The story of Passover is about liberation; our seder plate offers us important symbols to remind us of the travails of enslavement and our ancestors’ hopes for freedom.  What new symbols have already become part of our seder?

Most of us have long since added a Miriam’s cup to our seder and an orange, in order to represent our rejection of any kind of homophobia and to acknowledge that the LBGTQ community should be invited to our communal table with gratitude and welcome.  Below are some newer ideas — those of you coming to the community seder today, feel free to bring your own!

artichoke — diversity of Jews or interfaith families
kiwi — Israelis and Palestinians
tomato — oppressed farm workers/modern day slavery
fair trade chocolate or cocoa beans — modern day slavery
wilted lettuce — oppression of poor people who don’t have fresh produce in their neighborhoods
small red potatoes — freeing of the Ethiopian Jews
beet – vegetarians

Hag sameach!

Rabbi Barbara