Passover Props

By Marni Elyse Katz
April 13, 2011

Seder Plate

Seder Plate (via Flickr)

Passover, which kicks off on Monday, has many associations, from bread-starved days, matzo brei mornings and Grandma’s gefilte fish (no comment) to tearing the house apart with the cousins in search of the afikomen (a game of hide-and-go-seek with a piece of matzo). The Passover holiday, a commemoration of the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt, kicks off with the Seder, a ritual feast involving prayer and a traditional dinner. Seder services, held around the dinner table, are known for running quite long (particularly when you can smell the brisket steaming in the kitchen). These Passover gifts and props can help make the holiday more fun—and meaningful—for everyone, especially the kids. We found these accoutrements from approximately 3,300 eBay listings for "Passover," where online auction sales for Passover-related items are up 250% and eBay listings are up 70% in the past 30 days compared to the prior period.

Seder Plate

Seder Plate (via Flickr )

Rogov's Guide to Kosher Wines 2010 by Daniel Rogov

(buy it now price, $19.95)

This is not your parents’ Manischewtiz. Israel’s leading wine critic, Daniel Rogov, points Jewish wine connoisseurs to some truly great grapes.
New Armenian Ceramics Elijah Cup for Passover

(buy it now price, $31.48)

According to Jewish tradition, the prophet Elijah visits each Jewish home on Seder night. Play it safe: Set Elijah’s place with a personalized cup and plate, so an unsuspecting (likely non-observant) guest, doesn’t mistake it for his own.
Schleich Green Frog Toy

(buy it now price, $4.50)

Passover is both a religious holiday and a celebration of the arrival of spring. Make this realistic, hand-painted tree frog figure the highlight of your holiday centerpiece. We see him nestled among moss and branches.
Set of Fun Plastic Frog Party Favors

(buy it now price, $4.89)

Scatter these down at the kids' end of the table to keep them busy during the long service before the meal.
New Moses and the Ten Plagues Figurine Set

(buy it now price, $6.94)

Another cute prop for the table. But break it out a few days before with the story books so you can re-enact the tale.
New The Ten Plagues of Egypt by Shoshana Lepon

(buy it now price, $25.50)

One of the best Passover story books on the market: I’s colorful, fun and just graphic enough to keep kids of all ages interested and amused.
Family Haggadah: A Seder for All Generations

(buy it now price, $.99)

Because the most traditional seders can last for hours, many families have adopted abbreviated services. The haggadah (“telling” in Hebrew) is the text read at the table that includes the prayers, stories, and songs of Passover. This one is an easy-to-follow, full-color, 45-minute version.
New Yair Emauel Decorative Seder Plate

(buy it now price, $159.99)

The seder plate is one of the most important aspects of the Passover table. It is arranged with special foods that are emblematic of the holiday, including bitter herbs, a roasted egg, and a shank bone. This plate is decorated in a style influenced by ancient Jewish manuscripts and traditional motifs.
New Plush Passover Seder Plate

(buy it now price, $18)

A mainstay at Jewish preschools this time of year, some kids like to hold seders rather than tea parties. The teddy bears and dolls like the change of pace, or so we hear.
Jewish Holiday Kitchen by Joan Nathan

(buy it now price, $1)

Like many holidays, Passover calls for particular foods. Joan Nathan is our go-to author when it comes to Jewish cookbooks; she’s even produced and hosted a PBS series based on her book, Jewish Cooking in America with Joan Nathan.
Copeland Spode's Camilla Soup Tureen

(buy it now price, $499)

Jews set their best table for seder; a fancy tureen is a must for that homemade matzo ball soup.
Aguilar Sterling Silver Candlesticks

(buy it now price, $2,865)

These circa 1807 sterling silver candlesticks by Hector Aguilar of Taxco, Mexico have elevated gradations of various motifs. Use them every Friday night for Shabbat, not just on Passover.
New Raw Silk Afikomen Cover/Bag Set

(buy it now price, $68.99)

A piece of matzo is broken in half during the Passover seder, and set aside under a napkin, or in a special afikomen bag (afikomen means, literally “that which comes after”). Once dinner is concluded, parents the hide the afikomen for the children to find. The winner gets a prize.
New Jewish Holiday Songs CD

(buy it now price, $15.31)

The tunes many not be quite as catchy as “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,” but still. And no, Adam Sandler’s Chanukah song (which is catchier than “Rudolph”) is not included.
New Set of Two Six-Foot Rolls of Jewish Passover Stickers

(buy it now price, $8.99)

Dole out a few yards of stickers to the preschool set to help entertain them at the table, mess-free.
10 Matzo Humor Cut Out Cards

(buy it now price, $12.95)

Passover is not a traditional greeting card kind of holiday, but what that heck? Let your friends know you’re thinking of them anyway.