For the explanation of the contents of the Seder plate, please visit this site: uahc.org

For the Gentile population, the ritual attached to the concept of Jewish dietary laws and Kosher foods has always been mysterious. When Jews were instructed not to eat pork, or to prepare other meats according to strict rules -- of course -- there were substantial health reasons for doing so. But the real reason for sticking to tightly defined dietary laws owes much more to the notion of observance than to practical benefits. There is a great comfort in routine observance, and many Jewish people find the structure of such laws helps to connect them to their cultural and religious heritage.

Never is this more true than during the Jewish festival of Passover (or Pesach), when Jews around the world are instructed to observe regulations about what to eat and not eat, during a one-week period (this year, Passover starts on the evening of April 12, as mentioned above).

Passover itself commemorates the leaving of Egypt, where the Hebrew nation was enslaved, and forced to undergo gruelling work and harsh restrictions.

The history of Passover begins over 3000 years ago, when the Jews were held as slaves by the Egyptian Pharaoh, Rameses II.

Moses, who advocated freedom for his Jewish brothers, asked Pharaoh formally several times to release them from slavery, and warned Rameses that the Egyptian people would be devastated by plagues, if he refused to comply.

Moses petitioned God for assistance, and God inflicted 10 plagues upon Egypt. After nine of the plagues, the Pharaoh agreed to release the Jews from slavery, but quickly changed his mind. The tenth plague was the most horrific -- the killing of the firstborn children of all of the houses of Egypt.

After the 10th plague however, the Pharaoh let the Jews go. Considering the fickleness of the Pharaoh, the Jews left in a hurry, and could thus only take unleavened bread with them. Today, the retelling of the story of the flight from Egypt is an important part of Passover, and the central theme of the significant dinners, which are called Seders. If you are invited to attend a Jewish friend’s seder, you do not have to bring anything like wine, or a hostess gift; Jews are instructed to open their doors and be extra-hospitable during this festival. But be prepared to try some foods that may be new and different to you.

Every Passover food has its significance:

Matzoh: This reminds the observant of the unleavened bread the Jews had to take with them when they fled Egypt.

Charoset: This is a sweet apple-and-nut concoction, to remind us of the mortar Hebrew slaves used to make bricks for the Pharaoh Ramses II. The mixture usually combines chopped fruits -- apples, nuts, raisins, spices and wine, and is eaten on matzoh.

Bitter herbs: Fresh ground horseradish, without beets or vinegar, graces the Seder plate, to symbolize the bitterness of slavery.

Roasted Lamb Bone The roasted lamb bone symbolizes the lamb that was sacrificed at the Holy Temple of Jerusalem on the eve of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. The blood of that ancient sacrifice was used to mark the doors of the Israelites, so they might be "passed over," and their firstborn not slain.

Roasted Egg: Eggs symbolize the perpetual cycle of life, from birth to death to re-birth.

Greens: Greens, usually fresh parsley or celery tops, represent re-birth and spring.

Salt Water: The greens are traditionally dipped in salt water, which symbolizes the tears of the Hebrew slaves.

Passover Recipes:

Check out fabulousfoods.com, aish.com, cyber-kitchen.com, betterbaking.com, wzo.org.il, holidays.net/passover/, manischewitz.com, minutemeals.com and cyber-kitchen.com.

Celebrate Italian-style Passover:

italianfood.miningco.com

World's largest Kosher supermarket:

koshersupermarket.com.

Passover links:

Free stuff (Free Passover Greetings, Passover History, Passover Jokes, Passover recipes, Passover wallpaper, Seder, The 10 Plagues) is at theholidayspot.com/passover. Passover stuff for kids is at childfun.com/passover and at his.com.

The "MimiMart" sells all kinds of Passover foods from the wonderfully named Plotzworthy site, at plotzworthy.com.

Wonder what to eat at Passover, if you're a vegetarian? Visit Beit HaChatulim Cooks for Pesach for planning tips and advice.