Delmarva residents get ready for Passover and all the traditions that come with the holiday

MILLSBORO, Md.- The Jewish Holiday of Passover begins Friday and some people on Delmarva are preparing for the holiday.

Passover lasts for 8 days and honors the ancient Israelites escaping slavery in Egypt. Many Jewish families and friends often gather on the first and second nights of Passover to have a ceremonial meal known as a Seder.

On the table, you will find symbolic foods like a roasted egg, representing Spring and the cycle of life; parsley representing Spring (dipped in salt water, symbolizing the slaves’ tears); horseradish representing the bitterness of slavery, haroset, a mixture of apples, nuts, and wine, representing the mortar used by slaves as they laid bricks, and a shank bone representing the pascal lamb sacrifice.

“The message is the celebration of going from slavery to freedom, that’s a message that has played out over and over in our history and in various places, and of course, it’s one of life, of celebrating life, and survival,” David Herschler, a Millsboro resident, said.

When it comes to the meal, it’s typically a substantial one that can take hours or even days to prepare.
The Millsboro couple who invited us into their home said while there are many traditions that come with Passover, people have added some new things to their Seder.

” I mean the Matzah ball soup, probably won’t find a Seder that won’t have Matzah ball soup,” Evey Herschler, a Millsboro resident, said.

“And, things have changed over the years 40 as the women movement has grown, there are Seders that are put together all for women and there are different things that go on the Seder plate, that one for example there’s an orange,” Evey said.

While Delmarva families are getting ready for Passover, some eateries like Rosenfeld’s Jewish Deli are also preparing meals for the celebrations. The deli owner said it’s one of their busiest times for catering.