Conservative Judaism/Passover/Haroseth

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Expert: - 4/6/2007


Question
Are you Berel Dov Lerner of Israel or a different person?

What is the origin of Haroseth?  It was not part of the paschal rite, I believe, so
when did it enter the tradition?

Answer
Dear Judith,

Thanks for writing.

No, I am not that person as I live in the States. I have been confused with "Barry Dov Lerner" who lives in Israel, perhaps that person. Sorry.

It's hard to date the origin of haroset, although it is something in which I have been interested. I have several theories:

(1) The Latin parallel for a full meal, when we say "soup to nuts", is "from an egg to an apple." Perhaps then as many Sefardim/Oriental Jews do today, the meal is concluded not with a European type dessert but with various fruits and nuts.

(2) I was taught that in Roman medicine, certain noxious foods could be dipped in a "liquidy" neutralizing foodstuff and then safely eaten. We know that the original maror was "hasa," an ancestor of what we know today as romaine. Our romaine lettuce has been bred into a sweet lettuce, but 2000 years ago it was quite bitter and strong - needing a dipping. If indeed apples, dates, wine was available, would it not make sense to make a dip from such ingredients.

Besides, as the song parody says - check my website  www.jewishfreeware.org and Passover downloads for FREE - a"a little bit of haroset makes the maror go down, maror go down. . . ."

Best wishes for a hag kasher v'sameah

Rabbi Dov  

Conservative Judaism

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Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner

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Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history, philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.

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I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)

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