Karpas is a vegetable that is traditionally served during the Passover seder. It is one of the symbolic foods that is placed on the seder plate and represents the springtime and new beginnings.
The most common vegetable used for karpas is parsley, but other greens such as celery or lettuce can also be used. The vegetable is typically dipped in salt water or vinegar before being eaten.
During the seder, the karpas is eaten as part of the ritual. It is typically eaten after the recitation of the blessing over the vegetables and before the washing of the hands. The dipping of the karpas in salt water or vinegar symbolizes the tears shed by the Israelites during their enslavement in Egypt.
The karpas also serves as a reminder of the springtime and new beginnings that come with the Passover holiday. It is a symbol of hope and renewal, and it reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility of new growth and new beginnings.
Overall, karpas is a simple but meaningful part of the Passover seder. It serves as a reminder of the hardships that the Israelites endured and the hope and renewal that came with their eventual freedom.