Body and Soul Food

I feel lucky to have experienced the best of my parents’ Catholic and Jewish traditions. Though you can really say the Jewish rites, especially during Passover are quite heavy in symbols. Take the Passover foods and Passover recipes we share with our family and friends. The Passover menu is essentially a retelling of the Passover story--our journey to freedom. Here are the usual contents of the Passover plate.

The Matzah (Passover bread), a special bread symbolizes the deliverance from Egyptian slavery. Its simple and flat shape reminds us of the hardships our forefathers endured.

The Haroset, a thick brown fruit and nut dip represents the mortar Jewish slaves used to build Egyptian buildings.


Maror is a bitter herb or greens (usually horseradish) that is a symbol for the bitterness of slavery. Parsley, on the other hand illustrates the rebirth of spring and the expectation for harvest in the latter part of spring.


Eggs, which are roasted, symbolize resurrection. The roasting reminds us of the sacrifice on Passover in ancient Jerusalem.

A shank bone (of a lamb or Passover lamb) represents the offering made at the temple in Jerusalem.

The Passover meal is quite a flexible observance as families and communities adjust it to accommodate the concerns of the times. In vegetarian families, a carrot or beet can be an alternative to the shank bone. An orange is sometimes added to remember the marginalization of women, homosexuals and other groups of people who have been oppressed.

Although I don’t get to prepare food for the Passover Seder, my grandmother allows me to observe her. In these fast food times, it makes me think. Food isn’t just for nourishment of the body but of the soul as well. Happy Passover everyone!