Harosheth

HAROSETH. - A symbolic fruit compote, used in the Jewish Passover meal. The Mišnah prescribes (Pōšāhîm, II, 8; X, 3) that for the Passover meal a pulp or semi-liquid paste be prepared, called hārōseth (from the Neo-Hebrew hāres, “mud”). This paste was made from “dates, figs, almonds,” mixed with wine, vinegar, and cinnamon. Because of its reddish-blond colour, it recalled that mud with which the Israelites in the land of Egypt were forced to make bricks (Ex. 1, 14). It was customary for the head of the family at the Passover meal to dip unleavened bread and bitter herbs into this compote and offer them to the diners. There is no doubt that Jesus Christ followed this custom: in offering Judas “the morsel,” or a portion of the lamb, after having “dipped” it (Io. 13, 26), he alludes to a custom concerning which the historical sources are silent (Talmud, 116a; ed. L. Goldschmidt, II, Berlino 1901, p. 726).