What is a Sedar meal? (Jewish Passover)?

Question

I am looking for information in regards to a Sedar Meal, how it is prepaired, when does it take place, time of day etc. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Including first hand knowledge as well as information found on the internet (good sites to view).

Answer 1

It is spelled "Seder."
Google that and you'll find plenty of informtation.

It is the traditional Jewish Passover meal. Jesus' Last Supper would have been a Seder.

Answer 2

A Sedar is the prayers, explanations and discussions that are presented in the home on the first two nights of Passover. The Sedar meal is in the middle of these prayers.

THe word sedar is taken from a root word that means order. So, during a sedar, there is a specific order for these things.

The site that I mention below will have very good explanations of each of the jewish holidays, including passover. Check the links at the left side of the page for holidays.

THe meal itself isn't really that much different than those of any other night, except that during passover, no leavening is allowed, so matzoh is substituted for bread. The book of Exodus gives an explanation of this.

Answer 3

The Seder is the Passover meal, designed to be used to help tell the story of the Exodus. Jews usually have two Passover seders: the first night at home, and the second night at the synagogue or a community setting like a hall or restaurant.

The Seder plate has several memorial items:
--a lamb bone or shank for the Passover lamb. (Jews no longer eat lamb at Passover, because since the destruction of the Temple, there can be no lamb sacrifices.)
--an egg, to stand for spring or for the Temple.
--Haroseth, a mixture of apples (or other fruit), nuts, cinnamon, and wine, to stand for the mortar the Hebrew slaves used with the bricks.
--salt water, for the tears the Hebrew slaves shed.
--a bitter herb, usually horseradish, for the bitterness of slavery.
--green vegetables (lettuce, parsley, or something else), for spring and new life and new hope.

Some modernized seders include an orange to stand for oppressed peoples.

There's also a matzoh (matzah) plate, which has three layers of matzoh. The middle layer is taken and broken in half, and the broken piece is wrapped in white cloth and hidden. Later, near the end of the seder, the children search for the piece, which is called the Afikomen. The one who finds the piece gets a prize.

(Some Christians say that the three matzoh layers stand for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the middle piece--"the Son"--stands for the Son who was broken and crucified, buried, then risen again.)

The Jews also drink four cups of wine during the Seder, standing for different things.

Moses is never specifically mentioned during the Seder, so that all the glory goes to God. Some modern women's seders will mention Moses' sister Miriam, who along with brothers Moses and Aaron helped lead the newly-freed Israelites. A Miriam seder will have a cup of water representing her, as well as the traditional cup of wine for the prophet Elijah.

Micah 6:4 (NIV)
I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.

For more info, look here:

Answer 4

First, this is a link to Hebrew4Christians.com. This is an excellent website with much information about Judaism as it relates to Christianity and vice versa. This link will take you to the Passover page on that site:

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Spring_Holidays/Pesach/pesach.html

Also, here are links to Zola Levitt's "The Miracle of Passover" in two episodes, very well done I might add. You will need Real Player to watch them.

http://www.levitt.tv/media/links/ZLV-543.ram

http://www.levitt.tv/media/links/ZLV-544.ram

Shalom.

Answer 5

See Curb your Enthusiasim.