charoset
SOME THOUGHTS ON CHAROSET
On a surface level, charoset is present on the Seder plate to represent the mortar the Hebrews needed to work with during their enslavement, as the Hagadah states, “They embittered the Jews’ lives with hard labor in brick and mortar.”
- Sephardim often puree the chopped fruit and nut mixture to get the consistency as close to cement as possible.
- Charoset is the only element of the Seder plate that is not mentioned in the Torah; it is from the Talmud, where the link between charoset and mortar is established. Additionally, R. Jacob gives detailed instructions on how to make charoset properly in Hilchot Pesach. Of course, this is not the required prescription (as evidenced by the plethora of charoset recipes accessible on this website).
- When eaten with the horseradish, the charoset balances the bitterness of the maror (horseradish), symbolizing the optimism of the Passover seder.
- The cinnamon in charoset is symbolic of the straw Hebrews had to gather in Egypt to build Pharaoh’s palaces (when considering the cinnamon in its stick form).
- Shir Hashirim, which we read during Passover, sings praise to the fruits of Israel that are in season in Spring, so we eat charoset in the spirit of the season, and in thanks to God.
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