By the time we arrive at Shulchan Orech we are all very hungry!
This is the portion of the Seder when we all sit down together. We eat our festive meal. It is a great time of fellowship and celebration. During this time we reflect on how we are all part of God’s Big Family. We take the time to catch up with each other. Talk and fellowship are abundant as we enjoy this delicious meal. Every family seems to have their own traditional favorite recipes.
CELEBRATING GOD’S FAMILY WITH SHULCHAN ORECH
Many people enjoy setting the table with a certain theme (Leaving Egypt, The Ten Plagues, etc.) That always makes for fun questions from your guests. It helps them to feel welcomed. Just make it special, or make it pretty, and be sure that every place has all that the people sitting there need for their meal.
This meal may include many of the foods from the elements we have already discussed. The Matzah will be our bread. Salad recipes may include the charoset and parsley. Our main dish of meats may serve a horseradish sauce for those who are brave.
Everything should be unleavened. It is a Kosher meal.
PLAN YOUR MEAL CAREFULLY
Getting ready; yourself, your house and your table, can be a bit time-consuming. Yet this is all a part of the wonderful anticipation. Clean your house good for the week of Unleavened Bread. Remove ALL of the leaven from the house before the Passover arrives. Keep double checking. Then begin to plan the main meal.
Jamie Geller has a great check list on her blog posts; and you can just click here to follow that link: https://jamiegeller.com/tag/passover-countdown/. I’ve found it to be very helpful.
GET AS CREATIVE AS YOU WANT
The wine can be served with the meal without limitations. We are celebrating our freedom. Lean back and enjoy the moments in the most comfort you can find. Fill your body with great, nourishing foods. Enjoy the luxury of the evening.
The fact that the meal is completely unleavened makes people get creative with their cooking. Matzah seems to find its way into everything and every dish. Find your favorite Kosher for Passover cookbook and browse it from cover to cover.
WILL YOU USE AN EGG?
Some have the custom of eating a boiled egg dipped in salt water as the first part of the meal in order to remember the parting of the red sea. We understand the salt water in relation to the sea; but why the egg? The egg represents the person crossing the sea. The more an egg is boiled; the harder it gets. We have to be strong enough to trust God to get us through the hard parts of life. This is just as the people of Israel did when they stepped into that sea not knowing exactly what God was going to do next.
If they had hesitated they would not have made it to the other side. Sometimes God says “Just go, and trust me when you do.” We have to close our eyes and jump! Our Father is always there to catch us.
TELL THE STORY WITH MUSIC
It is fun to add dinner music that has songs that help to tell more of the story while you enjoy your dinner. I’ve used “Go Down Moses” and “Wade In The Water” by Louis Armstrong many times. I also LOVE The Song of Moses and The Passover Song.
If you ponder it a bit; you can get very creative and festive with the dinner music.
Everyone will love the music playing in the background.
So pour the wine, play the music and enjoy the moment!