Dip the parsley in the salt water and recite the following blessing:

Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the Fruits of the Earth.”

Just at the wine represents the blood of the Passover Lamb, the parsley represents the hyssop used to place the blood upon the door posts and the lintels.  Blood symbolizes a sacrifice offered as a  substitute, one life laid down for another (altar of sacrifice – brazen altar).  “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22 NIV).  The salt water represents the tears shed in Egypt and the Red Sea (both of which are salty).

ALL EAT OF THE KARPAS TOGETHER

THE YACHUTZ

The leader of the Seder then takes the middle Matzah and breaks it into two pieces.  He replaces one half back in the Unity Compartment  and wraps the other half in a linen cloth.  This piece is then hidden until after the dinner.

The Unleavened Bread (Matzah) is kept in a special covering called a Unity.  It is made of one piece of cloth, but sewn so that it has three compartments.  It is not the first or third piece, but the middle Matzah that is removed, broken, and one half hidden  in the linen napkin.  This piece, called the Afikomen, has an important role in the end of the Seder service following the Passover Meal.

THE LEADER OF THE SEDER LIFTS UP THE MATZAH CONTAINER AND ALL OF THE GUEST RECITE THE FOLLOWING BLESSING:

“This is the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt; let those who are hungry, enter and eat thereof, and all who are in distress, come and celebrate the Passover.  At present we hope to celebrate it in the land of Israel.  This year we are servants here. But next year we hope to be free men in the land of Israel.”

‘ALL WHO ARE HUNGRY, LET THEM COME AND EAT” is based on a description in the Talmud of how Rabbi Huna would open his door during meals and exclaim: “All who are needy, let them come and eat”.  It takes on a special meaning to care for the needs of the poor, to enable them to celebrate the Passover properly.  Ensuring that no Jew will be excluded for lack of money.  Jesus said in John 6:35 – “ I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (NIV)