The framework of this seder plate represents the frame of a window. Fabricated from steel dollhouses, the window represents the home as the location of the Seder. Looking through the window from outside, the table is set; following our family custom, invite a stranger to eat with friends and family for the Passover Seder service.
This Seder plate has a total of eight window panes with symbolic references to the Seder service. Each window pane refers to the Haggadah’s narration of the Seder service. Five of the window panes show traditional symbols of the Seder service. The orange is a recent addition. An orange is placed on the Seder plate as a feminist statement about women’s participation in Judaism. Tradition and observance unite to celebrate this festive occasion. The dark blue background represents a blustery evening sky since the Seder service takes place immediately after sundown.
The windows separate the symbolic foods. Traditionally the Seder plate outlines five symbolic foods: lamb shank bone, parsley, roasted egg, horseradish root, and charoset.
Seder plate window frame constructed using vintage pre-printed steel dollhouses (white house siding with green shutters and red brick foundation.) Aluminum rivets, 10k gold rivets, sterling silver rivets, brass, and stainless steel screws
Eight window scenes constructed using recycled tin containers. Aluminum rivets, 10k gold rivets, sterling silver rivets, brass, and stainless steel screws.
Window panes are removable Plexiglas making this Seder plate fully functional.
23.25" length x 11" width x 2.10" depth This can hang from the wall or lay on a table.
Place Before Us These Symbols of Pesach is in the permanent collection of the Jüdisches Museum, Berlin, Germany.
Photo Credit: Philip Cohen
Below is a description of each window pane.
Orange The orange represents feminist participation in Judaism. It has been adopted as a symbol of inclusion for gay and lesbian participation in Jewish leadership.
Grapes The grapes refer to the four cups of wine consumed during the Seder service.
Lambs The lambs refer to the Pascal lamb. This is where the shank bone should be placed on the Seder plate.
Charoset A combination of chopped apples and raisins, nuts or dried fruit soaked in wine resembles mortar used by the Israelites to make bricks for the pyramids. [If Charoset is to be put on this Seder window, drain a symbolic amount on a paper towel so it won’t drip or put it in a little dish.]
Maror This is where you place the horseradish root, the bitter herb, a reference to the bitterness of the lives of the Israelites.
Parsley This is where parsley is placed as a symbol of spring. Salt water below the Golden Gate Bridge represents the salt water placed on the Seder table for everyone to dip their parsley. Salt water is to remember the sweat and tears of our ancestors. The swirls of the nighttime sky also represent the windy, foggy environment around the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (near where I live in California.)
Egg A roasted egg is a reminder of the sacrifice which took place in the Temple. Eggs are also a symbol of spring and rebirth of the Jewish people.
Door The door fits the context of the dollhouse material used to construct the framework for this window Seder plate. Also during the Seder service a door is always opened for Elijah. The swirls coming through the window of the door represent the spirit of Elijah. Background blue represents the nighttime sky since the Seder service takes place after sundown.
The back/bottom of the Seder Plate: I always embellish the backs/bottom of my artwork and Judaica. Below is an image of the bottom of this Seder plate. It has a symbolic cup for Elijah and Miriam’s cup on an oval wooden table. Both are symbols referred to in the Seder service. Coins on the floor represent the reward children are given for finding the Afikomen – a piece of matzo hidden earlier in the evening.
The book Modern Judaica includes nine pages of text and images about my Judaica including this Seder plate, Place Before Us These Symbols of Pesach.
In the above image, you can see the display of the permanent collection of the Jüdisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. This display is gigantic, I estimate it to be between 81 feet and 100 feet. (that is a guess.) You can see my Seder Plate in the leftmost trapezoidal shape. It looks so small because this display is so big.
© 2003, 2021, 2023 Harriete Estel Berman