The Shank Bone: A New Meaning
The Seder is about retelling — and symbolically reliving — the slavery and freedom of the Israelites.
That symbolism is expressed memorably and sensually though eating the foods on the Seder plate.
While there are traditional choices of course…
Foods on the Seder plate are not *legally* specified.
Instead, they are *symbolically* specified.
So, this means that if the foods on your Seder plate are symbolically powerful to you (and meet your other Passover practices, such as no leavening), then you will be successful in your retelling and reliving of the Passover story.
What Is the Zeroa? (aka Shank Bone)
The zeroa represents the Passover offering — the former practice of animal sacrifice — that was performed on the eve of the Israelite’s exodus from Egypt.
It also alludes to the Biblical verse, “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm (zeroa).” (Exodus 6:6)
Traditionally, the usual food to represent zeroa is a shank bone, such as the leg of roasted lamb, a roasted chicken neck, or similar bone segment.
But a shank bone is not required as the food to represent the Passover offering.
For example, in modern times and for vegetarians, a roasted beet is sometimes used due to its color (and perhaps an interpretation of Talmud in Pesachim 114b.)
But Sacrifice???
When the Temple was destroyed, the practice of sacrifice ended.
Today, sacrifice has little meaning to modern Jews. For centuries, it has been rejected, even disavowed, by all major branches of Judaism.
In the Haggadah, there is no blessing over the zeroa. While the pascal offering is referenced during the Seder, it is only described as a ritual that was practiced, but is no longer.
Why is the sacrifice or offering mentioned in the Seder? Other than remembering it, the meaning is not described.
Bottom line:
For centuries, the zeroa — the symbol of sacrifice on the Seder plate — has represented either nothing or obsolescence.
(Going deeper, the instructions in many Haggadot say that the leader should point to, but not pickup, the zeroa. But when describing the matzah and maror, the leader should lift them from the Seder plate. Why not lift the zeroa? So that seder participant are clear that the zeroa on the Seder plate is not a sacrificial offering, because sacrifice is no longer practiced.)
The New Zeroa
Can the place reserved for zeroa on the Seder plate be given new meaning, derived from its prior meaning?
One way forward may be to look at how the rabbis reframed their understanding of what sacrifice meant, then combine their updated meaning with the word zeroa (arm).
Drawing on the rabbinic literature (cited at bottom), the practice of ritual sacrifice — an offering of food to G-d — was redefined in the Talmud as a commitment to perform deeds of lovingkindness, tzedaka, and justice. This concept, broadly represented today as tikkun olam, is understood as a central purpose for Jews individually and of the Jewish people.
In short, the rabbis pointed the way:
Sacrifice now means deeds of lovingkindness.
Zeroa, meaning outstretched arm, symbolizes “reaching out” and extending resources to those in need.
What foods can symbolically represent an outstretched arm and making a sacrifice for those in need?
Our Zeroa in 2020
It is widely known that many people are hungry or lack access to healthy food.
On our Seder plate this year, our symbolic zeroa will be roasted carrots and parsnips — evocative of an outstretched arm — sliced in coin shapes, to represent donations we are making now to food banks this year.
(We particularly appreciate the work of these food banks and charities: Mazon, Needham Community Council, and Leket in Israel).
Other Ideas for Zeroa in 2020
COVID-19 and its effects are bringing new challenges to our system of food. Many have lost their jobs and income, pushing them into financial stress — and food stress. Restaurants have closed, also affecting the farms that serve them, which in turn have lost revenue. Some food businesses are switching to delivery, takeout, curbside pickup, and direct-to-consumer selling, but adapting is difficult without systems, customer relationships, and capital to effect the changes.
2020 has become a year of Food in Crisis…
… for grower, producer, and maker
… to distributor, retailer, and restaurant
… to consumer
… and everyone along the value chain.
There is no better holiday than Passover to examine Food in Crisis.
For your Passover in 2020…
What is a meaningful choice for your zeroa, a food that symbolizes traditional sacrifice and an outstretched arm to those in need?
How can we put the symbolism of zeroa into practice as a special 2020 observance of Passover?
Best wishes for a happy celebration of our freedom, in good health for you and yours, with early signs of spring.
Text references
In the rabbinic literature, the rabbis looked for a meaningful replacement for Temple sacrifice:
Once, Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai was walking with his disciple, Rabbi Yehoshua, near Jerusalem after the destruction of the Temple. Rabbi Yehoshua looked at the Temple ruins and said “Alas for us!! The place that atoned for the sins of the people Israel lies in ruins!” Then Rabbi Yohannan ben Zakkai spoke to him these words of comfort: ‘Be not grieved, my son. There is another equally meritorious way of gaining ritual atonement, even though the Temple is destroyed. We can still gain ritual atonement through deeds of lovingkindness. For it is written “Lovingkindness I desire, not sacrifice.” (Hosea 6:6)
Midrash Avot D’Rabbi Nathan 4:5
Similarly, in the Babylonian Talmud,
Rabbi Elazar said: Doing righteous deeds of charity is greater than offering all of the sacrifices, as it is written: “Doing charity and justice is more desirable to the Lord than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3).
Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 49
