Reliving the Seder

It’s almost that time of the year again, when the spring air begins to slowly blow in, increasingly penetrating our beings with notions of spiritual renewal, freedom and identity, and finally reaching its climax at the Passover Seder, when Jews around the world reconnect to the events surrounding their ancestors’ miraculous Exodus from Egypt while revitalizing their own inner journey through its timeless teachings. While every year the Seder ritual is the same, the actual experience is not. This year, make your Seder more meaningful than ever inspired by amazing Israeli made Judaica designed just for Passover!  Without further ado, here are the top 5 Passover gifts:

1. Seder plate: The centerpiece of the Passover Seder table is the Seder plate, a smorgasbord of ritual foods, including an egg (beitza), a shank bone (z’roa), bitter herbs (maror), horseradish (hazeret), vegetable (karpas), and haroset. Each one symbolizes a part of the Passover story. Whether you’re looking for a modern Seder plate, with a stylish contemporary design or something more traditional, a beautiful Seder plate is a time honored tradition in its own right.
2. Haggadah: One of the all time classic Jewish texts, the Passover Haggadah is the Jewish manifesto of freedom that sets forth the order of the Passover Seder. Reading the Haggadah at the Seder table is a fulfillment of the Torah commandment to teach your children of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt as described in the Torah: “And you shall tell (v’Higadeta) your children on that day…” Although the minimal fulfillment of this mitzvah is a simple recounting of the going out of Egypt, the Haggadah has made it so much more.

3. Matzah Tray and Cover: When our forefathers left Egypt, they were in such a hurry that there was no time to wait for the dough to rise. They therefore ate matzah, unleavened bread. For us, matzah is more than a food, it’s the way we relive the Exodus, becoming a symbol of faith. At the same time, it consists of only flour and water, and is not allowed to rise, teaching us the main “ingredient” for faith is humility, and recognizing our smallness when compared with the infinite wisdom of the Creator.

4. Kiddush Cup: It is the blessing over the cup of wine that constitutes the Kiddush ceremony that ushers in the Sabbath and most Jewish holidays, including Passover. Wine plays a great role in Jewish life and tradition. It is meant to give honor and importance to an occasion, to raise an ordinary human event to a higher spiritual level. The first of four designated cups of wine, Passover is meant to be a night like no other.

5. Elijah Cup: One of the most beautiful customs of the Passover Seder is to leave an extra large cup of wine for Elijah the Prophet, who is believed to visit every Jewish home this night. While the four cups correspond to the four “expressions of redemption” promised by G‑d: “I will take you out from the suffering of Egypt, and I will deliver you from their bondage; I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments; I will take you to Myself as a nation,” the fifth cup, corresponds to the fifth expression of redemption which comes in the following verse: “I will bring you to the Land…” This expression is an allusion to the future messianic redemption which will be announced by Elijah. This is also why we do not drink the fifth cup — as we have not yet experienced this redemption. Give Elijah an unforgettable experience this Passover with a beautifully designed Elijah cup.

The Passover Seder is designed to be a transformative experience, and any of these special gifts ideas will help to make your Passover celebration one like you have never had before. Leaving Egypt has never been so an enjoyable!