The harosetThe fruit and nut paste included in the Passover seder to represent the mortar the Israelite slaves used in Egypt. In Ashkenazic tradition, nuts are ground with apples and wine to make haroset for the Passover seder plate. Sephardic and other Middle-Eastern haroset typically uses dates as the base, often seasoned with ground ginger or cinnamon., A mixture of apples, nuts, wine and spices,
Represents the mixture of clay and straw
From which in bondage
We made our bricks.
It recalls as well
The women of IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel.
Who bore their children secretly
Beneath the apple trees of MitzrayimLit. Egypt. Because the Hebrew word for narrow is tzar, Mitzrayim is also understood as "narrowness," as in, the narrow and confining places in life from which one emerges physically and spiritually..
And like the apple tree,
Which brings forth fruit and only then
Sprouts leaves to protect it,
Our heroic mothers bore children
Without any assurance of security or safety.
We recall this beautiful, militant devotion
Which sweetened the misery of slavery
As we dip our bitters
In the sweet haroset.
It is the story of this night:
Bitter and sweet,
Sadness and joy,
Tales of shame that end
In praise
It is the story of our life.
