involving the hard-boiled egg. Include it if you want to, but it will not be discussed as part of the planned activities.

For the parsley, horseradish, and charoset, enough is needed to let people sample them (if they want to) when the time comes.

  • The charoset and horseradish are usually eaten by putting some on a small piece of matzah
  • You can also put lettuce on the plate for sampling the horseradish and charoset


Charoset Recipe: Mix the following ingredients

5 apples (peeled, cored, and diced)

1 ¼ cup walnuts (chopped)

3 tablespoons honey

1 cup red wine

2 teaspoons cinnamon


Hiding the “Afikomen:”

One of the major activities in a Seder is when the children are sent to find the hidden “afikomen” – a piece of matzah wrapped in a napkin

  • Prior to the Seder, wrap a piece of matzah (full or half-sheet size) in a napkin and hide it somewhere in the room or area where you will have your seder as a family
  • It should not be in plain sight, but your children should be able to find it in 1-2 minutes


Suggestions for young children:

The seder is designed to involve families with children by providing activities you will do together around the table. There is a separate outline of the seder event (below), including when family activities will occur, which you should look at ahead of time. Depending on the age of your children, you might consider some additional supplies to help keep them engaged.

• Since this is not a meal, consider some snacks that they can have as we progress through the different seder “events”

  • Goldfish or candy they can have every time someone new shows up on the screen
  • A juice-box they can sip from every time we pass and drink from one of the seder cups

• Coloring pages and crayons to use if needed

Passover Seder Outline

(At-home activities noted in blue)

Our Passover Seder will be “broadcast” via Facebook Live and YouTube at 5:30pm on Friday, April 10th.


To participate fully in the Seder, you will need to prepare in advance. 


Our online Seder will include live worship, special readings, and visual demonstrations and explanations of the traditional Passover Seder. It will also include activities for you to do at home. This outline provides a basic overview of what’s going to happen and the different times where you will participate around your own seder table. Read through this in advance. If you have questions, feel free to contact Pastor Chris (…before the seder, not during.)

Since this will be a “streamed” event, consider a table arrangement that includes a place for a laptop or similar device (something bigger than a phone) where everyone can see what is being shared on the screen.


Seder Program


Welcome and explanation (What is a “Seder?”) – Pastor Chris


Seder preparation, opening prayer, and worship – Pastor Dan


Lighting of the candle – Pastor Chris

  • Explanation and traditional Hebrew prayer
  • At-home – Light your own candle when told

“Kiddush:” The First Cup – Pastor Chris

  • Explanation of the cup’s meaning (sanctification) 
  • At-home – Share and pass/partake of the first cup when told


Washing of hands – Pastor Chris

  • Explanation of why we “wash” at the start
  • At-home – Dip/wash your hands in a bowl and then dry them off


“Karpas:” Dipping the parsley – Pastor Chris

  • Explanation of what it symbolizes
  • At-home – Dip the parsley in salt water and taste when told


The Four Questions (“Why is this night different?”) – Guest readers


The Passover Story (God’s deliverance) – Pastor Chris

• A guest reader will “tell the story” and Pastor Chris will answer the “four questions” 

At-home – Sample the “maror” (horseradish) and “charoseth” (apple paste) when told


“Makkot” The Second Cup – Pastor Chris

  • Explanation of the cup’s meaning (deliverance) 
  • At-home – Dip your finger(s) in the cup as the 10 plagues are recited
  • A guest reader will lead us in the “Dayenu” (a traditional Jewish Passover song) 
  • At-home – After each line/verse is read, SHOUT at home: “It would have been enough!” 
  • At-home – Share and pass/partake of the second cup when told

Worship (song of redemption/deliverance) – Pastor Dan


How the Passover was fulfilled by Jesus – Pastor Chris


“Afikomen” The Hidden Matzah – Pastor Chris

  • The afikomen should be prepared/hidden in advance (see Seder Supplies instructions above) 
  • At-home – When directed have your children find the afikomen (allow 1-2 minutes)
  • Explanation of the afikomen’s meaning
  • At-home – “Break” and share/eat the matzah when told

The Third Cup – Pastor Chris

  • Explanation of the cup’s meaning (redemption)
  • At-home – Share and pass/partake of the third cup when told

The Fourth Cup – Pastor Chris

  • Explanation of the cup’s meaning (praise) 
  • At-home – Share and pass/partake of the fourth cup when told

Closing Worship and Prayer – Pastors Dan and Chris