Hosting a Passover Demonstration:

SEDER PLANNING GUIDELINE

Program:

Adapt to suit needs/desires/budget of your congregation. Basic decisions about program include these considerations:

Purpose - informative (for Christians) or evangelistic (unsaved)?
Funding - how will expenses be covered (tickets, love offering, or other)? Costs may include:
- Food - meal and Passover elements, including juice (see attached sheet)
- Advertising - poster, bulletin insert, mailing, newspaper ad
- Printing - tickets, program folders
- Decorations - candles, flowers
- Speaker - travel expenses, honorarium
- Special music (taped or live; Messianic music adds to the atmosphere).
Personnel:
- Set up and take down (tables, decorations, sound equipment)
- Cooks and servers (family style, or waitresses)
- Sound system technician
- Cleanup crew (dishwashers!)

Suggestions:

Head table - the seder leader's table should be situated to give the best sight lines possible. No more than 4 should be seated at the table, and a 6 to 8 foot table is best.

If you have questions or need additional information, please call us at AMF's headquarters: (708) 418-0020 or send us e-mail. We are here to help!

SEDER ELEMENTS (for each table):

Parsley sprigs - bowl with one sprig per person
Haroset - bowl with 2 tablespoon servings per person; mixture of chopped apples and walnuts, cinnamon, and enough grape juice to keep mixture moist. Recipes vary, so feel free to experiment. (Click here for a suggested recipe)
Horseradish - bowl with one teaspoon per person
Salt water - bowl of water with sufficient salt to taste
Matzah - one "board" (6" x 6" slice) for every two people (usually sold 10 or 12 to a box)
Grape juice - enough for 4 small (2 oz.) glasses per person.
Hard-boiled egg - One (1) for head table only

ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES:

Haggadot (hah-gah-doht - plural form of haggadah, the Hebrew word meaning "telling"). Haggadot are booklets which contain the order of service and tell the story of Passover. One copy per person. [Maxwell House makes these available at no charge each Passover season in grocery stores near Jewish communities. If they are not available in your area, contact AMF for assistance, or you may purchase them (price has been $.80/each with proof of purchase, though that is subject to change) through Maxwell House's supplier: Joseph Jacobs Organization 60 E. 42nd Street New York, NY 10165 Phone: (212) 687-6234.

Place settings - soup or salad bowls, coffee cups and saucers, beverage glass, dinner plates, dessert plates, cutlery, napkins, juice tumblers (plastic 3 oz. tumblers are fine), bowls for elements

Table settings - matzah plates or baskets (sandwich 3 whole matzah boards between 5 napkins or paper towels, and place in basket or plate on each table); tablecloths (remember, grape juice will be used!)

Decorations - candles and/or flowers; wall decorations

Program - optional; sample from AMF enclosed

Head table - small bowl of plain water, linen napkin, and candle in candleholder

Related Information:

Messiah in the Passover

Haggadah (Order of Service)

Menu Suggestions

Passover Recipes

Return to: Homepage | Passover Index

Seder Planning Guide