Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Picture credit: artnet
When Moses liberated the Jews from slavery, he probably didn’t imagine a holiday in his honour that involves children playing hide-and-seek with unleavened bread followed by a boiled lamb bone on a decorative plate. Every year, Jews celebrate Passover (which falls on March 30th) by retelling the story of Exodus from The Torah. Children sing in Hebrew, the ghost of Elijah drinks wine from the Kiddush Cup, and the adults prepare a special meal, heavy on the meats. There is beef brisket, chicken soup, lamb and sometimes if you’re lucky, cow’s tongue. So how can vegetarian Jews still enjoy Passover?
“It isn’t easy” says Rabbi Rachel Steiner. The centre of the Seder plate is a shank bone that commemorates the sacrificial lamb from the first Passover meal. Even wheat, oats, beans and corn are not allowed on the holiday. Jews who keep kosher during Passover, strictly abide by these dietary rules. But, Rabbi Steiner recalls that Moses only ate manna – a grain provided by God – on the 40-yearlong trip to Israel. So, here are three Rabbi Steiner certified, and most likely Moses certified, ways to remember Jewish suffering without causing animals to suffer:
“Instead of remembering the sacrificial Passover lamb, make it a sacrificial Passover yam!”
“Replace the Shank bone on the Seder plate with a carrot.” Personalise the carrot by carving different Hebrew words into it! During the part of the Seder where guests recite the story of Passover, the stand-in root can be used to signify whom speaks.
Also for vegans, the Rabbi suggests substituting the egg on the Seder plate, a symbol of mourning, with a radish. Anything from a clementine to a garlic bulb will work.
Happy Passover!
Noah Eckstein
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