In the Jewish religion Seder Plates are an integral part of the Passover Festival, they are a symbol to represent the escape from slavery of the Jewish people from the tyranny of the Roman Empire. The plate is used to display six specific foods that each represent a significant meaning for the Jewish families that use them every spring when the Passover Festival is celebrated. These foods are, Maror (horseradish) this signifies the bitterness and hardship suffered during their slavery, Charoset (a sweet, brown paste) representing cement and bricks that was used to build Jewish Homes in Egypt, Karpas (parsley) a vegetable that represents renewal and hope, Zeroah (a roasted shank bone) this is the only item of meat on the Seder Plate and signifies the blood of the lamb daubed on the doors of the Jewish people when the Angel of Death flew across Egypt killing all the first-born infants of the Egyptian people but leaving the Jewish children safe.
The last two food items served on a Jewish Seder Plate, which can be obtained from a specialist company such as cazenovejudaica.com/uk/seder-plate are, Beitzah ( a roasted hard-boiled egg ) to symbolise the sacrifice that was offered in Jerusalem at the Temple. Then there are three Matzot (onions) which are separated from the other foods on the plate by a napkin or cloth.
There is sometimes a bowl of saltwater next to the Seder Plate to represent all the tears that were shed by the Jewish people during their time of slavery.
