Karpas

is representative of the flourishing of the Israelites during the first years in Egypt despite it being discouraged. It is dipped in salt water (Ashkenazi custom) or vinegar (Sephardi custom) in order to taste both the hope of new birth and the tears that the Israelite slaves shed over their condition.

Karpas is representative of the initial flourishing of the Israelites during the first years in Egypt. . . . The size of this growing population frightens the new Pharaoh, who enslaves the Israelites, lest they make war on Egypt.. . .In the course of the seder, we dip the karpas in salt water (Ashkenazi custom) or vinegar (Sephardi custom) in order to taste both the hope of new birth and the tears that the Israelite slaves shed over their condition.

is the dipping of food in salt water to bring to mind tears and thus to set us to remembering those still in need.

karpas, n.Definitions

karpas