13 Modern Seder Plates for a Stunning Passover Table

The Jewish holiday of Passover kicks off this year on April 22 with two consecutive nights of seders—family dinners that begin with a retelling of the story of the ancient Israelites’ escape from slavery and follow with a multicourse feast in which matzoh ball soup often plays a starring role. The Passover table is also a celebration of spring—and at the center of the action is the seder plate, which holds ritual foods that express the themes of the holiday.

For the design-conscious host, the seder plate is an opportunity to add a beautiful touch to the celebration, with an heirloom piece inherited from family or a new investment platter to pass down. “It can definitely be a chic moment,” says ELLE DECOR A-List designer Alyssa Kapito, author of Alyssa Kapito: Interiors, out March 19. She herself leans toward Judaica pieces “on the cleaner, modern side.”

Leah Koenig, author of Portico: Cooking and Feasting in Rome’s Jewish Kitchen, explains how the seder plate works: “Every seder plate has five—or sometimes six—different sections that hold foods that are symbolic to the holiday or season. These include things like fresh parsley, a symbol of rebirth; a fruit and nut mixture called charoset that represents the bricks and mortar used by the Israelites when they were enslaved in ancient Egypt; and horseradish (or another bitter herb), which stands for the cruel treatment the slaves faced.”

Koenig’s own seder plate skews fairly traditional. “But we use our discussions during the seder itself to tie Passover’s ancient themes to contemporary issues,” she says. “I also do some of the more modern twists on the seder plate—like including olives in the hopes of finding a path to peace in the Middle East, or an orange, which represents the greater inclusion of women and the LGBTQ community in ritual Jewish life.”

As styles go, seder plates range from classic white porcelain with gold writing to indicate where each ingredient goes to more modern looks in stainless steel. “I even think using a white bone china charger with matching little bowls could be very beautiful in a pinch,” says Kapito, although she admits she is pining for the Lella Vignelli sterling silver plate from the Jewish Museum. “I would love it mixed with elegant hem-stitched linen tablecloths and Lobmeyr glassware,” she says.

As for how to make the elements on the seder plate look attractive: “I would argue that an organic egg, a big green leaf, and a lamb shank can be a beautiful centerpiece,” Kapito says. “It’s farm-to-table chic.”